How to Start a Podcast on Apple Podcasts (Submission + Common Mistakes)

TL;DR

To get on Apple Podcasts, you need a valid RSS feed from your host, then you submit it via Apple Podcasts Connect.

• Publish your show in your hosting platform
• Copy your RSS feed URL
• Submit in Apple Podcasts Connect and fix validation issues
• Add a “leave a voice message” CTA in your show description and show notes
• Try whatayarn to collect listener voicemails

Apple Podcasts is one of the biggest directories in podcasting.
Getting approved is mostly about having a clean RSS feed and correct metadata.

What you need before you submit

Before Apple will accept your show, make sure you have:

• A podcast host
• A published RSS feed URL
• Cover art
• Title and description
• At least one episode (often recommended)

Hosting guide: Best Podcast Hosting for Beginners.
RSS explainer: Podcast RSS Feed Explained.

Step-by-step: submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts

Step 0: Validate your RSS feed before submitting

People usually land on this page when something breaks. Before you submit, check:

• Cover art: readable at thumbnail size + correct requirements from your host
• Explicit flag: matches your content (clean vs explicit)
• Episode titles: clear titles (not “Episode 12”)
• Audio URLs: episodes play end-to-end (no broken links)
• Categories: set in your hosting platform

Here’s a quick “error → fix” map you can use when Apple rejects something:

Step 1: Publish your show in your host

Fill in your show settings:

• Title
• Description
• Categories
• Explicit/clean flag
• Cover art

Step 2: Copy your RSS feed URL

Your host will show your RSS feed URL in settings/distribution.

Step 3: Sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect

Use an Apple ID and open Apple Podcasts Connect. (Apple’s UI changes, but the process remains the same.)

Step 4: Add a new show via RSS feed

Paste your RSS feed URL and let Apple validate it.

Step 5: Fix any validation errors

Apple will flag common issues like:

• Missing cover art requirements
• Incorrect episode metadata
• Broken audio file URLs
• Missing required RSS fields

Step 6: Submit for review

Once validation is clean, submit for review and wait for approval.

Common Apple Podcasts submission mistakes

• Unreadable cover art (too much small text)
• Wrong explicit flag
• Broken audio URLs (episodes won’t play)
• Publishing without a clear description

CTA patterns that work in Apple Podcasts descriptions

Apple listeners often read the show description and show notes.

Use a two-step CTA:

1. Follow the show
2. Reply with one specific prompt

Copy/paste:

Show notes template: Podcast Show Notes Template.

Checklist to Get Started

• ✅ Choose hosting and confirm your RSS feed URL
• ✅ Submit your RSS feed in Apple Podcasts Connect
• ✅ Fix validation issues (cover art, explicit flag, audio URLs)
• ✅ Add a voicemail CTA in your show description + episode notes

FAQs about Apple Podcasts submission

Final Word

Apple approval is a checklist problem. Growth is an engagement problem.

If you want the simplest engagement CTA to add in your Apple show notes: