How to Start a Video Podcast: A Complete Setup Guide for Beginners

Quick Summary

This guide covers how to start a video podcast with a clear topic, simple setup, and repeatable workflow. From choosing a format to recording your first episode and preparing it for publishing, each step helps make the process easier. You’ll also learn how Cleanvoice helps with audio cleanup, transcripts, summaries, and API-ready workflows.

Looking For a Simple Way to Start Your First Video Podcast?

Starting a video podcast can feel bigger than it is. You might think you need a studio, expensive cameras, perfect lighting, and a full editing team before you can record the first episode.

You don’t. A good video podcast starts with a clear idea, a simple setup, and audio people can listen to without getting distracted. The rest can improve as you go.

In this Cleanvoice guide, we'll walk you through how to start a video podcast from scratch, set up basic equipment, record your first episode, clean up the audio, and publish it without stress.

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped over 15,000 creators/podcasters and 30+ brands clean up audio with less manual editing. Our API also connects audio cleanup, Studio Sound, transcription, and subtitles to existing workflows. This experience gives us practical insight into how to start and scale video podcasts.

What is a video podcast?

A video podcast is a podcast people can watch as well as listen to. It can show the host, guests, screen shares, product demos, or a full conversation on camera.

Most video podcasts are shared on YouTube, Spotify, or social media, with the audio version also posted on podcast apps. While the setup doesn’t need to be fancy, the sound needs to be clear because people may still listen without watching.

Why start a video podcast?

Trust: People can see the host, guests, and real reactions, which makes the show feel more personal.
Reach: Video podcasts can be published on YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms where people already watch content.
Repurposing: One episode can turn into short clips, audiograms, quotes, blog posts, and social posts.
Context: Video makes it easier to show screen shares, demos, slides, products, or visual examples.
Flexibility: The same recording can work as a full video episode, an audio podcast, and bite-sized social content.

How to Start Your Video Podcast: A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Video Podcast Format

Start with a format that matches the kind of show you want to make. It will shape the setup, episode length, editing style, and how easy the podcast is to repeat.

For example:

The Diary of a CEO is built around deep guest interviews, while Waveform works because it sticks to a clear tech and creator tools niche.

Here are a few common formats to choose from:

Solo Show: Best for opinions, lessons, tutorials, or personal stories.
Interview Show: Best for expert talks, founder stories, and audience questions.
Co-Hosted Show: Best when two hosts can carry a natural conversation together.
Panel Show: Best for debates, roundtables, or multiple points of view.
Educational Show: Best for screen shares, demos, and step-by-step lessons.

As a beginner, a solo show or interview show is usually the easiest place to start.

Step 2: Pick a Clear Topic and Audience

Before choosing cameras or microphones, get clear on what the show is about and who it’s for. A focused podcast is easier to plan, record, and promote.

Look at shows with a clear fit.

For example:

How I Built This is for people interested in founder stories. Huberman Lab is for people who want science-based advice on health and performance. The Tim Ferriss Show is for people who want to learn from high performers.

Now, use that same thinking for your own show. These are good questions to ask:

Audience: Who should watch or listen?
Promise: What should people get from each episode?
Angle: What makes the show different?
Format Fit: Would it work best as interviews, solo commentary, demos, or panel talks?

Once these answers are clear, guest choices, titles, thumbnails, and editing style become much easier.

Step 3: Plan Your First Few Episodes

Before recording, sketch out the first three to five episodes. This gives the show direction and helps you avoid running out of ideas after episode one.

Start with topics your audience already cares about, such as common questions, beginner mistakes, industry trends, product demos, founder stories, or useful guest interviews.

For each episode, keep the plan simple:

Main Idea: What is the episode about?
Key Talking Points: What should the host or guest cover?
Episode Flow: How will the episode start, move through the main discussion, and end?
Guest Questions: What questions will bring out useful stories or examples?
Rough Length: How long should the episode be?

