The launch plan at a glance
The order matters more than the tools. Each step below produces something the next one needs: the format decides the recording setup, the pilot exposes edit problems, and the edit workflow decides how long each episode really takes. Time estimates are planning assumptions for a weekly 45 to 60 minute interview show with one host, not measurements; costs are from vendor pages read on 30 October 2026.
We have not run a podcast launch with these tools for this guide. Specifications come from Apple, YouTube, Riverside and Descript documentation.
| Step | Output | Time estimate (assumption) | Cash cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Format and pilot | One-page format brief and a recorded episode zero | 4 to 6 hours | $0 on free plans |
| 2. Recording setup | Tested studio settings, guest instructions | 2 to 3 hours | Recording plan, see below |
| 3. Edit workflow | Template project, export presets, caption step | 3 to 4 hours | Editor plan, see below |
| 4. Artwork | 3000 x 3000 show cover; 16:9 and 1:1 thumbnail templates | 2 to 4 hours | $0 if you design it yourself |
| 5. Distribution | Host or RSS feed, YouTube podcast, Apple listing | 2 to 3 hours | Varies by host |
| 6. Three banked episodes | Three finished, captioned episodes | About 3 x your per-episode time | Covered by plans |
Step 1: format and episode zero
Write a one-page brief before recording anything: who the show is for, the promise of each episode, target length, segment order, and whether it is video-first or audio-first with video added. A video-first show needs framing, lighting and on-screen guests to look intentional; an audio-first show needs the audio to work with the picture off.
Record episode zero as a private pilot with a friendly guest. Its job is to test the format and expose problems: a 70-minute conversation for a 45-minute target tells you to tighten the segment list, and a guest who drops off video tells you to change your instructions. Do not publish it unless it is genuinely good.
- Target audience in one sentence
- Episode length range and release day
- Segment list with rough timings
- Guest criteria and how you will book them
- Video-first or audio-first decision
Step 2: recording setup and plan costs
Riverside's pricing page lists a Free plan with 2 hours of recording (a one-off allowance), 720p video and a watermark. Pro is listed at $29 a month or $24 a month billed annually ($288 a year), with up to 4K video, 48 kHz audio and 15 hours of separate track downloads; its comparison table lists 5 recording hours a month on Pro and 15 on Grow, which is $39 monthly or $34 annually and adds podcast hosting for two shows. The same page's FAQ says recording itself is unlimited and describes the caps as separate track download hours, so ask Riverside how the limit is counted before you choose. [1] Plan names and prices change, so confirm them at checkout.
Do the hour math against the tighter figure. Four 60-minute episodes is 4 hours of recording a month, which fits the 5 hours the table lists for Pro with one hour of slack for pilots or overruns. A fifth weekly episode or long pre-show chats would exceed it, and Grow is the next listed step. [1]
- Record a 10-minute test with a remote guest and download every separate track before the first real session.
- Write guest instructions: headphones, quiet room, wired or stable connection, and staying on the call until uploads finish.
- Decide where raw tracks are stored and backed up before the first episode.
Step 3: edit workflow and captions
Descript lists Hobbyist at $16 a month billed annually or $24 monthly with 600 media minutes a month, and Creator at $24 annually or $35 monthly with 1,800 media minutes; Free has 60 media minutes and a watermark on export. [2] Media minutes count uploaded and recorded media, so plan on raw length, not final length. A 60-minute episode imported as one video file and one mixed audio file is a different load from four separate tracks, so check the Usage tab after your pilot rather than guessing. [8]
Build a template project from the pilot: intro and outro, lower-third style, caption style, and export presets. Loudness for Apple Podcasts should sit around -16 LKFS with a 1 dB tolerance and true peak no higher than -1 dBFS, measured before encoding. [4] Use the same target for the YouTube video so the two versions sound alike.
| First-year software (listed prices) | Riverside | Descript | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tools only | Free: 2 hours one-off, 720p, watermark | Free: 60 min a month, watermark | $0, not viable for weekly release |
| Annual billing | Pro: $288 | Hobbyist: $192 | $480 |
| Monthly billing, 12 months | Pro: $348 | Hobbyist: $288 | $636 |
Step 4: artwork that meets both platforms
Apple's Show Cover specification is 3000 by 3000 pixels, with 1400 to 3000 accepted for RSS submissions, as PNG or JPG with no transparency. Keep the title legible at small sizes, avoid Apple logos or hardware, and nudge pure black or white backgrounds slightly off so the cover does not blend into the app. [3]
YouTube thumbnails use 16:9 for videos and 1:1 for podcast playlists, in JPG or PNG, with a recommended resolution of 3840 by 2160 for videos and a minimum width of 640 pixels. Desktop uploads are capped at 50 MB, and custom thumbnails require a verified account. [6] Design one square cover and one 16:9 episode thumbnail template from the same type and colour system.
Step 5: distribution and step 6: three banked episodes
If your show is audio-first with an RSS feed, YouTube can ingest it: you connect the feed under Content, Podcasts in YouTube Studio, verify ownership with a code sent to the feed's email address, and YouTube creates a static-image video from your show art for each episode. Episodes upload as private first, and YouTube recommends waiting until all uploads finish before making the podcast public. RSS ingestion is available only in select countries and regions. [5] A video-first show uploads its real video instead.
Bank three finished episodes before launch day. Release one at launch and hold two, or release all three at once so a new listener can binge. Either way, the buffer protects your schedule the first time a guest cancels. Add manual chapters to each YouTube upload: the first timestamp must be 00:00, there must be at least three in ascending order, and each must be at least 10 seconds. [7]
- Show cover exported at 3000 x 3000 PNG or JPG, no alpha channel
- Audio master measured at about -16 LKFS, true peak -1 dBFS or lower
- Three episodes edited, captioned and with chapters drafted
- YouTube podcast playlist or RSS connection set up and tested privately
- Episode descriptions with guest links and credits
- Calendar of the next six recording dates
Questions before you decide
What size should video podcast cover art be?
Apple's Show Cover specification is 3000 by 3000 pixels, with 1400 to 3000 accepted for RSS, in PNG or JPG with no transparency. YouTube uses a 1:1 thumbnail for podcast playlists and 16:9 for video thumbnails.
What loudness should a podcast be mastered to?
Apple Podcasts asks for loudness around -16 LKFS with a 1 dB tolerance and true peak no higher than -1 dBFS, measured with ITU-R BS.1770 before encoding.
Can YouTube publish my podcast from an RSS feed?
In select countries and regions, yes. You connect the feed in YouTube Studio, verify ownership by email code, and YouTube creates a video from your show art for each episode, uploaded as private first.
Is Riverside Pro enough for a weekly hour-long show?
Riverside's comparison table lists 5 recording hours a month on Pro, which covers four 60-minute episodes with an hour to spare, but its FAQ says recording itself is unlimited and the caps apply to separate track downloads. Confirm how the limit is counted before relying on it.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Riverside: Pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript: Pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Apple Podcasts for Creators: Show Cover Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Apple Podcasts for Creators: Audio requirements Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Deliver podcasts using an RSS feed Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Add custom thumbnails Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- YouTube Help: Video chapters Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Descript Help: Track and understand your media minutes and AI credits Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.