How to Get a Transcript of a Podcast: Step-by-Step Guide
Dec 19, 2025
Key Takeaways
You can get podcast transcripts through YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or an AI tool like Audionotes.
Transcribing a podcast improves accessibility, boosts visibility, and helps listeners save time.
Built-in podcast transcript tools are convenient but not always accurate or available for every episode.
A podcast transcript generator like Audionotes offers higher accuracy, structured notes, and multi-format uploads.
Podcasts are full of insights, stories, and ideas, but listening isn’t always the fastest way to capture information. That’s where transcription comes in. Transcribing a podcast means converting spoken audio into clear, searchable text so you can easily repurpose, study, or reference it later.
Today, you don’t need to type everything by hand. There are plenty of apps to convert speech to text and help transcribe podcasts with just a few taps.
Why Transcribe Podcasts?
People transcribe podcasts for many reasons, like accessibility, studying, content repurposing, quoting guests, and improving SEO. No matter your goal, here’s how to get a podcast transcript using different tools.
How to Generate a Transcript of a Podcast
Method 1: Through YouTube
If the podcast is uploaded on YouTube, you can use YouTube’s automatic captions to get a basic transcript. Keep in mind that the accuracy depends on the speaker’s accent, audio clarity, and background noise.
Step 1: Find a video with subtitles
Open the podcast episode on YouTube and confirm that it has subtitles available. You’ll see a “CC” icon under the player.
Step 2: Tap “Show Transcript”
Click the three dots (⋮) below the video or open the transcript panel on the right side.
Step 3: Turn off timestamps (Optional)
Turn off timestamps in the transcript window to get a cleaner version.
You can now copy the text directly, but expect errors since auto-generated captions aren’t always perfect.
Method 2: Spotify’s Built-In Transcript Tool
Spotify offers an automatic transcript feature, but it’s only available for episodes where the creator has enabled it. But bear in mind that not all podcasts support this option.
Step 1: Open your episode in Spotify
Go to the podcast and select the episode you want to transcribe.
Step 2: Tap the transcript icon
Look for the transcript button (if available). Only some podcasters turn this on.
Step 3: Scroll or copy the transcript
You can read the transcript as you listen or copy sections manually to save for later. This method is quick, but availability varies, and accuracy depends on the creator’s settings.
Method 3: Apple Podcasts’ Built-In Transcript Tool
Apple now offers auto-generated transcripts for certain podcasts, but again, it depends on whether the creator supports the feature.
Step 1: Open your episode in Apple Podcasts
Find the podcast episode you want to view.
Step 2: Tap the transcript icon
If the creator has allowed it, you’ll see a transcript icon appear on-screen.
Step 3: Scroll or copy the text
Read, scroll, or copy parts of the transcript directly. Accuracy may vary since it relies on Apple’s auto-captioning.
Method 4: Using Audionotes (Most Accurate & Easiest Method)
If you want a clean, fully accurate transcript, a podcast transcript generator like Audionotes is the simplest way to get a podcast transcript in minutes. Unlike the built-in tools above, Audionotes works for any podcast, whether it’s downloaded audio, a video version, or a YouTube upload.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Log in to Audionotes
Open the Audionotes web or mobile app and sign in.
Step 2: Upload the audio/video file or paste the link
You can either upload the downloaded podcast file or paste the podcast’s YouTube link. Audionotes accepts both.
Step 3: Press ‘Submit’
If you uploaded an audio or video file, the tool processes it and prepares your transcript.
Step 4: Copy or save your transcript
Once generated, click Copy Transcript to save, edit, or organize it. Audionotes also allows you to summarize, highlight, and create notes inside the transcript.
Why Transcribe Your Podcast With Audionotes?
Using Audionotes to transcribe a podcast gives you much more than a simple text file. It helps you turn long episodes into clear, structured content that’s easier to use, share, and understand.
Here’s why to use Audionotes:
Highly Accurate Transcripts: Audionotes cleans up filler words, corrects common captioning errors, and organizes messy audio into readable text. This means fewer fixes and fewer rewinds, so your transcript is ready to use right away.
Works With Any Podcast Format: Whether your podcast exists as a downloaded audio file, a video episode, or a YouTube upload, Audionotes can process it.
Structured Notes Instead of Raw Text: Audionotes automatically breaks content into sections, adds bullet points, separates speakers, highlights key moments, and creates summaries. This helps you scan long episodes in seconds.
Supports Multiple Languages: Audionotes can translate transcripts into 30+ languages, which is helpful for international listeners or multilingual publishing.
Zero Manual Cleanup Needed: You don’t need to delete timestamps, fix formatting, or rewrite unclear sentences. Audionotes handles the heavy lifting for you!
Benefits of Transcribed Podcasts for Creators
Transcribing a podcast offers big advantages, especially for creators who want more visibility, accessibility, and audience loyalty.
Accessibility: A transcript helps reach listeners who are deaf or hard of hearing and supports inclusive content.
Boosted Visibility: Search engines can’t read audio, but they can read text. A transcript improves discoverability and helps podcasts rank better.
Improved User Experience: Transcripts make your content easier to skim, quote, repurpose, or turn into blog posts, newsletters, show notes, and clips.
Benefits of Transcribed Podcasts for Listeners
Even listeners benefit when podcasters include podcast transcripts.
Faster Navigation: Instead of replaying sections, listeners can quickly find the part they want.
Better Retention: Reading along improves comprehension and memory, which is helpful for educational or research-heavy podcasts.
More Shareable Content: Transcripts make it easy to copy quotes, share insights, and save key takeaways.
Conclusion
Getting a podcast transcript is easier than ever. Whether it’s on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, you have built-in options to get partial or full text, though accuracy varies from episode to episode. And if you want a clean, reliable transcript that works for any file format, Audionotes gives you a simple, accurate way to transcribe podcasts and turn audio into structured, shareable notes.