How To Publish A Podcast (Beginner’s Guide 2025)

Key takeaways:

• To publish a podcast, you need a podcast host, an RSS feed, and a directory to submit to.
• Upload your episode to your hosting provider, then distribute it to platforms like Spotify, Apple, and YouTube via your RSS link.
• Make sure your files, cover art, and metadata meet each platform’s specs to avoid delays.
• To speed things up look for publishing integrations right in your podcast recorder, like Riverside has with Spotify.

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Publishing your podcast is easier than you think: you just need to know where to start.

Whether you’re launching an audio-only show or a full-blown video podcast, this guide breaks down exactly how to publish a podcast on all the major platforms.

Read on to get started.

What do you need to publish a podcast?

Before you can publish your podcast, you’ll need a few essentials in place:

• An audio or video file of your recording (MP3, MP4, WAV, etc.).
• A podcast host where you’ll upload and store your episode files. Make sure it supports byte-range requests (e.g. supports streaming).
• An RSS feed generated by your host that automatically pulls every new episode and sends it to your directory. You’ll usually see a link in your host labeled something like “Your podcast feed URL” or “RSS feed.” 
• A link to a square cover image (1:1) of at least 1400 x 1400 pixels, but not more than 3000 x 3000 pixels.

Once you’ve submitted your podcast on your chosen directories, you’ll also want to “claim” it so that you can receive valuable podcast analytics, including the number of listeners and downloads.

What is a podcast host vs a podcast directory?

Podcast hosts and directories often get confused, but they’re not the same thing. 

A podcast host is where your audio and video files actually live. Think of it as your cloud storage for episodes. 

You upload your show into a host just once, and your host will generate an RSS feed. This is a file that automatically updates your directory every time you publish a new episode. 

Examples of podcast hosting platforms include Buzzsprout, Podbean, and Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor). Some of them integrate with directories, so you can do everything from the dashboard of your host. 

Podcast directories are the place where people find and listen to your show. They are like a phonebook: a place to find what you’re looking for. Some are more specialized, while others, like Apple Podcasts or Spotify are expansive and cover any and every topic. When someone plays your podcast episodes in their chosen directory, they play them from your host.

How publishing a podcast works: Quick overview

Publishing a podcast isn’t that hard. Once you’ve set up the publishing process the first time, it pretty much runs itself.

You just need to follow a few basic steps. Here’s an overview:

1. Record your podcast, ideally with Riverside, so you get studio-quality audio and video.
2. Upload your episode to a podcast host following each host’s procedures.
3. Look for an “RSS feed” or “Distribution” tab in your host’s dashboard to copy your RSS feed. 
4. Submit your RSS feed to podcast directories like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. 
5. Wait for approval. Some platforms take between 24 hours and 10 days to publish your show.
6. Your podcast goes live. Now, every new episode you upload to your host will automatically show up in all your directories.
7. Claim your show. Once your podcast is live, claim ownership on each platform. This unlocks access to podcast analytics - like listener numbers, download trends, and more.

After setup, every new episode you upload to your host will automatically appear in all your connected directories. Easy.

How to publish a podcast on popular platforms

While on the most basic level the process to publish a podcast remains the same, it differs a bit between podcast directories. That’s why we covered a few popular options in more detail below.

How to publish a podcast on Spotify

Supports video: Yes

With more than 675 million monthly active users, Spotify is a top choice for publishing your podcast. Spotify has a hosting platform, Spotify for Creators, and is a major podcasting directory at the same time. This makes for a simpler setup and the ability to manage episodes, analytics, and monetization from the same platform.

Spotify also supports video podcasts. And because it’s integrated with Riverside, you can record - and publish - right in your web browser all at once. 

Spotify podcast requirements

• Video (if applicable): 
  
  • Format: .MP4 or .MOV
  • Resolution: 1080p, 16:9 layout
  • Encoding: H.264 High Profile
  • Bitrate: 25–35 Mbps
  • Max length: 12 hours
  • Sync: If using video, audio and video must be on separate, synchronized tracks.
• Audio: 
  
  • Formats: MP3, WAV, or MP4 with AAC
  • MP3 bitrate: 96–320 kbps (128 kbps+ recommended)
  • Max length: 12 hours (~2GB file at 320 kbps)
• Cover art:
  
  • Formats: JPG, PNG, or TIFF
  • Size: Between 640×640 and 10,000×10,000 pixels, square aspect ratio
• Metadata & feed:
  Your podcast must include:
  
  • A title: Max 200 characters; encode special characters (e.g., & for &)
  • Cover art
  • Description
  • At least 1 published episode

Uploading your podcast on Spotify

Step 1: Log into your Spotify account, click on the profile icon in the upper right corner of your screen, and select “Add a new show.”

