Podping does use the hive blockchain to store podcasting 2.0 updates. It serves its purpose and has for years and even Fountain uses it to put data. It's a fast chain so it transmits the info in seconds.
nostr:npub13cnlldwfhwxd6qf34hnwlfya2m2qrd2zfk0alxnrup6d2fasw9wqxwkzpe there are several ways to trigger it and you've seen it fine in the irc but sovereignfeeds also has it built in.