Ultimate guide to

video podcasts
A step-by-step guide to creating a video
podcast

One of the biggest benefits of making a

video podcast is that you can create
repurposed content for social media.
What is a Video Podcast
A video podcast is a visual version of your podcast that can be distributed on
YouTube, Vimeo, and your podcast website to reach a larger audience. At
this point, very few podcast directories allow video podcasts to be uploaded
through their RSS feeds. However, Spotify recently built out video podcasts
as a feature on their platform, which is only currently available to a handful
of top shows.

Benefits of Video Podcasts vs

Audio Podcasts
Video podcasts are an amazing way to generate waterfall content for your
podcast, because they can easily be chopped up and posted as videograms
(short clips) on social media. Video is more intimate because it brings your
audience into the studio so it can help build trust with viewers. Plus, posting
your podcast on YouTube (in addition to Apple podcasts, Google, Spotify,
etc) makes your show available to a brand new audience. 
Factors to Consider
While video podcasts have some incredible benefits, there are also some
serious downsides to think about before you dive in. 

 Editing video takes longer and may add production costs. 

 Recording video adds stress to the hosts and guests, not everyone
enjoys this. 
 It is challenging to keep viewers engaged on video for the full
length of a podcast episode, unlike audio podcasts. Pat Flynn
makes this point here.  

Types of Video Podcasts

There are several different ways to create a video podcast, some easier than
others. You can pick and choose the option that works best for you, and you
can even mix and match some of the ideas as well. 

Static Image (Easiest) 

The first and easiest way to make a video podcast is to just create a video
with the podcast cover art. We do not recommend this method in most cases,
because it is very visually boring and YouTube doesn’t like static content.
Because YouTube is a visual-first platform, we recommend creating
something that is more dynamic.
If you do follow this route, we recommend at least creating custom artwork
for each individual episode of your show. Otherwise your YouTube channel
is going to just show a bunch of duplicated copies of your podcast cover
art, making it hard to decide which video to click on. 
Examples
 99% Invisible
 Criminal 
 Command Line Heroes

Visualizer (Moderate)
Example from Even the Rich podcast by Wondery
A visualizer is a short looping video (much like a Spotify Canvas) that adds
interest to an otherwise static image video. The benefit of this method is that
it’s far more visually exciting than a static image, and much less work than
being on camera for a full length episode. It works especially well for
narrative and storytelling podcasts that are recorded during many different
sessions. 
Examples
 Wondery
 NPR: Code Switch
 Bring Back Bronco 
 Hackable 

Slides, B-Roll, and Powerpoint

Example from Pod Save America by Crooked Media
Adding slides, broll, and even a full powerpoint presentation to your podcast
is a great way to improve the video podcast experience. You could create a
video podcast that focuses exclusively on slides, with no faces shown, or you
could add slides on top of the main video footage of yourself recording the
podcast. The goal of this method is to make the podcast more interesting and
show your audience the content you are talking about (eg screen share your
computer while referencing a website or different video). 

Examples
 Pod Save America 
 Joe Rogan Experience 

Animations & Illustrations 

Example from Dissect Podcast
Another way to generate a video podcast is to create an animation to go along
with the audio content. Animated podcasts add visual explanation to what is
being said to keep the audience engaged on the screen. Typically this
animation method is used to create simple podcast video trailers, rather than
full-length episodes. It would take far too much work to do a full-blown
animation for the full length of an hour-long podcast for most people, but
many podcasters use this method to create an animated podcast trailer, or to
animate a special clip from their podcast (6-10 mins) so they can optimize it
for YouTube.  

Examples
 Dissect Podcast
 Gimlet Motherhacker podcast trailer 

Solo Storytelling
Solo podcasts can follow a similar setup to the in-person interview
recordings. You should create a welcoming studio space for recording, with
good sound dampening and a beautiful background. Solo storytelling is not
the most common format for podcasts, but some talk shows do follow this. 

