Spotify Podcast Transcription: Complete Guide
Spotify is the world's largest podcast platform, but accessing text versions of episodes remains frustrating. While Spotify rolled out automatic transcripts for some shows, these transcripts can't be exported, searched outside the app, or used for content repurposing.
This guide covers how to get usable transcripts from Spotify podcasts—text files you can actually search, edit, and work with.
Quick Navigation
- Does Spotify Have Built-In Transcripts?
- How to Download Spotify Podcast Episodes
- Transcription Options for Podcast Audio
- Step-by-Step Transcription Process
- Working with Podcast Transcripts
- Legal Considerations
- FAQ
Does Spotify Have Built-In Transcripts?
Spotify began rolling out automatic transcripts in 2023, expanding availability through 2024-2025. According to Spotify's support documentation, transcripts appear for episodes where the feature is enabled.
What Spotify Transcripts Offer:
- Auto-generated text synced to audio playback
- In-app display while listening
- Searchable text within episodes
For Podcast Creators:
- Download transcripts as VTT files
- Edit and re-upload corrected transcripts
- Distribute via RSS to other platforms
For Listeners:
- View transcripts in-app only
- No download or export functionality
- No copy/paste of full transcript
- No external search or indexing
The Problem: If you're a listener (not the creator), you can't extract Spotify transcripts for research, content repurposing, or offline use. For those use cases, you need external transcription.
How to Download Spotify Podcast Episodes
Since Spotify doesn't provide direct download links, you have several options to obtain podcast audio for transcription:
Option 1: Original Source Download (Recommended)
Most podcasts publish episodes on multiple platforms. Check these sources first:
Podcast Website
- Search for "[Podcast Name] official website"
- Look for episode archive or "Listen" page
- Many sites offer direct MP3 download links
- Some embed audio players with download options
RSS Feed
- Find the podcast's RSS feed URL (usually linked from their website)
- Open the RSS feed in a browser or feed reader
- Each episode entry typically includes an audio file URL
- Right-click the audio link to download
Apple Podcasts (Desktop)
- Open Apple Podcasts on macOS
- Find and subscribe to the podcast
- Download the episode locally
- Locate the file in your Music library
Option 2: Alternative Podcast Apps
Some podcast apps allow episode downloads for offline listening:
- Pocket Casts: Download episodes within the app
- Overcast: Offline download functionality
- Castro: Episode downloads available
Note: These apps store episodes in proprietary formats. You may need to locate the cached audio files or use a different method for transcription.
Option 3: Browser-Based Capture
For podcasts without direct download options:
- Web Player: Some podcasts stream through web players that can be captured
- Browser Extensions: Tools exist for capturing streaming audio (verify legality)
- Screen Recording: Record audio output while playing (lower quality)
Important: Always respect copyright. These methods are for personal use only.
Transcription Options for Podcast Audio
Once you have the audio file, you have several transcription paths:
AI Transcription Services
Best for: Speed, cost-effectiveness, speaker identification
| Service | Speed | Speaker ID | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrassTranscripts | 1-3 min/hour | ✅ Yes | $2.50-6.00/file |
| Otter.ai | Real-time | ✅ Yes | Subscription |
| Descript | Minutes | ✅ Yes | Subscription |
Podcast-Specific Advantages:
- Automatic speaker identification distinguishes hosts from guests
- Handles conversational speech patterns
- Processes long-form content efficiently
- Multiple output formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON)
Manual Transcription
Best for: Perfect accuracy requirements, complex audio
Considerations:
- Time: 4-6 hours per hour of audio
- Cost: Free (your time) or $1-3/minute for professional services
- Accuracy: Highest when done carefully
- Formatting: Full control over structure
Hybrid Approach
Best for: Important content requiring accuracy
- Run AI transcription first (fast, cheap)
- Review and correct errors manually (focused effort)
- Result: High accuracy at moderate time investment
Step-by-Step Transcription Process
Using BrassTranscripts for Podcast Transcription
Step 1: Prepare Your File
- Supported formats: MP3, M4A, WAV, AAC, FLAC, OGG, Opus, MP4
- Maximum file size: 250MB
- Maximum duration: 2 hours per file
Step 2: Upload and Preview
- Go to brasstranscripts.com
- Upload your podcast episode
- Review the 30-word preview to verify detection
- Confirm speaker detection (number of speakers identified)
Step 3: Process and Download
- Complete payment ($2.50 for files under 15 minutes, $6.00 for 15-120 minutes)
- Wait for processing (typically 1-3 minutes per hour of audio)
- Download all formats (TXT, SRT, VTT, JSON)
Step 4: Review Output The transcript includes:
- Full text with speaker labels (Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.)
