---
title: Podcast Episodes
menu_group: Podcasts
menu_order: 30
tab: Podcasts
tab_order: 30
requires_podcasts: true
summary: Episode metadata, audio/video media, transcripts, chapters, premium access, and RSS fields.
---

# Podcast Episodes

**Admin menu:** Podcasts → Podcast Episodes / Add New Episode

Episodes belong to one **Podcast Show** via the Parent Podcast Show field (`rovidx_smarttv_podcast_show_id`).

## Episode data

| Field | Notes |
|-------|-------|
| Episode Type | Full, Trailer, or Bonus (RSS episode type) |
| Season / Episode Number | Optional integers |
| Duration | Manual entry (hh:mm:ss, mm:ss, or seconds) |
| Explicit | Inherit show default or override |
| Access Level | Free or Premium (premium teasers when subscriptions enabled) |
| Include in RSS | Default, Yes, or No — premium always excluded from RSS |
| Featured Episode | For show pages, apps, REST |
| Guest Name(s) | Optional text |

## Episode media

**Required for RSS:** at least one direct media source (audio recommended for podcast apps).

Audio and video each support **Uploaded File** or **External URL**:

| Source | Use for RSS |
|--------|-------------|
| **Audio Upload** | Yes — attach MP3/M4A via Media Library |
| **Audio External URL** | Yes — direct file URL (not a web page) |
| **Video Upload** | Yes — when show uses video-first priority or no audio |
| **Video External URL** | Yes — direct MP4 or stream URL; not YouTube/Vimeo pages |

Tips:

- Default show **RSS Media Priority** is **Audio First** — add audio for the widest app compatibility.
- If **Audio Source** is Uploaded File, you must complete the upload before saving.
- YouTube/Vimeo URLs work for embed playback on public pages but **do not** become RSS enclosures unless you set an **RSS Enclosure Override URL** with a direct file link.

## Public playback

The default episode template and embeds use the [Podcast Audio Player](audio-player.md) for direct audio files (`audio/*` MIME). Embed anywhere with:

```
[mediablaster_audio_player id="123"]
```

Video and oEmbed URLs still use the template’s native video/embed markup. Premium episodes show the locked message in the player without exposing audio URLs.

## Transcript

Plain-text transcript and optional transcript file upload (.txt, .vtt, .srt, .json). Exposed via REST in v1; not in RSS namespace yet.

## Chapters

Repeatable chapter rows: title + start time.

## Advanced RSS

Optional enclosure override URL, MIME type, and file size when the playback URL differs from the RSS enclosure URL (for example CDN or signed URLs).

## Admin warnings

If an episode is expected in RSS (published, free, show RSS on) but has no valid enclosure, a non-blocking notice appears at the top of the episode edit screen.

Check RSS status via REST field `rss_status`: `included`, `excluded`, or `missing_enclosure`.

## Creating from a show

From a Podcast Show edit screen, **Add New Episode** opens:

`post-new.php?post_type=podcast_episode&podcast_show={id}`

The Parent Podcast Show dropdown is pre-selected.

See [Podcast RSS](podcast-rss.md) for inclusion rules and troubleshooting empty feeds. See [Podcast Audio Player](audio-player.md) for shortcode, block, and Elementor options.
