Creating and Listening to Podcasts with TrailGuide

With HomeTrail Plus, TrailGuide can find existing podcast episodes or create a short podcast for your child. Review and approve an episode before your child listens in Nest.

Create a HomeTrail podcast

1. Ask TrailGuide to make a podcast, naming the student and topic. Include an article link if you want it based on a source.
2. When the preview is ready, listen and review the transcript.
3. Approve it for Nest when you are ready.

For example:

Make Avery a short podcast about how mountain lions fit into the Rocky Mountain ecosystem.

You can also ask for a gentle meditation. Podcasts and meditations use one narrator and include a readable transcript.

Choose an existing episode

1. Ask TrailGuide for podcasts about a topic and name the student.
2. Review the numbered shortlist, including the episode and podcast names.
3. Reply with one or more numbers.
4. Review the Podcast Pick preview.
5. After approval, the student opens the card in Nest and chooses Listen.

For example:

Find Jordan a podcast about mountain lions in the Rocky Mountains, but skip anything sensational.

Send 2 to Jordan.

Listen to a saved episode

After the episode is ready:

1. Review the parent preview.
2. Approve it for Nest when you are ready.
3. In Nest, open the Podcast card and choose Listen.

For a HomeTrail-created episode, expand Read the transcript to read along. You can also listen to saved recordings in the HomeTrail mobile app.

Why an episode may not play

Existing podcast audio is controlled by its publisher. An episode may be unavailable when:

• The publisher removed or changed the audio file
• The audio host or a redirect does not pass HomeTrail's safety checks
• The server does not return a supported audio type
• The episode is not currently visible and approved for that student
• The temporary playback link expired

Nest plays eligible audio through HomeTrail instead of opening an outside podcast player. HomeTrail rechecks the student, family, card visibility, and audio source when playback begins. If an episode becomes unavailable, choose another result.

Your child needs enabled Nest access to listen.