Listen Notes
Listen Notes is a powerful podcast search engine and database that allows you to discover, explore, and listen to millions of podcasts and episodes worldwide.
Verdict
Common use cases
- Find podcasts covering a competitor or trend
- Pull episode transcripts for content research
- Track which shows mention your brand
- Build media lists by topic or guest
- Discover trending podcasts in target regions
Integration
- Vendor
- Listen Notes
- Category
- other
- Auth
- API_KEY
- Tools
- 26
- Composio slug
listennotes
Tools
- Create podcast via form data
The listennotestest podcasts post endpoint allows users to retrieve information about multiple podcasts using various identifiers such as listen notes ids, rss feed urls, apple podcasts ids, or spotify ids. it can optionally fetch the lates
- Delete podcast by iddestructive
Deletes a specific podcast from the system based on its unique identifier. this endpoint should be used when you want to permanently remove a podcast and all its associated data from the platform. it's important to note that this action is
- Fetch best podcasts list
The getbestpodcasts endpoint retrieves a curated list of the best podcasts from the listen notes platform. it allows users to access a collection of top-rated or popular podcasts, which can be filtered by genre, region, and content rating.
- Fetch Playlist Info
Retrieves detailed information about a specific playlist using its unique identifier. this endpoint allows users to fetch comprehensive data about a playlist, including its name, description, creator, tracks, and other relevant metadata. it
- Fetch Podcast Details And Episodes
Retrieves detailed information about a specific podcast using its unique identifier. this endpoint allows users to fetch comprehensive data about a particular podcast, including but not limited to its title, description, author, episode lis
- Fetch podcast languages
Retrieves a list of supported languages in the listen notes api. this endpoint provides information about the languages available for use within the platform, which can be crucial for internationalization and localization efforts. use this
- Fetch related searches data
Retrieves a list of related search queries based on the current context or user's recent search activity. this endpoint is useful for enhancing user experience by suggesting alternative or complementary search terms, potentially increasing
- Fetch Supported Regions
Retrieves information about available regions in the listennotestest platform. this endpoint allows users to fetch a list of regions, which can be used for filtering content, setting up notifications, or managing regional preferences. it sh
- Get curated podcasts
Retrieves a list of curated podcasts from the listen notes platform. this endpoint provides access to a collection of handpicked and organized podcasts, likely curated by experts or algorithms. it's useful for discovering high-quality conte
- Get episode recommendations by id
Retrieves a list of recommended podcast episodes based on a specific episode id. this endpoint utilizes the listen notes api to generate personalized content suggestions, helping users discover new episodes similar to ones they've already e
- Get playlists
Retrieves a list of playlists from the listen notes platform. this endpoint allows users to fetch all available playlists associated with their account or publicly accessible playlists. it should be used when you need to display a collectio
- Get podcast audience by id
Retrieves audience information for a specific podcast identified by its unique id. this endpoint allows users to access demographic data, listening statistics, or other audience-related metrics for a particular podcast. it's useful for podc
- Get podcast domains by name
Retrieves a list of podcasts associated with a specified domain name. this endpoint allows users to discover podcasts that are produced or hosted by a particular website or organization. it's useful for content aggregation, competitive anal
- Get podcast recommendations by id
Retrieves a list of podcast recommendations based on a specified podcast id. this endpoint is designed to help users discover new podcasts that are similar or related to a podcast they already enjoy. it can be used to enhance user experienc
- Get typeahead suggestions
The typeahead endpoint provides real-time search suggestions as users type their queries. it's designed to enhance the user experience by offering relevant autocomplete options, making it easier for users to find podcasts, episodes, or othe
- Listen to just listen endpoint
The 'just listen' endpoint is a basic listener or health check mechanism for the listennotestest app. it allows users to verify the availability and responsiveness of the service without requiring any input parameters. this endpoint should
- Post episodes by ids
The listennotestest episodes post endpoint allows users to retrieve metadata for multiple podcast episodes in a single request. this post endpoint accepts a list of episode ids and returns detailed information about each specified episode.
