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Show HN: Spodcast, a Spotify podcast to RSS proxy

123 points by Ourgon 5y ago

bArray 5y ago
Is there a way to bypass Spotify entirely? I don't want to create an account on their crappy platform. I looked for something a while back, but couldn't find anything... I imagine they embed fingerprints into audio to squash any such attempts. To podcasters: Using an exclusive platform affects your discoverability - the thing that allowed you to grow. It's a privilege to have people spend 1 hour or more listening to what you have to say - you literally cannot buy that reach.
SecurityLagoon 5y ago
I appreciate the theory of this project but won't use it. Spotify isn't getting any of my patronage, either directly or indirectly, due to how they are trying to destroy the podcast ecosystem.
Ourgon 5y ago
FYI, I just fixed a small problem - two missing const statements - which kept the last release from actually producing RSS feeds - and there I thought I had tested it enough. If you tried it, try again.
adrianomartins 5y ago
Awesome, this is actually useful!
- Ourgon 5y ago
  Good, that is what I made it for - to be used.
Ourgon 5y ago
Given all the brouhaha around Spotify hosting "controversial" podcasts I cobbled up a tool to actually listen to those things using my favourite podcast listening devices: old phones. They support RSS but have long since fallen off the radar for app and web developers. Question and suggestions welcome, may the source be with you.
midasz 5y ago
I really dislike using Spotify for podcasts since I already have a proper podcast app (Podcast Addict), so some shows I like to follow that have gone spotify-exclusive just completely drop off my radar (e.g. Last Podcast on the Left). This is a great solution. Any chance you'd offer a docker image for easy deployment?
- j00pY 5y ago
  LPOTL is now off spotify and available normally again.
  - Andrex 5y ago
    Wish I could say I was rushing back but other podcasts have filled in during the 2 years they've been gone. That's just my personal experience, though.
- Ourgon 5y ago
  I'll give it a try one of these days.
- the_snooze 5y ago
  Same here. There's no value-add to the user for turning previously open podcasts into Spotify exclusives. I understand that Spotify and podcasters have to pay the bills, but they're not even trying to counter-balance the user-hostility with some benefits like ad-free listening or a proper podcast UI. And it's not like Spotify is desperate to have paying customers; they're one of the largest subscription streaming platforms around!
  - wasmitnetzen 5y ago
    Spotify realized that they'll never be profitable with music, the labels have the upper hand and can just raise their share whenever Spotify increases revenue. For exclusive podcasts, they own the entire chain.
    - 5y ago
jron 5y ago
Thank you! I was using a 2nd Android browser with a fake User-Agent to use the Spotify web client after Spotifeed stopped working. I'll do whatever it takes to keep all my podcasts in AntennaPod.
- Ourgon 5y ago
  It was the demise of Spotifeed which gave me the impetus needed to build this thing, all that was needed was some free time. When than came, this was born. Spodcast's fate depends on whether librespot-python continues to track whatever changes Spotify throws at its (v1) API.
- nmz 5y ago
  And you absolutely should, I decided to try out Stitcher, and as you can guess, I went offline, listened to a podcast, decided I wanted to relisten to it again, and no go.
ericboehs 5y ago
Man, I wish this did video too. I tried pulling the video from the Safari web client as it gave a giant data: uri in the <video> element that I thought I could save but couldn't figure it out.
- Ourgon 5y ago
  Adding video support is rather easy, it is just something I never felt the need to do given my preference for audio - which I can listen to while working on the farm etc. - over video. I can have a look at adding it if there is enough demand.
  - pixxel 5y ago
    Yes please!
    - Ourgon 5y ago
      I had a look at including video and it turns out I was premature in saying it would be easy. Currently librespot-python does not support video so only for that reason it is a no-go. If support ever arrives it might become possible but given that Spotify-video is burdened with Widevine DRM it might mean Spodcast would need to integrate a (headless) browser in the process to decrypt the video. So, for now, no video. For the future, maybe but don't hold your breath.
Karsteski 5y ago
Hmm this seems a bit involved but maybe I'll check it out. I've mostly stopped listening to Joe Rogan's podcast simply because Spotify is a terrible podcast platform and I don't really want to support podcasts moving to platforms over RSS.
- Ourgon 5y ago
