

Google Podcasts Stories January 26
In YouTube’s 2022 Priorities letter, CEO Susan Wojcicki cited podcasting (just before NFTs) as an additional source of revenue for Creators. Podcasts already exist on the site as videos, but this is the latest mention that strongly implies that YouTube is going to provide a more dedicated experience. What form could YouTube Podcasts take and does that sound like something you’d use?
Google Podcasts Stories October 6, 2021
Google’s podcasting efforts today are aligned with Search, but a new report suggests that the existing app might be getting some internal competition from YouTube.
Google Podcasts Stories September 21, 2021
Following the big update in August, Google Podcasts for Android is getting a straightforward Material You redesign, though it’s not yet widely rolled out.
Google Podcasts Stories August 30, 2021
Google Podcasts Stories August 18, 2021
At the start of this month, Google started rolling out a big Podcasts for Android redesign. Google Podcasts on the web is now getting a sizable update of its own with a synced queue.
Google Podcasts Stories May 20, 2021
After the Now Playing screen got updated earlier this year, the rest of the Google Podcasts is getting a revamp. The changes aren’t major, but there are a number of great usability upgrades for longtime users.
Google Podcasts Stories May 2, 2021
Google Podcasts Stories April 30, 2021
While recent weeks have seen a flurry of developments in the podcasting industry, Google has remained relatively quiet about its offering. That said, Google Podcasts has just redesigned the Now Playing screen on iOS and has widely rolled out the ability to block recommendations.
Google Podcasts Stories April 21, 2021
As we first spotted last month, Google Podcasts is letting users customize and fine-tune recommendations as they’re listening to episodes. This feature is currently in beta on Android.
Google Podcasts Stories April 16, 2021
Google Podcasts ‘For You’ episode recommendations now available on the web
In recent months, Google Podcasts has been relatively quiet about its upcoming work. Until then, one feature that’s now widely available sees “For You” episode recommendations come to the Google Podcasts web app.
Google Podcasts Stories April 14, 2021
Google Podcasts reaches 100 million-downloads milestone
With more people now consuming podcasts than ever before, it kind of makes sense that Google Podcasts would see an uptick in downloads. It has, however, skyrocketed to the 100 million-downloads milestone over on the Google Play Store.
Google Podcasts Stories March 18, 2021
Besides music and relaxing sounds, Google’s Assistant devices are frequently used for podcasts. However, a bug has emerged in the past few days that sees Google Home and Nest speakers play the wrong podcast.
Google Podcasts Stories March 11, 2021
Since the start of this year, Google has been working on a revamped Now Playing screen for its Podcasts app on Android. Based on what we enabled, that modernization is to make way for more advanced recommendations.
Google Podcasts Stories February 8, 2021
The latest Google app beta is rolling out a redesign to the player screen in Google Podcasts. Simplification is the focus with more spacing given to key controls, while other actions are hidden in the process.
Google Podcasts Stories January 4, 2021
Google Podcasts web client adds simple subscriptions feed, matching Android and iOS
Last month, Google Podcasts introduced RSS support for shows that are not publicly listed. The Google Podcasts web experience now has a simple feed, like on mobile, to view all your episode subscriptions.
Google Podcasts Stories December 3, 2020
Last month, Google Podcasts hit 50 million installs on the Play Store, and it’s now letting you “Add by RSS feed” across all platforms.
Google Podcasts Stories November 24, 2020
Google Podcasts hits 50 million downloads on Play Store
Considering that the Google Podcasts app is effectively an instance of the Google Search app, the dedicated podcast player has now hit an impressive 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store.
Google Podcasts Stories October 16, 2020
[Update: Spotify support] Google Assistant adds settings to select default podcast service
Google today lets users set their preferred video, music, radio service for use on Assistant Smart Displays, speakers, and phones. Google Assistant now has a settings page for podcast services.
Google Podcasts Stories September 23, 2020
To the left of most Android homescreens is a personalized feed of articles, YouTube videos, and — increasingly — AMP Stories. Google Discover is now offering episode recommendations from Google Podcasts for some users.
Google Podcasts Stories September 8, 2020
Google Podcasts for Android adds Cast button to Now Playing screen
Back in March, Google Podcasts received a big visual revamp and launched on iOS. As part of that expansion, the team hosted an AMA and promised a handful of new features. Quick access to Cast from the Now Playing sheet is rolling out today in Google Podcasts for Android.
Google Podcasts Stories September 2, 2020
Back in November, Google Assistant augmented user-curated “News briefings” with a personalized “mix of top headlines and stories based on your interests.” “Your News Update” is now coming to Google Podcasts, while more natural text-to-speech is also available.
Google Podcasts Stories August 19, 2020
Google Podcasts on the web now shows your subscriptions on the homepage
Back in February, the Google Podcasts online experience picked up a homepage after previously only surfacing individual show pages. A web change today lets you directly browse subscriptions, while Google Podcasts for Android sees a tweaked bottom bar.
Google Podcasts Stories August 3, 2020
Google Lens adds ‘Places’ filter as Podcasts player tests queue swiping
Updated via the Google app, Lens and Podcasts recently picked up some new features. The visual search tool gains a “Places” filter, while Podcasts makes switching to the next episode somewhat faster.
Google Podcasts Stories July 1, 2020
Google Podcasts Stories June 5, 2020
Earlier this week, Sundar Pichai said Google was standing with the Black community, and would “develop initiatives and product ideas that support long-term solutions.” The latest expression of that support lets you ask Assistant, “do black lives matter.”
