How to Choose the Right Podcast Format
So, you’ve decided a podcast makes sense for your brand. Now you have another decision to make: What should that podcast actually sound like?
Choosing the right podcast format is about more than deciding whether you want to interview guests or talk into a microphone by yourself. Your format affects the type of content you can create, how much time and production each episode requires, and ultimately, the experience you create for your audience.
There’s no single best podcast format. The right choice depends on your goals, your expertise, your audience, and the kind of show you can realistically sustain.
Let’s break down four of the most common podcast formats—and how to decide which one makes sense for your brand.
What Is a Podcast Format?
A podcast format is the basic structure you use to tell your story or share information with your audience.
Some podcasts feature a host interviewing a different guest every week. Others are led entirely by one host. Some rely on the chemistry between two co-hosts, while narrative podcasts combine interviews, narration, music, and other elements to tell a larger story.
Your format gives listeners an idea of what to expect when they press play. It also creates the framework you'll use to plan and produce each episode.
1. Interview Podcasts
An interview podcast features a host—or sometimes multiple hosts—having conversations with guests.
This format can be a great choice for businesses that want to bring outside expertise into the conversation, introduce their audience to different perspectives, or build relationships with other people in their industry.
Interview podcasts also take some of the pressure off the host to be the sole source of information. Every guest brings a new perspective, story, or area of expertise that can keep the show fresh.
An interview podcast might be right for you if…
Building relationships is an important part of your business.
You have access to interesting guests or industry experts.
You want to explore topics beyond your own expertise.
You’re comfortable leading conversations and asking questions.
But don't assume an interesting guest automatically creates an interesting episode. Great interview podcasts still require research, preparation, thoughtful questions, and a host who knows when to follow the conversation somewhere unexpected.
2. Solo Podcasts
If you are the expert, a solo podcast may make more sense. In a solo podcast, one host leads the episode without relying on a guest or co-host. That gives you complete control over the topics, structure, length, and publishing schedule.
For businesses and entrepreneurs, solo episodes can be particularly useful for thought leadership. They give you space to answer common customer questions, explain complicated topics, share your perspective on industry developments, and demonstrate your expertise.
A solo podcast might be right for you if…
You have specialized knowledge you want to share.
Building your personal brand or authority is a major goal.
You want complete control over your content.
You don't want your publishing schedule to depend on guest availability.
The challenge? Talking by yourself in an engaging way is harder than it looks. A good solo podcast still needs structure. Reading an article into a microphone probably isn't going to keep listeners coming back.
3. Co-Hosted Podcasts
Sometimes a podcast is better with someone else in the room. A co-hosted podcast features two or more recurring hosts, and much of the appeal comes from the conversation and chemistry between them.
This format works particularly well when the hosts bring different perspectives, personalities, or areas of expertise to the show. One person might be the subject-matter expert while another asks the questions the audience would ask. Or both hosts might have expertise but approach the topic from completely different angles.
A co-hosted podcast might be right for you if…
You naturally have great conversations with your co-host.
You bring different perspectives to the same subject.
Entertainment or personality is an important part of the show.
You want the podcast to feel conversational rather than instructional.
Just remember that you're committing to more than a format—you're committing to another person's schedule. Before launching, make sure everyone involved has the same expectations about preparation, recording, responsibilities, and how often you'll publish.
4. Narrative Podcasts
A narrative podcast uses storytelling to take listeners through a story, topic, investigation, or experience. Rather than simply recording a conversation, narrative shows may combine host narration, interviews, archival audio, music, sound design, and other elements to build each episode. They can create an incredibly engaging listening experience, but they're also typically more complicated to produce.
A narrative podcast might be right for you if…
Storytelling is central to your concept.
Your subject benefits from multiple voices or sources.
You want to create a highly produced listening experience.
You have the time and resources for more involved production.
For the right project, that extra work can be worthwhile. But if your primary goal is simply to share your expertise every week, you probably don't need to turn every episode into an audio documentary.
Can a Podcast Have More Than One Format?
Absolutely. Your podcast doesn't have to fit neatly into one category. You might primarily host interviews but occasionally release a solo episode to answer a timely question. A co-hosted podcast might bring in guests. A narrative series might include extended interviews alongside highly produced episodes. This is sometimes called a hybrid podcast format, and it can give you more flexibility to choose the structure that works best for each topic.
The key is consistency. Your episodes don't all have to be identical, but listeners should still understand what your show is about and what they'll get from subscribing.
How Do You Choose the Best Podcast Format?
Start with the reason you're creating the podcast in the first place. If your goal is to establish yourself as an expert, solo episodes may give you the clearest opportunity to do that. If you want to build relationships and introduce new perspectives, interviews may make more sense. If your brand relies heavily on personality and conversation, consider a co-hosted show. And if your goal is to tell compelling stories, a narrative format may be worth the additional production.
You should also consider what you can realistically maintain. The perfect format on paper isn't the right format if producing it every week becomes impossible.
Your Podcast Format Should Serve Your Goal
There's a reason so many podcasts feature interviews: they're familiar, flexible, and relatively straightforward to produce. But that doesn't mean your podcast needs to be another interview show. The same goes for whatever format happens to be popular when you're launching.
Don't choose a podcast format because everyone else is doing it. Choose the format that best serves your audience, your content, and the goal you're trying to accomplish. A podcast is a tool for your business. Its format should help that tool do its job.
This article is part of Wavestream Wednesday, a series from Wavestream Media about building better podcasts with a strategy behind them. Check back next Wednesday for more.
