How podcasts actually work
A podcast is like a radio show you can listen to any time. You put each episode in one "mailbox" (your host), and the listening apps come and pick up the new episodes for everyone.
- A podcast is a series of audio (and sometimes video) episodes people can follow and listen to on demand.
- A podcast host stores your audio files and creates an RSS feed: a web address that lists your show and all its episodes.
- Directories and apps (such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube) read that feed. When you publish a new episode on your host, the apps that use your feed show it to followers.
- You upload once to your host; you don't upload separately to every app (except for platforms you choose to upload to directly).
- Many podcasts now also publish a video version, filmed while recording.
- Choose a podcast you like.
- Find it in two different apps, for example Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
- Compare the episode titles, artwork and order.
- Write down that they match because both read the same RSS feed.
- Look for the host's name on the show page if you can.
- Check: you can explain in one sentence what an RSS feed does.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
Read the video script
[Host at a desk with a microphone] "How does your voice get from this mic into a podcast app? It's simpler than you think."
[Screen: simple diagram Mic → Host → RSS feed → Apps] "You record. You upload to a podcast host. The host makes an RSS feed: one web address that lists every episode."
[Screen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube logos as text labels] "Apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify read that feed. New episode? They pick it up."
[Host] "Upload once, show up in many places. That's the magic."
Pick a podcast you like. Find it in two different apps. Notice that the episodes, titles and artwork match: that's the same RSS feed showing up in both.
ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude
Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.
For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.
I'm learning "Podcasting Basics" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "How podcasts actually work". What the lesson teaches: - A podcast is a series of audio (and sometimes video) episodes people can follow and listen to on demand. - A podcast host stores your audio files and creates an RSS feed: a web address that lists your show and all its episodes. - Directories and apps (such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube) read that feed. When you publish a new episode on your host, the apps that use your feed show it to followers. - You upload once to your host; you don't upload separately to every app (except for platforms you choose to upload to directly). - Many podcasts now also publish a video version, filmed while recording. The exercise I'm working on: Pick a podcast you like. Find it in two different apps. Notice that the episodes, titles and artwork match: that's the same RSS feed showing up in both. --- I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "How podcasts actually work" from the course "Podcasting Basics". Here's what the lesson says: A podcast is like a radio show you can listen to any time. You put each episode in one "mailbox" (your host), and the listening apps come and pick up the new episodes for everyone. The activity: Pick a podcast you like. Find it in two different apps. Notice that the episodes, titles and artwork match: that's the same RSS feed showing up in both. --- Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.
Plan your show
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Gear and recording
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Editing and loudness
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Publishing to Apple, Spotify and YouTube
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Growing your show
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Final project
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Quiz
What is an RSS feed?
A web address that lists your show and all its episodes, read by podcast apps.
Do you have to upload each episode separately to every podcast app?
No; you upload to your host and apps read the RSS feed.
Why might a beginner choose a dynamic mic?
It picks up mostly what's in front of it and less room noise.
What loudness does Apple Podcasts ask for?
Around -16 dB LKFS (±1 dB), with true peak no higher than -1 dB FS.
Which audio formats does Apple accept for RSS feeds?
MP3 or AAC (Apple recommends AAC).
Where do you connect an RSS feed on YouTube?
YouTube Studio > Content > Podcasts > Details > Connect to RSS feed (where available).
What privacy setting do RSS-delivered episodes start with on YouTube?
Private.
Why get a guest's written permission?
So you have their okay to record and publish; laws vary, so consult a lawyer for legal questions.
Final exam
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Certificate
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