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Podcast Episodes

Turn a topic — or a single subtopic — into an audio episode you can take anywhere. A host interviews an expert guest about your own material, in the language your content is written in. You choose roughly how long it should run, and the episode is produced in the background while you carry on learning.

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The material you have already built is the script. A podcast turns it into something you can listen to on a walk, on a commute, or while doing the washing up.

Making an Episode

1 Open a Topic

Go to the topic you want an episode about.

2 Choose What It Covers

Press the headphones button on a single subtopic to cover just that section, or use the Podcast tile at the bottom of the topic page to cover the whole topic.

3 Pick a Length

Choose one of the length options: 3–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–25 or 25–30 minutes. A single subtopic goes up to 10 minutes; a whole topic goes up to 30. Five minutes is the default.

Lengths are approximate. The finished episode lands close to the range you chose rather than exactly on it.

4 Generate and Carry On

Press Generate episode. Production runs in the background — close the dialog and keep learning. You are told when the episode is ready.

Most episodes are ready in about 30 to 60 seconds.

What It Costs

Generating an episode uses credits, and longer episodes cost more. Before you press Generate, the dialog shows an estimate for the length you picked. You are charged for what is actually used — not the estimate — and only once the episode has finished.

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The shortest episodes start at around 40 credits and rise with length. The estimate shown before you generate is the figure to plan against; nothing is taken from your balance up front.

While It Is Being Made

An episode moves through four stages, and the dialog shows which one it is on:

  • Queued — waiting to start.
  • Writing the script — turning your material into an interview.
  • Recording the voices — the longest stage, and the one that shows progress as parts are recorded.
  • Putting the episode together — joining the parts into one recording.

There is no cancel button. By the time the panel appears the script has already been written and paid for, so stopping would waste the spend without saving you anything.

Listening

  • Play, pause and scrub through the episode.
  • Skip 15 seconds backwards or forwards.
  • Playback speed from 0.75× to 2×.
  • Download the episode as an MP3 file to keep.
  • Keep listening while you work — the player docks at the edge of the screen, so the episode carries on playing as you move around the app.

Languages and Voices

An episode is made in the language your topic's content is written in, which is not always the language of the interface. Arabic episodes are recorded with Arabic voices. Other languages are read by voices optimised for English — they will read your language, but with an accent.

Making a New Version

Once an episode is ready, Generate again creates a replacement. You can pick a different length, and the new episode takes the place of the old one.

An episode stays available until you replace it or delete the topic or subtopic it was made from. There is no expiry date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an episode take to produce?
Usually 30 to 60 seconds. Longer episodes take a little more, because each part is recorded separately. You do not have to wait for it: close the dialog, carry on learning, and you will be told when it is ready.
Can I download the episode?
Yes. The player has a download button and saves the episode as an MP3 file you can keep and play anywhere.
Can I keep using the app while an episode plays?
Yes. The player docks at the edge of the screen and keeps playing while you move between topics and modes.
How is this different from Read It Aloud?
Read It Aloud speaks an explanation exactly as written, with one narrator, and plays inside the app. A podcast is a newly written two-person conversation about the same material, and can be downloaded.
What happens if an episode fails?
It is marked as unfinished and you can try again. Nothing is charged for an episode that does not finish.
Can I choose the voices?
No. The host and guest voices are set for each language so that every episode sounds consistent.
Is there a limit on how many episodes I can generate?
There is no cap on the number of episodes and no daily or monthly quota. The only limit is your credit balance — each episode needs at least around 40 credits and costs according to its length, so how many you can make depends on how much credit you have rather than on a rule.