Podcasts are a new way to reach out to the world. For the podcaster, it’s a channel for them to let the whole wide world hear their voice. For the listeners, it’s a means to come home to their escapade after a dreary, long day of work. And if podcasts are your weakness, Alexa is a great way to stay updated with your favorites!
TuneIn, Apple Music, and Spotify are the common platforms through which Amazon Echo and Echo Show can play podcasts. Let’s dive into the know-hows of playing podcasts on these platforms via Alexa!
Steps to Play Podcast Using Alexa Skill for Apple Music
- Launch the Set up Amazon Alexa App.
- Navigate to More menu, and then click on Skills & Games
- Search for the Apple Podcast skill.
- Click on Enable to Use.
- Link your Apple ID and you’re good to go!
If you don’t want to add each podcast’s request to “on Apple Podcasts, follow the following steps. As TuneIn is the main platform when it comes to playing podcasts on Alexa, it’s kind of bound to happen. The below-mentioned steps shall help you out!
Steps to Eradicate the Need of Adding Each Podcasting Request to “On Apple Podcasts”
- Open Settings, scroll and navigate to Music & Podcasts.
- At the bottom of your screen, you’ll notice Account Settings. Click on the Default Services section under that.
- Feel free to choose a default podcast player now!
Steps to Play Podcasts Using Spotify
It’s a cakewalk with Spotify as all you need to do is use your Spotify account. If your Spotify account is linked already, just search/request for a podcast like you would for a song or anything else on Alexa. If you don’t want to do the “add on Spotify” bit after every podcast request, you might want to set your Spotify account as default. However, below is a set of elaborate steps to walk you through!
- Enable the Spotify Alexa Skill.
- Launch the Alexa app on your mobile.
- Navigate to the Settings, and then scroll down till Music & Podcast.
- Click on “Link a new account”
- Tap on Spotify and follow the steps displayed on the screen.
- Come back to the Music and Podcasts menu and set Spotify as your default!
This is the best part of Alexa skills. Use them for podcasts, weather forecasts, to control your home – or maybe even market your brand?
How to Play Alexa Podcasts Via TuneIn
TuneIn is more or less the default platform on Alexa to listen to podcasts. It also has a pretty good collection, so you have a wide array of choices to subscribe to! Podcasts were kind of an afterthought for TuneIn. However, now it has amazing collections such as This Week’s Top 25 Podcasts, etc. Here are the steps:
- Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
- Use the Play icon at the bottom of your screen, on the bar to navigate to the Entertainment section.
- TuneIn shall be already listed in the services section, so all you need to do is click!
- Now that you have entered the podcast section, you can search for your favorites.
- Once you’ve chosen what you’d like to listen to, just tap on it and it shall play on your Alexa enabled devices.
How to Listen to Podcasts With AnyPod
AnyPod offers way more choices and options, and all you have to do is say, “Alexa, enable AnyPod Skill.” You can also download it from the Alexa store app on your mobile device. A few voice-commands that work for AnyPod are as mentioned below!
To play a specific episode of Podcast:
Alexa, ask AnyPod to play an episode (say the number of the episode) of (mention the name of the podcast).
To fast-forward, or rewind your podcast (because let’s be honest, some parts you just can’t get enough of!)
Alexa, ask AnyPod to (fast forward or rewind) 9and mention the duration, as in, how much).
To play the next of the previous episode
Alexa, play the (mention whether next or previous) episode.
To play the latest or the oldest episode
Alexa, ask AnyPod for the (say whether newest or oldest) episode.
To subscribe to a podcast channel
Alexa, ask AnyPod to subscribe to (mention the podcast’s name).
To unsubscribe from a podcast channel
Alexa, ask AnyPod to unsubscribe from (mention podcast’s name).
To go over your subscribed podcasts
Alexa, ask AnyPod, “What are my subscriptions?”
To play your podcasts chronologically
Alexa, ask AnyPod to play my podcasts.
Pocket Casts
Did you know that Pocket Casts skills are also available on Alexa? With technology finding its way to Car Play and Android Auto, Pocket Casts finally decided to integrate itself into Alexa as well. Amazon has already been increasing its reach – it even developed Echo Auto quite recently. And it’s no wonder, every brand wants to make its presence felt through Alexa – wider audience, larger recognition! Here are the steps you need to follow to try out Pocket Casts.
- Launch the Amazon Alexa app, and go to the Skills section.
- Search for Pocket Casts and download the skill
- Now, link your Amazon account to your Podcasts
- Viola! You’re good to go!
Routines and Podcasts
Adding Podcasts to Routines can be a one-stop show scenario. All you have to do is give one command, and everything syncs up and functions automatically. To do that, all you have to do is use your TuneIn skill.
That’s pretty much it. Launch the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone, and then click on Routines. Start a new Routine and choose the respective command accordingly.
Navigate to Music and input the name of the podcast you’d like to play, and choose TuneIn as your provider! Everything post this shall sync – and you can listen to your podcast with your smart blowing glowing with a warm, white aura.
Get a cup of coffee, get cozy by the window, and relax. Smart technology and podcasts have got your leisure time covered.
