BeyondPod allows you to assign shortcut keys for various playback commands (use Menu > Buttons in the Player View). With some small exceptions those keys will work in the entire application, but if a key is used on a given screen, it will not work as a shortcut there. For example by default up/down are assigned to volume up/down. This works in the Player View but if you are on the Feeds or Podcasts View, Up/Down will change selection and not change the volume. You can always set dedicated keys, that are not used anywhere else (for example , and .) for volume up/down or play/pause