YouTube has helped make podcasts mainstream.

When I started podcasting back in 2005, it was an incredibly niche media format. Listeners had to understand how to subscribe to an RSS feed (read our article here which explains what an RSS feed is), how to transfer the mp3 downloads of each podcast episode to a media player, and so on.

These days, few people don’t know what a podcast is and few people would admit that they’ve never listened to one*.

Many podcasters have used YouTube to host and distribute their episodes. Podcast episodes are usually audio-only, but by hosting them on YouTube, podcasters can make them available to a wider audience who may prefer to watch a video rather than listen to an audio file.

Should Your Podcast Include Video?

There are benefits and drawbacks to including video with your podcast. Here are a few things to consider:

• Pros:

• Video can make your podcast more engaging and visually appealing.

• You can show your face and expressions, which can help build a connection with your listeners.

• Video can make it easier to monetise your podcast through advertising or sponsorships.

• Cons:

• Video can be more time-consuming and technically challenging to produce.

• It may require additional equipment and software.

• Not all listeners will be able to watch the video (for example, if they are driving or don't have a strong enough internet connection), in which case you really need to have a “proper” podcast that includes audio files distributed by an RSS feed.

Ultimately, the decision to include video with your podcast will depend on your goals, resources, and target audience.

If you have the time and resources to produce high-quality video, and you think it will add value for your listeners, it can be a great way to enhance your podcast. However, if video isn't feasible for you, a purely audio-based podcast can still be successful. Click here to read our guide to why you should start a podcast in 2023.

We speak to many clients who quickly settle on the idea of including video with their podcast, and we 100% support this, the “cons” listed above asides.

Why Post Your Podcast on YouTube?

YouTube should be your preferred choice for distributing the video version of your podcast. Here’s why:

1. Discovery: YouTube has a large community of users, and many of them have discovered new podcasts through YouTube searches or recommendations. Podcasters can optimise their videos for search and use YouTube's tools to reach a wider audience.

2. Cross-promotion: Many podcasters also create videos to promote their podcasts and make them more visible to potential listeners. This can include video versions of podcast episodes, behind-the-scenes footage, and other promotional content. By cross-promoting their podcasts on YouTube, podcasters can reach an audience that may not have otherwise discovered their podcasts.

3. Live Streaming: YouTube Live Streaming feature allows podcasters to go live and interact with their audience, this could be a great way to promote upcoming episodes, answer questions, and build a community around their podcast.

By making podcasts more visible and accessible on YouTube, the platform has helped to popularize the medium and introduce it to a wider audience.

TOP TIP: Always include a link to where viewers can subscribe to your podcast in their favourite podcast app, such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, etc, in the description of your videos.

Point 3 on the list is very interesting to consider.

Having previously hosted and produced a popular podcast that live-streamed the recording, I can assure you it’s great fun to interact live with the very people who listen to - and later watch - your episodes. Their comments can help drive each episode onward.

Quick funny story.

We used to have a phone number to allow listeners to call into the show while we were recording. In one recording, we kept getting phone calls asking about a bike that was for sale. After a bit of investigative digging during the recording by Glasgow Podcast Studio co-founder Cam, we discovered that a listener who was watching our live stream had created a fake listing on Gumtree for a kid’s bike and had used the show’s number as the contact phone number.

Ok, maybe you had to be there.

Either way, adding a video component to your podcast, even live streaming it, adds a whole new dynamic, both for you as a host and for the listeners.

What Does the Glasgow Podcast Studio Offer for Video Production And Live Streaming?

If you opt to create a video of your podcast episodes, you can shoot with up to 3 Black Magic 6k Cinema Cameras in our studio. These are routed into a Blackmagic Atem Mini Extreme Pro ISO switcher, allowing you to live switch between the camera angles. Once the recording is complete, you get 1 video file with all of the camera switches included, and 3 “ISO”, which are video files recorded from each camera, which gives you the ability to re-cut the footage as you wish. This is particularly useful for making short-form videos of your podcast for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

If you want to live stream the recording, not only do we have super-fast internet, we also have the software to allow you to stream to multiple platforms at the same time, display viewer comments on screen and you get to watch everything on a 4K TV while you stream.

Whatever you decide to include with your podcast production, we’re here to help, not only due to our extensive experience producing podcasts and video content, but also because of the hardwear that the studio offer. So, book your time in the Podcast Studio Glasgow!

*According to surveys and research, the number of people in the United States who have listened to a podcast has been steadily increasing in recent years. The exact number of people who have listened to a podcast can vary depending on the survey or research, but it is estimated that as of 2021 around 100 million people in the US have listened to a podcast. Some other sources report that the number of monthly active listeners in the US is around 90 million.

It's worth noting that this number can change as podcasting industry is rapidly growing in popularity and more people are starting to listen to podcasts. The number of people listening to podcasts is increasing year on year, and this trend is expected to continue in the future.