It’s no secret that customers’ content consumption habits have increased exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic. While video streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are receiving an influx of new subscribers, the podcast industry also gets its fair share of the pie. In response to this growth, Google’s podcast app ‘Google Podcasts’ has been expanding its feature set and availability over the past few months.
Google Podcasts last addition in this effort the ability to allow users to subscribe to podcasts via RSS feeds. Interestingly, the feature works on Android, iOS, and Google Podcasts on the web. Today we’ll take a look at how you can subscribe to RSS feeds on Google Podcasts.
Subscribe to Private RSS feeds on Google Podcasts
In this article, we showed you the steps to subscribe to custom RSS feeds on Google Podcasts for both web and mobile apps. Feel free to use the table of contents below to jump to the section you want.
Subscribe to Private RSS feeds on Google Podcasts Web
1. Visit Google Podcasts official website and sign in with your Google account. If you are already signed in to your Google account in the browser, you will be automatically signed into Google Podcasts with your Google account.
2nd. Click on the hamburger menu (horizontal three-line button) Located in the upper-left corner of the page to expand the Google Podcasts menu options.
3. You will see a total of three options in the menu – Discover shows, Subscriptions and Add via RSS feed. Click ‘Add via RSS feed’ and wait for Google Podcasts to take you to the RSS feed subscription page.
4. When the RSS feed subscription page appears, paste the full URL of the podcastand click the subscribe button. This can be public podcasts or premium shows from platforms like Slate, Patreon, Glow, Red Circle, Stratechery, Memberful, and Supercast. In this case, the organization’s chief medical reporter, Dr. I’m subscribing to the RSS feed of CNN’s Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast hosted by Sanjay Gupta.
5. That’s it. Shortly after you click the Subscribe button, you will notice that you have subscribed to the podcast. The service will automatically redirect you to the show’s page. You can repeat these steps to subscribe to more great podcast shows.
Subscribe to Private RSS feeds on Google Podcasts on Android and iPhone
If you prefer to use Google Podcasts on Android and iPhone, you can follow the steps below to subscribe to RSS feeds. The steps are the same for both versions of the app, so we mainly show screenshots from the Android app. Also, I’ve included a screenshot for the iOS app to make things clear.
one. Open the Google Podcasts app and switch to the Activity tab in the bottom navigation bar. On the event page you will see a ‘Subscriptions’ tab. Tap or swipe left on the title of the Subscription tab to access the episode.
2. While in the Subscriptions tab, tap on the three dots (vertical three dots) icon and select ‘Add via RSS feed’. If you don’t see this option in the Subscriptions tab, make sure you’ve updated the app to the latest version. From Google Play Store.
On iPhone, the steps are the same, only the placement of the “Add RSS feed” option is different as shown in the image below.
3. In the popup box that now appears, Paste the URL of the podcast and click the Subscribe button. You will now be automatically subscribed and redirected to the podcast show’s dedicated page or listing.
Use Google Podcasts App to Listen to Podcasts with Private RSS Feeds
This is how you subscribe to RSS feeds on Google Podcasts. If you are an iPhone user, you can follow the detailed procedure for the Android version as both the apps share the same features. This neat addition should help both creators share their podcasts and make them easy for listeners to access. While you’re at it, don’t forget to leave your podcast suggestions in the comments.
