Updated: 2026-06-22 14:58:27 UTC

Creating a podcast on beehiiv

Native podcast hosting is built directly into your beehiiv dashboard, giving you everything you need to launch and grow your podcast in one place. You can create shows, upload episodes, generate an RSS feed, and distribute your content to major listening platforms, all on beehiiv.

This article walks you through creating your first show, publishing your first episode, and submitting your podcast to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other listening platforms. For information on importing an existing podcast to beehiiv, see Importing your podcast to beehiiv.

Podcast plan limits

The number of shows and episodes available to you depends on your beehiiv plan.

Plan Shows Episodes
Launch 1 1 per month
Scale 1 4 per month
Max 3 Unlimited
Enterprise Unlimited Unlimited

How to create a podcast show

A show is the top-level container for your podcast. Each show has its own RSS feed, artwork, description, and episode library. You can have multiple shows under a single publication, depending on your plan.

  1. From the left panel, go to Podcasts.
  2. If this is your first show, click Create new podcast. If you already have an existing show, click Create show.

  3. The podcast details will open for you to fill in. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).


    To create a show, add the basic details:
    • Show title: Enter a title for your show. This is the name listeners will see in podcast apps.
    • Show URL: Enter the URL for your show using lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores. This must be unique and can be edited later.
    • Description: Enter a short summary of what your podcast is about.

    • Cover art: Upload a square image in JPEG or PNG format, ideally between 1400 x 1400 px and 3000 x 3000 px.

      beehiiv has the ability to read and write artwork from ID3 embedded metadata tags from uploaded audio files. If a podcast episode comes with a piece of cover art embedded in it, beehiiv can extract the art and set it as the artwork in all places that the episode is distributed.

      When you manually add a podcast episode artwork in the beehiiv UI, beehiiv writes the artwork into the MP3 file so that it renders properly on Apple Podcasts’ website and for other relevant players.

    • Author: Your publication name loads here automatically. You can replace it with something else if needed.
    • Copyright: Your publication name loads here automatically. You can replace it with something else if needed.
    • Language: Select the language your podcast is in.
    • Show type: Select Episodic for standalone episodes or Serial for episodes meant to be listened to in order.
    • Explicit content warning: Toggle this on if your show contains explicit content. This will mark your show as explicit on your beehiiv website and across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
       
  4. In the Categories section, start with the Primary category and select the category that best fits your show. You can optionally add a Secondary and Tertiary category to improve discoverability.

  5. (Optional) In the Premium podcast section, toggle on Premium podcast to restrict access to paid subscribers only, then select which subscription tiers have access.
The RSS feed is set to public by default. This section is only available if you have at least one active paid subscription tier set up in your publication.


  1. Review your podcast show selections and click Save show in the top right corner.

  2. You'll return to your Podcasts dashboard where your new show will be listed. Click the arrow next to Edit details to access additional options: Edit details, Archive, and Delete show.

Shows stay in draft until you publish your first episode. The RSS feed is available under the Distribution tab immediately after saving.

How to create an episode

Episodes are the individual audio files within a show. Once you have a show, you can create, schedule, and manage all of your episodes from within it.

  1. From the left panel, go to Podcast and open your show.
  2. Click New episode.

  3. You’ll be prompted to upload an audio file in MP3 or WAV format (500 MB max file size).

  4. After your file upload is successful, click the Next button in the top right corner. 

  5. The episode details will appear alongside a preview of how the page will look. 


    Fill in the episode details:
    • Episode title: Enter the title for your episode. This is shown in podcast apps and on your website. 
    • Show notes: Enter a description for your episode. Rich text formatting is supported, including bold, italic, and links. However, headers are not currently supported in show notes.

    • Cover art (optional): Upload a square image for this episode. If none is uploaded, your show artwork is used by default.

      beehiiv has the ability to read and write artwork from ID3 embedded metadata tags from uploaded audio files. If a podcast episode comes with a piece of cover art embedded in it, beehiiv can extract the art and set it as the artwork in all places that the episode is distributed.

