Pocket Casts has unveiled a new feature designed to enhance shared listening experiences: episode playlists that allow users and their friends or family to add episodes from any show to a shared playlist. Additionally, the app can generate playlists automatically using smart rules, further personalizing listening in this popular independent podcast app and strengthening its competitive edge against major platforms.
How Episode Playlists Work in Pocket Casts
Episode playlists come in two types. Manual playlists let you handpick episodes from any show, perfect for creating a lineup for a long car ride or a weekend catch-up session. You can access this function under the Playlists tab; on mobile, tap the plus icon, or on desktop, select New Playlist to start adding episodes. Smart Playlists, on the other hand, are rule-based and allow users to filter episodes by duration, play status, or download status. For example, setting a filter for unplayed episodes around 25 minutes can create a commuter-friendly playlist that updates automatically with new content. These episode-level lists are particularly useful for thematic collections across multiple shows, such as climate explainers, an author’s guest spots, or introductory episodes in a new podcast genre.
Importance of Playlists in Podcast Listening
Podcasts thrive on routine, but the abundance of choices can overwhelm listeners. Playlists reduce friction by organizing vast episode libraries into curated sequences, promoting longer listening sessions and higher completion rates—key metrics for podcast apps aiming to improve listener retention. Pocket Casts joins other advanced tools like Overcast’s Smart Playlists and Apple Podcasts’ custom Stations, but with a setup designed to appeal both to seasoned podcast fans and to those wanting an easy, reliable playlist without much effort.
Pocket Casts’ Competitive Position and Growth
Owned by Automattic, known for Tumblr and WordPress.com, Pocket Casts invests in features that enhance user engagement without locking content behind exclusivity. Their recent decision to offer a free web player reduces barriers for users switching between desktop and mobile. While Pocket Casts has about 60,000 paying subscribers—a modest number compared to Spotify and Apple—it enjoys strong support for its reliability, cross-platform functionality, and editorial curation. In a growing podcast market, light, user-friendly curation through playlists adds valuable appeal.
Availability and User Experience Enhancements
The episode playlists feature is available on web and desktop apps, with Android rollout starting immediately and iOS support forthcoming. This staged release indicates a commitment to consistent cross-platform functionality instead of a mobile-only addition. Travelers benefit from the ability to pre-download playlists, a convenient improvement for offline listening. Smart Playlists that continuously show short, unplayed episodes especially support daily listening habits, making it easy to find something to listen to in a short time slot.
Playlist Ideas to Explore
- Starter Pack: Introduce newcomers to a genre with a handpicked playlist of essential episodes.
- Commute Mix: Use Smart Rules for unplayed episodes under 25 minutes, focusing on news or daily briefings for
fresh morning listens. - Guest Tracker: Collect episodes featuring a favorite guest across various shows to follow their insights.
- Offline Essentials: Filter for downloaded, unplayed episodes tailored for offline listening during travel.
By combining manual curation with automation, Pocket Casts presents a flexible, straightforward way for listeners to create personalized podcast programming—a smart evolution for a medium built on trust and habit.
