How to Transcribe a Podcast from a Link
Paste a public podcast episode link to get a timestamped transcript without downloading the audio. See which links work, what you get, and what to do when a link fails.
The short answer: To transcribe a podcast from a link, copy the episode's public URL from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, an RSS feed, or a direct audio file, and paste it into a link-based transcription tool like PodText. PodText finds the episode's public audio, shows you the estimated length and credit cost, and returns a timestamped, searchable transcript. You don't need to download or convert anything first.
Below is the full process, which links work today, and what to try when one doesn't.
What "transcribing from a link" actually means
A podcast episode page, like one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, is not the audio file itself. It's a web page that points to audio the publisher hosts somewhere else, usually through the show's RSS feed.
A link-based transcription tool does the lookup for you. It reads the link, works out which show and episode you mean, finds the publicly available audio file, and sends that file to speech recognition. You get text back without having to track down an MP3 URL, download it, and upload it yourself.
This only works when the publisher makes the audio publicly available. A link is just a pointer, and if nothing public sits behind it, no tool can transcribe it.
How to transcribe a podcast link with PodText
- Copy the episode link. In the Apple Podcasts app or website, use Share → Copy Link on the episode. On Spotify, use Share → Copy Episode Link. An episode link is better than a show link because it skips a step.
- Paste it into PodText. Go to PodText and paste the URL into the link field.
- Pick the episode if asked. If you pasted a show link (or an RSS feed), PodText lists the show's episodes so you can choose the one you want.
- Check the language. PodText auto-detects the spoken language by default. You can also choose it yourself from 99+ languages, which helps with a show that mixes languages.
- Sign in and confirm. New accounts are created with Google. Before you start, PodText shows the estimated cost: 1 credit per minute of audio, with partial minutes rounded up, so a 45:20 episode costs 46 credits.
- Wait for the transcript. Processing runs in the background, and a progress view shows where your job is.
Example: a Planet Money episode
Say you want the text of a recent episode of NPR's Planet Money. If you paste the show's Apple Podcasts page (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428), PodText resolves the show and lists its episodes. You pick one, and PodText pulls the audio from the show's public feed.
If you paste the link to a specific episode instead (Apple episode links end in ?i= followed by a number), PodText skips the episode list and goes straight to the confirmation step. Either way, you never handle the MP3 yourself.
Which podcast links work
Based on the current product, PodText accepts these link types:
| Link type | What works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Podcasts | Episode and show links | Show links open an episode picker |
| Spotify | Episode and show links | Works when the show also has a public RSS feed PodText can match. Spotify-exclusive shows can't be transcribed |
| iHeart | Specific, publicly accessible episode links | Show pages aren't supported |
| Xiaoyuzhou (小宇宙) | Episode and podcast links | |
| RSS feeds | Public feed URLs | Opens an episode picker |
| Direct media links | Public URLs to audio or video files (e.g., MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4) | Same 500 MB / 6-hour limits as uploads |
| YouTube | Public videos and eligible Shorts with accessible captions | PodText imports the existing captions. It doesn't transcribe YouTube audio |
A note on Spotify: PodText doesn't download audio from Spotify. It uses the Spotify link to identify the show, then looks for the publisher's public RSS feed and transcribes the audio from there. That's why Spotify-exclusive shows, which have no public feed, won't work. PodText isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or YouTube.
What happens after you submit a link
Once you confirm, PodText fetches the audio, splits long episodes into segments, transcribes them, and stitches the results back together. Your credits are reserved when you submit. If the transcription fails or you cancel it, the credits are refunded in full.
Problems with the link itself, such as an unreachable file or an episode over the length limit, are caught before any credits are charged.
Episodes can run up to 6 hours. Audio shorter than 10 seconds isn't transcribed.
What you get back
When the job finishes, you get a transcript workspace with:
- Timestamped segments. The transcript is split into passages, each tied to its place in the audio.
- Synced playback. As the audio plays, the current passage is highlighted. Click any passage to jump to that moment.
- Full-text search, with matches highlighted.
- AI insights: a summary, chapters, key points, and notable quotes. You can click chapters and quotes to jump to that part of the episode. If insights can't be generated, you can still read the transcript.
