How to turn a podcast into Shorts

1. Find moments that stand alone

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

• A clear opinion or a surprising claim.
• A short story with a beginning and an end.
• A direct answer to a question people ask.
• A funny or emotional exchange between hosts and guest.

2. Cut to the hook

Start the clip on its strongest sentence, not on the setup before it, and end as soon as the point lands. Keep any qualifier that makes the point accurate, so the clip doesn't misrepresent what was said. Most clips work best well under a minute; longer ones need a story to hold them.

3. Reframe to vertical around the speaker

Shorts, Reels and TikTok are 9:16. A centre crop of a wide shot often cuts people out, so frame each clip around whoever is talking, and switch between speakers in a conversation. For an audio-only podcast, use a still or the cover art with captions on top.

4. Caption it

Word-by-word captions keep people watching on mute and make a talking clip easier to follow. Check names and terms, and keep captions clear of faces and the platform's buttons.

5. Post a few at a time

Spread an episode's clips over the following days instead of posting them all at once, and point each one to the full episode. Watch which kinds of moments do best and look for more of those in the next episode.

Doing it in MirrorCut

MirrorCut is an AI video editor for your own recordings. Upload the footage and ask; its agent makes the edit on a real timeline, and every change is outlined for you to accept or revert. For example:

• “Find the five strongest moments and cut each into a Short”
• “Open each Short on its strongest line”
• “Reframe the Shorts to 9:16 around whoever is speaking”
• “Add word-by-word captions in a bold style”

Free tools

No sign-up; they run in your browser.

• Video aspect ratio calculatorEnter your video's size to see its aspect ratio, the largest crop for 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9, and the standard HD and 4K output sizes for each.
• Text to SRT converterPaste a transcript and split it into caption lines of the length you choose, then download it as an SRT or VTT file with estimated timings.

Questions

How long should a podcast Short be?

As short as the point allows. Most clips work well under a minute; a longer clip needs a story to keep people watching.

How many clips should I make from one episode?

As many moments as truly stand on their own. It's better to post a few strong clips than many weak ones; space them out over the days after the episode goes live.

Can I make Shorts from an audio-only podcast?

Yes. Use the cover art or a still as the picture, add word-by-word captions, and cut the clip to its hook the same way.