How to Create a Successful Podcast: A Step-by-Step Guide from Idea to Launch & Swiss Podcast Examples
- Sorina I. Crisan, PhD
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
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:
Why you're creating a podcast
How to design a strong concept for the Swiss market
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
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
Define your “why” – Motivation, goals, and values
Choose your format & host style
Identify your audience – Who are they? What do they care about?
Pick your language & structure
Create a realistic timeline – Start small (1–2 episodes/month)
Plan your episodes – Use content pillars and structure
Get legal & ethical clarity – Consent, rights, disclaimers
Record with quality tools – Test sound and tech in advance
Distribute wisely – Choose 2–3 strong platforms to begin
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.
***
Sorina Crisan – Matthey de l'Endroit, PhD
Writer, Analyst & Podcaster | Conducting Interviews with Industry Leaders & Academic Experts
Founder
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
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