How long should a podcast episode be?
How long should your podcast episodes actually be?
Today, we’re tossing the rulebook out the window and figuring out episode length.
Forget those guru-mandated magic numbers; it’s all about what suits your story and your listeners' needs. Whether you’re aiming for a quick, snappy 15-minute burst or a deep-dive extravaganza of over an hour, we’ll guide you through the pros and cons of each format.
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Transcript
Podcasting Insights hi there, Podmaster Neil Velio here.
Speaker A:And today I want to talk about something every podcaster wrestles with.
Speaker A:How long should your podcast episodes actually be?
Speaker A:Well, first of all, we need to toss out that rulebook.
Speaker A:You've probably seen those magic numbers floating around from some of the podcast gurus on social media.
Speaker A:Keep it under 30 minutes.
Speaker A:Aim for an hour.
Speaker A:Honestly, Yin and yang.
Speaker A:Anyway, these are just guidelines, not commandments.
Speaker A:Your podcast length should fit your story arc and your listener's requirements, not some arbitrary time duration.
Speaker A:And this is where knowing your listener comes in.
Speaker A:Think about who you're talking to and when they're likely to be listening.
Speaker A:Short bursts of under 15 minutes are great for busy mornings, quick walks and a coffee break.
Speaker A:Mid length chats of around 15 to 30 minutes are solid for commutes, lunch breaks, or when they need a mental snack.
Speaker A:Then we get the deeper dives.
Speaker A:30 to 45 minutes.
Speaker A:Perfect if you've got a real deep story that needs a bit more breathing room.
Speaker A:And then those long, arduous conversations of 45 minutes plus.
Speaker A:Okay, look, these are ideal if your audience loves hanging out with you for the long haul, and they're brilliant for a road trip or a Sunday afternoon wind down.
Speaker A:But you've gotta be really interesting to hold their attention for that long.
Speaker A:And to be honest, if your benchmark is Steven Bartlett, he's not.
Speaker A:So let's look into the pros and cons of each duration.
Speaker A:Short episodes of under 30 minutes.
Speaker A:The pros are this.
Speaker A:They're quicker to record and edit.
Speaker A:You get more episodes per month, and they're great for listeners who are strapped for time.
Speaker A:The cons?
Speaker A:You might feel a bit rushed.
Speaker A:It can be tough to build a real connection in just a few minutes.
Speaker A:Sometimes you gotta be really good at what you do to pull this off.
Speaker A:And longer episodes of more than 45 minutes.
Speaker A:The pros of this?
Speaker A:You get to unpack ideas fully.
Speaker A:Listeners who stick around really get immersed.
Speaker A:You get more ad slots as well if you want to monetize the cons.
Speaker A:Well, the editing of these things can seriously eat up your week.
Speaker A:And if you stumble or lose energy, it shows.
Speaker A:And you can lose listeners.
Speaker A:So which do you go for?
Speaker A:Well, ask yourself these two questions.
Speaker A:Number one, Is my content tight enough to keep people glued for 10 minutes?
Speaker A:Number two, do I have enough to say to justify an hour or more?
Speaker A:If the answer to both is yes, great.
Speaker A:You've found your sweet spot.
Speaker A:If not, adjust until it feels natural.
Speaker A:So here's my advice to lean into your quirks love diving deep into vintage video games.
Speaker A:Well do that if you're obsessed with street food.
Speaker A:Own it.
Speaker A:Give your ideal listeners something unique.
Speaker A:Don't replicate the same interview style as the 10,000 other shows doing exactly the same thing.
Speaker A:Be flexible and some stories only need 12 minutes, others deserve 90.
Speaker A:Trust your instincts and act accordingly.
Speaker A:At the end of the day, your podcast's episodes duration isn't a metric to brag about, it's a tool to connect with your ideal listener.
Speaker A:So make that episode as long as it needs to be to serve your listeners, not as long as you think you should.
Speaker A:Thanks for listening and if you found this useful, please do leave us a review and click Follow in your favorite podcast app.
Speaker A:If you think somebody else you know who also has a podcast might find it useful, please feel free to share it with them until the next episode.
Speaker A:Good luck with your continuing quest to attain pod mastery.
