What Is Relay FM and How Do You Listen to Its Podcasts?

Updated

Relay FM is a podcast network that publishes weekly shows about technology and creativity, bringing together hosts from across the internet. If you want to understand what the network is and start listening, the practical path is: pick a show that matches your interest, subscribe in any podcast app, and follow individual shows rather than a single feed. The network's own site, relay.fm, presents its shows and latest episodes as the entry point.

What Relay FM actually is

Relay FM is not one podcast — it is a network of shows. Its stated focus is technology and creativity, with hosts described as influential and unique voices producing content every week. That means when you "listen to Relay FM," you are really choosing among several distinct shows, each with its own hosts, format, and release schedule.

The network's homepage surfaces this structure directly: it shows a "Latest Episode" area and individual show pages, so you can browse the network or go straight to a specific program.

The shows you can start with

Two examples appear in the site's current listings:

  • Mac Power Users — a long-running show in the technology category, listed among the network's main programs.
  • Paper Places — a show about writing and books. A recent episode, "#29: Writing a Booker Prize Shortlisted Debut Novel, with Rebecca Perry," runs 52 minutes and is hosted by Kerry Provenzano. The episode notes that guest Rebecca Perry returned to discuss her debut novel, May We Feed the King, and that shortly after recording, the book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

These two illustrate the network's range: one leans toward technology workflows, the other toward creative writing. If neither fits, browse the full show list on relay.fm to find a better match.

How episodes are structured

Relay FM episodes follow a consistent pattern you can expect across shows:

  • A host or hosts — credited per episode, as with Kerry Provenzano on Paper Places.
  • A guest, when relevant — often someone with direct experience in the episode's topic.
  • A runtime — the Paper Places example runs 52 minutes, typical for an in-depth conversation.
  • Sponsor segments — episodes are sponsored. The Paper Places episode lists Making Light and BookBaby as sponsors, and includes a discount code ("PAPER26") for one of them.

Knowing this helps you decide how to listen: if you want just the conversation, you can skip sponsor segments, but they are part of the standard episode format.

How to listen and follow a show

  1. Choose a show. Start from the network's show list on relay.fm, or begin with a specific program like Mac Power Users or Paper Places.
  2. Open the show's page. Each show has its own page with its latest episode and a "More Episodes" link, so you can see recent releases before committing.
  3. Subscribe in a podcast app. Relay FM shows are podcasts, so you can subscribe using any standard podcast app and receive new episodes automatically. The site is the place to identify the show; your app handles playback and subscriptions.
  4. Follow individual shows, not just the network. Because each program has its own feed and schedule, subscribing per show is how you control what you actually hear.
  5. Check the latest episode first. The homepage's "Latest Episode" section is the fastest way to sample current output before subscribing.

Common questions when getting started

Do I need an account? The site presents shows and episodes for browsing; nothing in the available information indicates a required login to listen. Podcast subscriptions are typically handled by your podcast app.

Is it free? The network's shows are podcasts distributed through standard podcast channels, and episodes carry sponsors. No pricing details are stated on the site, so treat cost as something to confirm in your chosen podcast app rather than assuming.

Where do I start if I don't know the shows? Use the two examples above as a test: if technology workflows interest you, try Mac Power Users; if writing and books do, try Paper Places. Then browse the full network list for others.

How often do new episodes appear? The network describes weekly content, and each show page shows its latest episode with a date — check that page for the specific show's cadence.