The 6 Screens Every Video Podcast Needs
So, you’ve locked in your podcast branding — now it’s time to bring it to life on screen. Strong visuals don’t just make your podcast look professional; they make it more engaging, memorable, and polished.
That’s where these six essential video screens come in. These elements help structure your content, keep your audience engaged, and create visual consistency across every episode. The best part?
Once you design these screens, you can reuse them over and over, building brand recognition with every episode.
Let’s break them down.
1️⃣ Cold Open Screen – Hook Your Audience Instantly
Your cold open is the first impression of your episode — it needs to grab attention fast.
✅ Use a short, compelling teaser to draw viewers in
✅ Feature a bold visual, a key quote, or a quick preview clip
✅ Keep it punchy—aim for 5-10 seconds max
Think of it as a mini-trailer that makes people want to keep watching.
2️⃣ Branded Box – Keep Your Layout Polished
A Branded Box is your visual container for on-screen content. It keeps your layout consistent, clean, and professional whether you're featuring:
🎤 Split-screen convos
🎬 Solo commentary episodes
📊 Screen shares or presentations
Your logo, show name, and subtle brand elements can be integrated into the design to reinforce your visual identity throughout the episode.
P.s. The key here is clean and subtle — you can totally overdo branding on these if you’re not careful.
3️⃣ Lower Thirds – Introduce Guests & Key Takeaways
Lower thirds are the small, animated text bars that appear at the bottom of the screen. They help:
✅ Introduce speakers (guest names, titles, etc.)
✅ Highlight key points for better retention
✅ Provide extra context (website links, episode themes, etc.)
A clean and well-designed lower third adds credibility and professionalism to your show.
Bonus awareness points for adding visual identifiers to pump up audience recall.
4️⃣ Learn Screen – Reinforce Key Takeaways
A Learn Screen is a quick, full-screen moment that emphasizes something important.
Think back to your classroom days — these screens are for the most important learning moments in your video.
📌 Key insights or action steps
📚 Resources mentioned in the episode
📊 Bullet-point takeaways for easy retention
📈 Visual data breakdowns
Think of it as a visual pause — your audience gets a second to absorb the message before moving on. Plus, they get it in two versions for higher retention: your verbal explanation and a visual.
5️⃣ Reminder to Subscribe – Encourage Growth Without Interrupting
If you want your podcast to grow, you need to remind viewers to subscribe, follow, or leave a review.
The best way to do it? A subtle, branded prompt that doesn’t feel intrusive.
✅ A quick "Subscribe Now" animation
✅ A friendly on-screen reminder without breaking the flow
✅ A call-to-action to share or engage with the show
Consistency here is key. The more often viewers see it, the more likely they are to take action.
6️⃣ End Screen – Guide Viewers to the Next Step
Your End Screen keeps people engaged after your episode ends. Instead of losing them, direct them to:
🎥 Another episode to keep them watching
🌐 Your website or social channels for deeper engagement
📩 A newsletter or community to build long-term connections
It’s 👏 All 👏 About 👏 Content 👏 Looping 👏
YouTube videos, social clips, or embedded website content — a great end screen makes sure your audience doesn’t just drop off but takes action.
Bring It All Together: A Cohesive, Professional Podcast Experience
When you use these six screens, you create a visually compelling experience that feels polished, engaging, and instantly recognizable.
💡 Want to level up your podcast branding and visuals? Let’s chat and take your show to the next level.