Repurposing your podcast into Instagram Reels is one of the best ways to extend your content’s reach and get more eyes (and ears) on your show using IG.

Instead of creating brand-new content for the platform, you’re taking the podcast episodes you’ve already recorded and transforming them into eye-catching, algorithm-friendly video clips.

There are multiple ways to turn your podcast episodes into Reels—from simple audiograms to B-roll footage with text overlays to talking-head videos. The approach you choose depends on your content, resources, and what resonates best with your audience.

Here’s what you need to know about repurposing your podcast into Instagram Reels:

Instagram Reels vs. Other Short-Form Videos

While all short-form video platforms (TikTok, YouTube Shorts, etc.) share similarities, Instagram Reels has its unique algorithm and audience expectations. Instagram tends to favor original content created specifically for the platform, which means that simply cross-posting the same video from TikTok to Reels might not perform as well.

The Instagram algorithm prioritizes entertaining, educational, or inspirational content—aka content that gets users to engage. Unlike YouTube Shorts, which often benefits from searchable, evergreen content, Reels tends to reward timely, trend-conscious content with higher reach.

Another difference is that Instagram users often watch with the sound off, that’s why text overlays are so important for Reels. Captions and on-screen text are both for accessibility and for grabbing attention as people scroll. Your hooks matter; it’s important to draw your audience in with a perspective-shifting statement.

How to Repurpose Your Podcast Into Instagram Reels

There’s an easy process to turning your podcast episodes into Instagram Reels, and it’s not too time-consuming, at least, depending on the tools you have available. I recommend using Descript and following this three-step process:

Step #1: Pick Your Best Moments

Not every second of your podcast is made for short-form video, so start by picking out your (or your guest’s) best moments. Look for:

• “Mic-drop” moments, the one-liners viewers can’t help but share with their friends
• Moments that make your listeners problem-aware, that state something that shifts their perspective
• Relatable moments that would resonate with your dream clients

You won’t need hours of footage, and don’t pull apart an episode to find everything; find what makes the most sense and move on to the next episode!

Look for those transformational moments—the kind that make viewers stop scrolling. These are perfect for Reels because they create instant engagement.

Step #2: Choose Your Video Style

Once you pick your moments or clips, it’s time to decide on a style or format for your videos. If you have a video podcast and already have a video recording of your episode, you can use that.

Suppose you don’t have a video podcast; use your clips as audiograms (Descript does this for you). In that case, b-rolls with text overlay (remember, b-rolls can simply be you completing a daily task that is on brand for your business…we don’t have to overcomplicate it) or re-record them as “talking head” clips.

Also, take into consideration what type of content will perform best on the platform you want to publish it on. The same style or format for a podcast clip turned into an Instagram Reel may not perform the same on YouTube.

Audiograms, B-roll with podcast audio clips, top tips, video podcast clips, and interview collabs are all formats that work well. Choose the style that feels most manageable for your workflow and resonates with your audience and the style of your show.

Step #3: Share!

Now that your content is ready, it’s time to post! Don’t just throw them up without a plan, though; think about what you want your audience to do after watching. Add captions to tease the full episode and include a call to action, directing them to your podcast, current lead magnet, or offer!

Don’t be afraid to cross-post; just make sure you adjust your post to better suit the platform you’re posting to!

When writing your caption for Reels, keep it short and enticing. Tell viewers what value they’ll get from listening to the full episode, and make your call-to-action clear—whether that’s “Listen to the full episode (link in bio)” or “Drop a 🎧 if you want more tips like this!”

What’s Next? Repurposing Your Podcast on Other Platforms

Instagram isn’t the only place you can repurpose your podcast content. You can transform your episodes into content for platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook, and your blog.

Each platform has its own format preferences and audience expectations. For example, the B-roll style that works well on Instagram might need different framing for YouTube Shorts, or you might extract text quotes for LinkedIn instead of video clips.

The beauty of podcast repurposing is that one episode can feed your content calendar across multiple platforms, saving you time while maintaining consistent messaging.

If creating Reels and other repurposed content feels overwhelming alongside producing your podcast, remember you don’t have to do it all yourself. Fill out this form, and let’s chat about how our podcast repurposing services can help you extend your reach without the stress of doing it all on your own!