The time when the term “podcast” signalled audio-only content is long gone. In the last 12 months alone, more and more established audio podcasts have pivoted to video, while new ones are emerging all the time with YouTube as their primary platform.
For brands and businesses, that shift is a no-brainer. A YouTube podcast blends the long-form storytelling of traditional podcasting with the discoverability, engagement and visual power of the world’s largest video platform. Unlike audio-only platforms, YouTube allows podcasts to become a searchable, shareable content engine. Episodes surface in recommendations, appear in search results, generate comments and can be clipped into shareable short-form content. That means conversations don’t just reach subscribers - they reach new audiences organically, making a YouTube podcast a scalable brand storytelling tool.
In this YouTube podcast guide, we break down its component parts, explain how to start a YouTube podcast and share some best practices to help optimise your reach.
What Is a YouTube Podcast?
A YouTube podcast is a podcast that’s created specifically for - or adapted to - YouTube as a video platform. Unlike traditional audio-only podcasts you’d find on apps like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, a YouTube podcast typically includes a video component, whether that’s hosts talking in a studio, remote interviews on split screen, or even animated visuals accompanying the discussion.
At its core, the format is still the same: long-form conversations, interviews, storytelling or educational content released in episodic form. What makes it different is how it’s presented and consumed. On YouTube, creators can combine audio with facial expressions, body language, graphics, clips and live audience interaction through comments or livestream chats. This often creates a more engaging and personal experience for viewers.
YouTube podcasts can range from casual talk shows, like Waitrose’s Dish podcast, and expert interviews to deep dives into business, culture, true crime or entertainment. Some creators film their podcast sessions professionally in studio setups, while others record over webcams from home. Many also repurpose their YouTube podcast episodes into audio-only versions for traditional podcast platforms.
For brands and businesses, YouTube podcasts offer a powerful opportunity both in terms of reach and in the types of content you can pursue. For example, you can spotlight customer success stories, host expert interviews, share founder insights, break down industry trends or document behind-the-scenes moments. And over time, your podcast becomes a living archive for your brand, reinforcing tone, showing personality and fostering trust.
Adapting Audio-First Podcasts to Video
Adapting an audio-first podcast into a video podcast doesn’t mean reinventing your show - it means adding a visual layer to enhance what already works. Low-cost ways to transition include filming the recording session or - if you're not ready for cameras - you could improve static visuals using a branded background and title graphics. With a larger budget, you can create a fully-produced video podcast featuring multiple camera angles, B-roll, on-screen text and dynamic editing.
When it comes to editing, it’s vital to remember that not only are you competing with visual content as well as audio shows but that YouTube viewers have a shorter attention span.
Make sure you include a strong hook within the first 30-60 seconds, opt for faster pacing, include chapters for easy navigation and include engaging thumbnails and titles. It’s also crucial to optimise your content for discovery on YouTube. Consider including SEO-friendly titles, keyword-rich descriptions and compelling thumbnails.
Starting a YouTube Podcast
Launching a YouTube podcast doesn’t have to be complicated. With a clear concept, consistent format, decent lighting, clean audio and a simple recording setup, you can produce professional-quality episodes. A branded backdrop, two cameras (or even one to start) and reliable microphones are often enough. From there, success comes down to consistency, thoughtful editing and packaging your episodes with compelling titles, thumbnails, and descriptions that work with YouTube’s algorithm.
Once you have your recorded content, you can use YouTube Studio to turn it into a podcast. Simply log-in to your YouTube account, go to YouTube Studio and upload your video. Then be sure to add a clear title, a short description and include a thumbnail image. It’s important that you then inform YouTube that your content is part of a podcast series, by creating a podcast playlist. Do this by creating a new playlist inside YouTube Studio, selecting “set as podcast” and adding your episodes.
Best Practices in Video Podcasts
Consistency is key when creating a podcast series. Make sure you retain a familiar style, keep branding consistent and consider episode order in terms of storytelling. A huge part of storytelling comes down to music and sonic branding as that is what transforms a recorded conversation into a show: a strong theme or intro music sets the tone, seamless transitions keep the energy flowing and add emotional depth, and a strong outro reinforces brand recall. Professionally selected music elevates perceived quality, builds recognition, and creates cohesion across episodes.
That’s where Audio Network comes in. Whether you need a bold, confident theme, minimal and modern background music or dynamic stings for segment transitions, we offer a huge selection of high quality music for podcasts.
With more than 280,000 tracks in every mood and genre imaginable, created by the world’s leading artists, composers and producers, there’s a world of choice waiting for you at Audio Network. Search by audio link and prompt or browse our podcast playlist for inspiration. Plus, all of our music is licensed worldwide, forever. You can find out more about what music clearances you need for podcasts in our blog.
So now you know all about creating a YouTube Studio podcast, start browsing music that will help bring your YouTube podcast to life.
Discover More
Why not dig into some more of expert blogs, from what are stems to how to license music for YouTube and how to license a song for video. And don’t miss Audio Network’s guides to music licensing, selecting the right music for your brand and finding music for YouTube videos.
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