How to turn a podcast into Reels, Shorts and TikToks: a step-by-step workflow

Before you record: set yourself up for clips

• Record video if you can. Even a simple camera per speaker makes clips far more engaging than audio alone.
• Frame for vertical. Leave space around each person so the video can be cropped to 9:16 without cutting heads off.
• Prioritise audio quality. Clear sound matters more than perfect video.
• Get permission. Tell guests their words may be clipped and shared.

Step 1: Mark moments while you record

Keep a notepad and jot down the timestamp whenever something strong happens: a surprising opinion, a funny story, a clear tip or a great answer. This saves a lot of time later.

Step 2: Transcribe the episode

A transcript lets you scan an hour-long conversation in minutes. Many editing tools create transcripts automatically — just check them, especially names and technical terms.

Step 3: Choose clips that stand on their own

A good clip makes sense to someone who hasn’t heard the episode. Look for:

• A clear question and a complete answer.
• A strong opinion or a myth being busted.
• A short story with a point.
• A practical tip someone can use today.

Step 4: Edit each clip

• Start with the hook — the most interesting sentence.
• Cut pauses, false starts and filler.
• Keep most clips short enough to hold attention; test different lengths.
• Crop to vertical and keep the speaker’s face in frame.

Step 5: Add captions and light branding

Burned-in captions help people watching without sound. Add your show name or logo subtly, and keep text away from the edges where platform buttons appear.

Step 6: Write platform-specific captions

Reuse the clip, but write a caption for each platform: conversational on Instagram and TikTok, more professional on LinkedIn, searchable on YouTube Shorts. Mention the full episode and where to find it.

Step 7: Schedule and connect everything

Spread clips over the week rather than posting them all at once. Link to the full episode from your bio, the description, or your website’s episode page.

A sample week from one episode

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About the author

Brijaditya Sharma is the founder of Digital Help Studio. After nine years in-house handling content distribution for an Indian brand, he now builds websites and runs digital marketing for small businesses worldwide. Connect on LinkedIn.