I built my dream podcast studio in Austin.
Chris Williamson walks through the 10-month build of his custom podcast studio in Austin, covering construction hurdles, equipment choices, and why the investment made sense.
The gist
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Start complex builds with mold remediation and air quality before spending money on high-end gear.
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Use programmable lighting tubes and gels so one set can shift between daylight, sunset, and moody looks without a redesign.
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Hide cables and tech behind set elements like fake walls and moss to keep guests relaxed and the space looking clean.
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Williamson says soft furnishings and low-VOC materials help guests stay comfortable through 2 to 3 hour recording sessions.
Chris Williamson uses it
"We did a micro particulate clean before we came in. Jasper air purifiers in every room."
▶ Play at 6:14
Chris Williamson uses it
"The art, the soft furnishings like Cozy Earth. I really love Cozy Earth. So we got these — I don't know, every time I sit down it always feels really comfy."
▶ Play at 3:46What they recommend · 4 picks
"They can come here and sit and watch this sexy cool Vestaboard thing that we've got in the office that everybody sees, including the guests when they walk in. VB+/Modern Wisdom...."
"The art, the soft furnishings like Cozy Earth. I really love Cozy Earth. So we got these — I don't know, every time I sit down it always feels really comfy."
"We are fueled by frosty beverages and have an equal opportunity energy drink consumer. Obviously, the lion's share is Neutonic."
Chris, Joe, Tim and This Week in Startups agree on 31 things
See what they all use, in their own words. Paid ads are left out.
See what they all swear by Or pick your own peopleAds in this episode
Nuts.com, Aperture. They're paid, so we keep them out of the picks above.
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