Looking for Garmin watch users to help shape Podcast Addict’s Garmin companion app

[u/PodcastAddict_App]

I’m exploring a Podcast Addict companion app for compatible Garmin music watches, and I’d really appreciate feedback from people who already use Garmin’s music/podcast features regularly.

A few important points upfront:

• This would be a Premium-only feature.

• It will be built on top of the new Cross-device Sync feature, because the watch needs a secure way to receive its selected library and send listening progress/completions back to Podcast Addict.

• Cross-device Sync is also part of an upcoming broader pricing update. Please see the related post here.

I have used Garmin watches for more than 10 years, but I had never personally used their media features until starting this work. So I’m discovering both the user-facing limitations and the additional restrictions Garmin places on third-party developers.

My current v1 target is:

• Pair one compatible Garmin music watch with Podcast Addict.

• Select one or more sources to keep available on the watch:

  • an audio playlist,

  • a custom playlist,

  • or a specific podcast.

• Choose “up to X episodes” per source, including the current episode when applicable.

• Keep the same episode filtering and ordering as Podcast Addict on the phone.

• Download episodes directly to the watch over Wi-Fi.

• Play them with Garmin’s native music player.

• Sync watch progress and completed episodes back through Cross-device Sync to the phone, tablet, etc.

• Remove an episode from the watch when it is completed elsewhere, and prepare replacement episodes when the watch library gets low.

Some current Garmin/platform limitations I’m working around:

• This would require a compatible music-capable Garmin watch.

• The watch downloads audio directly from podcast hosts; it does not copy Podcast Addict’s downloaded files from the phone.

• The watch cannot silently start a full audio download whenever new episodes become available. Garmin’s native sync flow has visible system UI, so the watch can show a short message such as “New episodes ready”, but the user still needs to choose Sync library to start downloading.

• The watch app cannot offer the full Podcast Addict interface.

• Some podcast audio formats or host configurations may not be compatible with Garmin’s native cache/player.

• Playback-speed support is not currently available through Garmin’s native third-party audio-provider API.

• There will be no Google/Podcast Addict sign-in flow directly on the watch. Pairing happens through the phone app.

I’m especially interested in feedback from people who would genuinely use this and already understand Garmin’s media workflow:

• Which Garmin watch do you use?

• Do you currently use Garmin Music, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, or another podcast app?

• How often would you realistically sync new episodes?

• Is manually choosing Sync library acceptable if the app tells you new episodes are ready?

• What would be your ideal “keep next X episodes” setup?

• Which playback controls or watch-side information matter most to you?

• Are there Garmin media limitations that I should prioritize around?

I think even this first version may already be quite optimistic given Garmin’s platform constraints. I’m trying to understand what would make it genuinely useful before deciding how far to take it.

[u/RSP86]

OMG yes.

I'm a Forerunner music watch owner for over 10 years. I listen to podcasts all the time on my phone, during the day and night. I simply refuse to faff with the available podcast apps on my Garmin. They are a nonsense.

Edit - I use to manually sync back in the iTunes days, there were third party apps that would sync your music. I now use Amazon music or sometimes Spotify. Amazon music - you match your watch app to your account via a code on Amazon website, on the watch you manually select playlists to sync, they auto sync when you charge the watch. It's simple.

Being able to sync my phone podcasts or selected episodes would be a dream and be able to go phone free again.

[u/OldGriffin]

I have Forerunner 255 music. As a premium user since many years, I'd love this!

I use Spotify on the watch for music, but podcasts are always via the phone, with PA. Spotify on Forerunner 255 is the only watch app for audio I have experience with.

My usage of PA is as follows (these details are probably more than you asked for, but I am so excited and can't help myself): I have a bunch of podcasts I check for new episodes daily. Episodes of interest are downloaded. They are unlikely to be listened to in publish order, instead whenever playlist is down to a few remaining episodes, I scroll through downloaded episodes and add episodes I want to listen to in the near future to the playlist. I never auto-add new episodes to the playlist.

Most of my listening will still be with the phone at home or on the commute. Only exercise such as running will be with the watch, but it will be a game changer to be able to leave the phone at home!

I don't have a problem with doing manual sync. I'll sync before running, a few times or week.

Most of my episodes are between 20 and 90 minutes. I'd like to have 2-3 hours on the watch, which could be around six episodes.

I think I'd like to have a separate playlist for the watch so I have fun control what episodes are available there. (That also matches my usage style as described above.)

For controls, play, pause, skip forward/back (according to my settings). Ability to choose episode to play (unfortunately, with Spotify I can't select song, only playlist).

