How to Get Your Podcast Listed Everywhere It Needs to Be
People won't hear your brilliant podcast if it's not where they are
You’ve recorded your first few episodes, edited them to perfection, crafted a trailer that captures your voice, and set up your podcast hosting platform. You’re ready to release your show into the world—but now what?
One of the biggest misconceptions new podcasters have is that once their podcast is published through a hosting platform, it will automatically appear on every podcast app. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way—at least not yet. While some hosts do offer automated distribution to select directories, most of the time, it’s still up to you to submit your show manually.
If your podcast isn’t listed on the major platforms where people search and listen—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and others—you’re missing out on discoverability, growth, and opportunities to connect with new listeners. The good news is that the process isn’t difficult. It just requires a little bit of time, a few links, and a solid understanding of what each directory is looking for.
Let’s walk through how to get your podcast listed everywhere it needs to be, so your audience can find you wherever they listen.
Start with a Hosting Platform (But Know Its Limits)
Before you can distribute your podcast, you need a hosting platform. This is where your audio files live and where your podcast’s RSS feed is generated. Think of it as your podcast’s home base—it holds your content and feeds it out to directories.
Popular hosting platforms include Libsyn, Buzzsprout, Captivate, Podbean, Anchor (now Spotify for Podcasters), and Transistor. Most of these platforms will give you your RSS feed URL once you’ve added your show title, description, cover art, and at least one published episode or trailer.
It’s this RSS feed that you’ll submit to all the major podcast directories. Once submitted and approved, every new episode you publish through your host will automatically update in those directories. But the initial submission? That’s still in your hands.
The Essential Podcast Directories (and How to Submit to Them)
Let’s go through the platforms where your podcast must be listed to reach a broad audience—and how to get it there.
Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts is still the leading platform for podcast discovery. Many other apps pull from Apple’s directory, so this should be your first stop.
Visit Apple Podcasts Connect.
Log in with your Apple ID (you’ll need to set up a podcast account if you haven’t already).
Submit your RSS feed.
Apple will validate your feed and typically approve within 1–5 business days.
Spotify
Spotify is increasingly dominating the podcast space and is critical for discoverability—especially among younger audiences.
Visit Spotify for Podcasters.
Claim your podcast using your RSS feed.
Spotify may send a verification email to confirm ownership.
Once verified, your show is typically listed within minutes.
Amazon Music / Audible
Amazon is still building out its podcast footprint, but listing your show there gives you exposure to users on Alexa, Audible, and Amazon Music.
Submit your show via Amazon Music for Podcasters.
Enter your RSS feed and show information.
Approval usually happens within 24–48 hours.
Google Podcasts → YouTube Podcasts
Google Podcasts is being phased out in favor of YouTube Podcasts, which means the podcasting future in Google’s ecosystem now lives on YouTube.
If your podcast is not already on YouTube:
Create a playlist titled with your podcast’s name.
Upload episodes as individual videos (they can be static images or full video if you record it).
Mark the playlist as a podcast in YouTube Studio.
If your hosting platform supports YouTube podcasting (e.g., generating videos from audio files), this is a great way to expand into visual platforms without filming video yourself.
iHeartRadio
This is a well-known directory, particularly among U.S. audiences.
Submit your show via iHeart’s submission form.
You’ll need your RSS feed, podcast title, and contact info.
Approval can take a few business days.
Pandora
Owned by SiriusXM, Pandora curates podcasts a bit more selectively.
Go to Pandora for Podcasters.
Submit your RSS feed and show info.
Approval can take 2–4 weeks and is not guaranteed for every show.
TuneIn
Especially important for smart speaker integration (e.g., Alexa commands).
Submit your show at TuneIn’s podcast submission page.
Fill out the form with your RSS feed and podcast details.
Bonus Visibility: Indexing Platforms and Directories
There are also several platforms that don’t host your podcast but serve as discovery engines, reviews directories, or podcast databases. Submitting to these can help with search engine visibility and audience engagement.
Podchaser – Think of it as the IMDb of podcasts. Claim your show, add credits, and link out to other platforms.
Listen Notes – A podcast search engine that may already have your show indexed, but you can claim it for better metadata control.
The Podcast Index – An open directory that supports decentralized podcasting platforms. Your hosting platform may already list you here automatically, but it’s worth checking.
How Long Does It Take to Get Listed?
Most platforms will give you an estimate of how long it will take to approve and list your show. Apple Podcasts is the most variable—it can take a few hours or a few days, depending on the volume of submissions and whether your RSS feed meets all requirements. Spotify and YouTube tend to list new shows quickly, often within minutes of submission.
Be patient, but don’t forget to double-check that your show has been published correctly. Look up your show on each app using its search feature and verify that the latest episodes are appearing as expected.
Keep Your Feed Healthy and Up to Date
Once your show is live in all the major directories, make sure to keep your RSS feed consistent and well-maintained. Don’t change your feed URL unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, use proper redirection so you don’t lose listeners.
Also, double-check how your show looks in each app from time to time. Are the episode titles displaying correctly? Are the descriptions formatting well? Is your artwork sharp and legible at small sizes? These little details can make a big difference in whether someone clicks “play” or keeps scrolling.
Submitting your podcast to directories isn’t the most glamorous part of launching a show, but it’s one of the most important. If you’ve gone through all the effort of creating high-quality content, you owe it to yourself to make sure people can actually find it.
Getting listed on every major platform only takes a few hours of work, and it pays off in long-term discoverability. Make your show available wherever people listen—and you’ll be that much closer to building a consistent, loyal audience.
And if you haven’t done this yet? No shame. It’s never too late to widen your reach and get your podcast the visibility it deserves.