Quickstart Guide: Set up your podcast in Castos
Set up your podcast and publish your first episode in minutes.
Before You Start
You'll need:
- A Castos account (start your free trial)
- Your podcast title and description
- Cover art (3000×3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, ideally under 1MB)
- Don't have one yet? Create one with our free tool, Dynamo.
- Your first episode audio file (MP3 recommended)
Using WordPress? See Quickstart: WordPress and Seriously Simple Podcasting instead.
Migrating from another host? See Migrate Your Podcast to Castos instead.
Step 1: Create Your Podcast
- Sign in to your Castos dashboard
- Click + New Podcast
- Enter your podcast title and description (plain text only)
- Upload your cover art, or continue without to use a placeholder
- Claim your Castos website URL (e.g.,
yourshow.castos.com) or enter your own hosted website. - Select a category that best describes your content
- Review your details and add optional info (explicit rating, owner details)
- Click Create My Podcast
Your podcast is now created with its own RSS feed, ready for distribution.
Need help creating a podcast cover image? Use our free podcast cover image generator Dynamo to create high-quality cover images (and even episode images) in minutes.
Step 2: Add Your First Episode
- From your podcast dashboard, click + New Episode
- Upload your audio file (MP3 is recommended)
- Enter the episode title
- Add a description with show notes
- (Optional) Upload episode-specific cover art
- (Optional) Set season and episode numbers
- Click Publish to release immediately, or Schedule to set a future date
Your episode is now live in your RSS feed.
Step 3: Find Your RSS Feed
Your podcast has a unique RSS feed URL that you'll submit to listening platforms.
- Go to Settings for your podcast
- Click the Distribution tab
- Copy your RSS feed URL from the Visibility section
Step 4: Submit to Podcast Directories
Submit your RSS feed to reach listeners on their favorite apps:
Most directories approve new podcasts within a few days, though Apple Podcasts can take up to two weeks.
What's Next?
- Customize your Castos website — Add your branding, subscribe links, and custom domain
- Set up automatic transcriptions — Generate searchable transcripts for every episode
- Enable monetization — Add dynamic ads or accept listener donations
- Understand your analytics — Track downloads and listener geographics