- Post podcast rss by id
Retrieves or generates an rss feed for a specific podcast identified by its unique id. this endpoint allows users to access the podcast's content in a standardized rss format, which can be used for syndication or integration with podcast pl
- Retrieve curated podcast by id
Retrieves detailed information about a specific curated podcast using its unique identifier. this endpoint allows users to access comprehensive data about a carefully selected podcast collection, including its contents, curator information,
- Retrieve episode by id
Retrieves detailed information about a specific episode using its unique identifier. this endpoint allows users to access comprehensive data about an individual episode, which may include metadata such as title, description, publication dat
- Retrieve genre list
The getgenres endpoint retrieves a comprehensive list of available genres within the listennotestest platform. this endpoint is designed to provide users with up-to-date information on content categories, which can be used for filtering, or
- Retrieve trending searches
Retrieves a list of currently trending search terms related to podcasts. this endpoint provides real-time insights into popular topics and interests among podcast listeners. it's particularly useful for content creators, marketers, and rese
- Search Episode Titles
The search episode titles endpoint allows users to search for and retrieve episode titles based on specified criteria. it provides a powerful way to find relevant episodes quickly, supporting real-time updates and notifications for changes
- Search operation endpoint
The search endpoint allows users to query notifications or events within the listennotestest platform. it provides a way to find specific notifications based on keywords or identifiers, helping users locate relevant information quickly. thi
- Spell check retrieval
The spellcheck endpoint provides a spell-checking service for text input. it allows users to verify the spelling of words or phrases, likely related to audio content or podcast descriptions within the listennotestest platform. this tool sho
- Submit podcast rss url
The submit podcast endpoint allows users to submit a podcast for inclusion in the listen notes database. this tool should be used when a user wants to add a new podcast to the listen notes platform or update an existing podcast's informatio
Setup
Setup guide
- 11. Go to listenotes.com/api and create an account to generate your API key. 2. In Switchy, open Settings → Integrations → Add MCP and select Listen Notes. 3. Paste your API key into the credential field and click Connect. 4. Open any Space and type '@Listen Notes' to confirm the integration appears in the mention menu. 5. Test the connection by asking '@Listen Notes fetch best podcasts list in the Technology category' — you should see a curated list of top shows. 6. If the request fails, verify your API key is active and hasn't exceeded its daily quota. 7. Check listenotes.com/api/dashboard for usage stats and upgrade to a paid plan if you hit rate limits.
What teammates see: by default, memories from Listen Notes are scoped to the Space (PROJECT visibility) - you can mark any memory PRIVATE or share it ORG-wide.
Works well with
Top models
Compatibility data appears once enough Spaces have used this MCP together with a given model.
How Switchy teams use it
Starter prompts
Find Tech Podcasts
@Listen Notes fetch best podcasts list in the Technology category and show me the top 10 with their descriptions and listener counts.Open in a Space →
Search by Guest
@Listen Notes search for podcast episodes where 'Sam Altman' appears as a guest, then list the show names, episode titles, and publish dates.Open in a Space →
Get Episode Transcript
@Listen Notes fetch podcast details and episodes for ID 4d3fe717742d4963a85562e9f84d8c79 and pull the transcript from the most recent episode.Open in a Space →
Trending in Region
@Listen Notes fetch best podcasts list for the United States region in the Business category and rank them by recent growth.Open in a Space →
Related Search Ideas
@Listen Notes fetch related searches data for the term 'climate change' and show me five alternative query suggestions with their relevance scores.Open in a Space →
Example outputs
Illustrative - representative of the model's voice and quality, not literal recordings.
@Listen Notes find the top 10 podcasts in the technology category and show me their titles, descriptions, and episode counts.
Here are 10 highly-rated technology podcasts from Listen Notes: 1. **Syntax** - Web development podcast covering React, CSS, and modern JavaScript. 650+ episodes. 2. **Darknet Diaries** - True stories from the dark side of the Internet. 140+ episodes. 3. **The Changelog** - Conversations with open source developers. 520+ episodes. 4. **Software Engineering Daily** - Technical interviews about software topics. 2,100+ episodes. 5. **Reply All** - Stories about how people shape the internet. 190+ episodes. (List continues through #10 with similar detail for each podcast including RSS feed URLs and Listen Notes IDs for further queries.)
This example demonstrates the 'Fetch best podcasts list' tool with category filtering. The actual response structure depends on Listen Notes' current catalog and ranking algorithm. Requires a valid API key with read access. Rate limits apply based on your Listen Notes plan tier—free plans typically allow 100 requests/day.
@Listen Notes create a new playlist called 'Morning Commute Tech' and add episodes from Syntax, The Changelog, and Darknet Diaries to it.
I've created the playlist 'Morning Commute Tech' with ID `pl_abc123xyz`. Added 3 episodes: - Syntax #612: "Web Components in 2024" (45 min) - The Changelog #520: "Open Source Sustainability" (62 min) - Darknet Diaries #138: "The Hacker and the State" (58 min) Total playlist duration: 2h 45min. You can access this playlist at listen-notes.com/playlists/pl_abc123xyz or modify it by referencing the playlist ID in future requests.
This showcases the playlist creation and management capabilities. The 'Create podcast via form data' tool handles the write operation. Note that creating playlists may require elevated API permissions beyond basic read access. Playlist modifications are permanent—there's no undo function, so verify episode IDs before adding them.
@Listen Notes search for podcasts about 'artificial intelligence ethics' released in the last 6 months, then summarize the main themes across the top 5 results.
