How to Listen to FOMC Press Conferences as Podcasts

March 30, 2026 · Updated regularly

Every six weeks, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sets the direction of interest rates and monetary policy. The press conference that follows — where the Fed Chair takes questions from reporters — moves markets, shapes mortgage rates, and influences the global economy. With Castify, you can turn the Fed's YouTube channel into a podcast feed and listen to every press conference in your podcast app.

Listen to FOMC Press Conferences on Castify →

Why Listen to FOMC Press Conferences?

Markets move on every word. When the Fed Chair says "data dependent" vs. "confident," traders hear different things. Headlines paraphrase. The audio gives you the exact wording, the pauses, the emphasis, and the follow-up questions that reveal what the Fed is really thinking.

Forward guidance matters. The statement is eight paragraphs of carefully crafted language. The press conference is where the Chair explains what the statement means — and where reporters push for specifics on the dot plot, inflation expectations, and the labor market.

Listen on your schedule. Press conferences start at 2:30 PM ET — the middle of the workday. As a podcast, you can listen on your commute home, at the gym, or whenever it fits your schedule. Replay the key Q&A sections as many times as you need.

Build institutional memory. When you listen to multiple press conferences in sequence, you hear the narrative arc. Hawkish language softening over three meetings tells a story that no single headline captures.

2026 FOMC Meeting Schedule

The FOMC meets eight times per year. Each meeting is followed by a press conference:

• January 28–29
• March 18–19
• May 6–7
• June 16–17
• July 28–29
• September 15–16
• October 27–28
• December 8–9

Press conferences are typically held at 2:30 PM ET on the second day. The Fed livestreams on YouTube and publishes the video afterward.

Who Should Listen?

Investors and traders who need to understand the Fed's rate path and how it affects equities, bonds, and currencies. Listening to the actual press conference gives you context that a Bloomberg terminal headline cannot.

Financial advisors who need to explain rate decisions and economic outlook to clients. Hearing the Fed Chair's explanation directly helps you communicate it accurately.

Economics students and researchers studying monetary policy in practice. FOMC press conferences are the best primary source for understanding how central banking actually works.

Journalists and policy analysts who cover the Fed, the economy, or financial markets. The nuance in how the Chair answers specific questions is where the story often lives.

What Else Is on the Fed's YouTube?

The Federal Reserve's YouTube channel includes more than just FOMC press conferences. You'll also get:

Congressional testimony — the Fed Chair's semi-annual report to Congress (Humphrey-Hawkins testimony), where elected officials ask pointed questions about the economy.

Fed Listens events — public sessions where community leaders, business owners, and workers describe how the economy affects them on the ground.

Research presentations — talks from Fed economists on topics like inflation dynamics, labor markets, and financial stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I listen to FOMC press conferences as a podcast? Yes. Use Castify to convert the Federal Reserve's YouTube channel into a podcast feed. Subscribe in any podcast app and new press conferences appear automatically.

Is Castify free? Yes. The desktop app is free for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

How soon after a press conference is it available? The Fed typically publishes the video to YouTube within hours. Castify picks it up and adds it to your feed.

Does this work with Spotify? Spotify does not support custom RSS feeds. Use any podcast app that accepts feed URLs — Pocket Casts, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, AntennaPod, Podcast Addict, and many others.

Can I also get just the FOMC statement? The statement is released as text on the Fed's website 30 minutes before the press conference. The podcast feed captures the press conference audio, which includes the Chair's summary of the statement.