How To Start a Podcast on YouTube in 2026: Ultimate Guide

Before we begin, let’s answer a simple question: If YouTube is a video-exclusive platform, then what exactly is a YouTube podcast?

As anticlimactic as it sounds, a YouTube podcast is a podcast that happens to be on YouTube. It lives as a playlist on your channel but is not exclusive to YouTube.

What makes this platform desirable for podcasters is that it combines long-form audio with search visibility and shareability, making it ideal for reaching new audiences that prefer watching their favorite conversations rather than only listening to them.

Success depends on your ability to adapt your format for a visual medium without losing the core essence of your storytelling. For that, you need a strategy that leverages the platform’s massive search engine while maintaining the intimacy of a traditional broadcast.

Whether you aim to go all in on video podcasting or just want another distribution channel, this guide is for you. We'll explain in detail how to upload your podcast episodes to YouTube and also explore the benefits of using it as an extension of your podcasting efforts.

YouTube Channel vs YouTube Podcast

Before we get to the meat of the matter, let’s look at the difference between a YouTube channel and a YouTube podcast channel, because while they might sound like the same thing, they’re not.

A YouTube channel is a dedicated space on the platform where creators can share various types of video content (vlogs, tutorials, presentations, etc.). It’s a place for them to build an audience, engage with viewers, and showcase their content.

A YouTube podcast channel focuses on sharing podcast episodes in a video or audio format. Here, the primary content is podcast episodes (hence the name). This could take the form of audio content accompanied by:

• Static images

• Waveform animations

• Remote or in-studio video recordings of your entire episodes, or

• Video footage related to the podcast

While a podcast YouTube channel exists to share the show's episodes on the video platform, it is not the primary hosting site of the podcast (more on this in step 4 below). If your goal is only video, and you really want to be a video creator, then a YouTube Channel is for you.

However, if you want to go all in on podcasting, then YouTube alone won’t be enough. Podcasting is an audio-first format and visual second. In this case, you’ll want to distribute your podcast episodes on all the top podcast platforms like Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

To do this, you’ll need to first start a podcast and then take the extra step of uploading visual versions of episodes to YouTube as a growth strategy.

Can You Turn a YouTube Video Into a Podcast?

Yes. A YouTube video can be repurposed as a podcast episode, but it usually needs some preparation to work properly in a podcast feed. Start by downloading or recovering the original video file. Then decide how you want to use it.

One way is to reuse it as a video podcast episode. If you plan to publish it as part of your podcast on YouTube, review the structure and branding.

You might want to record a short intro and outro so the episode aligns with the rest of your show. Once updated, upload the video to your podcast playlist and optimize the title, description, and thumbnail to match your podcast format.

Alternatively, you can convert it into an audio-only episode. If you want to distribute the episode via your podcast RSS feed, extract the audio from the video file.

Most editing tools support this, and dedicated converters can also handle the process. After conversion, open the audio file in your editing software, clean up the sound, and add your podcast intro and outro. Export the final audio file and upload it to your podcast hosting platform.

Once published, the episode will appear alongside your existing podcast content. If you are launching a show for the first time, the process looks slightly different. Next, we’ll cover how to set up a podcast on YouTube from the ground up.

How to Start a Podcast on YouTube in 6 Steps

The steps below outline a practical process for launching a podcast on YouTube, whether you plan to publish video episodes, audio-only content, or both. Depending on your experience, you may have already completed some of these steps.

Others will shape how your show is structured and how it performs over time. If you want a deeper breakdown of audience definition, and show concept, you can explore our full guide on starting a podcast.

1. Planning and Equipment

Before thinking about YouTube, define the foundations of your podcast. Beyond brainstorming topics and buying gear, you need clarity on your format, episode structure, and production workflow.

These decisions influence everything from the equipment you choose to how easily you can publish episodes consistently.

Start by outlining what your podcast will look like in practice: solo or interview-based, scripted or conversational, short-form or long-form, and how often you plan to release episodes. A plan at this stage reduces friction later and helps you avoid investing in tools that don’t fit your format.

For your main podcasting setup you’ll need:

• An external USB microphone: Built-in laptop microphones rarely deliver consistent audio quality. Reliable options include the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB and the Shure MV7 USB, both of which balance sound quality, ease of use, and price.

