# Podcast Transcript Scraper (`masked_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper`) Actor Scrape podcast episodes and their full transcripts (segmented, with timestamps) from the show's RSS feed. Resolves a show name, Apple Podcasts URL, or RSS URL to the feed, then extracts each episode's metadata, audio URL and Podcasting 2.0 transcript. - **URL**: https://apify.com/masked\_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Masked Hacker](https://apify.com/masked_hacker) (community) - **Categories:** Videos - **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.00 / 1,000 episodes This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Podcast Transcript Scraper: Episodes & Full Text Transcripts Turn a list of podcast shows into a clean, structured dataset of episodes and their **full transcripts:** segmented, with timestamps and speaker labels where the feed provides them. Straight from the show's RSS feed, no login, no audio download, no ASR. Perfect for **content research, competitive podcast monitoring, transcript search indexes, and feeding LLM pipelines** without paying for a separate transcription step when the show already ships one. ### What you get - 🔎 **Search by show name, Apple Podcasts URL, or a direct RSS feed URL**. - 📝 **Full transcript text** plus timed segments (`start`, `end`, `speaker`, `text`) wherever the publisher exposes a Podcasting 2.0 `` tag. - 🎙️ **Episode metadata:** title, publish date, duration, audio URL, description, episode URL. - 🚦 **transcriptAvailable flag** so you always know which episodes came with a transcript. - 📄 Clean JSON / CSV / Excel export, ready for a spreadsheet or a pipeline. ### Pricing **Pay per event:** **$0.002 per episode** returned, plus a small per-run start fee. You only pay for episodes you actually receive; no monthly subscription. ### How it works 1. Each input entry (a show name, an Apple Podcasts URL, or a direct RSS URL) is resolved to the show's RSS feed via the free iTunes lookup API. 2. The feed is parsed for episodes: title, publish date, duration, audio URL, description, episode URL. 3. Where an episode exposes a Podcasting 2.0 `` tag, the transcript file (SRT / WebVTT / JSON) is fetched and parsed into full text plus timed segments. ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `queries` | string[] | Show names, Apple Podcasts URLs, or RSS feed URLs, one per show. | | `maxEpisodesPerShow` | int | Most recent N episodes per show (default 10). | | `onlyWithTranscript` | boolean | Skip episodes with no transcript (default false). | | `includeTranscriptText` | boolean | Download + parse transcript text, else return only its URL (default true). | #### Example input ```json { "queries": ["Stuff You Should Know", "Darknet Diaries"], "maxEpisodesPerShow": 10 } ```` ### Output One record per episode. | Field | Description | |---|---| | `showName`, `episodeTitle` | Show and episode titles. | | `publishDate`, `durationSeconds` | Publish date and duration. | | `audioUrl` | Direct audio file URL. | | `transcriptAvailable`, `transcriptFormat`, `transcriptUrl` | Whether a transcript exists, its format and file URL. | | `transcript`, `transcriptSegments` | Full transcript text and timed `{start, end, speaker, text}` lines. | | `description`, `episodeUrl`, `guid` | Show notes, episode page URL and feed GUID. | | `feedUrl`, `scrapedAt` | Source RSS feed and scrape time. | #### Example output ```json { "showName": "Stuff You Should Know", "episodeTitle": "How Ransomware Works", "publishDate": "2026-06-30T09:00:00.000Z", "durationSeconds": 3120, "audioUrl": "https://chtbl.com/track/12345/media.example.com/episode.mp3", "transcriptAvailable": true, "transcriptFormat": "srt", "transcriptUrl": "https://example.com/transcripts/episode-123.srt", "transcript": "Josh: Welcome to Stuff You Should Know...", "feedUrl": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/stuffyoushouldknow" } ``` ### Coverage / limitations - Transcripts come **only** from what the publisher puts in the RSS feed. Roughly a quarter of top shows do so today (all iHeart-network shows, and a growing set of others); coverage is expanding as the Podcasting 2.0 transcript tag spreads. - Episodes with no feed transcript are still returned with metadata and `audioUrl`, flagged `transcriptAvailable: false`. This actor does **not** transcribe audio (no Whisper/ASR). That is out of scope for v1. For full coverage, feed the returned `audioUrl` into a dedicated speech-to-text actor. - **Spotify URLs are not supported**: Spotify serves transcripts only to logged-in users. Pass the show name instead. It resolves to the same underlying RSS feed. ### FAQ **Do I need an API key or podcast platform account?