I travel a lot — over the past 15 years I have flown millions of miles building companies — and I record podcasts on the road. Everything I need fits inside a regular backpack. No rolling cases, no pelican boxes, just a backpack. The whole setup costs around $400 and takes about five minutes to set up anywhere.
Here is exactly what I carry and why.
The tripod
The first thing coming out of the bag is a collapsible tripod. The legs click into place and it sets up at whatever height you need. It is super sturdy and folds down small enough to slide right back into the backpack. I use ones from Atumtek and they go up to 60 inches, which is tall enough that I can put it on the floor even when people are sitting. They run about $40.
Lighting makes or breaks your video
This is where most people get it wrong. Ring lights and small panel lights are not great for podcasting. What you want is a big dome softbox. The bigger your light source, the softer and more flattering the light is on camera. That is just how light works. A bigger source means less harsh shadows.
I carry a Godox ML60Bi and a collapsible softbox dome. The dome folds flat and pops open when you need it. You cover it with a diffusion cloth to soften the light even more. The whole lighting kit costs around $300 and I have traveled with it 10 or 15 times without any issues.
The light is adjustable. You can set it to 5900K for daylight or bring it down to 4500K for a warmer sunset feel. I usually keep it at 5900K and 100 percent power. Position it at about a 20 to 30 degree angle from your subject rather than straight on. That becomes your key light.
The microphone is simpler than you think
All the new wireless mics use USB-C now, which makes everything simpler. I carry a dual wireless mic set from Newer that costs about $60. One goes on me and one goes on whoever I am interviewing.
You just plug the receiver into your phone and you have sound. I used to use the DJI Mic 2 and 3 which cost $319 but honestly this $60 set is just as good for most situations.
Your phone is the camera
This is the easiest part. I use my iPhone. Mount it on the tripod, open the camera app, and you have a three camera setup built in.
One tip most people do not know is that you get a better shot when you back up a bit and zoom in to 1.5x or 2x rather than standing close on the wide lens.
The workflow that removes all friction
Once I hit record, the footage goes straight to iCloud and Google Photos.
Our team sees it automatically and can start processing without me having to upload or download anything from a hotel. That is the part that makes this truly mobile. There is no post-recording friction.
The total cost
Wireless mic: $60.
Godox light and softbox: $140.
Tripod: $40.
Phone and laptop: already have them.
That is about $400 for a complete mobile video podcast studio that fits in a backpack. Five minutes to set up, five minutes to tear down. No excuses.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.