      When you manually add a podcast episode artwork in the beehiiv UI, beehiiv writes the artwork into the MP3 file so that it renders properly on Apple Podcasts’ website and for other relevant players.

    • Episode type: Select Full, Trailer, or Bonus. Only one trailer episode is allowed per show.
    • Explicit content warning (optional): Toggle this on if your episode contains explicit content.

    • Show transcript and captions (optional): Toggle this on to allow subscribers to view an auto-generated transcript and closed captions on the episode page. Transcripts are generated automatically after upload and include interactive timestamps that let listeners skim, search, and jump to specific moments.

      Transcripts are processed after the episode is published and typically appear within a few minutes. At this time, transcripts cannot be manually edited after generation. If you need to provide a custom transcript, you can include it in the Show notes field using rich text formatting.

    • Season number and Episode number (optional): Used by podcast apps that support seasons.
    • Custom display date (optional): Shows a different date on your website and in podcast directories without changing the actual publish time.
       
  6. (Optional) On the Preview panel, you can select Replace audio to swap the current file, or Edit in website builder to customize the Podcast page (updates are applied to all podcast episodes).


    If replacing audio, click the X next to the current file, upload a new one, and click Replace audio.

  7. When your episode is ready, click Schedule in the top right corner.  

  8. Choose how to publish it: either Publish now or Schedule for later. 

    After publishing enough episodes, a helpful chart will recommend the best time based on your past download history.

    PD.5.png
    Select a publishing option: 
    • Publish now: The episode goes live immediately. Your RSS feed updates and podcast apps will pick it up on their next sync.

    • Schedule for later: Click the calendar icon and select a future date and time for the episode to publish automatically, then click Schedule.

      Podcast episodes and newsletter posts are published independently — publishing an episode does not send a newsletter, or vice versa. To reference a podcast episode in a newsletter, create a post and include a link to the published episode page.
  9. After publishing or scheduling, you'll return to your Podcasts dashboard, where your episode will be listed under the Episodes tab. Click the 3 dots icon to access options to edit or delete the episode.

How to submit your podcast to listening platforms

You can find your RSS Podcast Feed URL under the Distribution tab for your show. Click Copy to add it to your clipboard. 

Your RSS feed URL follows this example format:

https://rss.beehiiv.com/podcasts/show-slug-264c-h801-ef7-bjk.xml
PD.04.png

Connecting to Spotify

Spotify for Creators is a free platform where you can submit and manage your podcast on Spotify. Once your beehiiv RSS feed is live, you can submit it directly through their platform.

Sync with Spotify (recommended):

  1. From the Distribution tab of your Podcasts dashboard, click Sync with Spotify.
  2. Agree to Spotify's Terms of Service and Content Guidelines.
  3. Click Sync with Spotify to complete the connection.

Manual setup:

  1. From the Distribution tab of your Podcasts dashboard, click Manually set up next to Spotify.
  2. Copy your RSS feed URL and go to creators.spotify.com. Sign in or create an account.
  3. Select Add your podcast and choose I have an RSS feed.
  4. Paste your beehiiv RSS feed URL and follow the steps to verify and submit.
  5. Once approved, copy your Spotify show URL and paste it into your show's Distribution tab in beehiiv.

Connecting to Apple Podcasts

Getting your show listed on Apple Podcasts requires a review before it goes live, which can take 24 to 48 hours. beehiiv gives you two ways to connect: a quick sync directly from your dashboard, or a manual setup through Apple Podcasts Connect.

Sync with Apple Podcasts (recommended):

  1. From the Distribution tab of your Podcasts dashboard, click Sync with Apple Podcasts.
  2. Agree to Apple Podcasts' Terms of Service and Content Guidelines.
  3. Click Sync with Apple Podcasts to complete the connection.