• A pop filter or foam cover: Useful for reducing harsh “p” and “b” sounds if your microphone does not include one.

• Wired headphones: Essential for monitoring audio while recording and preventing echo or feedback.

• Recording and editing software: Tools like Audacity, GarageBand, Adobe Audition, and Descript can handle recording and post-production. Choose software that matches your technical comfort level and supports your long-term workflow.

If you plan to produce a video podcast, you’ll also need:

• Cameras: At least one camera per angle you want to capture. Note: Multiple angles can improve visual engagement, but they also increase editing complexity.

  • Phone camera: Apple users can connect an iPhone to a Mac and use it as a high-quality front-facing camera, which works well for single-camera setups.

  • Budget mirrorless option: Sony Alpha a6000.

  • Higher-end camcorder option: Canon VIXIA HF G50.

• Tripods: Necessary for stable framing and consistent composition across episodes.

• Lighting: Even a simple lighting setup, such as a key light or softbox, can significantly improve video quality and reduce harsh shadows.

• Editing software that supports video: Tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Descript allow you to edit both audio and video in a single workflow.

Before recording, outline your episode. This does not need to be a full script, but a clear run-of-show with key talking points, transitions, and timing. A structured outline makes recordings smoother, reduces retakes, and shortens editing time.

If you’re producing video, plan any supporting visuals in advance. This might include screen recordings, graphics, or B-roll footage that reinforces key points.

If your podcast includes interviews, research your guest beforehand. Understanding their background, expertise, and previous work helps you shape better questions, be a good host, and guide the conversation with purpose.

2. Record Your Episodes

If YouTube is part of your strategy, visuals will naturally matter. However, podcasting inherently starts with audio. If you’re building a podcast rather than a standard YouTube channel, audio quality should be treated as a priority, not an afterthought.

Before recording, decide how you will capture both audio and video. Your setup affects sound quality, editing workload, and how flexible your production process will be as the show evolves. Choices made here also determine how easily you can distribute episodes across platforms.

Most podcast setups fall into three common recording approaches, outlined below.

Option 1: Audio-Only (Low Barrier to Entry)

Recording an audio-only podcast is a popular choice for many podcasters. If this is you, simply create some appealing background images to go with your recording. It’s a quick and easy option, especially if time is short.

Your podcast hosting site will be able to share the RSS feed direct with YouTube, so uploading will be as simple as with any other platform.

This option might be quick and easy, but it won’t garner as much engagement as a YouTube podcast with video. If you’re adding YouTube as part of a larger podcast marketing plan, you’ll need to level up your camera skills.

Option 2: Use Your Computer's Webcam (Medium Barrier to Entry)

Adding a visual component to your podcast doesn't necessarily require external cameras. Your computer's webcam, recording as you record your podcast, will do fine. 

You’ll need to use recording software or video conferencing tools that allow you to capture video and audio simultaneously. Pay attention to framing, camera angles, and visual aesthetics. Although you can edit and enhance the video before uploading it.

Option 3: Go All Out With External Cameras (Higher Barrier to Entry)

This method is a favorite with podcasters who offer interview and conversational-style content. It provides more flexibility for camera placement and angles and offers the ability to use multiple cameras.

Choose cameras that suit your budget and desired video quality. Nowadays, even shooting on an iPhone can produce excellent results. You could consider using tripods or camera mounts to ensure steady footage. But they’re not an absolute necessity.

In this scenario, you do need to be mindful of your “set.” Since the room you’re recording in will end up on camera, it’s a good idea to make sure it looks the part. Dress up the area that’s in frame so it looks professional.

3. Edit and Prep for Publishing

Once you’ve recorded your podcast, the next step is to edit and prepare it for upload. Editing isn’t a must, but it does allow you to refine the content and enhance the listening experience.

For editing visual and audio at the same time you can use editing software like Descript or even IMovie to make your YouTube podcast. If you are working with audio only, use editing software like GarageBand, Audacity, Adobe Audition, or Reaper to make short(ish) work of the process. You could also hire a podcast editing service to do it for you.

