No, You Don't Have to Add Video to Your Podcast

There’s a lot of chatter in the podcasting world right now about video. You’ve probably seen the headlines, the YouTube clips, and maybe even a few TikToks telling you that if your podcast doesn’t have a video version, it’s already falling behind. But here’s the thing: that’s just not true for most podcasters.

At Buzzsprout, we’ve always built our tools for audio-first creators. Not because we’re anti-video, but because audio is still the core of podcasting. And more importantly, we’ve seen that it’s where most podcasters thrive!

So in this post, we’re digging into what’s really happening with video podcasting, why it’s not the default next step for every podcaster, and why it’s okay, actually, smart, not to jump into video just because everyone else seems to be doing it.

Most Top Podcasts Aren’t Using Video Like You’d Think

There’s this idea floating around that every big podcast is now on YouTube or publishing full video episodes on Spotify. But when we actually looked into it, the numbers told a different story.

Out of the top 50 podcasts in the world, only 37 publish anything on YouTube. And just 8 use Spotify’s video features! That means a quarter of the most successful shows out there don’t publish video at all, and only a small group are using full video podcasting platforms.

Think of Crime Junkie, The Daily, or even Serial, these are podcasts with the biggest teams, biggest budgets, and the most access to resources, and many of them are still focused entirely on audio!

So while video might be getting a lot of attention, most of the top shows are sticking with what works. For many of them, that means focusing on strong audio production, publishing consistently, and building a loyal audience through great storytelling.

Why Audio-Only Still Works (and Probably Works Better for You)

Audio podcasting is an incredibly powerful medium on its own. It’s flexible, intimate, and lets you connect with your audience in a way few other formats can. And most importantly? It’s manageable.

Adding video to your workflow isn’t just about setting up a camera. It means investing in lighting, editing software, file storage, and often an entirely new distribution strategy. For some podcasters, that investment makes sense. But for many, it’s a fast track to burnout.

Buzzsprout is intentionally focused on making audio podcasting as powerful and accessible as possible. That’s why we don’t host video podcasts—because most podcasters don’t need extra complexity to be successful. Plenty of successful podcasts are thriving without ever hitting record on a camera!

What If You Want to Do Video?

Some podcasters love experimenting with video, and that’s great too. A lot of podcasters are having success with short clips or behind-the-scenes footage. You can absolutely use video as a promotional tool without turning your whole podcast into a video show!

But if you’re not interested in filming clips or sharing footage? That’s perfectly fine, too. You’re not missing out. You’re actually making a strategic choice to stay focused on what works for your show!

You're Not Falling Behind

Video can be a great way to expand your podcast and try something new, but it’s not a requirement for success. Audio-only podcasts continue to thrive, and what matters most is creating content you’re proud of. If video excites you, go for it—just make sure it’s something you want to do, not something you feel like you have to do.