Podcasting. But better.
At Substack, we make it simple to start a subscription podcast. And Substack podcasters can do so much more.
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“Podcasting on Substack has allowed me to grow and communicate with my audience in a way that just hadn’t been possible before.”
– Glenn Loury, The Glenn Show
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More than a podcast.
Share more than just an episode. Each episode can become a bigger, richer experience by adding supporting multimedia material around it—writing, images, or bonus audio and video content.
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A direct relationship with listeners.
On Substack, you’re not podcasting into a void. Email subscriptions create direct relationships with listeners. Comments and community threads connect subscribers.
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Monetize through devotion.
Share free episodes broadly via email, web, in the Substack app, or via RSS feed to all major podcast players—and add extra perks for paying subscribers all in one place.
“Adding my podcast to Burnt Toast has been such an important way to build my community and make my work more accessible to a wider audience… Since I launched my podcast, my total list has grown by 30 percent and my paid subscribers have nearly doubled.”
– Virginia Sole-Smith, Burnt Toast
Get started
Great podcasters are on Substack.
From food and culture to politics and crypto, Substack is a home for podcasts by both seasoned hosts and new talent.
The easy way to get started with audio.
No need for long episodes, hefty edits, or expensive equipment. Keep it simple and record audio directly in the Substack editor.
Get started
A Message
Patti Smith
1:46
Share personal messages with voice
Musician, author, and poet Patti Smith regularly sends audio clips to subscribers, reflecting on travels and even singing.
Entrepreneurship is contagious
Matt Clancy
17:35
Start a lightweight podcast
Matt Clancy, an economist at Iowa State, publishes written research alongside a spoken exploration of his learnings.
Hild of Whitby
Florence H. R. Scott
9:01
Read posts aloud
Florence H. R. Scott, a historian from Leeds, UK brings written posts to life by reading them in their own voice.
Friday night mini-pod recap
Ariel Helwani
9:21
Live dispatches from behind the scenes
Ariel Helwani narrates the latest news and shares his thoughts on big fights as they are happening.
“I loved using the audio feature. It was a real raw way to get my thoughts on that night's fights out fast and in a digestible format to the audience, and it couldn't have been easier. The feedback I got for it was great.”
– Ariel Helwani, Helwani Nose

Substack is for podcasters.

Substack is the only podcasting host where free listeners can convert to paid subscribers in one space, and truly own their relationship with their subscribers.

Create your Substack
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Free & paid episodes
Own your subscriber list
Own your payment stream
Rich newsletter, video tools
Comments and threads
Analytics
Audio editing
Ad tools
Custom domain
Start your podcast now.
Start your podcast on Substack or import past episodes in less than five minutes.
Get started

Podcasting questions answered.

If you’re interested in starting a new podcast or migrating a podcast from another hosting platform to Substack, here are some answers to common podcasting questions.

How do I set up a podcast on Substack?

We created a step-by-step guide here.

How much does it cost to host my podcast on Substack?

It’s free to host and distribute podcasts via Substack. Podcasters who turn on paid subscriptions keep 90% of their revenue, minus credit card fees.

Will I keep the email addresses for my podcast listeners?

You will always own your subscribers’ email addresses and be able to export them at any time, if you wish. When a new person subscribes from the Substack iOS app or the Substack website, you’ll get their email address.

If you distribute your podcast through other hosting platforms, there will be a distinction between people who listen on those podcasting apps and people who subscribe directly to your Substack.

How can subscribers listen to podcasts hosted on Substack?

You can listen from your email, in the new Substack iOS app, or on the web, as well as register your podcast to be distributed (via RSS feed) to Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify (public feeds only), and more. You can find more information on how to distribute your podcast to other platforms here.

How do free and paid subscriptions work with podcasts?

Free subscribers get all free episodes in their podcast feed. They do not see any paid or paywalled content in their feed.

Paying subscribers can listen seamlessly in the Substack iOS app, or will receive a private RSS feed that they can enter into an alternative podcast player of their choice. This link is included in their welcome email and is accessible on the Substack episode page.

How can I interact with my listener community on Substack?

On Substack, podcasting can transform from a one-way megaphone into more of a conversation. Podcasters can invite listeners to weigh in on episodes directly through comments on each episode page and discussion threads, or not. You’re in control.

I have a question or problem that’s not answered here!

Answers to podcasters’ and writers’ most frequently-asked questions about Substack can be found on our Support center.

You can also subscribe to On Substack for advice, inspiration, community events, and product news, and visit our Resource hub for guidance and case studies on how to succeed on Substack.