How do I reliably sync a sequential podcast to my watch?

Hi Craig Stanton,

Apple support have articles online that may help:

Re: "I don't know what a station is".

Organize your podcast library on iPhone – Apple Support

Says (for iPhone) how to:

Create your own station

Group your shows into stations (similar to a music playlist) based on themes like news, comedy, or morning commute podcasts. Episodes from the podcasts you choose are automatically added to your station regularly.

1. 1. 1. Tap Library, then tap  in the top-right corner.
      2. Tap New Station, then add a title.
      3. Tap Choose Podcasts.

Tip: To adjust the number of episodes from each podcast that are added to your station,

tap the station you want to change, tap Station Settings, then tap Episodes.

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Add podcasts to Apple Watch – Apple Support

Eg Amongst other things:

says:

Download specific podcasts to Apple Watch

By default, Apple Watch downloads one episode from each of the top 10 shows in Listen Now on your iPhone.

To sync specific podcasts, follow these steps:

1. 1. 1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
      2. Tap My Watch, then tap Podcasts.
      3. Tap Custom, then turn on the stations and shows you want to download to your Apple Watch.
      4. Your Apple Watch will try to download three episodes from every show you select.

If you select a custom station, your Apple Watch will try to add as many unplayed episodes as possible.

To once again download episodes from all the podcasts you subscribe to with your Apple Watch, tap Up Next.

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Re: "manually select them on my watch and telling them to download"

How to Play podcasts on Apple Watch – Apple Support

Amongst other things:

says how to:

Play podcasts from iPhone

1. 1. Open the Podcasts app  on your Apple Watch.
   2. Tap On iPhone.
   3. Tap Up Next, Shows, Episodes, or Stations.
   4. Navigate to an episode, then tap it.

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Re: the little spinner next to the podcasts I want to sync are just spinning

The storage / memory / capacity / on your Watch may not allow for as many podcasts at a time as you wish ?

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

More info: Support if needed:

Apple Watch - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

You're welcome, Craig Stanton.

Thank you for your reply, and for letting us know things seem to be improving for you.

Cheers! :-)