Here a practical AI podcast clip generator workflow you can run daily: find a moment, transform it (legally, context added), polish captions/branding, and upload with clean metadata. If you’ve been stuck at 0–200 views, this fixes selection quality, on-screen readability, and upload hygiene—without turning your channel into “reused content.”
Table of Contents
- Who this is for
- Tools you’ll need (free/cheap)
- Step-by-Step Workflow (end-to-end)
- Upload settings that protect reach
- Monetization & reuse safety
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Pre-publish checklist
- FAQ
- Final thoughts
Who this is for
Solo creators clipping their own podcasts, editors running client channels, and small teams that want a repeatable pipeline: AI-assisted selection → tight captions → branded vertical export → SEO-clean upload. Pair it with a weekly cadence from Content Calendar (2025): Batch, Buffer, Breathe to stay consistent.
Tools you’ll need (free/cheap)
- Opus Clip / Opus.pro — AI clip finder, face tracking, captions (opus.pro).
- CapCut (desktop/mobile) — final trim, brand frame, export (capcut.com).
- Descript or Premiere Pro (optional) — manual refinement if needed (descript.com / Adobe).
- YouTube Transcript exporter — grab text for titles/descriptions (youtubetranscript.com).
- Keyword assist — YouTube autocomplete + VidIQ or Tubebuddy (optional) (vidiq.com / tubebuddy.com).
- If your Shorts turn soft after upload, sanitycheck encoding with Bitrate Myths for Creators (2025). For first-3-seconds craft, see The 3-Second Rule.
Step-by-Step Workflow (end-to-end)
1) Rights & transform
- Use your own podcast or get permission. Add context (on-screen title or VO) so the clip stands alone. This is key to avoid “reused content.”
2) Pull transcript & shortlist beats (5–10 min)
- Grab text via YouTube’s transcript (… menu) or youtubetranscript.com.
- Skim for hooks: question → crisp answer, contrarian take, story twist. Aim 20–50s runtime.
3) Auto-clip with Opus (10 min)
- Upload the long video to Opus → let it propose highlights (face track, captions, crop to 9:16).
- Pick a candidate with a strong first 2–3s. Trim dead air at start/end; delete copyrighted inserts you don’t own.
4) Captions that help retention (5–8 min)
- Burn-in high-contrast captions (font ~48–64 @1080×1920). Keep 2–3 lines max; don’t cover eyes/mouth.
- Style: consistent color/outline; place keywords in bold for scan-reading.
5) Brand frame & safe zones (3–5 min)
- Add a tiny logo bug; keep text within Shorts safe zones (top/bottom ~160–200 px gutters).
6) Audio polish (3–6 min)
- Light EQ for clarity (boost 2–4 kHz, gentle de-ess), target around −14 LUFS (Shorts tolerate slightly hotter).
7) Title & description that YouTube understands (4–6 min)
- Title rule: start with two scannable keywords + payoff (e.g., NEGOTIATION TRICK: 5-Second Pause).
- Description: 1-line summary + 5–6 comma-separated keywords users actually search.
- Don’t spam hashtags;
#shortsoptional in 2025. Use if it fits your data.
8) Upload flow that avoids weird throttling (2–4 min)
- Upload from the YouTube app to set a custom thumbnail (freeze a “face + claim” frame).
- Post as Unlisted → finish description/tags in Studio → switch to Public at your slot.
- Time tests: Fri eve → Sun afternoon usually wins; also try 1 a.m. “low-competition” drops.
Upload settings that protect reach
- First two words of title = keywords viewers scan while scrolling.
- Thumbnail: pull moment of highest expression + overlay a 2–4-word claim.
- Hide like counts early if CTR is good but social proof looks weak.
If your click is fine but watch time dies in 0–3s, study The Thumbnail Lie.
Monetization & reuse safety
- Transformative use: add framing (on-screen context or VO). Link the original show in description.
- Own the look: consistent captions/brand plate so your clips are visually distinctive.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Raw re-uploads without commentary (flagged as reused content).
- Captions covering eyes/mouth; tiny fonts that fail on small screens.
- Mushy export—double-check your encoder.
Watch the Workflow Video
Pre-publish checklist
- Hook lands in 2–3s; payoff promised & delivered.
- Readable captions (2–3 lines), safe zones respected, tiny logo bug.
- Title = two scannable keywords + payoff. Description = 1-line summary + 5–6 real keywords.
- Thumbnail = “face + claim” frame.
FAQ
Do I need permission to post podcast clips?
Safest route: your own show or licensed content. If not, make it clearly transformative with context/analysis.
How long should Shorts be?
20–50s works well if the arc is tight.
Do trending sounds still help?
Only if they fit your clip. Random trends can confuse recommendations.
Final thoughts
Keep it boringly repeatable: one pipeline, daily micro-batch, weekly review of CTR/AVD. When a format sticks, clone it across topics. If you’re battling soft re-encodes or hook drop-offs, fix those first—the rest compounds.
