Choosing The Right Format For Your Podcast As a Beginner

Podcasts have evolved into a huge part of the digital world. They have created an entirely new and unique form of entertainment that has taken over classrooms, friends’ houses, and even the workplace. There are many different types of podcast formats out there, but what type is best suited for you?

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.

In this article, we will consider some of the commonest ones and show you what makes each one different.

What are the Most Popular Podcast Formats?

There are many different podcast formats you can try out to find the one that best fits you and your host.

Podcasts are a relatively new type of radio show that allows people with different interests to share their thoughts and ideas. Podcasts are in a different format because of the different audiences they can serve. Podcasts can be great for busy people because they can be listened to in the car, at home, or on the go.

In general, your podcast format can be any of the following or a combination of a few:

• Interview Podcasts,
• Conversational Podcasts,
• Monologue Podcasts,
• Storytelling/Investigative Podcasts,
• Roundtable Podcasts,
• Theatrical Podcasts,
• Repurposed Content Podcasts,
• Hybrid Podcasts,

When considering the right Podcast format, you need to understand that podcast content might be consumed differently. Your audience can watch you in a video on the computer, or listen to your audio through their earphone as they walk or drive. All these will play a key role in the type of format your Podcast should take and even the logistics.

Say, for example, you choose an interview format, you can easily schedule guests for the show weeks or months ahead of your recording day because they are busing doing their things and may not always be available. So, you need to fit into their schedules.

If on the other hand, you pick a solo podcast, you might not need to deal with a guest or any of those interview gist, but you will have to figure out how to retain the audience with valuable information and the at the same time entertain. Let’s consider the types of podcasting formats and why you might pick one over the other.

Interview Podcast format

One of the most common podcast formats is the “interview style”. An interview format of the podcast features a host who interviews a new guest for their unique expertise and experience.

To guide the conversation around a chosen topic, the podcast host does a short introduction and then pushes out questions depending on the style of the podcast.

Here, a lot can be done differently from host to host. While you might see some podcast interviews as the classical questions and answers, some experienced podcasters conduct their interviews more conversationally. This can make the guest feel more relaxed and share more.

Joe Rogan is a very good example here. In one of his episodes, Rogan said that he does not interview people, he only talks to people. That is what separates the pros from the armature.

To have a great interview podcast, try to be as conversational as possible on your show, and this can make it even easier to explore different angles of the topics with your guest.

Take a look below at what the guests are saying about my interview conversation with them.

Here are some examples of Interview Podcast

• The Joe Rogan Experience
• Obehi Podcast
• Fresh Air with Terry Gross
• My First Million with Shaan Puri and Sam Parr
• The TED Interview with Chris Anderson
• Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
• The Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
• How I Built This with Guy Raz

Podcast Testimonial

I’m not saying by any stretch of the imagination that I am the best in town but I find my style of Obehi Podcast to be effective and better engage with my guests. Also, because, my podcast is largely about the people, their experiences, and their point of view without necessarily being judgmental on what is wrong or right.

Find what works best for you and your podcast audience.

Solo (Monologue) Podcast Format

Like the interview format, Solo or Monologue podcast format is equally fairly common across different industries.

One thing to point out about many solo or Monologue podcast formats is that it’s often used by people who want to share specific expertise without being interrupted by a third party, or an informal conversation among peers.

To come out better in a monologue podcast format, you need to know your message and be fully ready before hitting the record button and speaking to your microphone. This format of a podcast can be a great way to establish your expertise and authority on the subject you cover.

Solo or Monologue podcasts allow you to create a one-of-a-kind podcast. People who enjoy this format might enjoy talking about their own lives and experiences or might prefer to produce a niche podcast about a certain topic.

However, you could also just talk into a microphone without using any editing software and share stories that are unique to your life!

This format of podcasting can be a fairly simple process. You can simply grab an inexpensive microphone and some free editing software like Audacity and grow your audience without needing an assistant in the traditional sense.

This is seen by many new podcasters as a form of early validation. Think about that and see if it can work for you.

Here are some examples of Solo (Monologue) Podcast:

• Live From the 405
• The Creative Penn Podcast for Writers
• Flash Forward
• The Lazy Genius Podcast
• Casefile True Crime
• You Must Remember This
• Myths and Legends

The conversational or co-hosted podcast format

Another common podcast format is the co-hosted or conversational format. This can be a hit or miss when it comes to people having chemistry together, but those that do it well can have great conversations about various topics in the podcast.

Conversational podcasts with two hosts take turns talking on a given topic, which can give the listener a unique perspective of information.

If you are the type who always wants to dominate the conversation, you need to understand that in this style of podcasting you can only take part in the conversation. It is called conversational or co-host also for this reason. You need to put that into consideration before choosing this format of podcasting. Otherwise, you are better off going monologue with no one coming to share your space with you.

I must add that if done well, conversational podcast format can be very interesting because it is easy to listen to being an organic conversation.

The conversational podcast

• The Verdict
• Buid your saas
• Crazy, In Bed
• Not Another True Crime Podcast

Narrative podcast format

Narrative podcasts are a type of audio show that tells a story. They can be in the form of a conversation or from professional narrators. The goal is to balance content with the use of sound effects, music, and interviews such that you get an engaging storyline.

Narrative podcasting can be a great way to master your storytelling and stay close to your audience. Podcasts are not just for entertainment; they are a new way of sharing useful information and narrative podcasts can be the best way to do this.

Popular narrative podcasts cover a wide range of genres and offer an interesting insight into lots of different things. They are also a good way to hear diverse views & experiences.

Sure, there are other forms of podcast format like the panel podcast format, Podcast theater podcast format in a long list other.

The main point is that there is no best podcast format. All you have to do is pick the format that works better for you and the audience you want to serve. That’s the best podcast format.

Here are some examples of Narrative podcasts:

• Dirty John
• My Favorite Murder
• Serial
• The Moth
• Welcome to Night Vale
• The Truth
• Radio Lab

Conclusion on choosing the right format for your podcast

Many aspiring podcasters are afraid of making the wrong decision when it comes to choosing a podcast format. Whether it be choosing between a weekly or bi-weekly show, or deciding on the length of your episodes, there is always an option that is perfect for you.

Don’t be afraid in starting your podcast. If you are sure, you can launch with a solo podcast show, then test out some narrative podcast episodes or maybe an interview format.

You might find that you really enjoy more talking with people rather than speaking to the microphone alone or the other way round. The only way to know this is by trying it out. So, don’t be afraid of starting your podcast.

Let me add that starting your podcast is not as hard as you might think. You don’t need any fancy equipment or technical skills, and you certainly don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a studio.

The most important thing is to start with a topic that you are interested in and passionate about, then keep going until it’s a full-time job like you want it to be. It all depends on you.

Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.