Comments on: podcast links without iTunes?

Question: podcast links without iTunes?

flameproof — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:56:15 -0800

I don't use iTunes, but many podcast links assume you do. Is there any way to 'decode' the podcast feed from the iTunes link?

I can't install iTunes at work, but I can run mypodder, and I'm quite happy with this. However, many podcast pages assume you're using iTunes and provide a link through to their page in the iTunes shop.

As an example, I'd like to subscribe to the Amazing Randi podcast, but the only links on his site are to iTunes:

http://itricks.com/randishow/
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=265623794

Frequently there is a link to the RSS somewhere on the site, but in this case I just can't find it. Is there a way to find out the address from the phobos link, or if not, is there a service somewhere that'll let me look at the iTunes web pages without iTunes?

By: Dreama

Dreama — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:44:42 -0800

There are a few ways that you can "find" an unlinked feed in a Wordpress run site, I ran through all the permutations and finally found http://itricks.com/randishow/index.php?feed=rss2 for you. That should work.

By: Dreama

Dreama — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:46:12 -0800

Also, it's worth it to drop a line to sites like this and point out the problem in listening to their podcast when they don't link their feed and try to force people through iTunes.

By: spock

spock — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:52:04 -0800

The RSS feed to the podcast you want is on this page: (in the right hand column).
Specifically, this is the feed URL to your podcast:
feed://itricks.com/news/?feed=rss2&category_name=podcasts

By: spock

spock — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:54:14 -0800

I stand corrected. That feed link is not to the James Randi podcast. But I would email them and ask them if they have a feed URL to it, since they sponsor the Randi Show podcast.

By: malevolent

malevolent — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:58:02 -0800

If you look at the HTML source of the site you'll often find the feed URL in a link tag towards the start (that works for your example Randi site).

By: boombot

boombot — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:26:31 -0800

feeds.feedburner.com/jamesrandi

In iTunes (the problem, I know, but say you did this from home in the future) you can view the description of a podcast after subscribing to it, and in that description is the URL.

By: flameproof

flameproof — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:01:13 -0800

Thanks for the help so far. This page is the closest I've found to answering the question; it's not pretty, but it seems to work.

By: keith0718

keith0718 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:25:55 -0800

I use FeedDemon. I got the feed by subscribing to the URL of the website you provided, and FeedDemon simply detected the feed within it.

By: jasonweaver

jasonweaver — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:23:50 -0800

spock found the needle in the haystack, but FWIW, mypodder has a bookmarklet that should take care of this automagically for other sites here.

I tried it on the site and it found two feeds, which both appear to have the same content; one runs through feedburner, the other does not.

Also, I don't think this would help in the case where there was ONLY an iTunes subscription link...

By: ssukotto

ssukotto — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:47:40 -0800

Maybe it's easiest in your case just to hit up a podcast directory for the info. Podcast.com lists Amazing Randi and makes it easy to subscribe to the feed. Other directories:

Podcast Pickle: not as good for search but good category browse.
Podcast Alley: another good directory, although again the search functionality is lacking.

By: flameproof

flameproof — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:31:02 -0800

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. Unfortunately it seems that the only-provide-an-iTunes-link problem's actually fairly widespread; here's another I found today: Gravitas. Would there be a way of creating a bookmarklet to decode the iTunes link?