Podcast Episode block
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The Podcast Episode block lets you create podcast episodes with a rich player that supports chapters, transcripts, soundbites, and Podcasting 2.0 metadata. This guide covers how to add the block, which plans include it, and what to expect if your site doesn’t have a qualifying plan.
The Podcast Episode block requires Jetpack Pro or Jetpack Complete. Existing Jetpack Growth subscriptions include it too.
Add the Podcast Episode block
To add the block:
- Open the block editor on a new post.
- Click the + block inserter and search for “Podcast Episode,” or type
/podcast episodein a new paragraph. - Click Upload to add a new audio or video file, or click Media Library to choose one you’ve already uploaded.
The episode title in the block populates from your post title automatically. You can write your show notes in the body of the post, and assign it to the podcast category you chose in your podcast settings.
Upload audio files directly to your site using the Podcast Episode block. Supported formats include .mp3, .m4a, .ogg, and .wav. Do not embed audio from external hosting services like SoundCloud or Audiomack, as files cannot be downloaded from those sources.
Plan requirements
The Podcast Episode block is available on Jetpack Pro or Jetpack Complete, and on existing Jetpack Growth subscriptions. Sites without a qualifying plan will not see the block in the editor’s block inserter.
Rich player features
The Podcast Episode block includes a rich player with support for:
- Chapters — let listeners jump to specific sections of an episode.
- Upload a Podcasting 2.0 chapters JSON file to define chapter titles and start times.
- Transcripts — display a text transcript alongside the audio player.
- Metadata — additional podcast metadata supported by modern podcast apps.
- Soundbites — Highlight short clips from an episode.
- You can add one or more soundbites by specifying a start time, duration (in seconds), and title for each. On the front end, these appear as click-to-seek buttons that jump the player to that timestamp. In the RSS feed, each soundbite emits a
<podcast:soundbite>tag for compatible podcast apps.
- You can add one or more soundbites by specifying a start time, duration (in seconds), and title for each. On the front end, these appear as click-to-seek buttons that jump the player to that timestamp. In the RSS feed, each soundbite emits a
- Alternate Files — Offer listeners different versions of the same episode. For example, a lower bitrate for mobile or a different audio format.
- You can add one or more alternate files by specifying a file URL, MIME type, title, language, and bitrate for each. On the front end, these appear as a list of alternate download links. In the RSS feed, each entry emits a
<podcast:alternateEnclosure>tag.
- You can add one or more alternate files by specifying a file URL, MIME type, title, language, and bitrate for each. On the front end, these appear as a list of alternate download links. In the RSS feed, each entry emits a
Both Soundbites and Alternate Files are managed in the Podcasting 2.0 panel in the block sidebar.
Hide the episode author
Jetpack shows the post author’s name in the byline under the episode title. Turn off Show author in the block settings to publish an episode without the name.
To hide the author, follow these steps:
- Open the post that holds the episode and select the Podcast Episode block.
- In the block settings sidebar, open the Episode panel.
- Turn the “Show author” toggle off.
- Save the post.
The setting belongs to that one block, and it is on by default. With it off, the byline keeps the publish date and duration and drops the name in the editor preview, on the published post, and in newsletter emails. Jetpack also leaves the author out of the episode’s structured data, the details search engines read.
Video podcasts
The Podcast Episode block accepts a video file in place of an audio file. Click Upload in the block and pick your video. For best results, upload the video directly to your site rather than using YouTube or Vimeo links, as those may not work properly in podcast apps.
Published episodes after a plan downgrade
Plan requirements only apply to the editor. Episodes you have already published continue to display the full rich player on your site and in your RSS feed, regardless of your current plan. Visitors can still listen, view chapters, and read transcripts on published episodes even if your plan changes.
If your site is downgraded from a qualifying plan, you will not be able to add new Episode blocks, but nothing changes for episodes that are already live.
Still need help?
Please contact support. We’re happy to advise.
