How to Use Google’s New Podcast Player
Google has never had a great podcast strategy, leaving Android users looking for third-party apps to manage their subscriptions and play new episodes. (The standalone Apple Podcasts app isn’t great either, but at least it does exist .) Now it looks like the search giant has finally got some semblance of a solution that should make it easier to listen to podcasts on your Google and Android devices.
Find your podcasts with Google search
If you are using an Android phone, you can now open podcasts using a quick Google search. Just enter the name of the show you’re looking for into Google and the first result should be an information card that will allow you to immediately play recent episodes by clicking on the play icon.
You can also click More Episodes to launch what is essentially a web-based application for managing your podcasts – Google calls this “homebase.” From here, you can listen to new episodes and search for fresh podcasts with personalized recommendations based on what you’re already listening to. Homebase will also prompt you to create a home screen shortcut so you can jump directly to your favorite podcasts in the future. (Maybe one day Google will just release a separate podcast app – and, no, Google Play Music doesn’t count.)
Play podcasts by voice command
If you’d rather listen to your favorite podcasts on a nearby smart speaker, you can do that too. Just ask your Google Home (or any other speaker with Google Assistant built in) with a voice command such as “Ok Google, play The Upgrade podcast.”
Everything syncs automatically
Perhaps the best part about Google’s new podcast system is that Google Assistant syncs your listening across platforms. So, if you only watch half of a podcast on your phone while commuting, you can easily pick up where you left off on your smart speaker as soon as you enter the house. Enjoy the soothing sounds of Ira Glass as you reheat leftovers.
Google’s New Podcast Strategy That Could Double Global Audiences | Pacific content