Step 2: Click on “Find an existing show” then select whether your show is already hosted on Spotify for Creators or Somewhere else.

From this same screen, you can also launch a new video podcast by taking advantage of the partnership with Riverside. To find out how, just follow the instructions in our guide on how to start a podcast on Spotify.

Step 3: If your podcast is hosted on Spotify, all you need to do is write its title or the email associated with it. If it’s hosted somewhere else, you must add your show’s RSS feed URL.

PICTURE

Step 4: Confirm your ownership of the podcast you’re submitting by entering the verification code that Spotify will send you.

Step 5: Fill in all the details about your show (category, language, location, and host) and click “Submit.”

Bonus: How to publish a podcast to Spotify with Riverside

Did you know that you can record your podcast with Riverside and publish it directly to Spotify with a click? It’s the fastest way to get your video podcast on Spotify, no extra tools needed. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Log into Riverside and open a new studio or click on “New studio” from the studio list in the right menu. 

Set up your studio, create a new project, then click “Record” to open a session. (You can invite guests in the recording session, or from the dashboard.)

Step 2: Check your equipment and select “Join studio” when you’re set. In the studio, invite guests and click “Record” to start recording your podcast. Click “Stop” when you're done.

Step 3: Once your files are uploaded, go to your video recording and select “Edit” to start customizing and editing your podcast.

Step 4: When you’re finished editing, click “Export.” You’ll get an email once your file is ready.

Step 5: Open the preview tab of your newly exported video and click “Publish to Spotify.” 

Step 6: You'll be redirected to Spotify for Podcasters to log in, choose a podcast, and fill in your episode's details.

See for yourself how easy it is to publish a podcast on Spotify through Riverside. Start creating podcasts in high-quality today!

How to publish a podcast on Apple Podcasts

Having your podcast listed on the Apple Podcasts app is the ultimate way to tap into a loyal audience and garner respect and a positive reputation. Here’s how to submit your show.

Requirements:

• RSS feed:
  
  • Must follow RSS 2.0 specs
  • Most hosts validate this automatically
  • If you’ve built your own feed, validate it at Podbase
• Audio:
  
  • Formats: MP3, WAV, or FLAC
  • Recommended: 44.1 kHz sample rate, -16 dB LKFS loudness

• Video (optional):
  
  • Formats: MP4, MOV, or M4V
  • 1080p is recommended but supports up to 4K

• Cover art:
  
  • Format: JPEG or PNG
  • Size: 1400×1400 to 3000×3000 pixels
  • No imagery that includes profanity, drugs, or violence

• Metadata & feed
  Your podcast must include:
  
  • A title: Avoid special characters or all caps
  • Cover art
  • Description
  • At least 1 published episode
  • Language tag
  • Author tag: Include a name (person or organization)
  • Explicit content tag: Must specify if your content is explicit or clean

Uploading your podcast to Apple Podcasts

Step 1: Create a new Apple ID specifically for your podcast. Log into Podcast Connect.

Step 2: Click on the “+” button to add your podcast show.

Step 3: Select “Add a show with an RSS feed” and click “Next.”

Step 4: Paste in your RSS URL.

Step 5: Click “Validate” to check your URL. An error message will appear if there is a problem with the feed.

Step 6: Click “Submit.”

Step 7: Once your feed has been validated, click “Submit” and wait for approval (anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks). Apple will email the address you entered as your iTunes email.

After Apple approves your show, it'll be available in the Podcast app on iOS and macOS devices.

If you want more details, check our guide on how to upload your podcast to Apple directly from your host.

How to publish a podcast to Google Podcasts

In April 2024, Google Podcasts was officially phased out and replaced by YouTube Music, which now has a dedicated “Podcasts” tab supporting both video and audio podcasts. Plus, as a publication and distribution platform, YouTube just makes sense - it has more than 2.5 billion monthly users worldwide!

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How to publish a podcast to YouTube

If you want to join the millions of YouTube users, then here’s how to publish to the platform.

Requirements:

• Video (if applicable):
  YouTube will use your uploaded video file or auto-generate a static image from your podcast art if using RSS.
  
  • Formats: MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (recommended), also supports .WMV, .AVI, .MOV, and .FLV.
  • Resolution: 1080p recommended, supports up to 4K.
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 4:3.
  • Frame rate: Native frame rates (24, 25, or 30 fps).
  • Audio bitrate: Minimum 128 kbps.
• Audio:
  
  • Formats: MP3, WAV, FLAC, MOV.
  • Bitrate: 64 kbps minimum, 128 kbps+ for higher quality.
• Imagery:
  
  • Podcast image: JPG or PNG, 1280×280 pixels
  • Episode thumbnails (optional): JPG, PNG, or GIF, 1280x720 pixels
• Metadata & feed:
  Your podcast must include:
  
  • Title: No HTML or special characters.
  • Description
  • At least 1 episode
  • Language: Must be specified.
  • Category: Choose the most relevant option.
  • Paid promotion: Must be disclosed using YouTube’s “Paid promotion” checkbox if applicable.

Uploading a podcast to YouTube

Step 1: From your YouTube profile, click on “YouTube Studio” to open your Studio. Click “Create” on the top right of your screen and select “New Podcast.”

Step 2: Select “Submit an RSS feed” and accept YouTube’s terms and conditions. Once prompted, submit your RSS feed URL.

Step 3: Type the verification code that you received in your email and click “Verify” to confirm the ownership of your show.

Step 4: Choose whether you want to upload all the episodes in your RSS feed, only new ones, or all episodes from a certain date. Select what visibility you want your podcast to have, then click “Save.” Your podcast is now uploaded to YouTube!

If you need more details, check out our guide on how to start a podcast on YouTube.

How to publish a podcast to Amazon Music & Audible

Getting your podcast onto Amazon Music is extremely simple.

Requirements:

• Audio format: Amazon supports audio files in MP3, M4A, MP4, WMA, FLAC, OGG, and ALAC formats. 
• Artwork size: Square (1:), between 1400 x 1400 pixels and 3000 x 3000 pixels. 
• Episodes and title: At least one episode and a unique title and description.
• Content guidelines: Must meet Amazon’s content guidelines (e.g. no harassment, no promotional content, no explicit or sexually graphic material, etc.).

Step-by-step tutorial:

Step 1: Go to Amazon Music for Podcasters.

Step 2: Click on “Add or Claim Your Podcast” then enter your RSS feed URL.

Step 3: Accept the terms of use and then wait for a verification email.

Step 4: Open your email, and “Confirm Ownership.”

Just like that your podcast should link to Amazon Music. 

If you need a more detailed overview, feel free to check our guide on how to submit a podcast on Amazon Music & Audible.

How to publish a podcast to TuneIn

TuneIn is a popular directory for free internet radio, sports, music, news talk, and podcasts, with over 75 million listeners. Here’s how to submit your podcast:

Requirements:

• Audio:
  
  • Format: MP3 o M4A
• Cover art:
  
  • JPG or PNG
  • Dimensions: Square image, at least 1400 × 1400 pixels
• Metadata & feed:
  Your podcast must include:
  
  • Podcast title
  • Description
  • Language
  • Genre
  • At least 1 episode

Step-by-step tutorial:

Step 1: Log in to your TuneIn account, navigate to the TuneIn Podcasters page, then click on “Publish a Podcast.”

Step 2: Type your details, email address, and birth date to create an account for the Broadcaster Portal.

Step 3: Fill in the form that appears with your RSS feed URL, type of partnership and geo-restrictions. Once you’re done, agree to the terms and conditions and click the “Save” button. 

Step 4: After the verification is complete, you will receive an email from TuneIn giving you the status of your submission and whether your podcast was accepted.

If you need more information, check our full guide on how to submit a podcast on TuneIn.

Other podcast directories worth knowing

Besides the big players we mentioned above, there are several other directories that can help expand your podcast’s reach. Many of these allow you to manually submit your RSS feed, but they sync from Apple’s directory automatically. So if your show is on Apple you are probably already there without any extra work.

