[benecaster_latest_episode]
Renders a configurable display block for the latest published episode of a show. Designed for homepage placement, sidebar widgets, and any context where a “latest episode” feature is needed without writing template code. Resolves the most recently published episode automatically; renders nothing if no episodes are published.
Pass episode_id to feature a specific episode instead — useful for pinning a “start here” episode, a current season premiere, or any episode you want held in the featured slot regardless of publish order.
The sections attribute controls which content pieces are included and in what order. When ‘player’ is included, embeds benecaster_player internally with style=“minimal”.
The resolved episode ID is filterable via benecaster_latest_episode_id — return a different ID to pin a specific episode as the featured one. Output filterable via benecaster_latest_episode_output.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Default | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
show_id |
int |
— | No | ID of the show to pull the latest episode from. Optional: with no show_id, the show comes from episode_id if set, then the current show page or episode page, then the site's only show. |
episode_id |
int |
— | No | If set, displays this specific episode instead of resolving the latest. Overrides show_id for episode resolution, and is enough on its own — the show is taken from the episode. |
sections |
string |
title,description
|
No | Comma-separated content sections to include, in display order. Options: title, description, artwork, player, date, duration, number. |
style |
string |
card
|
No | Layout style. Options: card (artwork + metadata), compact (single-line summary), list (plain list item). |
link_title |
bool |
true
|
No | Whether the episode title links to the episode page. |
title |
string |
— | No | Optional custom heading rendered above the card (e.g. 'New episode just dropped:'). Empty string suppresses it. |
link_text |
string |
— | No | Optional CTA link text at the foot of the card (e.g. 'Listen now →'). Links to the episode page. Empty string suppresses the link. |
Example
<!-- Default: latest episode, title and description, card style -->
[benecaster_latest_episode show_id="3"]
<!-- Full card with custom heading and CTA link -->
[benecaster_latest_episode show_id="3" sections="artwork,title,description,player" title="New episode just dropped:" link_text="Listen now →"]
<!-- Specific pinned episode with custom label -->
[benecaster_latest_episode episode_id="42" title="Start here:" link_text="Listen to the intro →"]
<!-- Compact latest episode for sidebar widget -->
[benecaster_latest_episode show_id="3" sections="number,title,description" style="compact" link_text="Listen →"]