The Top 10 Best Podcast Formats

Choosing the right podcast format for your show is one of the first decisions you’ll make as a podcast host. You’ll need to know the format before you record each episode, and your podcast format is essential when it comes to naming your episodes and preparing your marketing materials. 

This guide explains everything you need to know about podcast formats, including what it is, why it matters, and the most popular formats to choose from. 

I’ll even help you narrow down the best podcast format for your show. 

What is a Podcast Format?

A podcast format is the way an episode’s content is organized. It’s like a roadmap for each episode, with a solid framework to deliver your content—ensuring it’s optimized for maximum audience impact.

While the format of a podcast show can vary from episode to episode, many podcasts stick with the same format for each show. Some popular podcasts bounce back and forth between two or three different formats. But you generally won’t see too much variation beyond that. 

It’s also best to stick with one format for each episode, as combining multiple formats into one can get messy.

Does Your Podcast Format Really Matter?

Podcast formats matter because it helps establish consistency. The audience knows what to expect, and they’ll keep coming back to listen to more episodes. 

Without a predetermined format, it’s easy for listeners to get distracted or lose interest in the show. 

Choosing a format that works for your style and content is also super important when it comes to branding. It’s much easier to explain your show in one or two sentences if the format is consistent. This also makes it easy for listeners to recommend your show to others.

Your podcast format helps create an identity for your podcast, which is something every show needs to be successful. 

What’s the Difference Between a Podcast Format and a Podcast Structure?

The terms “podcast format” and “podcast structure” are similar and often used interchangeably. However, there’s actually a difference between a podcast’s structure and its format. 

Podcast formats refer to the type of episode, like a solo monologue or an interview, whereas the podcast structure refers to elements of a show and the order in which those elements are presented. 

Regardless of the format, most podcasts follow a three-phase structure—with a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

There will be subtle differences in your structure based on the format you select. For example, here’s a look at the basic episode structure of a solo format:

Now let’s look at the structure for an interview format:

They’re virtually identical, but the second structure has an extra element—the guest introduction. So you might be adding or removing elements within your basic three-phase structure based on the format you select for each episode. 

10 Most Popular Podcast Formats to Use For Your Show

All podcasts generally fall into one of ten different formats. These are the most popular options to choose from, and each one has its own unique advantages and drawbacks to consider—which I’ll break down in greater detail below.

1. Solo Monologue Podcasts

Solo monologues are best for people who have specific knowledge or expertise on a particular subject. This is one of the easiest podcast formats because there’s not much setup—you’re just talking into the microphone on your own. 

Most new podcast hosts start with a solo monologue because it’s so straightforward. 

Pros

• Record on your own schedule and at your own pace.
• Intimately engage with your audience. 
• Simple, and there’s no need to rely on anyone else to get started. 

Cons

• There’s a ton of talking involved, you’re the only voice speaking for 30-60+ minutes.
• You won’t have anyone else to help fill time, share insights, or bounce ideas off of.

2. Interview Podcasts

The interview podcast format has become extremely popular for lots of successful podcasts. This is another simple approach, where the host brings a guest to the show—typically to share some expertise in an area where they’ve succeeded. 

These episodes typically start with a brief introduction to the guest before the host begins asking the guest a series of questions. 

Pros

• Guests do most of the talking, so hosts just need to set up the right questions.
• Easy to expand your listener base because guests often promote the show to their fans and followers. 
• Your show instantly gets new vantage points and opinions, so your content is never stale.

Cons

• Lots of prep work involved to find the right guest, prepare the interview, and deeply research the guest.
• You lose some control over the show, as you’re relying on the guest to deliver information and entertain your audience. 

3. Conversational or Co-Hosted Podcasts

Conversational and co-hosted podcasts aren’t quite the same as interviews. Rather than having a different guest on the show each time, there are typically two or three people who host the show together. These types of podcasts work well for people who are friends or have worked together for a long time. From the listener’s perspective, it’s like hearing two friends talk casually. 

It’s common for two people to co-host a show together but have a third speaker, like a producer, add some color commentary to the conversation. 

Pros

• You only have to carry half the conversation.
• Preparing a few key talking points is much easier than writing a script.
• Listeners often find these shows to be very entertaining, and it gives them intimate access to podcasters in a somewhat relaxed environment. 

Cons

• It’s challenging if the co-hosts don’t have chemistry, talk over each other, and aren’t on the same page.
• Editing the audio is more difficult when there are multiple speakers.

4. Educational Podcasts

Educational podcasts can be a sub-format within the monologue, interview, or co-hosted format. But they’re specific to teaching listeners something new about a particular topic.

This format works well for people who have lots of knowledge and authority within a niche—like business development, self-help, meditation, and more. 

Pros

• 74% of people listen to podcasts to learn something new. 
• Listeners will keep coming back to expand their knowledge.
• If you’re an expert on a subject, the prep work should be pretty minimal. 

Cons

• It can be difficult to teach some topics without visual elements and examples.
• You need to be an expert for people to listen. 

