How to Create a Private Podcast in 2024

What is private podcasting?

A private podcast is an exclusive audio series accessible only to a specific group of listeners, such as paid subscribers, members of an organization, or company employees.

Unlike public podcasts, which appear publicly on apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, private podcasts are distributed through a secure, unique RSS feed link shared only with authorized listeners.

Key features of private podcasts include:

1. Restricted access: Only those with the private RSS feed link can subscribe to and listen to the podcast.

2. Secure distribution: The unique RSS feed ensures that the content remains confidential and is not publicly discoverable.

3. Targeted content: Private podcasts allow companies and creators to tailor their content to a specific audience, providing more focused and relevant information.

4. Flexible use cases: Private podcasts can be used for various purposes, such as premium content for paid subscribers, internal corporate communications, employee training, or exclusive content for membership sites.

5. Familiar experience: Listeners can still enjoy private podcasts using their preferred podcast apps, ensuring a seamless and convenient listening experience.

Private podcasts offer a secure and controlled way to share audio content with a targeted audience, providing a valuable tool for businesses, organizations, and content creators looking to deliver personalized content to their listeners.

How do private podcasts work?

A private podcast isn't publicly accessible or discoverable. Instead, subscribers get a unique RSS feed to add to their podcast player.

As a publisher, you would log in to a podcast hosting provider and use their interface to create a private podcast. Next, you would create your episodes by uploading your audio. Finally, you would invite subscribers by manually adding their email addresses, uploading a CSV, or sending them an invite link.

When a subscriber gets added to your private podcast, they will be able to:

• Subscribe using their podcast app (Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts).

• Receive new episodes on their phone.

• Download episodes on their phone for offline listening.

Some private podcast hosting platforms, like Transistor, will notify your subscribers every time you publish a new episode via email.

Examples of private podcasts

A private podcast allows you to give members access to a series of audio files that they can listen to in their favorite podcast app. Here's how companies and organizations are using it:

• Offer ongoing audio training to your employees.

• Onboard new employees.

• Send a weekly "Message from the CEO" to all employees.

Here's how authors, course creators, and online training organizations are using it:

• Authors are creating an audiobook version of their books and giving folks who purchase the physical copy free access to it.

• Course creators, colleges, and online training organizations are adding audio lessons to their regular curriculum. Students receive individualized access and can listen to it in their favorite podcast app.

• Membership sites are doing exclusive private podcasts just for members.

How to create a private podcast for your team

You can use a hosting platform like Transistor to create private podcasts.

To start a new private podcast, click "Add a show." You'll see the option to create an enhanced private podcast when you click "Add a new show:"

After filling out your Show Settings, you'll add your first episode.

Once an episode is published, you can add (or invite) subscribers to join the private podcast.

How to record audio for your private podcast feed

Recording your private podcast can be as simple or high-end as you'd like:

• On your desktop, with a fancy microphone

• Or, record using the “Voice Memos” app on your phone

Once you're done recording, upload your audio to your podcast hosting provider straight from your phone or computer. You'll publish the episode, which will be available to your subscribers in their private feeds.

Private subscribers will be notified in their podcast app or by email that a new episode is available.

How to share the private podcast with your employees or members

Now that your first episode is published, you can go to the "Subscribers" tab and add subscribers (members, employees, etc) to your podcast.

They can be added manually (one at a time) or via CSV upload.

Once you've added a subscriber, they'll automatically receive a welcome email that looks like this:

When they click the button in their email, they'll receive a list of podcast app options that are supported on their device:

They can choose their preferred option, and it should open the podcast in their selected listening app.

Once they are subscribed, they'll automatically receive new episodes when they are published.

You can also send them this tutorial, which shows them how to add a private feed to their favorite podcast app.

Which podcast apps support private podcasts?

These iOS podcast apps allow you to add private feeds:

• Apple Podcasts (video demo)

• Overcast (video demo)

• Pocket Casts (instructions here)

• Downcast

• Castro

These Android podcast apps allow you to add private feeds:

• Castbox (instructions here)

• Pocket Casts (instructions here)

• Podcast Addict

• Podcast Republic (instructions here)

• Player FM (register for an account first)

• Dog Catcher

• Beyond Pod

• Podcasty

• PodKicker

These podcast apps don't support private podcasts:

• Spotify

• iHeartRadio

• Podcast App

• PodcastOne

• DoublePod

• PodcastHD

• Podcast Guru