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How Long Should Your Podcast Be? (Hint: It’s the Wrong Question)

Here’s the thing: asking how long a podcast should be is like asking how long a piece of string should be. The answer? It depends. What are you trying to accomplish? What’s the purpose of your show? Without knowing that, you’re just guessing—and guessing isn’t a strategy. This ties directly to one of my core Laws of Podcasting: “Know What You Want Your Podcast To Do Before You Record Your First Second.”

Paul’s Law: Know What You Want Your Podcast To Do

Before you even think about hitting record, you need to have a clear goal for your podcast. Are you trying to educate? Entertain? Build authority in your niche? Drive sales for your business? The length of your podcast should be determined by what you’re trying to achieve—not by some arbitrary standard or what the so-called “gurus” tell you.

Here’s the truth: there’s no magic number. Some podcasts thrive at 10 minutes. Others dominate at an hour or more. The key is to plan your show around your purpose and your audience’s needs. If you’re delivering value, your listeners won’t care if your episode is 5 minutes or 50. They’ll care that it’s worth their time.

Why “How Long Should My Podcast Be?” Is the Wrong Question

Let’s break this down. When you ask how long your podcast should be, you’re focusing on the wrong thing. Length is a tactic. Purpose is the strategy. And strategy always comes first. Here’s why:

• Purpose Drives Format: If your goal is to provide quick, actionable tips, a shorter format might make sense. If you’re diving deep into complex topics or conducting in-depth interviews, longer episodes could be the way to go.
• Audience Expectations Matter: Your audience tunes in for a reason. If you’re meeting their needs and delivering value, they’ll stick around—regardless of length.
• Flexibility is Your Friend: Podcasting isn’t radio. You’re not locked into a specific time slot. Use that freedom to create episodes that are as long—or as short—as they need to be to accomplish your goals.

How to Plan Your Podcast Length

If you’re still unsure about how long your episodes should be, here’s a simple framework to guide you:

1. Start with Your Goal: What do you want your podcast to achieve? Define your purpose first. Everything else flows from there.
2. Understand Your Audience: Who are they? What do they want? How much time are they willing to invest in your content? The better you know your audience, the better you can serve them.
3. Experiment and Adapt: Try different episode lengths and see what resonates. Pay attention to listener feedback and analytics. If your audience loves your 30-minute episodes but drops off after 10 minutes on longer ones, adjust accordingly.
4. Focus on Value, Not Time: Don’t pad your episodes to hit a specific length. And don’t cut them short if you have more value to deliver. Let the content dictate the length—not the other way around.

The Bottom Line

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long your podcast should be. The right length is the one that serves your audience and helps you achieve your goals. So stop worrying about arbitrary numbers and start focusing on what really matters: delivering value, building connections, and creating a show that makes an impact.

At The Podcast Partnership, we help podcasters like you create shows that are purpose-driven, audience-focused, and results-oriented. Ready to plan a podcast that works for you and your listeners? Let’s chat.