What is Enhanced Podcast?
An enhanced podcast includes rich features beyond basic audio—such as chapters, transcripts, images, and interactive elements. Podcast 2.0 enables modern enhanced podcasting through RSS, bringing these features to any supporting podcast app.
Enhanced Podcast Features
Content Features
| Feature | Enhancement |
|---|---|
| Chapters | Navigate to topics, see chapter artwork |
| Transcripts | Read along, search within episode |
| Soundbites | Shareable highlight clips |
| Show notes | Rich text with links and formatting |
Metadata Features
| Feature | Enhancement |
|---|---|
| Person tags | Credit hosts, guests, production |
| Location | Geographic relevance |
| Rich artwork | Per-chapter and episode images |
Monetization Features
| Feature | Enhancement |
|---|---|
| Funding links | Listener support in-app |
| Value4Value | Streaming micropayments |
History of Enhanced Podcasts
| Era | Technology | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Apple "Enhanced" AAC | Chapters, artwork (Apple only) |
| 2010s | ID3 tags | Limited, embedded in file |
| 2020+ | Podcast 2.0 | Full features via RSS, any app |
Modern vs Legacy Approach
| Aspect | Legacy Enhanced | Podcast 2.0 Enhanced |
|---|---|---|
| File format | AAC required | Any (MP3 works) |
| Feature location | Embedded in file | External via RSS |
| App support | Apple only (largely) | Growing ecosystem |
| Updates | Requires re-encoding | Update without touching audio |
Why It Matters
Enhanced podcasts differentiate your show in a crowded market. As listener expectations rise, basic audio may not be enough to stand out.
Why enhanced features matter:
-
Listener experience: Chapters, transcripts, and artwork create a richer experience.
-
Accessibility: Transcripts include deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
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Discoverability: Text content improves SEO; person tags improve discovery.
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Engagement: Navigation features increase time spent with content.
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Monetization: Features like Value4Value enable new revenue streams.
Enhancement impact:
| Feature | Listener Benefit | Creator Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | Navigate long episodes | More complete listens |
| Transcripts | Accessibility, search | SEO, broader audience |
| Person tags | Discover more content | Cross-promotion |
| Funding links | Easy support | Increased donations |
The enhancement decision:
| Content Type | Recommended Enhancements |
|---|---|
| Long-form (60+ min) | Chapters (essential), transcripts |
| Interview shows | Person tags, transcripts |
| Educational | Chapters, transcripts, show notes |
| Music/audio drama | Chapters, credits |
| News/updates | Transcripts, chapters |
Implementation priority:
- Transcripts (accessibility + SEO)
- Chapters (navigation for long content)
- Person tags (attribution + discovery)
- Everything else as relevant
How to Use This in Dispatch
Enable enhanced features in your show settings and they're automatically included in your feed:
Available enhancements:
| Feature | Where to Enable |
|---|---|
| Chapters | Episode editor |
| Transcripts | Show Settings → Transcripts |
| Person tags | Show Settings → Team; Episode → Credits |
| Funding links | Settings → Monetization |
| Value4Value | Settings → Monetization |
| Location | Episode editor |
| Soundbites | Episode editor |
Getting started: Begin with transcripts and chapters—these have the broadest support and most immediate impact on listener experience.
Automatic integration: When you enable any enhanced feature, we automatically:
- Add appropriate Podcast 2.0 tags to your RSS
- Declare required namespaces
- Validate compliance with specifications
- Update instantly when you publish