The Ultimate Guide to Filler Words in Podcasts: How to Use Them and When to Cut Them Out 

Filler words (also known as vocal fillers) are short, often sound-like words we use to fill in pauses.

The most common are "uhm," "eh," "like," "you know," "basically," "so," "well," and "okay." They naturally find their way into our speech, forming part of how we express ourselves, and are almost inevitable.

However, when it comes to podcasts, excessive or improper use of filler words might not benefit your content.

So, should you cut them out completely? Or is it better to use them when appropriate, or perhaps keep them entirely? And what about filler pauses?

The answer largely depends on the type of impact you want to make on your audience and the nature of your content.

Let’s dive into the topic by exploring key points and offering some solutions to improve your podcast flow.

What Are the Benefits of vocal fillers?

Filler words serve a clear purpose. They allow you to:

• Take time between thoughts as you transition to the next topic.

• Gather your thoughts and clarify the message you want to deliver.

• Confirm that you are paying attention to your guest’s words. Nodding and saying "okay," "I see," or "right" reassures the person speaking that you’re not just hearing, but truly listening.

• Engage your guest further. When you show interest, they are more likely to share more in-depth thoughts and opinions.

• Create opportunities for clarification or expand on a topic. For example, you could ask your guest to "explain more."

• Promote authenticity in conversation and strengthen audience trust.

Can I Use Filler Words in My Podcast?

Filler words are common in everyday speech. Completely avoiding them is not possible.

Moreover, they don’t always have a negative connotation. They may not contribute much to the conversation, but they are not as useless as many people think.

According to linguist Fox Tree in a 2001 study, these words are meaningful and functional in human language.

They help listeners follow the flow of conversation by indicating when one thought ends and another begins.

For example, "uh" signals a short pause, while "um" suggests a longer delay.

Filler words can even help listeners process information more effectively.

Using these words can improve the perception of a speaker’s eloquence, as studies show that audiences often find speakers who use filler words more reliable. Interestingly, research indicates that a well-placed filler word can make speakers appear more trustworthy than those who avoid them entirely.

When speakers sound overly polished or rehearsed, it can come across as unnatural, making listeners feel like the speaker is hiding something or being less genuine.

This can create a sense of distrust, as the audience may suspect the speaker is more focused on delivering a flawless performance than being honest or authentic.

On the contrary, a casual use of filler words suggests a relaxed, authentic approach, which builds trust between the speaker and the listener.

How do I know when to use them?

As discussed earlier, it’s impossible to avoid filler words entirely, and they can even be useful when used appropriately.

Eliminating them completely would be a mistake unless you're working in a context where their absence benefits the content. I'll elaborate this point later!

Instead, I suggest finding the right balance between using these filler words and cutting them out completely.

In everyday life, continuous or excessive use of filler words may not be seen as a major communication problem. But in the podcast world, the situation is different:

• Overuse of vocal fillers can create uncertainty for listeners, who may sense that you're nervous.

• Your audience may find you unprepared, unprofessional, or even poorly articulated.

• Filler words reveal cultural and personal characteristics of the host. And as we know, poor or choppy language doesn’t reflect well on you personally or on the success of your podcast.

• Filler words also serve to fill moments of silence, but unless those silences serve a purpose—like putting your guest on the spot—they have no place in a podcast. Avoid using empty pauses that add no value to your content.

• Vocal fillers can be useful in interviews or podcasts with guests, as they promote communication without overshadowing your guest. In these cases, use more sophisticated filler words, not just sounds, such as: “go on,” “right,” “okay, I understand.”

• If your goal in an interview is to get your guest to open up and reveal their true self, leave the episode unedited and focus on their pauses and stumbles. Those filler words and dramatic pauses can significantly boost audience engagement.

For an example of how these issues manifest in public speaking, think of a political debate: when a candidate hesitates, buys time, and uses too many filler words, they’re often declared the loser.

A famous example is Caroline Kennedy, whose 2008 Senate campaign floundered due to an interview where she overused these seemingly harmless words.

The percentage of filler words was more than 13% of her entire speech.

Speaking of numbers, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula, but since we’re discussing podcasts and not everyday conversation, work your way toward 5-7% of the total filler words.

You can easily check the frequency of filler words in your content by transcribing it or using transcription software.

How Can I Avoid Overusing Filler Words?

Here are some helpful tips:

• Pay attention to how you speak: Listen to recordings of your podcast or create episode transcripts, focusing on form rather than content. Highlight filler words and try to understand when you're most likely to use them. Do you use them while processing your thoughts? When you're unsure or need clarification? When you want to draw attention to yourself? Or when you lose track of the script you thought you memorized? Identifying the cause is the first step toward correcting it.

