Help Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Podcast Feeds
This is a common and important question—and it comes down to how RSS publishing works across the podcast ecosystem.
Even if your feed updates correctly in Apple Podcasts or the Podcast Index, that does not guarantee the update will appear immediately (or at all) in every other podcast app. Some listeners—even those who have already downloaded episodes in Apple—may not see later changes.
RSS feeds do not behave like blog posts where an edit instantly updates everywhere. Best practice is to avoid editing, re-uploading, or publishing show notes after an episode has already been released whenever possible.
Here’s why:
- RSS updates can take hours or even days to propagate across all podcast apps
- Some apps cache feeds aggressively and may never pick up certain changes
- Each app controls how often (or whether) it refreshes your feed
What should I do if something looks wrong?
If an episode or program appears out of sync:
1. In the Godcaster dashboard, refresh the program experiencing the issue
2. If you are a hands-on publisher, Godcaster can assign you as the Publisher for your feeds. This unlocks the Feed Management page in your dashboard
3. If your feed is managed through our rss.com partner system, owning the feed allows you to refresh and manage updates directly from your profile
Best Practice Summary
- Publish episodes and show notes once, fully finalized
- Avoid post-publish edits whenever possible
- Allow time for changes to propagate across apps
If you need help refreshing a feed or adjusting publisher access, contact Godcaster Support and we’ll be happy to assist.
Player Features & Navigation
Giving & Support
Content & Metadata
YourTown Live
A 24/7 programmed audio channel
Think of this as your church’s always-on digital station.
What it does
- Runs 24/7
- Can also convert live video → live audio
- Can include:
- Music
- Scheduled podcasts
- Teaching blocks
- Devotionals
- Supports audio inserts for:
- IDs
- Announcements
- Calls to action
Why it matters
- One reliable destination in your Digital Station
- Feels like radio, but fully owned
- Works everywhere (web, app, car)
Use cases
- “Listen Live”
- Background listening
- Community presence throughout the week
Curated Channels
Collections of podcasts, grouped by purpose
Channels are not players and not feeds. They are organized collections.
What they do
- Group podcasts by:
- Category
- Theme
- Season
- Ministry focus
- Provide clarity and discovery
- Reduce clutter
Examples
- Sermon Series
- Teaching & Formation
- Devotions
- Special Seasons (Advent, Easter)
- Youth & Young Adults
Why it matters
- Helps people find what they need
- Keeps growth organized
- No technical overhead
ChannelStreams Live
Turn podcasts into live, radio-style feeds
This is where podcasts become programming.
What it does
- Converts multiple podcasts into:
- A live, linear stream
- Creates “radio-style” listening experiences
Why it matters
- Podcast content doesn’t just sit on demand
- Feels familiar to radio listeners
- Enables scheduled listening moments
Use cases
- Teaching Channel Live
- Sermon Replay Channel
- Weekday Teaching Stream
- Conference / Event audio feeds
Audio Inserts
Contextual audio without breaking the flow
What they do
- Insert:
- Station IDs
- Pre-rolls
- Post-rolls
- Calls to action
- Without altering the original audio
Why it matters
- Preserves message integrity
Yes, streaming copyrighted music requires legal licensing, which cannot be bundled into software platforms.
Godcaster works with Live365 who provides required U.S. music licenses (SoundExchange, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR), listener-hour reporting, and compliance protection.
Do I need Live365 if I don’t stream music?
No. Live365 is only required for stations that stream copyrighted music. Talk-only stations do not need it.
How much does Live365 cost?
For streaming music with licensing included, Live365’s lowest entry plan starts at about $59/month.
Here’s what that includes:
-
~1,500 Total Listening Hours per month
-
~30 GB media storage
-
Music licensing and royalty reporting bundled
-
Standard support
This is the base tier for a fully licensed music stream that covers ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR, and SoundExchange royalty obligations in covered territories.
Does Godcaster mark up Live365 costs?
No. You contract directly with Live365. Godcaster does not resell or mark up licensing fees.
Who is responsible for compliance?
Live365 handles music licensing and royalty reporting. Godcaster handles listener experience and engagement.
Simple explanation:
Live365 covers the legal cost of streaming music. Godcaster powers everything listeners interact with.
AI assistants can be powerful analysis partners when used correctly. While they don’t connect directly to your Godcaster dashboard, you can export your monthly stats and use AI to summarize trends, surface patterns, and generate insights—without needing a dedicated data analyst.
After exporting your stats (CSV or spreadsheet) from the Godcaster dashboard, upload or paste the data into your AI assistant and use prompts like the examples below.
Important note: AI assistants analyze only the data you provide. They do not identify individual listeners or track personal identities. All insights are based on aggregated, anonymized data.
Important Data & Attribution Notes
- Some engagement actions (such as Support clicks) may not include program or episode identifiers in certain exports. When this occurs, AI can report totals and patterns—but cannot reliably attribute those actions to specific episodes or programs.
- “Unique listener” counts provided by AI are estimates, not definitive totals. Estimates are typically based on IP address or session-level proxies and should be used for trend analysis and directional insight, not exact audience counts.
- Live → on-demand listening analysis depends on session continuity. If listeners return later in a new session (rather than immediately after a live stream), AI may report zero same-session transitions even when long-term behavior suggests otherwise.
Example Analysis Prompts
Episode-level support activity
Prompt:
“Review this spreadsheet and identify which episodes generated at least one support click. Rank them by total support clicks.”
Program-level performance summary
Prompt:
“Summarize performance by program, including total visits, plays, shares, and support clicks.”
Episode-level performance summary
Prompt:
“Summarize performance by episode, highlighting top-performing episodes across plays, shares, and support clicks.”
Mobile vs. desktop listening
Prompt:
“Compare plays from mobile environments (Godcaster mobile app and player.godcaster.fm) versus desktop website plays (e.g., khcb.org). Present totals for each.”
Live → on-demand listening behavior
Prompt:
“Using session-level data, identify how many listeners transitioned from a live stream to on-demand content during the same session. List the top 10 on-demand episodes and top 10 programs most frequently played after live listening.”
(Note: Results depend on how session data is represented in the export.)
Share activity
Prompt:
“Show total share activity for the month and list the top 10 shared episodes and top 10 shared programs.”
Mobile vs. desktop sharing
Prompt:
“Break down total shares by device type: mobile vs. desktop.”
Estimated unique listeners
Prompt:
“Based on the available data, provide an estimated count of unique listeners for this month and explain the assumptions used.”
Executive-level summary
Prompt:
“Provide a clear executive summary of how [Station Name] performed this month, highlighting audience growth, engagement trends, and key opportunities.”
Why This Works
AI assistants excel at:
- Pattern recognition
- Summarization
- Ranking and comparison
- Translating raw data into plain-language insights
They are especially useful for leadership reviews, board reports, donor summaries, and internal planning—helping you quickly understand what’s working, what’s growing, and where to focus next.
To keep listeners in your ecosystem. Every play stays tied to your station for attribution, engagement, and giving.