Lesson 10: To Video or Not to Video
Answering the big 2025 podcasting question for yourself
Hi Besties!
Ah, the timely podcasting debate: Should you keep it classic with audio-only? Go all-in on video? Or strike that sweet hybrid middle ground?
Today we’re breaking it down.
Team audio-only: The purists
Audio-only is the OG podcast format—and for good reason. It’s intimate, immersive, and portable. Your audience can bring you along on their commute, at the gym, loading the dishwasher, and while pretending not to see someone they know at Trader Joe’s.
Bonus: You don’t have to worry about looking camera-ready every time you hit record, and there’s zero chance of spiraling into an existential crisis while staring at your own face in Premiere Pro.
Best for: Narrative storytelling, shy creatives, lower budgets, and people who hate putting on makeup and washing their hair.
Team video: The YouTube growers & showers
Want to expand beyond the podcast platforms? Video is where it’s at. YouTube is a powerful discovery machine, and short-form clips on social media can turn casual scrollers into dedicated listeners.
Video podcasts also give you the chance to show off visual elements—whether it’s hilarious facial expressions, expressive hand gestures, elaborate charts and graphs, or that fancy studio space you created in your office. Plus, video lets your personality—and your guests’—shine through in all its multi-dimensional glory.
Best for: Interview shows or chatcasts, audience growth, and anyone who gets a thrill from saying, “smash that like button and subscribe.”
Team hybrid: The best of both worlds
Can’t decide? You don’t have to. Do both! The hybrid approach lets you record in video, publish an audio-first podcast, and clip the best moments for social media. Or you might post full video episodes to YouTube but keep the post-production chill, or even just link your podcast’s RSS feed to YouTube for wider distribution of your audio episodes. A hybrid approach lets you mix and match—whatever keeps your workflow doable and your audience engaged.
Best for: Maximizing reach without burning out, strategic cross-platform growth, repurposing content efficiently, and podcasters comfortable with a little controlled chaos.
So… what’s right for you?
It all comes down to your goals, bandwidth, and comfort zone.
If video excites you—or at least doesn’t make you want to curl up in the fetal position—go for it!
If you’re happy and thriving in the audio-only world, keep doing you.
The best format is the one you’ll actually stick with—and enjoy.
I’m teaching some upcoming workshops you might be interested in:
How to Build a “Platform” for Writers Who Shudder at the Thought
Podcasting for Writers: How to Start, Sustain & Grow Your Podcast
Start a Newsletter to Supercharge Your Platform, Network and Business
So… ROLL CALL! 🗣
What’s your strategy? Are you a die-hard audio devotee, fully on the video train, or somewhere in between? Comment below and let me know!
Urge most indies and hobbyists to be a lean #TeamHybrid. Because YouTube is a huge CONTENT-focused search engine. And it's super easy to add that to posting in other RSS spaces.