If you have a podcast PLEASE listen to it on headphones before sending it out. If your sound sucks then youre wasting your time cause no one will listen to it.

Good mic-$100ish
Pop Filter $10-30

That will get you to 95%+ quality. A sound editor can do more but that is the min

Here is my setup. A mic and the pop filter. I also have my mic on an arm so that i can touch my desk without extra noise. But you don't need that and its only like $15-30

And no, I dont have my own podcast out yet but I listen to more podcasts than almost anyone else alive and know the difference between great, good, OK, bad, and trash...and too many are in the OK to bad spectrum. Get a decent mic and a pop filter and you move into good to great

and listening to your show on regular speakers is not enough. Put in your earbuds, turn up the volume, and if it pops and hurts to listen to then it is not good enough. Speakers hide a lot earphones do not.

Yes, this thread was inspired by a seemingly useful pod that I try out every month or two but then unsubscribe once again because it is painful to listen to. Good content but unbearable listening experience.

Don't be that guy :-)