Google Podcasts Stories May 20, 2020
Google Podcasts for iOS adds CarPlay support
Back in March, Google Podcasts launched on iOS alongside an Android revamp and tweaks to the web experience. The first update to Google Podcasts for iOS today adds CarPlay support.
Google Podcasts Stories May 12, 2020
Google Podcasts can import all your Play Music podcast subscriptions
A big Google Podcasts revamp in March redesigned the Android experience, introduced an iOS app, and brought subscriptions to the web. To further drive adoption, Google is letting old Play Music users transfer over podcasts.
Google Podcasts Stories May 5, 2020
Google Podcasts saw a big update in March that revamped the Android client and introduced an iOS app. A new Google Podcasts Manager tool today gives podcasters analytics about who’s listening and what can be done to improve engagement.
Google Podcasts Stories April 6, 2020
With search queries about COVID-19 surpassing even those for weather and the news, Google in recent weeks has worked to compile that information together. In Google News, there is a new COVID-19 hub, while Assistant and Podcasts have similar experiences.
Google Podcasts Stories April 4, 2020
Last week, Google Podcasts saw a big redesign on Android, iOS launch, and new web functionality. The Google Podcasts team today hosted a Reddit AMA today to talk about its approach.
Google Podcasts Stories March 25, 2020
Google Podcasts has been built out in beta on Android and the web over the past several months, and now it’s getting some big updates. Today, Google is releasing an official Google Podcasts app on iOS as it officially reveals a redesign for the service.
Google Podcasts Stories March 21, 2020
We’ve been tracking a significant redesign of Google’s Podcasts app on Android for the past several weeks. The “new Google Podcasts” is now beginning to roll out for some users and it brings highly-awaited features like episode auto-downloading.
Google Podcasts Stories February 6, 2020
Since last March, there’s been a roundabout way to access Google Podcasts online with episode playback positions from your phone and Assistant devices synced. Google Podcasts on the web now has a homepage with search and recommendations.
Google Podcasts Stories January 29, 2020
Late last year, we enabled the early stages of a Google Podcasts revamp that includes a bottom bar and built-in queue. A month later with Google app 10.94, it’s been iterated on further with more functionality revealing just what is different.
Google Podcasts Stories January 28, 2020
[Update: Fixed] Latest Google Podcasts beta breaks casting episodes
The latest Podcasts beta introduces a number of visual tweaks throughout the app, while adding the ability to share episodes with a timestamp. However, the current Google Podcasts release introduces a bug that breaks casting episodes.
Google Podcasts Stories January 21, 2020
Google in recent weeks has updated Podcasts with a number of tweaks, including a Material Theme account switcher and dark theme. The latest Google Podcasts beta adds timestamp sharing while cleaning up the player interface.
Google Podcasts Stories January 9, 2020
Google Podcasts adds Material Theme account switcher
Last month, we enabled a bottom bar redesign for Google Podcasts. Until that rolls out, the next change to the Android client is a Material Theme account switcher.
Google Podcasts Stories December 24, 2019
Last week, we spotted the very early signs of a bottom bar redesign for Google Podcasts. We’ve now enabled it in full and can confirm some new functionality, including a built-in queue.
Google Podcasts Stories December 19, 2019
The latest Google app beta introduced a crash when searching for recent messages, and coincided with a Podcasts dark theme. We’ve now enabled a bottom bar redesign for Podcasts with Google app 10.89, as well as an option to have searches open in Chrome.
Google Podcasts Stories December 18, 2019
While Search and Assistant have had a night mode for the last few weeks, Podcasts frustratingly missed out. Google Podcasts finally gains a much needed dark theme that respects Android 10.
Google Podcasts Stories December 13, 2019
While Google Podcasts isn’t the outright best podcast player, it has slowly but steadily improved into a great option. However, it has lacked a few core features until now like episode recommendations.
Google Podcasts Stories October 31, 2019
Back in September, we first enabled a Material Theme redesign of Google Podcasts for Android. A revamped player that’s larger and fits in with the company’s current design language is now rolling out.
Google Podcasts Stories October 14, 2019
After quietly coming online in March, Google at I/O 2019 officially announced that Podcasts is available on the desktop web. That rudimentary player has been quietly updated with several tweaks in recent days.
Google Podcasts Stories September 7, 2019
Google Podcasts is readying a notable Material Theme redesign as revealed by the latest Google app beta. The changes are primarily focussed on updating the audio player, but the service is also working on “personalized recommendations.”
Google Podcasts Stories August 8, 2019
At I/O 2019, Google confirmed that it’s indexing podcasts to surface audio alongside text and video Search results. Podcast search is now available on Google.com and coming soon to Google Assistant.
Google Podcasts Stories May 14, 2019
I/O 2019 saw some major announcements related to Google Podcasts, including Google Search indexing and web playback for desktops and iOS. While exciting, the app still lacks rudimentary features like auto downloading, but fortunately, some users already have it enabled.
Google Podcasts Stories May 9, 2019
At I/O 2019, Sundar Pichai announced a “Podcasts about this story” feature for Google Search that indexes podcasts to surface relevant episodes by content instead of just title. Ahead of that, Google Podcasts is officially coming to the web for iOS and desktops.
Google Podcasts Stories May 7, 2019
Google will bring Podcasts and Full Coverage news to Search later this year
During the Google I/O 2019 keynote today, Google revealed a big change for Search. Starting later this year, the company is bringing Full Coverage and Podcasts into Google Search starting later this year.