Found 47 podcasts matching 'artificial intelligence ethics' from the past 6 months. Here are the dominant themes across the top 5: **1. Bias and Fairness** - All 5 podcasts discussed algorithmic bias in hiring, lending, and criminal justice systems. **2. Regulation and Governance** - 4 of 5 covered the EU AI Act and calls for government oversight of foundation models. **3. Workforce Displacement** - 3 podcasts examined automation's impact on creative professions and white-collar jobs. **4. Transparency and Explainability** - Recurring focus on 'black box' models and the right to understand AI decisions affecting individuals. The conversation has shifted from theoretical concerns to concrete policy proposals and real-world case studies.
This example combines Listen Notes' search capabilities with AI synthesis to extract insights across multiple podcasts. The 'Fetch related searches data' tool can enhance discovery. Search results reflect Listen Notes' indexing coverage—not all podcasts are cataloged. The AI's thematic analysis is interpretive and may miss nuances only apparent from listening to full episodes.
Use-case deep-dives
When Listen Notes beats manual podcast discovery for content teams
A 3-person content team at a B2B SaaS company needs to identify 20 relevant podcasts for a guest outreach campaign in 48 hours. Listen Notes wins here because the 'Fetch best podcasts list' and 'Fetch related searches data' tools let you pull curated lists by category and discover adjacent shows without opening 50 browser tabs. The API key auth means your whole team shares one credential—no per-seat licensing headache. The trade-off: if you're doing this once a quarter, the API cost probably isn't worth it versus a manual Spotify search. But if podcast research is a weekly ritual (newsletter curation, competitor monitoring, guest pipeline), the 26-tool suite pays for itself in saved hours. Buy this if you're running recurring podcast workflows, not one-off projects.
Listen Notes for multi-client podcast campaign reporting
A 6-person PR agency manages podcast guest placements for 12 clients and needs to track episode releases, download trends, and related show recommendations. Listen Notes handles this because 'Fetch Podcast Details And Episodes' and 'Fetch Playlist Info' let you programmatically monitor dozens of shows without manual RSS checks. The 'Create podcast via form data' tool means you can bulk-add client placements to custom playlists for monthly reporting. The boundary: if your clients only care about top-tier shows (Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss), you don't need this—manual tracking works fine. But once you're juggling 30+ mid-tier podcasts across verticals, the API becomes the only sane way to keep tabs. This is built for agencies doing volume, not boutique shops with 3 clients.
Why Listen Notes is overkill for solo podcast listening habits
A solo founder wants to stay current on SaaS trends by discovering new business podcasts each week. Listen Notes is the wrong tool here. The 26-tool API is designed for programmatic workflows—building apps, automating reports, managing large podcast databases. If you're just looking for good shows to listen to during your commute, the 'Fetch best podcasts list' and 'Fetch related searches data' tools don't justify the API key setup and per-call costs. Use Spotify's native recommendations or a free podcast directory instead. Listen Notes makes sense when you're extracting structured data (episode metadata, language tags, regional availability) for a product feature or content pipeline. For personal discovery, it's like renting a forklift to move a couch—technically it works, but you're paying for capacity you'll never use.
Frequently asked
What does the Listen Notes MCP let me do in Switchy?
It connects Switchy to Listen Notes' podcast database — 26 tools for searching podcasts, fetching episode transcripts, pulling best-of lists, and managing playlists. Your team can query 3 million+ podcasts without leaving the workspace. Useful if you're building content briefs, researching competitors, or curating audio for campaigns.
Do I need a Listen Notes API key to use this MCP?
Yes. The MCP uses API_KEY auth, so you'll need a Listen Notes developer account and an active API key. Free tier gives 100 requests/month; paid plans start at $49/month for 1,000 requests. Paste the key into Switchy's connection modal — no OAuth redirect, no admin approval.
Can the Listen Notes MCP submit new podcasts to their directory?
Yes, via the "Create podcast via form data" tool. You can submit RSS feeds, Apple Podcasts IDs, or Spotify links. Listen Notes reviews submissions manually, so it's not instant. If you're syncing your own show's metadata, use this. For bulk imports, you'll hit rate limits fast on the free tier.
Is this better than scraping podcast sites or using Spotify's API?
Listen Notes indexes 3 million podcasts across platforms — Spotify's API only covers Spotify shows. Scraping is fragile and violates most ToS. The MCP gives you structured data (transcripts, related searches, language filters) that raw RSS feeds don't include. Trade-off: you're paying per request, and it's read-heavy — no playback control.
Who on my team should connect the Listen Notes MCP?
Whoever owns your Listen Notes API key. The connection is workspace-wide in Switchy, so one person sets it up and everyone inherits access. If you're on a paid Listen Notes plan, watch your request quota — 26 tools means it's easy to burn through limits if multiple people run searches simultaneously.