The software you use to record your podcast can change depending on the context of the situation. If you find yourself needing to record on the fly, you may even end up using voice memos on your phone. An interview-style podcast may require something different than a storytelling-style. The IDEA Lab has a few recommendations, but we encourage you to check out what's out there and decide which software fits your needs.
What is important to know is that audio editing can often be the most time-consuming part of producing a podcast. The better recording you have, the less work there is to do on the backend to edit. It is good practice to be intentional about where you record and to do what you can to ensure your recording is of good quality from the start.
Things to consider when finding a place to record:
The reflection shield included in the kit should cut down a fair amount of background noise. If you are finding that extra noise is unavoidable in your space, you can try adjusting your distance from the microphone to mitigate the noise some.
Before you record, you need to test the equipment to ensure it is working properly and delivering the sound you want. Before you test the sound of your own audio, do a quick test recording of the silence in the room. See if there are any of those pesky background noises being caught by the mic that you might have missed because you're used to them. Do what you can to reconfigure your set-up if needed.
Next, you'll want to do a dummy recording of yourself talking. This helps you get used to the microphone and the feel of recording, but it also allows you to check the levels of your volume. If you are entering the red, you need to turn the gain on your mic down.
For the best sound, your mouth should be about 8 inches away from the microphone. You'll want to place the pop filter about halfway between the mic and your mouth. Be sure to keep a consistent distance throughout the entire recording.