Podcasting. Does any one here do this?

Hello everyone,
Sure hope you are all enjoying this lovely spring weather.

I've been thinking about a blog/podcast and thought I'd ask here for some advice.
If you do run a podcast, how did you first start? Did you get a few episodes done before you published them?

The podcast I'm thinking about would be centered around interviews with people. I'm thinking that I'd like to have at least 6 interviews "in the can" before I put them out. Since this would be a new podcast/blog, what advice would you have around how to approach potential guests for an interview. I'd have nothing to show or refer them to other than share my concept. Would that be enough?

My other question is around the recording process. Most of these interviews will be phone interviews. Other than Skype, Gizmo or a hand-held digital recorder, how would I record these interviews. I know that it's always better to have each person speaking recorded on their own track but I don't have a mixer. I do have a digital recorder though that I can hook up to my phone to record the interview. Do you think that would work? What do you use to record your blog?

Thanks in advance for any advice.