  I stopped listening entirely when he moved to Spotify because a) I don't use Spotify and/because b) their app nor web will run on the "old clunkers" I use for these purposes which tend to be off-line when I'm out in the woods or fields. The recent brouhaha around Rogan piqued my interest to find out why what he and his guests said that was so deplorable as to cause a media storm. Spotify still won't run on my potato, hence the need for this tool. If you already have an environment capable of running Python and PHP setting this up comes down to the following command: $ tar zxf spodcast-0.3.1.tar.gz $ cd spodcast $ pip install . $ spodcast -c /mnt/audio/podcast/spodcast.json --root-path /mnt/audio/spodcast -p -l /home/exampleuser/spotify.rc
  - Karsteski 5y ago
    That's pretty straightforward actually. I mostly just skimmed the GitHub. I have a server already at home so why not add this small feature to it right? :)
    - Ourgon 5y ago
      Indeed. Start here: https://github.com/Yetangitu/Spodcast/releases/tag/v0.3.1 https://github.com/Yetangitu/Spodcast/releases/tag/v0.3.1
jackjeff 5y ago
I was looking at doing something similar a while back. But all the “Spotify Podcasts” I saw were using DRMs and just getting rid of this (legally by calling the same stupid Widevine plugin to ask it to decrypt it) was a huge task… and I basically gave up on all the Gimlet shows. I wonder how this project gets around this? I see no mention of it. So I assume there’s still a way to access the files without DRMs or maybe Spotify stopped encrypting their podcasts? I feel like an idiot for giving up.
- Ourgon 5y ago
  This project uses librespot-python to access Spotify, it takes care of whatever is needed to access content. Can you give me a link to one of those DRM-encumbered "podcasts" to test? Thus far I have not come across anything like that.
swyx 5y ago
Spotify should be ashamed at their attempt to ruin podcasting by denying their basic foundation in RSS. Great project but why support Spotify exclusives at all.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- Ourgon 5y ago
  For the same reason that I sometimes run Windows applications using Wine on Linux even though I dislike Microsoft's PC hegemony: because the podcaster is supposed to have something interesting to say, because the application is needed to perform a task for which no native or cross-platform alternative exists. As long as I can use the tools at my disposal to create a door in the wall around Spotify's garden I'll use them.
jtbayly 5y ago
Or, you know, just refuse to support Spotify's destruction of podcasts by not listening to any podcasts on Spotify.
- voisin 5y ago
  The one nice thing Spotify has, at least with Rogan, is the video included in the podcast so you don’t have to switch over to YouTube. I wish Overcast had this!
- Ourgon 5y ago
  That's what this thing enables you to do: not listen to any podcasts on Spotify. You can listen to them on your Gameboy Advanced for all I care, as long as it supports RSS it should work. If you mean to totally eschew any podcast hosted on Spotify that'd be throwing out the baby with the bath water - sometimes someone says something interesting on the other side of the wall after all. If Spotify clamps down on tools like these a better case can be made for podcasters to leave the walled garden, until such a time and as long as they allow access to their content using free-software tools they're just one other actor in the market albeit an oversized one which tries its best to create a walled garden.
  - jtbayly 5y ago
    I'm willing to not feed podcasts that feed the beast. It's for the good of those podcasts, too. Though I understand why this app exists and people would want to use it. If I was willing to listen to a podcast that is exclusive to Spotify, I'd do it with something like this.
    - Ourgon 5y ago
      Information wants to be free but sometimes it needs some help in finding freedom.
bleachedsleet 5y ago
I was preparing to just manually rip shows and privately host my own RSS feed of the audio, but now I’ll be looking into this first. Thank you for exploring this problem in depth!
marginalia_nu 5y ago
I threw out Spotify a few years ago, and used the fact that you can easily find RSS feeds for most podcasts to build a simple replacement. Fun and easy project. UI is in swedish, but this is how I listen to podcasts these days (it's completely non interactive and only lists my "subscriptions" with a basic audio tag) https://www.marginalia.nu/podcast/new.html https://www.marginalia.nu/podcast/new.html

123 points by Ourgon 5y ago

Is there a way to bypass Spotify entirely? I don't want to create an account on their crappy platform. I looked for something a while back, but couldn't find anything... I imagine they embed fingerprints into audio to squash any such attempts. To podcasters: Using an exclusive platform affects your discoverability - the thing that allowed you to grow. It's a privilege to have people spend 1 hour or more listening to what you have to say - you literally cannot buy that reach.

