Privacy & data handling

Privacy policy

Effective October 25, 2026

Podcast Engine is a personal application operated by the owner of this website. It retrieves authorized podcast audio, creates transcripts and summaries, and emails those summaries to operator-selected recipients. This public website is informational only.

Google data and permissions

The app requests the Gmail API scope https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.send. It uses that permission only to send podcast-summary emails and HTML attachments from the Google account that approved access. It does not request access to read, search, or delete Gmail messages or to retrieve contacts.

For delivery, Google receives the sender and recipient email addresses, subject, summary text, and HTML attachment. Google returns delivery metadata such as a message identifier. The app handles authorization tokens so it can send scheduled messages after consent.

Podcast content and AI processing

Podcast audio is downloaded to the operator's Mac and transcribed locally. Transcript text, episode metadata, and summary instructions are sent to OpenAI through the Codex service to generate summaries. This is a separate step from Gmail delivery: Gmail inbox content is not retrieved, and Google authorization tokens are not provided as input to the summarization model.

Generated summaries can contain errors and should be checked against the source when accuracy matters. Access to subscriber content requires a valid subscription or other authorization.

Storage and retention

Google refresh tokens are kept in macOS Keychain. Desktop OAuth client configuration is stored in an owner-accessible local file. The app does not store the user's Gmail password. Private podcast feed URLs are kept in local configuration, not in this public website.

Transcripts, summaries, episode metadata, and operational logs remain on the operator's Mac until the operator deletes them. Downloaded audio is removed after successful transcription. Copies of sent emails remain subject to the sender's and recipients' mailbox retention settings.

Sharing and service providers

Summaries are sent only to recipients selected by the operator. Google processes email delivery; OpenAI processes submitted podcast transcript text for summarization. Their processing is governed by their applicable terms and privacy policies. Podcast Engine does not sell personal information or use Google user data for advertising or model training.

Podcast Engine's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.

This public website

These pages contain no analytics scripts, advertising, tracking pixels, account forms, or app-level cookies. Cloudflare hosts the site and may process technical request data, such as IP addresses and request logs, to deliver and protect it. See Cloudflare's privacy policy. The site does not publish podcast files, recipient lists, credentials, or private feed links.

Control, revocation, and deletion

You can revoke the application's access through Google Account connections. Revocation stops future authorized Gmail sending but does not delete emails already delivered. The operator can remove local authorization through macOS Keychain Access and delete local transcripts, summaries, and settings. Copies in recipient mailboxes must be managed by those recipients.

Questions and requests

For questions or deletion requests, contact the app operator using the support email displayed on the Google authorization screen or the existing private channel through which you receive summaries. This app is not offered for public registration.

Changes

Updates to this policy will be published here with a revised effective date. Review the policy before approving a material change in access or data use.