Podcasting 2.0 Tags
Benecaster supports the Podcasting 2.0 namespace (xmlns:podcast) from the Podcast Index project. These tags extend standard RSS with richer metadata — show ownership signals, funding links, transcripts, credits, soundbites, and more.
All Podcasting 2.0 tags are included in your private subscriber feeds automatically when configured. No additional plugins or code are needed.
App Support
Podcasting 2.0 tags are supported in Podcast Index-compatible apps including Overcast, Pocket Casts, AntennaPod, Podverse, Castamatic, and Podfriend. Support varies by tag and app version — check the Podcast Index apps directory for a current list.
Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not currently recognize Podcasting 2.0 tags. These tags are silently ignored by apps that don’t support them, so including them has no negative effect on your feed in any app.
Show-Level Tags
Configure show-level Podcasting 2.0 settings under Show Settings → Podcasting 2.0.
podcast:guid
A permanent, unique identifier for your show — a UUID v4 generated when the show is created. Podcast directories and apps use this identifier to track your show reliably across hosting platform changes and feed URL updates.
You do not need to configure this. Benecaster generates and stores the GUID automatically on show creation. It is never regenerated.
podcast:locked
Signals to podcast platforms that this show should not be claimed or imported by another service without your permission. When enabled, you also provide an owner email address — platforms contact this address to verify ownership requests.
Turn this on if you want to prevent an automated platform claim from moving your show without your knowledge.
podcast:funding
Links listeners to your support page inside compatible podcast apps. When your Listener Support payment link is configured, Benecaster populates this tag automatically. You can also enter a custom URL pointing to any external donation or membership platform.
The link label defaults to {Show Title} Listener Support. Developers can override it per-show using the benecaster_feed_podcast_funding_label filter.
podcast:block
Prevents specific platforms from indexing or importing your show. Select from a list of known platforms (YouTube, Amazon, Spotify, and others) or enter a platform identifier manually. One <podcast:block> tag is output per blocked platform.
This tag is separate from <itunes:block> — use podcast:block for granular per-platform blocking; the iTunes block flag (an all-or-nothing setting) is handled separately in Show Settings.
podcast:txt
Adds arbitrary text strings to your feed. Most commonly used for podcast directory ownership verification: the directory gives you a string to paste, you add it here, and the directory confirms ownership by finding it in your feed. Each entry has an optional purpose label and a value. Repeatable.
podcast:license
Declares the content license for your show. Choose from Creative Commons options (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA, CC BY-ND, CC BY-NC-ND) or enter a custom license URL. The tag is omitted when “All Rights Reserved” is selected, which is the default.
Episode-Level Tags
Configure episode-level Podcasting 2.0 fields in the episode editor under the Podcasting 2.0 section.
podcast:transcript
Links to a transcript file for the episode. Enter the transcript URL and select the MIME type: text/plain, text/html, application/srt, text/vtt, or application/json.
Transcription Service add-on: When the Transcription Service add-on is installed and a transcript is complete, Benecaster populates this tag automatically — no manual URL entry needed. Your transcript visibility settings are respected: if you’ve restricted transcript access to specific tiers, the tag is omitted from feeds where subscribers don’t have access.
podcast:soundbite
Marks a highlighted moment in an episode with a start time, duration, and optional title. Compatible apps may surface these as shareable clips or prominent navigation points. Repeatable — add as many soundbites per episode as you like.
Enter start time and duration in seconds. Decimals are supported (e.g. 73.5 seconds).
podcast:person
Credits the people involved in an episode: host, guest, editor, producer, or a custom role. Each entry includes the person’s name, an optional profile URL, and an optional headshot URL. Repeatable.
Guest Manager add-on: When the Guest Manager add-on is installed, guests assigned to an episode are automatically included as <podcast:person> entries with the guest role. Your show’s host is added as a separate entry.
podcast:images
Provides your episode artwork at multiple resolutions for apps that display high-DPI or variable-size imagery. Benecaster generates the srcset automatically from the WordPress-registered image sizes for your episode artwork — no configuration needed.
podcast:season — Display Name
When your show uses seasons, Benecaster already outputs a standard <podcast:season> tag with the season number. If you’ve set a display name for a season — for example, “The Vault” instead of “Season 3” — Benecaster adds the name attribute: <podcast:season name="The Vault">3</podcast:season>.
Set season display names under Show Settings → Seasons.
Add-on Integrations
Three add-ons automatically populate Podcasting 2.0 episode tags. All three are independent — you can install any combination without conflicts.
| Add-on | Tag | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transcription Service | podcast:transcript |
Populated automatically when a transcript is complete; visibility-gated per subscriber tier — ineligible subscribers never see the URL in their feed |
| Chapter Markers | podcast:chapters |
Generates a JSON chapters file and adds the tag automatically; also outputs inline Podlove Simple Chapters (<psc:chapters>) for apps that support that format |
| Guest Manager | podcast:person |
One entry per assigned guest (role="guest") plus a host entry per show (role="host") |
Without an add-on, you can also populate any of these tags manually — enter transcript URLs directly in the episode editor, or inject additional tags for any episode using the benecaster_feed_podcast_episode_tags filter.
Developer Extension Points
Three filters give add-ons and custom code full control over what Podcasting 2.0 tags appear in your feed:
| Filter | What it controls |
|---|---|
benecaster_feed_podcast_channel_tags |
The full channel-level tag array before XML output — add, override, or remove any show-level tag |
benecaster_feed_podcast_episode_tags |
The per-episode tag array before XML output — the integration point used by all three add-ons above |
benecaster_feed_podcast_funding_label |
The <podcast:funding> element label text |
See the Filter Hooks Reference for full parameter documentation and usage examples.