What is a Podcast Transcript?
A podcast transcript is a written, text-based version of a podcast episode — a word-for-word (or lightly edited) document of everything spoken in the audio. Transcripts serve three major purposes: accessibility, SEO, and content repurposing.
What is a Podcast Transcript?
A podcast transcript is a written document that captures the spoken content of a podcast episode in text form. It can be:
- •Verbatim — every word, filler word (um, uh), and pause included
- •Clean-edited — filler words removed, grammar cleaned up for readability
- •Speaker-labelled — each speaker's dialogue is clearly attributed (used for multi-host or interview shows)
Simple definition: A podcast transcript is the text version of a podcast episode — what every speaker said, written down, so you can read it instead of (or in addition to) listening to it.
Why Add Transcripts to Your Podcast?
Accessibility
Transcripts make your podcast accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing listeners, non-native speakers, and anyone in a situation where they can't listen to audio.
SEO
Search engines can't index audio — but they can index text. Publishing transcripts means Google can crawl every keyword mentioned in your episode, driving organic traffic to your podcast.
Content Repurposing
A transcript is the raw material for a blog post, newsletter, social media clips, quote graphics, and show notes. One episode becomes multiple pieces of content.
How to Get a Podcast Transcript on Spotify
Spotify has been rolling out automatic transcripts for podcasts since 2023. Here's how to access them:
On the Spotify mobile app:
- Open the Spotify app and find the podcast episode
- Tap the episode to start playing it
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) at the top right of the player screen
- If a transcript is available, you'll see a "View Transcript" option
- Tap it to open the scrollable transcript — it highlights the current word as the audio plays
Note: Not all episodes have Spotify transcripts. Podcast hosts need to submit a transcript file in their RSS feed, or Spotify must auto-generate one. Many older episodes don't have transcripts available yet.
How to Get a Podcast Transcript on Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts introduced automatic AI-generated transcripts in 2024 for iOS 17.4+ and macOS 14.4+.
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+):
- Open the Apple Podcasts app
- Start playing an episode
- Tap the episode title at the bottom of the screen to open the Now Playing view
- Look for the transcript icon (lines of text, bottom of screen)
- Tap it to open the transcript — highlighted in real-time as the episode plays
- You can search within the transcript using the search bar at the top
Note: Apple Podcasts auto-generates transcripts for English-language episodes. Other languages are being added. If the icon doesn't appear, the transcript has not been generated yet.
How to Turn a Podcast into a Transcript
If a transcript isn't available in the app, you can generate one yourself:
Step 1: Get the audio file
Find the episode's direct MP3 URL (often visible in the podcast's RSS feed) or use a podcast downloader app/browser extension to save the episode audio locally.
Step 2: Upload to an AI transcription tool
Upload the audio file to a transcription service. The AI converts speech to text automatically. This usually takes 1–5 minutes for a typical episode.
Step 3: Review and edit
AI transcripts are typically 90–95% accurate. Review for names, technical terms, and homophones. Edit fillers (um, uh) if you want a clean, readable transcript.
Free Podcast Transcript Generator Tools
OpenAI Whisper
Free, open-source AI transcription model. Runs locally on your computer. Supports 99 languages. Highly accurate. Requires basic technical setup.
Free · No limitsOtter.ai
Browser-based transcription service with a free tier (300 minutes/month). Supports audio upload, Zoom integration, and speaker identification.
Free tier availableSpotify Transcripts
Auto-generated transcripts directly in the Spotify app for supported episodes. No action required from you as a listener — just tap View Transcript.
Free · In-appApple Podcasts Transcripts
Auto-generated AI transcripts in Apple Podcasts (iOS 17.4+). Searchable, real-time highlighted, and shareable directly from the app.
Free · iOS 17.4+Podcast Transcript Example
Here is what a standard cleaned-up podcast transcript looks like:
[Episode 47: How AI is Changing Podcasting — 32:14]
HOST [00:00:12]
Welcome back to The Podcast Lab. I'm Sarah Chen, and today we're talking about something I get asked about every week: how is AI actually changing the way podcasts are made? And I have a really interesting guest to help unpack this.
GUEST [00:00:31]
Thanks for having me, Sarah. It's a topic I could talk about for hours, honestly. The short answer is — almost everything is changing. The long answer is a bit more nuanced.
HOST [00:00:44]
Let's start with the basics. What are the most significant ways AI is affecting the production side of podcasting right now?
... (transcript continues)
Create Podcast Episodes Without Recording
Instead of transcribing a recording, start with text — and let ZenMic turn it into the audio episode. Paste your notes, script, or topic and ZenMic generates a natural-sounding podcast episode in minutes.
Create a Podcast Episode Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a podcast transcript?
A podcast transcript is the written text version of a spoken podcast episode. It captures what every speaker said, allowing listeners to read the content, search it, or use it as a source for SEO and content repurposing.
How do I get a transcript of a Spotify podcast?
Open the episode in Spotify, tap the three-dot menu (⋮), and select "View Transcript" if available. If not available, download the episode audio and use a free AI transcription tool like Whisper or Otter.ai.
How do I see the transcript on Apple Podcasts?
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+): open the Apple Podcasts app, play an episode, tap the episode title to open the full player, then tap the transcript icon (text lines icon at the bottom). The transcript highlights in real time as the audio plays.
Is there a free podcast transcript generator?
Yes. OpenAI Whisper is free and open-source. Otter.ai has a free tier (300 minutes/month). Spotify and Apple Podcasts also auto-generate transcripts for many episodes at no cost.
Why do podcasters add transcripts?
Three reasons: (1) Accessibility — transcripts make episodes usable for deaf and hard-of-hearing listeners. (2) SEO — search engines index the text, bringing organic traffic. (3) Repurposing — transcripts are the raw material for blog posts, newsletters, and social media content.
Related Glossary Articles
What is a Podcast?
The complete definition of a podcast — how it works, types, and how to start one.
Read →What is a Podcast Script?
Definition and examples of podcast scripts — the difference between a script and a transcript.
Read →What is a Podcast RSS Feed?
How podcast RSS feeds work and how they distribute episodes to Spotify, Apple, and more.
Read →