Frequently Asked Questions
Questions are a good place to start.
You don’t need to understand podcast production before talking to us.
Whether you’re thinking about launching a podcast, exploring white-label production for your agency, bringing podcasting into education or developing your own podcast studio, you’ll find answers to some of the questions we’re asked most often below.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll be happy to talk it through.
General Questions.
What does One Stop Podcasts do?
One Stop Podcasts is an independent podcast production, studio consultancy and education company based in Manchester.
We work across four main areas:
Podcast Production: Professional audio and video podcast production for businesses, organisations, experts and creators.
White-Label for Agencies: Specialist podcast production delivered behind the scenes for creative, marketing, PR and communications agencies.
Podcasting in Education: Practical workshops, projects and staff CPD for schools, colleges and education organisations.
Podcast Studios: Consultation, design, equipment, installation, configuration and training for organisations developing their own recording facilities.
Across these services, we bring together creative thinking, technical expertise and practical experience to help people make podcasts that work.
Whether we’re producing a series, supporting an agency, working with students or developing a recording studio, our approach remains the same: start with the people and what they want to achieve, then build the right solution around them.
Where are you based?
We’re based in Manchester and work with clients across the UK and internationally.
Depending on the project, we can work remotely, in professional studios, on location or directly within schools and organisations.
Do you only work in Manchester?
No. Manchester is home, but our work isn’t limited to the North West.
Remote production allows us to work with hosts, guests and organisations in different locations across the UK, while studio and location production can be arranged around the requirements of individual projects.
Do I need to know exactly what I want before getting in touch?
No. Some people come to us with a fully developed brief. Others have an idea, an audience or simply a sense that podcasting could be useful.
The first conversation is there to understand what you’re thinking and help work out what the right next step might be.
How much does it cost?
It depends on what we’re creating.
A focused workshop, six-episode podcast series, ongoing video podcast and white-label agency production all require very different levels of support.
Once we understand the scope, we’ll recommend an appropriate approach and provide clear costs before work begins.
How do we get started?
Start with a conversation.
Tell us what you’re considering, who it’s for and what you’d like it to achieve. From there, we can work out whether One Stop Podcasts is the right fit and what should happen next.
Podcasting in the Classroom.
What is Podcasting in the Classroom?
Podcasting in the Classroom uses the process of making a podcast as a practical way for learners to develop communication, creativity, collaboration and digital skills.
Depending on the project, pupils might research a subject, develop ideas, write questions or scripts, interview people, record conversations and experience how those recordings become a finished podcast.
The podcast is the outcome. The learning goes much further.
What ages do you work with?
Delivery can be adapted from primary through secondary and further education.
The activities, language, roles, technology and intended outcome are shaped around the age and experience of the learners rather than using the same workshop for everyone.
What workshop formats are available?
We can deliver focused workshops, full-day sessions, multi-session projects and bespoke activity developed around a particular subject, event or school priority.
We also offer staff CPD for schools that want to develop their own use of podcasting.
How many pupils can take part?
That depends on the age group, workshop format, available equipment and what you’d like pupils to create.
We’ll discuss group size and structure with you before confirming the project so the session is realistic for both the learners and the intended outcome.
Do we need specialist podcast equipment?
No. Useful podcast work can begin with equipment many schools already have, including laptops, tablets and headphones.
Where specialist recording equipment adds something worthwhile to the experience, we can incorporate or recommend it.
Start with the learning. Choose the technology around it.
Does podcasting have to be part of Media or Music?
Not at all.
Podcasting can be used across a range of subjects because the process naturally involves research, speaking, listening, writing, questioning and explanation.
Projects could explore History, English, Science, PSHE, Careers, local heritage, pupil voice or almost any subject where learners have something to investigate and communicate.
Can pupils create an actual podcast?
Yes. Depending on the workshop, learners can work towards a finished piece of podcast content.
That doesn’t mean it has to be published publicly. A real creative outcome can be valuable even when the finished work remains within the school.
How do you approach safeguarding?
Working with children and young people comes with responsibilities beyond delivering a creative workshop.
Delivery is planned around the age group, setting and agreed safeguarding requirements, with arrangements for participation, recording and any use of finished content established with the school in advance.
Do you offer staff CPD?
Yes. CPD is designed to help teachers use podcasting as a manageable classroom tool rather than turn them into audio engineers.
Sessions can explore classroom formats, planning, speaking and scripting, recording approaches, group workflows and practical ways to use podcasting across curriculum and enrichment activity.
White-Label Podcast Production for Agencies.
What is white-label podcast production?
It allows your agency to offer podcast production to its clients without having to build the specialist capability internally.
One Stop Podcasts provides the agreed production behind your agency while you retain the client relationship.
Your agency. Your client. Our podcast expertise.
What types of agencies do you work with?
White-label production is particularly suited to marketing, creative, branding, PR, content and communications agencies that want to add podcasting to their client offer.
You don’t need to already have podcast production expertise in-house.
That’s rather the point.
Will our client know One Stop Podcasts is involved?
Only if that’s how you want the relationship to work.
We can be introduced openly as your specialist production partner, work directly with stakeholders under an agreed arrangement or remain completely behind the scenes.
