Starting a podcast in 2026 requires a USB microphone (£30–£60), free recording software, and a quiet room. You can record, edit, and publish your first episode today — for free — and have it live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts within 48 hours. This guide covers everything, including how to use your podcast to generate real business income.
This is the most practical podcast startup guide Alan Spicer has written — covering format selection, minimum viable equipment, recording and editing for beginners, distribution setup, and the business case for podcasting as a lead generation tool. Every section assumes zero prior experience.
📊 Podcasting in 2025/26 — Why Now Is the Right Time
- 504 million people worldwide listen to podcasts — up from 383 million in 2021 (Demand Sage)
- 47% of UK internet users listen to podcasts monthly (Ofcom, 2025)
- 3.2 million podcasts currently exist, but 75% have fewer than 10 episodes — the bar to stand out is low
- 82% of podcast listeners spend 7+ hours per week listening (Edison Research)
- £2.6 billion global podcast advertising revenue in 2025 — set to reach £4.3 billion by 2027
- YouTube is now the #1 podcast consumption platform in the US (Spotify is #2, Apple is #3)
📋 What’s in This Guide
- Why Start a Podcast? The Business Case in 2026
- Choosing Your Podcast Format and Niche
- Podcast Equipment for Every Budget (2026)
- How to Record Your First Podcast Episode
- Podcast Editing — Software and Basic Techniques
- Podcast Artwork, Naming, and Branding
- Podcast Hosting and RSS Feeds Explained
- How to Distribute to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
- Growing Your Podcast Audience
- How to Make Money From Your Podcast
- The 8-Step Podcast Launch Blueprint
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why Start a Podcast? The Business Case in 2026
Podcasting is not just a creative outlet — for self-employed people, consultants, freelancers, and creators, it is one of the most powerful lead generation tools available. The reason is simple: a 30-minute podcast episode builds more trust with a potential client than any single blog post, social media update, or advertisement. The listener spends extended time with your voice, your thinking, and your perspective. That intimacy creates the kind of trust that converts into enquiries.
Podcasting also compounds in the same way YouTube does — every episode you publish is a permanent asset that keeps generating listens, building authority, and driving traffic. Unlike social media posts which disappear in hours, a well-optimised podcast episode from 2023 is still getting new listeners in 2026.
| Business Goal | How Podcasting Helps | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Build authority in your niche | Regular expert commentary positions you as the go-to voice in your space | 3–6 months of consistent publishing |
| Generate consulting or service leads | Listeners who invest 30 mins/episode have very high intent when they reach out | Starts from episode 1 — no minimum audience required |
| Build an email list | Offer a free resource in every episode in exchange for email opt-in | List growth begins from first episode |
| Attract speaking opportunities | Podcast appearances are verifiable, shareable proof of expertise | 3–12 months of publishing |
| Sell digital products | Deep listener trust converts to course/ebook/template purchases at high rates | Once audience trust is established (6–12 months) |
| Land sponsorships | Sponsors pay per thousand downloads — typically accessible at 1,000+ downloads/episode | 6–18 months for most growing podcasts |
“A podcast is not a content format. It’s a relationship format. Nobody reads a 30-minute blog post. Plenty of people listen to a 30-minute podcast while they commute, exercise, or cook. You’re in their ears. That’s time and intimacy that no other content format matches.”
— Alan Spicer — YouTube Certified Expert, 15+ years self-employed
2. Choosing Your Podcast Format and Niche
The two decisions that matter most before you record anything: what format, and who it’s for. Both decisions affect everything downstream — equipment, episode structure, recording workflow, and growth strategy.
