SiriusXM Podcasts
Overview
In this project, I explored how SiriusXM could expand the visibility of its extensive show catalog, while introducing third-party podcasts into the automotive app experience. The challenge centered on content discovery, helping listeners quickly navigate a massive library of on-demand shows and podcasts in a way that feels intuitive, engaging, and tailored to in-vehicle listening.
Role:
Lead Product Designer
Timeline:
10 months / 2024-2025
Tools:
Figma
Team:
PM, Product, Streaming, Engineers, Research
Problem
SiriusXM's podcast offerings are growing but remain hidden behind a complex UI. Users also lack access to popular third-party podcasts, limiting their content variety.
Solution
Design a seamless in-car podcast experience that brings in third-party shows and elevates SiriusXM’s catalog through intuitive discovery, curation, and personalization.
Discovery
Research Summary
Insights from user interviews and unmoderated testing, focused on in-car podcast listening behavior:
1. Resuming Playback Is Critical
Insight: Users want the option to pick up where they left off, especially for serialized content.
Quote: “I would want it to resume where I finished off. If it didn’t, I’d have to click more buttons, and who’s to say that it remembered my place?” — 2023 Podcast Behavior Study
2. Autoplay Should Prioritize Same Show
Insight: Users are okay with autoplay, but only if it's another episode from the same show. They do not want different shows to autoplay.
Quote: “I like to make my own choices. I might want to hear what they’re suggesting, but I don’t want them to automatically play it.” — 2025 Podcast Autoplay Study
3. Users Expect an Episode List
Insight: When tapping on a saved podcast, users expect to see a list of episodes. This helps them stay in control and pick based on mood or time.
Quote: “At the very least, I would have the ability to go back and look at the previous episodes.” — 2023 Podcast Behavior Study
4. Podcasts ≠ Talk Radio (But Topics Matter Most)
Insight: Users often differentiate between podcasts (on-demand, topic-focused) and talk shows (live, varied). However, they want both grouped by topic, not format.
Quote:“They’re definitely different. A podcast is related to a topic, whereas a talk radio show surrounds the host.” — 2025 Podcast vs. Talk Show Study
Quote:“The most important thing is to find the specific topics I’m interested in.” — 2025 Podcast vs. Talk Show Study
5. Users Want Control Over Playback Defaults
Insight: Participants asked for the ability to choose their default action; resume, play latest, or view all episodes.
Quote:“That should probably be a setting in there, because everybody’s a little bit different.” — 2023 Podcast Behavior Study
6. Users Choose Podcasts Based on Drive Time & Simplicity
Insight: Participants frequently select podcast episodes that match their drive length and prefer simple, easy-to-use interfaces while driving. They want quick access to relevant content and minimal friction when choosing what to play.
Quote:“Make it easy, one press. Don’t ask me if I’m sure. Just make making a decision easy.” — 2023 Podcast Entity Pages Study
Quote:“I usually pick a podcast that matches the length of my drive.” — Participant paraphrase from same study
7. In-Car UX Must Be Effortless
Insight: Safety and ease of use are top priorities. Participants don’t want to fumble with screens or hunt for content while driving.
Quote:“It’s helpful to have it in my car. I can really quickly glance at it and just click one button. I don’t have to go search for another podcast.” — 2025 Podcast Autoplay Study
Affinity Mapping Snapshot
The team conducted an affinity mapping exercise to make sense of large amounts of unstructured data gathered from research. By clustering related observations into thematic groups, we were able to uncover patterns, insights, and connections that weren’t immediately obvious. This process not only clarified user needs but also highlighted opportunities to guide design decisions with greater focus and alignment.
User & Business Goals
The team determined the user and business goals by understanding the business's overall objectives through stakeholder interviews and data analysis, then conduct user research (surveys, interviews) to uncover user needs and pain points. Then, I defined the design goals that align with both the business's strategic priorities and the user's functional needs, identifying areas of overlap and potential trade-offs to prioritize features that deliver value to both.
User Goals | Business Goals | Design Goals |
|---|---|---|
Find and play favorite podcasts easily | Increase in-car engagement and app usage | Integrate 3rd-party podcasts into the platform |
Discover new and relevant shows | Attract and retain a broader audience | Make podcast discovery intuitive and engaging |
Minimize distraction while driving | Align with safety and automotive UX standards | Ensure safety and minimal distraction for drivers |
Access both SiriusXM and 3rd-party podcasts | Expand content offering and compete with major platforms | Balance SiriusXM original content with external offerings |
Resume listening seamlessly | Improve retention and subscription stickiness | Enable quick resumption of podcasts between drives and on the companion app |
Ideation
Wireflows
To structure the podcast feature in the SiriusXM automotive app, I developed a comprehensive wireframes shown as a flow charts. Collaborating closely with my team, we ensured each section accurately represented the client's objectives and content placement.
After finalizing the wireframe, I developed high-fidelity screens, adding more visual details and refining the overall design. By transitioning from wireframes to high-fidelity screens, we were able to finalize the design and incorporate visual elements that enhanced the overall aesthetics and usability of the application.
This step-by-step process enabled us to create a cohesive and visually captivating design that effectively conveyed SiriusXM's key information and objectives on their 360L automotive app.
Podcast Access Points
There are multiple entry points for accessing podcasts and episodes, making them more discoverable, so that users can explore the massive collection of on-demand content to suit their in-vehicle listening needs.
Two-Tap Tiles
Podcast tiles will be immediately playable upon the first tap, and then it will display the 'More Info' state. If tapped again, it will go to the podcast entity page.
More Episodes List
While playing a podcast episode, a user can view all of the episodes within that podcast by tapping the 'more episodes' button on the Now Playing screen. They can also tune to another episode in this list. More episodes are also accessible from a podcast entity page.
Primary and Secondary Player Controls
There are intuitive and consistent player controls that allow listeners to control audio, while playing podcast episodes. They align closely with the mobile companion app and meet industry standards, but are optimized for the vehicle.
New Episode Notification
If a user has favorited a podcast, they will receive a toast notification when a new episode is available for that podcast. Notifications can be customized in settings.
Autoplay
If a currently playing episode is about to end and there are more available episodes within a podcast, the sidebar will display an 'up next' queue. If no action is taken by the user, the next episode will play automatically. If there are no more available episodes within a podcast, the queue will play the most recent episode from a similar podcast.
Design
High Fidelity Screens
We designed high-fidelity screens for the podcast discovery experience within SiriusXM's 360L Automotive app, applying and updating the internal design system to align with the company’s style guide and brand platform. By refining typography, color, imagery, and layout, we created a cohesive look and feel that extended across discovery, browsing, and playback flows. These designs provided a strong foundation for stakeholder feedback and iteration, ensuring a polished, user-friendly solution that elevated SiriusXM’s podcast catalog and in-vehicle experience.
Podcast Entity Page
Artist Entity Page (Episodes featuring the artist)
My Episodes Entity Page
Outcomes
Expected Outcomes
Though the feature has not launched yet, internal stakeholders approved the design and passed it to engineering for feasibility testing. The final design aligns with SiriusXM’s goals to grow its podcast footprint and increase app retention.
Anticipated Impact:
+20% increase in podcast plays
Broader listener demographics
Increased subscription stickiness due to content variety
Reflection
This project challenged me to balance content expansion with driver safety and simplicity. It pushed my thinking around in-car UI, content personalization, and strategic partnerships.
