diff --git a/internal/scanner/podcast.go b/internal/scanner/podcast.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64a084db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/scanner/podcast.go
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+package scanner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+)
+
+// parsedPodcastShow is what parsePodcastShow returns. The scanner write
+// path converts this into media_items (type='podcast') + episodes +
+// media_files rows.
+type parsedPodcastShow struct {
+	Title    string
+	Author   string
+	Year     int
+	Episodes []parsedPodcastEpisode
+}
+
+type parsedPodcastEpisode struct {
+	Path  string
+	Title string
+	Track int
+}
+
+// parsePodcastShow walks a single subdirectory of a podcast library and
+// returns the show's metadata + episode list. Each audio file inside
+// becomes one episode; tags are read from each file individually so
+// per-episode titles surface correctly.
+//
+// Returns an os.ErrNotExist-wrapped error if the folder contains zero
+// audio files.
+func parsePodcastShow(ctx context.Context, ffprobePath string, folderPath string) (*parsedPodcastShow, error) {
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(folderPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read podcast folder %s: %w", folderPath, err)
+	}
+	var audioFiles []string
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		if SupportsAudioFile(entry.Name()) {
+			audioFiles = append(audioFiles, filepath.Join(folderPath, entry.Name()))
+		}
+	}
+	if len(audioFiles) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("podcast show %s: %w", folderPath, os.ErrNotExist)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(audioFiles)
+
+	show := &parsedPodcastShow{}
+	for idx, path := range audioFiles {
+		probed, err := ProbeFile(ctx, ffprobePath, path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("probe podcast file %s: %w", path, err)
+		}
+		tags := probed.FormatTags
+		if show.Title == "" {
+			show.Title = firstNonEmpty(tags["album"], tags["show"], filepath.Base(folderPath))
+			show.Author = firstNonEmpty(tags["artist"], tags["album_artist"])
+			if year := firstNonEmpty(tags["date"], tags["year"]); year != "" {
+				if y := parseTagYear(year); y > 0 {
+					show.Year = y
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		stem := filepath.Base(path)
+		stem = stem[:len(stem)-len(filepath.Ext(stem))]
+		track := idx + 1
+		if t := tags["track"]; t != "" {
+			if parsed := parseTrackNumber(t); parsed > 0 {
+				track = parsed
+			}
+		}
+		show.Episodes = append(show.Episodes, parsedPodcastEpisode{
+			Path:  path,
+			Title: firstNonEmpty(tags["title"], stem),
+			Track: track,
+		})
+	}
+	return show, nil
+}
+
+// parseTrackNumber accepts ID3-style track values which may be "5" or
+// "5/12". Returns 0 if no leading integer is present.
+func parseTrackNumber(s string) int {
+	n := 0
+	for _, c := range s {
+		if c < '0' || c > '9' {
+			break
+		}
+		n = n*10 + int(c-'0')
+	}
+	return n
+}
diff --git a/internal/scanner/podcast_scan.go b/internal/scanner/podcast_scan.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f63bdb46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/scanner/podcast_scan.go
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+package scanner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/catalog"
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/idgen"
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/models"
+	"github.com/Silo-Server/silo-server/internal/titleutil"
+)
+
+// ScanPodcastFolder walks a podcasts-typed media folder and writes one
+// media_items row (type='podcast') per immediate subdirectory it can parse
+// as a podcast show, plus one episodes row and one media_files row per
+// audio file inside.
+//
+// RSS-subscribed feeds (podcast_feeds table) are handled by sub-plan 5;
+// this method covers filesystem-only ingestion.
+func (s *Scanner) ScanPodcastFolder(ctx context.Context, folder *models.MediaFolder) error {
+	if s == nil || folder == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ScanPodcastFolder: nil scanner or folder")
+	}
+
+	for _, root := range folder.Paths {
+		entries, err := os.ReadDir(root)
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("podcast scan: read root failed", "root", root, "error", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, entry := range entries {
+			if !entry.IsDir() {
+				continue
+			}
+			subPath := filepath.Join(root, entry.Name())
+			if err := s.reconcilePodcastShow(ctx, folder, subPath); err != nil {
+				slog.Warn("podcast scan: show failed",
+					"folder_id", folder.ID,
+					"path", subPath,
+					"error", err,
+				)
+				// Continue with siblings — one bad show should not stop the scan.