Podcast Formats — Comparison
| Format | Description | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo commentary | One host, no guests, sharing expertise or stories | Full control, no scheduling, lowest production complexity | Requires high energy and confidence to hold attention alone | Consultants, coaches, educators, personal brand builders |
| Interview | Host + one or two guests per episode | Guest’s network amplifies reach, endless content supply via guest expertise | Scheduling complexity, dependent on guest quality | Anyone wanting to build a network while building an audience |
| Co-hosted | Two regular hosts, conversational | Natural energy, shared workload, loyal audience if chemistry is good | Scheduling dependency, risk if co-host leaves | Best with a trusted, committed partner |
| Narrative / storytelling | Scripted, produced episodes with sound design | High production value, deeply engaging | Significantly more production time per episode | Journalists, writers, documentary-style content |
| Q&A / listener questions | Host answers submitted questions | Community engagement, clear content supply | Requires established audience to generate questions | Established podcasters looking to deepen engagement |
Alan’s recommendation for first-time podcasters: start with solo commentary or interview format. Both are low-production-complexity, don’t require a partner, and can be started immediately. The interview format has the additional benefit of giving guests a reason to share each episode — their own audience amplifies yours for free.
Choosing Your Niche
The same rule applies to podcasts as to every other content format: specificity grows audiences faster than breadth. “A business podcast” is too broad. “A podcast for UK freelancers navigating self-employment and tax” is specific enough to be discovered and remembered. The niche should sit at the intersection of: something you know well, something your target audience actively searches for, and something you can generate 50+ episodes about without running dry.
💡 The 50-Episode Test
Before committing to a podcast niche, write down 50 potential episode titles. If you can’t get to 50, your niche is either too narrow or you don’t know it deeply enough yet. If the 50 come easily, you’ve found a viable niche.
3. Podcast Equipment for Every Budget (2026)
The single most common mistake new podcasters make is over-investing in equipment before validating the concept. A podcast recorded on a mediocre microphone with consistent publishing beats a podcast on a £500 microphone that publishes twice and stops. Start cheap. Upgrade when you’ve proven you’ll stick with it.
Equipment by Budget Tier
| Tier | Budget | Microphone | Interface / Connection | Headphones | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / Zero cost | £0 | Smartphone + earbuds inline mic | USB/Lightning direct | Your earbuds | £0 |
| Starter | £30–£80 | Samson Q2U or Blue Snowball | USB direct to laptop | Sony MDR-7506 or similar closed-back | £50–£100 |
| Mid-range | £100–£250 | Shure MV7 or Rode NT-USB Mini | USB direct or Focusrite Scarlett Solo | Sony MDR-7506 or Audio-Technica ATH-M50x | £150–£350 |
| Professional | £300+ | Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20 | Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or similar XLR interface | Professional studio headphones | £500–£900 |
✅ The Best Starter Microphone in 2026
The Samson Q2U (around £55–£70 on Amazon UK) is the best value entry point for new podcasters. It has both USB and XLR outputs, dynamic capsule for naturally reducing background noise, and sounds significantly better than its price suggests. The Rode PodMic USB (£99) is the next step up if you want broadcast quality from day one.
Acoustic Treatment — The Free Way
Echo and reverb are the single biggest audio quality problems for home podcasters — and they’re free to fix. The solution is recording in a room with soft surfaces that absorb sound reflection:
- Best free option: record inside a large wardrobe surrounded by clothes. The fabric absorbs echo perfectly.
- Good free option: sit close to a sofa or bed with soft furnishings behind and beside you.
- Cheap paid option: acoustic foam panels (£20–£40 on Amazon UK) placed behind and beside the microphone.
- Rule of thumb: if your voice sounds slightly “dead” or “dry” in your recording space, it’s working. Echo sounds like a bathroom. Dry sounds like a professional studio.
🎙️ Microphone Technique Matters More Than Microphone Quality
Speak directly into the microphone at 15–25cm distance. Never position the mic directly in front of your mouth — angle it slightly to avoid plosives (‘p’ and ‘b’ sounds). Use a pop filter (£8–£15 on Amazon) or make one from a wire hanger and stockings. Good mic technique with a £50 microphone sounds better than bad technique with a £300 microphone.
4. How to Record Your First Podcast Episode
Recording your first episode is the step most aspiring podcasters delay indefinitely while optimising equipment, planning structure, and second-guessing their niche. The fastest path to a good first episode is to record a mediocre first episode, listen back, and improve from there. No podcast host has ever wished they’d waited longer before starting.
