Logging your DEFCON feed into your podcast app.
You paid for a DEFCON tier. You got the welcome email. Now your app won’t take the URL. Happens to everyone. Two minutes from here to listening.
▌ THE ONE THING
COPY the feed URL we sent you. Don’t click it.
Clicking the link in the email opens it in your browser, which is useless. You need to copy it as text and paste it into your podcast app. Long-press the link on mobile, or right-click on desktop, and choose Copy link.
The address your app needs.
Cold War has six premium tiers. The URL we emailed you matches the one you signed up for — it’s one of these:
DEFCON1 · Monthly
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon1-monthly
DEFCON1 · Annual
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon1-annual
DEFCON2 · Monthly
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon2-monthly
DEFCON2 · Annual
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon2-annual
DEFCON3 · Monthly
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon3-monthly
DEFCON3 · Annual
https://www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon3-annual
Lost the welcome email? Email cameron@motherlode.com.au and we’ll resend it with your username and password.
Pick yours. Follow the steps.
▌ iPhone / iPad
Apple Podcasts
- Open the Podcasts app.
- Tap Library at the bottom.
- Tap the three dots (…) in the top right, then Follow a Show by URL.
- Paste your feed URL from above.
- When asked, enter the username and password from your welcome email.
▌ Mac / Windows
Apple Podcasts (Desktop)
- Open the Podcasts app on your Mac or PC.
- Click the File menu in the top bar.
- Click Follow a Show by URL…
- Paste your feed URL, then click OK.
- Enter your username and password when prompted.
▌ Android
Podcast Addict
- Install Podcast Addict from the Play Store (free).
- Tap the + button to add a podcast, then RSS Feed.
- Paste the feed URL with your credentials embedded:
https://USERNAME:PASSWORD@www.acoldwar.com/feed/defcon1-monthly(replaceUSERNAMEandPASSWORDwith the ones from your welcome email; swap the feed slug for whichever tier you signed up for) - Tap Add.
Tip: if it complains, try changing https:// to http://.
Downcast, Overcast, Podcast Republic, Castbox.
Most podcast apps support premium feeds — they just hide the option in different places. The full set of instructions, including platform-specific quirks, lives on the TPN central page.
Full instructions for every app →▌ HEADS UP: SPOTIFY AND GOOGLE PODCASTS DON’T SUPPORT PREMIUM RSS FEEDS. POCKET CASTS REMOVED THE FEATURE IN 2023.
Before you shoot us a support email…
…we encourage you to self-medicate. The most common support emails we get are these three.
Q: “Hey I didn’t get the email to tell me how to get the feed onto my phone!”
A: Check your spam folder. If all else fails, keep reading.
Q: “I’ve got a new phone and deleted the instruction email you originally sent me!”
A: The instructions are right above — scroll back up to Section 02. If you can’t remember your password, reset it here.
Q: “Your instructions don’t work! I’ve even asked my 12-year-old tech genius nephew to help me and HE says they are shit!”
A: Yes they do work. We’ve got thousands of subscribers who haven’t had a problem. It’s you, not us. However if you’re absolutely sure you’ve found a bug, email us using the address below.
Email Cameron. He probably did this exact thing yesterday.
cameron@motherlode.com.au →Include your podcast app name and a screenshot of where you’re stuck if you can — speeds the reply up by about a day.