How to Create a Successful Podcast: A Step-by-Step Guide from Idea to Launch & Swiss Podcast Examples

What does it mean to create a successful podcast in Switzerland? It means clarifying your motivation, designing a concept that resonates with your audience, and knowing how to promote and share your work — all within a unique multilingual and legal context.

This article summarizes the core themes from the University of Geneva workshop held by the author on April 29, 2025:

1. Why you're creating a podcast

2. How to design a strong concept for the Swiss market

3. How to share, promote, and distribute your podcast effectively

It concludes with curated examples of Swiss podcasts in English, French, German, and Italian — to inspire your next steps.

Whether you are a student, communicator, researcher, or creative, this guide is here to help you turn your podcast idea into a successful and sustainable project.

Article by Sorina I. Crisan – Matthey de l'Endroit, PhD

Image: Carmen & Josephine Calabria

Introduction: What is a podcast?

A podcast is “a program (as of music or talk) made available in digital format for automatic download over the Internet” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The term “podcast,” combining “iPod” with “broadcast,” was coined in 2004, by journalist Ben Hammersley, and this on-demand audio medium grew in popularity particularly in 2014, when narrative podcasts (like true crime) were introduced (Breitman, 2023; Hammersley, 2004).

In 2023, in the U.S., 70 million people listened to podcasts; and it is forecasted that “over 110 million listeners” will use this medium by 2029 (Leu, 2024). In Switzerland, podcasts are growing in popularity, reflecting “a shift in consumer behavior towards on-demand audio content” (Statista, 2024a).

“Revenue in the Podcast Advertising market worldwide is projected to reach US $ 4.46bn in 2025” and in Switzerland, “Revenue in the Podcast Advertising market” is expected to reach US $ 9.66m in 2025,” due to niche-podcasts using the four national languages (Statista, 2024b).

(Note: This introduction is an excerpt from a paper the author has written for a fall 2024 University of Geneva course on Business Law for Corporate Decision Makers, taught by Prof. Jean-Paul Vulliéty and Prof. Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen, PhD.)

Part 1: Find Your Why & Define Success

Before choosing a microphone or editing tool, ask yourself: Why do I want to start a podcast?

Your answer will guide everything else:

• Are you hoping to share ideas, build a personal brand, educate, entertain, or create change?

• What are your values, short-term goals, and long-term vision?

Next, choose the format that aligns with your goals:

Interview-style (talk with guests)

• Solo/monologue (your personal voice or stories)

• Narrative/documentary (deep storytelling or journalism)

• Hybrid (a mix of formats)

Also decide your hosting style (read this article for details on the different types of hosts):

• Journalist (fact-based, objective)

• Podcast host (conversational and personal)

• Entertainer (personality-driven)

• Hybrid (a mix)

Finally, define your own Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Examples:

• Personal KPIs: Confidence in public speaking, networking, storytelling skills

• Professional KPIs: Downloads per episode, guest quality, media coverage

Part 2: Design a Concept That Resonates

Understand Your Audience

Podcasting is about connection. Define your target audience with precision:

• Demographics: Age, language, interests

• Psychographics: Values, lifestyle, aspirations

• Listening habits: When/where they listen (e.g. on commutes, during chores)

Choose Your Language

Switzerland’s linguistic diversity means choosing the right language is strategic. Consider your topic, target region, and whether you'd like to expand internationally.

Be Swiss-Specific

According to SWI swissinfo.ch and Spotify’s recent podcast trends:

• Swiss audiences prefer concise podcasts (under 45 minutes)

• Listeners value authenticity and structured formats

• Multilingual podcasts are growing — tailor your tone accordingly

• Be mindful of cultural nuance (Swiss German, French-speaking Romandie, Ticino)

If You're Interviewing Guests

• Choose a theme: (e.g. innovation, art, economics, etc.)

• Find guests: LinkedIn, universities, event speakers

• Prep well: Research your guest, send a briefing, test your recording tech

• Follow up: Share transcripts before publication for approval & accuracy

• Read these articles for more valuable advice from the BBC and The New York Times

Part 3: Share Your Work with the World

Legal Essentials

• Consent: Always get written guest approval.

• Music & Audio: Ask a student to create original music for you, or make sure to use royalty-free music or licensed platforms like Artlist or Epidemic Sound.

• Ownership & GDPR: Be clear on who owns the content. If collecting guest data, comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and privacy EU/Swiss laws.

• Geo-blocking: Learn about the geo-blocking practices of the platform distribution you wish to use to ensure your content can reach your desired target audience.

• Important Disclaimers: Always mention when opinions are personal or you are discussing brands/media for profit purposes.

Distribution Platforms

Choose based on your audience:

• Examples: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (for vodcasts), Amazon Music, Google Podcasts (soon merging with YouTube Music)

• Personal website

• Social media & newsletters

• Podcast directories: Podchaser, Listen Notes, Podcast Club Switzerland

Part 4: Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create a Successful Podcast

1. Define your “why” – Motivation, goals, and values

2. Choose your format & host style

3. Identify your audience – Who are they? What do they care about?

4. Pick your language & structure

5. Create a realistic timeline – Start small (1–2 episodes/month)

6. Plan your episodes – Use content pillars and structure

7. Get legal & ethical clarity – Consent, rights, disclaimers

8. Record with quality tools – Test sound and tech in advance

9. Distribute wisely – Choose 2–3 strong platforms to begin

10. Promote with purpose – Be discoverable, engaging, and consistent

    
    