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *Scanner) reconcilePodcastShow(ctx context.Context, folder *models.MediaFolder, folderPath string) error {
+	parsed, err := parsePodcastShow(ctx, s.ffprobePath, folderPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("parse podcast show %s: %w", folderPath, err)
+	}
+
+	showContentID, err := s.upsertPodcastMediaItem(ctx, parsed)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("upsert podcast item: %w", err)
+	}
+	if err := s.upsertPodcastEpisodesAndFiles(ctx, folder, showContentID, folderPath, parsed); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("upsert podcast episodes+files: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	slog.Info("podcast scan: indexed",
+		"folder_id", folder.ID,
+		"content_id", showContentID,
+		"title", parsed.Title,
+		"author", parsed.Author,
+		"episodes", len(parsed.Episodes),
+	)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// upsertPodcastMediaItem looks up an existing media_items row by
+// title+year+type='podcast', updates it if found, or creates a new row.
+// Returns the content_id used.
+func (s *Scanner) upsertPodcastMediaItem(ctx context.Context, show *parsedPodcastShow) (string, error) {
+	if s.itemRepo == nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("itemRepo not configured on Scanner")
+	}
+
+	existing, err := s.itemRepo.GetByTitleYearType(ctx, show.Title, show.Year, "podcast")
+	if err == nil && existing != nil {
+		existing.Title = show.Title
+		existing.Year = show.Year
+		existing.Type = "podcast"
+		if existing.SortTitle == "" {
+			existing.SortTitle = titleutil.DeriveDefaultSortTitle(show.Title)
+		}
+		if err := s.itemRepo.Upsert(ctx, existing); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return existing.ContentID, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrItemNotFound) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("GetByTitleYearType: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Not found — create.
+	id, err := idgen.NextID()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("generate content_id: %w", err)
+	}
+	item := &models.MediaItem{
+		ContentID: id,
+		Type:      "podcast",
+		Title:     show.Title,
+		SortTitle: titleutil.DeriveDefaultSortTitle(show.Title),
+		Year:      show.Year,
+	}
+	if err := s.itemRepo.Upsert(ctx, item); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return id, nil
+}
+
+// upsertPodcastEpisodesAndFiles writes one episodes row and one media_files
+// row per episode in the parsed show. The episode's content_id is linked back
+// through media_files.episode_id so playback and library queries can resolve
+// it.
+//
+// Podcast episodes use season_number=0 (no season concept) and
+// episode_number=track.
+func (s *Scanner) upsertPodcastEpisodesAndFiles(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	folder *models.MediaFolder,
+	showContentID string,
+	folderPath string,
+	show *parsedPodcastShow,
+) error {
+	if s.episodeRepo == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("episodeRepo not configured on Scanner")
+	}
+
+	for _, ep := range show.Episodes {
+		episodeID, err := idgen.NextID()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("generate episode content_id: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		episode := &models.Episode{
+			ContentID:     episodeID,
+			SeriesID:      showContentID,
+			SeasonNumber:  0,
+			EpisodeNumber: ep.Track,
+			Title:         ep.Title,
+		}
+		// Upsert writes back the stored content_id (preserving existing on conflict).