Whether or not you decide to edit the recording, there are still some steps to follow to prepare it for user consumption. These include:

• Transcribing your video

• Designing an engaging visual to keep your audience engaged (audio-only podcasts)

• Creating “micro-content” for YouTube publishing (more on this in step 5)

• Creating an engaging Thumbnail (more on this in best practices below!)

4. Set Up Your Hosting and Feed

If you have an existing podcast, you would have already set up your hosting and feed. But if you're new to the game, keep reading.

You'll want your audience to be able to find your show via any of the podcast directories, so you'll need to complete this step before you upload videos to YouTube.

When connecting to YouTube, you’ll be prompted to connect your RSS feed as a playlist, under the “Podcasts” tab, this categorizes your videos as podcasts, sharing them with users who are interested in listening to shows.

When you use YouTube as your primary hosting site, you don’t have a podcast. You have a YouTube channel.

To start a YouTube Podcast channel, begin by choosing a reliable podcast hosting platform that will store your podcast episodes and distribute them to different podcast directories. Additionally, these platforms provide the necessary tools for creating your podcast feed.

• Libsyn

• Podbean

• Buzzsprout

• Anchor

• Blubrry

• Transistor

After you’ve uploaded some episodes it’s time to submit your podcast RSS feed to the various podcast directories. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher are the most common ones.

What If You Don’t Want an RSS Connection?

You don’t have to connect your RSS feed to YouTube. If you are going to be focused on Video Podcasting, the RSS won’t always allow this connection, so you may need to go in manually.

To do this, when you go into the YouTube Studio, simply create a new playlist and make sure to set it as a podcast. Once you create a playlist, click the 3 dots next to the Playlist and choose “ Set as a Podcast”. You can upload videos directly into this YouTube podcast playlist.

5. Create a YouTube Podcast Channel 

To prepare for your YouTube launch, it’s time to create a dedicated space for your podcast on YouTube. It’s easy enough, but we’ve outlined the step-by-step process to make it even easier.

If you already have a Google account, sign in to YouTube using your Google credentials. If you don't have an account, now’s the time to create one.

Creation Process

Once signed in to YouTube, click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen and select YouTube Studio from the dropdown menu. This opens the dashboard where you manage your channel and content.

If you already have a channel linked to your Google account, you will see it here. If not, navigate to Settings and follow the prompts to create a new channel. You may be asked to choose whether the channel is for a personal brand, a business, or a podcast.

Select the option that best reflects how you plan to present your show.

Naming and Customization

Next, YouTube will prompt you to confirm basic details such as your channel name and account permissions. Take a moment to ensure the channel is clearly aligned with your podcast identity, as changing names and structure later can complicate branding and discoverability.

Once you’ve chosen a name that clearly reflects your podcast brand, upload your logo and channel artwork, then complete your description with a summary of your show.

Add links to your website and socials, and include relevant keywords in your description to improve discoverability. At this stage, decide how you want to publish episodes:

• Connect your podcast RSS feed to YouTube for automatic distribution, or

• Upload episodes manually and organise them within a dedicated podcast playlist.

Creating a Podcast in YouTube Studio

Once your channel is created, you will have access to YouTube Studio’s full set of tools, including content management, playlists, analytics, and podcast features.

This effectively sets up a specialised playlist where each full-length episode appears as an individual video. Publishing your show as a YouTube podcast unlocks several features:

• A dedicated podcast tab on your channel, which makes episodes easier to locate

• Visibility on the YouTube podcasts page

• Distribution through YouTube Music

• Podcast badges on watch and playlist pages

• Recommendations to viewers with related interests

• Improved discoverability across YouTube surfaces

This approach works particularly well if you already have an established YouTube channel and want to distinguish podcast episodes from other video content while keeping everything under one channel.

It also supports mixed formats. You can publish full-length episodes as podcast videos, while organising shorter clips in separate playlists or as YouTube Shorts. This makes it easier to use each format strategically without diluting your main podcast feed.

If you have previously uploaded podcast videos to YouTube, you can retroactively designate them as podcast episodes in YouTube Studio. This allows you to apply podcast features without re-uploading your content.

6. Upload Your Content

Now your channel, your podcast playlist, and your episodes are all ready. It’s time to upload. At this stage, consistency matters as much as quality, so think about how often you can realistically publish and how your episodes will appear across your channel.

