Your Amazon Echo may be one of the smallest yet most capable devices you own. Much more than a portable speaker A comparison guide for Amazon Echo devices:Which one is best for you? A Comparison Guide to Amazon Echo Devices:Which is Best for You? Which Amazon Echo Device is Right for You? We compare the Plus, Dot, Tap, Show, Spot, Look and Fire TV Cube to help you decide. Read More You can use Alexa to get the weather forecast, create a shopping list, provide background noise, and even listen to audiobooks.
Maybe you're not a fan of audiobooks, or maybe you'd like to use your Echo to enjoy other listening content. Either way, you're in luck. This is because you can use Alexa to listen to podcasts. Listening To Podcasts On Amazon Echo Is Even Easier With One Skill Listening To Podcasts On Amazon Echo Is Even Easier With One Skill Until now, the easiest way to listen to podcasts on an Amazon Echo was to connect using Bluetooth and play the podcast with your favorite app. Now there is a better way. Read More
Skills are downloadable extras Just bought an echo from Amazon? Download these 15 essential Alexa skills! Just bought an echo from amazon? Download these 15 essential Alexa skills! Alexa, the virtual assistant that powers Amazon's Echo line of speakers, is getting smarter every day thanks to a growing number of skills. Here are 15 skills everyone should enable as soon as they unbox their... Read More
Created by third-party developers, Skills unlock your Echo's potential in impressive ways. You can download them in minutes, too.
Maybe you already listen to several podcasts per day. On the other hand, you may not be a subscriber yet, but you're ready to go. Either way, getting your Echo capable of playing podcasts is a simple process.
Below, we'll look at several appropriate Alexa Skills that you should enable for podcast listening purposes. Plus, you'll find out why they're great additions to your Echo device.
On the Amazon website or Alexa app, you can browse all of the available Alexa Skills in one place. Use the categories on the left to narrow down the options by topic. As you can see, the Skills home page features several headings that divide the tools into sections.
After finding the Alexa skill you want, go to the Skill details page and look for the Enable button to the right.
Once you've enabled a skill, just use “Open [skill name]” Voice command. For help, say “[skill name] Help.”
You can also see all of your enabled skills in the Alexa app. Go to the menu and select Skills . From there, it's also possible to change parental permissions, set specific notifications, and disable skills.
With the basics out of the way, you're ready to start enabling podcasting abilities for your Echo. Here are eight Alexa skills we recommend for listening to podcasts.
This ability lives up to its name because it plays (almost) any podcast in its directory on command. The collection already includes thousands of podcasts and tens of thousands of episodes. Don't see something you want to hear on the first try? Without worries. More podcasts are added every day..
To play a podcast, just say “Alexa, play [podcast name].” In situations where you don't remember the full title of a podcast, you can give a command related to the podcast. For example, if Dr. Laura has a podcast, say “Alexa, play Dr. Laura.”
AnyPod also subscribes or unsubscribes to podcasts at your disposal with the “Alexa, ask AnyPod to subscribe / unsubscribe” sign. If you're not sure if you've already subscribed to one, ask., “Alexa, ask AnyPod what my subscriptions are.?”
Need some tips to get started? See if you can access these true crime podcasts 8 Fascinating True Crime Podcasts Better Than Serial 8 Fascinating True Crime Podcasts Better Than Serial Your craving for good investigative journalism. Read more on AnyPod.
Enable: Any Pod (Free)
You can use Pod Buddy to play specific episodes in a podcast series categorized by number. Alternatively, you might want to play a random episode of a podcast you like. Just say, “Play a random episode of [podcast name].”
Do you like to listen to long podcasts in various segments? Pod Buddy also launches podcasts at preferred times in general episodes. Take note of when you stopped listening. Then ask Pod Buddy to start the next session in the same place.
Enable: Pod Buddy (Free)
Maybe you're pressed for time and want to make the most of your Echo-enhanced podcast experience. Use the smart search feature built into this Alexa skill. It allows you to find the newest episodes of a podcast. Or, let other listeners suggest which episodes to listen to. The Podcast Player responds to a command that reveals the "best" episodes in a series.
Hear one you like? Be sure to rate it to guide your listeners.
Enable: The podcast player (free)
This Alexa skill highlights podcasts by topic. Ready to hear one about horses or cars? At first, we might say “Alexa, ask Magic Podcast to find a show about horses..”
Alternatively, just add the word “Play” before saying the name of a podcast title to listen to it, along with current episodes in order of relevance. Don't you like one enough to keep listening? Use the “Skip” command to go to the next offer in the list.
Enable: Magical Podcast (Free)
With over 40,000 podcasts to choose from, is Spreaker Studio the podcasting tool of the future? Is Spreaker Studio the podcasting tool of the future? Spreaker Studio has the potential to revolutionize the way you record podcasts, but does it deliver on this promise? Read More One of Spreaker's features suggests related content, which helps if you like to stick to specific topics. Ask, “Would you like to play this?” If you do, say “Yes,” but if not, say, “Skip.” Access to related content helps you quickly build a list of favorite shows.
Spreaker also tells you about the search results. Hear a list again by saying “Repeat.” You can also cancel a search by saying “Stop” or “It doesn't matter.” Some of these commands are not shared by other podcast-related skills on this list. However, they're so intuitive that it won't take long for them to become part of your Echo vocabulary.
Enable: Spreaker (Free)
Increase the capabilities of this Alexa skill with a linked Podbean account. Then you can listen to recently listened podcasts on Podbean but not with the Echo.
First, create a list of podcasts in the online version of Podbean. Then rank the podcasts in order of preference or another way that makes sense.
After that, you can use number shortcuts to go to podcasts with Echo. Just say “Alexa, ask Podbean to play my number one podcast.”
Enable: Podbean Podcast Player (Free)
Distressing news often seems more plentiful than the joyous variety, which is why you might agree that this Alexa skill is a worthwhile addition to your Echo.
This Flash Briefing skill doubles as a podcast, so you can also hear some good news when you ask Alexa for today's headlines. Your hosts, Colleen and Neil, highlight the best positive stories, helping you start your day on a positive note.
Enable: The Good News Podcast (Free)
Consider Stitcher your ticket to over 100,000 podcasts.
Just like the Podbean Podcast Player, this ability gets even better with a Stitcher account. Respond to playlists created on the Stitcher website. You can listen to episodes from the Listen Later playlist, for example. Also, say the name of any playlist created in Stitcher to start playing the episodes. You can also use the “Binge listen” Command to listen to the hours of a favorite program..
Find a random show or episode you like? This ability speaks the name of a podcast or episode, allowing you to find it again.
Stitcher is one of the best podcast libraries available. Check out these comedy podcasts guaranteed to make you laugh 10 Comedy Podcasts Guaranteed To Make You Laugh Out Loud 10 Comedy Podcasts Guaranteed To Make You Laugh Out Loud Comedy podcasts can be extremely entertaining. Whether you're driving or cleaning your apartment, these comedy podcasts are sure to make you laugh out loud. Read more to find out what Stitcher has to offer.
Enable: Stitcher (Free)
Before reading this, you may not have thought of your Amazon Echo as a podcast discovery tool. However, as these abilities demonstrate, it is.
Regardless of her current podcast habits, Alexa makes listening to podcasts even easier. Why take her phone out when she can just command her Echo to play her favorite podcast?
Try these skills out and let us know how things go. Can you easily get to your favorite podcast with your Echo? What podcasts do you plan to listen to on your Echo from now on? Please let us know in the comments below!
