To start a podcast on Discord, enable Community on your server, create a Stage channel, give your hosts Stage moderator permissions, and schedule an Event so listeners get notified when the show starts. Discord does not record audio for you, so each host should record locally or you capture the call with recording software. Then post each episode in an announcements or forum channel so the conversation keeps going between shows.
The steps below use only Discord's built-in tools. After that, there is a short section on how a bot can handle the community side (announcements, ping roles, listener questions). We make PeakBot, so that is the bot we describe, along with what it does not do.
Part 1: Set up the podcast in Discord itself
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Enable Community on your server. Stage channels need it. Go to Server Settings > Enable Community and follow the setup. Discord will ask you to set a verification level, turn on the explicit media filter, and pick a rules channel and a community updates channel. This takes a few minutes and does not make your server public.
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Create a Stage channel. Click the + next to a category in your channel list, choose Stage, and name it something obvious like
podcast-live. A Stage separates speakers from the audience: listeners join muted and can raise a hand to ask to speak, so a crowd cannot talk over your hosts. -
Make a host role and give it Stage moderator powers. Create a role such as
Podcast Host. In the Stage channel's permissions, give that role Manage Channels, Mute Members and Move Members. Those three permissions make someone a Stage moderator, which lets them start the Stage, invite people up to speak, and move speakers back to the audience. -
Schedule an Event for each episode. Click Events at the top of the channel list, then Create Event. Choose your Stage channel as the location, set the date and time, write a one-line topic, and add a cover image if you have one. Members who click Interested get a notification when the event starts. Share the event link in your announcements channel and on your other socials.
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Get your audio right before the first show. Ask every host to use a headset or a real microphone, and to turn on noise suppression under User Settings > Voice & Video. For regular voice channels you can raise the bitrate in the channel settings; the maximum goes up with your server's boost level. Do a five-minute sound check in the Stage before the scheduled time.
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Record the episode outside Discord. Discord has no built-in recording. The two common options:
- Each host records themselves with free software such as Audacity while you talk on Discord, then you line the tracks up in editing. This gives the cleanest sound because Discord's compression never touches the files.
- One person captures the whole call with recording software on their computer. Easier, but every voice goes through Discord's audio first.
Either way, tell your guests and the audience that the show is being recorded before you start, and put a note in the event description.
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Start the show. Join the Stage, press Start Stage, and confirm the topic. Invite guests up as speakers. When you want listener questions, ask the audience to raise their hands and bring people up one at a time.
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Publish and archive each episode. Discord is where you record and build an audience, not where you host the finished file. Upload the edited episode to your podcast host, then post the link in an announcements channel. A Forum channel with one post per episode works well for show notes and discussion, because each episode keeps its own thread.
No Community, no Stage? You can run a smaller show in a normal voice channel. Create the channel, deny the Speak permission for @everyone, and allow it only for your host role. Listeners can join and hear, but cannot talk unless you let them.
Part 2: Running the community side with PeakBot
PeakBot does not record or host your podcast, and it has no music features. What it can do is handle the server around the show. Everything below is set up on the web dashboard, not by a command, and it shows you the result before you post it.
A ping role so you do not spam everyone. On the Roles page, create a self-assign role such as Podcast Listener. Members opt in, and you mention that role (not @everyone) when an episode drops or an Event is about to start. You can also add it as an auto role on join if your server exists mainly for the show.
Episode announcements that look consistent. The Messages page builds embeds visually and posts them to any channel. Make one layout for new episodes (title, guest, link, cover image) and reuse it. The Embed library has ready-made embeds to start from.
Let listeners pick the next topic. The Polls page runs timed polls. Set results to show only once the poll ends so early votes do not sway everyone else.
Collect guest applications and listener questions. On the Tickets page, use form submissions with custom ticket types, for example Be a guest and Question for the show. Submissions arrive in one place for your hosts instead of scattered across DMs. Transcripts are free.
Point new members at the show. Welcome Messages can greet people in a channel with a note about when the show airs and how to grab the listener role. A welcome DM or an image on the welcome message needs a paid plan (Starter, $5.75/month per server).
Keep chat calm during episodes. Auto Moderation covers anti-spam, invite and link filters, a word filter and mention spam, each with its own action and threshold, plus exempt roles for your hosts. If your show is popular enough to attract raids, the Security page has join-rate and account-age limits and a quarantine role. AI moderation, which reads what a message means rather than matching a word list, is on Pro.
See who actually shows up. The Analytics page lists top voice users, top communicators and the busiest channels, which helps you spot your regulars and invite them to be guests.
Starting a new server for the podcast? The AI Server Builder lets you describe the server you want (for example, a podcast community with a Stage, episode forum and guest applications) and gives you a full plan to apply. It is free to try, with full use on Pro.
Most of the above (roles, messages, polls, tickets, analytics, auto moderation) is on the Free plan, which has no time limit. Details for each page are in the PeakBot wiki.
A simple channel layout for a podcast server
#announcements: new episodes and Event links only#episodes(Forum): one post per episode for show notes and discussion#suggest-a-topic: polls and ideaspodcast-live(Stage): where you recordgreen-room(voice, hosts only): pre-show check-ins#questions-for-the-show: or a ticket form if you want them private
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Discord record my podcast?
No. Discord has no built-in recording for voice or Stage channels. Record each host locally with software like Audacity, or capture the whole call on one computer. Always tell people they are being recorded.
Do I need Community enabled to podcast on Discord?
Only if you want a Stage channel. Stage channels require Community. Without it, use a regular voice channel and restrict the Speak permission to your host role.
Should I use a Stage channel or a voice channel?
Use a Stage if you expect an audience: listeners join muted and raise a hand to speak, and moderators control who is on stage. Use a voice channel for a small show where the hosts are the only people in the room.
How do listeners know when the podcast starts?
Schedule an Event for each episode and link it to your Stage channel. Members who mark themselves Interested get notified when it starts. Mentioning an opt-in listener role in your announcements channel adds a second reminder without pinging the whole server.
Can I publish my podcast to Spotify or Apple Podcasts from Discord?
Not directly. Discord is where you record and talk to your audience. Upload the edited file to a podcast hosting service, which sends it to the directories, then share the episode link back in your Discord.
Does PeakBot help with recording?
No. PeakBot has no recording or music features. It helps with the server around the show: ping roles, announcements, polls, guest application forms, moderation and analytics.
