I'm deGoogling. What's my new Podcast app?

I've been warming up to switching to GrapheneOS for months. Last month I bought a Pixel 8 (which is the buggiest effing phone I've ever owned, good job Google). I've just been waiting to have the bandwidth.

But with Google sunsetting Google Podcasts, I've decided to make time next week. Podcasts are a MAJOR part of my daily functioning.

TunaLobster ,

I'm using PodcastRepublic on Android right now. It does a fantastic job of organizing my daily playlist for exactly what order I prefer to listen to episodes. The down side is that there is no easy way to translate this nice playlist stuff to the browser website. The state of the website is "mostly functional" and plays audio. Not much else. There is no sync to the Android app.

What I am going to try next is Audiobookshelf with a python script on their API to get the same playlist sorting features. I've got the architecture written out, but haven't gotten the time to write the code.

Reading into gpodder here is making want to give that a try, but the only website listed on this table doesn't say it syncs playback progress.

So what I'm looking for is something this can sort playlists like PodcastRepublic and sync playback progress like PocketCasts. AFAIK that combo doesn't exist right now.

spez_ ,

Audiobookshelf

Evotech ,

Spotify? I mean most are there

mholiv ,

Spotify isn’t really a podcast app. Just a proprietary streaming service. Podcasts by definition are media files delivered by RSS and Spotify isn’t that.

Evotech ,

I don't think RSS and filetype is what I would use to define podcasts...

mholiv ,

Consider yourself one of today’s 10.000. :)

What differentiates a podcast from other forms of media like YouTube is that it is delivered via RSS feeds. This lets people subscribe to the podcast using any sort of RSS reader or standards compliant podcast app.

RSS is an open source standard way subscribe to a stream of content. Sort of like a proto version of pub/sub protocol that the fediverse uses.

The reason why podcasts took off in the first place was that any mp3 player (or now days smart phone) could receive the media by subscribing to the open standards RSS feed. There was no proprietary lock in.

Mega corps obviously are not a fan of that so they try to lock people into their services regardless of this open standard. When Spotify did that exclusivity deal with Joe Rogen it was very controversial because it took the most popular podcast of the time and turned it into a proprietary media stream that you can only listen to on Spotify.

https://github.com/Podcast-Standards-Project/PSP-1-Podcast-RSS-Specification

Podcasting is the preparation and distribution of audio files using RSS feeds to the devices of subscribed users.

TwinTusks ,

Spotify is terrible for podcasts

enix ,

Any of these

https://podcasting2.org/apps

ikidd ,
@ikidd@lemmy.world avatar

Antennapod on Android and Kasts on Linux, synced via Gpoddersync on Nextcloud.

cyberwolfie ,

My setup as well, and happy with that.

Tamo240 ,

Just recently switched from spotify to antenna pod and can recommend it so far, especially as a lover of any app that will give you stats/graphs.

Only small issue is when playing there are two options: stream, and download. It seems that unlike spotify, stream does not buffer at all, so if you lose connection the player immediately stops. For me I can resolve this by downloading the episodes before I leave for my commute, but something to be aware of.

aedyr ,
@aedyr@lemmy.ca avatar

AntennaPod has been working really well for me.

FriendBesto ,

This is a great combo choice.

nafzib ,

I love Player.fm

They have both an android app with a lot of good features (stream or download, can set how many episodes to download at a time, when to delete old ones, all per podcast and as global defaults, set up your own categories/lists, display order, play order, etc) and an actual web site where you can log in and listen to your stuff as well with synced history, so you can pick up pretty much at the exact spot you paused a podcast on your phone (or vice versa).

linuxoveruser ,

I recently switched from Google Podcasts to Podcini (fork of Antennapod) and it's great so far

gortbrown ,

I personally like Podverse.

drwho ,
@drwho@beehaw.org avatar

Check out Antennapod.

Cwilliams ,

I personally switched my mom over to Pocket Casts after the news that Google Podcasts was shutting down. I don't listen to podcasts, tho, and I really just picked it because it was rated well. It's also not FOSS

Freeman ,

I have Podcast Addict, I think its free but I paid a few dollars because of the great selection of settings and options I never knew I needed.

(For example I have it configured so that after 5pm the Sleeptimer automatically makes the podcast fade down and pausing after 10' of listening, unless I move/shake the phone during the fade down-part, then it extends for another 10'. Perfect for using it in public transport or in bed and dozing off.)

nonfuinoncuro ,

Shit I've been using PA forever too but I feel like I should try that other one everyone keeps posting about

runner_g ,

I also have been using podcast addict, probably for over 10 years now. You can autodownload new episodes (mine checks daily at 7a and 7p), create custom playlists for juggling multiple podcasts at once, has android auto support, and you don't have to deal with the bs of Spotify.

I'm sure there are a 100 other features I don't know about, but that's what I use.

