Miss playlists in Podcasts on Catalina? Use this feature

When macOS Catalina was still in its beta version before the public release, there were some questions regarding upcoming features and limitations to the new Podcasts app on Mac. One of the uncertainties was surrounding podcast playlists.

Well, that uncertainty is no more since macOS Catalina’s official release. The newly added Podcasts app on Mac does not offer a playlist feature. This is a real bummer for many who count on those playlists for organizing their favorite podcasts and their library.

Until and unless Apple releases an update to Podcasts on Mac giving users playlists, you do have another option that might make you happy. This feature is called Stations and we’ll show you how you can use a Station as a podcast playlist.

Related:

• Create Smart Playlists in Music and TV on Mac with macOS Catalina
• How to play podcasts continuously in iOS 13-11 & iPadOS with Apple’s Podcasts app
• Apple Watch Music or Podcasts Not Working, How-To Fix

Create a Station in Podcasts on Mac

A Station in Podcasts on Mac has many similarities to a playlist. You can create and name your Station, choose which podcasts are included, and play the entire Station of podcast episodes.

Here’s how to get started with creating a Station:

1. Open Podcasts on your Mac and click File > New Station from the menu bar.
2. In the New Station pop-up window, give your Station a title.
3. Click Save.

In the window that follows, you’ll set up your Station Settings.

• Title: Click to change the name of your Station.
• Play: Select the order to play your podcasts from Manual Show Order, Newest to Oldest, Oldest to Newest, or Manual.
• Group by Podcast: Enable the toggle to have your podcasts grouped within the Station.
• Episodes: Choose the episodes to include in your Station from Most Recent, Most Recent 2, 3, 5, or 10, or All Episodes.
• Media Type: Pick All, Audio, or Video for the type of media.
• Unplayed Only: Enable the toggle to include only those episodes you have not played yet.

Choose your podcasts

Once you complete the above settings for your Station, you’ll pick the podcasts that you want in it. Remember, only podcasts that you’re already subscribed to will be available for the Station.

Click Choose Podcasts and select each podcast you want or enable the toggle at the top for Include All Podcasts.

When you finish adding podcasts, click the arrow on the top left to go back.

Adjust individual podcast episodes

When you create your Station, you’ll select an option for the episodes to include in the Episodes section described above. However, you can adjust individual podcasts if you like.

On the Station Settings screen, click the podcast you want to change. You can then select which recent (or all) episodes to include.

For example, you may set up a Film Station to include the Most Recent 5 episodes of your movie podcasts. But you can change the Filmspotting podcast to only include the Most Recent episode instead.

Changing one podcast will not affect the default settings for the rest of the podcasts in your Station.

If you’re finished with all of the settings, click Done.

Your newly created Station will be listed in the app sidebar on the left under Stations.

Play your Station

You have three quick and easy ways to play a podcast Station on Mac.

• Click Controls > Play from the menu bar.
• Right-click or hold Control and click the Station in the sidebar and pick Play.
• Click the Station in the sidebar to open it, click the More button (three-dot icon) on the Station screen, and pick Play.

Edit your Station

If you subscribe to more podcasts and would like to add them to an existing Station, or make changes to your Station settings, this is easy.

Right-click or hold Control and click the Station in the sidebar and pick Settings. Or, click the Station in the sidebar to open it, click the More button on the Station screen, and pick Settings.

You’ll then see the same Station Settings window that you did when you originally created the Station and can make any changes necessary.

To add podcasts, go down to and click Choose Podcasts to add the ones you want to the Station.

You can remove podcasts from your Station by clicking them which will remove the green checkmark.

Delete a Station

If you decide to remove a Station that you create, this is simple too.

• Right-click or hold Control and click the Station in the sidebar and pick Delete Station.
• Click the Station in the sidebar to open it, click the More button on the Station screen, and pick Delete Station.

Enjoy your podcast Station on Mac

As you can see, the Stations feature is very similar to a playlist feature. This makes it a great option for the Podcasts app on Mac.

Are you going to create a Station in Podcasts now? Let us know if you enjoy the feature in the comments below!

Sandy Writtenhouse( Contributing Writer )

Sandy worked for many years in the IT industry as a project manager, department manager, and PMO Lead. She then decided to follow her dream and now writes about technology full-time. Sandy holds a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology.

She loves technology– specifically – terrific games and apps for iOS, software that makes your life easier, and productivity tools that you can use every day, in both work and home environments.

Her articles have regularly been featured at MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog and many other leading tech publications.