How to Listen to my Podcast on your Smartphone

The most convenient way to listen to my podcast, long term, is through your smartphone. Practically every device on the market has at least one way to listen, and most phones have many! So, if you have a smartphone in your pocket, you already have an ideal podcast listening platform right you.

iPhone Podcast Apps

If you've got an iPhone, then you have a head-start, because iOS comes with a podcast app built in. Just look around your apps for one called Apple Podcasts (or swipe down and search for it). It's a great app for the average listener, allowing you to search the directory, find new shows and subscribe easily. Then, you just have to fire up the app each time you want to listen, and pick an episode for the day! Alternative apps on iOS include Pocketcasts and Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music or Stitcher.

Android Podcast Apps

Android users have their own podcasting app built in – Google Podcasts . You could also consider, downloading Pocketcasts, or Castbox and start listening right away.

How to Listen to my Podcast on Your Computer

Listening on your smartphone is definitely the most convenient, long term, because of how mobile it is. But, technically, the easiest and most obvious way to listen to a podcast is to play it directly through your computer.

How does it work? I have a play function directly on my episode pages. Navigate to the podcast page, select the episode you want to listen to, then scroll down and look for the play button, press play and listen.

You can also play my show right inside one of the directory apps on your computer. The most popular examples are iTunes and Spotify. If you have either app on your computer, then navigate to the podcast section, browse around and hit play. Even better, if you use the Spotify app to listen on your phone, then the subscription carries right over to that platform. Seamless! Sadly, iTunes and Apple Podcasts don't link up the same way.

As long as you have speakers or headphones connected up, this method of listening to a podcast works great. And of course, you can play the podcast through your PC speakers while doing something else around the house.

How to Listen to my Podcast in the Car

According to the latest podcast stats, the car is the most common place to listen to a podcast – it was always a big radio listening space, and Podcasting is the new radio. Plus if you download episodes ahead of time, they can play directly from your phone without the worry of internet or reception. In the middle of nowhere on a long road trip? No problem! This is what makes listening to podcasts in the car so appealing!

But, how do you listen to a podcast in the car? Typically by using a Bluetooth connection. Most newer cars are set up to connect to your phone so that you can make hands-free calls. That same connection can also play audio from your phone. So, connect via Bluetooth as normal, and then play something from your Podcast app. Does it play over the speakers? Great!

No Bluetooth? Go Old-School-Cable

Next, if that doesn’t work, then an even more common car feature is an ‘aux in’ or a ‘line in’ port. It looks just like a headphone jack and all you need is something like this 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable to connect your phone to your car.

How to Listen to a Podcast on a Smart Speaker

Any Bluetooth speaker will allow you to play from your smartphone, so both the Home and the Echo can play that way. But, the Echo in particular is great in that it ties in with TuneIn Radio and with Spotify.

Tell your Echo, “Alexa, play Attract It With East Podcast” or “Alexa, play Attract It With Ease on Spotify” and the Echo will automatically play the latest episode. It's so easy! Be sure to pronounce the name of the podcast slowly so Alexa will understand you.

How To Subscribe to a Podcast

Subscribing is where the power of podcasting really kicks in. When you subscribe, shows start automatically coming to you. Next time you load up your app, the latest episodes are all there, ready to listen to. It's amazing!

If you're listening on your computer, then the easiest way to subscribe is through the iTunes app, or the Spotify app. Both are available for Mac or PC.

If you're on your smartphone, then simply use your mobile listening app. The Apple Podcasts app on iPhone allows you to subscribe, super easily, and the other types of phone have similar apps.

How To Download Episodes

Almost any platform you’re listening on allows you to download podcast episodes rather them stream them. Just like mentioned above, this option is appealing to most listeners because it allows them to listen on the go, without the worry of using mobile data or the interruptions of streaming.

By downloading the episodes in advance you can play them directly from your phone, anytime, anywhere! And typically once you listen to an episode it is automatically deleted from your phone to free up storage space - EASY PEASY!

To download an episode, open the app for the platform you listen on, find the podcast, select the episode and look for a downward pointing arrow, then click on that. If you’re not connected to wi-fi when you try to download you will likely get a pop-up asking you if you want to download it using mobile data. Either wait until you’re connected to wi-fi to try again, or select yes to continue.

*Note that the total downloads and reviews of a podcast are how podcasts are typically ranked. So if you LOVE our podcast and want to help support us, download every episode to help us with our rankings!