Recording Software — Free Options
| Software | Platform | Cost | Best For | Learning Curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audacity | Windows + Mac | Free | Full-featured recording and editing for all experience levels | Low — clean interface, good tutorials |
| GarageBand | Mac only | Free (pre-installed) | Mac users wanting polished results quickly | Low — intuitive and well-designed |
| Adobe Podcast | Browser-based | Free (with Adobe account) | AI-powered noise removal — excellent for noisy environments | Very low — minimal controls by design |
| Riverside.fm | Browser-based | Free tier available | Remote interviews with local recording quality | Low — designed for non-technical users |
| Zencastr | Browser-based | Free tier available | Remote interviews, separate tracks per guest | Low |
Episode Structure — The Simple Framework
A well-structured episode keeps listeners engaged and makes editing significantly easier. This framework works for solo and interview episodes alike:
- Hook (0:00–1:00): State the specific value the listener will get from this episode. “In the next 20 minutes, you’ll learn exactly how to [specific outcome].” Don’t ramble in the intro.
- Brief introduction (1:00–2:00): Who you are, why you’re qualified to talk about this. Keep it to 60 seconds maximum.
- Main content (2:00–end minus 3 mins): The substance — divided into 3–5 clear points or sections. Each point should have a clear transition (“Next…”, “The second thing is…”).
- Summary (final 2 mins): Recap the key points in one sentence each. This reinforces retention.
- Call to action (final 60 seconds): One specific action: subscribe, visit a link, reply with feedback, book a call. One CTA per episode — not five.
📝 Scripting vs. Notes
Full scripts produce stilted delivery for most people. Bullet point notes produce natural speech with structure. The middle ground that works best: write a detailed outline with exact wording for your hook and CTA, and bullet points for everything in between. Your natural voice in the middle section is what builds audience connection.
Recording Your First Episode — Practical Checklist
| Before Recording | During Recording | After Recording |
|---|---|---|
| Close all browser tabs and notifications | Speak at 15–25cm from mic | Listen back fully before editing |
| Put your phone on Do Not Disturb | Record a 30-second test, listen back, adjust levels | Note timestamps of mistakes to cut |
| Tell anyone in the house you’re recording | Leave 2 seconds of silence at start and end | Save the raw file before editing anything |
| Check input level — peaks around -12dB to -6dB | Pause after mistakes — don’t stop, just pause | Export edited version as MP3, 128kbps or higher |
| Record 30 seconds of ‘room tone’ (silence) at start | Stay consistent in energy — don’t fade toward the end | Listen once more on earbuds before publishing |
📺 Be Your Own Boss Series
Watch the Full Podcast Starter Guide on YouTube
Alan Spicer breaks down exactly how to start your podcast — including mobile setup, editing, and distribution. Subscribe free.
5. Podcast Editing — Software and Basic Techniques
Podcast editing does not need to be complex. For most solo episodes, three edits make the biggest difference to perceived quality: removing long silences, cutting obvious stumbles and false starts, and reducing background noise. Everything beyond that is refinement, not necessity.
The Three Essential Edits
- Remove long silences. Any pause longer than 2 seconds should be cut to 1 second or less. In Audacity, use Effect → Truncate Silence to do this automatically across the whole file.
- Cut mistakes and false starts. Listen through once with a text editor open. Note the timestamp of any stumble, misread, long tangent, or repeated point. Then cut those sections in the timeline.
- Noise reduction. In Audacity: select a section of pure background noise → Effect → Noise Reduction → Get Noise Profile → select all → Effect → Noise Reduction → OK. This removes consistent background hum, fan noise, and air conditioning.
Paid Editing Tools Worth Knowing
| Tool | Cost | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | ~£12/month | Edit audio by editing the transcript — delete words to remove audio | Anyone who struggles with traditional timeline editing |
| Adobe Podcast (Enhance Speech) | Free with Adobe account | AI removes background noise and improves mic quality in one click | Cleaning up recordings made in imperfect acoustic environments |
| Auphonic | Free tier / ~£7/month | Automatic loudness normalisation to podcast standards (-16 LUFS) | Final mastering step before publishing |
| Hindenburg Journalist | ~£20/month | Purpose-built for voice recording, auto-levels per track | Interview podcasters wanting professional results quickly |
📏 Podcast Loudness Standards
Apple Podcasts and Spotify both normalise audio to -16 LUFS for stereo and -19 LUFS for mono. If your episode is significantly quieter or louder than this, it will sound wrong on these platforms. Use Auphonic (free tier covers 2 hours/month) to automatically normalise your audio before publishing. This is the single most impactful ‘professional finishing’ step most new podcasters skip.
