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Live Podcast

Stream your podcast live, record in 4K, and bring your audience into the conversation—in real time.

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*No credit card needed. Free plan available.
4.8
On G2 with 881 reviews

How to host a live podcast with Riverside

1. Set up your branded podcast studio

Customize your podcast studio with your logo, virtual backgrounds, and titles—ready for professional-quality live podcast streaming.

2. Invite guests and viewers

Share a simple invite link. Guests and viewers can join your live podcast instantly—no downloads, no hassle.

3. Connect to streaming platforms

Choose where you want to stream your podcast and connect to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitch.

4. Go live and record

Click “Record” to start broadcasting. Capture your live podcast in crystal-clear 4K resolution. You can always repurpose your stream into clips, transcripts, and more.

Why choose Riverside

Your all-in-one live podcasting platform

Podcast live everywhere—at once.

Go live on Riverside and multistream to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Twitch simultaneously. Want to stream somewhere else? Use a custom RTMP to broadcast to any platform you like.

Stream in HD, Record in 4K.

Broadcast your podcast live in 1080p for a sharp, professional viewing experience. At the same time, record in stunning 4K—ready to edit, repurpose, and publish on demand.

Customize your live podcast studio.

Brand every part of your live podcast experience—from a custom studio lobby to your own background, logo, and color scheme. Add lower thirds, text, and even customize your speaker layout.

Engage your audience in real time.

Let listeners call in live to ask questions directly. Or have them drop comments in the Omnichat—where you can manage messages from every streaming platform in one place. You’ll never miss a beat (or a question).

Invite guests, viewers, producers—your roles, your rules.

Riverside gives you full control over who’s part of the conversation. Invite up to 9 on-screen guests, welcome audience members to watch, and add behind-the-scenes producers.

Live effects and media built for showtime.

Keep your audience engaged with slides or demos using screen sharing. Or try the Media Board for intros, outros, sound effects, or jingles—all live, without editing.

Not just a streaming platform. Your full podcast studio.

Go live, record, edit, and share—all in one place.

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*No credit card needed. Free plan available.

How to choose the best audio editor online

Top features your live podcast software shouldn’t skip (P.S.: Riverside has you covered):

Channel integration: 

Choose software that easily connects to your favorite podcast streaming platforms. No complicated setups, just seamless integration.

Multistreaming: 

Don't settle for streaming to one platform at a time. Broadcast your podcast simultaneously to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn, and more.

Custom RTMP support: 

Custom RTMP support lets you stream to any platform— not just the popular ones. You’ll just need to enter the stream URL and key.

Audience engagement tools: 

Keep your listeners engaged with interactive tools like live audience call-ins, live chat, and sound effects.

High-quality recordings: 

Choose software that records your podcasts in at least 1080p HD. That way, you get studio-quality content you can easily repurpose.

Built-in editing tools: 

Simplify your workflow. Opt for software that makes it easy to trim, edit, and polish your recordings right after your live podcast ends.

Use live podcast software to:

Host professional-quality live episodes

Host studio-quality podcasts live with crisp audio and clear video, no matter your guests' locations.

Reach larger, more engaged audiences

Simultaneously stream your podcast across multiple platforms to maximize audience size and interaction.

Instantly repurpose your podcast

Easily record your live streams, then quickly edit and publish them as polished episodes, clips, and social media posts.

Simplify your podcast workflow

Go live, record, edit, and publish—all in one place. Skip the messy setups and choose a smooth workflow with Riverside’s all-in-one studio.

“Highly recommend Riverside if you have a podcast, create content, host panels, or do ANYTHING that involves video recording and editing. It's saved me so much time, and we all know time is money.
Codie Sanchez, Founder | Contrarian Thinking

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What is a live podcast?

A live podcast is streamed as it’s being recorded, so your audience can tune in and engage in real time. It gives listeners the chance to shape the episode—ask questions, react to conversations, or even influence what happens next.

Live podcasts often include tools like:

  • Real-time chat
  • Audience call-ins (video or audio)
  • Polls, screen sharing, or media drops
  • Jingles and sound effects, live via a media board
  • Multistreaming to reach more people live

If you want to explore how this fits into the podcasting landscape, we explain it in our guide to live podcasting.

Are podcasts live?

Not all podcasts are live- in fact, most aren’t. 

Traditionally, creators record, edit, and publish episodes for on-demand listening. But that’s changing. More podcasters are going live to connect with audiences in real time and make podcasting more interactive.

Some go live regularly—especially for breaking news, audience Q&As, or the thrill of unedited recording. Others do it occasionally to mix things up. Either way, it’s about turning listeners into collaborators and deepening audience connection.

How do I record a live podcast?

It’s not that different from recording a regular podcast—but there are a few extra things to think about. 

Here’s a high-level look at what the process actually involves if you’re using Riverside as your live podcast streaming software:

1. Set up your studio:
Open a studio  and create a new project for live podcasting. Name your session, customize branding, tweak your settings, and you’re good to go.

2. Choose where to stream:
Go to Studio Settings and then navigate to the Live Streaming tab to set up where you’re streaming to. Set up integrations to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch—or any platform with a custom RTMP.

3. Invite participants:
Back in the dashboard, click “Plan” to send out invites or schedule a live. Send your usual podcast guests, but also send out an invite link to your audience listeners.

4. Go live:
Click “Go Live” to enter your studio. You’ll go to the lobby first to check your equipment. Once you’re in your studio and your guests arrive, click “Record” to go live.

Interact with your audience through the chat or invite them to call in. Share demos or add a jingle with the media board. 

5. Edit & publish:
Click “Stop” to end the live podcast recording. Head to the editor to polish everything up, or download raw separate audio and video tracks for each speaker.

Want more detail? This guide walks you through it all step-by-step: ​​How to Live Stream & Record At The Same Time

How do I start a live podcast for free?

You don’t need a studio or a huge budget to go live. You just need a plan, some basics, and the right platform. In short:

  • Start with your idea: What’s your show about, and who’s it for? Keep it simple to start.
  • Set up your space: Use a quiet room, decent mic, headphones, and natural light. You can double up your phone as a camera so you don’t need to buy one.
  • Pick the right platform: Riverside’s free plan lets you stream, record, and invite guests—no installs required.
  • Promote your first live: Share it on social or with friends—get people excited to join.
  • Go live and keep learning: Your first episode doesn’t have to be perfect. Show up, engage, and grow from there.

Want the full lowdown, with no gatekeeping? Here’s a guide that lays it out: How to Start a Podcast for Free

All-in-one podcasting. Stream, record, and edit in studio quality.

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