Setting up integrations or connecting to external tools often requires your RSS feed URL, but finding the right one can feel confusing when you're dealing with both public and private feeds.
What You'll Accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have:
✅ Located the correct RSS feed for your specific needs
✅ Understood the difference between public and private RSS access
✅ Copied the right RSS URL for your intended use
This takes a few minutes, and you'll know exactly where to find these links whenever you need them.
Understanding RSS Feeds
Your RSS feed is a link that holds your podcast's episodes and show details. Think of it as your podcast's source code that other platforms and apps use to display your episodes.
The key difference: a public podcast has one RSS feed for everyone. A private podcast is hidden from podcast apps, so you choose between a universal link for the whole feed or an individual RSS link for a specific listener.
How to Access RSS Feeds for Public Podcasts
For public podcasts, getting your RSS feed is straightforward since it's the same for everyone.
Navigate to your public feed's main page
Click the Feed Details tab at the top
Click Copy RSS Link
Paste this URL wherever you need it
This RSS feed can be shared publicly and will work for anyone who wants to subscribe to your podcast. You'll use it when you submit your podcast to directories and when you connect analytics tools such as Podtrac.
How to Access RSS Feeds for Private Podcasts
A private feed is hidden from podcast apps, which means it can't be searched for or found in any directory. At Hello Audio, we call this a universal link. See Universal Links for more details and examples.
How to find the Universal Link and when to use it
A universal link is useful when you want content hidden from podcast apps without giving each person an individual link or managing listener access. You're not collecting emails, tracking listeners, or connecting the feed to a specific audience. But, you want the content to stay private.
It's also helpful when you want to quickly confirm that a private podcast plays correctly or share it with someone on your team. They don't need to sign up with an email address if you're not managing their access.
Go to your private feed's page
Click the Universal Link for the feed
Click RSS Feed
Click Click here to copy the RSS feed
If your feed is a drip feed, use an individual listener's RSS feed instead. The universal link starts the drip schedule from the day the feed was created.
For a Specific Listener's RSS Feed
Every listener has a subscribe link, which opens a page with one-click buttons for popular podcast apps. Their RSS feed is the direct route: a URL they paste into the podcast app of their choice, skipping the subscribe page entirely.
You might need a specific listener's RSS feed when you're helping them get subscribed. For example:
They can't find their welcome email. Send them their RSS feed so they can add it straight to their podcast app.
Their subscribe link has been used up. Each listener's link works for one subscription, so if they subscribed in the wrong app or on another device, they'll need it reset. See Resetting a Listener's Subscribe Link.
To find it:
Go to the Listener section of that feed
Find the listener's name and select it
Open that listener's subscribe link
Click RSS Feed, then click Click here to copy the RSS feed
Send the copied URL to your listener and have them add it to their podcast app by URL. Not sure how that works? See How do I subscribe to my private podcast? for the manual setup steps.
What Happens Next
Once you have your RSS feed URL, you can use it to:
Submit your public podcast to directories like Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Connect analytics tools like Podtrac for tracking
Set up integrations with other tools in your workflow
Provide technical support when listeners need help
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a universal link and a listener's individual RSS feed?
A universal link is one link for the whole private feed. Anyone who has it can subscribe, and you don't manage access or collect emails. A listener's individual RSS feed is tied to a person you've added, so you can manage their access.
How do I share my private podcast's RSS feed?
For a teammate or a quick test, send the universal link. It leads to a subscribe page where they can subscribe or copy the RSS feed. If you want to manage someone's access, add them as a listener first, then use their individual RSS feed.
Why isn't the RSS link working in my podcast app?
Double-check that you copied the right type of RSS feed: the public feed's link, the universal link, or a specific listener's link. A listener's individual link is meant for that listener only.
Can I use the same RSS feed for both public and private podcasts?
No, these work differently. A public feed has one RSS URL for everyone and appears in podcast directories. A private feed is hidden from podcast apps and uses a universal link or individual listener links.
Will my private podcast's RSS feed work in any podcast app?
It works in most podcast apps. See Which podcast apps support private podcasts? for the full list.
How often does the RSS feed update with new episodes?
RSS feeds update automatically when you publish new episodes. Most podcast apps check for updates every few hours.
Can I customize what information appears in my RSS feed?
Yes, your feed details and episode information automatically populate from what you've entered in Hello Audio. You can edit this information in your feed settings.
What should I do if someone says my RSS feed isn't working?
First, confirm you're sharing the right type of feed (public, universal link, or individual listener). For a listener's individual feed, make sure the person is added as a listener and using their own RSS URL.
Need help with a specific RSS feed issue? We're here to help you get your content flowing to the right places.