Podcast YouTube

What is a podcast on YouTube?

A podcast on YouTube is a playlist with podcast features turned on: the playlist is the show and every episode is a video inside it. Podcasts can appear in YouTube Music, carry podcast badges on Watch and Playlist pages and be featured on youtube.com/podcasts.

A podcast should hold only full-length episodes, ordered the way listeners should consume them. If the show has several seasons, keep them in the same podcast.

Why podcast features matter

Designating a playlist as a podcast is what makes a show eligible for podcast-specific distribution. Podcast content may be eligible for the following features:

• Inclusion in YouTube Music, where users can background and download most podcast content without a YouTube Music Premium membership

• Podcast badges on Watch and Playlist pages

• A spotlight on youtube.com/podcasts to attract new listeners

• Easy discovery from the Watch page to help listeners find your episodes

• Recommendations to new listeners with similar interests

• Improved search features to help your audience find your podcast

Eligibility is not automatic. Some playlists are not eligible for podcast features even if you designate them as podcasts, and ineligible content includes, but is not limited to, content that is not owned by the creator. Shorts created to support a podcast do not appear in YouTube Music.

How to create a podcast in YouTube Studio

To create a new podcast:

1. In YouTube Studio, click Create, then New podcast. You may be asked to verify your account first.

2. Select Create a new podcast, or Set an existing playlist as a podcast to convert a playlist you already have.

3. Enter the podcast details: title, description, visibility (Public or Private) and a square podcast thumbnail.

4. Click Create to save, then add episodes by uploading new videos or adding existing ones.

To switch on podcast features for an existing playlist, go to Content and then Playlists in YouTube Studio, hover over the playlist, click Options and then Add podcast features, review the details, add a square thumbnail and click Done. Only do this for playlists that contain full episodes, not for season or clip playlists.

An MP3 cannot be turned into a podcast on YouTube: each episode is represented by a video. Podcast videos are available for audio-only playback, and removing a video from all podcasts in its video settings turns that playback off. Full steps are in the YouTube Help article on creating a podcast.

How to check podcast performance

Open YouTube Studio, go to the Analytics tab and click Overview, then pick the show in the Your Podcast(s) card to see views and watch time. For a deeper look, click See Podcast Analytics, which adds traffic sources, audience demographics, audience retention metrics and revenue data.

Podcast reporting in YouTube Studio covers impressions, click-through rate, views, traffic sources and watch time. Ad revenue on podcast episodes requires membership in the YouTube Partner Program, which also opens up channel memberships and fan funding through Super Chat, Super Thanks and Super Stickers. The current entry bar is covered in our guide to YouTube monetization requirements.