There has never been a better time to be an Amazon Alexa user. And this is partly because the device has more features than ever before and because there are now so many ways you can use it. One of those new ways is through your podcast player, which allows you to listen anywhere with access to unlimited podcasts from around the world!
For us all (especially me) not to take advantage of that feature too much–it’s super easy if you know what I’m talking about. I’ve put together a foolproof step-by-step guide on how to use your Amazon Alexa Podcast player with all the information you need for success–beginning to end:
Check it out, and let me know what you think!
How to play a podcast on Alexa?
There are a few different ways to play podcasts on Alexa, but the most popular options are Pocket Casts and AnyPod. Both skills work well, but you should be aware of a few quirks with each before deciding which one to use.
With Pocket Casts, you can ask Alexa to play any specific podcast episode by name. You can also ask her to subscribe to a podcast or just start playing the latest episode automatically. However, if you want to skip ahead during an attack, there’s no way to do so without skipping back multiple episodes first or pausing it and restarting from where you left off – this could be a problem for some people.
Anybody is another popular option, but it requires a separate app to work. The skill won’t be too clunky until a few more people start using it and optimizing its features. Right now, it works pretty well but could use some improvement.
The most significant advantage that AnyPod has over Pocket Casts is that it always plays the most recent episode of a podcast, not necessarily the oldest one like Pocket Casts does by default. This is useful if you’re subscribed to several podcasts and don’t want them all playing at once.
Both skills have the potential to be great, but they’re not quite there yet. If you want to try them out, here are some basic voice commands to get you started:
“Alexa, ask Pocket Casts to play [name of podcast].”
“Alexa, ask AnyPod to subscribe to [name of podcast].”
Find Podcasts
There are various ways that you can find podcasts to listen to on your Alexa device. You can either search for them by show name or Skill & Games, explore podcast categories on TuneIn or iHeartRadio, or find them in the main TuneIn app.
If you’re looking for something specific, you can also search for it by voice command. Just say, “Alexa, ask [service] to play [show name].” For example, “Alexa, ask TuneIn to play Freakonomics.”
You can also access your podcast subscriptions and listen to audiobooks and music you’ve recently played through Alexa. Swipe the screen on your Echo Show from left to right until you see Music & Books. Then select which one you want to listen to.
Finally, if you have the mobile apps for each of these services installed on your phone, you can also access them through voice commands with Alexa. Just say, “Alexa, open [app name] and play [show name].”
What do you need to play podcasts on Alexa?
To play podcasts on Alexa, you’ll need the “Pocket Casts” skill. It’s relatively new and not relatively stable as other options, but it was still trendy in 2019. To use Alexa with Pocket Casts, you need an Amazon Echo device. You can also subscribe to a podcast on Alexa by getting the show’s feed URL or a supported app like Pocket Casts. Another way to get recommendations for a new podcast is to ask for one using the “give me a recommendation” command. The Alexa app also allows for the discovery of podcasts and their respective skills. Skills are used to add individual podcasts as skills on Alexa. You can search for podcasts on the Alexa app and access them from the Skills & Games screen in the Alexa app.
How to enable the skill for podcasts on Alexa?
The Spotify skill is available on Alexa, and it’s easy to enable. The steps for linking your account are simple to follow. Once you’ve linked your account, podcasts can be found and played easily through the device of your choosing.
“To enable the skill, you need to select Spotify as your default streaming service and use the same method employed while setting up Apple Music,” said an Amazon spokesperson. “The following commands are available: ‘Alexa, play Jemele Hill is Unbothered on Spotify,’ ‘Alexa, play The Joe Budden Podcast on Spotify,’ or ‘Alexa, resume playing Amy Schumer Presents.’”
To add a podcast to an existing routine, type in the name of the podcast and choose “TuneIn.” Once a new pattern is created, go to Music and type in the name of your favorite podcast. The best way to ensure a new episode is available on Alexa every day is to release an episode of a podcast daily. Make sure you set up routines with podcasts before trying to get Alexa to play them.
