You're subscribed and listening, but you're wondering how you'll know when your creator releases new episodes. The answer depends on what type of feed your creator set up, but in most cases, you'll get notifications just like with regular podcasts.
What You'll Accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have:
✅ Understanding of how different feed types affect notifications
✅ Notifications properly set up (if your feed supports them)
✅ Knowledge of other ways your creator might notify you
✅ Confidence that you won't miss any new content
Understanding your feed type and setting up notifications usually takes just a minute or two.
Step 1: Understand Your Feed Type
Not all private podcast feeds work the same way when it comes to new episode notifications.
Instant feeds (all episodes available immediately):
All episodes are released at once when the creator launches the feed
You won't get notifications for "new" episodes because they're all already there. However, if they do decided to add episodes to a feed like this, then the episodes show the date the creator originally launched the feed, not individual release dates. This doesn't trigger the common notification in podcast apps as a new release.
Date-based or dripped feeds (episodes release over time or on a set date):
Episodes are released on specific dates or at regular intervals
You'll get notifications as each new episode becomes available
These work just like regular podcast notifications
Now, you obviously didn't choose how this was set up, your creator did. And that's all good! We want you to be informed about what's likely happening on the backend.
Step 2: Set Up Notifications (If it's a Date-Based/Dripped Feed)
If your creator is using a date-based or dripped feed, your podcast app will notify you about new episodes automatically.
Default notification behavior:
Most apps send push notifications for new episodes
You'll see a badge or number on your app icon
New episodes appear at the top of your library
Customize your notification preferences:
Look in your app's main settings or preferences
Check for "Notifications" or "New Episodes" sections
Some apps let you set different preferences for different podcasts
Common notification options:
Push notifications (pop-up alerts)
Badge notifications (number on app icon)
Email notifications (if your app supports it)
Specific times for checking new episodes
Step 3: Watch for Creator Communications
Regardless of feed type, your podcast creator might also send you direct notifications.
Additional ways you might be notified:
Email updates when new episodes are released (which they set up in Hello Audio)
Announcements in their other content or social media
Updates through their course platform or membership site
What Happens Next
If you have a date-based or dripped feed, you'll automatically know when new episodes are available through your app notifications. If you have an instant feed, you won't get notified of new episodes in your player, but likely from another form of communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I tell what type of feed I have?
A: One of the tell tale signs is that the dates are all the same for every episode, which all appeared immediately when you subscribed, you likely have an instant feed. If episodes appear gradually over time or have different dates, you have a date-based or dripped feed.
Q: I'm not getting notifications even though I know there are new episodes. What's wrong?
A: First, confirm you have a date-based or dripped feed. If you do, check your device's notification settings, you might have accidentally disabled notifications for your podcast app. Also verify that your app is set to check for new episodes automatically.
Q: Can I get notifications for this private podcast but not my other podcasts?
A: Most apps let you set notification preferences per podcast. Look for individual show settings or notification controls within each podcast's page.
Q: How quickly do notifications appear after a new episode is released?
A: This varies by app, but most check for new episodes every few hours. Some apps let you manually refresh or check for new episodes immediately if you don't want to wait.
Q: What if I'm getting too many notifications from all my podcasts?
A: You can usually adjust notification frequency in your app settings. Try "daily digest" instead of immediate notifications, or turn off notifications for shows you listen to less frequently.
Whether you get automatic notifications depends on how your creator set up the feed, but either way, you'll have access to all the content they've made available for you!