What is Podcast 2.0 Namespace?
The Podcast 2.0 namespace is a set of new RSS tags (prefixed with podcast:) that extend podcast functionality beyond the original iTunes tags. Developed by the podcasting community through the Podcasting 2.0 initiative, these tags enable features like chapters, transcripts, Value4Value, and more.
Namespace Declaration
To use Podcast 2.0 features, your feed must declare the namespace:
<rss version="2.0"
xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd"
xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0">
Core Podcast 2.0 Tags
Content Enhancement
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
podcast:chapters |
Episode chapter markers with titles, images, URLs |
podcast:transcript |
Link to episode transcript files |
podcast:soundbite |
Shareable audio clips |
podcast:alternateEnclosure |
Multiple audio quality options |
People & Attribution
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
podcast:person |
Credits for hosts, guests, producers |
podcast:remoteItem |
Cross-references to other podcasts |
Monetization
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
podcast:funding |
Listener support links |
podcast:value |
Streaming payment configuration |
Discovery & Context
| Tag | Purpose |
|---|---|
podcast:location |
Geographic relevance |
podcast:season |
Season metadata |
podcast:episode |
Episode numbering |
podcast:trailer |
Trailer episode marking |
podcast:guid |
Cross-platform show identifier |
App Support Status
| Feature | Supporting Apps |
|---|---|
| Chapters | Pocket Casts, Overcast, Fountain, Podverse, many more |
| Transcripts | Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify |
| Value4Value | Fountain, Podverse, Castamatic, CurioCaster |
| Funding | Most Podcast 2.0 apps |
| Person | Fountain, Podverse, PodcastGuru |
Why It Matters
Podcast 2.0 represents the community taking control of podcasting's future—adding features podcasters need without waiting for Apple or Spotify to implement them.
Why Podcast 2.0 matters:
-
Open innovation: Anyone can propose and implement new features through the namespace.
-
Podcaster ownership: Features designed by and for podcasters, not platforms.
-
Future-proofing: Early adoption positions you for features that may become standard.
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Enhanced experience: Chapters, transcripts, and more make podcasts more accessible and engaging.
-
New monetization: Value4Value enables direct listener micropayments.
The Podcast 2.0 philosophy:
| Traditional Podcasting | Podcast 2.0 Approach |
|---|---|
| Platform-controlled features | Open, community-driven |
| Centralized innovation | Decentralized development |
| Platform monetization | Creator-direct monetization |
| Closed ecosystems | Open standards |
Adoption strategy:
| Priority | Features | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| High | Chapters, Transcripts | Widely supported, immediate value |
| Medium | Person, Funding | Growing support, useful metadata |
| Exploratory | Value4Value | Smaller but engaged audience |
The mainstream trajectory: Features that start in Podcast 2.0 often get adopted by major platforms. Apple added transcript support in 2024—an idea that started in the Podcast 2.0 namespace.
How to Use This in Dispatch
Podcast 2.0 tags are automatically added to your feed when you enable features:
Supported Podcast 2.0 features:
- Chapters: Add in episode editor
- Transcripts: Enable automatic or upload manual
- Funding links: Add in Settings → Monetization
- Value4Value: Configure wallet in Settings → Monetization
- Person credits: Add team members in show/episode settings
How it works:
- Enable a feature in your settings or episode editor
- We automatically add the appropriate
podcast:tags to your RSS feed - Apps that support the feature display it to listeners
- Apps that don't simply ignore the tags (backward compatible)
Namespace declaration: The Podcast 2.0 namespace is automatically declared in your feed when any Podcast 2.0 feature is enabled.