Articles on: Private & Unlisted Podcasts

How secure is a private podcast?

A private podcast keeps your episodes out of public podcast directories, and only the people you invite can listen. But like anything published on the internet, it can't stop a subscriber from passing it on.


What a private podcast protects


  • It's hidden from directories. Private podcasts aren't listed on Apple Podcasts or other directories, and podcast apps can't find them in search. Spotify is the exception if you turn on Spotify Open Access: see below.
  • Each subscriber has their own RSS feed. Every subscriber gets a unique feed and landing page. When you remove someone, their feed and landing page stop working, including in Spotify.
  • You can see who's listening. You can see how many times each subscriber has downloaded each episode, so unusual activity stands out.


Spotify works differently


If you turn on Spotify Open Access, Spotify adds your private podcast to its catalog. By default, people can only find it with a direct link, but you can choose to let it appear in Spotify search and recommendations.


Either way, anyone who finds your podcast on Spotify can see its title, artwork, episode titles and show notes. Only the audio is locked: people who aren't subscribers see a padlock and can't play episodes. If your episode titles or show notes contain anything you wouldn't want seen publicly, don't turn on Spotify Open Access.


See How do I add my private podcast to Spotify?


What it can't prevent


A subscriber could share their RSS feed or landing page with someone else, or record the audio as it plays. No podcast host can fully prevent this: if audio can be played, it can be recorded.


Treat a private podcast like internal company email. Your listeners should know not to share it, but nothing technically stops them. Don't use a private podcast for sensitive or confidential information.


How to tighten access


  • Remove anyone you think is sharing. If one subscriber's downloads look unusually high, remove them. Their RSS feed stops working.
  • Limit your invite link to your organization. In the Settings tab, add your company's domain to Safelist domains for invite links, so only people with an email address there can sign themselves up. You can also block domains with Blocklist domains for invite links.
  • Add a password. Turn on Password Protection in the Settings tab, and subscribers need the password to listen in their browser or see their RSS feed on their landing page. See How do I password-protect my private podcast?
  • Be careful with embeds. Embed players don't check who's listening, so anyone who can see the page can play the episode. Only embed a private podcast on a site that's already restricted, like an intranet or members' area. See Can I embed my private podcast on a website?


If you have additional questions please reach out to us:


Updated on: 02/11/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!