Manual setup:

  1. Copy your RSS feed URL from the Distribution tab.
  2. Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
  3. Click + to add a new show and paste your RSS feed URL.
  4. Apple will validate and review your feed. This process can take 24 to 48 hours.
  5. Once approved, copy your Apple Podcasts show URL and paste it into your show's Distribution tab in beehiiv.
  6. Don’t forget to hit Publish in Apple Podcasts Connect when you’re ready for your show to go live.

Other podcast platforms

Your beehiiv RSS feed can be submitted to any podcast app or directory that supports RSS feeds.

YouTube 

Click Manually set up and follow the steps in the popup. If you already have a YouTube channel, you can paste either your channel URL or your podcast playlist URL when prompted. 

Once connected, if a matching YouTube video is found for a podcast episode, an embedded YouTube player will automatically appear on the episode page on your beehiiv website, alongside links to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other listening platforms.

Pocket Casts, Overcast, Castro, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and TuneIn

Already have a podcast on these platforms? If you imported an existing podcast into beehiiv, simply paste your existing show URL for each platform in the Distribution tab of your Podcast dashboard.

Launching a new podcast on beehiiv? In the Distribution tab of your Podcast dashboard, click Manually set up, follow the platform's submission instructions, and once your podcast is live, paste your show URL back into beehiiv so we can sync and display your listening links. 

Below are the specific instructions for submitting your RSS feed to each platform:  

  • Pocket Casts: Submit your RSS feed and add your Pocket Casts URL once available.
  • Overcast: Submit your RSS feed and add your Overcast URL once available.
  • Castro: No submission required. Castro automatically indexes podcasts that are available on Apple Podcasts.
  • iHeartRadio: Submit your RSS feed through iHeartRadio and add your show URL once approved.
  • Amazon Music: Submit or claim your podcast through Amazon Music for Podcasters and add your show URL once approved.
  • TuneIn: Submit your RSS feed through TuneIn and add your show URL once approved.

Frequently asked questions about beehiiv podcasts

Do I need a published website to use podcasts? No. You can create shows, upload episodes, and have a live RSS feed without a published beehiiv website. However, episode pages and podcast website blocks require a published beehiiv website (non-legacy sites).
How do podcast episodes appear on my beehiiv website?

Episode pages and podcast website blocks require a published beehiiv website. Once your website is live, each published episode automatically generates its own page that includes a native audio player, the episode title, cover art, description, a full transcript and timestamps (if available), a 'Listen on' section linking to major platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and a Recent Episodes section.

You can also create a dedicated podcast page that displays all episodes using the Podcast RSS Feed block in the Website Builder. For step-by-step instructions, see How to feature a podcast feed on your site.

What audio file formats are supported? beehiiv supports MP3 and WAV. Audio files are processed automatically after upload. MP3 is the most universally compatible format and is recommended for most use cases.
Can I have multiple shows under one beehiiv publication? Yes, depending on your plan. Max plans support up to 3 shows and Enterprise plans support unlimited shows. See the plan limits section above for a full breakdown.
Can I migrate my podcast statistics from another hosting platform?

beehiiv does not currently import historical download statistics or analytics from other podcast hosting platforms. When you import an existing podcast to beehiiv, episodes and metadata transfer over, but analytics tracking begins fresh from the import date forward.

Before you import and redirect your podcast to beehiiv, we recommend exporting your analytics from your current hosting platform. Once you make the switch, having that historical data on hand can be helpful for comparing performance and referencing past trends.

Can I change my RSS feed URL after setting up distribution? The RSS feed URL for a show can only be changed if you are moving your podcast hosting from beehiiv to another podcasting solution.

If you move your podcast to another host, you can enter your new RSS feed URL by clicking the gear icon in the RSS feed section of the Distribution tab.


You'll be able to set up a 301 redirect for your existing subscribers from here. Enter the redirect URL and click Save.