Are you a big fan of podcasts? Would you love to make one yourself? In this minor, you dive into the world of podcasting, as you and your team develop, produce and publish a podcast series. No experience required – just a willingness to challenge yourself.

Episode after episode, you will gain invaluable insights on how to create compelling content, captivate listeners, and grow your podcast's popularity. You will experiment with ways to monetize your podcast and learn how to build a business around it. In the process, you work on your personal development, as you explore strengths, weaknesses and passions, learn from the industry experts and find your groove in the dynamic and ever-evolving podcasting industry.

Minor content

Over the course of a semester, you will develop and produce a new podcast episode every two weeks. With each episode, our learning community will shift focus from one aspect of podcasting to the next, from designing a compelling format, researching and scripting, recording and editing to launching and promoting, reaching out to sponsors, and keeping track of data.

Throughout, we will delve into the financial aspects of podcasting, equipping you with all the knowledge to become a trusted podcast consultant for fellow creators during the minor. Special attention will be given to your personal growth as a creative professional. We will help you carve out your own path, whether it be as a solo podcast creator, member of a podcasting team or consultant to organizations looking for an audio strategy. Or maybe you just want to broaden your horizon and boost your creative skills – that is fine too.

This minor is offered by Creative Business.

Structure of the minor

The Business of Podcasting is a full semester minor of 30EC. You will work in a team on a podcast series of your own making, exploring all aspects of the production, publication and promotion process. Individually, you will reach out to a podcaster creator to help them grow and/or monetize their podcasting efforts. The pace will be high, and you will be faced with challenges such as pitching to podcast experts, working with AI tools, and cold-calling sponsors.

Throughout, you will be working on three learning outcomes:

• Personal Leadership in Podcasting (10 EC): by exploring your personal attributes and interests, you will learn how to position yourself as a creative professional in the podcasting industry. This part of the course will have you focus on self-reflection, working with feedback, building a network and knowing the industry.
• Podcast Creation (10 EC): by producing a series of podcast episodes, you will continually deepen your knowledge of and experience in the podcast production process. This part of the course will cover such topics as concept design, research and scripting, content creation, recording and post-production.
• Monetization & Growth (10 EC): podcasting offers more and more opportunities for earning an income and building a business. We will get you up to speed with the latest developments, covering such topics as listener engagement, platform differentiation, host-reads, sponsorships, emerging businesses and jobs, and more.

This minor is developed for any student looking to gain experience in podcasting. You do not need a specific media or business background. Podcasts have many applications, from entrepreneurs looking to promote their business to educators wanting to engage their students. You may want to explore whether podcasting is for you, but you may also just want to boost your creative confidence and business savvy. You do not need specific video/audio editing skills (yet), since you will acquire them during the course.

We will start with a minimum of 10 students and there might be up to 50-100 euros additional (travel) costs for field trips to Amsterdam. In addition, it helps to have a solid laptop and some decent over-ear headphones.

30EC minor will be rewarded for this minor based on a programmatic assessment approach that integrates studying and testing. You will be building up a portfolio with evidence showing you achieved the three learning outcomes. You will be assessed individually, with a special focus on meaningful feedback and self-reflection. We will look specifically for your eagerness in pursuing personal growth, working with feedback and taking on creative challenges. Assessment will be done across a portfolio of written work, including creative products, feedback and reflection.