Overview
spoke fm is a local-first podcast and radio app. The app does not require an account. The current Android app does not include Google Analytics, advertising SDKs, or Google Play Billing.
spoke fm does use the network when you use features that depend on external services, such as feed refresh, search, streaming, downloads, episode sharing, shared-link opening, in-app feedback, and optional Google Play Store links.
Information Stored On Your Device
spoke fm stores app data locally on your device so it can work as a personal library and player. Local data can include:
- podcast subscriptions and feed URLs
- episode and podcast metadata
- playback progress and playback preferences
- play queue state and download state
- downloaded audio files and cached artwork
- radio favorites and radio settings
- podcast authentication credentials you choose to save
- OPML files created or imported through the app
- a random installation ID used only for feedback rate limiting
Saved podcast credentials are stored locally in encrypted form.
Information Sent Off Your Device
spoke fm sends data needed to provide the network features you choose to use.
Podcast Feeds, Discovery, Streaming, And Downloads
When you add a feed, refresh subscriptions, preview a custom RSS feed, search the podcast catalog, stream media, download episodes, or load artwork, the app makes network requests to podcast feeds, media hosts, image hosts, and podcast search providers.
Those requests can include feed URLs, search terms, artwork URLs, and episode media URLs.
Radio Directory And Radio Streams
If radio mode is enabled, the app queries public radio-browser directory servers to load and search stations. When you play a station, the app also connects to that station's streaming server.
Episode Sharing And Shared Links
If you create an episode share link, the app sends the canonical feed URL and an episode identifier to the spoke fm deeplink service so it can create a short link.
If you open a spoke fm shared episode link, the app contacts the spoke fm deeplink service to resolve the short code and then may fetch the related podcast feed.
In-App Feedback
If you use the feedback screen, the app sends:
- your feedback message
- a stable random install ID generated on your device
The install ID is used for abuse prevention and basic rate limiting. It is not a user account and is not meant to directly identify you.
The optional star rating shown in the feedback screen is handled locally in the app. spoke fm does not send that rating to the spoke fm backend. If you choose to open Google Play from that screen, Google Play handles any data you provide there under Google's policies.
Analytics And Advertising
The current Android app does not include Google Analytics, Firebase Analytics, AdMob, or other advertising SDKs. spoke fm does not send analytics events to the spoke fm backend, and it does not use advertising identifiers to show ads or measure ad performance.
How Information Is Used
spoke fm uses data to:
- load and refresh podcast feeds
- search podcast and radio directories
- stream and download audio
- save your library, playback position, favorites, and preferences on your device
- create and open share links you explicitly use
- receive feedback you explicitly submit
- show local listening, download, throughput, and feed sync statistics on your device
spoke fm does not sell your data.
Third-Party Services
Depending on the features you use, spoke fm may connect to:
- podcast hosts, RSS feed servers, image hosts, and media hosts
- Podcast Index
- radio-browser servers
- radio station streaming servers
- the spoke fm deeplink / feedback backend
- Google Play, for app distribution and any Play Store page you choose to open
Those services have their own terms and privacy policies.
Backup And Device Transfer
spoke fm currently includes the following files in Android backup and device-transfer flows:
backup/fm7_subscriptions.opmlbackup/fm7_radio_favorites.json
These files can help restore subscriptions and radio favorites on a new device.
Retention
Local app data remains on your device until you delete it, clear app data, or uninstall the app.
Feedback and share-link requests may be retained by the spoke fm backend for service operation, abuse prevention, and support follow-up.
Podcast, radio, and Google Play services may retain data they receive under their own retention policies.
Your Choices
You can:
- avoid using search, streaming, downloading, radio, sharing, and feedback features
- avoid submitting feedback
- avoid opening Google Play links from the app
- remove downloaded files
- remove saved podcast credentials inside the app
- clear app data or uninstall the app
Security
spoke fm uses reasonable technical measures such as encrypted local storage for saved feed credentials and signed requests for spoke fm deeplink and feedback endpoints. No system can guarantee perfect security.
Children
spoke fm is not designed specifically for children.
Changes
This policy may be updated as the app changes.