6. Podcast Artwork, Naming, and Branding
Podcast directories display your show as a small square thumbnail. Your artwork needs to communicate the podcast’s identity at thumbnail size — typically 150x150px in a search result. This rules out small text, complex imagery, and low-contrast designs.
Artwork Requirements and Best Practices
| Requirement | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| File size | 3000x3000px square | Minimum 1400x1400px — 3000x3000px future-proofs across all directories |
| File format | JPG or PNG | JPG is preferred for most hosting platforms — smaller file size |
| Text readability | Readable at 150px wide | Test your design at thumbnail size before publishing — most text becomes unreadable |
| Colour contrast | High contrast between text and background | Dark text on light background or light text on dark background — never medium tones on medium tones |
| Face visibility (if applicable) | Clear, well-lit headshot if it’s a personal brand podcast | Your face builds connection — obscured or small faces don’t work at thumbnail size |
| Branding | Consistent with your other content channels | Same colours, fonts, and visual style as your website and YouTube channel if applicable |
Free design tools: Canva has excellent podcast cover templates that are correctly sized and fully customisable at no cost. Adobe Express also offers podcast cover templates on its free tier. Both are significantly faster than starting from scratch in Photoshop.
Naming Your Podcast
A good podcast name is: memorable, clearly indicative of the topic, searchable (contains words people actually type), and differentiated from existing shows. Check your chosen name on Spotify and Apple Podcasts before committing — if there are three shows with similar names, you’ll struggle to rank in directory searches.
7. Podcast Hosting and RSS Feeds Explained
A podcast hosting platform stores your audio files and generates the RSS feed that podcast directories (Spotify, Apple, Amazon) use to syndicate your episodes. You cannot submit directly to these directories without a hosting platform — the RSS feed is the technical link between your content and every place it appears.
| Hosting Platform | Cost | Storage / Episodes | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify for Podcasters | Free | Unlimited | Direct Spotify integration, basic analytics, video podcast support | Absolute beginners wanting zero cost |
| Buzzsprout | Free (2 hrs/month) / £11+/month | 90 days on free tier | Excellent beginner UX, magic mastering included, strong analytics | Beginners wanting more control than Spotify for Podcasters |
| Transistor | From £15/month | Unlimited shows and episodes | Multiple shows on one account, team features, private podcasting | Agencies, businesses, creators with multiple shows |
| Captivate | From £15/month | Unlimited | Built-in growth tools, listener surveys, membership integrations | Growth-focused podcasters wanting marketing features |
| Podbean | Free (5hrs/month) / from £7/month | 5hrs on free tier | Monetisation marketplace built in, live audio feature | Podcasters wanting monetisation tools early |
| Acast | Free (Starter) / £12+/month | Unlimited on all tiers | Strong sponsorship marketplace, global distribution | Podcasters targeting sponsorship income |
📌 Which Hosting Platform Should You Start With?
For absolute beginners: Spotify for Podcasters (free, unlimited, good enough). For anyone wanting more control from day one: Buzzsprout’s free tier (2 hours/month is enough for 4–5 short episodes while you validate your concept). For anyone committing immediately to a serious podcast: Captivate or Transistor at £15/month give you the analytics and growth tools that matter.
8. How to Distribute to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
Once your hosting account is set up and your first episode is uploaded, distribution is a one-time setup process. Each directory requires a single submission of your RSS feed URL — after that, new episodes appear automatically without any further action.
