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If you've been putting off filming, or starting a podcast, because you think you need a studio, a tech degree and someone under 30 to set it all up for you, this one's for you.
You've watched the videos. Ten pieces of gear. A sound desk with fifty buttons. Foam stuck all over the walls. And you've thought, like, that's not me. I don't have the room. I don't have the time. I don't have the patience to learn all of that at this stage of my life.
That's okay. You don't need any of it.
My whole podcast and filming setup fits on one desk. Most of it fits in my handbag. And the bit I love most is bright pink.
Why my gear is pink (and why that matters more than the specs)
I have a yellow jacket I call my coat of armour. I put it on and the whole persona shifts. Even how I sit changes. Dress how you need to feel, and the energy follows.
My desk works the same way. Pink arm. Pink nails. Pink earrings. When I sit down at that mic, I'm not a woman fiddling with tech she doesn't understand. I'm Kristen, and I'm ready to talk.
So if you want your gear to be pink, or purple, or covered in stickers, do it. Who cares. If it makes you want to press record, it's doing its job.
My content creator tools at a glance
- A tiny wireless mic for filming on my phone
- A pink boom arm for podcasting
- A USB podcast mic that plugs straight into my laptop
- My iPhone
- A phone holder (and a desk tripod on its way)
- A light, for the days the sun won't play along
- Two lots of earbuds, one fancy, one cheap
That's it. That's the lot.
1. RØDE Wireless ME: my filming mic
I love this mic. Like, love it.
It's tiny. It clips onto whatever I'm wearing, connects to my phone, and my voice comes through clear. It has GainAssist built in, which keeps your volume even so you're not fiddling with levels or redoing a take because you got excited and loud halfway through. (Which I do. A lot.)
If you only buy one thing from this list, make it a mic. People will forgive average lighting. They won't sit through bad sound.
Yes, the fluffy windshield makes an excellent moustache. You're welcome.
See the RØDE Wireless ME on Amazon →
On a tighter budget? These are a cheaper wireless mic option that's worth a look while you're getting started.
See the budget wireless mics on Amazon →
2. The pink RØDE boom arm: my podcast set-up
This is the one in the photo, and yes, it's as good as it looks.
The arm holds my mic exactly where I need it, then swings out of the way when I'm done so my desk goes back to being a desk. It turned a corner of my house into a spot that feels like a proper studio, without building a proper studio.
See the pink RØDE boom arm on Amazon →
3. My RØDE USB podcast mic
This is the mic sitting on the pink arm. Easy to set up, great quality. It plugs straight into my laptop with one cable. No mixer, no sound desk, no extra boxes with blinking lights. Plug it in, open your recording app, talk.
My recording app is Riverside. It's our podcast studio, and it's where I record every episode.
See Riverside, our podcast studio →
See my RØDE USB mic on Amazon →
4. My iPhone
I film everything on my phone. Not a fancy camera. The phone in your pocket right now is good enough to start. It's probably better than the cameras people were paying thousands for ten years ago.
5. A phone holder, and a desk tripod on its way
Stop propping your phone against a stack of books and a coffee mug. A phone holder keeps it steady at eye level, so you can hit record and just talk.
And I'm buying this one right now, because it doubles as a tripod on your desk. I'll report back.
See the desk tripod phone holder on Amazon →
6. A light, for the grey days
Honest answer: I don't use a light every day. I grab one when the light isn't playing nice. It's handy to have, but it's not the first thing you need.
If you're shopping for one, I've heard great things about this one, and the reviews back it up.
See the selfie light on Amazon →
7. Earbuds, the fancy ones and the cheap ones
My pink Beats are for listening back, for calls, and for recording when I want to hear myself properly.
See my purple Beats earbuds on Amazon →
And then there are my cheap AUKEY ones, which I love even more. I pop just one in while I'm cooking dinner and listen to podcasts. One ear on the podcast, one ear on the kids. Everyone still gets fed, and I still get my learning in.
See my AUKEY earbuds on Amazon →
Where to start if you've got nothing
You don't need the whole list. You need one thing and a reason to press record.
Start with your phone and a mic. Film one video. Record one episode. It won't be perfect, and it doesn't have to be. One step is much closer than none.
And if you're sitting there thinking you're too old to start this, I hear that one all the time. You're not. You've got more to say now than you've ever had.
Hear the setup in action
This is the exact setup I record my podcast on. If you want to hear what it sounds like, and get the conversations I don't post anywhere else, come and listen.
Listen to the secret podcast →
Want help actually making the content? Come and join us in Content Creators 40+, our community for women who are starting later and doing it anyway. It's $29 USD a month on Skool, cancel any time.
Frequently asked questions
A phone and a mic. I film everything on my phone, and if you only buy one thing, make it a mic. A boom arm, a phone holder, a light and earbuds can all come later.
You don't need the whole list. You need one thing and a reason to press record. Start with your phone and a mic.
If you only buy one thing, make it a mic. People will forgive average lighting. They won't sit through bad sound.
No. I film everything on my phone, not a fancy camera. The phone in your pocket right now is good enough to start.
✨ How this was made: Created with AI from our own experience, stories and life. AI helps the dyslexic in me get it written for you 🩷