Podcast Directory Setup Guide: 9 Directories Beyond Apple and Spotify

Podcast Directory Setup Guide

Step-by-step submission instructions for all 9 major directories beyond Apple and Spotify

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Apple Podcasts and Spotify are handled by your hosting platform automatically via RSS. These nine directories require manual submission or profile claiming. Do them once – most are set-and-forget.

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1. iHeartRadio

Submit at: iheartradio.com/podcasters

iHeartRadio reaches a broadcast radio audience – over 130 million registered users, skewing 35-55. It’s one of the few directories that meaningfully extends your reach outside the native podcast app ecosystem.

How it gets your show: Manual RSS submission through their podcast portal, or automatic via select hosting platforms (Libsyn, Spreaker, Buzzsprout – check your host’s distribution settings before submitting manually to avoid duplicates).

Steps to submit:

1. Go to iheartradio.com/podcasters and click ”Submit Your Podcast”
   
2. Sign in or create an iHeartRadio account
   
3. Paste your RSS feed URL into the ”Podcast RSS Feed” field
   
4. Fill in: Show Name, Category, Language, and Country
   
5. Upload a square cover image (minimum 1400x1400px, JPG or PNG)
   
6. Accept the terms and click ”Submit”

Timeline: 1-2 weeks for review and approval.

Ongoing maintenance: None. New episodes pull automatically via RSS once approved.

Gotcha: If your hosting platform already integrates with iHeartRadio (check under “Distribution” or “Directories” in your host dashboard), do NOT submit manually – you’ll end up with duplicate listings that are difficult to merge or remove.

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2. Amazon Music / Audible

Submit at: music.amazon.com/podcasts – click ”Submit your podcast” at the bottom of the page

Amazon Music’s podcast listeners skew toward Prime members – higher household income, slightly older demographic. Audible’s integration means your show can surface to dedicated audio consumers who are already paying for audio content.

How it gets your show: RSS submission through Amazon’s podcast portal. Some hosting platforms (Anchor/Spotify for Podcasters, Buzzsprout, Podbean) offer one-click Amazon Music distribution – check your host’s directory settings first.

Steps to submit:


7. Go to music.amazon.com/podcasts and scroll to the footer link ”Submit your podcast”
   
8. Sign in with your Amazon account
   
9. Enter your RSS feed URL and click ”Validate Feed”
   
10. Review the auto-populated fields: Show Title, Description, Category, Language
    
11. Confirm your cover art meets requirements (minimum 1400x1400px, square, JPG or PNG)
    
12. Click ”Submit for Review”

Timeline: 5-7 business days for review.

Ongoing maintenance: None after approval. Episodes sync automatically.

Gotcha: Your RSS feed must be publicly accessible – no password protection or paywalled feeds. Also, Amazon reviews episode titles and descriptions for compliance; episodes with click-bait or misleading titles occasionally get flagged and can delay approval of your entire show.

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3. Pocket Casts

Submit at: pocketcasts.com/submit (only needed if not appearing automatically)

Pocket Casts users are dedicated podcast listeners – high completion rates, high episode volume per week. Being listed here matters for discoverability among the most engaged segment of the podcast audience.

How it gets your show: Pocket Casts pulls from the Apple Podcasts directory automatically. If your show is live on Apple Podcasts, it will typically appear in Pocket Casts within 24-48 hours without any action on your part.

Steps to submit (only if not appearing after 48 hours):


13. Confirm your show is fully live and searchable on Apple Podcasts first
    
14. Go to pocketcasts.com/submit
    
15. Enter your RSS feed URL
    
16. Enter your email address for status updates
    
17. Click ”Submit”

Timeline: If submitting manually, allow 3-5 business days. Auto-population from Apple Podcasts typically takes under 48 hours.

Ongoing maintenance: None. Episodes sync via RSS.

Gotcha: Manual submission at Pocket Casts goes to a review queue that can be slow. If you’re not appearing on Apple Podcasts yet, submitting to Pocket Casts manually first will not accelerate anything – get your Apple Podcasts listing live first, then wait.

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4. Overcast

Submit at: overcast.fm/submit (only needed if not appearing automatically)

Overcast is a power-listener app – its users subscribe to more shows, listen to more episodes, and use features like Smart Speed and Voice Boost that indicate active, intentional consumption. Completion rates are high. This is a smaller but high-quality audience.

