Unable to add Eyes on Earth podcast. Unsupported feed type

App version: 3.5.0 (FDroid)

Android version: 14.0 (Samsung stock OS)

Device model: Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Expected behaviour: Searching online by podcast name returns the podcast and clicking on it opens podcast details, allowing you to subscribe, etc.

Current behaviour: Searching online by podcast name returns the podcast but clicking on it says “Latest refresh failed. Tap to view details.”

Details are: Unsupported feed type.
- Technical Reason: Invalid type.
- File URL: https://www.usgs.gov/podcasts/audio/141798/feed.xml

First occurred: 1 day ago (havent listened to this podcast before)

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Search for “Eyes on Earth”
  2. Click ‘Search online’ > Eyes on Earth podcast by USGS is listed as result.
  3. Click on the above result.

Environment: All stock, except Auto Download set to 50 episodes. Usually listen via wired earbuds or car bluetooth.

All other podcasts I have tried, work. Given that this podcast is active and on Youtube it works (presumably on Apple Music too), I am wondering if I am missing something or is it just something to do with this specific podcast.

Hi @ChiggyClaus,
Welcome to the AntennaPod community forum!

The W3C RSS feed validator does indicate some issues: Feed Validator Results: https://www.usgs.gov/podcasts/audio/141798/feed.xml

But I just tried (in 3.6 beta) both pasting the feed URL from USGS’s website, and searching for the podcast as you describe. Both work without issue. Maybe it was a temporary hiccup?

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Okay I tried it again. Problem persists. Decided to try a VPN for kicks, and it worked! I find this curious for the following reasons:

  1. I am able to browse usgs.gov from all my networks without issue and an able to stream the podcasts from there no problem.
  2. Even on Antennapod, the VPN seems to be ‘required’ only for the feed refresh. Once the episode list is loaded, I can then stream and download even if I turn VPN off. However, new episodes are not fetched without VPN.
  3. This behavior is the same even on desktop with Kasts.
  4. My girlfriend (who originally brought my attention to this) lives in a completely different state and with a different ISP and still has this issue.

Regardless, since it works with a VPN, and the problem is faced by other apps like Kasts too, this is unlikely to be an Antennapod issue. Moreover, since all other podcasts I have listened to thus far worked fine, while none of the USGS podcasts (e.g. ‘Outstanding in the Field’ or ‘Sounds of Yellowstone’) work, I suspect something amiss between USGS servers and my country’s network?

Well, while not a solution, VPN will work just fine as an interim workaround. Thank you for the prompt support anyway!

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Thanks @ChiggyClaus for doing and sharing that analysis. Might be worth reaching out to USGS then!

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