268 | Not Every Podcast Episode Belongs on YouTube
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In this episode of Grow the Show, host Kev Michael challenges the assumption that every podcast episode should be published on YouTube. Drawing from his own struggles and successes, he reveals that not all podcast formats translate well to video. He identifies three distinct types of podcast episodes: 'Discuss' (conversational interviews and co-hosted discussions), which thrive on both audio and video; 'Show' (visually driven explainers with animations, graphics, and whiteboarding), which perform exceptionally on YouTube but fail on audio; and 'Tell' (solo, narrative, conversational monologues), which excel on audio but struggle on video due to the lack of visual engagement. Kev explains that YouTube's high retention standards—set by professionally produced, visually rich content—make it nearly impossible for raw solo talking-head videos to succeed, even if they're excellent on audio. He emphasizes that podcasters should align their content format with the platform, prioritizing 'Discuss' for YouTube growth and 'Tell' for deep audio trust-building. The key takeaway is that not every episode belongs on YouTube, and creators should embrace their strengths rather than force all content into a one-size-fits-all video format.
Not every podcast episode should be on YouTube—some are meant to be heard, not seen.
There are three types of podcast episodes: Discuss (works everywhere), Show (video-only), and Tell (audio-only).
YouTube rewards high retention, which requires visual storytelling; solo talking-head videos often fail because they don't engage visually.
Solo 'Tell' episodes build deep trust with existing audiences but don't grow new viewers on YouTube.
To grow on YouTube, focus on 'Discuss' episodes and visually rich 'Show' content, but don’t force all content into video.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The YouTube Paradox: Why Some Episodes Succeed and Others Don’t
“Not every podcast episode belongs on YouTube. Some of them are just meant to be heard like this one. And that's okay.”
The Three Types of Podcast Episodes: Discuss, Show, and Tell
“The solo episodes that did well on YouTube had a visual component. I was drawing something, sharing a document, or showing slides.”
Why Solo Episodes Fail on YouTube
Kev explains that YouTube viewers expect high visual engagement. A 20-minute solo talk with no visuals feels like a chore, especially to strangers. He compares it to reading a book vs. watching a movie.
The Cost of 'Show' Content and the Trap of the 'Messy Middle'
“The average view duration was like three minutes. I'm like, oh my gosh. It underperformed all of my regular stuff.”
How to Grow Your Podcast: Strategy Over Format
“If you're just recording yourself talking into a video and putting that video up on YouTube, probably not going to be explosive growth.”
“Not every podcast episode belongs on YouTube. Some of them are just meant to be heard like this one. And that's okay.”
“The average view duration was like three minutes. I'm like, oh my gosh. It underperformed all of my regular stuff.”
“Think about this like a book. You can read it. You can listen to an audiobook. But you’ve never seen a video of someone reciting a book.”
Host
Kev Michael
person
Grow the Show
media
Spotify
other
Callaway
person
X
other
Diary of a CEO
media
Colin
person
Samir
person
Apple Podcasts
other
WhizBank
product
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