How to use Podcasts in Android’s Google Play Music

Google Play Music has taken a smart leap forward with its integration of podcasts as one of its awesome features. Thanks to this, searching, browsing through and streaming all your favorite podcasts is now possible.You no longer need to rely on a third-party app or switch between apps, as you will have all your music and podcasts in one place. Though the podcasts within the Google Play Music are short on a few useful features, there are still a number of ways you can make use of podcasts on Google Play Music.

Searching and subscribing to your favorite podcast within Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Hit the menu tab, the hamburger icon at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select the Podcasts option.
• You can find your favorite podcasts using one of three options:

1. All categories tab: Here you can choose a category from the list provided. The highest rated podcasts will appear on top of each category.
2. Top charts tab: This is usually on the main screen of Google Play Music podcasts. It consists of a selection of podcasts that are either popular among listeners or those that have been promoted.
3. Search tab: At the top right of your Google Play Music podcast screen, tap the search button, to find podcasts using their titles or subjects. The search results will display the podcasts you are looking for under the Podcasts heading.

• Select the podcast you want to subscribe to.
• Hit the Subscribe button.
• If you wish to have the three latest episodes always downloaded automatically, then tap the checkbox beside the Auto-download option.
• You can then tap the checkbox beside the Notifications option, to receive notifications whenever a new episode is uploaded.
• You also have the option of selecting the order of which episodes are played either from the newest to the oldest and vice versa, under the Playback order option.
• Hit Subscribe.

In case you want to unsubscribe, then follow the same steps.

Management of podcast subscriptions in Google Play Music

• The settings you had customized at the time of subscription can at any time be changed to your liking.
• From your home screen or app drawer, open the Google Play Music app.
• Tap the menu tab, the three lined, hamburger icon at the top left side of the screen.
• Hit the Podcasts option.
• Select Your Podcasts option at the top center of your screen.
• To manage the settings for a particular podcast, simply tap the three vertical dots icon on it, to go to the menu.
• Tap the Manage subscriptions option.

Each setting comes with a checkbox beside it, which you can simply tap to change it to your liking.

Sharing a podcast with Google Play Music

The podcast in Google Play Music comes with features that allow you to share single episodes of your podcasts or even your entire podcasts. There are five methods to do this:

Sharing podcasts via text message in Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Tap on the menu tab (the three lined, hamburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• On the podcast you want to select, tap the menu tab, which is the three vertical dots icon.
• Tap the Share option.
• Select the messaging app through which you wish to share the podcast.
• Type in the contact name of the person you wish to share the podcast.
• Tap Send.

Sharing podcasts via Facebook in Google Play Music

• Start up the Google Play Music app.
• Hit the menu tab (the harmburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select the Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• On the podcast you want to select, tap the menu tab, which is the three vertical dots icon.
• Tap the Share option.
• Select Facebook then tap Post.

Sharing podcasts via email in Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Tap on the menu tab (the three lined, hamburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• On the podcast you want to select, tap the menu tab, which is the three vertical dots icon.
• Tap the Share option.
• Select the email app you wish to use.
• Type in the email address for the person you wish to share the podcast.
• Tap Send.

Sharing podcasts via Google Hangouts in Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Tap on the menu tab (the three lined, hamburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• On the podcast you want to select, tap the menu tab, which is the three vertical dots icon.
• Tap the Share option.
• Select the Hangouts option.
• You may be asked to select an account.
• You can either tap New conversation or an existing one.
• Enter the contact details of the person you’d like to share the podcast.
• Hit the next arrow.
• Tap Send.

Sharing podcasts via Twitter in Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Tap on the menu tab (the three lined, hamburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• On the podcast you want to select, tap the menu tab, which is the three vertical dots icon.
• Tap the Share option.
• Tap Tweet.
• If required, Log in then tap Tweet.

Sharing single or individual podcast episodes in Google Play Music

• Launch the Google Play Music app.
• Tap on the menu tab (the three lined, hamburger icon) at the top left corner of the screen.
• Select Podcasts option.
• Either tap the Your Podcasts option at the top center of the screen, or the Search button, to find the podcast you wish to share.
• Tap the podcast from which you want to share an episode.
• Tap the circled ‘i’ info icon beside the episode you wish to share.
• Tap the Share option.
• Share as aforementioned.

What are some of your favorite features on Google Play Music podcasts? Let us know in the comments.