Simplify your podcast listening habits with this handy app

TL;DR: Keep your podcasts in one convenient place with a lifetime membership to Player FM's Podcast Player Premium Plan for just $39.99. See what I thought of it in my review below!

From keeping you company while you work from home, entertaining you on the morning commute, or helping you wind down in the bathtub, there are many ways to enjoy a good podcast these days.

As a newly minted mother of three boys, I know that podcasts can also be a great way for parents to feel like they're getting in some adult conversation (Doing that without having to shower or leave the house? What more could I ask for?). But if you're seemingly pulled in multiple directions most days, you may have noticed it can be hard to keep up with your favorite pods. 

Not only are there multiple platforms to listen on — Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Audible...the list goes on and on — there are thousands of shows to choose from. For those with multiple favorites, it can also be tough to stay on top of which episodes you've already devoured and which ones are new to you.

And if I've requested Alexa to play the latest episode of "Everything Iconic with Danny Pellegrino" one morning while making three breakfasts and inevitably have to stop to tend to a potty training incident, good luck to me on figuring out where I left off when I later try and pick it back up on my iPhone. 

Since I've tried to stay organized on one platform to no avail, it was time to call in some reinforcements and attempt to pin down my preferred podcasts in one spot. Player FM boasts some pretty impressive features that seemed to solve most of my pod problems, so I checked out their Podcast Player Premium Plan to see if it was worth the hype.

Here's how Player FM stands out

Right out of the gate, Player FM is different because it's an independent podcast player. My usual go-to podcast app on my phone has been Spotify, and recently, their own podcasts have been receiving some pretty prime placement on my feed. That's pretty frustrating when you're seeking out certain shows, so I appreciate that Player FM has some neutrality when it comes to serving up content. 

When you set up your account, you can let Player FM know your topic preferences. Fortunately, that won't be public information, so the fact that I skip anything high-brow and prefer pop culture podcasts that cover Bravo shows and celebrity gossip can stay my little secret (until now!).

Once you're set up, you can seek out your favorite pods and it's super straightforward to hit the plus sign and add it to your library. From there, you'll get an option to assign categories to that show, with other options like whether or not you want notifications about new episodes, the limit of episodes you'd like to download and download order. 

The coolest feature? It syncs your playlists, play history, and resume playback function across all of your various devices — from your iPad to Apple CarPlay — so you don't have to miss a moment or waste time trying to figure out where you left off. 

What kinds of podcasts are available...and what aren't

Player FM boasts more than 50 million podcast episodes on the app, and I was easily able to find my top favorites and add them to my collection. Once added, clicking the center bottom button "Following" reveals them all in an aesthetically pleasing manner — tiny versions of their main images that are easy to swipe through.

That screen also shows you a vertical list of all of their episodes in chronological order, making it easier than ever to find sparkling new content (a must if you can't get enough breakdowns of the season finale of "Summer House"). 

I was a little bummed that podcasts I subscribe to on Patreon will still have to be listened to on that app. I'd hoped there might be a way to import those episodes — but it doesn't look like that feature is available yet.

And though I couldn't import those special members-only episodes, it was nice to know there was an easy way to keep track of the free episodes. 

What I found using Player FM 

Since I'm still in the throes of newborn life, podcasts are a great way to stay entertained during all of those night feeds. That means I've exhausted all of my go-tos and am desperately seeking new podcasts on the regular. I was really hopeful Player FM could do that, and I thought enlisting all of my favorite podcasts would give them an idea of what I liked.

That is one area where the app failed me, after inputting over a dozen pop culture pods, my "Recommended for You" section was...clearly not recommended for me.

BBC, CNN, and NPR podcasts are constantly served up, and while I might pretend I listen to those types of podcasts, it's not true. (What part of seventeen episodes chronicling the breakdown of Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke's failed engagement gave them that idea?).

Since I never gave the app any indication that I wanted anything related to hard news, I'm assuming this will be the case for others, and the recommended apps are the same across the board. 

Despite not loving the recommendations, I will say searching topics was very helpful. A search for Bravo yielded some brand new-to-me shows I'd never even heard of when I previously felt like I listened to every single one that exists. 

One fun feature my other podcast platforms don't offer is relaxing sounds! Under the Playlist menu, there's a "Relax and Sleep" option that provides all kinds of soothing soundscapes. Go to sleep to the sound of "Rain on Window" or zen out to "Peaceful Lake" after a long day with the kids or at the office.

How you can listen

I personally love to download podcasts and listen to them offline, as I put my phone in Airplane Mode at night time.Player FM gives me that option with offline listening.

And unlike the other apps I've used, which end up using precious space on my smartphone, they offer a space-saver feature that compresses those downloaded podcasts, which I really appreciate. 

A sleep timer is a must for me, and Player FM lets you drift off to some of my personal nighttime favorites, like "Office Ladies." There's also a Playlists and Bookmarks feature, so you can line up your listening for the night and even save your favorite parts. 

If you want to change up your podcast listening situation, take advantage this price drop on lifetime membership to Player FM's Premium Plan, now just $39.99 for a limited time! 

StackSocial prices subject to change.