8 Podcast Formats To Consider For Your Show

Wondering about podcast formats? Looking for advice on how to structure your show?

FACT: Choosing a format for your show is one of the first decisions you’ll have to make when planning your podcast. You’ll need to know your format before you give it a name and create cover artwork, and certainly before you record your first episode. That’s why we’re breaking down everything you need to know about podcast formats: what they are, the different types, and how to choose your own. 

What is a Podcast Format?

Podcast formats are ways to organize your show’s content. They are delivery methods that give your podcast a structure. The right format will keep your content organized and make it accessible to your listeners. Without a strong format, your show will seem disjointed and messy.

Podcast formats also create consistency for your listeners. When you stick to a format, your listeners will know what to expect when they open each new episode. If your show features a serious solo monologue one week, a comedic panel the next, and a fictional story the week after, you’ll have a hard time holding on to your listeners. 

Plus, a good format will help your listeners describe your show to their friends. They’ll be able to say, “It’s two guys drinking beer and reviewing the latest movies” or “It’s an eight-episode story about a haunted town in New England.” This kind of word-of-mouth marketing is critical to the success of a show, so you’ll want to make it easy for your listeners to promote for you. 

Most importantly, sticking to a single format will make your life a lot easier. It’s much simpler to plan content ahead of time when you know how you’ll shape it for each episode.

For example, if you choose an interview format (more on that in a minute), you can schedule guests for weeks or months ahead of your actual recording day. This gives you time to find the right people and prepare for the interview. If you choose a conversation-style podcast with a co-host, you will learn over time how to riff off one another to create an engaging experience for your listeners.

What about the podcast structure, then?

Podcast structure, on the other hand, defines how you deliver on your chosen format. It defines the framework – all the segments your podcast show will include.

And, as you can imagine, different podcast formats will use different structures or frameworks. That said, there are several key elements every podcast episode should include. These critical podcast structure elements include:

• The intro telling listeners what your show is about, and presents a hook to get them to continue listening.
• The content of the episode. This section will largely depend on the format you’ve chosen for your podcast.
• The outro closing each episode, and including a call to action, a promise of what’s coming next in your show, and also, asking listeners to rate, review and subscribe to your show.

The 8 Most Popular Podcast Formats

Before you choose a format for your show, it helps to understand what everyone else is doing. While you don’t have to be like everyone else, there are good reasons that podcasters stick to the following popular podcast formats. Each has their own pros and cons. As you go through the following list, ask yourself which would be right for your show.

1. The interview podcast format

An interview style show features a host (or two) who interview a new guest in each episode who brings their unique expertise and experience. After a brief guest introduction, the host takes over asking questions to guide the conversation around the episode’s topic working to unpack their stories and lessons. Since each guest is different, it’s best to stick to central them to keep your show cohesive.

Examples of the interview podcast format

2. The solo/monologue podcast format

This podcast format is fairly common. It’s used by people who have a specific kind of expertise they want to share. There isn’t much fanfare or setup. You simply talk into a microphone.  Many new podcasters start with this format because it’s so simple. All you need to get started is a microphone and some free editing software. 

If you choose this podcast format, you’ll have to decide how much you want to plan each episode. Some podcasters are comfortable ad libbing off a few notes, but others have a hard time talking for 30-45 minutes without detailed preparation. You may decide to write a complete script for each episode. 

Examples of the solo/monologue podcast format:

3. Conversational/co-hosted podcast format

This is another common podcast format. It involves two people having a straightforward conversation who generally have great chemistry together. Unlike an interview podcast format, however, these two people are both hosts.

In many cases, each host will play a specific role in the conversation. One might report the news snippet while the other provides commentary or comedy. One might teach lessons while the other tells stories from their experience. 

Examples of the co-hosted podcast format:

4. The panel podcast format

A panel podcast is similar to an interview podcast, but with more people. Each episode has a single host and a group of guests. For your listener, it feels like overhearing an organic conversation between friends. 

