Break up long podcasts with music

[SirBuvex]

Some podcasts are much longer than an hour, so it can be quite exhausting to listen to them in one go. So it would be very cool if there was an option to pause the podcast in between to play some songs and then resume the podcast.

Here's how that would work:

While uploading:

When uploading the podcast, the host could set pause markers where the podcast can be paused (topic changes or short pauses in conversations would be great for this, for example). If there are no break markers set, an algorithm could also do that job break markers.

Settings:

In the Spotify app, there would be a slider to set values between 10 (pause podcasts about every 10 minutes - the closest pause marker is used) and infinite (play all podcasts without break).

Another slider lets you set the length of the pauses in your podcast. Depending on that, more or less songs will then be played during the break.

Play:

When you play a playlist, you simply add the podcast to the queue so Spotify knows you want to listen to music from that playlist in between (unless, of course, your first slider is set to infinite or to values longer than the duration of the current podcast).

It would be great, if this feature gets added to Spotify 😄

[Joan]

Updated on 2023-09-24

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Cheers!

[Lushain]

OR, you can pause your podcasts yourself smarty, spotify anyways saves the timestamp of where you left off

[SirBuvex]

But that isn’t very practical for example while driving 

[edu_barbosa3]

Finally, I found a thread that reflects a wish I’ve had for a long time — and honestly, it’s put into words here far better than I could have done myself.

Everything outlined above makes perfect sense, and I especially appreciate the idea of podcast creators defining pause markers themselves. That alone would help ensure breaks don’t cut through key arguments or narrative flow. Having the option for Spotify to assist with automatic break detection (when the creator hasn’t set any) is a smart fallback.

As someone who listens to long podcasts mostly while driving, this feature would be a game-changer. And I agree 100% with the idea of choosing a playlist that plays during the breaks — that level of integration between music and spoken-word content is exactly what a lot of us are missing today.

Just to echo and gently reinforce a few points from my own perspective:

• This isn’t about not knowing how to hit pause — it’s about not needing to. Especially when you’re driving or in another situation where interacting with your phone isn’t safe or convenient. The brilliance of this idea is that it makes long-form listening more natural and less tiring, without interrupting user flow or requiring extra setup.
• And while some might say “just build your queue ahead of time,” that doesn’t really solve the problem. If I put a 3-hour podcast at the top of the queue, the music I want to hear in between won’t play until the episode is over — which could take several commutes. This feature would create a smarter, more adaptive experience — one that respects context and intent, not just queue order.
• I also believe this could be great for creators — particularly independent ones. If breaks are placed thoughtfully (by the creator or system), they can increase engagement and completion rates. Plus, there’s potential for creative use of these slots: cross-promotion, bonus content, or even community-curated playlists between segments.

Spotify is already good at blending music and podcasts in playlists like “Your Daily Drive,” but this idea would bring something even more flexible — putting real control in the listener’s and the creator’s hands, without forcing a format shift.

Really hope this gets picked up — it’s a subtle but powerful improvement for the whole platform.