+		if err := s.episodeRepo.Upsert(ctx, episode); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("upsert episode %q: %w", ep.Title, err)
+		}
+
+		mf := models.MediaFile{
+			ContentID:          showContentID,
+			EpisodeID:          episode.ContentID,
+			SeasonNumber:       0,
+			EpisodeNumber:      ep.Track,
+			MediaFolderID:      folder.ID,
+			CanonicalRootPath:  folderPath,
+			ObservedRootPath:   folderPath,
+			ContentGroupKey:    showContentID,
+			GroupKeyVersion:    1,
+			BaseTitle:          show.Title,
+			BaseYear:           show.Year,
+			BaseType:           "podcast",
+			IdentityConfidence: "high",
+			FilePath:           ep.Path,
+			ProbeSource:        "local",
+		}
+		if _, err := s.fileRepo.Upsert(ctx, mf); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("upsert media file %s: %w", ep.Path, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/scanner/podcast_test.go b/internal/scanner/podcast_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e9280549
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/scanner/podcast_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package scanner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"os/exec"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestParsePodcastShow(t *testing.T) {
+	ffprobePath := FFprobePathFromFFmpeg("ffmpeg")
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath(ffprobePath); err != nil {
+		ffprobePath = "ffprobe"
+		if _, err := exec.LookPath(ffprobePath); err != nil {
+			t.Skip("ffprobe not available")
+		}
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	got, err := parsePodcastShow(ctx, ffprobePath, "testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parsePodcastShow: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.Title != "Show A" {
+		t.Errorf("Title = %q, want %q", got.Title, "Show A")
+	}
+	if got.Author != "Show A Host" {
+		t.Errorf("Author = %q, want %q", got.Author, "Show A Host")
+	}
+	if got.Year != 2024 {
+		t.Errorf("Year = %d, want 2024", got.Year)
+	}
+	if len(got.Episodes) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("got %d episodes, want 3", len(got.Episodes))
+	}
+	for i, ep := range got.Episodes {
+		wantTrack := i + 1
+		if ep.Track != wantTrack {
+			t.Errorf("episode %d Track = %d, want %d", i, ep.Track, wantTrack)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/scanner/scanner.go b/internal/scanner/scanner.go
index 0fdc8b4b..243d7325 100644
--- a/internal/scanner/scanner.go
+++ b/internal/scanner/scanner.go
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ type Scanner struct {
 	episodeLibraryRepo  *catalog.EpisodeLibraryRepository
 	itemRepo            *catalog.ItemRepository
 	personRepo          *catalog.PersonRepository
+	episodeRepo         *catalog.EpisodeRepository
 	ffprobePath         string
 	s3Client            *s3client.Client // public assets bucket (may be nil)
 	workers             int
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ func NewScanner(fileRepo *FileRepository, ffprobePath string, s3Client *s3client
 		episodeLibraryRepo:  catalog.NewEpisodeLibraryRepository(fileRepo.Pool()),
 		itemRepo:            catalog.NewItemRepository(fileRepo.Pool()),
 		personRepo:          catalog.NewPersonRepository(fileRepo.Pool()),
+		episodeRepo:         catalog.NewEpisodeRepository(fileRepo.Pool()),
 		ffprobePath:         ffprobePath,
 		s3Client:            s3Client,
 		workers:             workers,
@@ -197,8 +199,9 @@ func (s *Scanner) SetMetadataQueueProducer(producer MetadataQueueProducer) {
 // probes them for technical data, and upserts them into the database.
 // Files previously in the DB that no longer exist on disk are marked as missing.
 //
-// Audiobook libraries are handled by ScanAudiobookFolder and bypass the
-// per-file movie/TV pipeline entirely.
+// Audiobook libraries are handled by ScanAudiobookFolder and podcast
+// libraries by ScanPodcastFolder; both bypass the per-file movie/TV
+// pipeline entirely.
 func (s *Scanner) ScanFolder(ctx context.Context, folder *models.MediaFolder) (*ScanResult, error) {
 	watchCtx, stopWatch := s.watchFolderContext(ctx, folder.ID)
 	defer stopWatch()
@@ -210,6 +213,13 @@ func (s *Scanner) ScanFolder(ctx context.Context, folder *models.MediaFolder) (*
 		return &ScanResult{}, nil
 	}
 
+	if isPodcastLibraryType(folder.Type) {
+		if err := s.ScanPodcastFolder(watchCtx, folder); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return &ScanResult{}, nil
+	}
+
 	return s.scanPaths(watchCtx, folder, folder.Paths, folder.Paths, true)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep1.mp3 b/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep1.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3b416c2b
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diff --git a/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep2.mp3 b/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep2.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c144ff3
Binary files /dev/null and b/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep2.mp3 differ
diff --git a/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep3.mp3 b/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep3.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5b327c54
Binary files /dev/null and b/internal/scanner/testdata/podcast_fixtures/show_a/ep3.mp3 differ