Importing your podcast to beehiiv

Already hosting a podcast somewhere else? You can import your existing podcast directly into beehiiv, setup a 301 redirect, and nothing about your existing show is lost in the process:

• Your show metadata and episodes carry over as-is.
• Each episode keeps its unique ID number (called a GUID) behind the scenes, so podcast apps recognize your imported episodes as ones you've already published, not new ones, meaning your listeners won't be prompted to re-download your entire back catalog.
• Your old RSS feed can be redirected to beehiiv, so listeners on your old feed automatically start receiving new episodes from beehiiv once you're ready.

Moving your podcast over to beehiiv is a three-step process:

1. Import your existing episodes and show details into beehiiv.
2. Redirect your old feed so listening apps know to look at beehiiv going forward.
3. Publish new episodes on beehiiv from that point on. This is the ongoing step, not a one-time task; import only brings over your back catalog.

For information on creating a new podcast from scratch, not a content import, see Creating a podcast on beehiiv.

Importing brings over your show metadata and episodes from your current host, and preserves your original episode GUIDs so your subscribers' podcast apps won't treat imported episodes as new downloads.

1. From the left panel, go to Podcasts.
2. If you haven’t created a show yet, select the option to Import podcast.
   
   
   
   
   If you have a show set up, your Podcasts dashboard will open. In the top right corner, click the arrow next to Create show and then select Import show.
   
   
   
3. A Podcast import details wizard opens. Answer each question, then click Continue to move to the next step:
   
   What podcast hosting platform are you importing from? Select your current host from the list (Acast, ART19, Blubrry, Buzzsprout, Captivate, Castos, Libsyn, Megaphone, Omny Studio, Podbean, Podigee, Podomatic, Podspace, RedCircle, RSS.com, Simplecast, SoundCloud, Spotify for Creators, Spreaker, Transistor) or Other if it isn't listed. 
   
   
   
   
   How many episodes are in your podcast feed? Choose an estimate from the dropdown (an exact count isn't required). 
   
   
   
   
   What format is your podcast in? Check all that apply: Audio (audio-first episodes distributed by RSS) and/or Video (episodes include video or a separate video upload workflow). 
   
   
   
   
   Do you monetize your podcast? Check all that apply: I bake ads into the episodes (ads are part of the audio file you upload), I insert ads dynamically (ads are inserted with dynamic ad insertion, or DAI, by an ad server), or No, it does not have ads. 
   
   
   
   
   Do you currently use the beehiiv Podcast Feed block? Select Yes or No. This refers to the content block in Website Builder that pulls in episodes from an externally hosted podcast RSS feed. 
   
   
   

4. On the final step, review a summary of your answers (current host, episodes in feed, format, and monetization, and whether you use the Podcast Feed block). Confirm the details, then paste your Podcast RSS feed URL into the field provided. Once you’ve added your URL, click on Submit for import. 

   Tech Note: This must be an RSS or XML feed address (often labeled "RSS feed" or "Podcast feed" in your host's settings). Page links for Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts will not work. By submitting, you confirm that you own or have a license to the content being imported.
   
   
   Where to find your RSS feed URL: Your current host's dashboard usually has this listed under a section called Distribution, Destinations, Feed, or Settings. A few common examples:
   
   Buzzsprout: the Directories tab, then RSS Feed
   Libsyn: the Destinations tab
   Spotify for Creators: Settings > Podcast availability, under RSS Distribution
   Simplecast: the gear icon in the top left, then Distribution
   Acast: your show's Distribution tab
   
   If your host isn't listed here, check its help center for 'RSS feed' or 'podcast feed,' most platforms label it one of those two ways.
   
   
   

5. Import progress can be monitored from your Podcasts dashboard.

Think of a podcast 301 redirect like a change-of-address notice for your show. Once it's in place, apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify stop checking your old feed and start looking to beehiiv for new episodes and updates instead, the same way mail gets forwarded to a new address.

You set this up with your previous podcast host, not with beehiiv. It does not delete, cancel, or disable your show on your old host, and it doesn't touch the metadata, episodes, or episode IDs that already carried over during import. Your account there and your existing episodes stay exactly as they are. The redirect only changes where podcast apps look for new content going forward.

If you skip this step, listeners who are still subscribed to or following your old host's feed won't automatically see new episodes you publish on beehiiv, and your beehiiv download numbers won't reflect your full audience.

After importing your episode archive to beehiiv, you'll need to set up a 301 redirect on your current hosting platform. Without a 301 redirect to the new beehiiv RSS feed in place, your existing subscribers will no longer see new episodes in the podcast platform they're subscribed under once you stop publishing via the old platform and start publishing via beehiiv.

Find the redirect instructions for your current host below:

• Spotify for Podcasters (fka Anchor)
• Buzzsprout
• Libsyn
• Podbean
• Transistor
• Simplecast
• Megaphone
• RSS.com
• Captivate
• Spreaker
• Blubrry
• Acast
• SoundCloud
• Podomatic
• RedCircle

If you don't see your host listed, check your platform's help center for instructions on setting up a 301 redirect or feed forwarding.