What's the ideal length for a podcast?

Voice Over: 00:00:00

Got dreams of being a professional podcaster, but have no idea what you're doing. This is impossible. That's about to change. A new kind of school. Welcome to the Pod School Podcast.

Rachel: 00:00:10

Hello, welcome to the show. Today's question is from Angelique, and she asks: What is the ideal length of time for a podcast?

Great question — and one without a clear answer. The truth is, there’s no magic number. The ideal length depends on two things: who your audience is and what your content requires.

If you’re speaking to busy parents, for example, you’re unlikely to hold their attention with hour-long episodes. Your audience’s lifestyle and listening habits should guide your decisions around length.

Then there’s the content itself. The best length is the one that allows you to fully flesh out your ideas without including unnecessary fluff. If you can deliver a complete, valuable episode in three minutes — do that. If your content demands more time to breathe, give it space.

Every podcast should be edited, and the editing process is where you make sure your content is strong from start to finish. Remove the faff. Cut the waffle. Deliver your message clearly and efficiently.

In one of my older shows, I interviewed Australian media personalities about how they got started. Some of those episodes went over an hour — because that’s what the content required. But on this show, I’ve answered questions in just three minutes. Why? Because I could give the audience what they needed without filler.

There’s no rulebook. You can podcast for five hours if you want — but it doesn’t mean you should.

You also have to think about what’s realistic for you. Editing a five-minute episode takes a lot less time than editing an hour of audio — and a lot less planning and prep too. And if you're editing professionally, that hour-long raw audio might take multiple playthroughs.

It's easy to feel full of ideas when you're starting out. But what happens a year in, when your energy drops and your content list starts to run dry? That’s when you’ll wish your show was 20 minutes, not 60.

In another of my podcasts, we started with episodes that ran up to an hour. But over time, I became more selective in the edit. Episodes dropped to around 30 minutes — and listeners noticed. We got emails asking, “Where’s the rest of the show?” That’s why it’s better to start with a manageable length, then offer extra content when you can, rather than taking content away later.

If you’re planning long episodes, ask yourself why. Is it because you think that’s what podcasts are supposed to be? Is it because your favourite shows are that long? Don’t model your show off someone else’s — especially if it doesn’t suit you, your content, or your audience.

And definitely don’t pad your episodes just to hit an arbitrary time. If you’re solo podcasting, filling an hour is tough. You’ll need more prep, more content, and more time to deliver it all.

Instead, ask yourself: What’s the best length for me and my audience? Then build your show around that.

Thanks so much for the question, Angelique.

If you’ve got a question, head to the description of this episode. There’s a link there, as well as a link to my free podcasting guide, which includes all the tools and tech you need to get started. And if you want more support, my online course, PodSchool, walks you through every step of launching your show — from idea to monetisation.

Thanks for listening. I’ll see you next week!

Voice Over: 00:08:07

That's all for today.