Discoverability
Hidden podcast
Share your podcast through a link. Anyone who knows the URL can listen.
Explore hidden podcastsPlatform / Private podcasting
Private podcasting
A podcast for your own group of listeners.
Share audio with members, course participants or colleagues. Choose how people find your podcast and how you manage their access.
How your podcast reaches your listeners
A link may be enough for an audio series in your newsletter. For course materials with an end date, you may want to manage access for each participant.
Hidden
A shared URL
- You share the podcast link
- The listener opens the link
- Play an episode
Private
Personal listening links
- You add email addresses
- Members receive their personal link
- Listen on the podcast website
Internal podcast
For employees, in a private app.
- You invite employees
- The employee logs in
- Listen and watch in Springcast Mobile
With a private podcast, members listen through their personal link, without an account or password. The link is in their welcome email. If they lose it, they can request it again.
A shared link or access for each listener?
With a hidden podcast, anyone who knows the URL can listen. With a private podcast, you use the Members only option to manage a group of listeners. Internal describes the use case: a podcast for employees.
| Feature | Private podcast | |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving access | You share the podcast link through your own channels | A member receives a personal link by email |
| Managing the group | You share the link without needing a member list | You add members individually or import a list |
| Individual access | Anyone who knows the URL has access | You can set an end date, extend access or revoke it |
| Forwarding a link | The recipient can use the shared link | A personal link can also be forwarded; you can reset that link |
Share your podcast in a way that suits your audience
Hidden: share the link yourself
Include the link in your newsletter, share it in a community or send it directly to your listeners. You do not need to add them to a member list.
Someone who receives a forwarded link can also listen. This option suits you if you share through your own channels and do not need to manage access for each person.
Private: manage your own group of listeners
With Members only, you add listeners using their email addresses. You can give course participants access to the audio for their program and set an end date if needed. You can extend or revoke access later.
- Add members
Individually or through a member list.
- Personal access
A personal link by email.
- Manage access
Set an end date, extend access or revoke it.
This option disables the public podcast website and public RSS feed. Members open the podcast website through their personal listening link. Once you reset a link, the old one no longer works; episodes already downloaded remain on the device.
With Members only, you cannot embed the player on another website.
Listening in a podcast app
Professional gives members access to the podcast website. With Scale, you can also make a personal RSS feed available to each member. It works in podcast apps that support custom RSS links.
Frequently asked questions about private podcasting
What is the difference between a hidden, private and internal podcast?
You share a hidden podcast through a link: anyone who knows the URL can listen. With a private podcast, you use a member list with email addresses. Each member receives a personal listening link, and you manage access individually. An internal podcast is for employees. You can share audio and video with them through Springcast Mobile. Explore internal podcasts.
Do listeners need an account for a private podcast?
No. With the Members only option, each listener receives a welcome email with a personal link to the podcast website. They can use it to listen without an account or password. A member who loses the link can request it again.
Can members listen to my private podcast in a podcast app?
With Scale, you can make a personal RSS feed available to each member. It works in podcast apps that support custom RSS links. With Professional, members listen on the podcast website through their personal link. Compare Creator plans for features and terms.
Can a listener forward their personal link?
Yes, a personal listening link can be forwarded. As the creator, you can reset that member's link; the old link will no longer work. A hidden podcast link can also be forwarded: anyone who knows the URL can listen.
Can I give temporary access to a private podcast or revoke access?
Yes. With Members only, you can set an end date, extend access or revoke it. For example, you can give course participants access for the duration of their program. Episodes already downloaded remain on the listener's device.
Can I also set a password for my podcast website?
Yes. You can use a shared password for the podcast website. This is a separate access option, without a member list or individual access management. The website password does not automatically protect a player embedded elsewhere.
Choose how to reach your listeners
Want a private podcast with personal member links? Compare Professional and Scale. The plan page brings the features and terms together.