Who owns the client relationship?
Your agency does.
We’re there to strengthen what you can offer your client, not compete for the relationship.
We don’t use white-label projects as an opportunity to pitch competing services or turn your client into ours.
Can you help us scope a podcast before we've won the work?
Yes. If a client has approached you about podcasting, we can help you understand the likely production requirements before you finalise your proposal.
That means you don’t need to become a podcast production expert simply to respond credibly to the opportunity.
Do we have to outsource the entire production?
No. Some agencies bring us in for complete end-to-end production.
Others need a particular area of specialist support such as remote recording, audio post-production, video, sonic branding or distribution.
We can work around the capability you already have.
Can we start with one client?
Absolutely. You don’t need multiple podcast clients or a long-term commitment to start working together.
A single project is often the most sensible way to establish how the relationship works.
Can you work across several of our clients?
Yes. Where the relationship develops, we can establish repeatable workflows for production across multiple client projects and ongoing podcasts.
How does agency pricing work?
Projects are scoped around the production requirements and we provide your agency with clear costs.
You can then incorporate the production into your own client proposition and commercial model.
Podcast Packages.
What are Podcast Packages?
Podcast Packages are for businesses, organisations, experts and creators who want specialist support turning an idea into a professionally produced podcast.
We can support the complete process from strategy and format development through recording, editing, audio and video production, sonic branding, publishing and ongoing production.
Do I need to have my podcast fully planned?
No. You might arrive with a detailed concept or simply the beginnings of an idea.
Strategy and development can form part of the project, helping establish the purpose, audience, format and production approach before recording begins.
Why do you recommend starting with six episodes?
A six-episode series gives you enough space to develop an idea, establish a recognisable format and create a meaningful body of work without immediately committing to an open-ended publishing schedule.
It’s a strong starting point rather than a rule.
Some projects need fewer episodes. Others are designed to continue indefinitely.
Do you produce audio and video podcasts?
Yes. Projects can be audio-only or combine professionally produced audio with long-form video for platforms such as YouTube.
We recommend the format based on the idea, audience and intended use rather than assuming every podcast needs cameras.
The format follows the idea — not the trend.
Where can we record?
Depending on the project, recording can take place remotely, in a professional podcast studio or on location.
We’ll help establish the approach that makes most sense for the people, content and production.
Can hosts and guests record from different locations?
Yes. Remote recording makes it possible to produce conversations involving hosts and contributors in different places while we manage the technical recording and production process.
Can you create original music and sonic branding?
Yes. Sonic branding is one of our specialist areas.
Depending on the project, we can develop original theme music, sonic logos, intros, outros, transitions, crafted sound design and other audio assets designed specifically around the identity of the podcast.
Can you publish the podcast for us?
Yes. Hosting setup, metadata, show notes, distribution and publishing can all form part of the production process.
Can you continue producing episodes after launch?
Yes. An initial series can move into ongoing monthly, fortnightly or weekly production.
That can include audio, video and additional content support depending on what the podcast needs.
How long does it take to launch a podcast?
There’s no useful one-size-fits-all answer.
A straightforward conversational series recorded remotely is very different from a multi-camera production involving several contributors, locations and bespoke creative assets.
We’ll establish a realistic production schedule when the scope is agreed rather than promise an arbitrary launch time before we understand the project.
Podcast Studios.
Can One Stop Podcasts help us build a podcast studio?
Yes. We help businesses, organisations and educators plan, design and develop podcast studios around their requirements.
That can include room planning, acoustics, equipment selection and supply, installation, system configuration, recording workflows, testing and staff training.
Whether you’re starting with an empty room or improving an existing setup, we’ll help work out what makes sense.
Do we need a dedicated room?
Not necessarily.
An existing office, classroom, meeting room or other suitable space may be perfectly adequate, depending on what you want to record and how often the studio will be used.
We’ll help assess the room and recommend an approach that suits your needs.
Can you work with equipment we already have?
Absolutely.
You might already have microphones, headphones, an audio interface, cameras or a recording computer.
We’ll look at what’s available, what works and what might need improving before recommending any additional equipment.
There’s no point replacing perfectly good equipment unnecessarily.
Do you design studios for video podcasts as well as audio?
Yes. We can help develop audio-only recording spaces, video podcast studios and more flexible content production environments.
The right approach depends on what you want to create, the available space and the people who will be using it.
How much does a podcast studio cost?
That depends on the room, the equipment, the intended use and how much work is required.
A straightforward audio recording setup in an existing room is very different from a multi-camera video podcast studio with dedicated lighting and acoustic treatment.
We’ll discuss your requirements, establish a realistic scope and provide clear costs before work begins.
Do you provide training once the studio is installed?
Yes. Training is an important part of our approach.
We want the people using the studio to feel confident operating it without needing specialist audio or video production knowledge.
We can provide practical training, recording workflows, supporting guidance and ongoing assistance as your requirements develop.
Still have a question?
Some things are easier to talk through.
Every podcast, education, agency and studio project is a little different.
If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for or you’re not quite sure what you need yet get in touch and tell us what you’re thinking.
We’ll help you work out what comes next.