Podcasts used to be an audio-only game.
Not anymore.
Podcast audiences today want to see their favorite shows, not just listen. If you’re only publishing audio-only episodes, you’re missing out on a huge potential audience. The better news? Creating podcast content that works well visually is simple.
Here’s the deal:
Video podcasts are booming. Case in point: In 2020, video podcasts made up 18% of all podcast content. Now they make up 36%.
That’s a huge shift in just five years.
In this guide:
- Why Video Podcasts Are Winning
- Setting Up Your Podcast Shoot
- Working With The Right Team
- Turning Long Episodes Into Short Clips
- Publishing Your Video Podcast
Why Video Podcasts Are Winning
Video podcasts are not a trend anymore – they are the new standard.
YouTube is on it. Spotify is on it. Even Apple Podcasts is getting into the video game. And listeners are embracing it. People want to see the face of the person talking into a microphone. They want the facial cues. The reactions. The nuance you just can’t get from audio alone.
Here’s why that matters for you:
- More reach on YouTube and Spotify
- Better engagement with your audience
- Higher chance of getting discovered on social media
- Bigger opportunities for sponsors and ad deals
Think of it this way: you have to trick your listeners into thinking your podcast recording is an actual event. Shooting from multiple angles, clean lighting and controlled audio will always look more professional. That’s event videography skills coming into play. Recording a podcast is very similar to filming an interview-style conversation on stage. It requires the same type of set up, preparation, and eye for detail. If your budget doesn’t include an entire in-house crew, consider hiring a professional video production company who has done this kind of thing hundreds of times. They won’t need weeks of trial and error to figure out how to film two people talking in a room without it looking awkward and amateur.
That’s what separates click-worthy videos from scroll fodder.
Setting Up Your Podcast Shoot
Before you press record, you need to plan.
Podcast video is not “point a camera at yourself and talk.” Podcast video requires the same setup as any event shoot would. Poor lighting or poor audio will ruin an episode quicker than dry content ever will.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 or more cameras (one for each host/guest)
- Good lighting (natural or softbox)
- A quiet, controlled space
- Solid audio gear (never rely on the camera mic)
- A simple, non-distracting backdrop
Where you film yourself is important as well. Choose somewhere that will look nice on camera; perhaps a home office, studio, or designated corner in a co-working space. Just ensure whatever is behind you does not take away from the dialogue.
Pro tip: Test everything out BEFORE your guest arrives. There’s nothing worse than digging through cables for 20 minutes while your guest impatiently waits.
Working With The Right Team
This is where a lot of podcasters get stuck.
Sure you can do everything yourself, but you’ll burn yourself out quickly. Recording/editing/uploading/promoting is essentially a full time job. Quality also nearly always suffers when you try to do so much.
Bringing in help changes the game. Even a tiny team makes a huge difference:
- A camera operator handles the shoot
- An editor turns raw footage into polished episodes
- A social media manager handles clips and posting
You don’t need all three immediately. Start simple. Hire an editor, then bring on crew as your show expands. Only 17% of podcasters record video, and even fewer post regularly.
Let that sink in.
There is a MASSIVE opportunity there. Podcasters who embrace video-first going forward are going to leapfrog everyone else in 12-18 months.
Turning Long Episodes Into Short Clips
This is honestly one of the most powerful things you can do.
Each hour-long episode is chock full of bite-sized clips ready to be mined. LOLs. Hot takes. Wild stats. Any one of these can become that 30-60 second clip that goes viral.
Where should these clips live?
- YouTube Shorts
- Instagram Reels
- TikTok
- LinkedIn (for business podcasts)
- X (formerly Twitter)
Here are some numbers. Podcasts sharing clips on TikTok, Shorts, and Reels grow their reach by 65% on average.
Read that again.
Recording podcast episodes that you can also chop up into clips essentially doubles your audience. It’s the best return on investment you can make in podcasting these days.
How to pick the best clips:
- Look for moments that make you laugh or gasp
- Grab strong opinions or bold statements
- Include reactions and facial expressions
- Keep clips under 60 seconds where possible
- Add subtitles for silent viewing
The vast majority of social videos are consumed without sound. Subtitles are no longer an option, they’re a requirement.
Publishing Your Video Podcast
Once the videos are ready, it’s time to get them out there.
Start with the big platforms:
- YouTube (for full episodes and Shorts)
- Spotify (full video support is here)
- Apple Podcasts (recently added video)
- TikTok and Instagram (for clips)
Don’t upload and walk away. Each platform is different. YouTube likes eye-catching thumbnails and titles. TikTok prefers quicker editing. LinkedIn responds better to business related content. Edit the same clip differently for each platform. Don’t upload the same file to all of them.
Post on a schedule as well. Weekly is ideal for most people. Remember consistency over perfection ALWAYS.
One last tip: recycle old content. You won’t have hundreds of hours of archival footage like some podcasts, but chances are you have a few old episodes lying around. Chop 10 old episodes into dozens of new clips. Repurpose evergreen content.
Final Thoughts
Video podcasts are the future of the format.
Audio-only shows aren’t dead. Growth is coming from video content. If you miss it, you’ll get left behind. Jump on it and you’re ahead of the curve. Here’s the quick recap:
- Set up your podcast shoot like a proper event
- Invest in good gear and a small support team
- Turn every episode into multiple short clips
- Publish to every major platform
- Stay consistent, week after week
Truthfully though most podcasters won’t go through these steps. It’s hard work. That’s why the ones who do will separate themselves from the rest. Begin small. Keep it simple. Improve ever so slightly each week.
Your audience is watching – literally.
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