If you are like me, you've released a podcast episode and found out later something was wrong with it.
Recently, I had someone take over my podcast as an April Fools Day joke. It was hilarious for the first week, but after the “holiday” passed, I felt it important to prepend the episode with a note so new subscribers wouldn’t be confused.
Other reasons you want to replace a podcast you previously released to your feed:
- Someone announced an incorrect date or location
- You want to replace an old sponsor with a new advertiser
- Want to prepend an older episode with an important update!
- Corrupted file or editing mistake (like the one Carey Green made on Podcastification)
I’ve made mistakes before and wished there was an easy way to fix it.
Well, you can if you host your MP3 files with libsyn (BluBrry too).
How to replace a file in libsyn (step-by-step video):
Here are the steps to replace a file in libsyn:
- Re-record or append your podcast MP3 file
- Log into your Libsyn account
- Go to Content / Previously Published
- Find the episode you want to replace and click Edit (the pencil symbol)
- Click on Replace
- Upload your new file (from hard drive, FTP, URL or DropBox)
- Click Publish
That’s it. You don’t have to resubmit anything to iTunes or Stitcher and you don’t have to replace embed codes or direct download URLs in the original blogpost.
It’s all done. Everything will be as if you took a book off the shelf, removed a page or wrote something in the margins, and replaced it on the shelf. Anyone taking the book off the shelf will get the new, amended media.
If you have questions about recording or editing your podcast then contact me. I’ll be glad to help you along with the hundreds of others who have learned from my mistakes!
Watch Ray Ortega, Dave Jackson, and Daniel J. Lewis and moi discuss reasons for modifying past episodes:
Important note here Steve, this won’t actually work for Stitcher since they take your original file from your feed and host it themselves, on their own servers. Would you need them to delete that file.
Ray,
I just replaced a libsyn file and noticed that it didn't update on Stitcher. How do you go about making the change?
You should be able to contact Stitcher support via their email at partners@stitcher.com
Steve,
Thanks a ton for the help! I looked around online for a while and couldn't find an easy-to-implement answer until I came across this.
Simple and easy to do!
Steve,
The libsyn tutorial didn't mention the note about keeping the file name the same. I just replaced media on libsyn and now that episode won't play on iTunes. It still lists the episode, but when you click play… nothing. Could this be because I replaced it with a file with a different name?
-Doug
Hi Doug, I’m sorry you missed the step about keeping the file name the same (I had forgot to mention it verbally when I recorded the video so I placed an on-screen tip at the :52 mark and in the post notes).
However, this should not cause your new upload to be unplayable. In theory, it should be pulling the new file. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the new file take affect. Does the problem still exist today? If so, contact libsyn support to see what they recommend. Here is a link that might help http://support.libsyn.com/faqs/editing-an-episode/
Thanks Steve. I was actually refering to the file replacement tutorial on the libsyn help page. I'm glad you added the note to your tutorial.
That being said, today the iTunes link is playing fine. I guess it just takes some time for it to get back up to speed after you swap the file.
I'll contact Stitcher about how to get my new file posted there. Thanks for your quick responses!