diff --git a/.changeset/giant-gorillas-deny.md b/.changeset/giant-gorillas-deny.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3031b6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/giant-gorillas-deny.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'svelte-podcast': minor
+---
+
+Adds the ability to bind episode metadata to the audio store
diff --git a/src/lib/components/audio-loader.svelte b/src/lib/components/audio-loader.svelte
index 7da7037..732f898 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/audio-loader.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/audio-loader.svelte
@@ -2,44 +2,50 @@
 	import {
 		audio_autoplay,
 		audio_current_time,
+		audio_duration,
 		audio_element,
-		audio_metadata,
+		audio_ended,
+		audio_loading,
 		audio_muted,
+		audio_paused,
 		audio_playback_rate,
 		audio_src,
 		audio_start_at,
 		audio_volume,
 	} from '$lib/context/audio-internals';
 	import type { PlayerElement } from '$lib/types/types';
-	import { isBoolean, isNumber } from '$pkg/type-guards';
 
+	// readonly values
 	let element: PlayerElement;
-	let currentTime = $audio_start_at;
-	let volume = $audio_volume;
-
+	let current_time = $audio_start_at;
 	let duration = 0;
 	let ended = true;
-	let muted = false;
 	let paused = false;
+
+	// handler values
+	let volume = $audio_volume;
+	let muted = false;
 	let playbackRate = 1;
 
-	// Update stores based on bindings
+	// readonly - stores will update when bindings change
 	$: audio_element.set(element);
-	$: audio_current_time.set(currentTime);
-	$: audio_metadata.update((x) => ({ ...x, duration, ended, paused }));
+	$: audio_current_time.set(current_time);
+	$: audio_duration.set(duration);
+	$: audio_ended.set(ended);
+	$: audio_paused.set(paused);
 
-	// Update bindings based on stores
+	// handlers - when store value changes, the binding will update the audio element
 	$: volume = $audio_volume;
 	$: muted = $audio_muted;
 	$: playbackRate = $audio_playback_rate;
-	$: currentTime = $audio_start_at;
+	$: current_time = $audio_start_at;
 </script>
 
 <audio
 	bind:this={element}
 	src={$audio_src}
 	autoplay={$audio_autoplay}
-	bind:currentTime
+	bind:currentTime={current_time}
 	bind:muted
 	bind:duration
 	bind:paused
@@ -62,34 +68,6 @@
 		// TODO: reset player state
 		// console.log('emptied', e);
 	}}
-	on:loadeddata={() => {
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, loading: false }));
-	}}
-	on:loadstart={() => {
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, loading: true }));
-	}}
-	on:playing={(e) => {
-		// @ts-expect-error event is not fully typed
-		const is_paused = e.target.paused;
-		if (!isBoolean(is_paused)) return;
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, paused: is_paused }));
-	}}
-	on:pause={(e) => {
-		// @ts-expect-error event is not fully typed
-		const is_paused = e.target.paused;
-		if (!isBoolean(is_paused)) return;
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, paused: is_paused }));
-	}}
-	on:ratechange={(e) => {
-		// @ts-expect-error event is not fully typed
-		const playbackRate = e.target.playbackRate;
-		if (!isNumber(playbackRate)) return;
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, playbackRate }));
-	}}
-	on:durationchange={(e) => {
-		// @ts-expect-error event is not fully typed
-		const duration = e.target?.duration;
-		if (!isNumber(duration)) return;
-		audio_metadata.update((m) => ({ ...m, duration }));
-	}}
+	on:loadeddata={() => audio_loading.set(false)}
+	on:loadstart={() => audio_loading.set(true)}
 />
diff --git a/src/lib/context/audio-internals.ts b/src/lib/context/audio-internals.ts
index 7ea9f00..09a7fed 100644
--- a/src/lib/context/audio-internals.ts
+++ b/src/lib/context/audio-internals.ts
@@ -1,30 +1,18 @@
 import type { PlayerElement } from '$lib/types/types';
 import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
 