In this case, you have a few options for how to share podcast content on YouTube. The format you choose affects discoverability, audience retention, and how your show fits into YouTube’s recommendation system.

You can share full episodes, live streams, or Shorts. We’ll cover these in more detail next, but first, let’s look at best practices for uploading full episodes as YouTube videos.

Best Practices for a YouTube Podcast Video

Uploading your episodes is only the starting point. How your videos are titled, structured, and presented on YouTube directly affects how easily people find your podcast and whether they choose to watch it.

Before you publish, it’s worth taking the time to optimize each episode for discoverability and viewer engagement. Small decisions around metadata, visuals, and organisation can compound over time and significantly influence reach and retention.

The best practices below outline the key areas to focus on when preparing your podcast episodes for YouTube.

Write Captivating Titles

Titles should clearly communicate what the episode delivers while reflecting how people search on YouTube. Prioritise specificity over cleverness, and surface the core idea or outcome early in the title.

Where possible, use language your audience already uses, and avoid vague phrasing that could apply to dozens of episodes. A strong title balances clarity, relevance, and intent, giving viewers an immediate reason to click without misrepresenting the content.

Use Custom Thumbnails

Before you upload your episodes, you'll want to create a custom thumbnail. While YouTube and other platforms can automatically generate thumbnails from a random moment in your video, you want to put your best foot forward.

With 90% of the best-performing YouTube videos making use of custom thumbnails, why wouldn't you take the opportunity to create an attention-grabbing image that attracts viewers and best represents your episode?

Just be sure to adhere to all Community Guidelines and image dimensions.

Side note: YouTube now has tools to help you A/B test your thumbnails and titles to see what is working better for your audiences. Don't skip out on that, give it a try. Descript wrote a really great guide on how to use it here.

Tag Your Video With Relevant Keywords

Use tags to reinforce what your episode is about and how it should be categorised by YouTube. Focus on a mix of primary topics, related terms, and common search phrases your audience might use.

Include variations of your podcast name, guest names, and key themes discussed in the episode. Tags do not replace strong titles and descriptions, but they help YouTube better understand your content and improve its chances of appearing in relevant search results and recommendations.

Enable Subtitles

Subtitles make your podcast more accessible and easier to watch in sound-off environments, which is common on YouTube. They also improve comprehension for international audiences and viewers with hearing impairments.

Upload accurate captions rather than relying solely on auto-generated subtitles, as errors can reduce clarity and credibility. Subtitles also contribute to search visibility, since YouTube can index caption text and better understand the themes of your episode.

Order The Videos As You Want Your Viewers to Watch Them

Arrange episodes in your playlist to reflect the viewing journey you want to create. For narrative podcasts, place the oldest episodes at the top so viewers can follow the story in sequence.

For topical or interview-based shows, consider grouping episodes by theme or relevance instead of chronology. Thoughtful ordering reduces friction for new viewers and increases the likelihood that they continue watching beyond a single episode.

Video Description and Timestamps

Write descriptions that clearly summarise the episode and highlight its main themes using natural, searchable language. Include timestamps for key moments so viewers can navigate the conversation quickly and understand the structure of the episode at a glance.

Add relevant links to your podcast episodes, website, newsletter, and RSS feed to guide viewers toward deeper engagement. A well-structured description improves discoverability while making the episode easier to explore and share.

Trailer Video

Consider creating a short channel trailer that introduces your podcast, its focus, and the type of conversations listeners can expect. Keep it concise, highlight the value of the show, and include a clear sense of tone and format.

A strong trailer helps new visitors quickly understand whether your podcast is relevant to them and encourages them to explore full episodes or subscribe to your channel.

We transformed Moneywise into a YouTube-first podcast, designed for discoverability and audience retention by following some of these best practices and more. Executive Producer Jackie Lamport shared with Orbit for Creators how to translate your podcast to YouTube and still serve the audience.

Tips for Sharing Your Podcast on YouTube

 While we recommend using YouTube to upload your full episodes, there are different options for sharing your podcast content. Deciding on the right content format is important for engaging your ideal audience and maximizing the visual appeal of your content.

Depending on your audience's preferences, your resources, and the nature of your podcast, there are various formats to choose from.

