You recorded an amazing episode. You poured into it. You brought your best energy, shared real knowledge, and told a story that your community needed to hear. You published it to YouTube, posted the link on Facebook — and then... it sat there. A few views. Maybe a like from your cousin. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a quiet, frustrating thought: nobody can find this.
That's not a content problem. That's a distribution problem.
If your podcast is only on YouTube right now, you're not reaching the millions of people who listen to podcasts on Spotify during their morning commute, on Apple Podcasts while they fold laundry, on iHeart Radio in the car on the way to the job they're trying to leave. Your story deserves to be heard everywhere — not just by the people who already follow you on one platform.
The good news? Getting your podcast onto Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeart is simpler than most people think. You don't need a tech team. You don't need a studio. You just need to understand how the system works — and then take the steps. Let me walk you through it.
How Podcast Distribution Actually Works
Here's the thing most people don't know when they're starting out: you don't upload your podcast directly to Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Those platforms don't host your audio — they read it from somewhere else.
The system works through something called an RSS feed. Think of it like a subscription list for your show. Every time you publish a new episode, your RSS feed updates automatically. Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, iHeart, and every other podcast platform checks that feed and adds your new episode to their directory — without you having to do anything extra.
What this means in practice: you upload your episode once to your podcast hosting platform, and it automatically goes everywhere. One upload. Every platform. All at once.
The piece you need to set up first is that hosting platform — the place that stores your audio files and generates your RSS feed. Once that's in place, everything else is just telling each directory where to find your feed. You do that setup once, and then it's automatic every episode after that.
Choosing the Right Podcast Hosting Platform
This is the most important decision you'll make — and it doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I recommend:
Start with Buzzsprout. Buzzsprout is the most beginner-friendly podcast host on the market. They walk you through the entire setup, have one-click submission to every major directory, and their free plan gives you 2 hours of audio per month — enough to upload your first episodes and get started without spending a dollar. When you're ready to scale, the $12/month Starter plan gets you unlimited episodes with no episode expiration. Buzzsprout also includes built-in listener analytics, episode scheduling, and a direct submit button to Spotify, Apple, Amazon, iHeart, and Pandora right from your dashboard.
If you want a free alternative, look at Podbean ($9/month paid, free plan available) or Spotify for Podcasters — 100% free and owned by Spotify, though you have less control over your RSS feed long-term.
My honest recommendation: pick one and start. The best hosting platform is the one you'll actually use. Don't let the comparison hold you back from launching. Start with Buzzsprout free, publish your first episode, and upgrade when you're ready.
Step-by-Step: Get Listed on the Big 4
Once your hosting platform is set up and your first episode is published, here's how to submit to the four major directories:
1. Spotify
- Go to podcasters.spotify.com
- Click Get Started and log in or create a free Spotify account
- Enter your RSS feed URL (found in your Buzzsprout dashboard under Directories)
- Verify ownership via email confirmation
- Submit for review
Approval time: 24–72 hours. Buzzsprout also has a one-click Spotify submit in your dashboard — use that if available.
2. Apple Podcasts
- Go to podcastsconnect.apple.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID (free to create if you don't have one)
- Click the + button to add a new show
- Paste your RSS feed URL
- Review the preview — confirm artwork, title, and description look correct
- Click Submit
Approval time: 3–5 business days. Apple reviews manually and is the pickiest — make sure your artwork is exactly 3000×3000px before you submit.
3. Amazon Music
- Go to podcasters.amazon.com
- Click Submit Your Podcast
- Sign in with your Amazon account (same login as Amazon shopping)
- Enter your RSS feed URL and fill out the submission form
- Submit
Approval time: 1–2 weeks. Amazon's audience is 55M+ listeners — the competition here is lower than Spotify or Apple.
4. iHeart Radio
- Go to iheart.com/content/submit-your-podcast/
- Fill out the submission form: show name, RSS feed URL, contact email, category
- Submit
Approval time: 1–4 weeks. iHeart reaches 250M+ registered users. Buzzsprout also has an iHeart auto-submit option in your Directories dashboard.
Mistakes That Hold Entrepreneurs Back
Waiting until it's "perfect." Your first episode doesn't need to be broadcast-quality. Your artwork doesn't need to be professionally designed. Your intro doesn't need to be scripted to the letter. Imperfect and published is infinitely more valuable than perfect and sitting in your drafts. You can improve as you go. You cannot grow an audience that can't find you.
Using YouTube as your only platform. YouTube is powerful — keep publishing there. But YouTube doesn't generate a podcast RSS feed, which means all the people listening to podcasts in the car, at the gym, and during their commute will never discover you. Every week you're YouTube-only is a week you're invisible to millions of potential listeners.
Not claiming your show on every directory. Once you have your RSS feed, there's no reason not to submit everywhere. Each platform is a different audience who might never discover the others. Claim your show in every directory where your ideal listener might be searching — it costs nothing but a few minutes per submission.
The Come Fly With Me Podcast Journey
I'm sharing this guide because this is exactly the journey I'm on with Come Fly With Me. Right now, our episodes are on YouTube — conversations with entrepreneurs, kingdom builders, and community leaders who are doing the real work. And we're in the process of getting this show everywhere it belongs.
This isn't just a guide for you. It's a commitment to you that Come Fly With Me will meet you wherever you're listening. Head over to our Episode Library to watch the current episodes on YouTube right now while we make the full rollout happen. ✈️
Ready to make your show easier to find? Start with a host, publish one clean RSS feed, and follow each directory's current submission steps. Before you send anything, listen to your latest episode on a phone, check that your title and cover art match everywhere, and save the account details in one secure place. Ask one trusted listener to test the link before you announce it. Keep a simple record of each listing, login, and approval email for future updates. That small check keeps a simple launch from becoming a messy one. One upload, everywhere — that's the beauty of it. ✈️
Details such as eligibility, fees, deadlines, platform requirements, and local rules can change. Verify current official guidance before you act.