-export const audio_element = writable<PlayerElement>();
-export const audio_start_at = writable<number>(0);
-
-export const audio_autoplay = writable<boolean>(false);
+// readonly - stores will update when bindings change
 export const audio_current_time = writable<number>(0);
+export const audio_element = writable<PlayerElement>();
+export const audio_duration = writable<number>(0);
+export const audio_ended = writable<boolean>(false);
+export const audio_loading = writable<boolean>(false);
+export const audio_paused = writable<boolean>(true);
+
+// handlers - when store value changes, the binding will update the audio element
+export const audio_start_at = writable<number>(0);
+export const audio_autoplay = writable<boolean>(false);
 export const audio_muted = writable<boolean>(false);
 export const audio_playback_rate = writable<number>(1);
 export const audio_src = writable<string>('');
 export const audio_volume = writable<number>(1);
-
-export type PlayerMetadata = {
-	duration: number;
-	// muted: boolean;
-	paused: boolean;
-	// playbackRate: number;
-	loading: boolean;
-	ended: boolean;
-};
-
-export const audio_metadata = writable<PlayerMetadata>({
-	duration: 0,
-	ended: false,
-	loading: false,
-	paused: true,
-	// muted: false,
-	// playbackRate: 1,
-});
diff --git a/src/lib/context/audio-metadata.ts b/src/lib/context/audio-metadata.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..344815f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/context/audio-metadata.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
+
+export type AudioMetadata = {
+	title: string;
+	artwork: string;
+};
+
+export const audio_metadata = writable<AudioMetadata | null>(null);
diff --git a/src/lib/context/audio.ts b/src/lib/context/audio.ts
index f513ab4..fb7c481 100644
--- a/src/lib/context/audio.ts
+++ b/src/lib/context/audio.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 import {
 	audio_autoplay,
 	audio_current_time,
+	audio_duration,
 	audio_element,
-	audio_metadata,
+	audio_ended,
+	audio_loading,
 	audio_muted,
+	audio_paused,
 	audio_playback_rate,
 	audio_src,
 	audio_start_at,
 	audio_volume,
 } from '$lib/context/audio-internals';
+import { audio_metadata, type AudioMetadata } from '$lib/context/audio-metadata';
 import { secondsToTimestamp } from '$lib/utility/seconds-to-timestamp';
 import { info, warn } from '$pkg/log';
 import clamp from 'just-clamp';
@@ -16,24 +20,47 @@ import { derived } from 'svelte/store';
 
 const audio_state = derived(
 	[
-		audio_metadata,
-		audio_autoplay,
 		audio_current_time,
+		audio_duration,
+		audio_ended,
+		audio_loading,
+		audio_paused,
+		audio_start_at,
+		audio_autoplay,
 		audio_muted,
 		audio_playback_rate,
 		audio_src,
 		audio_volume,
+		audio_metadata,
 	],
-	([$metadata, $autoplay, $current_time, $muted, $playback_rate, $src, $volume]) => {
+	([
+		$current_time,
+		$duration,
+		$ended,
+		$loading,
+		$paused,
+		$start_at,
+		$autoplay,
+		$muted,
+		$playback_rate,
+		$src,
+		$volume,
+		$metadata,
+	]) => {
 		return {
-			...$metadata,
-			autoplay: $autoplay,
 			current_time: $current_time,
-			timestamp: secondsToTimestamp($current_time),
+			duration: $duration,
+			ended: $ended,
+			loading: $loading,
+			paused: $paused,
+			start_at: $start_at,
+			autoplay: $autoplay,
 			muted: $muted,
 			playback_rate: $playback_rate,
 			src: $src,
 			volume: $volume,
+			metadata: $metadata,
+			timestamp: secondsToTimestamp($current_time),
 		};
 	},
 );
@@ -80,26 +107,31 @@ function unmute(type: HandleType = 'set') {
 	}
 }
 
-type LoadOptions = {
+export type AudioLoadData = AudioMetadata & { src: string };
+
+export type AudioLoadOptions = {
 	autoplay: boolean;
 	start_at?: number;
 };
 
-function load(src: string, opts: LoadOptions) {
+const load = (data: AudioLoadData, opts: AudioLoadOptions) => {
+	const { src, ...metadata } = data;
 	info('load: ', src);
 	audio_autoplay.set(opts.autoplay);
 	audio_volume.set(1);
 	audio_src.set(src);
+	audio_metadata.set(metadata);
 	audio_start_at.set(opts.start_at || 0);
 	// opts.current_time ? seek(opts.current_time) : null;
 	//opts.autoplay && play();
-}
+};
 function unload() {
 	info('unload: ');
 	pause();
 	audio_autoplay.set(false);
 	audio_volume.set(1);
 	audio_src.set('');
+	audio_metadata.set(null);
 	audio_start_at.set(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/index.ts b/src/lib/index.ts
index a927e69..14bf742 100644
--- a/src/lib/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 export { default as AudioLoader } from '$lib/components/audio-loader.svelte';
-export { audio } from '$lib/context/audio';
+export { audio, type AudioLoadData, type AudioLoadOptions } from '$lib/context/audio';
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index ea813e6..b5880c5 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { audio } from '$lib';
+	import { audio, type AudioLoadData } from '$lib';
 
 	const sources = {
-		syntax: '/example-syntax.mp3',
-		knomii: '/example-knomii.mp3',
-	} as const;
+		syntax: {
+			src: `/example-syntax.mp3`,
+			title: `Supper Club × Rich Harris, Author of Svelte`,
+			artwork: `https://ssl-static.libsyn.com/p/assets/b/3/c/d/b3cdf28da11ad39fe5bbc093207a2619/Syntax_-_499.jpg`,
+		},
+		knomii: {
+			src: `/example-knomii.mp3`,
+			title: `Empowerment starts with letting go of control`,
+			artwork: `https://ssl-static.libsyn.com/p/assets/f/a/8/d/fa8d56d5226884335f2e77a3093c12a1/ep-6.png`,
+		},
+	} satisfies Record<string, AudioLoadData>;
 
 	let current_time = 0;
 	$: current_time = $audio.current_time;