> Due to its audio format, deaf and hard of hearing individuals have been excluded from podcast content. Click here to read how this is changing! Blog Deaf Culture May 7, 2024 4 mins Updated July 2, 2026 # Advances in Podcast Accessibility Due to its audio format, deaf and hard of hearing individuals have been excluded from podcast content. Click here to read how this is changing! ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/8bd804d3ed62329e46e716a9205f8bffa914a0e4-500x667.jpg?rect=0,84,500,500&w=48&h=48&fit=crop&auto=format) Molly Glass ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/5448055de2bce38171f7c8c4df05774ce711432e-1344x768.avif?w=1280&fit=crop&auto=format) - [What are podcasts?](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#what-are-podcasts) - [“The Buzz” Podcast](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#the-buzz-podcast) - [Accessible Audio](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#accessible-audio) - [Apple Podcasts](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#apple-podcasts) - [Spotify Podcasts](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#spotify-podcasts) - [Google Live Captioning](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#google-live-captioning) - [List of Accessible Spotify Creators](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#list-of-accessible-spotify-creators) - [How can I create a Deaf-friendly podcast?](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#how-can-i-create-a-deaf-friendly-podcast) - [Summary](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#summary) Table of Contents - [What are podcasts?](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#what-are-podcasts) - [“The Buzz” Podcast](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#the-buzz-podcast) - [Accessible Audio](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#accessible-audio) - [Apple Podcasts](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#apple-podcasts) - [Spotify Podcasts](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#spotify-podcasts) - [Google Live Captioning](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#google-live-captioning) - [List of Accessible Spotify Creators](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#list-of-accessible-spotify-creators) - [How can I create a Deaf-friendly podcast?](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#how-can-i-create-a-deaf-friendly-podcast) - [Summary](https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh#summary) ![](https://rylo.com/_astro/hero-sky-background.qaFu5Zgx_Z2c7tg0.webp?dpl=dpl_7oLfk1SKag5mwN8gXXB3UQDZL8JR) No more feeling left out. Rylo lets your voice be heard. Join the thousands of people who use Rylo! Molly Glass Molly, a Deaf mom of two CODAs, lives with her hearing partner of almost 14 years in the scenic Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Profoundly Deaf since 18 months old, she enjoys writing about the lived Deaf experiences and advocacy. In her free time she reads, and is very slowly working on authoring her first book. Once a hearing-centric activity, deaf and hard of hearing people are now tuning in thanks to new inclusive measures! Read on to learn more. ## What are podcasts? Podcasts are audio content streamed for the public to listen to. They can have many purposes, from educational and entertainment to event commentary. Similar to radio shows, a key difference is that listeners can tune in at any time since they’re prerecorded and not live. Obviously, due to its audio format, deaf and hard of hearing individuals have been excluded from this type of content for some time. Recently, platforms like Apple and Spotify have added accessibility features to their podcast content. ## “The Buzz” Podcast Did you know that Rylo has a podcast? Available on multiple platforms, including Spotify and Apple, The Buzz contributes insights from the Rylo CEO and many guest speakers with the choice to watch, listen, and read transcription. It was created with accessibility in mind from the beginning. ## Accessible Audio There is still work to improve podcast accessibility. Historically, many deaf and hard of hearing people typically ask content creators to include transcripts of the shows for them to read. A post went viral years ago of a [Deaf person on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasts/comments/7jg37p/as_a_deaf_person_i_get_sad_when_i_think_of/) sharing their feelings of being left out of this form of content. Many people replied, sharing which episodes were known to include transcripts. ## Apple Podcasts Apple released a feature in March 2024 for podcasts to have interactive transcripts. You can search for a word and tap to play from that section. As the episode plays, each word in the transcript is highlighted so you can see the progress in real time and follow along. ![Screenshot of an Apple podcast transcript. Image credit: Apple Support](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/963c151c53cbf9789e2b5b3c2796e141915440f9-1170x1551.jpg?w=740&fit=crop&auto=format) *Screenshot of an*Apple *podcast transcript. Image credit:*[Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118668) If you have iOS 17.4 and beyond, this feature with transcripts is now accessible for podcasts in English, French, German, and Spanish. This feature is also available in over 170 countries and regions. ## Spotify Podcasts Historically, podcasts on this platform were not always accessible. However, a few years ago, Spotify announced a new beta feature, auto transcription, to make podcasts more accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. The new feature will automatically generate transcripts for the shows, allowing users to read the text of the specific podcasts on their phones, either with or without sound. As of 2023, Spotify is rolling out this feature to free and premium subscribers at no additional cost to their users. ## Google Live Captioning There are also a few ways around obtaining a transcription for the content. If you tune into a Spotify podcast on your computer, Google Chrome has a live captioning feature you can use for any audio or video. To enable, open your Google Chrome browser: 1. At the top right, select **More …** 1. Scroll down and select **Settings.