How it gets your show: Overcast populates from the Apple Podcasts database. If your show is live on Apple Podcasts, Overcast will index it automatically, usually within 24-48 hours of your Apple listing going live.

Steps to submit (only if not appearing after 48 hours):


18. Confirm your show is live and searchable on Apple Podcasts
    
19. Go to overcast.fm/submit
    
20. Paste your RSS feed URL into the field provided
    
21. Click ”Submit”
    
22. That’s it – no account required for submission

Timeline: Auto-population from Apple Podcasts: 24-48 hours. Manual submission: typically 1-3 business days.

Ongoing maintenance: None.

Gotcha: Overcast has no podcast creator portal or dashboard. You cannot claim your show or update metadata directly through Overcast – all metadata flows from your RSS feed. If your cover art or show description looks wrong in Overcast, fix it in your RSS feed/hosting platform, then give it 24-48 hours to refresh.

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5. Castbox

Submit at: castbox.fm/podcasters (if not appearing automatically)

Castbox has a strong international user base, particularly in Asia and Europe. It’s worth the 5-minute setup for the geographic reach it adds.

How it gets your show: Castbox aggregates from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major directories. Most shows appear within a week of going live on Apple Podcasts without any action required. If yours doesn’t appear within 7-10 days, submit manually.

Steps to submit (if not appearing automatically):


23. Go to castbox.fm/podcasters
    
24. Click ”Submit a Podcast”
    
25. Create a Castbox account or sign in with Google
    
26. Enter your RSS feed URL and click ”Check”
    
27. Review the auto-populated show details
    
28. Click ”Submit”

Timeline: Auto-population: within 7-10 days of Apple Podcasts listing. Manual submission: 3-7 business days.

Ongoing maintenance: None. You can optionally claim your show to access creator analytics, but it is not required for your show to appear.

Gotcha: Castbox can occasionally create duplicate listings if your show was indexed automatically AND you submitted manually. Search for your show name in Castbox before submitting manually.

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6. Podchaser

Claim at: podchaser.com – search your show, then click ”Claim This Podcast”

Podchaser calls itself “the Goodreads of podcasts” – it’s where producers, journalists, booking agents, and potential guests research shows before reaching out. Reviews left on Podchaser syndicate directly to Apple Podcasts. This one is less about listener discovery and more about professional credibility.

How it gets your show: Podchaser automatically indexes shows from Apple Podcasts and other directories. Your show is almost certainly already there – this step is about claiming it, not submitting it.

Steps to claim your show:


29. Go to podchaser.com and create a free account
    
30. Use the search bar to find your show by name
    
31. On your show’s page, click ”Claim This Podcast”
    
32. Verify ownership by entering your RSS feed URL or by following a verification email sent to the address listed in your RSS feed
    
33. Once claimed, complete your Creator Profile: bio, social links, website, booking contact
    
34. Update your show’s About section with a current, accurate description

Timeline: Your show is already indexed. Claiming takes 5-10 minutes once you have RSS feed access for verification.

Ongoing maintenance: Check Podchaser quarterly to respond to reviews. Reviews here appear on Apple Podcasts – a response to a negative review on Podchaser will show up there too.

Gotcha: The email for RSS verification goes to whatever address is listed in your feed’s `` tag. If that’s an old address or a hosting-platform default you don’t check, you won’t receive the verification email. Check your RSS feed source for what email is listed before starting the claim process.

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7. Goodpods

Submit/claim at: goodpods.com – click ”Add your podcast” in the footer or creator section

Goodpods is a social listening app where the value is word-of-mouth. Users share episodes, leave timestamps, and recommend shows to their followers. One active Goodpods user who loves your show will do more for your growth here than any algorithm.

How it gets your show: Goodpods allows both self-submission and auto-indexing from other directories. Submitting directly ensures your show appears correctly.

Steps to submit:


35. Go to goodpods.com and create an account
    
36. Navigate to ”Add Your Podcast” (footer link or creator hub)
    
37. Enter your RSS feed URL
    
38. Verify your ownership via the confirmation link sent to your RSS feed email
    
39. Complete your creator profile: photo, bio, social links
    
40. Optional but recommended: share a few episodes yourself to seed activity on your show’s page

Timeline: 24-72 hours after RSS verification.

Ongoing maintenance: Log in occasionally and engage with listeners who share your episodes. A reply from the host goes a long way in a social listening environment.