Examples of the panel style podcast format:

5. Non-fictional storytelling podcast format

Non-fictional stories are podcast episodes about real life events. You might dive into a series of murders, chronicle an expedition up Mount Everest, or recreate a historical event. You can tell one story per episode or span your story across an entire series. Or you could simply report the news.

This is an excellent podcast format for listeners who like to learn more about our world. You have the opportunity to expose people to new ideas, concepts, and events. 

Examples of the non-fictional storytelling podcast format:

6. Podcast theater podcast format

Also know as Fictional Storytelling podcast format, these are fictional stories told across multiple episodes, similar to dramatic television. Some are narrated by a single voice. Others use multiple voice actors, sound effects, and other audio elements. Just like TV shows, these podcasts use tension, climaxes, and cliffhangers to tell their stories. 

This is a great format for creative types who like to create characters, weave plots, and build fictional worlds. If you like to write fiction or make films, this format may be right for you. In fact, some fiction writers simply read their stories dramatically like audio books and release them as podcast episodes. 

Examples of the podcast theater format:

7. Repurposed content podcast format

Repurposing content is when you take content that already exists and transform it in a way to get more value out of it. You might add to it, split it up, or transpose it to a new medium. Some bloggers simply take existing written content and repurpose it into a podcast for an audio experience.

For instance, a religious organization may turn their weekly sermon into a downloadable podcast. A speaker could record and release his lectures. A comedian might publish recordings from his standup routines. 

Examples of the repurposed content podcast format:

8. Your own podcast format

One of our favorite things about podcasting is that it’s just as dynamic as writing or video. You can do anything you like to stand out, build an audience, and engage your listeners.

If you want to do something unique that doesn’t fit into a traditional podcast format – that’s okay! Experiment with your own style or mix several styles together to create something entirely new.

Video Podcasting: A Unique Podcast Format

You’re already doing the work of creating informative and entertaining content, you might as well squeeze every ounce out of it that you can. Why not pair your audio track with video and create a vlog?

A video podcast is pretty simple: It’s just a podcast with a video component. That video component can be as simple as you and your guest recording the content. The Joe Rogan Experience is a classic example of this. Rogan films himself and his guest sitting in his studio having a discussion. The audio gets released in the traditional podcast format. The video gets released on YouTube and as clips on social media.

In some cases, podcasters splice in video footage from other sources to make their video podcast more dynamic. For instance, if the host references an event from the news, they might insert a clip from that event. (Just make sure you have the right to add other people’s content. Violating someone’s intellectual property could get your video removed.)

Here are some reasons you should start a video podcast:

• People love looking at faces. You can add value for your audience and help them dig deeper connections by showing them people’s faces.
• Video opens you to a wider audience. There are a lot of people out there who prefer to consume video content, so a video podcast opens you up to a larger audience.
• Video looks better on social media. Audiograms are becoming more popular, but there’s no beating the impact videos have on social media. 
• You’ve already done most of the work! Recording video doesn’t add much labor to your usual process. (Though you may need to comb your hair!) 

The best part about video podcasting is that it works with all of the other podcast formats that we outlined in this article. You can add a video component to any type of show.

How to Choose the Right Podcast Format For Your Show

Now that you know the top podcast formats, you’re probably wondering, “So which one is right for me and my show?” Great question. 

In order to choose the right podcast format for your show, we recommend considering these three important questions. 

What’s the best way to convey your topic’s information?Information?

The first thing you should consider is how you want to convey your information. In most cases, answering this question will decide your podcast format for you.

For example, if you want to expose your audience to expert-level advice that you don’t personally have, the interview podcast format makes the most sense. This is a simple and effective way of bringing in expert knowledge from people who live and breathe those topics. If you want to tell a fictional story, the podcast theater format is the most logical.

Consider the tone of your show, as well. Do you intend to be funny? That’s much easier to accomplish with multiple people, so you should choose the panel or co-hosted formats. Do you intend to be mellow and stoic? The monologue or non-fictional storytelling formats may be more appropriate for your show. 

Which format will help your show stand out?

Next, you’ll want to consider how you can make your show stand out from the crowd. You may be able to best your competition by podcasting on the same topic, but in a different format. When listeners search for new shows to join, they’ll scroll through a sea of interview-style shows and only stop when something stands out. 