SecurityLagoon 5y ago

I appreciate the theory of this project but won't use it. Spotify isn't getting any of my patronage, either directly or indirectly, due to how they are trying to destroy the podcast ecosystem.

Ourgon 5y ago

FYI, I just fixed a small problem - two missing const statements - which kept the last release from actually producing RSS feeds - and there I thought I had tested it enough. If you tried it, try again.

adrianomartins 5y ago

Awesome, this is actually useful!

Ourgon 5y ago
Good, that is what I made it for - to be used.

Ourgon 5y ago

Given all the brouhaha around Spotify hosting "controversial" podcasts I cobbled up a tool to actually listen to those things using my favourite podcast listening devices: old phones. They support RSS but have long since fallen off the radar for app and web developers. Question and suggestions welcome, may the source be with you.

midasz 5y ago

I really dislike using Spotify for podcasts since I already have a proper podcast app (Podcast Addict), so some shows I like to follow that have gone spotify-exclusive just completely drop off my radar (e.g. Last Podcast on the Left). This is a great solution. Any chance you'd offer a docker image for easy deployment?

j00pY 5y ago
LPOTL is now off spotify and available normally again.
- Andrex 5y ago
  Wish I could say I was rushing back but other podcasts have filled in during the 2 years they've been gone. That's just my personal experience, though.
Ourgon 5y ago
I'll give it a try one of these days.
the_snooze 5y ago
Same here. There's no value-add to the user for turning previously open podcasts into Spotify exclusives. I understand that Spotify and podcasters have to pay the bills, but they're not even trying to counter-balance the user-hostility with some benefits like ad-free listening or a proper podcast UI. And it's not like Spotify is desperate to have paying customers; they're one of the largest subscription streaming platforms around!
- wasmitnetzen 5y ago
  Spotify realized that they'll never be profitable with music, the labels have the upper hand and can just raise their share whenever Spotify increases revenue. For exclusive podcasts, they own the entire chain.
  - 5y ago

jron 5y ago

Thank you! I was using a 2nd Android browser with a fake User-Agent to use the Spotify web client after Spotifeed stopped working. I'll do whatever it takes to keep all my podcasts in AntennaPod.

Ourgon 5y ago
It was the demise of Spotifeed which gave me the impetus needed to build this thing, all that was needed was some free time. When than came, this was born. Spodcast's fate depends on whether librespot-python continues to track whatever changes Spotify throws at its (v1) API.
nmz 5y ago
And you absolutely should, I decided to try out Stitcher, and as you can guess, I went offline, listened to a podcast, decided I wanted to relisten to it again, and no go.

ericboehs 5y ago

Man, I wish this did video too. I tried pulling the video from the Safari web client as it gave a giant data: uri in the <video> element that I thought I could save but couldn't figure it out.

Ourgon 5y ago
Adding video support is rather easy, it is just something I never felt the need to do given my preference for audio - which I can listen to while working on the farm etc. - over video. I can have a look at adding it if there is enough demand.
- pixxel 5y ago
  Yes please!
  - Ourgon 5y ago
    I had a look at including video and it turns out I was premature in saying it would be easy. Currently librespot-python does not support video so only for that reason it is a no-go. If support ever arrives it might become possible but given that Spotify-video is burdened with Widevine DRM it might mean Spodcast would need to integrate a (headless) browser in the process to decrypt the video. So, for now, no video. For the future, maybe but don't hold your breath.

Karsteski 5y ago

Hmm this seems a bit involved but maybe I'll check it out. I've mostly stopped listening to Joe Rogan's podcast simply because Spotify is a terrible podcast platform and I don't really want to support podcasts moving to platforms over RSS.