** 1. Select **Accessibility** 1. Toggle **Live Caption** to on 1. Under **Accessibility**, you can also select **Caption Preferences** to adjust color, font, and size. ![Image of a Spotify podcast with Google live captioning.](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/b90404204ea0f6409d0cde9e872fb1b8b5c94003-1056x606.png?w=740&fit=crop&auto=format) *Image of a Spotify podcast with Google live captioning.* The captioning box will automatically pop up the next time you play an audio or video. You can then move and position the captioning box around or double-click to expand it. Another method is to use a third-party website to download the audio file and upload it elsewhere for a transcription file. [Listen Notes](https://www.listennotes.com/) is one website for capturing audio files. It has a search bar to find your podcast and offers the audio file in an MP3 format from the website. To obtain a transcription, you can then upload the file using a [Notta Web App](https://www.notta.ai/en/web) or Chrome extension to generate readable text. The free tier provides 120 minutes at no cost each month. ## List of Accessible Spotify Creators It is up to each content provider to create an accessible podcast. While frustrating, the list of creators adding access to the content grows daily. The website [Podcast Accessibility](https://podcast-accessibility.com/) has a directory of an [ongoing list of podcasts](https://podcast-accessibility.com/directory/) that the deaf and hard of hearing can enjoy. ## How can I create a Deaf-friendly podcast? It is essential to include high-quality transcripts with each of your episodes. A wall of text with no breaks in dialogue or images makes it less enjoyable to read. Identify your speakers in the transcription and include relevant graphics or visual content. If you need a quick turnaround for transcription, services like [Rev](https://www.rev.com/) will create transcription or caption files. Another way to improve the experience is to have high-quality audio with no background noise, steady pacing, and clear cues, such as when changing topics. For YouTube podcast creators, having captioning files on the audio is a better choice than auto-captioning. ## Summary While there is room for improvements in podcasts and accessibility, it is encouraging to see the strides some platforms, such as Apple and Spotify, have made for the deaf and hard of hearing community. With live captioning extensions and third-party apps, podcast content is now more readily available to the deaf and hard of hearing. Content creators are still encouraged to take extra steps to create an equitable experience for all their followers by including transcriptions and captions. Molly Glass Molly, a Deaf mom of two CODAs, lives with her hearing partner of almost 14 years in the scenic Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Profoundly Deaf since 18 months old, she enjoys writing about the lived Deaf experiences and advocacy. In her free time she reads, and is very slowly working on authoring her first book. Share this article ## Read next [Deaf Culture ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/268e7bfe0e05ce61a42063249c37e7a960761a78-1999x1141.jpg?rect=144,0,1712,1141&w=480&h=320&fit=crop&auto=format) How to Call a Deaf Person on the Phone: The Complete 2026 Guide Need to call a deaf person on the phone? Learn how 711 relay services, VRS, captioned phones, and apps like Nagish make communication simple in 2026. June 12, 2026](https://rylo.com/post/how-to-call-a-deaf-person-on-the-phone)[Hearing Loss ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/8b2cce37205478470de29d744603fc2d46d6f26b-1999x1311.jpg?rect=17,0,1967,1311&w=480&h=320&fit=crop&auto=format) How to Know If You're Going Deaf in One Ear: Common Signs, Causes, and What to Do Next Wondering if you're going deaf in one ear? Learn the early signs of single-sided hearing loss, common causes, when it's an emergency, and what to do next. June 11, 2026](https://rylo.com/post/how-to-know-if-youre-going-deaf-in-one-ear)[Deaf Culture ![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/cp6a9qoi/production/0406b884d6c9ee39034f7e7bcf2ae19e0053834d-2000x1200.jpg?rect=100,0,1800,1200&w=480&h=320&fit=crop&auto=format) How to Sign "Deaf" in ASL Want to learn how to sign "deaf" in ASL? Follow step-by-step instructions, see accepted variations, avoid common mistakes, and understand Deaf culture. June 11, 2026](https://rylo.com/post/how-to-sign-deaf-in-asl) --- - HTML version of this page: https://rylo.com/post/podcast-accessibility-for-deaf-and-hoh - Every page also answers `Accept: text/markdown`, and has a `.md` twin at its own URL. - Agent index: https://rylo.com/llms.txt - Site map: https://rylo.com/sitemap.xml