Ep 176: How long should your podcast episodes be?

Send us a text

In this episode, I address a common question: 'How long should your podcast episodes be?' I explain that the ideal length varies depending on the type of podcast and audience preference.

I recommend around 45 minutes for guest interviews, but my preference is to keep them to 25 minutes to ensure they are focused and actionable.

Health-related podcasts might benefit from being around 30 minutes long while solo episodes can be as short as 10 minutes.

I emphasize the importance of tailoring the length to your content and audience, and not being afraid to deviate from norms.

00:07 Determining Podcast Length
00:27 Guest Episodes Duration
02:36 Solo Episodes Duration
03:58 Content Creation Tips
05:11 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

 If you're a coach, consultant, course creator, service provider, or author, and want to launch your podcast to grow your business and audience and amplify your message, I have a podcast launch guide that will help you set the tone and foundation for your podcast. ➡️https://learn.hellocsdorsey.com/

💼 Ready to grow your network, amplify your voice, and actually plan collaborations that move the needle?

Join us at the next Hey BOSS Ladies: Connection + Collaboration Hour
✨ Register here → heybossladies.com/event

Let’s build relationships that build your business.
Now’s the time. Let’s BOSS UP. 🔥

Support the show

Follow Me on Instagram: @csdorsey_hello
Listen on Apple Podcast | iHeart Radio

Episode Transcript

Microphone (Yeti Stereo (00:00):
Welcome back to another episode of the
helices.
Dorsey podcast today, I'manswering a question that I get
all the time.
And then is how long should yourpodcast episode beat?
And the short answer is it istotally up to you and your
audience.
So it depends on what type ofpodcast you have.
So if you have, like, forexample, I always like pull this

(00:22):
up, but I don't listen to themlike true crime podcasts.
I don't listen to them.
Um, but that probably will be alittle bit longer if you're
interviewing guests.
Um, I will say guest episodesgenerally to be about 45
minutes.
Um, sometimes I listen topodcasts that have a 45 minutes
or a little bit longer, but Ithink 45 minutes for guest

(00:44):
interview is a sweet spot.
For me, it is all about myguests.
So I give them the 25 minutesslot because I don't want it to
drag on and on and on,especially if they're rambling.
I like.
For my guests and the episode tobe.
Focus where people can get whatthey need, listen, and

(01:06):
implement.
So that's the reason why I havemine no longer than 25 minutes.
Um, that's really good.
Especially if you're doing a 25minute walk or a 30 minute walk,
it will definitely, uh, beentertaining during your walks.
So.
Uh, whatever it is that you'redoing.
It, um, definitely helped passthe time.
So twenty-five minutes is goodenough.

(01:27):
Uh, cause people attention spansis like really short these days.
And.
You know, we have so many thingsout there that's grabbing for
people's attention.
Um, podcasting is very.
I will say it's a relaxing typeof platform where people are
actually taking the time out tolisten.
To a different podcast and hisBowman is getting really big and

(01:50):
people are finding creative waysto, uh, get their podcasts
content or their audio contentout there.
So, um, I will say definitelykeep it four to five minutes.
If you have a guest, uh, if youhave a podcast that's like
related to health, I will saymaybe 30 minutes.
Um, because you are given atopic you're giving.

(02:14):
Research and studies, you'regiving examples and then you
give in like tidbits or tips forpeople can, so people can.
Apply.
Whatever it is that you'retalking about.
Um, as far as that'shealth-related in the podcast,
so they can apply it at home or,um, give them action steps,

(02:34):
different things like that.
Uh, if you're doing soloepisodes totally up to you.
I see most solo episodes arelike 20 minutes, so I less.
My solo episodes tend to be likemaybe 10 minutes or less.
Uh, simply because I want togive you.
The tidbits that you need.
I want to give you the keypoints, main points and give you

(02:55):
something actionable that youcan use just given information.
And you don't have to getinformation and it doesn't have
to take 30 minutes long.
For you to say the thing thatyou should have said 15 minutes
ago.
No.
I like to just keep it short andsweet and simple.

Microphone (Yeti Stereo Mic (03:15):
So, yeah, it's totally up to you.
What you feel comfortable withafter a while you probably feel
like, okay, yeah, I can cut itdown or I can make it a little
bit longer.
You'll kind of like gauge as to,um, How long your episodes
should be.
And if you have guests, you cankind of engage that as well.

(03:36):
Uh, depending on the topics andthe information sometimes
oftentimes when we do anepisode.
You could kind of like say, oh,well, I know I talked on this
particular subject.
I can definitely dive deeper.
Into this topic and create anepisode out of it.

(03:58):
So I teach that like pullingthings out.
Um, when you are doing yourresearch for your content
creation, I teach and I show howto go onto Facebook groups.
Uh, do your Google search do askthe public.
Uh, or a sort of public, um, howto get questions that people are

(04:21):
asking and then how to takethose questions and create
podcast episodes from it.
Oftentimes when we are doing themain points, you can actually
pull one of the main point andcreate another episode to dive
deeper into that main point.
So it is so many different waysyou can do this and it's totally

(04:42):
up to you.
There's no right or wronganswer.
I had a guest on my podcast.
Um, I want to say.
Back to my early episodes.
And, um, she actually do toomany marketing podcasts.
So she gives marketing tips fortwo minutes.
I think it was like every day.

(05:02):
And that's it.
So that's go, like, if I couldget a gold nugget for one
minute, I'll definitely take itand run with it.
So it's totally up to you.
This is your podcast.
You do what's best for you.
You be creative.
And you don't have to doeverything that everybody else
does.
And if somebody say, no, youhave to do it this way.

(05:22):
Don't listen to them.
Cause you don't.
That's my soapbox for the day.
So, um, if this episode washelpful, please, please, please
give me a review.
Some stars, wherever you'relistening.
So my podcasts can reach morepeople.
I'm so happy to talk with you ontoday.
And also if you're coachconsultant course creator

(05:43):
sellers provider, or any of theabove.
And you want to launch yourpodcast so you can grow your
business audience, amplify yourmessage.
I have a podcast launch guidethat I think would be very
helpful for you will help setthe tone and foundation for your
podcast.
So the link is definitely in theshow notes, go ahead and grab
that, and it's totally free todownload.

(06:04):
And if you want to watch apodcast.
Definitely use that step-by-stepguide and you will be amazed at
how quickly you find how quicklyyou can launch your podcast.
And last time do you think?
Okay, so that's something thatyou want to do?
Definitely do.
So I started my podcast and mycar.
I tell a story all the time and,um, people are fascinated by it.

(06:27):
I'm fascinated by too, but realreal.
I started it in my car.
Okay.
Alrighty until the next episode,take care, be safe, and I will
talk to you on the next episode.
Bye.