Grab current podcast URL?

[plum]

Is there a keyboard command to grab the current playing or highlighted podcast URL?

Thnaks for a neat programme for podasts!
JOhn

[jeff-hughes]

Hey John,

No, there currently isn't something like that. I hadn't thought of adding that sort of feature. Are you asking about the URL for the podcast (i.e., the RSS feed), or the URL for the episode (i.e., the mp3 file)? Or both?

[plum]

Hi Jeff,
Sorry for delay getting back to you. Hope you like the idea.
I certainly find the feature useful, for sharing the episode url to whoever or wherever I would like. That is not an infrequent wish when listening to podcasts.
Sometimes also, it's useful to go straight to the web page oneself, in order to check the episode notes, which contains links to references.

The podcast (rss feed) url itself is occasionally useful to grab, when making a general recommendation, where the recipient can simply listen to the latest episode, and search back in time, as they may desire. This is a less common wish. Less important, less frequent generally, as I find things, and imagine for others too.

I'm sure such a feature is an indispensable feature. It's something you have with for example, VimB browser, Newsboat article feed reader.
I'm not sure exactly how much work it would take to implement, but you seem to be well in control as a tailor of your application, which I use now in place of gpodder, and I would expect it to be not so hard. But I'm surprised you haven't already considered it!!

Sincerely,
John

[jeff-hughes]

Thanks for the explanation. In principle, I like the idea; I have no problem with adding a feature like this.

However, I'd like something that works reasonably consistently, and as I'm looking through RSS feeds for several podcasts, I don't see a lot of consistency. I checked half a dozen podcasts I listen to regularly, and of just that short list:

• One had a <link></link> tag for each episode linking to a website page for the episode (i.e. the "show notes").
• Two had no URL whatsoever -- they had the URLs to the mp3 files, of course, but nothing else with a show notes page; just a URL for the website as a whole. However, they both have "show notes" available on their websites that aren't referenced in the RSS feed.
• One had a URL to the show notes, but it was stored in the <guid></guid> tag instead (most feeds use this tag to include a random unique identifier, but it can be used for a permalink as well).
• Two had <link></link> tags for each episode, but the URL led to a separate service where the mp3 files are hosted. There's a page with the description, etc., but it is still distinct from the "show notes" page. As an example, the <link></link> tag leads here, while the main website for the podcast has its own page for the episode here. The latter page is not referenced in the RSS feed at all.

In short, there's very little consistency that I can see from one podcast to the next in this. Ideally, I think the best URL to provide would be to a "show notes" page, which will also typically contain a link or embedded media player with the episode as well. That seems like the most "shareable" option to me. Of course, not all podcasts have show notes, and that's fine, but the problem is that I'm seeing podcasts that do have show notes that aren't directly referenced in the RSS feed. In most cases, it's probably somewhere in the episode description instead. The other option would be the URL to the mp3 file itself, which is always available, but...I don't know, that doesn't feel very "shareable" to me.

So the bottom line is....I like the idea, but if you have any thoughts about how to get a reasonably reliable shareable URL out of podcast feeds, I'd love to hear it.

[plum]

Agree with your observations Jeff.
Its worth mentioning also that not all podcasts there are two kinds of show notes: those about the show (possibly helped by the title too), and those that include links to references. That is especially true of conscientious sites with diligent reportage.

These are my thoughts on the variability you see, as follows:
The variability is always going to be there.
The main thing is its the podcast listener's responsibility to find out what they are offering as a link before sharing it. With familiar podcast productions, that will be a given.
Moreover, when sharing an episode oneself, you are likely to provide your own description or reason for sharing it.
Conclusion: The main thing is that it references the mp3 file.

Your example of one that referenced tags only, is IMO far from any standard expectation (ie lousy).
We could forget that kind; they do pop up, and I think quite possibly without any worthy content. Well that;s how I feel about such sites; I don't mind no show notes or a lazy approach to notes, but that kind of linking is unforgivable if not corrected early on by the producer, whatever their kind. It lacks conscientiousness or seriousness. Its irresponsible not to find these things out, if your serious about what you produce.
On the other hand, to be kind, perhaps they picked the wrong content producer, and are slow to take on the responsibility of publishing podcasts. After all we still get blogs, articles, journals, and MSM publishing without dates! Very often we haven't a clue what country it is published in.
Well, If it is good stuff, then you or I as the listener, may notify them of the problem!

My conclusion regarding sharing a reliable URL, is that its the responsibility of the podcast listener who wishes to share the link. It should not grabbed to share like 'share on facebook' type thing, its more like the facility of offering a special fine wine to specific person or group. An occasional considerate offering of something you've digested.
I say occasional, but for a listener who listens to more than 1 or two podcast shows a week, that could be something that occurs to the listener once or twice a week (i speak for myself).
John