What is a podcast
A podcast is an audio show (or an audio and video show) published in episodes that anyone can listen to whenever they like. Here you'll see which formats exist, how long episodes usually last, how often they come out, and why this medium is so addictive.
What exactly is a podcast
A podcast is a series of audio episodes published regularly that the listener plays on demand: whenever they want, wherever they want and in whichever app they prefer. There's no broadcast time like on traditional radio. You publish the episode and it stays available forever (or until you take it down).
Technically, what turns an audio file into a podcast is the RSS feed: an address that apps check to see whether there are new episodes and download them. You'll look at it properly in the publishing lesson. For now, remember the idea: episodes, consistency and subscription.
Lots of people get into podcasting because “all you need is a mic”. It's true that the barrier to entry is low, but what separates a podcast people listen to from one they abandon is the format, consistency and good sound. That's what this course is about.
The main formats
There's no single type of podcast. The format decides how many voices you need, how much you have to prepare and how much editing awaits you. Try it in the simulator above: pick a format and look at its typical structure in blocks.
| Format | What it's like | Voices | Preparation | Editing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | A host leads and questions a different guest each episode | 2 (sometimes more) | Medium: researching the guest | Medium |
| Panel show | Several people discuss a topic or current events | 3–5 | Low or medium: an outline of topics | High: voices talking over each other |
| Narrative | A story told with a script, music, sound effects and testimonies | 1 narrator + recordings | Very high: full script | Very high |
| Solo | A single voice that explains, gives opinions or teaches | 1 | Medium: outline or script | Low |
| News briefing | A short, frequent roundup of the news or a specific topic | 1–2 | Daily and fast | Low, but in a hurry |
There are lots of hybrids: a solo show with a short interview in the middle, a panel show with regular segments, a narrative with interviews. To start, pick one clean format and master it before mixing.
A solo show or an interview are the easiest formats to learn with. Narrative is beautiful, but each episode can take dozens of hours of work. Better ten simple episodes done well than one spectacular episode and nothing after it.
Length: whatever the content needs
There's no “correct” length. There are five-minute daily podcasts and two-hour weekly conversations that people listen to all the way through. What matters is that nothing is filler. Even so, each format tends toward certain ranges:
- News briefing: 5 to 15 minutes. Its value is speed.
- Solo: 10 to 30 minutes. A single voice gets tiring if it runs long for no reason.
- Interview: 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes more if the guest deserves it.
- Panel show: 45 to 90 minutes.
- Narrative: 20 to 45 minutes per episode, usually in seasons.
A useful clue: think about when people listen to you. A commute or a walk lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. If your episode fits in that window, it gets finished more often.
Release schedule: consistency wins
Your release schedule is how often you publish: daily, weekly, every two weeks, monthly or in seasons. Listeners get used to a rhythm, and breaking it is the fastest way to lose them. So the rule is simple: choose a frequency you can keep up for months, not the one you'd manage in your best week.
Don't
Publish three episodes in the first week, one the following month and then vanish for two months.
Do
Publish one every two weeks, always on the same day, with two or three episodes recorded in reserve.
The seasons format (for example, eight episodes and then a break) is a great option if your life doesn't allow a continuous rhythm: listeners know what to expect and you can prepare ahead of time.
Audio or video podcast
Today many podcasts are also filmed and published on YouTube as well as on the audio platforms. This is called a video podcast. It has clear advantages: YouTube is a huge search engine, and vertical clips help you get discovered on social media. But it also multiplies the work: cameras, lighting, set design and multicam editing.
| Audio only | Video podcast | |
|---|---|---|
| Gear | Microphone, headphones, room | The same + cameras and lighting |
| Editing | One audio timeline | Audio + several synced cameras |
| Where it's consumed | Podcast apps, while doing something else | YouTube and social media, often in the background |
| To get started | Recommended | Better once you've mastered audio |
My advice: learn to make a good audio podcast first. A video podcast with bad sound can't be saved by the picture. Once the audio is sorted, move on to the video podcast lesson.
Why podcasting works
The big advantage of podcasts is that you listen while doing something else: driving, cooking, working out, commuting or cleaning the house. They don't compete for your eyes, only your ears. That gives them listening time very few media achieve.
On top of that, a voice creates closeness. Listening to someone for hours, week after week, builds a very strong bond of trust with the person speaking. That's why podcasts build such loyal audiences and why sound quality matters: you are literally inside the listener's ears, often through headphones.
You don't need anyone's permission to publish a podcast: a hosting service and a feed are enough. The big platforms distribute your show, but you control the content and can switch services without losing your subscribers.
- A podcast is a series of on-demand episodes distributed through an RSS feed.
- Main formats: interview, panel show, narrative, solo and news briefing.
- The content sets the length; nothing should be filler.
- Choose a release schedule you can sustain for months.
- Master audio before moving on to video podcasting.
Your turn: listen like a producer
Listen to one episode from three podcasts in different formats and analyze how they're built.
- Pick an interview, a solo show, and a panel show or a narrative.
- Note their length, their release schedule and how the first 30 seconds open.
- Decide which format fits your idea and how often you could really publish.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a podcast and a radio show?
Radio is broadcast at a set time; a podcast is listened to on demand and distributed by subscription. Many radio shows are also published as podcasts after they air.
How long should a podcast episode be?
As long as the content needs, with no filler. As a guide, news briefings run about 5–15 minutes, solo shows 10–30 and interviews 30–60.
Is it better to make an audio or a video podcast?
To start, audio: it's simpler and it forces you to take care of the sound. Video helps you grow on YouTube and social media, but it multiplies the work.