GraniteM ,

I like the ability to adjust playback speed. I listen to everything at 1.1 and it just feels like everyone tightened up their delivery a little bit and took out dead air. There was one podcast where the subject was interesting but the delivery was agonizingly slow, so I turned it all the way up to 1.5.

bytesmythe ,
@bytesmythe@lemmy.ml avatar

The History of English podcast is like that... I think I had it turned up to 2x just to make it sound normal.

sensiblepuffin ,
@sensiblepuffin@lemmy.world avatar

PodcastAddict is the way, but only if you're tolerant/patient with nerd knobs. I know a lot of people get turned off by those.

QuantumBamboo ,
@QuantumBamboo@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Not my wife

unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov ,

You lucky bastard. 😁

anothermember ,

Nothing beats just downloading a podcast and listening to it in VLC or you audio player of choice - I don't really understand why podcast apps are needed.

But that said, if you need to use one AntennaPod has all the features and you can even get it on F-Droid.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

A nice interface to search for shows, automatically download new episodes, listening history, options to trim silence, sync between multiple devices.

Nobody needs them, but of course people want them.

anothermember ,

The problem is for me that it usually downloads to some obscure folder, not to where I want to save and archive my podcasts.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

Any podcast app I've used saves them wherever it needs to be able to read them.

I think saving and archiving podcasts is a niche use-case. I've jumped between apps and I just go resubscribe to the shows I want. If I need to find an old episode, I just go to that show and stream or download that episode.

I can't think of a reason why I'd need to keep those files stored anywhere.

anothermember ,

If you don't really care about the podcast then that's OK, but if I like a podcast I want a permanent offline copy to relisten to if the podcast goes offline. I guess I'm a bit of a data-hoarder and that's niche, but simply being able to save a file you download to where you want I think should be a standard feature, there's no need for an extra layer of abstraction.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/0801996c-18cb-415e-8a3b-defa8ff2d10c.webp

Looks like AntennaPod can do just that

anothermember ,

AntennaPod is one of the better ones but it doesn't beat the good old-fashioned "Save As" where you can put it wherever you like. I don't want a podcast app to manage my files, a file-manager does that.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

Hard disagree. I'd much prefer it manage the files for me. I can't see a reason why you'd need to be constantly changing folder structure enough to warrant managing that manually.

anothermember ,

I'm not changing folder structure constantly, I just want it somewhere sensible where I can find it.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

So what's wrong with deciding that, and then letting the app manage it from there?

anothermember ,

It's an unnecessary layer of abstraction that solves a problem that never existed. If you have a lot of podcasts it's nice to be able to organise them in a directory structure that makes sense to you, not necessarily what the app wants. Also podcast file names aren't always easily sortable or even human-readable so you'll want to rename them as you save them.

null ,
@null@slrpnk.net avatar

The problem that exists is finding, downloading, and organizing all those podcasts. Doing that all manually is a major chore with no upside.

Gutless2615 ,

Audiobookshelf! Self hosted and perfect for audiobooks and podcasts alike. And bonus: you ca archive all those hardcore histories before they get off the free stream.

Passerby6497 ,

Hard disagree, unless I'm missing something. I just set up ABS in the last week to have all of my podcasts self hosted along with my audiobook collection. So far, I've seen multiple features missing that make it untenable for podcasts on my phone, including:

  • App on my phone doesn't auto-download episodes

  • App doesn't autoplay the next episode

    • Hitting next only plays the last few seconds of my last episode

  • Default sort is newest first, haven't figured out how to permanently set it to oldest first

  • No automatic playlist of all episodes of a series downloaded

I like it for audiobooks, but the podcast side feels very much like an afterthought. I'll probably be moving to another podcast platform at some point. ABS is usable for podcasts, but at this point I wouldn't recommend it for that feature unless they're ok with lack of standard features or already have it set up.

Gutless2615 ,

Yeah I think you might be missing something tbh. My Audiobookshelf auto downloads new episodes, playlist features work fine, sort features work fine. I don’t know if there’s a way to throw every downloaded but not yet listened to episode in a playlist, but I haven’t ever needed that feature. For keeping up with my podcasts though across platforms and for all my day to day podcast needs it has excelled.

Passerby6497 ,

Is it downloading them to your app, or just to your server? My server downloads just fine, I've just had a couple instances where I haven't been able to continue what I was listening to after leaving the house.

As for playlists, I really don't know what I'm doing wrong. I created one playlist but it was more work to use than just using the feed. Haven't been able to get it to play next tracks on podcasts at all, which has been rather frustrating. Might just be an issue with the app.

RobotDaniel ,

Antennapod is good

SecurityPro ,
@SecurityPro@lemmy.ml avatar

Agreed, grab AntennaPod from the f-droid store.

Duke_Nukem_1990 ,

Since a lot of people have recommended antennapod: does anyone of you also have that weird problem where podcasts randomly skip backwards from anywhere as little as five seconds to a minute during normal playback?

ProperlyProperTea ,

I have this too on occasion! Although, I think I had this problem on another podcast player before I switched.

robsuto ,

Yes! I thought it was just me. Any idea how to resolve?

Duke_Nukem_1990 ,

Set playback speed to max. The podcast will now have less time to skip until it is over. taps head

Schlemmy ,

Thanks for the lolz. I needed that.

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