Podcasting has changed a lot over the last few years.
What was once almost entirely audio is now expanding into video. Open YouTube today, and you’ll find podcasts everywhere, from solo creators recording in home studios to professionally produced shows with multiple cameras and dedicated sets.
At the same time, millions of people still listen through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other podcast apps every day.
So if you’re starting a podcast, or thinking about growing the one you already have, you’ve probably asked yourself:
Should I focus on audio, video, or both?
The answer depends on your goals, your audience, and the type of content you create.
Why Audio Podcasting Still Matters
Despite the rise of video, audio remains the heart of podcasting.
People listen while they’re:
- Driving to work
- Exercising
- Walking the dog
- Cooking dinner
- Working around the house
These aren’t moments when someone wants to sit and watch a screen.
They’re moments where audio fits naturally into everyday life.
That’s one reason podcast listening continues to grow. Audio gives your audience the freedom to consume your content wherever they are.
If your podcast is built around conversations, education, interviews, or storytelling, audio alone can still deliver an excellent experience.
Why More Creators Are Adding Video
Video opens up opportunities that audio simply can’t.
Viewers can connect with facial expressions, body language, demonstrations, and visual storytelling in ways that audio can’t capture.
For many creators, video also creates more opportunities for discovery.
Platforms like YouTube help new audiences find your content through search and recommendations, while short clips can be repurposed for Instagram Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube Shorts.
Video also gives sponsors more creative placement opportunities and helps strengthen your personal brand by putting a face behind the microphone.
You Don’t Have to Choose One or the Other
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to become either an audio podcaster or a video podcaster.
In reality, many successful creators produce both.
They record a single episode and publish it in multiple formats:
- Audio for podcast listening apps
- Full-length video for YouTube
- Short clips for social media
- Highlights for newsletters and blog posts
Instead of creating separate content for every platform, they’re simply getting more value from each recording session.
Think About How Your Audience Consumes Content
When deciding whether to publish audio, video, or both, ask yourself a few simple questions.
- Where does my audience spend their time?
- Do they watch or mostly listen?
- Is my content visual, conversational, or educational?
- Would video add something meaningful to the experience?
Some podcasts naturally benefit from visuals.
Others don’t need them at all.
Neither approach is right or wrong.
The goal is to create the experience that best serves your listeners.
Creating Video Doesn’t Have to Mean Starting Over
Many podcasters worry that adding video means rebuilding their entire workflow.
Fortunately, that’s rarely the case.
If you’re already recording interviews over Zoom or Riverside, or filming your episodes for YouTube, you’re already creating valuable video content.
The key is finding ways to make that content work harder for you.
Instead of treating audio and video as separate projects, think of them as different ways to deliver the same conversation to different audiences.
How Much Podcast Space Do You Actually Need?
Once you’ve decided whether you’ll publish audio, video, or both, the next practical question is:
How much hosting space do you actually need?
That’s exactly what Dave covers in his latest video. He walks through the factors that affect your hosting needs and shares practical advice to help podcasters estimate how much space makes sense based on their publishing habits.
Whether you’re publishing one episode each month or producing multiple shows every week, understanding your content schedule can help you plan ahead and avoid surprises as your podcast grows.
The Best Strategy Is the One You’ll Stick With
It’s easy to feel pressure to do everything.
Launch on every platform.
Record video.
Create Shorts.
Post reels.
Write newsletters.
But sustainable podcasting isn’t about doing everything at once.
It’s about creating a workflow you can maintain consistently.
If audio is where you want to begin, that’s a great place to start.
If video helps you reach your audience and fits naturally into your process, it’s worth considering.
And if you can comfortably produce both, you’ll give your content more opportunities to be discovered across multiple platforms.
Ultimately, the question isn’t whether audio or video is better.
It’s whether your content is reaching the people who want to hear, or watch it.