Voice Training for Podcasters: How to Improve Your Vocal Delivery

Your podcast's most important asset is your voice. If you host an audio podcast, this is your only asset. If you host a video podcast, your voice is a part of your overall production, but it is still important. People listen to your podcast because they're interested in the topic, and an appealing voice can keep listeners engaged even if an episode is a bit outside their interests.

There are several things you can do to improve your vocal delivery.

The importance of voice

When you host a podcast, your voice is your brand. It's not just the timbre of your voice, but also your vocal delivery, the way you speak to keep an episode interesting and engaging.

Podcasting is not the same as having a conversation (though in some ways it is). You are not just speaking to your co-host or guests, you're also speaking to listeners. It's not hard to learn how to use your voice effectively; you need to pay attention to some details, learn how to optimize your microphone technique, and take advantage of software.

The importance of equipment

The most important piece of equipment for a podcast is your microphone. Choosing the right microphone, and setting up your home recording studio, all contribute to how your voice sounds. You need to find the type of microphone that works best for you, and that you feel comfortable with. 

You can improve the sound of your voice in post-production using EQ (equalization, which increases or decreases different frequency bands), compression (which affects the dynamic range or loudness of your audio), and other filters available in your editing software. If you don't know much about these, your software probably has some built-in presets that you can try.

How to use a microphone

Microphone technique - the way you work with a microphone - is also essential. You shouldn’t speak directly into a microphone, but across it, ideally at a 45º angle. Some podcasters do like the bassy sound you get from the proximity effect, when you speak just a few inches from your microphone, but this can be hard to master.  See Podcast Recording Best Practices: Capturing Clear, Professional Audio for more on good microphone technique.

If there's too much room noise - reverb or echo - your voice may sound hollow, and if you speak too loudly, your voice can distort. There's a sweet spot that you need to find, and this is different for condenser or dynamic microphones.

You also need to find the ideal position for your microphone. Some podcasters like to use a boom so they can position the microphone in the space above them or in front of them; others are comfortable with desk stands. Remember that you need access to your computer when recording, so the microphone shouldn't get in the way.

Make some test recordings with your microphone set up differently to find the best way to position it. It's important that your microphone not get in your way, so you can forget it once you start recording, but that you can have it in the right position without thinking about it.

How you speak

To make your voice sound best, there are several things to pay attention to:

• Breathing: One reason to not speak directly into a microphone is to avoid plosives - b and p sounds - but also to prevent your breathing from being picked up. Breathe through your nose; you may need to learn diaphragmatic breathing, which can help keep your breath steady.
• Mouth noise: It's not uncommon for your lips to make little clicks and pops when you're talking. If your mouth gets dry as you speak, this can lead to noises, and your voice may get rough. Keep a glass of water handy; coffee or tea are also fine, but it's a good idea to avoid carbonated beverages.
• Tone: Nothing is less interesting than a monotonous voice. Vary your rhythm and pitch, and inflect naturally to keep your voice from sounding robotic. While a podcast is not a normal conversation, try to make it sound like one.
• Pacing: In addition to the sound and tone of your voice, pacing is important. Don't speak too quickly, take pauses when necessary, and try to sound as natural as possible.
• Preparation: The best way to ensure that you can keep your voice flowing through your podcast episodes is to prepare in advance. Make notes or prepare questions about your topic or guest so you don't end up searching for what to say.

Get rid of filler words

Ums, ahs, and other filler words, such as "like," "I mean," "you know," etc., are the bane of podcasters. It's hard to train yourself to stop using filler words, and you need to be mindful of how often you use them. As you listen to recordings of your episodes, you may find that you use these words often. One way to reduce these filler words is to slow down your speech, which is a good thing in general.

Some podcasting platforms, such as Riverside or Descript, can use AI to automatically remove many of these, but you may have your own filler words that they don't pick up.

Edit, edit, edit

The most important thing you can do to improve your vocal delivery is to edit your podcast. Many people think they can just record and paste together a couple of audio files, but editing is what takes a conversation and turns it into something that other people want to listen to.

When recording, if you slip up or sneeze, you can pause for a couple of seconds, then start over. Tell your co-hosts and guests to do the same, so that when editing, you'll be able to clean up everything that doesn't sound good in podcasts.

In editing, you:

• Remove filler words
• Fix pacing by removing or adding pauses
• Correct audio with EQ and compression
• Cut out sections that aren't interesting, or that are repetitive

With experience, you'll find your voice, and it will become your podcasting identity. But if you're just starting out, these tips will help you create more compelling podcasts and keep listeners coming back.

Try it out with Fireside

At the end of the day, your podcast is built on one thing: your voice. Fireside exists to make sure that voice is heard clearly, consistently, and professionally — without getting buried in tech, workflows, or busywork.

If you care about how your show sounds, how it’s presented, and how it grows over time, Fireside gives you the tools to focus on the part that actually matters: creating.

Sign up, publish with confidence, and let your voice do the work.