Share the Entire Episode

One approach is to upload your entire podcast episodes as videos on YouTube. It’s straightforward and easy to automate using apps like Repurpose.io and Podbean. However, there are some cons to this approach.

Making your entire episode available on YouTube means there’s no need for people to find you on Spotify. This could result in a drop in subscribers to your RSS feeds and hurt your sponsorship numbers.

If your episodes lean to being quite long people may not watch the whole video. A rise in video abandonment rates won’t bode well.

You also need to give careful thought to what you name your videos. Remember, YouTube is a search engine. Your SEO skills will need to be on point to come up with a title that’s both click-worthy and searchable.

Finally, for videos over 15 minutes long, you’ll need to verify your Google account with YouTube. Once verified, your upload file size is limited to 128 gigabytes or 12 hours, which should be plenty. If not, you can always try compressing the file using video-editing software.

Go Live

Live streaming your podcast on YouTube provides an interactive and real-time experience for your audience. It allows you to engage with your viewers through live chat, Q&A sessions, and even guest interviews.

Live streaming creates a sense of excitement and immediacy, as viewers can participate in the discussion as it happens. This format works well for podcasts that thrive on audience interaction and want to cultivate a live community.

Craft Compelling Snippets

Another option is to repurpose your podcast episodes into shorter, bite-sized videos known as micro-content. You can extract key highlights, interesting discussions, or valuable insights from your episodes and create separate videos around them.

These micro-content videos are more digestible and shareable on social media platforms. They can also serve as teasers or previews of your full podcast episodes, enticing viewers to listen to the complete versions. This format allows you to reach a broader audience and leverage the power of social media platforms.

A big plus of going this route is that you are more likely to attract viewers back to your podcast website or RSS feed. On the downside, producing micro-content requires more editing and uploading time. It also requires a good amount of YouTube SEO knowledge to title all your videos well.

Uploading your videos as micro-content might be more complicated, to begin with. But it also offers more opportunities for creativity and audience engagement.

Getting the Word Out

After you start a YouTube podcast channel, it's time to promote your content and explore monetization options. At this stage, the focus shifts from setup to distribution and growth, ensuring your episodes reach the right audiences and build consistent momentum.

The choices you make here will influence how quickly your podcast gains visibility and how sustainable it becomes over time. Here are some steps to get your YouTube podcast out into the world. We’ll start with promotion tactics and then move on to monetization.

Promotion

We touched on the power of creating “micro-content” earlier in the post. Short snippets and teasers are a great way to create engagement and draw in listeners. But it’s by no means the only way to get the word out and market your podcast.

Some other ideas for promoting your YouTube podcast include:

• Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags for SEO and YouTube's search algorithm

• Engage with your audience by asking for feedback and suggestions and responding to comments.

• Leverage the power of social media by sharing teasers, clips, or highlights from your podcast episodes.

• Collaborate with fellow podcasters, YouTubers, or influencers in your niche to cross-promote each other's content.

• Consider running paid advertising campaigns on YouTube or other platforms to increase the visibility of your podcast.

• Use YouTube's analytics tools to understand what content resonates most with your viewers, identify areas for improvement, and refine your promotional strategies. (Don’t underestimate the value of trends and statistics.)

Monetization

As is the case with monetizing an audio podcast, there are some standard tactics for earning money from your content on YouTube. These include:

• Sponsorships

• Advertising and affiliate marketing

• Paid subscription content

• Crowdfunding

Once your channel meets the eligibility criteria, you can monetize it through the YouTube Partner Program. This allows you to access more income-generating avenues. The most obvious one is to display ads, but there are other options too.

• Offering channel memberships

• Adding a merch shelf to showcase branded podcast merchandise

• Creating YouTube Shorts to earn money from the YouTube Shorts Fund

YouTube is aiming to attract podcasters to the platform through the various ways creators can monetize their videos.

In fact, YouTube announced in September 2025 that it’s testing dynamic ad insertion for branded segments in long-form videos. This will let podcasters swap out ad reads, resell ad space, and keep older content monetizable: a feature that’s already become essential for podcasters on other platforms. A full rollout is planned for 2026.

Considering users are now consuming more than 100 million hours of podcasts on YouTube each day, dynamic insertion could be a game-changer for branded shows.

