Zencastr Hosting is a high-quality audio and video hosting solution for creators of all sizes.
After you have created a new show or moved an existing show to Zencastr, you can create and publish an episode.
In this article:
What Episode Publishing Does
When you publish an episode to your Zencastr-hosted podcast, it is added to your RSS feed. You can publish an episode to your RSS feed immediately (now) or schedule it to publish to your RSS feed at a future time or date.
Once the episode is added to your RSS feed, your Zencastr show page updates immediately. When new episodes appear on your show listing in the podcast directories – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. – varies because each directory has different criteria for how often they check your RSS feed for episode changes.
Create an Episode, Publish It Immediately
To create an episode and publish it to your RSS feed immediately (now):
Click New at the top right of the Dashboard.
Select Episode from the dropdown.
Click the Show Image in the left of the top header.
Select the show that the episode is for.
Click Upload Recording and upload your file.
For audio episodes, the file type must be MP3.
For video episodes, the file type must be MP4.
The maximum file size for episode uploads is 50 GB.
After the episode finishes uploading and processing, click the Next button.
On the Produce insert, click the Finalize & Publish button.
On the Publish page, Episode Info tab, enter your episode’s details.
Scroll down and click Advanced Settings to display and complete additional fields.
Click the Next button.
On the Publish Episode insert, review your entries.
Click the Publish Episode button.
Result: The episode is added to your RSS feed immediately and you are taken to the episode page on your Zencastr show listing.
Create an Episode, Schedule Publish
To create an episode and publish it to your RSS feed at a later time and/or date:
Click New at the top right of the Dashboard.
Select Episode from the dropdown.
Click the Show Image in the left of the top header.
Select the show that the episode is for.
Click Upload Recording and upload your file.
For audio episodes, the file type must be MP3.
For video episodes, the file type must be MP4.
The maximum file size for episode uploads is 50 GB.
After the episode finishes uploading and processing, click the Next button.
On the Produce insert, click the Finalize & Publish button.
On the Publish page, Episode Info tab, enter your episode’s details.
Scroll down and click Advanced Settings to display and complete additional fields.
On the left sidebar, click the Schedule Episode tab.
Next to Scheduling, select Enabled.
Next to Date, select the publish date from the calendar.
Next to Time, select the time to publish.
Next to Timezone, make sure the default timezone is correct or change it.
Click the Next button.
On the Publish Episode insert, review your entries.
Click the Publish Episode button.
Result: The episode is scheduled to be added to your RSS feed at the date and time you selected and is added to the Episodes tab on your Dashboard with a yellow dot indicating it will be published later.
Episode Fields
Episode Image (Optional)
An image for the specific episode. This is optional because your show’s cover image is used as the default for all episodes. If you do add a specific image:
Must be a JPG, JPEG, or PNG file.
The resolution must be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels.
Recommended resolution is 3000 x 3000 pixels.
Some directories support and display episode images in their apps whereas others do not support them and will just display the show's cover image for all episodes.
Episode Title
The name of your episode which will display as the episode title in the directories.
Episode Description
A description of what the episode is about.
Will display as the full description or “episode notes” for the episode in the directories.
In addition to a summary or description of your episode, you can include notes, timestamps, links, or any other information you want to share with your audience.
We also recommend adding links to your podcast’s social media channels here if you have them.
The available formatting – bold text, numbered lists, and bullet points – will display on your Zencastr episode page.
Each directory supports different formatting and consequently might display all of it, some of it, or none of it.
Season (Optional, Recommended if your show is listed on Apple Podcasts)
The season number. Used in combination with your podcast’s show type, episode number, and episode type to determine the order the episode is listed in Apple Podcasts.
Episode (Optional, Recommended if your show is listed on Apple Podcasts)
The episode number. Used in combination with your podcast’s show type, season number, and episode type to determine the order the episode is listed in Apple Podcasts.
Keywords (Optional)
Keywords that are relevant to your episode.
Explicit content?
Whether the episode contains explicit content or not.
Must mark if the episode contains profanity or content not suitable for children.
Feeds into parental controls as well as different countries’ content permissions.
Episode type
The type of episode.
Full: A full-length, regular episode.
Trailer: A short trailer, teaser, or preview of your show’s or season’s content.
Bonus: An extra or special episode.