whatayarn logo
Tutorial

How to Start a Podcast on Spotify (And Get Your Link Right)

A step-by-step guide to starting a podcast on Spotify: hosting, RSS, claiming your show, common mistakes, and where to place your listener voicemail link.

5 min read

TL;DR

To start a podcast on Spotify, you need hosting (and an RSS feed), then you connect or submit that feed so Spotify can list your show.

  • Pick a host and publish your RSS feed
  • Connect the RSS to Spotify and claim your show
  • Check your cover art, description, and episode details
  • Add a “leave a voice message” link in your show description + show notes
  • Try whatayarn to collect listener voice messages

Getting listed on Spotify isn’t the hard part.
The hard part is getting listeners to do something after they listen.

This guide covers the Spotify basics, plus the engagement wedge: adding a voicemail link so your audience can talk back.

If you’re starting from zero, read How to Start a Podcast in 2026 first.

How Spotify gets your podcast

Spotify needs a source of truth for your show and episodes. That’s usually:

  • A podcast host (which generates your RSS feed)
  • Your RSS feed connected/submitted to Spotify

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

Step-by-step: start a podcast on Spotify

Because Spotify’s UI changes over time, these steps stay intentionally high-level, but the workflow is consistent.

Step 1: Publish your show in your hosting platform

Make sure your host has:

  • Show title + description
  • Cover art
  • Categories
  • Explicit setting (clean/explicit)

Step 2: Get your RSS feed URL

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

Step 3: Connect or submit your RSS feed to Spotify

Most hosts can do this with a “Spotify” distribution button. If not, you can typically submit the RSS feed manually in Spotify’s creator dashboard.

Step 4: Claim your show (so you can edit and view analytics)

Once Spotify recognizes your feed, claim the show inside the Spotify creator dashboard so you can:

  • Edit show details
  • See performance
  • Manage episode info

Step 5: Verify your show page looks right

Check:

  • Title and description formatting
  • Cover art readability at thumbnail size
  • Episode order (newest first)
  • Links in show notes (if supported)

Common Spotify setup mistakes

  • Wrong RSS feed URL (copying a web page URL instead of the feed)
  • Cover art that’s unreadable in-app
  • Forgetting the explicit setting
  • Publishing an episode without a clear title/summary

Where to place your “Leave a voice message” link on Spotify

Spotify listeners will often look in:

  • Your show description
  • Your episode show notes/description

So your best move is to place your voicemail link in both:

text

Show notes template: Podcast Show Notes Template.

Ask a specific question right next to the link. “Send feedback” is vague. “What’s your unpopular opinion about ___?” gets replies.

Checklist to Get Started

  • ✅ Choose a host and publish your RSS feed
  • ✅ Connect/submit the RSS feed to Spotify
  • ✅ Claim your show in Spotify’s creator dashboard
  • ✅ Verify your show page (art, description, episode details)
  • ✅ Add a whatayarn voicemail link in show description + episode notes

FAQs about starting a podcast on Spotify

Final Word

Spotify listing is distribution. Engagement is the growth engine.

If you want the easiest engagement link to add to your Spotify show notes: Create a whatayarn voicemail link