Setting Up Your Podcast RSS Feed

Keeping Your Feed Healthy After Launch

Publishing the feed is only the start. A podcast RSS feed is a living file that directories check regularly, so small habits after launch make a big difference to how reliably your episodes reach listeners.

Check your feed before and after submitting

Run your feed through a validator before you submit it anywhere. Validators flag common problems such as missing artwork, malformed episode dates, audio files that return errors, or special characters that break the XML. Most directories also report errors in their own dashboards, so check them after each new episode, especially in the first few weeks.

Artwork and audio basics

• Cover art: directories generally expect square images at a high resolution, commonly between 1400 and 3000 pixels on each side. Keep text large enough to read as a small thumbnail on a phone.
• Audio files: MP3 remains the most widely supported format. Consistent loudness between episodes saves listeners from adjusting the volume.
• File names: use simple, descriptive names without spaces so links stay stable.

Write show notes that work for geography content

Episodes about places benefit from clear, searchable notes. Name the region, landform or locality discussed, for example a particular river catchment, island or national park, and use the official spelling of place names, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander names where they are in use. If an episode accompanies an outing, mention it so listeners can connect the audio with our field trips. Links to maps or reading can go in the notes rather than being read aloud.

Never change your feed address carelessly

The feed URL is how every app finds your show. If you move to a new hosting service, use the host's redirect tools to point the old feed to the new one rather than simply deleting the old account; otherwise subscribers can silently stop receiving episodes. Keep each episode's unique identifier (the GUID) unchanged, or apps may show old episodes as new.

Plan a regular rhythm

A predictable release schedule, whether fortnightly or monthly, helps listeners and keeps your feed active. Browse our podcast shelves for examples of how geography shows structure their series, and look out for related sessions on our events page.