- Copy and export. Copy the plain text, or download it as:
- TXT: plain text, no timestamps
- Markdown: the transcript with a
[mm:ss]timestamp on each passage - SRT and VTT: subtitle files for video editors and players (see SRT vs. VTT)
Your transcripts are private to your account and aren't published or indexed. You can delete them at any time.
A few things aren't available today, so plan around them: speaker labels, editing the transcript inside PodText, PDF export, shared or team workspaces, and bulk import of a whole show.
When a link doesn't work
If PodText can't process a link, the cause is usually one of these:
- The episode is private or subscriber-only. Paid, members-only, or login-protected feeds generally don't expose public audio. If you have legitimate access to the file, upload it directly.
- It's a Spotify exclusive, or the audio is missing from the feed. PodText will tell you it found the episode details but couldn't reach an audio file. Try the show's Apple Podcasts link or its RSS feed. If the show is only on Spotify, a link won't work.
- It's a show page where an episode link is needed. For iHeart, open the specific episode and copy that URL.
- It's a YouTube video without captions, or the video is private or restricted. Upload a recording instead if you have permission to use it.
- The host blocks automated downloads, or the link has expired. Some hosting services refuse downloads that don't come from a browser, and some audio links are temporary. The fix is the same: download the file yourself and upload it.
- It's the wrong kind of link. Pages built around an embedded player, such as a blog post with a player on it, often don't expose the audio file. Look for the show on Apple Podcasts or find its RSS feed.
When uploading a file works better
A link is the fastest route, but uploading is the better choice when:
- You're the creator and have the original recording (often cleaner than the published, compressed version)
- The episode is behind a paywall or private feed that you have access to
- You want to transcribe a YouTube video that has no captions
- The link keeps failing for any of the reasons above
PodText accepts audio and video uploads (MP3, M4A, WAV, MP4, MOV, WEBM, and more) up to 500 MB and 6 hours per file. For video files, PodText extracts the audio track and transcribes that.
Tips for a cleaner transcript
- Set the language manually when a show switches languages or has a strong accent, instead of relying on auto-detect.
- Use the best source you have. If you produced the episode, upload the mastered file instead of relying on the public feed.
- Clean audio matters more than anything else. Crosstalk, music under dialogue, and poor remote recordings cause most errors. Keep that in mind when you judge the result. For more on what affects results, see how accurate AI transcription is.
- Spot-check names and numbers. Proper nouns, brand names, and figures are where speech recognition most often slips. Click a passage to hear the original.
- Keep your own copy. Download a TXT or Markdown copy of anything you plan to use.
What you can make from a transcript
- Show notes and chapter markers: start from the AI summary and chapters.
- Quotes for articles or social posts: find them with search and check them against the audio.
- Blog posts and newsletters: export Markdown and edit it in your usual writing tool.
- Subtitles: import the SRT or VTT file into your video editor for clips or full-episode video.
- Research and reporting notes: use search and timestamps to cite exactly where something was said.
- Study material: skim the key points, then read the full text for the parts that matter.
For more ideas, see how to repurpose podcast content. If you quote or republish material from someone else's show, the usual copyright and attribution rules still apply.
FAQ
Can I transcribe a podcast from a URL?
Yes, as long as the audio is publicly available. Paste an Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or Xiaoyuzhou episode link, a public RSS feed, or a direct audio link into PodText. It finds the audio and transcribes it.
Can I get a transcript without downloading the audio?
Yes. With a supported link, PodText fetches the audio itself, so you never need to save or convert a file. You only need to download and upload the file yourself when the link can't be processed.
Does it work with Spotify links?
Often, but not always. PodText uses the Spotify link to find the show's public RSS feed and transcribes the audio from there. Spotify-exclusive shows have no public feed, so they can't be transcribed from a link.
How long does it take?
It depends on the episode's length. Long episodes are split into segments and processed in parallel, and you can watch the progress while you wait.
Is it free?
New accounts get 60 one-time credits, which is enough for up to 60 minutes of audio at standard quality. No credit card is required. After that, you can buy credits or subscribe. See pricing.
Are my transcripts public?
No. Transcripts are private to your account and aren't published or indexed.
Try it with your own episode
If you have an episode link open in another tab, paste it into PodText. You'll see the episode, its length, and the credit cost before anything runs, and your first 60 minutes are free.