• Prepare thoroughly: Arriving unprepared for a podcast recording can have disastrous effects. It’ll be obvious that your stuttering comes from a lack of competence, and you’ll be seen as unprofessional. As the purpose of a podcast is to share knowledge, an unprepared host is a death sentence for your show.

• Create detailed show notes: Listing the key themes of the episode will help you keep the flow smooth, without too many pauses or hesitations.

• Feel at ease: The environment where you record your podcast should always feel comfortable and relaxed. However, when you're recording on location or participating in someone else's podcast, nerves might kick in, and that's when filler words can take over. Before speaking, take a deep breath, give yourself a moment to gather your thoughts, and start speaking only when you know you can do it smoothly. If you're in the studio alone, remember that it’s easier to edit out a pause in post-production than to deal with stammering throughout your speech.

• If you have guests in the studio, make sure they’re prepared too. This doesn’t apply if you're aiming to create suspense or if you're in a debate where the participants are trying to outdo each other. But if it’s a more narrative interview, ensuring your guest can keep the conversation flowing is part of your job. Give them a script or a summary outline to help them stay on track.

• Avoid using filler words in specific segments of your podcast, like during the intro and outro. These are moments where you only need to greet, introduce your guests, or maybe read an ad. There’s no need for fillers in these cases.

• If your podcast has a narrative theme, like crime storytelling, and you’re recounting past events, filler words should only be used as little as possible, and only to enhance the storytelling when really needed.

• Filler words take up time in your podcast. If you decide to cut them out, you might end up with a gap of five minutes or more, especially if there were long pauses. If you're a perfectionist in post-production, make sure you record a few extra minutes to stick to the one-hour format promised to your listeners.

• Don’t speak too fast: This not only makes it harder for your listeners to follow along, but it also doesn’t help you. You might find yourself tripping over your words as you try to match the fast pace of your thoughts, leaving you stuck in awkward silences. So, take a few seconds to breathe when needed and then continue.

• Use language you’re comfortable with: Memorizing and repeating terms or concepts that feel foreign and whose meaning you don’t fully grasp could backfire, causing you to stutter awkwardly. If you're unsure how to use a complicated word, pick a simpler synonym. It’ll make you sound more genuine and help a broader audience understand what you are saying. On the other hand, if your language is naturally more complex, or the topic of your podcast requires it, express yourself in a way that feels most authentic to you.

  

How Can I Remove Filler Words from My Content?

The best way to reduce filler words in your podcast is to use transcription software that helps you evaluate the number of filler words within the context of your entire content.

Of course, you can transcribe the episode manually, but this would be time-consuming and take away hours you could dedicate to creating new content instead of editing. Given the importance of transcription, manually doing this would be counterproductive for your podcast.

Here are a few specific podcast transcription software options you can evaluate based on your needs:

• Castmagic: With a transcription speed of 4 minutes and 42 seconds, Castmagic offers high accuracy and excellent speaker diarization. Its user experience is rated highly, though other output features are average. The cost is $39 per month for 200 minutes.

• Podium: Podium transcribes in 4 minutes and 26 seconds, with very high transcription accuracy. Speaker diarization is rated moderately, while user experience scores well. Additional output features are considered average. Pricing starts at $9 per month for 180 minutes.

• Podsqueeze: Known for its fast transcription speed of 2 minutes and 36 seconds, Podsqueeze has moderate accuracy and speaker diarization, along with good user experience. Other output features are useful. It’s priced at $15 per month for 150 minutes.

• Swell AI: With a transcription speed of 8 minutes and 43 seconds, Swell AI provides moderate accuracy and speaker diarization. User experience and other output features are also moderate. The cost is $29 per month for 300 minutes.

• Descript: The fastest in transcription at 1 minute and 34 seconds, Descript offers high accuracy, strong speaker diarization, and a good user experience. It includes other useful outputs and is priced at $12 per month for 600 minutes.

As you can see, filler words, when used correctly, can work in your favor. The choice is yours—whether to keep them, eliminate them, or simply manage their flow based on what you need.

Author's note:

If podcasting often feels overwhelming or you struggle to find time for content creation and editing, there's good news: AI-powered software can now reduce up to 90% of your post-production time. I've tested PodcastAI and found it truly helpful—it optimizes the editing process, transcribes episodes, and even extracts viral moments from the content.

As a bonus, it lets me speak in other languages or even generate alternative voices to my own. I opted for the Pro plan, which offers more features, but the basic plan is great too—it has everything you need to keep your podcast running smoothly at any level. Try it out!