What Should Your Podcast Format Be? The Definitive Guide
Do you have an idea for a podcast, but you're just not quite sure how to execute it? Do you know the topic, but you can't decide which format it's best suited for? Unsure whether you should go it alone or bring on a co-host?
One of the very first steps to developing your podcast is answering this question: how are you going to deliver your content?
In other words, which podcast format should you use?
Here, we breakdown six popular formats so you can find the best one for your podcast.
✴ Interview podcasts
This is the most straight-forward of all the formats. Like its name alludes, it's an interview format. Usually, the host gives a brief background of the guest they're bringing on, and then they dive into asking their guest questions.
Generally, it's a one-on-one interview, but there are exceptions to this rule. Sometimes two hosts feed well off each other and can master the art of a two-woman interview. (There are rarely ever three hosts, and for a good reason; the show starts feeling too crowded at that point). Almost always, it's just one guest unless the guest comes in a pair, like business partners.
Who's this format good for? Anyone with solid interviewing skills, who wants to explore a particular topic by interviewing experts in the field. In this format, you (the host) don't have to be the expert--that's what your guests are for--so the topics you can dive into are endless.
Pros:
If you're a good interviewer, there should be minimal editing involved.
You always have exciting new content because guests bring their own unique perspective each week.
Cons:
Securing and scheduling quality guests week in and week out can be challenging.
You'll need to be a good interviewer (it's a lot harder than it seems) and able to keep conversations on track.
Examples: Without Fail, Armchair Expert, Table Manners
Related: Are Interviews the Right Podcast Show Format For You?
✴ Conversational (or co-host) podcasts
These podcasts are co-hosted by two or more people and can run the gambit from comedy shows to educational programs. A general rule of thumb here--hosts have to have great chemistry. Part of the fun for the audience is feeling like you're eavesdropping in on a conversation amongst friends.
These shows may have outlines done for each episode, but they're not scripted. They live and die by the hosts' ability to be authentic and natural while on air. Don't be fooled by the laid back vibe these shows give off; there's still tons of value being provided by these podcasts. They just manage to do it in a fun and engaging style.
Who's this format good for? You and your work wife/best friend who are experts in a field. Whether that means you're an expert in molecular biology or you can name every single Grammy award winner of the past five decades, it doesn't matter. If the two of you can speak passionately about a subject for an hour, once a week, possibly for years, then this might be the format for you.
Pros:
You have a co-host, so the work can be shared equally. This covers everything from marketing, prep, to talking during the episode.
There's minimal prep involved. These shows generally take a theme, question, or topic and run with it, discussing it organically between hosts.
Cons:
It can be tough finding the right co-host, and once you do, you'll both need to find the proper workflow, so no one ends up getting the short end of the stick.
The flip side of minimal prep means you have to be good at thinking--and speaking--on the fly. That's not for everyone.
Examples: Reply All, Scriptnotes, Office Ladies
✴ Panel or roundtable
Similar to the conversational podcasts, panel shows generally rely on an outlined idea for an episode and then take off in a general discussion. Usually, these podcasts are hosted by one regular host, and then a panel of guests rotates in and out each episode.
The majority of these shows fall under the business or news topics, with a few comedy panels thrown into the mix. The format works well with topics where guests benefit from being to respond to each other. Whether that's offering counterpoints on the latest news story or riffing off of a joke.
Who's this format good for? Similar to the interview format, this works well for an excellent interviewer who has enough connections to bring in multiple guests every week. It helps here if you (the host) have the backing of a larger company/team to help coordinate all the moving pieces.
Pros:
As the host, you likely won't have to rely on yourself to speak for most of the show; your guests will take care of that.
A panel of guests makes each episode engaging and unique, so you'll never have to worry about getting too repetitive.
Cons:
You'll have multiple guests to confirm and coordinate each week. Managing to align everyone's schedule can be tricky, and these shows are particularly hard to do remotely.
As the host, you are responsible for steering the conversation in the right direction and making sure there's a balance between guests, so no one person is stealing all the thunder.
Examples: Slate's Political Gabfest, The Inquiry, The Beancast
Related: 5 Tips for Being a Great Podcast Host
✴ Monologue or Solo-Casts/Narrative
Are you an expert in something specific, or just have an intense fascination about a certain topic? This is probably the format for you, then. These podcasts allow the host to do mini-deep dives. (We'll ignore Dan Carlin, for this one. His three-hour episodes are a format of their own.)
Usually, these shows have different topics for each episode, which fall under the show's umbrella topic. Each episode is a bite-size story, ready to be consumed in a single sitting.
Who's this format good for? The person who's as obsessed about a topic as the conversationalists, but prefers to present the material in a more structured format. Someone who enjoys researching and putting together a story all on their own.
Pros:
You get to work on your own timeline since you don't have to worry about anyone else's schedule.
These are generally scripted shows, so you don't have to come up with 30-45 minutes of material on the spot.
Cons:
It's just you up there, so you have no one to riff off of.
If you're a perfectionist, you might end up re-recording a lot to get your voice sounding just right.
Examples: Criminal, Flash Forward, Lore
✴ Narrative nonfiction storytelling
This is where you'll find the journalists. They report on true stories--whether that comes in the form of daily news shows (like The Daily) or through in-depth explorations of the criminal justice system (Serial Season 3).
Unlike the monologue/solo-cast podcasts, narrative nonfiction shows tend to run longer. Generally, they choose a singular focus for an entire season. Because of this, they have a lot more research and depth to them, and they rely heavily on interviews to help guide these stories.
Who's this format good for? Journalists, mainly. Sure, we all might dream of being the next Sarah Koenig, but no one's calling us up about the latest breaking news story. For the rest of us non-journalists, you could use this format to tell a deep-dive of a historical event that you have a unique new perspective on.
Pros:
These shows can be super addictive, which means you get very loyal listeners.
You get to dive deep into one subject, using pretty much any medium at your disposal: interviews, news clips, sound design, original music, etc.
Cons:
It's one of the most time-consuming formats, as there's so much researching and prep that goes into it.
Generally, hosts who are getting juicy, can't-stop-listening stories are journalists who have a career worth of connections and experience that allow them to break the story, or report on the story from a new perspective. This isn't an easy format for beginner podcasters.
Examples: Serial, The Dropout, Revisionist History
✴ Audio Drama
Audio drama, podcast theater, radio play. All the different names mean the same thing--a fictional story. This is the least saturated genre, although several production companies have begun spinning these out left and right lately.
An audio drama functions in a similar way to a TV show. It’s a fictional story told over a season (or more). The main difference here is that it’s all done audibly without any of the visuals a TV show would employ.
Who’s this good for? If you're a writer who wants to tell a story, the barrier to entry here is lower than some alternative avenues like television or novels. This is for the highly creative writer who wants to work in a new medium.
Pros:
Super creative; a format unlike any other on this list.
While there are many high-quality audio dramas out there, it's still the least saturated of the formats, so there's room for you to carve out your own path.
Cons:
Incredibly time-consuming; require full episode scripts, casting, rehearsals, etc.
One of the hardest formats to build an audience in, since there are simply so many other forms of dramatic entertainment. (Hello, Netflix.)
Examples: The Bright Sessions, Homecoming, Carrier
✴ Conclusion
The great thing about podcasting is that it's still a relatively new medium. Every day, people are coming up with new and interesting ways to deliver their stories. So take advantage of one of these well-known formats, or go ahead and develop your own unique setup.
Maybe you'll combine two of these formats and create a new hybrid version. Or, perhaps, you'll come up with something entirely different and start a wave of a whole new format of podcasting.
The possibilities are endless. It's all up to you.
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