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🎙️ Podcast Distribution Guide

This guide explains how to publish AudioNews daily briefings as podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.

📋 Overview

AudioNews generates RSS feeds for each language/service that can be submitted to podcast platforms:

  • English (UK): https://audionews.uk/en_GB/podcast.rss
  • Polish: https://audionews.uk/pl_PL/podcast.rss
  • BellaNews: https://audionews.uk/bella/podcast.rss

✅ Prerequisites

1. Podcast Artwork

Each podcast needs a square cover image (1400x1400px recommended):

  • Format: PNG or JPG
  • Size: Minimum 1400x1400px, maximum 3000x3000px
  • File size: Under 500KB
  • Content: Should represent the podcast brand

Create artwork files:

  • docs/images/podcast-cover-en-gb.png - For English (UK)
  • docs/images/podcast-cover-pl-pl.png - For Polish
  • docs/images/podcast-cover-bella.png - For BellaNews

2. Email Address

Ensure info@audionews.uk (or your preferred email) is:

  • Active and monitored
  • Listed in the RSS feed (for verification)
  • Accessible for platform verification emails

🎧 Publishing to Spotify

Step 1: Create Spotify for Podcasters Account

  1. Go to Spotify for Podcasters
  2. Sign up or log in with your Spotify account
  3. Verify your email address

Step 2: Add Your Podcast

  1. Click "Add or claim your podcast"
  2. Select "I have an RSS feed"
  3. Enter your RSS feed URL:
    • English: https://audionews.uk/en_GB/podcast.rss
    • Polish: https://audionews.uk/pl_PL/podcast.rss
    • BellaNews: https://audionews.uk/bella/podcast.rss
  4. Click "Next"

Step 3: Verify Ownership

  • Spotify will send a verification email to the address in your RSS feed
  • Check your email and click the verification link
  • This confirms you own the podcast

Step 4: Review and Submit

  1. Review the podcast information (title, description, artwork)
  2. For ready-to-use show description copy (e.g. for the UK feed), see Spotify description – UK.
  3. Confirm the category and language settings
  4. Click "Submit for review"

Step 5: Approval

  • Spotify typically reviews submissions within 24-48 hours
  • Once approved, your podcast will appear on Spotify
  • New episodes will automatically appear as they're published

🍎 Publishing to Apple Podcasts

Step 1: Create Apple Podcasts Connect Account

  1. Go to Apple Podcasts Connect
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID
  3. Accept the terms and conditions

Step 2: Add Your Podcast

  1. Click "+" to add a new show
  2. Select "Add a show with an RSS feed"
  3. Enter your RSS feed URL
  4. Click "Add"

Step 3: Review Information

  1. Apple will fetch information from your RSS feed
  2. Review and confirm:
    • Title
    • Description
    • Artwork
    • Category
    • Language
    • Explicit content setting

Step 4: Submit for Review

  1. Ensure all information is correct
  2. Click "Submit for Review"
  3. Apple reviews typically take 1-3 business days

📱 Other Platforms

Google Podcasts

  • Automatically indexes podcasts from RSS feeds
  • No manual submission needed
  • Ensure your RSS feed is publicly accessible

Amazon Music & Audible

  1. Go to Amazon Music for Podcasters
  2. Sign in with Amazon account
  3. Submit RSS feed URL
  4. Wait for approval (typically 1-2 weeks)

Pocket Casts

  • Automatically discovers podcasts from RSS feeds
  • No manual submission required

🔄 Automatic Updates

Once your podcast is live:

  • New episodes are automatically added when the daily workflow runs
  • RSS feeds are regenerated daily with the latest episodes
  • No manual intervention needed - the system handles everything

📊 RSS Feed Details

Feed Structure

  • Format: RSS 2.0 with iTunes/Apple Podcasts extensions
  • Episodes: Last 50 episodes (RSS best practice)
  • Update frequency: Daily at 6 AM UK time
  • Audio format: MP3
  • Metadata: Includes full transcripts, descriptions, publication dates

Feed Validation

Test your RSS feed before submitting:

🛠️ Troubleshooting

RSS Feed Not Found

  • Ensure the feed is accessible at the public URL
  • Check GitHub Pages deployment is working
  • Verify file exists: docs/{language}/podcast.rss

Verification Email Not Received

  • Check spam/junk folder
  • Ensure email in RSS feed (<managingEditor>) is correct
  • Verify email address is active

Podcast Not Appearing

  • Wait 24-48 hours after submission
  • Check platform status page for review status
  • Ensure RSS feed is valid and accessible

Episodes Not Updating

  • Verify RSS feed is regenerating daily
  • Check workflow logs for RSS generation step
  • Ensure audio files are being created successfully

📝 Customization

Update Podcast Metadata

Edit scripts/generate_podcast_rss.py to customize:

  • Titles
  • Descriptions
  • Categories
  • Author information
  • Email addresses

Add More Languages

  1. Add configuration to PODCAST_CONFIG in generate_podcast_rss.py
  2. Add language to workflow RSS generation step
  3. Create artwork for new language
  4. Submit new RSS feed to platforms

🔗 Useful Links

✅ Checklist

Before submitting:

  • Podcast artwork created (1400x1400px for each language)
  • Artwork uploaded to docs/images/
  • RSS feeds generated and accessible
  • RSS feeds validated
  • Email address verified and active
  • At least 1 episode in RSS feed
  • Audio files accessible via HTTPS

After submission:

  • Verification email received and confirmed
  • Podcast appears in platform directory
  • Episodes are updating daily
  • Audio playback works correctly