Connect Podbrain to Claude

Podbrain runs as a remote MCP server. Add it once as a custom connector in Claude and every chat can search about 2,400 podcast episodes, read professional notes and list the books guests recommend, with a link back to each episode.

What you need

• A Claude account on claude.ai, Claude Desktop or Cowork. Anthropic says custom connectors work on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, and a Free plan can hold one custom connector.
• On a Team or Enterprise plan, an Owner or Primary Owner has to add the connector for the organization first (on Enterprise, also anyone with a custom role that can manage Libraries). Members then connect it for themselves.
• A Podbrain account, created when you sign in from Claude, and the free trial. The trial needs a card but charges nothing for your first 30 episodes.

Set up Podbrain in Claude

1. Open Customize, then Connectors

   In Claude, go to Customize and choose Connectors, or open claude.ai/customize/connectors directly. On Team and Enterprise, an owner does this part in Organization settings, then Connectors.

2. Start a custom connector

   Click Add and pick the custom option. Anthropic's help articles describe this menu two ways (Add custom connector, or hover Custom and select Web), so choose whichever your screen shows.

3. Name it and paste the server URL

   Type Podbrain as the name and paste https://podbrain.app/mcp as the remote MCP server URL, then click Continue. Claude then shows the authentication settings it detected. Podbrain publishes standard OAuth discovery data, so you should not need to change them; click Continue again.

4. Pick sign in and OAuth client

   Under Authentication, choose Sign in now. Every Podbrain tool needs a signed in account, so signing in up front saves a step later. Under OAuth client, keep Use Claude's published identity (Recommended). Podbrain accepts clients that identify or register themselves, so you do not need your own client ID or secret, and Request headers stays empty. Click Add.

5. Sign in to Podbrain

   When Claude opens the Podbrain sign in page, log in with Google or email and approve access. You land back in Claude with Podbrain listed under Connectors. On Team and Enterprise, members do this by clicking Connect on the connector their owner added.

6. Turn Podbrain on in a chat

   In a new chat, click the + button at the lower left (or type /), hover Connectors and make sure the Podbrain toggle is on. Claude may ask you to approve a Podbrain tool before it runs. Pick Allow always only for tools you are happy to let it run without asking.

Try it

Claude calls search_episodes to find matching Huberman Lab episodes, then get_episode_notes to read the professional notes, and answers with the main points plus a link to each episode page on podbrain.app. Ask a follow up such as "which books came up?" and it uses get_references.

Turn it off

For a single chat, open the + menu, hover Connectors and switch Podbrain off. To remove it for good, go to Customize, then Connectors, click Remove or the three dots next to Podbrain, and confirm. Team and Enterprise owners remove it for everyone in Organization settings, then Connectors. Podbrain does not have its own page for connected apps yet, so removing the connector in Claude is the way to disconnect.

Questions

Sources

1. Get started with custom connectors using remote MCP, Claude Help Center.
2. Use connectors to extend Claude's capabilities, Claude Help Center.