Google Podcasts now supports private RSS feeds so you can listen to shows you pay to access

Google Podcasts finally gets a feature that’s already standard in most listening apps: support for private RSS feeds. Google Podcast Product Manager Zack Reneau-Wedeen made the announcement on Twitter today and shouted out some networks that are particularly dependent on private feeds, including Patreon, Slate, Red Circle, and Supercast.

To access the feature, tap the Activity tab in the lower right corner and slide to the Subscriptions tab, then tap the plus symbol. You will then be prompted to add by RSS feed. You can see the whole process below.

This is a relatively standard feature that has helped support the podcasting business for creators. On Patreon, for example, members often pay to access a subscriber-only feed. To access this content, the creator sends them a private RSS feed which they can then insert into their favorite listening app to retrieve the audio. It’s a useful thing for both creators and listeners to take care of, so it’s no surprise that Google is incorporating it. In fact, it’s been a long time.

However, not all apps support the feature, including, but not limited to, Spotify. But if Google Podcasts, and even Spotify, are to become the places where people consume all of their audio, they need to support private RSS feeds, at least for now, because that’s how creators deliver their shows to fans. while being paid. .