Most questions have a quick answer on one of your own screens. Start with the question that matches what you see, and if you still need a hand, Diagnostics gives support everything they need in one copy.
A listener says their private link stopped working. Why?
A private link stops when the listener was removed, when they or you made a new link, or when the membership level or Mailer tag that gave it was taken away. Opening the old link then shows This private podcast link is no longer active.
- Open Podcasts, Listeners and search for their email.
- If they are Active, press Resend email to send their current link, or New link to make a fresh one.
- If they are in the Removed list and should have access, press Add back, then Resend email.
Can listeners use Spotify for a private show?
Spotify does not accept private feeds. Public shows can be on Spotify. For private shows, listeners use Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict or most other apps, or listen on your site.
The welcome email is not arriving. What can I do?
- Ask the listener to check Spam and add you to their contacts.
- Check Send the welcome email is on in Podcasts, Settings.
- Send the link again with Resend email on the Listeners screen.
- For the best delivery, install ResultsAiX Mailer and set up its sending service, so welcome emails go out through it.
If the screen says the email could not be sent, check your site can send email.
Apple Podcasts or Spotify will not accept my show. What should I check?
Check the show has square cover art between 1400 and 3000 pixels, a description in the Excerpt box, at least one published episode with audio, and that its Who can listen is Everyone. Members-only shows have no public feed to submit. The owner email on the Settings tab is where Apple sends its confirmation.
A new episode is not in the podcast apps yet. Why?
Apps check feeds on their own timetable, often every few hours. Your public feed refreshes as soon as you publish. On a drip or date release show, an episode only appears in a listener's app on the day it opens for them.
The transcript says the episode is not an MP3 or M4A. What now?
Episodes longer than one part (about 8 minutes of a normal MP3) are sent to the AI in parts, and only MP3 and M4A can be cut cleanly between sounds. Upload the audio as an MP3 or M4A and press the button again, or paste a transcript into the box yourself. A video turned into audio by the plugin is already M4A or MP3.
The transcript stopped part way. Why?
Each part is its own request, so the browser tab has to stay open until the popup says Transcript ready. If it stopped, nothing was saved: press Make the transcript with AI again.
I only have a Claude key. Can I make transcripts?
Claude cannot listen to audio, so transcripts need an OpenAI or Google Gemini key. Google Gemini has a free key, and the AI tab shows how to get one. Or paste a transcript in yourself, and the show notes and blog post buttons still work with Claude.
The AI buttons are greyed out. Why?
Make the transcript with AI needs an OpenAI or Gemini key and the episode's audio, saved. The other two need any AI key. Add a key on the AI tab, save the episode, and the buttons wake up.
The video to audio button says my video is too long. What now?
That happens with WebM or MKV recordings whose sound has to be turned into MP3 in one go. Save the video as an MP4 (Zoom, OBS, phones and most editors do) and drop that in instead. MP4 and MOV work at any length.
A listener says a drip episode is not open yet. Is that right?
Open the episode and look at When it opens, and for how long. Drip counts from the day each listener joined. Their own podcast page shows the day each episode opens for them.
My podcast menu only shows Activate. Why?
The licence key is not active on this site yet. Open Activate, paste your key, press Activate license, and the full menu appears.
Who do I ask for help?
Open Diagnostics, press Copy report for support, and paste it into a ticket at kevinfahey.org/contact-support/.