Going from Level 4 to Levels 1 and 2 Podcasting

Jennifer Navarrete a.k.a @epodcaster is sharing a lot of wisdom about her work with podcasting. She has identified four levels of podcasting.

As I start on this podcasting journey, I am moving down from Level 4 podcasting - working with an external podcast producer who I absolutely loved and made 160+ episodes with to Levels 1 and 2 podcasting which are:
Level 1: Recording with your phone and using an app like https://aureal.one to record and host
Level 2: USB Mic and Software

I'm actually slightly into Level 3 because I do have an audio mixer (a.k.a. a piece of a home studio) but I don't use the mixer very well at all.

In level 4 podcasting, my job as host was simple. I had a guest booked and I chatted with that guest by email or zoom before we recorded about the episode and what we'd discuss. I showed up and our amazing Producer - Jen Edds from Brassy Broadcasting - had mics and mixers and software all set up and she watched all of that stuff while we recorded the episode. She then did all the editing and published the episode via a podcast distribution site - I think we used Libsyn for that show.

Now, I'm doing Level 1 and 2 podcasting where not only am I responsible for the content - I'm also responsible for the quality of the audio. It is so much more daunting. In my Level 4 days, I did some edits by re-recording things and sending Jen a version I was happy with - now I not only have to re-record but also cut and adjust and do all the things to make a better quality sound.

One of the hardest challenges for this for me is that I know how great a podcast can sound when it's in the hands of a professional like Jen Edds but I don't always sound that way and it's disconcerting and disappointing. But the point of NaPodPoMo is not perfection out of the gate - it is building the reps of action so that you learn all the basics so that the basics become habitual.

Have you had a variety of podcast experiences?? If so, what were they?