Part 5: Swiss Podcast Examples

English – Swiss Podcasts

International Affairs & NGOs:

• SWI swissinfo.ch – Inside Geneva

• UN Library Geneva – The Next Page

• Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) – GCSP Podcast

Business, Academia & Think Tanks

• Julius Baer – Beyond Markets

• The Graduate Institute Geneva – What Matters Today

• World Economic Forum – Meet the Leader

Personal/Career Growth & Society

• Sorina Matthey de l'Endroit, PhD – The Persuasive Mindset

• Living in Switzerland Community – Living in Switzerland

• International Geneva community – Voices of UN Today

French – Swiss Podcasts

Student Life & Society

• UNIL/EPFL – Fréquence Banane Podcasts

• RTS Jeunesse – Le Point J

• Université de Genève – Multiple Podcasts on Various Themes

Investigative News & Culture

• RTS – Radio Télévision Suisse – Vacarme

• RTS – Fil Rouge

• Le Temps – Le Coin du Crime

Ideas & Conversations

• RTS – Tribu

• 24heures – L’Actu Autrement

• Indépendant – Bouteilles à la mer

Swiss German – Swiss Podcasts

News, Innovation & Society

• SRF – Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen – Echo der Zeit

• Swisspreneur – The Swisspreneur Show

• SRF – Input

Lifestyle & Comedy

• SRF – Zwei am Morge – Der Podcast

• Mikroökonomen – NZZ Akzent

• Independent Creators – Herrgöttli-Panache

Tech, Startups & Business

• Digitale Schweiz – Digital Heroes

• Swiss Startup Group – Startup Stories

• ETH Zürich – Several Podcasts, like: Faktencheck Energie

Swiss Italian – Swiss Podcasts

Public Affairs & Society

• RSI – Radiotelevisione Svizzera – Modem, SEIDISERA, Rete Uno Podcast, etc.

Culture & Interviews

• RSI – La Casa di Paola, Diderot, Controluce, etc.

Music & Youth Culture

• RSI – Jam, Rete Tre – Tre Bis, Babylonia Rock, etc.

Conclusion

As mentioned in the introduction, this article is meant to be a companion to the University of Geneva workshop: “How to Create a Successful Podcast in Switzerland.” Participants are advised to bookmark or save this page so they may revisit the key points, tools, and links mentioned during the session.

Good luck on your podcast journey!

Thank you for reading.

#Podcast #Guide #Journalism #Skills #DigitalMedia #Switzerland #PersuasiveDiscourse

***

Sorina Crisan – Matthey de l'Endroit, PhD

Writer, Analyst & Podcaster | Conducting Interviews with Industry Leaders & Academic Experts

Founder

Persuasive Discourse | Switzerland  

Illustrations: The main article photo is created by Carmen & Josephine Calabria. Dr. Crisan – Matthey de l'Endroit’s profile photo is a selfie, taken during a previous Persuasive Discourse interview, which you may read here.

References used to create this workshop:

BBC Academy Fusion Project. (n.d.). Podcasting: What do I need to know? BBC. https://www.bbc.com/academy-guides/podcasting-what-do-i-need-to-know/

Breitman, K. (2023, December 28). Podcasts: The history of podcasts & when they were invented. Riverside. https://riverside.fm/blog/podcasts#anchor4 

Chaffey, D. (2024, January 21). Golden Circle model: Simon Sinek’s theory of value proposition ‘start with why’. Smart Insights. https://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/online-value-proposition/start-with-why-creating-a-value-proposition-with-the-golden-circle-model/

Crisan-Matthey de l’Endroit, S. (2025, January 24). Journalist vs. Podcaster: The key differences and rise of hybrid interviewers in digital media. Persuasive Discourse. https://www.persuasivediscourse.com/post/journalist-vs-podcaster-the-key-differences-and-rise-of-hybrid-interviewers-in-media

Daniels, N., & Schulten, K. (2020, April 22). Making a podcast that matters: A guide with 21 examples from students. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/learning/making-a-podcast-that-matters-a-guide-with-examples-from-23-students.html

Hammersley, B. (2004, February 12). Audible revolution. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/12/broadcasting.digitalmedia

Leu, P. (2024, October 8). U.S. podcasting industry - statistics & facts. Statista. https://www.statista.com/topics/3170/podcasting/#topicOverview

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Podcast. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/podcast

Pennell, E. (2024, October 9). Geoblocking: What is it, how does it work, and why is it used? Surfshark. https://surfshark.com/blog/geo-blocking

Picht, P. G. (2020). The EU geo-blocking regulation from a competition law perspective. Journal of European Competition Law & Practice. https://www.ius.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:a1f0dce9-1cfb-4c0e-a1bf-fef9155b2615/Picht__Geo-Blocking_JECLAP%202020.pdf

Podcast Club Switzerland. (n.d.). Podcasting resources and community. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://www.podcastclub.ch/

Podnews. (2023). Podcast industry trends and monetization strategies. Podnews. https://podnews.net

Spotify for Podcasters (2023, October 11). How do podcasts make money, and when to start monetizing yours. Spotify. https://creators.spotify.com/resources/grow/how-do-podcasts-make-money 

Spotify for Podcasters. (2023). Key Podcast Metrics Explained. Spotify. https://podcasters.spotify.com

Statista. (2024, November a). Music, radio and podcasts - Switzerland. Statista. https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/media/music-radio-podcasts/switzerland

Statista. (2024, November b). Podcast advertising - Switzerland. Statista. https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/advertising/audio-advertising/switzerland