Examples 
 The Rachel Hollis Podcast 
 The Way I Heard it with Mike Rowe 
 The Ben Shapiro Show

Interview
Interview-style podcasts are the most common kind of shows to release video
podcasts. This makes sense because the conversation naturally works better
whenever you can see both guests’ faces, and it works especially well when
the guest is well known. In-person video interviews can be recorded in a
beautiful studio, on a living room couch, or even in a walk-in closet. They
sometimes require more pre-planning and work to make the set look
beautiful, but the beauty of creating a high-quality interview video is that you
can chop it up and redistribute it across multiple channels (YouTube,
Snapchat, IGTV, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok).  

Examples 
 Joe Rogan 
 The School of Greatness 
 #AskGaryVee
 Southside Rabbi
 The Ground Up Show 
  The Good Parts (Andy Grammar) 

Remote Interview

Remote recordings have been a popular part of the podcast culture for a long
time. But in 2020 and 2021, the shift to work from home has created a big
spike in the number of podcasts recorded on tools like Zoom and Riverside.
Typically, for remote interviews, both the host and guest’s full video is
recorded and then embedded into a custom-branded background. Sometimes
the video will have additional lower-thirds, slides, screen sharing, and other
elements to make it more engaging. But at the minimum, a remote video
interview is a full recording of your video call that you can upload to
YouTube and cut into multiple short clips. 

Examples 
 Indie Hackers
  IGN Unlocked (Xbox podcast) 
 How I Built This (NPR) 
 ChooseFi

Conclusion
There are a lot of different methods for creating a video podcast. We
recommend either creating a visualizer for your podcast (at the minimum) or
recording your interviews to bring your audience behind the scenes as you
record and let them see your faces. 

How to Make a Video Podcast

What does it take to make a video podcast? You need to find your topic, buy
the right equipment and software, produce the podcast as you record, edit the
video, distribute it, and chop up the content for marketing. Let’s dive in. 

Finding a Topic
The first step to creating a video podcast is to find a topic that you have a
deep interest in, and that you can generate topics from. If you are looking for
more ideas on how to brainstorm the topic and theme of your podcast, check
out our blog on How to start a podcast.

Equipment
Here’s a quick list of what equipment we recommend for recording a video
podcast. This equipment is great for recording both in-person and remote
videos. 

In-Person Recording Setup 

The easiest way to record an in-person video podcast is to capture video
through a nice DSLR camera and audio through a separate handheld recorder,
and then combine the audio and video in post. 
  DSLR Camera (Optional) – Sony A5100 ($599) 
 Microphone –  Audio-Technica ATR2100x ($99) or Samson
Q2U ($69) 
 Audio Recorder – Zoom H6 
 Headphones – Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro ($149), Samson
Technologies SR850 ($49), or Apple Earpods ($18.99) 
 Lighting – Viltrox 30W Dimmable Light ($52) and universal light
stand ($29). Make sure your face is well lit, and avoid direct light
behind you (don’t sit with your back to a window). 
 Recording Environment – Find a dedicated space to record that is
quiet, has lots of sound-dampening things like carpet and couches,
and turn off any background noise like HVAC, phone notifications,
and other electronics. 
 Invest In Your Studio Space – Invest some energy (and money) into
your video background to add branding, some cool lights, and
props like books, coffee mugs, or candles. 
Remote Recording Setup 
The easiest way to record a remote podcast is to use a tool like Zoom to
capture the video, while also recording a backup of your podcast audio
locally on Quicktime or Audacity, then combining the audio and video in
post. 
 Webcam – Logitech BRIO 4k ($183) or CamPark Webcam 1080P
($49) 
 Microphone –  Audio-Technica ATR2100x ($99) or Samson
Q2U ($69) 
 Headphones – Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro ($149), Samson
Technologies SR850 ($49), or Apple Earpods ($18.99) 
 Lighting – Viltrox 30W Dimmable Lights (3 pack for $ and universal
light stand ($29). Make sure your face is well lit, and avoid direct
light behind you (don’t sit with your back to a window). 
 Recording Environment – Find a quiet room that looks
aesthetically pleasing to record your remote conference call. 
  Clean background – Add space to your background to create depth
in your shot. It’s nice to add some aesthetic items like a bookshelf,
an Edison light bulb, and something colorful like a few books. 

