How to Search Podcast Transcripts
Lucent transcribes any podcast episode using Whisper and lets you search every word with exact timestamps. Here is how to go from zero to searchable transcripts in under 15 minutes.
- 01
Search for a podcast by name
Type the podcast name into the search box. Lucent queries the podcast index and returns matching shows. Click the one you want — it loads the full episode list from the RSS feed automatically. No URL, no feed address needed.
- 02
Pick the episodes you want
Browse the episode list and check the ones relevant to your research. You can select individual episodes or the entire back-catalogue. The episode count shows next to each title so you can gauge scope before committing.
- 03
Wait for transcription
Lucent sends each episode to Whisper for transcription. A typical hour-long episode finishes in 6–12 minutes. A progress indicator shows how many episodes are done. You can start searching as soon as the first episode completes — you do not have to wait for the whole batch.
- 04
Search any word or topic
Type the keyword or phrase into the search box inside your collection. Lucent returns every mention across all transcribed episodes, ordered by episode, with the exact timestamp [hh:mm:ss] for each hit. A cross-episode recap appears at the top, synthesising what was said across the whole set — no transcript reading required.
Tips for better transcript searches
- →Use short phrases, not full sentences. “interest rates” finds more hits than “what does the Fed think about interest rates”.
- →Try synonyms. Speakers rarely use the exact same term every time. Search “inflation” then “CPI” for fuller coverage.
- →Group episodes thematically. Create a collection per research question instead of dumping every episode into one collection.
- →Read the cross-episode recap first. It synthesises the main claims across all episodes — use it to identify which timestamps are worth clicking into.