Gotcha: Goodpods is community-driven – a show with zero activity looks abandoned. After claiming, share 2-3 of your best episodes through your own Goodpods account to give new visitors something to engage with.

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8. Listen Notes

Claim at: listennotes.com/claim or search your show at listennotes.com and click ”Claim this podcast”

Listen Notes is a podcast search engine – it indexes content by relevance and keyword, not show size or follower count. A well-titled episode with a specific, searchable topic can surface above shows with 100x your download numbers. It’s the only directory where small shows with niche content genuinely compete with large shows.

How it gets your show: Listen Notes indexes from Apple Podcasts and other directories automatically. Your show is almost certainly already there.

Steps to claim your show:


41. Go to listennotes.com and search your show name
    
42. On your show’s page, click ”Claim this podcast”
    
43. Sign in or create a Listen Notes account
    
44. Verify ownership via RSS feed URL confirmation
    
45. Once claimed, you can edit your show’s description, categories, and contact information directly

Timeline: Show is already indexed. Claiming takes under 10 minutes.

Ongoing maintenance: None required. Optionally update your show description seasonally if your content focus shifts.

Gotcha: Listen Notes ranks episodes heavily by title and description keywords. If your episode titles are vague (e.g., “Episode 47: My Guest’s Story”), they won’t surface in search. Specific titles with searchable terms (“How to Sell Your Business Without a Broker”) perform dramatically better. This is a good time to audit your episode naming convention if you haven’t already.

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9. PodMatch

Submit at: podmatch.com – create a host profile and add your show

PodMatch is not a listener directory – it’s a guest and host matching platform. Submitting here surfaces your show to potential guests who will promote their appearance to their own audiences, and positions you as a guest candidate for shows in your niche.

How it gets your show: Manual submission only. You build a profile as a host, as a guest, or both.

Steps to submit:


46. Go to podmatch.com and click ”Get Started”
    
47. Create an account and select your role: ”Host”, ”Guest”, or ”Both” (select “Both” if you want to appear on other shows as well)
    
48. Complete your Host Profile: show name, description, target audience, episode format, average download numbers (optional but helps matching)
    
49. Add your RSS feed URL and cover art
    
50. Set your Guest Preferences: topics you cover, ideal guest background, whether you accept pitches
    
51. Complete your Guest Profile (if applicable): your expertise, speaking topics, credentials, media kit link
    
52. Set your notification preferences for incoming match requests

Timeline: Profile is live immediately after completion. Matches and pitches begin arriving within days if your profile is complete.

Ongoing maintenance: Check your PodMatch inbox weekly during active periods. Respond to every pitch, even to decline – your response rate affects your profile ranking and the quality of future matches.

Gotcha: An incomplete profile gets poor matches. The algorithm matches on specificity – vague topic descriptions (“I talk about business and life”) produce low-quality guest suggestions. The more specific your audience description and topic focus, the better your matches.

PodMatch has a free tier with limited monthly matches and a paid tier ($27-$67/month depending on plan) with unlimited matches and additional features. The free tier is sufficient to test whether the platform works for your show before committing.

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Priority Order

Do these first (highest discoverability impact):


53. Amazon Music / Audible – large addressable audience, simple RSS submission
    
54. iHeartRadio – reaches outside native podcast apps, significant broadcast radio audience
    
55. Castbox – strongest international reach of any directory on this list

Do these second (appear automatically, just verify and claim):


56. Pocket Casts – verify auto-population from Apple; submit manually only if not appearing
    
57. Overcast – same as above; verify then move on
    
58. Listen Notes – claim your existing listing, audit your episode titles

Do these for professional credibility and guest pipeline:


59. Podchaser – claim your listing, complete the creator profile; reviews here matter for social proof
    
60. Goodpods – claim, seed with 2-3 shared episodes, revisit monthly
    
61. PodMatch – only worth the time investment if guest appearances are part of your growth strategy; start with the free tier

Which matters most for what:
– Discoverability (new listeners finding you): Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Castbox, Listen Notes
– Power listener acquisition (high completion, high loyalty): Pocket Casts, Overcast
– Social proof and media credibility: Podchaser, Listen Notes
– Guest acquisition and cross-promotion: PodMatch, Goodpods

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*Free resource from CoHarmonify – AI Audiobook Creation & Publishing. coharmonify.com*