Producing Your Podcast

Now let’s dive into the specific steps it takes to create your video podcast. 

Filming in Person
Filming a podcast in person, whether you are a solo host or interviewing a
guest, will take the most amount of work. Here are the key steps you need to
take to produce an in-person video podcast. 

1. Set up your equipment. Clean up your video set, set up your

camera, mic, and equipment. 
2. Record a test video. Test both the video and audio to prevent any
major mistakes from ruining the recording. 
3. Slate. Record a clap at the start of the video so your editor can
align the video and audio easily in post.  
4. Stop recording. End your recording, organize and rename files for
your editor, and upload them. 
5. Edit the video. Cut out distractions, add intro and outro bumpers,
add lower thirds and animations, add b-roll, and sync up the mixed
audio to your video.  
6. Export edited video as audio for mixing. Take the audio from your
edited show and export it for mixing and mastering. This mixed
audio can be re-synced with the video and published separately as
an audio-only podcast on Apple, Spotify, etc. 
7. Record separate intro and outro for the audio version
(Optional). Some shows add in separate intro/outro bumpers to
the video and audio versions of their podcast. 
8. Post on YouTube. Upload your video to YouTube and make sure
you optimize it for SEO (scroll down to see YouTube SEO tips). 
Filming Remote Interviews
Remote interviews are a lot easier to prepare for and record. Unlike in-person
recordings, they require much less equipment to manage and can even be
done using nothing but your laptop. 

1. Choose your remote recording software (Zoom or Riverside.fm).

You can read our full list of recommendations on how to record a
remote podcast here. 
2. Send your guest a link. Most recording software like Zoom lets you
schedule an event and send your guest to link so they know where
to record on the call. 
3. Set up webcams, USB mics, and headphones. 
4. Don’t be afraid to ask your guest to improve their setup. Make
sure your guest has headphones on, ask them to clean up the video
background, and strive to curate the video to best serve your
audience. 
5. Don’t use virtual backgrounds without a green screen. Virtual
backgrounds are fun when you are on a conference call, but
without a green screen they create very bad cropping around your
outline in the video. 
6. Test everyone’s mic, make sure everyone wears headphones (to
avoid recording echo). Always do a quick test recording and set up
a backup recorder to avoid losing files. 
7. Record interview. 
8. Download video files. 
9. Embed videos a branded background (picture-in-picture style). 
10. Export edited video as audio for mixing. Take the audio from
your edited show and export it for mixing and mastering. This
mixed audio can be re-synced with the video and published
separately as an audio-only podcast on Apple, Spotify, etc. 
11. Record separate intro and outro for the audio version
(Optional). Some shows add in separate intro/outro bumpers to
the video and audio versions of their podcast. 
12. Post on YouTube. Upload your video to YouTube and make sure
you optimize it for SEO (scroll down to see YouTube SEO tips). 
Illustrations, Slides, and Static Images
B-roll and on-screen content can make your video much more engaging. This
is crucial because YouTube’s #1 metric for success is engagement: how long
are viewers watching your content. Illustrations, slides, and static images can
be added to any style of video podcast, whether you record the hosts or not.
Here’s how to plan ahead: 

1. Review your entire episode, making notes anytime you mentioned

a resource. 
2. Collect screenshots, images, b-roll, and illustrations to sprinkle
throughout your video.
3. Use Descript to easily get a transcript of your episode so you can
easily see the timestamps of your video and create notes for your
video editor.  
Edit Your Video Podcast 
Need to outsource your video podcast production? Our team can manage all
of the complex work of color grading, adding b-roll and lower thirds, adding
custom bumpers, and mixing your video for sharing on YouTube. Learn more
about our video production services here. 

