Interview vs. Narrative: Choosing the Right Podcast Style for Your Voice

The podcasting world is more vibrant and diverse than ever. Whether you're a seasoned host or an aspiring podcaster, one of the most fundamental decisions you'll make is choosing a podcast format. Two of the most popular formats are interview-based and narrative-style and both offer distinct experiences for creators and listeners alike.

Each style has its strengths and challenges. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of both and help figure out which format aligns with your goals, voice, and audience.

Interview-Based Podcasts

Interview-based podcasts center around conversations with guests—experts, celebrities, creators, or everyday people with compelling stories. Think The Tim Ferriss Show or Armchair Expert.

Pros

1. Easier Content Creation:
You don’t have to carry the entire show. Your guest brings their expertise, experiences, and energy, reducing the pressure on you to generate every insight.

2. Built-in Audience Growth:
Your guests often share the episode with their own followers, helping you grow your audience organically.

3. Evergreen Networking:
Podcasting gives you a legitimate reason to reach out to influential people in your niche and build long-term professional relationships.

4. Real-Time Discovery:
Interviews often reveal spontaneous moments of insight, humor, or emotion that are hard to script.

Cons

1. Quality Can Vary:
A brilliant guest doesn’t always equal a great episode. Bad audio, lackluster chemistry, or rambling can ruin the experience.

2. Scheduling Logistics:
Coordinating with guests, especially high-profile ones, can be time-consuming and unpredictable.

3. Harder to Stand Out:
There are thousands of interview podcasts. Without a clear niche or unique angle, it’s easy to blend into the crowd.

4. Less Narrative Control:
You can guide the conversation, but you can’t always control the outcome. This can be risky if the guest doesn't deliver as expected.

Narrative-Style Podcasts

Narrative podcasts focus on storytelling, scripted or semi-scripted, with a clear arc, theme, or message. They often include voiceovers, sound design, and multiple perspectives. Think Serial or Radiolab.

Pros

1. Stronger Storytelling Impact:
You control the pacing, tone, and structure. This allows for emotional depth and more immersive experiences.

2. High Production Value = High Perceived Value:
Well-edited narrative podcasts often feel more polished and “premium,” attracting listeners who value depth and detail.

3. Greater Creative Freedom:
You can mix formats, add archival audio, dramatic reenactments, or fictional elements, to build something unique.

4. Ideal for Binge Listening:
Serialized narrative podcasts often hook listeners and keep them coming back for more.

Cons

1. Time-Intensive Production:
Scripting, editing, and sound design take significantly more time and effort than a simple interview.

2. Requires Planning and Research:
You’ll need to do more prep work, including fact-checking, storyboarding, and possibly managing voice actors or additional audio assets.

3. Higher Technical Barriers:
To produce something that sounds professional, you may need skills in audio production, writing, and storytelling, or a budget to hire help.

4. Limited Spontaneity:
The control you gain through scripting often comes at the expense of raw, unscripted moments.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If you thrive in real-time conversation and want a fast production turnaround, interview podcasts might be your best fit. If you’re a storyteller at heart and willing to invest time in crafting compelling audio experiences, a narrative format could help you stand out.

Or maybe… why not both? Some of the most successful podcasts blend both approaches, interviews woven into a larger story, with narration guiding the journey.

Whatever path you choose, the key is to serve your audience with clarity, purpose, and consistency.