What Is a Podcast in a Professional Context?
A podcast is a series of digital episodes (audio or video) that users can listen to or watch on demand, typically on the go and often via specialized platforms. In the corporate world, it addresses several strategic challenges:
- Internal Communication: Messages from leadership, explanations of corporate strategy, or internal newsletters that can be listened to on the go.
- Training and Onboarding: Micro-learning modules for new employees.
- B2B Marketing: Expert interviews, industry roundtables, or customer testimonials.
There are two distinct formats:
- Audio podcasts: The traditional format, consisting solely of audio. It is popular for its flexibility, allowing listeners to multitask (while commuting, exercising, or working).
- Video podcasts (or vodcasts): These combine video with audio (for example, studio-recorded interviews). Although they capture more visual attention, they require a screen to be viewed.
What is a podcast feed?
For a podcast to be available on apps (such as Apple Podcasts, Deezer, or Spotify), it’s not enough to simply upload audio files. You need a podcast feed (usually an RSS/XML feed).
This is a dynamic file that updates automatically and acts as your show’s “ID.” It contains all your podcast’s metadata (show title, description, cover image) as well as a chronological list of your episodes with their associated playback links.
On Streamlike, a podcast is a playlist
In the Streamlike ecosystem, managing a podcast is designed to be as intuitive as possible. A podcast feed is nothing more than a playlist.
To create your podcast, simply create a playlist in your Streamlike console. Every media file (audio or video) you add to this playlist automatically becomes an episode of your show. The order of the media files in the playlist determines the order in which the episodes are published.
The Streamlike Web Service: Generating the XML Feed
Once your playlist is created, Streamlike handles the technical aspects. The platform includes a dedicated web service that instantly converts your playlist data into a standardized XML file, fully compatible with the requirements of major streaming platforms.
The URL for this feed is generated using your playlist’s unique identifier (playlist_id) as a parameter.
Example of a generated URL:
https://cdn.streamlike.com/ws/podcast?playlist_id=e3d52a4c431ee4b2
To explore the technical parameters of this API in detail (such as sorting, pagination, or specific tags), you can consult the official documentation: 🔗 Streamlike Documentation: The Podcast Web Service
Distribute Your Feed on Major Platforms
The final step is to make your podcast public. You don’t need to upload your audio files to each app separately; you just need to submit your Streamlike XML feed to them once.
Here’s the general process:
- Copy the URL of your XML feed generated by Streamlike.
- Create an account on the creator portals of the major platforms:
- Apple Podcasts Connect
- Deezer for Podcasters
- Spotify for Podcasters
- YouTube Music / YouTube Studio (which replaces Google Podcasts)
- Submit your feed URL through their interface.
Here are the submission URLs for each platform, along with whether or not you need an account:
Major platforms
| Plateform | Submission URL | Account required |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | podcastsconnect.apple.com | Yes — Apple ID account (free) |
| Spotify | podcasters.spotify.com | Yes — Spotify account (formerly Anchor, free) |
| Amazon Music | podcasters.amazon.com | Yes — Amazon account |
| Deezer | podcasters.deezer.com (« Publish my podcast » button) | Yes — Deezer account |
| YouTube Music / Podcasts | podcasts.youtube.com (or through YouTube Studio) | Yes — Google account |
Directories and Aggregators
| Plateform | Submission URL | Account required |
|---|---|---|
| Podcast Index | podcastindex.org (feed submission form) | No — open submission, no account required |
| Player FM | player.fm → “Feed Import” page, “Add a feed URL” option | No for simple submission (account recommended for managing/claiming the feed later) |
| Podchaser | podchaser.com → create a creator profile, then submit the feed | Yes — creator profile required |
| Listen Notes | listennotes.com (“Submit a podcast” form) | No — submission possible without an account |
| TuneIn | dedicated submission form on tunein.com | Yes — TuneIn account |
| iHeartRadio | podcasters.iheart.com → “Get Started” under “Submit Your Podcast” | Yes — iHeartRadio account (generally US only) |
| Castbox | Castbox Creator Studio (creator.castbox.fm) | Yes — Castbox account |
Important Practical Points
- RSS Feed Email: Deezer, Amazon, and iHeartRadio verify that the email address listed in the RSS feed itself—that is, in the “email” field of the playlist—is valid (a confirmation code is sent there). Be sure to check this before submitting…
- All-in-one hosting services: Services like Ausha, Acast, Buzzsprout, Podbean, and RSS.com offer one-click automated distribution to several of these platforms via their own dashboard (so you don’t need an account on each platform).
The platforms will then read your XML file, validate your show, and make it available to their users. As soon as you add a new episode to your Streamlike playlist, the XML feed will be updated, and all streaming platforms will automatically sync the new episode.
For example, check out Streamlike’s demo podcast feed on Deezer.