         configureNowPlaying(info: nowPlayingInfo)
     }
     
+    // Configures the MPNowPlayingInfoCenter
     func configureNowPlaying(info: [String : Any]?) {
         self.nowPlayingInfo = info
         MPNowPlayingInfoCenter.default().nowPlayingInfo = info

        return .success
    }
    
    func updateNowPlayingInfo() {
        guard let episode = currentEpisode else {
            configureNowPlaying(info: nil)

    func playEpisode(episode: Episode) {
        if currentEpisode?.id == episode.id {
            // TODO: decide how to handle this case. do nothing? restart track at beginning?
            self.pause()
        }
        
        episode.createListeningHistory() //endpoint request 