Play Alexa podcasts with Amazon Music
You now have access to podcasts if you’re an Amazon Music subscriber! You can listen to your favorite shows for free on any subscription tier. And if that’s not enough good news, Amazon Music will also be producing original shows in 2021. So whether you’re a podcast addict or just getting started, Amazon Music is your service.
The Ambient is reader-powered, so if you click on our website using links anywhere, we may earn an affiliate commission (but only if it’s not a result of sponsored posts). However, we think it’s important that our readers have all the information they need to make the best choices for their lives, so we’ll also be listing some alternative podcast providers for Alexa smart speakers below.
Alexa can be a great way of playing podcasts for Amazon Music. In addition to its vast content library, TuneIn and Apple Music are both available as providers for Alexa smart speakers. Pandora stations can also be played through Alexa–say, “Alexa, play my pandora station.” And finally, don’t forget about your skills! Skills are a great way to get started with the Echo and play podcasts. If you’re looking for some new skills, check out our list of the best Alexa skills.
Once you’re all set up and ready to go, here are some handy Alexa commands to help you get started:
“Alexa, play The Ambient podcast.”
“Alexa, play my favorite show.”
“Alexa, pause.”
We hope that this guide has helped you start playing podcasts on your Amazon Music account. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below!
Play Alexa podcasts with Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Alexa is a voice-controlled assistant that you can use to play podcasts. You have the option of using Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Search for “Apple Podcasts” in the Amazon Alexa app to play a podcast on Alexa. If you want to use Spotify, add “on Spotify” to the end of your request.
You can also choose a default podcast player from your streaming services. To do this, tap the settings button and then scroll to find Music & Podcasts. Choose a default podcast player from your list of streaming services.
Currently, there are a few smart home devices that work with Alexa. These devices include Echo Show, Echo Spot, Echo Plus, and Fire TV Cube.
Play Alexa podcasts via TuneIn
Did you know that you can play podcasts on your Amazon Echo using the TuneIn app? It’s one of the few apps that work in the Alexa app and doesn’t need to be downloaded. To get started, open up the Alexa app and tap on “Skills.” Then search for “TuneIn” and enable it.
Once you’ve enabled TuneIn, say, “Alexa, play my favorite podcast.” You can also ask her to play podcasts from specific sources like NPR or ESPN. If you want to listen to a particular show, tell Alexa to play the latest episode of that show.
Now that you know how to play podcasts on your Echo, why not try?
Use AnyPod to play Podcasts with Alexa
If you’re a fan of podcasts, then you’ll be glad to know that you can use the AnyPod skill with Alexa. This skill is a beefier option than the standard podcasting experience on Alexa. With AnyPod, you can use voice search to find your favorite podcasts, and this works much better than using TuneIn.
Once you’ve found the podcast you want to listen to, say, “Alexa, ask AnyPod to play [name of podcast].” This will take you to the episode that you want to hear. If you wish to subscribe to a new podcast, say “Alexa, ask AnyPod to subscribe to [insert name of podcast],” and it will be added as a default source for podcasts in the Alexa app. You can also use voice commands like “skip forward” or “skip back” an episode while listening.
Podcasting is becoming an increasingly popular way to consume content. And for a good reason! Podcasts are great because they allow listeners to learn about something new that they may not be familiar with–all while being entertained at the same time. So if you’re looking for a new way to enjoy audio content, give podcasts a try!
Use Pocket Casts to play podcasts on Alexa
If you’re a fan of podcasts, you’ll be excited to know that there’s now an easy way to play them on Alexa. Just download the Pocket Casts app and enable the skill in your Amazon account. Then all you have to do is say, “Alexa, play my newest episode of Serial,” and she’ll start playing the latest episode from your subscribed shows.
The commands are easy to remember and will improve over time. So far, I’ve found that the biggest issue with using Pocket Casts on Alexa is that sometimes it can be a little clunky due to the beta status of the skill. For example, if you try to skip ahead during an episode and the sync hasn’t quite got things matched up with where you last left it, Alexa will tell you that she can’t do that right now. But overall, I’m thrilled with how this feature works, and I’m sure it will only get better over time.
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