How to create a private podcast feed for your reading queue.
Learn how a personal private RSS feed can deliver audio briefings from documents and articles to compatible podcast apps without publishing a public show.
A private podcast feed is an RSS address that is not submitted as a public show. In Poddy, it can collect completed audio briefings from your documents and public web sources so they appear in a compatible podcast app.
The convenience comes with a security tradeoff: the long feed URL acts like a secret. Anyone who obtains it may be able to access the episodes, so it should be stored and shared with the same care as a password.
Key takeaways
- Generate at least one private episode before subscribing to the feed
- Add the long RSS URL manually in a podcast app that supports private feeds
- Treat the feed URL as a credential and rotate it if it is exposed
- Expect refresh timing and private-feed support to vary between podcast apps
Put the workflow into practice.
Create a private episode
Generate an audio briefing from a readable document or public URL so the feed has an episode to deliver.
Open podcast feed settings
Copy the personal RSS URL associated with your Poddy account.
Add the feed to a compatible app
Use the app’s manual URL or private feed option rather than searching a public podcast directory.
Protect and maintain access
Keep the URL private, allow time for refreshes, and rotate the feed token if you believe it has leaked.
Private RSS versus a public podcast
A public podcast is normally submitted to directories where anyone can discover and subscribe to it. A private feed is distributed directly through a URL and is intended for a limited listener or account.
Poddy uses the private model for personal briefings. Your generated reading queue is not positioned as a public show, and the feed exists to move completed episodes into your listening routine.
- No public directory submission
- Manual subscription by URL
- Personal listening queue
- Access controlled by possession of the URL
Choosing a compatible podcast app
Podcast apps differ in how they handle private RSS. Look for an option such as add by URL, follow a show by URL, or private feed. Searching for the Poddy feed by name will not work because it is not publicly listed.
Refresh intervals, artwork updates, download behavior, and playback synchronization are controlled by the podcast app. A completed episode may therefore take time to appear even when it is already in the feed.
- Manual RSS subscription
- Background feed refresh
- Private episode downloads
- Playback speed and queue controls
Why the feed URL must remain secret
Many private podcast feeds use a long token inside the URL. The podcast app needs that token to fetch episodes without asking you to sign in on every refresh.
That also means forwarding the complete URL can grant access. Avoid posting it in public messages, screenshots, support forums, analytics tools, or shared documents. Rotate the token if exposure is suspected.
- Do not publish the URL
- Avoid shared screenshots
- Use trusted podcast apps
- Rotate after suspected exposure
When an MP3 download is simpler
A private feed is ideal for an ongoing queue. A direct MP3 download can be simpler when you need one file, want to archive it separately, or use a player that does not accept private RSS subscriptions.
Both options contain the same private generated material. Choose based on whether you want a continuing subscription or a single portable file.
- RSS for an ongoing queue
- MP3 for one-off transfer
- Browser playback for immediate review
- Keep exported files protected
Frequently asked questions.
What is a private podcast feed?
It is an RSS feed distributed through a private URL instead of a publicly searchable podcast directory.
Can I find my private feed by searching in a podcast app?
No. Add the complete private RSS URL manually using a compatible podcast app’s URL subscription feature.
Why has a new episode not appeared yet?
Podcast apps control their own refresh schedule. Confirm that generation is complete and allow the app time to fetch the updated feed.
What should I do if the feed URL leaks?
Rotate or regenerate the private feed token in Poddy’s feed settings, then update the subscription in your podcast app.
Related audio tools.
Put your private reading queue in the podcast app you already use.
Collect private audio briefings from articles and documents in a personal RSS feed for compatible podcast apps.
AI audio briefing generatorCreate an audio briefing from the sources that matter to you.
Create private AI audio briefings from reports, articles, PDFs, notes, and public URLs with summaries, explainers, dialogues, and MP3 downloads.
article to podcastTurn a long article into a podcast worth listening to.
Turn long articles and essays into structured private podcast episodes with the main argument, evidence, caveats, and takeaways.
Related guides.
Use AI audio briefings to prepare for work without outsourcing judgment.
Read nextHow to turn a long article into a podcast you will actually finish.
Read nextDocument podcast or text-to-speech? Choose based on the listening job.
Read nextTurn the guide into a listening habit.
Start with one source, keep the original nearby, and decide whether audio improves the way you review it.
Create a free briefing