Distribution Checklist
| Directory | How to Submit | Approval Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | podcasters.spotify.com → Add a podcast → Enter RSS feed URL | Under 5 minutes (usually instant) | If using Spotify for Podcasters as host, already done automatically |
| Apple Podcasts | podcastsconnect.apple.com → Add Show → RSS Feed | 1–5 business days | Requires Apple ID. Most important directory for UK/US audiences |
| Amazon Music / Audible | music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/submit | 24–72 hours | Growing platform with high income demographic |
| Google Podcasts | Submit via Google Search Console or Podcast Manager | Variable | Google discontinued standalone app — episodes now appear in Google Search results |
| YouTube | Upload audio as video (with static image or video feed). Or use YouTube’s native podcast feature in YouTube Studio. | Immediate | YouTube is now #1 podcast platform — do not skip this. Even a static image with your audio uploaded as a video is effective. |
| Podchaser / Podcast Index | Auto-submitted by most hosting platforms | Automatic | Smaller but useful for discoverability |
YouTube as a Podcast Distribution Channel
YouTube is the most important podcast distribution channel most new podcasters ignore. In 2024, YouTube surpassed Spotify as the #1 podcast consumption platform in the US. The reason: YouTube has search. People search YouTube for podcast topics the same way they search Google. No other podcast directory has this organic discovery advantage.
The minimum viable YouTube podcast workflow: record your audio → add a static podcast cover image to create a video file → upload to YouTube with a keyword-optimised title and description → link to your podcast hosting page in the description. This takes 5 extra minutes per episode and puts your content in front of YouTube’s 2.7 billion monthly users.
Full YouTube strategy: How to Grow a YouTube Channel Fast → and The YouTube Business Puzzle Piece Everyone Gets Wrong →
Work With Alan Spicer
Want help turning your podcast into a lead generation channel?
YouTube Certified Expert · 15+ years self-employed · Helping creators and consultants build content that generates clients
9. Growing Your Podcast Audience
Podcast growth is slow at first and exponential later — but only if you do two things consistently: publish on a predictable schedule, and promote every episode beyond your existing audience. Most podcasts fail not because the content is bad, but because the host expects the directory to drive growth without any additional promotion effort.
| Growth Strategy | Effort | Speed of Results | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest interviews | Medium — requires outreach and scheduling | Fast — guest shares with their audience immediately | Any podcast format — most reliable early growth driver |
| Clip repurposing (Reels/Shorts/TikTok) | Low–medium — clip creation from existing episode | Medium — dependent on clip quality and algorithm | Visual-friendly topics where the audio can stand alone |
| LinkedIn posts (one insight per episode) | Low — 15 minutes per episode | Medium — strong B2B reach | Professional and business-focused podcasts |
| Email list | Low once list exists — building takes time | Fast — highest open rates of any channel | Podcasters who already have or are building an email list |
| Podcast guest appearances (other shows) | Medium — requires pitching yourself as a guest | Fast — direct access to established audiences | Any podcast at any stage — highest quality listener acquisition |
| SEO-optimised episode titles and show notes | Low — 20 extra minutes per episode | Slow but permanent — builds over months | Any podcast — foundational long-term strategy |
🎯 The Fastest Way to Grow a New Podcast
Appear as a guest on other podcasts in your niche. Identify 10 shows that serve the same audience as yours but don’t directly compete. Pitch yourself as a guest with a specific topic angle. One guest appearance on a show with 5,000 listeners generates more new subscribers than 6 months of social media posting. Guest podcasting is the highest-ROI growth strategy for new shows.
10. How to Make Money From Your Podcast
Podcasting can generate income through multiple routes, but they are not all equally accessible at the start. The fastest path to revenue from a podcast is almost always using it as a lead generation tool for a service business — not waiting for sponsors or ad revenue, which require a minimum audience size to be meaningful.
| Revenue Stream | Accessible From | Typical Income | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service business leads | Episode 1 — no minimum audience | Unlimited — depends on your service rates | A clear CTA directing listeners to book a discovery call |
| Affiliate marketing | Episode 1 — no minimum audience | £50–£2,000+/month depending on niche and audience size | Relevant products with affiliate programmes; honest recommendations |
| Email list + digital products | Episode 1 for list building; products once trust is established | Variable — £100–£10,000+/month at scale | A lead magnet, email platform, and eventually a product to sell |
| Listener support (Patreon, Supercast) | ~1,000 regular listeners | £200–£2,000+/month | Loyal niche audience willing to pay for extra content or access |
| Sponsorships | 1,000+ downloads per episode | £20–£50 CPM (cost per thousand downloads) | Consistent publishing, good download stats, professional presentation |
| YouTube Partner Programme | 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours on YouTube | £2–£8 per 1,000 views | Consistent YouTube uploads of video or static-image podcast episodes |
For self-employed people and consultants, the most valuable monetisation strategy is to position your podcast as a proof-of-expertise asset that drives bookings. A listener who has heard 10 episodes of your podcast is already sold on your expertise before they ever speak to you. The conversion rate from podcast-listener to consulting client is dramatically higher than from cold traffic.
