Podcast Transcription: Turn Episodes Into Searchable Knowledge

Transcribe.so(Updated Jan 7, 2026)
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Podcasts are an incredible source of knowledge — but they're trapped in audio. You can't search them, quote them accurately, or skim them.

Transcribe.so makes podcasts behave like documents.

How to Transcribe a Podcast Episode

  1. Upload the audio file or paste a YouTube/external URL
  2. Let AI process it — transcription, chapters, and speaker ID happen automatically
  3. Search, ask questions, and export — use the transcript however you need

A long episode becomes a searchable document you can skim, search, and reference.

What Podcast Transcription Unlocks

For Podcast Creators

  • Show notes that write themselves — Chapters and topics are generated automatically
  • Accurate quotes and timestamps — No more guessing where something was said
  • Content repurposing — Turn episodes into blog posts, social clips, or newsletters. You can also export subtitles for repurposing clips across video platforms.

For Podcast Listeners and Researchers

  • Search across episodes — Find that one insight without re-listening
  • AI Q&A — Ask "what was the main argument?" and get an answer with citations
  • Build a knowledge library — Your podcast collection becomes a searchable database

Features That Make a Difference

  • Speaker identification — Know who said what, automatically labeled
  • Chapters and topics — Navigate long episodes by section
  • Semantic search — Find ideas even with different wording
  • Timestamp citations — Every answer links back to the source

Who Uses This

  • Podcast hosts creating show notes and clips
  • Researchers analyzing interview content
  • Journalists reviewing source material
  • Fans who want to find their favorite moments

If you listen to podcasts to learn, this is the upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transcribe podcast RSS feeds?

Currently, you can transcribe by uploading audio files or pasting YouTube/direct audio URLs. RSS feed import is not available yet.

Does it work with multiple speakers?

Yes. Transcribe.so uses GPT-4o-transcribe-diarize for speaker diarization to identify and label different speakers automatically. You can also choose Qwen3-ASR-Flash for maximum accuracy over speaker diarization.

How do I get show notes from a transcript?

Use the AI Q&A feature. Ask "summarize the main topics" or "list the key takeaways" — you'll get a structured summary with timestamps.

What's the maximum episode length?

Uploads support up to ~8 hours of audio (configurable) with a 500MB per-file limit.

Make your podcasts searchable. Start transcribing →

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44 Harsh Truths About The Game Of Life - Naval Ravikant (4K)
Chris Williamson
Contents
8 chapters · 513 topics
1Happiness Versus Success: Philosophical Reflections on Contentment, Desire, and Motivation
T1Happiness Versus Success: A Personal Reflection
T2Freedom Through Non-Desire: Socratic Wisdom
T3Alexander and Diogenes: Two Paths to Happiness
T4Defining Success and Its Relation to Happiness
T5Happiness and Motivation: A Practical Dilemma
T6Innate Drive to Act Despite Contentment
T7Happiness Enabling Higher Purpose and Action
T8Rejecting Asceticism: Lessons from Buddha's Journey
T9Choosing Material Success for Happiness
T10Winning the Game to Transcend Desire
T11Short-Term Suffering for Long-Term Gain
T12Attaching Satisfaction to Pain Versus Outcomes
T13Distinguishing Physical Pain from Mental Suffering
T14Regret Over Not Enjoying the Journey
T15Reflecting on Past Life Stages
T16Gaining Wisdom from Self-Reflection
T17Applying Temperament and Experience in Hindsight
T18The Value of Retrospective Self-Assessment
T19Choosing Less Emotional Turmoil in the Past
T20Effectiveness Through Emotional Peace
T21The Journey Matters More Than Success
T22The Endless Cycle of Desire and Boredom
T23Earning Money Brings Pride and Happiness
T24Money Solves Problems, But Not Desire
T25Enjoying the Journey Is Essential
T26Minimizing Desires to Increase Happiness
T27Focus and Selectivity Lead to Success
T28The Mixed Value of Fame
T29Fame’s Social and Status Benefits
T30The High Costs and Contradictions of Fame
T31Fame Across History: Spiritual, Artistic, Scientific Icons
T32Conquerors and the Complexity of Historical Fame
T33Public Proclamations and Evolving Beliefs
T34The Pressure of Public Persona Versus Private Life
T35Learning Through Error Correction and Changing Views
T36Human Nature: Constant Change and Growth
T37Authenticity Versus Public Image and Social Perception
T38Being Wrong Versus Being Disingenuous
T39Seeking Respect: Authenticity Over Mass Approval
T40Status Games and Social Approval: Overcoming Distraction
T41Status Versus Wealth in Hunter-Gatherer Societies
T42Modern Wealth Creation and Positive-Sum Games
T43Collective Wealth Growth Since Ancient Times
T44The Zero-Sum Nature of Status Games
T45Combative Status Games Versus Cooperative Wealth Creation
T46Material Benefits of Wealth Over Status
T47Unprecedented Opportunities for Wealth Creation Today
T48Effort and Skill Still Required for Wealth
T49Increased Social Mobility Compared to the Past
T50Prioritizing Wealth Creation Over Status Seeking
T51Wealth, Status, and Human Motivation
T52Understanding Wealth Beyond Survival Needs
T53Status Versus Wealth: The Never-Ending Game
T54Leaderboards and the Infinite Status Race
T55Social Media and Constant Status Comparison
T56Metrics and the Status Treadmill
T57Trajectory Versus Position in Status
T58Evolutionary Roots of Loss Aversion
T59Innate Reluctance to Surrender Gains
2Optimizing Sleep: Smart Temperature Regulation and the Foundations of Self-Esteem
3Decisive Action and Iterative Practice: Keys to Optimal Choices and Mastery
4Wealth Management: From Materialism to Value Creation and Fair Compensation
5Evaluating LLMs: Capabilities, Limitations, and Their Role in AI's Evolving Landscape
6Pathogens, Evolution, and Knowledge: How Humans Adapt and Defend
7Agency, Power, and the Individual: From Child Development to Cultural Conflict
8Unseen Trends: Media Oversights, Medical Limitations, and the Primitive State of Modern Biology
Q&A preview
Answer
Naval explains two distinct paths to happiness using the story of Alexander and Diogenes. The first path is through success—conquering the world, satisfying material needs, and getting what you want. The second path, exemplified by Diogenes living in a barrel, is simply not wanting in the first place. As Socrates said when shown luxuries: 'How many things there are in this world that I do not want.' Naval suggests not wanting something is as good as having it—both paths lead to the same destination of contentment [00:38–01:10]. He's not sure which path is more valid, noting it depends on how you define success [01:10–01:25].

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