As YouTube Director of Podcasting Kai Chuk explained, "We’re really hoping podcasters will take advantage of this infrastructure and hopefully make YouTube a meaningful part of their revenue strategy."

Benefits of Uploading Your Podcast on YouTube

Uploading to YouTube allows podcast creators to tap into the platform's massive audience. With over 2 billion active monthly users, Google-owned YouTube is often touted as the second-largest search engine.

But they're video-watchers. And you have a podcast. Well, sharing your podcast on YouTube makes sense because it is the podcast platform of choice. Studies have shown for some it is the top platform for podcast listening preferences.

By adding a visual component to your episodes, you're likely to capture more of the platform's audience, as well as take advantage of its monetization potential. Additional benefits of YouTube podcasts include the ability to leverage the real-time feedback from your audience within the comments section.

This allows you to engage with your listeners in a way other podcast distribution methods can’t, and the powerful recommendation algorithm that puts your show in front of audiences with similar interests.

Discoverability

YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, and its recommendation system is designed to match content with viewers who are most likely to engage with it.

When you publish a podcast episode, YouTube initially shows it to small, relevant audience segments and measures how they respond through metrics like watch time, click-through rate, and retention. If those signals are strong, the platform gradually expands distribution to wider audiences with similar interests.

When done well, your podcast can gain ongoing visibility rather than peaking on launch day. Episodes can resurface in search results, suggested videos, and playlists weeks or even months after publication, creating a long tail of discovery that is difficult to achieve through audio-only distribution.

Built-In Community and Real Feedback

Unlike RSS, where listeners are spread across multiple platforms, YouTube creates a single, visible space for audience interaction. Comments, likes, and shares provide immediate signals about what resonates, which topics spark discussion, and where episodes hold attention.

This turns your podcast from a one-way broadcast into an ongoing dialogue, giving you practical insight into audience preferences without relying solely on external communities or tools.

Room to Experiment and Test Topics

YouTube’s analytics and recommendation system make it easier to test new ideas with relatively low risk. Shorter episodes, spin-off formats, and niche topics can be published alongside your main show to gauge interest without disrupting your core audience.

Metrics like watch time, audience retention, and click-through rate help you identify what genuinely resonates, so decisions about future content are based on evidence rather than intuition.

Reach New Audiences

YouTube audiences rarely replace existing audio listeners; they tend to broaden your reach. The platform exposes your podcast to viewers who may not actively use podcast apps but regularly consume long-form content on YouTube.

This creates an additional entry point into your show, helping you attract new audience segments that align with your themes, expertise, and positioning, without cannibalizing your existing listener base.

Clarity On Who’s Really Watching (Or Listening)

Between analytics and audience comments, YouTube gives you a clearer picture of who’s engaging with your show, and whether that audience is actually valuable to your goals.

Sometimes the best insight isn’t how big your audience is, but whether it’s the right one.

Now back to our video vs. audio, there is a downside to video: it requires more resources and planning, as the production quality and visual aesthetics are more critical.

On the other hand, audio podcasts are more accessible and convenient for listeners, as they can easily consume the content while on the go or when they’re working out or washing dishes. Audio podcasts also require less production work and can be more cost-effective.

Real-World Examples

Two good examples of podcasts that have found a successful place on YouTube are Rotten Mango and The H3 Podcast. Both have slightly different approaches to their video podcasting.

H3 is well known for live-streamed episodes, filmed in personal studio settings, and multiple sub-shows within their podcast. They have constant content in both long and short form that appeals to different audiences.

Instead, Rotten Mango has long been focused on the one true crime podcast. She hosts full episodes on YouTube, as well as creating shorts to reach a larger audience. Rotten Mango films with a front-on camera and uses additional footage or images to enhance the storytelling.

Ready to Unlock the Potential of Video Podcasting?

Creating a dedicated YouTube podcast channel provides a centralized platform for your episodes. It allows you to build an audience, increase your reach, and leverage the platform's popularity, features, and functionalities. In short, it's an excellent way to enhance your podcast's impact.

Remember, building a successful YouTube podcast takes time and consistent effort. Analyze your promotional tactics, adapt to viewer feedback, and refine your content continuously. Focus on creating content that serves both your viewers and listeners.