Distribution Overview
AutoPod distributes your content automatically across multiple channels — RSS feeds, podcast directories, your player, your website, embeddable widgets, and more. You set it up once, and every new episode reaches your audience everywhere.
Where your content goes
When an episode is published on AutoPod, it's automatically available through all your configured distribution channels:
Distribution channels at a glance
| Channel | Setup | Automatic | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoPod Player | Always on | Yes | Episodes appear immediately |
| AutoPod Sites | Enable in settings | Yes | Episodes appear on your station website |
| RSS Feeds | Automatic | Yes | Feeds regenerate every 2 minutes |
| Apple Podcasts | Submit feed URL once | Yes (after setup) | Apple polls your feed automatically |
| Spotify | Submit feed URL once | Yes (after setup) | Spotify polls your feed automatically |
| Mixcloud | Connect account + enable | Yes | Episodes uploaded automatically |
| Widgets | Get embed code | Yes | Widgets show latest content |
| Public API | Enable + get API key | Yes | Real-time episode data |
RSS is the backbone
Most podcast distribution works through RSS. AutoPod generates RSS feeds for every stream, show, and group. These feeds are what podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify use to find and display your episodes.
You don't need to submit to each directory separately — most apps find your show through Apple Podcasts or your RSS feed URL. See RSS Feeds for details.
Three types of RSS feed
| Feed type | What it includes | URL pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Stream feed | All episodes from all shows on your station | rss.autopod.xyz/{stream-name}.rss |
| Show feed | Episodes from a single show | rss.autopod.xyz/show/{show-id}.rss |
| Group feed | Episodes from multiple shows combined | rss.autopod.xyz/group/{group-id}.rss |
Pre-roll and sponsor tags
Attach intro audio to your shows — station idents, sponsor messages, or podcast intros. The audio is automatically prepended to every new episode. See Pre-Roll & Sponsor Tags.
Getting started with distribution
For most stations, the distribution setup takes about 15 minutes:
- Check your RSS settings — Make sure your stream has a name, description, and image in Stream Settings
- Submit to Apple Podcasts — Copy your show's RSS feed URL and submit it to Apple Podcasts Connect
- Submit to Spotify — Submit the same feed URL to Spotify for Podcasters
- (Optional) Connect Mixcloud — If your shows include licensed music, connect Mixcloud for automatic uploads
- (Optional) Enable widgets — Get embed code for your existing website
After this one-time setup, every future episode is distributed automatically.