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How to Start a Video Podcast: Simple Setup and Scripting Tips
Video podcasts are growing fast on YouTube and Spotify. A simple setup for recording a video podcast at home, plus how to script intros, segments and ads.
In this guide
Video podcasts have moved from niche to normal. YouTube has become one of the biggest places people watch podcasts, and clips from episodes drive discovery on every short-form platform. If you already podcast, or want to start, adding video is easier than it looks.
Audio first, always
Viewers forgive average video. They do not forgive bad audio. Put your budget into a decent microphone before a better camera. A dynamic mic close to your mouth is forgiving in untreated rooms. See our phone video setup guide.
A simple camera setup
- One camera per person, or one wide shot for a solo show
- Camera at eye level, slightly off to the side if you are talking to a guest
- Soft light from the front, such as a window or a lamp with a diffuser
- A tidy, simple background with a little depth
A phone on a tripod works well to start.
Structure an episode
- Cold open: the best 20 seconds of the episode.
- Intro: who you are and what this episode is about.
- Segments: two to four topics or questions.
- Ad reads, if any.
- Outro: recap and what is next.
Script the edges
The conversation should feel natural, but the edges benefit from a script. Write your intro, transitions and outro word for word. They are where most podcasters ramble. Our podcast intro script guide has templates.
Ad reads
Ad reads sound much better when scripted and rehearsed. Write them in your own voice, read from a prompter so you can look at the camera, and keep them under 60 seconds.
Keeping notes in view
A tablet or phone just below the camera can show your questions and segment notes. Cue Cards mode in a prompter app is useful here: each card shows a short prompt rather than a paragraph, so you stay conversational.
Record locally
If guests join remotely, ask them to record their own audio and video locally as well as on the call. Local recordings are much higher quality than call recordings. See remote video interview tips.
Plan clips from the start
As you record, note timestamps of strong moments. Each episode should give you three to five short vertical clips. Those clips are often how new listeners discover the full show.
Consistency beats perfection
Pick a schedule you can sustain, weekly or fortnightly, and stick to it. Viewers return for regular episodes far more than for perfect ones.
Frequently asked questions
Do podcasts need video now?
Not necessarily, but video helps discovery on YouTube and social media, where many people now find podcasts. Audio-only is still fine for many shows.
What equipment do I need for a video podcast?
A camera or phone, a good microphone, simple lighting and a quiet room. Audio quality matters more than video quality.
Should a podcast be scripted?
Script the intro, segment transitions, ad reads and outro. Keep the conversation itself unscripted so it sounds natural.