ListenUp — rethinking the podcast experience

Problem

Podcasts have become increasingly popular, but many listening platforms still treat them as a secondary feature. The experience often lacks tools designed specifically for long-form audio, which makes discovering, organizing, and listening to podcasts less intuitive than it should be.

This project explores how a podcast platform could offer a smoother listening experience while also lowering the barrier for people who want to create their own shows.

Research

To better understand the current landscape, I analyzed existing platforms and their podcast experiences.

Spotify offers a massive library of podcasts, but the interface is primarily designed around music. Podcasts live within the same structure as songs and playlists, which can make discovery and queue management less intuitive. Many users report difficulties finding new shows or organizing episodes they want to listen to.

VRT MAX takes a different approach by focusing on Flemish content and presenting it in a clean, editorial-style interface. While it does a great job of highlighting local podcasts and radio programs, the listening experience still feels similar to a traditional media player. Controls like playback speed, sleep timers, or smooth episode transitions are not always easy to access.

From this research, one key insight emerged: listeners want more control and a more seamless experience when consuming long-form audio.

Solution

With ListenUp, I explored how these pain points could be addressed by combining familiar podcast features with a few new ideas.

The platform focuses on improving the listening experience with better control over playback, clearer episode navigation, and a more intuitive interface for long listening sessions.

At the same time, I introduced the concept of an integrated podcast studio. Instead of relying on external tools, users can record and edit episodes directly inside the app. By allowing creators to record on the go and publish quickly, the platform lowers the barrier to starting a podcast.

Takeaways

Building ListenUp gave me hands-on experience with a modern web stack. I used Next.js for the frontend, Supabase for managing podcast data and content, and Tailwind CSS for styling. I also used Motion to add subtle micro-animations that enhance the interface without distracting from the experience.

During the process, I experimented with SvelteKit and Nuxt, which helped me better understand their ecosystems. Ultimately, it reinforced why React and Next.js feel like the right tools for the way I like to build applications.

The project also taught me a lot about scope and prioritization. Having a clear research foundation helped me focus on features that actually matter to users rather than getting lost in unnecessary additions. Designing the database and mapping the ERD also sparked a deeper interest in backend development that I’m excited to explore further.