Here is a list of the ones worth mentioning:

• iHeartRadio: A popular broadcast and streaming platform for radio shows with more than 250 million active monthly listeners. You can follow our guide to submit your podcast to iHeartRadio.
• Podchaser: Often called the “IMDb of podcasts,” Podchaser is a crowdsourced directory and discovery engine where listeners can improve your show’s visibility through ratings, reviews, and curated playlists. Follow our guide to submit a podcast to Podchaser.
• Podbean: One of the oldest podcast hosts, Podbean is also a directory that supports video podcasts. If your show is not hosted there, you can still manually submit your RSS feed by following our guide on how to upload a video podcast to Podbean.
• Pandora: A streaming giant and subsidiary of SirisuXM that also features curated podcasts. Unlike most directories, Pandora doesn't just pull in RSS feeds automatically, so you’ll need to submit manually and wait for approval. Read our guide on how to submit a podcast on Pandora to find out more.
• Pocket Casts: A cross-platform podcast app. You can manually submit your podcast RSS feed via their support page.
• Overcast: iOS podcast app that automatically pulls from Apple Podcasts. If you're listed on Apple, you’re already here.
• Castbox: Another popular podcast host and directory that automatically populates its list by syncing with the Apple Podcasts database.

What happens after publishing your podcast

Once you’ve uploaded your first podcast episode, it can take some time for the directories to approve it. Usually, it takes 24 to 72 hours, but for some directories like Apple Podcasts and TuneIn might require up to 10 business days, especially if it's your first time submitting a show. That’s because they need to do a manual review to check for metadata issues or policy violations.

Accessing analytics

Once your podcast is live on a directory, you’ll want to claim your show on each platform to unlock podcast analytics like:

• Audience demographics
• Total downloads and plays
• Listener location and devices
• Retention and drop-off rates
• Content your audience also likes

As your podcast gains traction, you can build on the momentum by fine-tuning your strategies based on your audience’s preferences. Now that your podcast is listed in the top directories in the world you can finally focus on creating valuable content for your listeners and watch the numbers grow!

FAQs on publishing a podcast

Can you update your podcast after publishing?

You can update various elements of your podcast episodes after publishing through your hosting platform, and these changes will propagate to most podcast directories via your RSS feed. However, replacing audio or video files may not immediately reflect on all platforms due to caching, and listeners who have already downloaded the episode will not automatically receive the updated version. For platforms like YouTube, replacing media files requires uploading a new video.

How much does it cost to publish a podcast?

You can publish a podcast for free if you use a free plan on a hosting platform and podcast directory. Most podcast directories have free plans, although it could be worth paying a few dollars each month to get more benefits. Usually you'll pay around $10- $20 depending on the plans you choose.

Can you publish a podcast for free?

If you have no budget, many hosting platforms offer free plans with some limitations (usually on storage space). You can even list your podcast on the 3 largest directories (Spotify, Apple, YouTube) without paying a dime. You can get more tips in How to Start a Podcast for Free.

Do I need to submit my podcast to each platform manually?

Some hosts offer one-click distribution to major directories or make it easy to add your podcast to a number of different directories. 

With Spotify for Creators, you share your RSS feed directly through the Spotify platform to a number of major directories, allowing you to control the process from one place. For directories not supported by Spotify, you may need to go and add your RSS to their systems directly. Either way, you just need to set up your RSS distribution with each directory once. After that, all your episodes will automatically appear in any directory that has your RSS feed.

Can I publish a video podcast?

Yes, if your hosting platform supports video files, you can generate a compatible RSS feed and submit it to directories that support video podcasts like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Why hasn’t my podcast appeared yet?

While most platforms take a few hours to approve and list your show, some larger directories like TuneIn and Apple Podcasts manually review your show before approving it. This may take a bit more time, up to 10 days, especially if it’s your first podcast. You should receive an email even if your show is rejected, so if you still didn’t hear from them after two weeks, start by checking if that email ended up in the spam folder.

Can I change hosts after I’ve submitted my podcast?

Yes, you can, but it’s better to be careful and have a backup of all your podcast files before you start a migration. First, you must export your podcast from the old host and import it into the new one. Then you need to 301 redirect your RSS feed so it points to your new host RSS feed. Most hosting platforms allow you to do that from within your dashboard so the process is easier than it looks. Check with the new host you want to use for specific instructions on how to migrate to that platform.

Do I need a website to publish a podcast?

Having a website for your podcast isn’t mandatory to publish since it can simply live on your host and be distributed to directories. However, a podcast website is still a good idea since a website helps with discoverability and gives you a central hub to promote your content.