Affiliate marketing for podcasters: recommend tools in your niche in every episode, include affiliate links in show notes, and build Amazon Associates income around equipment and book recommendations. The full Amazon affiliate strategy: The Amazon Strategy That Pays Every Month →
11. The 8-Step Podcast Launch Blueprint
Everything above, compressed into a clear launch sequence. Work through these in order — most people can go from zero to live podcast in 7–14 days following this exactly.
Step 1
Choose format, niche, and episode 1 topic
Pick solo commentary or interview format. Define your specific audience in one sentence. Write your episode 1 title before anything else — it forces clarity on what the podcast is actually about.
Step 2
Get your minimum viable equipment
A USB microphone (Samson Q2U on Amazon UK is £55–£70) and earphones for monitoring. Find a quiet room with soft furnishings. That is genuinely everything you need to record a professional-sounding episode.
Step 3
Download Audacity (free) and record episode 1
Don’t script the whole thing. Write a detailed outline. Record. It will not be perfect — that is fine. The goal of episode 1 is to learn how your voice sounds, how long it takes, and what you need to improve. Publish it anyway. How to Grow a YouTube Channel Fast → →
Step 4
Edit the three essentials and export as MP3
Remove long silences (Audacity → Effect → Truncate Silence). Cut the most obvious stumbles. Apply noise reduction. Export at 128kbps MP3. Total editing time for a 20-minute solo episode: 30–60 minutes once you’ve done it twice.
Step 5
Create podcast artwork and write show notes
Design a 3000x3000px cover using Canva (free podcast templates available). Write show notes: 150–300 words summarising the episode with timestamps, links to anything mentioned, and your affiliate links. This is what search engines index — treat it like a short blog post.
Step 6
Set up hosting on Spotify for Podcasters or Buzzsprout
Create your account, add your show details, upload your artwork, write your show description (200–400 words, keyword-rich), and upload episode 1. Your RSS feed is automatically generated once the show is created.
Step 7
Submit to Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music
Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com, add your RSS feed URL. Then submit to music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/submit. Both take under 10 minutes to submit — Apple approves in 1–5 days, Amazon within 72 hours. Also upload to YouTube as a video file with your cover art.
Step 8
Publish episode 2 within one week of episode 1
The second episode is more important than the first. It signals to listeners that this is a real, continuing show rather than an experiment. Consistency from the start sets the expectation that you keep. Every episode after that: promote on LinkedIn, clip for Reels/Shorts, mention your CTA every time.
📚 Continue Reading — Be Your Own Boss Series
- Be Your Own Boss: The Real Cost, True Benefits & How to Start
- How to Start a Side Hustle UK
- How to Grow a YouTube Channel Fast
- The YouTube Business Puzzle Piece Everyone Gets Wrong
- Amazon Affiliate Marketing for Beginners
- How to Get Your First Client Starting From Zero
- Jack of All Trades vs Master of One
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Work With Alan Spicer
Ready to launch your podcast and turn it into a lead generation asset?
YouTube Certified Expert · 15+ years self-employed · Helping creators and consultants build content that generates clients
Sources: Edison Research Infinite Dial 2025 · Ofcom Audio Survey 2025 · Demand Sage Podcast Statistics 2025 · Spotify Loud & Clear Podcast Report 2025 · Apple Podcasts Submission Requirements 2026 · YouTube Creator Insider — Podcast Features 2025 · Buzzsprout State of Podcasting Report 2025 · Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Podcast Advertising Revenue Study 2025. All statistics reflect publicly available data at time of publication. Equipment prices based on Amazon UK listings at time of writing and may vary.