- Timestamps for each segment
- Multiple format options for different uses
Tips for Better Podcast Transcripts
Audio Quality Matters
- Professional podcasts with good microphones transcribe better
- Interview podcasts with phone-quality guests may have more errors
- Episodes with music intros/outros should be trimmed if possible
Speaker Identification
- AI can distinguish speakers by voice characteristics
- More speakers = more potential confusion
- Review and rename speakers in the output (Speaker 1 → "Host Name")
Long Episodes
- Episodes over 2 hours need splitting
- Process parts separately, then combine
- Maintain consistent speaker assignments across parts
Working with Podcast Transcripts
Content Repurposing
Transform podcast episodes into other content formats:
Blog Posts
- Extract key topics from transcript
- Edit into readable article format
- Add headers, formatting, and context
- Link back to original episode
Social Media
- Pull compelling quotes
- Create text-based snippets
- Format for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram
- Include episode link for listeners
Show Notes
- Summarize main discussion points
- List resources mentioned
- Create timestamps for key moments
- Add to podcast website/feed
Newsletters
- Weekly digest of episode highlights
- Quote guests directly
- Provide value without requiring full listen
Research and Study
Searchability
- Search across all transcribed episodes
- Find when specific topics were discussed
- Locate guest appearances
- Build personal knowledge base
Citation and Reference
- Quote accurately with timestamps
- Reference specific segments
- Create study materials
- Support academic research
Accessibility
Reading vs. Listening
- Some prefer reading over audio
- Faster content consumption (reading speed > listening speed)
- Better for non-native speakers
- Essential for deaf/hard-of-hearing users
Archive and Preservation
- Text persists if audio becomes unavailable
- Searchable backup of content
- Platform-independent access
Legal Considerations
Personal Use
Generally acceptable without explicit permission:
- Personal study and note-taking
- Accessibility accommodation
- Private research
- Non-commercial archiving
Commercial Use
Requires permission from copyright holder:
- Publishing transcript excerpts
- Creating derivative content for sale
- Using in commercial products
- Redistributing transcripts
Best Practices
- Check Terms of Use: Review podcast's stated policies
- Credit Sources: Always attribute original creators
- Seek Permission: When in doubt, ask
- Fair Use: Understand your jurisdiction's guidelines
- Respect Creators: Support the podcasts you transcribe
FAQ
Can I transcribe any Spotify podcast?
Technically yes, if you can obtain the audio file. However, you should respect copyright and use transcripts appropriately. Personal use is generally fine; commercial use requires permission.
Why doesn't Spotify let me download transcripts?
Spotify's transcripts are designed to enhance the listening experience within the app, not to replace listening or enable content extraction. This keeps users in the Spotify ecosystem and protects creator content.
How accurate is AI transcription for podcasts?
Accuracy depends on audio quality, speaker clarity, and content complexity. Professional podcasts with good audio typically produce usable transcripts. Heavily edited shows with music and effects may need more correction.
Can AI identify different speakers in a podcast?
Yes, speaker diarization technology can distinguish between multiple speakers based on voice characteristics. BrassTranscripts uses Pyannote 3.1 for speaker identification, automatically labeling different voices as Speaker 1, Speaker 2, etc.
What about podcasts in other languages?
AI transcription services support multiple languages. BrassTranscripts handles 99+ languages with automatic language detection. The audio is transcribed in its original language—translation is a separate step.
How do I handle podcast episodes longer than 2 hours?
Split the audio file into segments under 2 hours each. Free tools like Audacity can split audio files. Transcribe each segment separately, then combine the transcripts maintaining consistent speaker labels.
Related Resources:
Ready to transcribe a podcast? Upload your episode and get a speaker-labeled transcript in minutes. No subscription required.