Pro Tip:

Pro tip: A full script is not always needed. In most cases, short notes work better because the conversation feels more natural.

Step 4: Set Up Your Video Podcast Equipment

A good video podcast begins with the right video podcast equipment, not a full studio setup. Start with clear sound, decent lighting, and a frame that keeps attention on the conversation.

Audio matters most. A basic USB mic will usually sound better than a laptop mic. For remote interviews, ask guests to wear headphones so the recording doesn’t pick up echo.

Try this simple starter setup:

Microphone: A USB mic for clean voice recording.
Camera: A webcam, phone, or camera that records in HD.
Headphones: Wired headphones to avoid echo during interviews.
Lighting: A soft light in front of the host, not behind them.
Tripod or Stand: A stable setup so the camera stays at eye level.
Quiet Space: A room with soft furniture, curtains, or rugs to reduce echo.

Don’t worry about getting everything perfect on day one. Start with clear sound, soft lighting, and a steady camera. That’s enough to make the episode easy to watch while the setup improves over time.

Step 5: Choose Your Recording Software

Next, decide where the podcast will be recorded. Will guests join online? Do you need screen sharing for demos or tutorials?

Tools to Start With:

For solo episodes, a basic recording tool may be enough. For remote interviews, tools like Riverside, SquadCast, and StreamYard are popular for remote podcast recording because they support separate local tracks.

This makes cleanup easier if one guest has background noise, low volume, or internet issues.

Look for a tool with:

Separate Tracks: Easier editing for each speaker.
Local Recording: Better quality than internet-only recording.
Guest Links: Simple access for remote guests.
Screen Sharing: Useful for tutorials, reviews, or demos.
Easy Exports: Less hassle after recording.

Pick the software that makes recording feel simple. The right tool should help you press record and focus on the conversation, not the settings.

Step 6: Record Your First Episode

Before recording the full episode, do a quick test.

Tip:

Speak for 30 seconds, play it back, and check the basics. Is the voice clear? Is the face well lit? Is there echo, fan noise, or keyboard tapping?

Once everything looks and sounds fine, start recording. Don’t stop for every mistake. Pause, take a breath, repeat the line, and keep going. It’s much easier to clean up later than a stop-start recording.

A few simple habits help:

Keep Notes Nearby: Short talking points are easier to follow than a full script.
Look at the Camera Often: This helps the episode feel more personal.
Leave Short Pauses: Clean pauses make the editing process easier.
Check Guests Before Starting: Make sure their mic, camera, and internet are working.
Record a Backup: Save a second audio or video file where possible.

The first episode may feel awkward, and that’s normal. Most shows get better after a few recordings. The important thing is to finish one clean take and learn from it.

Step 7: Clean and Edit Your Video Podcast

Editing is where the episode starts to feel polished. Start with the parts that affect the listening experience most: long pauses, background noise, filler words, stutters, mouth sounds, and uneven volume.

This is where Cleanvoice can help. After recording, upload the audio or video file to Cleanvoice and let it clean up the speech automatically. It removes filler words like “um” and “uh,” cuts awkward silences, reduces mouth sounds, clean stutters, and improves audio with Studio Sound.

Once the audio is cleaned, move to the final video edits:

Trim the Start and End: Remove setup chatter, countdowns, and dead space.
Cut Major Mistakes: Keep the conversation smooth without over-editing every small pause.
Add Simple Visuals: Use lower thirds, slides, screen shares, or captions where they help.
Check the Sound: Make sure every speaker is easy to hear.
Export the Episode: Save a full video version, an audio-only version, and short clips if needed.

Pro Tip:

Do not edit the personality out of the episode. A few natural pauses or laughs can make the conversation feel real. Focus on removing the distractions that make people stop listening.

Step 8: Create Podcast Artwork and Episode Assets

Before publishing, prepare the pieces people see first. A strong episode can still get ignored if the title is vague, the thumbnail is hard to read, or the description feels unclear.

