Episode identity preflight
A podcast migration is an identity move, not just a file copy.
Podcast directories and listening apps need a stable way to recognize each episode after you change hosts. In RSS 2.0, that identity is usually the item GUID.
What should remain stable?
For every episode already published in the old feed, the new feed should preserve the same non-empty GUID exactly. The item order, audio hostname, and text may change without being the identity itself.
- Same episode → same GUID
- Every old GUID appears in the new feed
- No GUID appears twice in one feed
What is a blocking finding?
Block the redirect when an old GUID is absent, a new item has no GUID, or the new feed duplicates an identity. These are deterministic feed differences you can take back to the destination host before the old route changes.
What is a review finding?
Changed artwork, description, title, and enclosure hosts deserve review but are not automatically identity failures. A good receipt separates those changes from blockers so cosmetic drift does not hide a missing episode.
Check again after the redirect
Once the old URL returns a permanent redirect, verify that it ends at the intended new feed. Keep the preflight and redirect receipts together before closing the old hosting account.
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