Convert a YouTube channel into a podcast

I've started watching a youtube channel where a dude basically just talks at a camera for 15 minutes. After a while, I thought - hey, this might be better as a podcast. I checked - there wasn't one.

Then I realized it's trivial to turn it into one. Here are the steps:

  1. Install yt-dlp, a youtube downloader app.
  2. Run yt-dlp -f bestaudio -x --audio-format mp3 --write-thumbnail <URL of channel, playlist, or video>

That's it. You can omit --write-thumbnail if you don't want images downloaded. You now have a bunch of mp3s you can listen to any way you want. 👍🏻

... If you really don't know what to use, any audiobook app will do. I really like Smart AudioBook Player

Since I already run my own Audiobookshelf instance, I have uploaded it there, which is even better.

But please, be considerate. Downloading mp3s for yourself is one thing, but uploading it somewhere publicly without permission might not be appreciated by its authors. Be nice.