Brevofeed

How-To Guide

How to Create an RSS Feed for Your Podcast

Every podcast host needs an RSS feed. Here's how to create one, validate it, and submit it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

What a Podcast RSS Feed Must Contain

A valid podcast RSS feed is RSS 2.0 with iTunes namespace extensions. Each episode must include specific tags for podcast directories to accept it.

  1. 1title — your podcast name
  2. 2description — show description (plain text or CDATA HTML)
  3. 3link — your podcast website URL
  4. 4language — e.g. en-us
  5. 5itunes:author — host or show name
  6. 6itunes:image — artwork URL (minimum 1400x1400px, maximum 3000x3000px, JPEG or PNG)
  7. 7itunes:category — e.g. Technology, Business, True Crime
  8. 8Per episode: enclosure (MP3 URL + file size + type), guid, pubDate, itunes:duration

Hosting Platforms That Auto-Generate Your Feed

You rarely need to build a podcast RSS feed manually. Dedicated podcast hosting platforms create and maintain the feed for you. Upload your episode audio, fill in episode details, and your feed is ready.

  1. 1Buzzsprout — popular, beginner-friendly, free tier available
  2. 2Podbean — hosts millions of podcasts, free plan up to 5 hours/month
  3. 3Anchor / Spotify for Podcasters — free, owned by Spotify
  4. 4Transistor — built for multi-show operations, team features
  5. 5Captivate — analytics-focused, unlimited shows on all plans
  6. 6RSS.com — straightforward pricing, good for beginners

Submitting to Apple Podcasts

Apple Podcasts is the largest directory. Submitting takes a few minutes once your feed is live.

  1. 1Ensure your feed is publicly accessible and validates cleanly
  2. 2Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID
  3. 3Click the + button and paste your RSS feed URL
  4. 4Apple validates the feed and shows a preview — check that artwork, title, and description look correct
  5. 5Click Submit — approval typically takes 24-72 hours
  6. 6Once approved, your podcast is searchable in Apple Podcasts

Submitting to Spotify

Spotify has its own submission portal separate from the Apple process.

  1. 1Go to podcasters.spotify.com and log in or create an account
  2. 2Click 'Get Started' and paste your RSS feed URL
  3. 3Confirm ownership by adding a TXT record to your domain DNS (or use the email verification method)
  4. 4Fill in any missing metadata Spotify requests
  5. 5Submit — Spotify typically approves within a few hours

Validating Your Podcast Feed

Before submitting anywhere, validate your feed to catch errors that would cause rejections.

  1. 1castfeedvalidator.com — the most thorough podcast-specific validator
  2. 2podba.se/validate — checks iTunes requirements specifically
  3. 3validator.w3.org/feed — general RSS/Atom validator
  4. 4Fix any errors flagged (common issues: missing itunes:image, invalid enclosure size, malformed pubDate)

Using Brevofeed to Embed Your Podcast Feed on Your Website

Once your podcast RSS feed is live, you can embed a widget on your website showing your latest episodes. Brevofeed turns your podcast RSS feed into a branded episode list with play buttons, publish dates, and episode descriptions — no coding required.

  1. 1Add your podcast RSS feed URL to Brevofeed
  2. 2Choose the 'Cards' or 'List' layout to suit your site design
  3. 3Customize colors to match your podcast brand
  4. 4Copy the embed code and paste it into any page on your site

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a podcast RSS feed manually?
No. Every major podcast hosting platform (Buzzsprout, Podbean, Anchor, Transistor) generates and maintains your RSS feed automatically. You only need to build one manually if you're self-hosting or building a custom publishing workflow.
Can I host my own podcast RSS feed?
Yes, but it's complex. You need to host the MP3 files, generate valid RSS 2.0 XML with all required iTunes namespace tags, serve the feed over HTTPS, and ensure it stays updated with every new episode. Most podcasters use a hosting platform to avoid this operational overhead.
What's the difference between RSS 2.0 and Atom for podcasts?
RSS 2.0 is the standard for podcasts. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major directories require RSS 2.0 with iTunes namespace extensions. Atom is technically more modern but is not supported by podcast directories. Stick with RSS 2.0 for any podcast feed.
How do I add artwork to my podcast RSS feed?
Podcast artwork is specified using the itunes:image tag in your RSS feed, pointing to a publicly accessible image URL. Requirements: JPEG or PNG format, square dimensions between 1400x1400px and 3000x3000px, under 512KB, served over HTTPS. Your podcast host will let you upload artwork through their dashboard, which automatically adds the correct tag to your feed.

Get Started with Brevofeed

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