How do I subscribe to the podcast?

Why subscribe (or follow) a podcast?

One of the most common things you’ll hear me or any other podcaster say at the end of an episode is, “subscribe to the podcast.” So why does that matter? Subscribing (or following) a podcast has benefits to both you as a listener and me as a podcaster.

Benefits to you as a listener: Once you’ve subscribed and set up automatic downloads for a podcast, you’ll never have to search for the podcast again. Episodes will download as soon as your phone receives them, so even when you’re on a flight or have terrible service, you can listen to the next episode without issue. 

Benefits to me as a podcaster: The more subscribes and downloads a podcast gets, the more the podcast platforms boost the show. Really, this is beneficial to you too, because it will allow me to keep making more episodes. 

How to subscribe (or follow) a podcast?

Here are three quick methods that should cover all your options.

Method 1: Start here if you don’t already have a podcasting app

Method 2: Start here if you already have a podcasting app

Method 3: If you don’t want to deal with a podcasting app, start here

Method 1: How to subscribe (or follow) a podcast?

Most people listen to podcasts on their phone, but if you’re not already a podcast listener, the process might be a bit of a mystery. It’s easier than it seems, and like everything else in life, “there’s an app for that.”

iPhone users: you might already have Apple Podcasts on there, but if not, that’s the most commonly used. Spotify and Overcast are close seconds, with lots of other options that can overwhelm you, so I’d stick with one of those three for now.

Android users: you might already have Google Podcasts on your device, but if not, you can grab it. Spotify and Overcast are also great options.

Once you have the app, open and search for Finding Fantasy Reads. Once you’ve selected the podcast, you should see an option to either “subscribe” or “follow.” Technically that’s all you have to do, but if you want to actually get notifications for new episodes, you’ll want to read this last section on what to do next.

Method 2: How to subscribe (or follow) a podcast?

If you already have a podcast app, you probably have a good idea of what to do, but I’m going to spell it out for you anyway.

If you click on this subscribe link, it will open a new window with a dozen subscribe options. You should see an option for your preferred app. Simply click on the button, then click “subscribe” or follow.” If you don’t see an option for your preferred app, you’ll need to go into your app and search for Finding Fantasy Reads. Once you’ve selected the podcast, you should see an option to either “subscribe” or “follow.”

Technically that’s all you have to do, but if you want to actually get notifications for new episodes, you’ll want to read this last section on what to do next.

Method 3: How to subscribe (or follow) a podcast?

Already have enough apps on your phone?

I get it. The next best thing (and maybe better) is to sign up for the weekly newsletter. Every Tuesday I will send you an email with a link to the newest episode and you can listen to it in your browser on any device. I may send you 3-4 other emails throughout the year with other news, but I promise I won’t spam you.

Signing up for the newsletters gets you a bonus episode as well – see, I told you it might be better! So what are you waiting for? Go sign up for the weekly newsletter here!

I’m subscribed… now what?

You’ve subscribed in an app. Great work! Anytime you open the app, you should be able to find Finding Fantasy Reads in your “library.” But how likely are you to open that app without a reminder?

Depending on the app, you might have options to get notifications for new episodes and/or automatically download new episodes (which is handy when you get on the plane and realize you can’t stream anything). So try looking for these settings:

Apple Podcasts

While you’re still on the page for Finding Fantasy Reads, you’ll want to click the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen. From that menu, select “settings,” then toggle on “notifications.” You can also select to “automatically download” episodes, which has several options to choose from. If you have space issues on your phone, select the latest 1-3 episodes, otherwise you can stick with the default of 5 episodes all the way up to “all new episodes.”

Spotify

Right next to the “follow” button, there’s a notification “bell” that you can click on, which will toggle on notifications.

 Google Podcasts

I’m assuming they have something similar to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, but since I don’t have any android products, I can’t tell you for sure. If someone with an Android reads this and wants to enlighten me, I’d be so grateful!

Overcast

Overcast is geared toward podcast junkies, so they automatically provide notifications unless you turn them off. They also automatically download the last 3 episodes of all your podcasts unless you go into their settings and make adjustments. This is the app I use, because it allows me to pin my favorite podcasts to the top of the list and it remembers the speed setting for each podcast. There are several other features, like making playlists and creating a queue that I should probably investigate. I highly recommend it if you like listening to several podcasts!

Enjoy listening!

Hopefully this helps you enjoy listening to the podcast just a little bit more! If you’re enjoying it, I hope you’ll also leave a review. You can find instructions on how to do that here.

Happy reading!

Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy.