Why not just use Antennapod?

Antenapod ftw, I am starting to mess with pinepod.

Edit: fixed spelling

Oh yeah I just noticed this WTF are they thinking?

It's clearly not profitable, and I can kinda understand that people who bought the app once in 2013, like me, don't create a good business model.

I never bought the web app back in the day, so I never got grandfathered into Premium, but I was fine with them adding premium features that I couldn't access.

But the forced ad shown on my podcast list AND the player UI, with a cheeky X button that doesn't actually close the ad, is a step too far. I have a lot of respect for this app and the original company who made it but I'm almost at the point of switching.

I'd love to fully self host my podcasts. Unfortunately the self hosted options are all lacking on Android, so I'd probably look at something like AntennaPod but I'm not clear on whether that has a web player or not...

Good to know, I paused updates on pocket casts now.

Automattic's CEO seems to be saying that this is a bug. Apparently people who previously paid for the app should not be getting ads. I'm extremely sceptical about this, given that customer service on both email and their forums are pretty adamantly saying the opposite, but this is a space worth keeping an eye on.

Shouldn't the title start with "Pocket Casts" and not "Podcasts"? It should probably also be "Exorcising the ads" unless you mean making the ads hit the gym.

Wow, didn't know Pocket Casts has ads now. Just opened it up to check, and yep. Right on the homepage, an add for Pocket Casts Plus.

Maybe it's time to check out Antenna Pod

Antenna pod, just switch settings to change the subscriptions screen to the home screen, then put the toolbar on the bottom. Then it's a clean and simple podcast app.

I just use audiobookshelf for my podcasts. Self hosted, no ads, and it just works.