"How long should my podcast be?" It is the most common debate in podcasting forums. Some swear by the "22-minute commute" rule; others point to Joe Rogan's 3-hour marathons. The truth is, there is no magic number. There is only "Value Per Minute." In this episode, Mark settles the debate on episode length. We explain why "density" matters more than "duration," how to respect your own editing abilities, and why the only sin in podcasting is being boring—regardless of whether the episode is 5 minutes or 5 hours long.
Show Notes
The "Commute Time" Myth:
Why basing your show length on average drive times is outdated in the era of on-demand listening.
Value Per Minute (VPM):
The concept of "Density." A 10-minute episode packed with value is better than a 60-minute episode with 50 minutes of fluff.
The "Dan Carlin" Paradox:
How Hardcore History proves that people will listen to 5-hour episodes if the storytelling is gripping.
Editing Discipline:
The rule of "Not a minute longer than necessary."
Why you should stop recording the moment the value stops, rather than stretching to hit a round number (e.g., 30 minutes).
Respecting the Medium:
"Brief and Good" vs. "Long and Boring."
Why shorter formats (like this podcast) are often harder to produce than long rambling conversations, but yield higher loyalty.
Mark at onpodium.com
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