** No. Just provide a show name or URL. **Which shows have transcripts?** Any show that publishes a Podcasting 2.0 `` tag in its RSS feed, currently around a quarter of top shows, growing. **Is this legal?** The actor collects only publicly available RSS feed data. You are responsible for complying with each show's terms and applicable law in your use of the data. # Actor input Schema ## `queries` (type: `array`): One entry per show. Each may be a show name (e.g. "Stuff You Should Know"), an Apple Podcasts URL (podcasts.apple.com/...), or a direct RSS feed URL. Show names are resolved to the RSS feed via the free iTunes lookup API. Spotify URLs are not supported — Spotify serves transcripts only to logged-in users; pass the show name instead. ## `maxEpisodesPerShow` (type: `integer`): Take at most this many of the most recent episodes per show. ## `onlyWithTranscript` (type: `boolean`): If on, skip episodes whose feed exposes no transcript. If off, those episodes are still returned with metadata and audioUrl, flagged transcriptAvailable=false (no transcription is performed). ## `includeTranscriptText` (type: `boolean`): If on, download and parse each transcript file into full text and timed segments. If off, only the transcript file URL and format are returned (much faster). ## Actor input object example ```json { "queries": [ "My Favorite Murder", "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-the-bastards/id1373812661" ], "maxEpisodesPerShow": 10, "onlyWithTranscript": false, "includeTranscriptText": true } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): All scraped episodes in the default dataset. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "queries": [ "Stuff You Should Know", "Darknet Diaries" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("masked_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "queries": [ "Stuff You Should Know", "Darknet Diaries", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("masked_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "queries": [ "Stuff You Should Know", "Darknet Diaries" ] }' | apify call masked_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=masked_hacker/podcast-transcript-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Podcast Transcript Scraper", "description": "Scrape podcast episodes and their full transcripts (segmented, with timestamps) from the show's RSS feed. Resolves a show name, Apple Podcasts URL, or RSS URL to the feed, then extracts each episode's metadata, audio URL and Podcasting 2.0 transcript.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "eeiSu43KEishwHUax" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/masked_hacker~podcast-transcript-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-masked_hacker-podcast-transcript-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/masked_hacker~podcast-transcript-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-masked_hacker-podcast-transcript-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/masked_hacker~podcast-transcript-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-masked_hacker-podcast-transcript-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "queries": { "title": "Shows / feeds", "type": "array", "description": "One entry per show. Each may be a show name (e.g. \"Stuff You Should Know\"), an Apple Podcasts URL (podcasts.apple.com/...), or a direct RSS feed URL. Show names are resolved to the RSS feed via the free iTunes lookup API. Spotify URLs are not supported — Spotify serves transcripts only to logged-in users; pass the show name instead.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxEpisodesPerShow": { "title": "Max episodes per show", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Take at most this many of the most recent episodes per show.", "default": 10 }, "onlyWithTranscript": { "title": "Only episodes with a transcript", "type": "boolean", "description": "If on, skip episodes whose feed exposes no transcript. If off, those episodes are still returned with metadata and audioUrl, flagged transcriptAvailable=false (no transcription is performed).", "default": false }, "includeTranscriptText": { "title": "Fetch transcript text", "type": "boolean", "description": "If on, download and parse each transcript file into full text and timed segments. If off, only the transcript file URL and format are returned (much faster).", "default": true } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```