If you love using a Yoto player for screen-free listening, you might be wondering how to add hours of stories and education with your kids’ favorite podcasts. Unlike apps like Spotify, Yoto doesn’t stream podcasts directly. Instead, it uses something called an RSS feed: a simple link that delivers new and existing episodes right to your device. By adding podcasts to a MYO Yoto card, you can turn meaningful, “living” audio into your own custom Yoto cards for homeschool days, quiet time, or cozy afternoons at home.
Can you put podcasts on a Yoto card?
Yes – Yoto partners with podcasts via an RSS feed (link) to bring podcast audio to your account. By pairing the linked podcast to a MYO card, the podcast acts like an audio book. Each episode operates like a chapter in a book on the card. Kids can navigate through the podcast by switching episodes like they would switch tracks using the kid friendly controls.
What is an RSS link?
An RSS link is a web address that lets you subscribe to a podcast so new episodes are automatically delivered to your device. Its a URL for direct delivery from the podcast source to your device!
Why doesn’t Spotify show RSS feeds?
Podcasts on Spotify are hosted within their own platform or approved partners. Spotify facilitates users to consume content inside the Spotify app for engagement, analytics, and ads. Since RSS feeds are direct, Spotify does not list the RSS feeds so users will continue to use their third-party distribution, along with their analytics and ads.
How do I find the RSS feed for a podcast?
Let’s use the example of Thomas & Friends Storytime (US) podcast:
- Go to PODNEWS.NET to search for the podcast of interest
- In the search bar, enter the podcast name
- Select the correct podcast from the results
- Scroll down to the logos below “Listen & Follow” and the trailer snippet.
- Find the ‘RSS Feed’ Logo (orange) and select.
- Look for the phrases ‘feed’ or ‘rss’ in the RSS Feed.
- Copy the link and return to the Yoto app or your account on the Yoto website.
- Select ‘Add Podcast’ (the blue square) and paste the RSS Link into the search bar. At this point, you can also select an icon for the podcast.
- The app/website will create the podcast on your account and you can listen from your phone.
- Select ‘Link to Card’ to add the podcast to a MYO card!
How to Choose Podcasts for a Literature Loving Home
As gatekeepers of the home, parents have the unique responsibility of curating what enters. Or as we like to say, “from your wooden spoons” is best. Each family has unique ideals, permissions, and milestones for their kids – and media is an avenue to be individually navigated.
With literature (audio or not), we appreciate “living stories”, and limit “twaddle”. Charlotte Mason is a great guide for defining good literature guidelines. She wrote that “living stories” are books alive with thought and feeling, with conversational voice, touching emotion and firing the imagination. It is well-written, using language that challenges the mind and ability, but also not overly dry and factual. In contrast, Charlotte Mason defined “twaddle” as “trivial, condescending, or poorly written children’s literature that underestimates a child’s intelligence.” (1)
Sarah MacKenzie from Read Aloud Revival said, “The stories we read–and the conversations we have about them–help shape family traditions, create lifelong memories, and become part of our legacy.” (2)
Since audiobooks and podcast provide information, tale and truth at rapid speed, it makes all the more sense that parents should be well guarded in what doors they choose to open to their families. Podcasts might ought to be more regularly listened to together when listening to new content.
Good podcasts promotes:
- Living ideas vs. “twaddle”
- Rich vocabulary
- Slower pacing
- Imagination over stimulation
10 + Living Stories in Audio: Our Favorite Yoto-Friendly Podcasts
God’s Big Story: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/LEACI3029031814
Jungle Jam & Friends: https://anchor.fm/s/fe74e4c0/podcast/rss
Lamplighter Kids Stories: https://feeds.captivate.fm/lamplighter-kids-stories/
Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible: https://feeds.captivate.fm/nat-theo/
Paws & Tales: https://pawsandtales.org/feed/RSSPodcast/
The Biggest Story: https://feeds.simplecast.com/5Zp0tF7Z
Thomas & Friends Storytime: https://feeds.simplecast.com/tOjNXec5
Tiny Theologians: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1878916.rss
Very Veggie Silly Stories: https://rss.art19.com/veggietales-very-veggie-silly-stories
Welcome to Hope Springs: https://feeds.simplecast.com/jQwL_z90
Your Classical Storytime: https://feeds.apmreports.org/yourclassical-storytime
There are other podcasts that we frequent (Storytime with Philip and Mommy; Cuddlebug Storytime) that have read-alouds that we enjoy, like Disney Short Stories and Sophie Mouse. However, they read such an assortment of books and some do not align with our current ages or worldview, so having all of them accessible as a podcast isn’t the right option “for our wooden spoons”.
Filling Your Home with Living Ideas
As with any good book, the goal isn’t simply to fill time. It’s to shape hearts, minds, and imaginations. Podcasts can be a great addition to your home when chosen with intention, offering stories and ideas that linger long after the listening ends. Whether you’re building a quiet time rhythm, adding to your homeschool day, or creating cozy moments together, using RSS feeds and Yoto cards allows you to bring truly meaningful content into your child’s world, one story at a time.
If you’d like to continue building a thoughtful, literature loving home, you might enjoy reading:
Books to Build a Creative Summer at Home (For Kids of All Ages)
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