Start with:

Podcast Cover Art: The main image for the show.
Episode Thumbnail: The image used for each video episode.
Episode Title: A clear title that explains the topic.
Description: A short summary with guest names, topics, and useful links.
Timestamps: Simple chapters for longer episodes.
Captions or Subtitles: Helpful for social clips, silent viewing, and accessibility.

Cleanvoice can help with the writing side too. Our podcast summary feature can turn an episode into a summary, chapters, show notes, and short takeaways, so you’re not starting from a blank page after editing.

Think of these assets as the packaging for the episode. Again, they don’t need to be fancy. They just need to show people what the episode is about and why it matters.

Step 9: Publish Your Video Podcast

Once the episode is edited, choose where it will go live. You don’t need to post everywhere on day one. Start with the platforms your audience already uses.

YouTube is often a good starting point for video podcasts because people search there for interviews, tutorials, reviews, and long-form content. The platform now hosts over 1 billion monthly active podcast viewers, and in October 2025 alone, viewers watched over 700 million hours of podcasts on living room devices.

Before publishing, check:

Main Platform: Where the full video episode will live.
Audio Version: Where audio-only listeners can find it.
Schedule: A realistic day and time for new episodes.
File Format: The right export format for each platform.
Privacy Settings: Private or unlisted until everything is checked.
Distribution: Where the episode will be shared after it goes live.

Start small, see what gets attention, and use that feedback to improve the next episode.

How to Automate Video Podcast Editing With Cleanvoice API

If you’re editing one episode at a time, the Cleanvoice app may be enough. You upload the recording, clean the audio, review the edits, and export the file.

But if you’re publishing often or editing for clients, those same steps can get repetitive.

With Cleanvoice API, you can connect Cleanvoice to your recording, storage, or publishing workflow, so files move through cleanup without manual uploads. For faster setup, the Cleanvoice SDK wraps uploads, editing, and downloads. So, there is no need for constant job polling.

For example, you could save a recorded interview to a folder and have it sent to Cleanvoice automatically. Cleanvoice can then remove filler words, stutters, mouth sounds, long pauses, breaths, and background noise before the file moves to the next step.

This helps when you want to:

Save Time: Skip repeated uploads and cleanup steps.
Clean Audio Automatically: Prepare each episode for final video edits.
Create Transcripts: Get text for captions, show notes, summaries, and blog posts.
Handle More Episodes: Keep production manageable as the podcast grows.

Note:

You don’t need the API for your first episode. But if the podcast becomes a regular workflow, the API and SDK can save a lot of repeated work.

Best Practices for Creating a Professional Video Podcast

Keep the Branding Consistent: Use the same colors, fonts, intro style, and thumbnail layout so the show feels familiar across episodes.
Create a Repeatable Pre-Recording Checklist: Write down what to check before every session, such as battery levels, storage space, mic input, camera angle, and guest access.
Make the First Few Minutes Strong: Start with the topic, guest, or main question quickly so people know why they should keep watching.
Watch the Episode Before Publishing: Check for awkward cuts, audio jumps, frozen frames, or anything that may distract viewers.
Keep a Simple File System: Save raw files, cleaned audio, transcripts, thumbnails, and exports in clearly named folders so nothing gets lost.

Create Polished Video Podcast Episodes With Cleanvoice

A video podcast doesn’t need to be perfect from the first episode. It just needs a clear idea, a simple setup, and sound that doesn’t distract people from the conversation.

Cleanvoice helps with that last part. After recording, you can use it to remove filler words, stutters, mouth sounds, long pauses, breaths, and background noise. You can also create transcripts, summaries, chapters, and show notes without starting from scratch.

When you’re ready to publish more often, Cleanvoice API can help automate the cleanup process so your video podcast production is easier to manage.

How to Start a Video Podcast_ A Complete Setup Guide For Beginners