PodLearn

Open an interactive episode picker (card grid with thumbnails) for the user to pick an episode to read. On hosts that render MCP Apps the grid is clickable; everywhere else a markdown table is returned. Optional query filters by title/host.

Generate a structured AI lesson (summary, key takeaways, sections) from a completed transcription. Requires the episode to have transcription_status "completed". Consumes 1 credit, or one unit of subscription quota, on first generation for an episode; subsequent calls return the cached lesson at no cost.

Turn an already-generated lesson into a LinkedIn-ready share post. Pass lesson_id directly OR episode_id (uses the most recent lesson generated by the caller for that episode). Lesson must exist — chain after generate_lesson if needed.

Fetch full metadata for one episode including transcription_status and lesson_generation_status. Tells you whether get_transcription is ready or you need to transcribe first: start_transcription(episode_id) for an in-library episode (inherits its existing show/artwork/feed linkage automatically) or transcribe_url(audio_url, title, feed_id, podcast_name) for a URL not yet in the library.

Get the caller's episode-access usage stats — how many episodes they've transcribed/read this billing period.

Fetch the full body of one AI-generated lesson (title, summary, key takeaways, structured sections). Use to retrieve prior synthesis — for creating a NEW one call generate_lesson.

Fetch full metadata for one podcast in the PodLearn library, including its episode count. The podcast must already be in the local DB (source=local in search_podcasts results).

List the caller's saved/bookmarked episodes and lessons.

Get the caller's subscription plan + active/expired status + period end.

Fetch transcript text for a completed episode. PAGINATED — returns up to 120,000 characters per call (Claude.ai/Desktop caps a tool result at ~150k chars). Most transcripts fit in one call; only very long episodes page. If the response has `has_more: true`, call again with `offset: <next_offset>`. For focused look-up (a topic, quote, timestamp) prefer search_transcription.

Fetch timestamped transcript segments. Use when the user wants timestamps — "jump to where they discuss X", chapter boundaries, durations of specific parts.

Get the caller's remaining transcription credits.

List episodes already in the local DB for a specific podcast. Requires podcast_id (use search_podcasts first if you only have a name). For cross-podcast search use search_episodes; for canonical PodcastIndex listings use list_feed_episodes.

Fetch the canonical episode list for a podcast directly from PodcastIndex (the upstream RSS index). NO COST — pure discovery. Each episode is enriched with `in_library`, `episode_id` (if already ingested), and `transcription_status`. For episodes you want to ingest: call transcribe_url(audio_url, title, feed_id, podcast_name) — passing feed_id/podcast_name lands the episode under its real show. For episodes already in_library, use start_transcription(episode_id) instead.

List the calling user's saved AI-generated lessons.

List podcasts already in the PodLearn library, optionally filtered by category. Returns most-recently-added first. For discovery beyond the library use search_podcasts.

Permanently remove a saved/bookmarked episode or lesson from the caller's collection. The saved_item_id comes from get_saved_items.

Bookmark an episode or lesson for the caller.

Cross-podcast episode search by title/description AND parent podcast name/author. Returns local episodes only — for podcasts discoverable on PodcastIndex that aren't yet ingested, use list_feed_episodes instead. `status: "transcribed"` filters to ready-to-read; `status: "untranscribed"` to available-to-transcribe.

Search PodLearn library AND PodcastIndex.org (4M+ podcasts) by keyword. Also resolves Spotify/Apple Podcasts URLs. Returns rows tagged with `source: local|podcastindex|spotify`. First move when the user names a podcast/host but you don't have its id.

Keyword search WITHIN a single episode's transcript. Returns matching chunks with surrounding context. Use instead of get_transcription when the user asked about a specific topic — server does this faster + cheaper on context.

Discover YouTube videos by topic/keyword across all of YouTube. Use when the user wants to learn from a talk/interview/lecture and has no URL — especially when search_podcasts / search_episodes find nothing (much long-form content is YouTube-first). NO COST: pure discovery. Returns rows with a ready-to-transcribe `url`; to ingest one, confirm cost and call transcribe_url(url, title).

Kick off transcription on an episode ALREADY in the library. Use only when the episode row exists and transcription_status is not "completed". Inherits the episode's existing show, artwork, and feed linkage automatically — no need to pass podcast context. For audio not yet in the library, use transcribe_url. COSTS 1 CREDIT (or subscription quota).

Bulk/season transcription — kick off transcription for up to `max` (cap 25) not-yet-transcribed episodes of a podcast feed in ONE call. Pass the `feed_id` from search_podcasts / list_feed_episodes. Already-transcribed episodes are skipped free. COSTS 1 credit per newly enqueued episode (or subscription quota) — CONFIRM the cost with the user first. Enqueue-and-poll: returns each enqueued episode_id; poll get_episode_details until transcription_status is "completed".

Ingest and transcribe an EXTERNAL / arbitrary audio URL — a URL the user pasted, or audio not reachable through the index. Creates a STANDALONE episode row. If the episode is already in the library (it has an episode_id), prefer start_transcription(episode_id) instead — it inherits the episode's existing show, artwork, and feed linkage automatically. Consumes 1 transcription credit, or one unit of subscription quota; the credit is refunded automatically if transcription fails. Pass feed_id / podcast_name when you already know the parent show (e.g. from search_podcasts or list_feed_episodes) so the episode lands under its real show instead of appearing as unidentified "External audio". Returns the new episode_id. Transcription is asynchronous on the fallback path — poll get_episode_details until transcription_status is "completed".