I always like to see people jumping into podcasting.
Here are some recommendations:
Podcast Hosting: Blubrry. They have reasonable prices and great customer service. https://blubrry.com/
Website: WordPress with a podcast focused theme. Blubrry has a great widget called Powerpress that integrates shows perfectly onto your site.
Website Hosting: https://www.bluehost.com/
Mic: Audio Technica makes a really good “beginner” microphone that works well for getting started. At this link, you can get a mic, boom arm, shock mount, and pop filter for a really good price: https://amzn.to/3koGZVu
Recording: I use Zencastr which has a free version that will likely be all you need. It’s audio only right now, but it’s much more stable than Skype or Zoom. It records both sides of the conversation separately which makes editing much easier. https://zencastr.com/
Editing: I use Audacity which is also free. It has a small learning curve to figure out where everything is, but it’s a great software for piecing shows together. https://www.audacityteam.org/
To create the image that shows up on iTunes representing your show: www.canva.com You can also have someone else create it at www.fiverr.com.
On average, most podcasts don’t make it past 8 episodes, so if you get to 9, you’re above average, haha. Remember that consistency is key, so set a schedule for when shows air and stick to it.
Also, launch your show with at least 3 episodes. This gives people the opportunity to binge listen if they really like what you’re doing and will make them more likely to listen to future episodes. I did an “Episode 0” that explained what the show was going to be about and why I was creating it and then launched with 3 episodes on top of that.
And as you’re working on your show, go ahead and start getting the word out. Build a landing page that “sells” the show to people and collects email addresses. Then, when the show launches, you’ll already have a built-in group of people to listen. I ran a giveaway to entice people to sign up. (I gave away games designed by the show’s first 5 guests.)
I hope that helps, and good luck with your show!
-Gabe