Podcast

A podcast is an episodic audio program, typically released as a series of numbered episodes, distributed via an RSS feed that podcast apps subscribe to. The name is a portmanteau of "iPod" and "broadcast" (coined in 2004). Podcasts cover every topic category — news, interviews, true crime, storytelling, educational, devotional, sports commentary, entertainment, technology, business, and more. Distribution happens via podcast hosts (Spotify for Podcasters, Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Transistor) that generate RSS feeds; listener-facing apps (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Overcast) subscribe to those feeds and download new episodes for listeners. Modern podcast distribution is typically MP3 or AAC audio at 64-128 kbps mono, with metadata (title, description, episode art, chapter markers) in the RSS feed. Monetisation models include host-read ads, programmatic ads, premium subscriptions (Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Patreon), and sponsor integrations. Indian podcasting has grown rapidly — Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, and Bengali podcasts reach millions of listeners monthly.

How it works

Podcast RSS feeds are XML documents with podcast-specific tags (iTunes tags, defined by Apple) for title, description, category, artwork, and episode list. Each episode in the feed has its own metadata (title, description, publish date, audio file URL, duration) plus the enclosure URL pointing to the MP3/AAC file. Podcast apps periodically check feeds for new episodes and download or stream them. Technical standards include RSS 2.0 with iTunes namespace extensions, and increasingly Podcasting 2.0 specs (transcripts, chapters, funding tags, etc.). For Indian-language podcasts specifically, UTF-8 encoding in the RSS feed is essential — titles and descriptions in Devanagari, Tamil, Malayalam need correct encoding to display in podcast apps. Popular Indian podcast hosts include Spotify for Podcasters, Anchor, JioSaavn Originals, and dedicated services like Pocket FM. For creators, releasing audio as a podcast vs. a YouTube video vs. both is a strategic choice — YouTube reaches video-first audiences, podcasts reach audio-first audiences (commuters, workout listeners, multitaskers).

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