5. Narrative Non-fiction Podcasts

With narrative non-fiction, the host simply shares news stories or the latest updates in a particular niche. You can even tell the story of a historical event or true crime.

“Serial” is an example of a narrative non-fiction podcast. It’s the true crime story of Adnan Syed’s murder conviction, which has over 300 million downloads. 

Pros

• You’re getting ideas from other sources.
• Audiences can get hooked easily.
• There’s lots of available information and resources at your fingertips. 

Cons

• If you’re talking about recent news, the content goes stale quickly. 
• There’s a lot of research and prep work involved, and the audience expects a higher production value. 

6. Podcast Theater

Podcast theater is essentially fictional storytelling. It’s great for creative professionals who like to invent characters, create intricate plots, and build suspense.

It’s common for podcast theater to be narrated by a single voice, similar to an audiobook. But some podcast theater is produced similarly to television—with multiple voices, sound effects, and other storytelling elements. 

Pros

• Easy to get listeners hooked on the show.
• There’s not much competition in this category.
• Since the stories are made up, you don’t have to worry about being accurate.

Cons

• Writing fictional stories is extremely difficult, and non-writers can have a tough time. 
• All episodes are tied to one story, so you’ll need to have the whole story written before you start recording to ensure the plot is covered correctly. 

7. Panel Podcasts

Panel podcasts are similar to an interview. But rather than having one guest, you typically have three to five panel guests. 

The panel should not be random. Everyone should either be in a similar profession or have a similar background or story to share. But each one should bring something different to the table.

Pros

• Panels offer the most insight and unique vantage points.
• The host does the least talking of everyone.
• You’re getting even more free promotion from each guest on the panel. 

Cons

• Coordinating a day to record that fits everyone’s schedule is challenging.
• Hosts need to make sure everyone stays engaged without one panel guest taking over the conversation or another going silent for half the episode. 
• Some guests may speak over each other, which can be difficult to edit and frustrating for listeners. 

8. Repurposed Podcasts

A repurposed podcast is exactly what it sounds like. You’re taking a piece of content that already exists and then turning it into a podcast episode. 

This works really well for hosts who have an active blog, YouTube channel, or social media presence. 

Pros

• It’s easy to produce because the content already exists.
• The ideation, research, and concept are already there for you. 
• You don’t need to have a big budget to create this type of podcast.

Cons

• Your audience can get the content elsewhere, and it may feel unoriginal.
• If the content was not originally intended for a podcast, it may not feel right in an audio format. 

9. Video Podcasts

I’m a huge advocate of video podcasting. It takes two popular mediums and blends them both together. Any of the other podcast formats on this list can double as a video podcast—you just need to have cameras set up to record video in addition to audio. 

According to a recent survey, 57% of people say they prefer podcasts with video, and YouTube is quickly becoming one of the most-used podcasting platforms. 

Pros

• You can release your episodes on multiple channels to broaden your reach.
• Video looks better on other marketing channels, which is great for promoting your content in clips on social media. 
• The visual element adds more value, as showing something is more powerful than simply talking about it.

Cons

• Video podcasts require more equipment and editing time.
• You need to make sure that you and your guests are presentable.

10. Hybrid Podcasts

Hybrid podcasts aren’t very common—but they’re a combination of any two or more formats.

Some types of hybrid podcasts work better than others. For example, an interview podcast that’s also a video podcast is great. A solo monologue can also be an educational podcast and a video podcast. But it wouldn’t make sense to create a hybrid podcast that combines podcast theater with a guest panel. 

Pros

• Highly engaging.
• Provide lots of value to listeners.
• Unique way to make your podcast stand out from other shows. 

Cons

• Too many combinations can get messy and difficult to follow.
• Hybrid podcasts can be expensive and time-consuming. 

How to Choose the Best Podcast Format For Your Show

There’s no “best” podcast format—there’s only what’s best for your show. So use the following considerations as you’re narrowing down options for your next episode:

• Define Your Show’s Purpose — Have a clear purpose and goal for each show, with one main theme or key takeaway for your listeners.
• Ask Your Audience — You can create a poll to ask your audience what formats they prefer or just use listener statistics to determine which types of your episodes get the most engagement. 
• Evaluate the Competition — There’s no shame in mirroring other types of podcasts that you want to be like. You can follow the same format as shows you like, and avoid formats for shows you don’t.
• Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses — Are you a strong enough speaker to keep listeners engaged for an hour? If not, you’ll probably need to choose a format where someone else gets to talk. 
• Manage Your Time Wisely — How much time are you willing to put into each episode? This goes beyond the recording time and includes the prep work and editing.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best podcast format for your show is important. But don’t overthink it.

You can always experiment with a few different formats to see what you feel most comfortable with and what your audience responds to the best. 

It’s generally best to stick with just one format per episode. However, creating a video podcast in addition to another format is one of the best ways to create content. You’ll expose your show to a wider audience, and you can distribute your content across multiple platforms.