What is RSS?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format that serves as the backbone of podcast distribution. Every podcast app, directory, and aggregator reads RSS feeds to discover shows, download episodes, and display metadata to listeners.
How RSS Works for Podcasts
When you publish a podcast episode, your hosting platform updates your RSS feed—an XML document containing:
- Show-level metadata in the channel element: title, description, artwork, categories, language
- Episode entries as item elements: title, description, publication date, duration
- Audio file locations via enclosure tags: URL, file size, MIME type
- Unique identifiers through GUID tags that prevent duplicate downloads
Podcast apps periodically check your feed for new items, then download and display new episodes to subscribers.
RSS Feed Structure
A basic podcast RSS feed follows this hierarchy:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="...">
<channel>
<!-- Show metadata -->
<title>Your Podcast Name</title>
<description>Show description</description>
<itunes:image href="https://..." />
<!-- Episodes -->
<item>
<title>Episode Title</title>
<enclosure url="https://..." length="12345678" type="audio/mpeg" />
<guid>unique-identifier</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
Key RSS Elements for Podcasts
| Element | Purpose | Required |
|---|---|---|
<channel> |
Contains all show metadata | Yes |
<item> |
Represents each episode | Yes |
<enclosure> |
Points to audio file | Yes |
<guid> |
Unique episode identifier | Yes |
<pubDate> |
Episode publication timestamp | Yes |
<itunes:*> |
Apple-specific metadata | Recommended |
<podcast:*> |
Podcast 2.0 features | Optional |
Namespaces Extending RSS
Standard RSS was designed for text syndication, so podcasting relies on namespace extensions:
- iTunes namespace (
xmlns:itunes): Adds iTunes tags for categories, explicit content, episode types - Podcast 2.0 namespace (
xmlns:podcast): Enables chapters, transcripts, value4value, and more
These namespaces are what transform basic RSS into a rich podcast distribution format.
Why It Matters
RSS is literally the technology that makes podcasting work. Without RSS, there would be no open podcasting ecosystem—just walled gardens where platforms control distribution.
Why RSS matters for podcasters:
-
Platform independence: Your RSS feed works with every podcast app. You're not locked into any single platform.
-
Subscriber ownership: When listeners subscribe to your feed, they follow you, not a platform's algorithm.
-
Automatic distribution: Publish once, distribute everywhere. Every directory pulls from the same feed.
-
Debugging capability: Understanding RSS helps you troubleshoot when episodes don't appear correctly in apps.
-
Feature adoption: New podcasting features like chapters and transcripts are implemented through RSS extensions.
The open podcasting advantage:
Unlike video platforms where algorithms decide who sees your content, RSS ensures every subscriber receives every episode. This direct connection between creator and audience is what makes podcasting unique in the media landscape.
How to Use This in Dispatch
Your podcast RSS feed is automatically generated and maintained whenever you:
- Publish a new episode: The feed instantly updates with the new item
- Edit show details: Channel-level metadata refreshes automatically
- Update episode info: Changes propagate to directories within hours
Finding your feed URL: Navigate to Settings → Distribution to copy your RSS feed URL for submitting to directories.
Feed validation: Your feed is continuously validated against RSS and podcast specifications. Any issues appear in your dashboard with specific guidance.
Advanced RSS features: Enable Podcast 2.0 features like chapters and transcripts in your show settings to add enhanced RSS tags to your feed.