What Podcasters Can Learn from the Kelce Brothers’ “New Heights” Podcast

If you’re thinking about launching your own podcast — or improving the one you already have — take a look at how Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce built their hit show New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce. Their success is not only about their personalities and NFL credentials — it’s also about smart gear choices, good production practices, and content strategy that any creator can learn from.

Why Their Podcast Is So Successful

Here are some of the key factors behind the Kelce brothers’ podcast success — and how you can apply them to your own show:

• Authentic personalities + compelling content: Jason and Travis bring their real-life football stories, brotherly banter, and pop-culture references to the mic. Their show isn’t just sports analysis; it’s a window into their lives. 
• Consistent schedule & broad distribution: They launched the show in September 2022 and quickly rose to the top of sports podcast charts. 
• High-quality production values: Their gear and setup are pro level, which helps the show sound (and look) great. 
• Leveraging multiple media formats: They record video, release audio, feature guests, and tap into cross-platform promotion. This greatly expands their reach.
• Strong fan-engagement and brand building: Their listeners (“92 percenters”) feel part of the community — leading to loyal followers and merchandise sales.

The Gear They Use — and What You Can Learn

One of the things that sets “New Heights” apart is its professional-level gear and setup. Here are some of the specific pieces their team uses — and how that translates for you.

Microphones & Audio Chain

According to multiple sources, the Kelce brothers use the Shure MV7 podcast microphone. For some episodes/video shoots, the mic chain includes higher-end gear: the Shure SM7B, along with professional recorders like the Zoom F8n Pro or Zoom F4. 

What you can learn:

• You don’t necessarily need to start with an “broadcast studio” budget. For many podcasts, a good dynamic mic + pop filter + quiet room will go a long way. 
• However, if you’re serious about building a polished show and planning growth, aim for gear that offers reliability, clean sound, and minimal fuss — things like the MV7 or SM7B (if budget allows) are worth considering.
• Environment matters: even the best mic won’t help much if you’re in a noisy room, untreated space, or with inconsistent levels. Many production issues come from the environment — not just the gear.

Recording Setup & Workflow

For live/video episodes, “New Heights” uses a multi-camera video setup (e.g., three Sony FX9 cameras) plus pro lighting, and audio is captured via high-end recorders with multiple mic inputs.

What you can learn:

• Start simple: for your first episodes you might only need one camera (or even just your smartphone) and one good mic. Then scale up as your audience grows.
• If you plan to deliver video AND audio versions, think about framing, lighting, and background — listeners may not see, but viewers will judge the visuals. The Kelce brothers treat their podcast like a full media production, which helps expand their audience.
• Develop a consistent workflow: record, edit, publish. Build templates, make check-lists for sound levels, introductions, guest onboarding, etc. The more professional your backend is, the smoother your show runs.

Distribution & Platform Strategy

The Kelce brothers distribute across platforms — audio podcasts, YouTube video, social media clips. They also signed a major deal with Wondery/Amazon Music for wide distribution and monetization. 

What you can learn:

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Publish audio on major platforms (Spotify, Apple Podcasts) and consider video or clips for YouTube or social.
• Clipable moments = shareable moments. A great guest quote, a funny moment, a compelling story can become a short social-clip, driving new listeners.
• Monetisation and growth come when you build audience, consistency and quality — the Kelce brothers’ big deal wasn’t just because they are famous, but because they built a podcast that looked and sounded like a premium production.

Tips for New or Growing Podcast Creators

Whether you’re just starting or ready to upgrade your setup, here are actionable tips inspired by how Jason & Travis do it:

1. Define your niche + voice. You don’t need to be NFL stars, but you do need to bring something uniquely *you*. The Kelces bring brotherly chemistry, sports insider access, and real life stories. What’s your angle? What can you offer that others don’t?
2. Start with gear you can manage. For example, a good USB or XLR mic, decent headphones, and a quiet space. 
3. Create a consistent release schedule. Listeners appreciate predictability. The Kelces do weekly episodes. You don’t need to publish daily — consistency matters more than frequency.
4. Plan your workflow now. Pre-production (topic planning, guest outreach), production (recording day), post-production (editing, mixing, publishing). Build templates and check-lists so episodes run smoothly.
5. Focus on quality, even if you’re small. Audio clarity, stable levels, no hidden noise, well-edited intros/outros. When you sound good you mirror the level of professional podcasters and listeners take you seriously.
6. Expand your format smartly. If you’ll eventually do video, audience clips, live events — plan for those ahead of time (camera angles, guest lighting, environment). The Kelce brothers built a video/behind-the-scenes element to their show. 
7. Engage your audience. Build a community. Ask for listener questions, do social-media polls, create share-worthy moments. The more your audience feels part of the show, the more likely they are to bring in new listeners.
8. Iterate and grow. Your first episodes don’t have to be perfect. Record, learn, improve. As you grow you can upgrade gear (mic, boom arm, interface, camera), improve your recording environment, bring on guests, and expand your reach.

Conclusion

The journey of “New Heights” by Jason and Travis Kelce shows that even in a crowded podcast market you *can* stand out — if you combine great content + authentic voice + production quality + smart distribution. For podcasters at any stage, the lesson is clear: you don’t need to wait for perfection to start, but you *do* need to commit to doing it well and doing it consistently.

If you’re ready to launch or upgrade your podcast, use their approach as inspiration. Get good gear, pick a niche, build a workflow, and deliver value — and the rest will follow.

Good luck and welcome to the podcast game.

This article originally published at PodcastGearHQ.com.