272 How Long Should a Podcast Episode Be?

What Is the Ideal Podcast Episode Length for Your Audience?

The ideal podcast episode length depends on your target listener’s needs, listening habits, available time, and expectations. There is no universally correct duration. A 15-minute episode may be perfect for someone looking for a quick, practical answer, while a listener who enjoys in-depth conversations may prefer an hour or more.

To determine the right length for your podcast, consider when and why your ideal listener tunes in, what you’ve promised to deliver, and how much time they’re likely to give you. Then structure and edit your episodes to deliver that value efficiently and consistently. The goal is to make your podcast easy to fit into your listener’s life.

 

Why Your Ideal Listener Should Determine Your Podcast Episode Length

Twenty minutes? Thirty? An hour? Two hours?

In episode 35, I shared the advice that a podcast episode should only be as long as it takes to deliver the information. That was back in 2016, and I still stand by that advice. But I think something’s missing.

Because the right length for your podcast isn’t just about how much you have to say. It’s also about who’s listening, why they’re listening, and how your show fits into their life.

And if you’re podcasting for your business, that’s pretty important.

Let’s say your ideal listener is a busy executive who wants a quick bit of insight they can put to work. Maybe they listen on their 25-minute commute or while they’re getting ready in the morning. Now imagine you give them a 90-minute episode every week. I don’t care how brilliant you are. You’re asking a lot from that listener.

On the other hand, if your audience is long-haul truckers who spend hours on the road and love settling into a three-hour conversation, a 15-minute episode means they have to scramble to find another show to listen to, and they just got on the highway.

You can see that the ideal length is different for each podcast, and the only way to figure out how long your podcasts should be is to ask the question: what’s the right length for YOUR listener?

 

How Does Your Podcast Fit Into Your Listener’s Life?

As a podcast coach, when I’m developing a new podcast concept with a client, we spend a lot of time getting to know the person we’re creating the show for. Who are they? What’s going on in their life? When are they likely to listen? And what do they want from the show?

Think about it: your podcast has a role to play in their life.

Maybe it’s their Monday morning dose of motivation. Maybe it’s the thing they listen to on their weekend hike. Maybe it’s where they go when they need help or an answer to a very specific problem.

Whatever that role is, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to fit your podcast into their routine.

And once they know what to expect from you, and you consistently deliver it, you’ve given them another reason to come back.

I can already hear some of you: “Okay, Coach, but I’ve got this incredible guest coming on, and there’s no way I can have the kind of conversation I want to have in just 30 minutes!”

Well, first of all, who says you need to have the conversation YOU want to have? You’re making this podcast for your listener. Remember?

And second, why are you so sure you need an hour? Think about someone like Oprah. Her television show ran for years with some of the biggest names in the world. You got it all in 44 minutes, including the stories, the revelations, the laughs, the tears.

Great interviewers know how to get to the heart of a conversation. They know which questions to ask, when to dig deeper, and when they’ve got what they need. That takes preparation.

 

5 Ways to Deliver More Value in Less Podcasting Time

If you’re convinced there’s no way you can deliver the kind of value your listener needs in the time they actually have, I’ve got a few things for you to work on.

1. Know Exactly What You’re Promising Your Listener

Every episode makes a promise. Maybe you’ve got a fantastic title that promises to answer a question your listener has been struggling with. Great. Now answer it.

That doesn’t mean you can’t tell stories, have fun or take an unexpected turn in the conversation. Some of the best moments in podcasting are spontaneous. But don’t bury the answer inside 45 minutes of other stuff that you find interesting. Give your listener what they came for.

2. Prepare Your Podcast Guest

And no, I don’t mean sending them a list of every question you’re going to ask (I talked about why that can be a huge mistake in episode 31). I mean making sure they understand what the conversation is about (give them the focus), who they’re speaking to, and what you want your listener to get out of it.

If you’ve got 30 minutes to explore a particular idea, your guest should know exactly where you’re going. A little preparation before the interview can make a big difference to the conversation you end up recording.

3. Warm Up Your Guest Before Recording

Have a conversation. Get them comfortable. Build a little rapport…before you hit record. Your listener doesn’t need all of that. I’ve heard interviews where the first ten minutes sound like two people getting to know each other at a networking event. Lovely for them. Painful for listeners.

You can do that work before you hit record and start the episode when the conversation is actually ready to go somewhere. Or record it all and then edit it out.

4. Ask Better, More Focused Interview Questions

Sometimes podcasters explain the question, answer part of it themselves, give an example, explain it again, and then finally let the guest speak. By that point, I’m wondering whether the guest is ever going to get a word in. A good question doesn’t have to be complicated. Ask it and get out of the way.

5. Edit Your Podcast Ruthlessly

Just because you recorded 75 minutes doesn’t mean you have to publish 75 minutes. I repeat. You do not need to air everything you record.

Maybe the first ten minutes were a warm-up. Maybe there was a tangent that was fun in the moment but didn’t really go anywhere. Maybe your guest told a story that was interesting but had absolutely nothing to do with the episode.

Take it out.

Seriously. Edit and be ruthless.

Your listener doesn’t need to wade through everything you recorded just because you recorded it.

And all of this applies to solo episodes too. Know your listener, prepare your topic, cut the filler, and edit.

If you’ve got one really useful idea that you can explain, demonstrate and put into context in 15 minutes, fantastic. Why stretch it to 45?

There’s this idea that more content means more value. Not when it comes to someone else’s time. You don’t get to make that decision.

 

Why Consistent Podcast Episode Length is Everything!

Imagine you’ve been publishing half-hour episodes every week. Your listeners know what they’re getting, and your show has become part of their routine. Then suddenly you start dropping two-hour conversations. You’re changing the relationship a little bit.

Now, I’m not saying every episode needs to be exactly the same length. You don’t need to stretch a 22-minute conversation to 30 minutes just because that’s your usual runtime. But your listeners develop expectations about your show, including how much time they’ll spend with you. It’s worth being aware of those expectations before you start making significant changes to your episode length.

 

The Best Podcast Length Is the One That Works for Your Listener

Before you decide your episodes should be longer or shorter, or that you need to copy whatever the most popular podcast in your industry is doing, think about your listener.

You may have enough material for a two-hour episode, but that doesn’t mean your listener wants one.

And you may be able to deliver something incredibly valuable in 15 minutes without leaving your audience feeling shortchanged. When your show consistently gives the right people what they need, in a way that works for them, they’ll keep coming back.

And for those of us podcasting for our businesses, that’s how we build the kind of trust and relationship that can eventually turn a listener into a client.

 

Create a Podcast That Fits Your Ideal Listener

Figuring out the right length for your podcast starts with understanding who you’re creating it for.

That’s something we help clients work through, whether they’re developing a brand-new show or trying to make an existing podcast work harder for their business.

We look at your ideal client, what they need from you, and how to create a podcast that fits into their life while supporting your business goals.

If you’re planning a podcast, or you’ve already got one and you’re wondering whether it’s really connecting with the right people, book a free private podcast coaching call.

Let’s make sure your podcast works for the people you’re trying to reach.