=== Podcast Blocks ===
Contributors: amandato
Tags: podcast, gutenberg, blocks, itunes, apple
Requires at least: 6.5
Tested up to: 6.9
Stable tag: 0.9.0
Requires PHP: 8.1
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Donate link: https://www.podcastblocks.com
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Create and manage podcast episodes using Gutenberg blocks with full Apple Podcasts-compatible RSS feed support.

== Description ==

**Podcast Blocks** makes it easy to turn any WordPress site into a full-featured podcast website. Add the *Podcast Episode* Gutenberg block to any post, upload or link your audio or video file, and the site will take over from there.

This truly is a simple podcasting plugin with the intent to stay simple and lightweight and does not require a paid subscription to use it.

ATTENTION: This version is intended for new podcasts. Migrating from an existing podcasting WordPress plugin such as PowerPress is not available in this release.

= Features =

* **Podcast Episode block** — Upload or link audio and video files directly from the block editor. Uploaded files are saved in `wp-content/uploads` organized by year and month, exactly the same way the standard WordPress media library works.
* **Apple Podcasts RSS extensions** — The plugin automatically adds the iTunes XML namespace and channel-level tags (author, owner, artwork, categories, explicit flag) to your RSS2 feed so your podcast appears correctly in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast directories.
* **Settings page** — Configure podcast title, description, author, contact email, website URL, language, explicit-content flag, primary and secondary iTunes categories, and your show artwork — all from a dedicated *Podcast Blocks* menu in wp-admin.
* **Easy Show artwork upload** — Upload a square show image (600×600 to 1400×1400 px, PNG or JPG) via the native WordPress media uploader. A size warning is shown if the selected image is outside the Apple Podcasts recommended dimensions.

== Installation ==

1. Upload the `podcast-blocks` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`.
2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** menu in WordPress.
3. Navigate to **Podcast Blocks** in the left-hand admin menu and fill in your podcast information including show artwork.
4. Create or edit any post, insert the **Podcast Episode** block, and upload or link your audio or video file.
5. Your Podcast feed at `https://example.com/feed/podcast/` includes iTunes-compatible channel tags and a proper `<enclosure>` element on each episode post.

== Screenshots == 

1. Podcast Bpocks' "Block" in WordPress Gutenberg editor
2. Podcast Blocks settings confirming requirements
3. Podcast Blocks settings with Podcast Subscribe Links
4. Podcast Blocks episode in blog post page
5. Podcast Blocks subscribe in-page popup

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Didn't you cofound Blubrry Podcasting and are the software architect who created PowerPress? Why make another podcasting plugin? =

Yes, that is me! After leaving Blubrry in 2022, I spent time talking to podcasters about what frustrated them most. The most common answer was clear: podcasting on WordPress should be simple. So I built Podcast Blocks with exactly that goal.

= How easy is it to podcast with Podcast Blocks? =

**INSANELY EASY!**

1 - Install and enable the plugin, fill out the required settings, and click save.

2 - Create a blog post, add the Podcast Episode block to your page where you want the player to appear, select your media file then publish.

3 - Submit your podcast feed to the podcast directories.

= Which RSS feed URL do I submit to podcast directories? =

Use the podcast only feed: `https://example.com/feed/podcast/` (or `?feed=podcast`).

= Can I link to a file hosted on a CDN, podcast service, or another server? =

Yes. Enter any publicly accessible URL in the Media URL field in the block sidebar.

= What audio and video formats are supported? =

**Audio** — MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG/OGA, FLAC, WAV

**video** — MP4, M4V, WebM, OGV, MOV.

= Can I use more than one Podcast Episode block per post? =

The plugin stores one enclosure per post (the most recently saved block's media URL). For podcast feeds, each post should contain one episode.

= Where is the show artwork stored? =

The artwork is uploaded to the WordPress media library and referenced by attachment ID, so it benefits from all standard WordPress image management and CDN offloading.

= Can I migrate to your plugin from another Podcasting plugin? =

Not currently. This version of Podcast Blocks is intended for a brand new podcast.

== Changelog ==

= 0.9.0 =

* 2026-05-11
* First public release of Podcast Blocks plugin.

= 0.0.1 =

* Initial release.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 0.0.1 =

Initial release — no upgrade steps required.
