Video podcasting is everywhere, but does your show truly need it? Learn how to make decisions that fit your podcast’s core mission.

Podcasting has always been about intimacy. A host sharing ideas directly with an audience, creating connections through conversation. But now, video is everywhere. YouTube is packed with podcasts, social feeds are flooded with short clips, and big platforms like Spotify and Apple are leaning into video-first features. Chances are the question “Should I add video?” is sitting somewhere in the back of your mind. Maybe it’s a loud voice, maybe it’s just a whisper. Either way, the pressure is real.

But here is the real question: Does your show need video to thrive? Or is this trend just a distraction from the heart of why your podcast exists? Let’s unpack what matters most, so you can make decisions that serve your show, and your audience, with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Video podcasting is growing, but audio remains powerful for deeply loyal, engaged listeners 02:27
• Don’t confuse market movement with alignment—what’s trendy isn’t always what’s right for your show 02:08
• Ask, “What is my podcast actually for?” before investing in cameras, studios, or new workflows 03:20
• Loyal listeners prioritize useful, consistent audio content that fits their lifestyle 02:34
• Clarity on your show’s why makes decisions about video (and everything else) much simpler 03:59

Subscribe to get my latest content in My Podcast Guy Newsletter

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Video Podcasting

1. Is video podcasting necessary for my show to stay relevant? No. Brett Johnson emphasizes that audio is still the right format for many audiences, especially those valuing consistency and usefulness 02:34.
2. How do I decide if I should add video to my podcast? First clarify your podcast’s purpose. Make decisions based on what serves your audience and your goals, not just trends 01:36.
3. What are the risks of adding video without a clear podcast strategy? Without a clear why, video can create unnecessary complexity and expenses without improving your show’s core value 03:08.
4. Are podcast listeners demanding video content? Not necessarily. Many loyal listeners prefer audio because it fits their lifestyle while driving, walking, or working 02:42.
5. What’s a practical first step before considering video? Write down a one-sentence answer to “What is my podcast actually for?” This clarity helps all future decisions, including whether video is right for you 04:11.

Recorded at 511 Studios - Columbus, OH (and you can too!)

Podcasting is a MARATHON, not a sprint. Be patient, take action, and apply yourself.

Let’s talk about what podcasting can do for your business in the next 12-months. Whether you’re B2C or B2B, we can create a content marketing strategy that will work for you.

Connect with me if you would like to talk more about this. My calendar is available on my Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants business website.

Brett Johnson is the owner and lead consultant at Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants. With over 35+ years of experience in Marketing, Content Creation, Audio Production/Recording, and Broadcasting, the podcast consultants at Circle 270 Media® strategically bring these strengths together for their business Podcast clients.

Email us at [email protected] to set up a time to talk more about your new or established business podcast.

Music from #Uppbeat - https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/make-it-happen - License code: T0ZIBWWXBX3NLCVB

You can book a clarity call with me. Just head over to My Podcast Guy and look for the Book A Clarity Call link. We’ll talk through where you’re stuck, what your real why might be, and how to build your podcast around it.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

I research with AI. I draft the first draft with it. This episode is its own example. AI gathered the platform coverage and produced the drafts. I set the argument, directed the corrections through several rounds. I rewrote the piece until I said what I think, in the way I say it. When any scanner reads the transcript, it will find the machine’s fingerprints on the sentences and mine on the personal experiences. Both readings are accurate. Consider this the blackline for the document you have just read and podcast episode you have just heard.

Copyright 2026 Brett Johnson | My Podcast Guy

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Is video taking over podcasting and should you care?

Welcome to The Podcast Why. I'm Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, your trusted

friend in podcasting. The show is here to help you reconnect with the

real why behind your podcast so you can keep showing up with clarity

and confidence. Video is growing fast. I mean, podcasters

are feeling the pressure. Video is everywhere. YouTube is everywhere. Short

clips are everywhere. Spotify is pushing video. Apple

Podcasts is pushing video. People in podcasting circles keep

asking the same question: are you on video yet?

And because that question is everywhere, a lot of podcasters are feeling something

they may not be saying out loud. They're feeling behind

and wondering if audio is now somehow not enough.

They're asking themselves if the only way to stay relevant is to

turn their podcast into a video production. I'm

working with podcasters who are starting to ask about cameras,

researching lighting, editing workflows, studio options,

thumbnails, and social clips before they answer the more

important question: what is this podcast

actually here to do? Video may be a smart next move

for your show. It also may be a distraction from the

real work of the podcast. And the only way to know the difference

is not to look at what podcast professionals are writing and

recording about every day. It's to look at your

why. This season is not about reacting to

trends. It's about learning how to make production decisions

With purpose. And if you miss that, then even a good

opportunity like video can become a bad strategy.

In all honesty, video is growing. It's creating more ways for some

shows to be found and helping some podcasters build authority and

shareable content. For the right show, that matters. But here's the

mistake I don't want you to make. Don't confuse market

movement or the next shiny object with podcast

alignment. Just because video is becoming more common doesn't mean

your show automatically needs it right now. I'm

working with podcasters whose audiences are deeply loyal and

highly responsive. Those listeners aren't sitting around waiting for

more camera angles. They want your insights and

consistency. They want useful episodes they can take with

them into the rest of their day, their week, their month, their life.

They listen while driving, walking, traveling, or working. For those

listeners, audio isn't a lesser format. It's the right

format for their lifestyle. That matters more than the pressure

of the video trend. Because if your audience primarily values

usefulness, trust, and consistency, then adding video

may add complexity that doesn't improve the core value

of your show at all. So yes, pay attention to the shift,

but don't surrender your judgment to it. Before you buy

a camera, update your space, or book studio time, here's the question I want

you to sit with. What is my podcast for?

Not what it could become one day, or what would look

impressive online, or what seems to be working for somebody else.

What is your podcast for right now? Is it here to help you build

authority, grow your reach, stay connected to your audience,

support your business, generate better leads, deepen trust with the right

people? My podcast clients got immediate clarity

once they answered that question honestly. Once they stopped asking,

should I do video, and started asking, what job is my

podcast here to do, the pressure went down and the decision became

much clearer. That's the shift I want for you.

When your podcast why is clear, production decisions stop feeling

random and reactive. They start feeling practical.

So your next step is simple. Write down one sentence that answers

this question: What is my podcast actually for?

If you can't answer that yet, then don't worry about video. In the next

episode, I'm going to help you define the core job of your podcast. and show

you how video can quickly become expensive

content when that job isn't clear. You can book a clarity

call with me. Just head over to My Podcast Guy, www.mypodcastguy.com and look for the

Book a Clarity Call link. We'll map your podcast why to your business and

your business to your podcast so it all feels coherent. Thanks

for listening to The Podcast Why. I'm Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy, and I'll

talk to you in the next episode. AI notation - I research with AI. I

draft the first draft with it. This episode is its own example. AI gathered the

platform coverage and produced the drafts. I set the argument, directed the corrections through several

rounds. I rewrote the piece until I said what I think, in the way I

say it. When any scanner reads the transcript, it will find the machine’s fingerprints on

the sentences and mine on the personal experiences. Both readings are accurate. Consider this the

blackline for the document you have just read and podcast episode you have just heard.