Removing Podcast Titles from Episode Titles Can Be Problematic
under review
Devon
I have noticed that when a podcast includes its title in episode titles, Podlink removes it. However, this can sometimes be problematic. Take the podcast _Six Minutes_, for example: https://pod.link/1348470106. Each episode is titled based on the phrase “six minutes”; e.g., “Six Minutes without a Past” and “Six Minutes on a Hoverboard.” On Podlink, they show up as “without a Past” and “on a Hoverboard,” which do not make sense. Another example is this episode of _Unexplainable_: https://pod.link/unexplainable/episode/YjMwNzIyZTYtMzUwNC0xMWVkLWFjMGUtZWI4ZTFlYzY3YTNj. They have a game show series that they do called “Unexplainable or Not.” This episode is entitled “Unexplainable or Not: Bikes, planes, ice skates,” which makes sense because their whole podcast is not _Unexplainable or Not_. However, on Podlink, this shows up as “or Not: Bikes, planes, ice skates,” which, again, is confusing.
I know it can be annoying when podcasts unnecessarily put their podcast title in the episode titles—e.g., “The Example Podcast Ep. 102: Another Episode”—but in podcasts like _Six Minutes_ and _Unexplainable_, taking out the podcast title can be quite destructive, leading to confusing, out-of-context episode titles. Can you please disable this behavior? Thank you.
E
Evo Terra
I've seen a few directories do this, which means they probably had a good reason at one time.
But I agree with @Devon here. Perhaps there's something to be done to the display so that shows that use different values for <title> and <itunes:title> are shown? I don't want to confuse anyone or include needless values, but I think a solution that includes creators who use both tags properly should be supported and shown to potential listeners.
Nathan Gathright
under review
Thanks, I’ve forgotten which show led me down that path in the first place.