Ourgon 5y ago
I stopped listening entirely when he moved to Spotify because a) I don't use Spotify and/because b) their app nor web will run on the "old clunkers" I use for these purposes which tend to be off-line when I'm out in the woods or fields. The recent brouhaha around Rogan piqued my interest to find out why what he and his guests said that was so deplorable as to cause a media storm. Spotify still won't run on my potato, hence the need for this tool. If you already have an environment capable of running Python and PHP setting this up comes down to the following command: $ tar zxf spodcast-0.3.1.tar.gz $ cd spodcast $ pip install . $ spodcast -c /mnt/audio/podcast/spodcast.json --root-path /mnt/audio/spodcast -p -l /home/exampleuser/spotify.rc
- Karsteski 5y ago
  That's pretty straightforward actually. I mostly just skimmed the GitHub. I have a server already at home so why not add this small feature to it right? :)
  - Ourgon 5y ago
    Indeed. Start here: https://github.com/Yetangitu/Spodcast/releases/tag/v0.3.1 https://github.com/Yetangitu/Spodcast/releases/tag/v0.3.1

jackjeff 5y ago

I was looking at doing something similar a while back. But all the “Spotify Podcasts” I saw were using DRMs and just getting rid of this (legally by calling the same stupid Widevine plugin to ask it to decrypt it) was a huge task… and I basically gave up on all the Gimlet shows. I wonder how this project gets around this? I see no mention of it. So I assume there’s still a way to access the files without DRMs or maybe Spotify stopped encrypting their podcasts? I feel like an idiot for giving up.

Ourgon 5y ago
This project uses librespot-python to access Spotify, it takes care of whatever is needed to access content. Can you give me a link to one of those DRM-encumbered "podcasts" to test? Thus far I have not come across anything like that.

swyx 5y ago

Spotify should be ashamed at their attempt to ruin podcasting by denying their basic foundation in RSS. Great project but why support Spotify exclusives at all.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Ourgon 5y ago
For the same reason that I sometimes run Windows applications using Wine on Linux even though I dislike Microsoft's PC hegemony: because the podcaster is supposed to have something interesting to say, because the application is needed to perform a task for which no native or cross-platform alternative exists. As long as I can use the tools at my disposal to create a door in the wall around Spotify's garden I'll use them.

jtbayly 5y ago

Or, you know, just refuse to support Spotify's destruction of podcasts by not listening to any podcasts on Spotify.

voisin 5y ago
The one nice thing Spotify has, at least with Rogan, is the video included in the podcast so you don’t have to switch over to YouTube. I wish Overcast had this!
Ourgon 5y ago
That's what this thing enables you to do: not listen to any podcasts on Spotify. You can listen to them on your Gameboy Advanced for all I care, as long as it supports RSS it should work. If you mean to totally eschew any podcast hosted on Spotify that'd be throwing out the baby with the bath water - sometimes someone says something interesting on the other side of the wall after all. If Spotify clamps down on tools like these a better case can be made for podcasters to leave the walled garden, until such a time and as long as they allow access to their content using free-software tools they're just one other actor in the market albeit an oversized one which tries its best to create a walled garden.
- jtbayly 5y ago
  I'm willing to not feed podcasts that feed the beast. It's for the good of those podcasts, too. Though I understand why this app exists and people would want to use it. If I was willing to listen to a podcast that is exclusive to Spotify, I'd do it with something like this.
  - Ourgon 5y ago
    Information wants to be free but sometimes it needs some help in finding freedom.

bleachedsleet 5y ago

I was preparing to just manually rip shows and privately host my own RSS feed of the audio, but now I’ll be looking into this first. Thank you for exploring this problem in depth!

marginalia_nu 5y ago

I threw out Spotify a few years ago, and used the fact that you can easily find RSS feeds for most podcasts to build a simple replacement. Fun and easy project. UI is in swedish, but this is how I listen to podcasts these days (it's completely non interactive and only lists my "subscriptions" with a basic audio tag) https://www.marginalia.nu/podcast/new.html https://www.marginalia.nu/podcast/new.html