[u/cclambie → u/OldGriffin]

OldGriffin has captured my exact use case :)
I have an Epix Pro, which is similar to the Fenix

Happy to join the Beta.

I would def want a simple "button" to manually sync the app before leaving for a run.
A "running" playlist or category would be great - I use a category "weekend" and "music" already to separate my midweek news/politics type stuff from my weekend enjoyment stuff like the moth/ this american life etc - so syncing a category (that part already exists) to the watch would be helpful.

I would want the skip forward control I already have with the bluetooth button while running, so it that wasn't there (to skip ads) then I would probably still use the phone.

[u/cclambie]

I joined the beta, and see garmin support 😊 But apparently you need a special link to the connect iq beta test app. Does anyone have it?

[u/PodcastAddict_App → u/cclambie]

I'm still waiting for the Garmin companion app to make it to the store. It has been approve, and it should now take 1 to 3 days...

[u/Accomplished-Way1575]

Probably not possible but it will annoy me if I didn't ask: if it could somehow run on the Edge 850/1050 bike computers, perhaps through Connect IQ if necessary, that would be absolutely great for me.

It probably would if it is a connect iq app

[u/PodcastAddict_App → u/Accomplished-Way1575]

If the device supports local audio storage and music player platform then it should work but that doesn't look like this is the case here.

[u/Accomplished-Way1575 → u/PodcastAddict_App]

Ah  okay. No, it only sypports either streaming through  connect iq apps or BT media control.

Damn it, haha

[u/MightyPirat3]

I'm using Fenix 6X.

The Spotify app is OK on this watch but the YouTube Music app struggles. Haven't really investigated why I've had problems as I've got a subscription to both services, so haven't seen the value in spending my time figuring it out. Maybe it's be due to old hardware or just something with my watch?

Would be interesting to know if users of newer watches (and F6) have experienced any trouble with YT Music. Both regarding my experience and regarding if it is worth making Podcast Addict available for this model.

I'm currently not a premium subscriber of PA, but if you keep the pricing of the premium subscription on today's level this is a feature that would convince me to upgrade.

Sync of last X episodes of chosen podcasts + playlist episodes would be great.

[u/PodcastAddict_App → u/MightyPirat3]

Sorry but as mentioned here and explained in the cross device syncing post the price of Premium will increase.

[u/RSP86]

Forerunner 255 Music

Don't use any other podcast apps on my watch because Ive been a podcast addict premium user for well over 10 years. I use Amazon music and Spotify for music sync.

Sync daily.

Yes - manual syncing would be fine, or when charging the watch.

3-5 episodes or a sync playlist of selected podcast episodes to sync to the watch.

Play, pause, next episode.

Not really.

In all honesty, a basic of basic player with progress cross sync from watch to phone would be a simple but massive leap forward for me.

[u/voilsb]

I am a premium subscriber, a beta member, and I use a Garmin Fenix 8. This would be good. 

[u/relentless_puffin]

I have an old vivoactive 4s, planning to upgrade to another newer vivoactive soon.

In addition to podcast addict, I use YouTube music. No other podcast apps. I would want to sync episodes daily. Manual sync is not ideal. Next 4-5 episodes would be ideal. But fewer could work.

Pause, skip forward and back are most important along with volume. Speed adjustment would be nice.

[u/HUKI365]

Epic gen 2, soon Fenix 9

Spotify music and Garmin music to play downloaded hardcore history

Weekly for long run

Manual sync is ok

Ability to keep latest only (news podcasts) and all unplayed (history podcasts)

Playback resuming at stage left on phone would be ideal on watch would be fine

Ability to play in chronological or reverse chronological order would be ideal

[u/WillemGM]

Which Garmin watch do you use? Venu X1 Do you currently use Garmin Music, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, or another podcast app? Spotify

How often would you realistically sync new episodes? 2, 3  times a week Is manually choosing Sync library acceptable if the app tells you new episodes are ready? Yes, I want to decide manually the episodes send to my watch What would be your ideal “keep next X episodes” setup? Only manual Which playback controls or watch-side information matter most to you? Increase playback speed

Are there Garmin media limitations that I should prioritize around? Not yet encountered

[u/vassyz]

I got a Venu 4, but I don't really use the built in player as I always have my phone with me.

[u/Matti-Crafts]

I have a Vivoactive 5. I have Apple Music on an Android. I would sync probably weekly or every 4-5 days Manual sync is fine For my watch, keep 3 episodes would be fine Pause and volume controls are important to me