For instance, if everyone in your niche is using an interview podcast format, you might try using a panel of guests to set yourself apart. Your might opt to use a format that’s traditionally hard for your niche because you know you’ll be the only one doing it. Or you could get really weird and turn your lessons into stories using the podcast theater format. That would be so unusual that people would have to check it out. 

Another benefit of choosing a podcast format stands out from the competition is that you don’t have to take from your competitors audiences in order to grow. If your show is sufficiently different than other shows with the same topic, listeners will opt to listen to both because they don’t feel repetitive. 

How will you promote your show?

How you plan to promote your show can also impact the podcast format that you choose. You might have experience in a marketing channel or podcast marketing assets in place that favor one format over another. In these cases, it’s smart to align your format with your channel/asset.

That might sound complex, so let’s use some examples:

• If you’re a science fiction author with an online following, a podcast theater type show makes the most sense because you have an existing audience who likes that content.
• If you’re embedded in a professional industry, an interview show seems reasonable because you have access to lots of guests who will promote their appearances on your show to their audiences.
• If you have close contacts within a podcast network, you might choose a format (and subject) that aligns with the network so you can join one day. 

Which format aligns with your brand?

If you have an existing company or organization, the next thing you should consider is the state of your brand. If you already have a well-developed brand, it’s a good idea to choose a podcast format that fits into that structure. This will ensure that you create a cohesive experience for your audience without alienating people. If your podcast doesn’t mesh with your brand, there’s a good chance your audience will be confused and fade away.

For example, let’s say you have a popular blog where you conduct interviews with professionals in the entertainment industry. In this case, it would make sense to start a podcast that does the same thing – interviews guests. 

You could host a solo monologue show where you recount your adventures in the entertainment industry, but that’s a little outside of your audience’s comfort zone. You might lose some people who prefer to hear about the lives and work of other actors and musicians, not yours. 

Now imagine if you started a panel podcast where you and your friends sat around a table playing Dungeons and Dragons. That kind of show could definitely be successful, but not for your brand. It’s just too far removed from what your audience expects.

Which format aligns with your style?

Finally, it’s important to consider your personal preferences, personality, and style. As the podcast host, you have to like your format. You have to enjoy sitting down to craft and record new episodes. You have to enjoy talking about your show and shamelessly promoting it.

Look at it like this: If you don’t enjoy your format, you’ll dread creating new content. You’ll struggle to find the motivation to hunt for new guests. You’ll ask your guests lackluster questions. You’ll settle for “good enough” whenever you craft a podcast script, rather than strive to make the best content possible. 

Furthermore, if you like what you’re doing, you’ll get better at it over time because you’ll care about it. You’ll constantly look for ways to make your show better, produce better content, and engage with your audience. You’ll care enough to put in the extra effort to land that tough guest, explain that complex topic, or boost your show’s production value. 

Don’t choose a format that’s completely out of your wheelhouse. You’ll hate the work, burn out quickly, and probably podfade. Make sure to choose a podcast format that makes you happy. 

Switching Podcast Formats

Choosing a podcast format may feel like a big decision, but it’s important to keep in mind that you aren’t locked into your format forever. It’s totally possible to change. In fact, many successful podcasts have changed formats without losing a single download.

Furthermore, it’s quite possible to dip your toes into a new podcast format without committing all the way. For instance, if you typically host interviews, it’s okay to sprinkle a panel episode or a solo monologue every once in a while. As long as you don’t Veer too far from what your audience expects, no one will mind. They may even enjoy an occasional change of pace.

However, keep in mind that you can’t transition too far without losing some of your audience. If your format for topics changes too much, you might find yourself producing a show that your current audience doesn’t enjoy. You’ll have to begin building a new audience from the beginning.

Choose Wisely

As you can imagine, your choice of podcast format has a big impact on your show. It will guide how you create content, who you invite as guests, and how you (and possibly your team) work to record and publish episodes. There’s no law that says you have to use one of the podcast formats we listed above, but they’re popular for a reason-they work! Make sure to give this question plenty of thought.