Where to Upload Your Video

Podcast
Video podcasts can be used in a lot of versatile ways. Here are some of the
most popular ways to distribute a video podcast. 

YouTube
YouTube is the number one platform you need to upload your video podcast.
YouTube has over 2 billion monthly users. It is a massive search engine, just
like Google so you need to pay attention to SEO to grow your channel. 

How to Rank Your Video on YouTube (YouTube SEO 101) 

 Title – Write a gripping title, use at least 1 keyword. VidIQ is a great
tool to use. 
 Description – Video descriptions need an exciting summary of the
content, links to resources, and any information that will help your
users understand the video’s context. 
 Tags – Add relevant tags (similar to hashtags) to your video to help
YouTube understand what your video is about (eg. Tesla, Elon
Musk, Space X). 
 Thumbnail – Boost the click through rate to your videos with a
custom thumbnail with an exciting title that pulls you in. 
 Engagement – YouTube’s #1 metric for success is engagement.
Make your video interesting and high quality to keep your
audience’s attention. 
 Video Chapters, Info Cards, and End Screens – Add timestamps in
your video description to automatically add chapter summaries to
your video. Add Info Cards to link to other related videos and End
Screens to the end of videos. This all helps users find more of your
content and over time can lead to YouTube generating a lot more
views on your channel. 
Twitch (Less Common)

Twitch has a Talk Shows & Podcasts category with over 2.5 million
subscribers. Many creators record a live podcast, then upload it separately to
other podcast directories after recording it live. The benefit of this method is
that it requires little to no post-production.  
Spotify (Limited Availability) 

Spotify released their video podcasts feature in 2020, in preparation for

adding the Joe Rogan Show exclusively to their platform. However, it is
currently only available to a select number of podcasts
Snapchat (Less Common)

Shows like The Breakfast Club, Pod Save America, The Ben Shapiro Show,
and many more post long clips to Snapchat. These Snapchat versions often
have lots of b-roll, screenshots, memes, and crazy transitions to keep user
engaged. One major note – while anyone can upload a video to Snapchat
Stories, you have to be manually given the Snap Star upgrade in order for
users to subscribe to your content as a “Show.” 

IGTV (Market Your Episode) 

Instagrams IGTV lets you upload long-form video up from 15 seconds to 10
minutes long. With a verified account you can upload videos up to 60
minutes. For most podcasters, the best way to use Instagram to promote their
show is to upload video clips and add a link for users to watch the full video
on YouTube. 

Facebook (Market Your Episode) 

Facebook lets you upload videos up to 240 minutes. But even though you
could upload a full-length podcast episode on your page, we recommend
posting short 7-12 minute video clips from your show with a link pointing to
the full video on YouTube.

Podcast Video-Clip Strategy 

One of the biggest benefits of making a video podcast is that you can create
repurposed content for social media. To get even more value out of your
video podcast, chop it up into 1-3 engaging clips and upload them separately
on YouTube and social media with a link back to the full episode. 

This strategy is used by tons of podcasters, including Tim Ferris, Joe

Rogan, Pat Flynn, and Naval. 
How It Works 
 Pull 1-3 short clips from your podcast (7-12 mins) 
 Upload them in addition to your full-length episode (YouTube,
social media) 
 Add a link to your full-length episode along with each clip you post 

Conclusion
Video podcasts provide tons of opportunity to reach new listeners and
generate additional content for marketing your show. But they also require a
lot more hard work and post-production. If you have the budget or capacity,
we highly recommend creating a video podcast strategy that suits your
podcasts goals. 

Once you start your video podcast and are growing your audience, the next
step is to start considering how to monetize your podcast.