Podcasts Overview

MediaBlaster podcasts use two custom post types:

• Podcast Shows (podcast_show) — a show container (e.g. Unexplained History)
• Podcast Episodes (podcast_episode) — individual episodes linked to one show

Enable Podcasts

MediaBlaster → General Settings → Enable Podcasts

This master toggle registers both post types, metadata, RSS, public templates, and REST endpoints. Save and reload wp-admin after enabling.

All other podcast options live on the Podcast Settings tab (public pages, RSS bases, premium teasers when subscriptions are enabled).

Public pages

When Enable Podcast Public Pages is on (Podcast Settings tab):

• Show URL: /podcasts/{show-slug}/ (base is customizable)
• Episode URL: /podcasts/{show-slug}/{episode-slug}/

Disable public pages for headless/API-only setups. Admin and REST remain available.

RSS feeds

Per-show RSS feeds require:

1. Enable Podcasts (General Settings)
2. Enable Podcast RSS Feeds (Podcast Settings)
3. RSS Enabled for This Show on the show edit screen
4. Each included episode must have a valid media enclosure (uploaded audio/video or direct file URL)

Default feed URL: /podcast-feed/{show-slug}/

Only published, free episodes with valid enclosures appear as <item> entries. Premium episodes are excluded.

If the feed loads but lists no episodes, open the episode and add Episode Media — see Podcast RSS.

Premium episodes

When subscriptions are enabled (WPST_SUBSCRIPTIONS_ENABLED in wp-config.php), episodes can be marked Premium and Podcast Settings exposes teaser options.

Premium episodes:

• Are excluded from public RSS
• Do not expose media URLs on public pages or unauthenticated REST
• Can appear as locked teaser cards when Show Premium Episode Teasers is enabled

Without subscriptions enabled, the Access Level field remains on episodes for future use; premium-specific Podcast Settings are hidden.

REST API

Canonical podcast API: /wp-json/mediablaster/v3/podcasts — see REST API — Podcasts.

v1 exclusions

• No private/tokenized podcast feeds
• No subscription paywall enforcement on RSS yet (premium episodes are excluded, not gated in-feed)
• No import tools yet
• No custom podcast player yet
• No Media RSS namespace yet
• No transcript RSS namespace yet
• No cloud uploader yet

See also: Podcast Settings, Podcast Shows, Podcast Episodes, Podcast RSS.