How to make an AI Podcast using AI Voices and LLMs

Podcasts have always been about storytelling and connection. But the way they’re being made is changing fast. Some podcasts right now don’t have a human behind the mic at all. AI voices handle narration, and large language models (LLMs) generate entire scripts. A daily podcast can run on autopilot, producing episodes without anyone recording or writing a word manually.

Both creators and brands are using AI to scale content. Even solo podcasters are finding ways to mix AI-generated segments with their own voice, blending automation with personal touch. But also raises a big question: how do you create an AI-generated podcast that actually sounds good? Let’s break it down.

What You Need to Create an AI Podcast

A quality AI-generated show can be made with just a few key tools and tricks to make the final result sound natural. Here’s what goes into an AI-powered podcast:

1. AI Voice Generation Tools

Instead of recording your own voice, AI-generated voices can handle narration, interviews, and character dialogue. Content creation platforms like Podcastle often come with hundreds of AI voices, letting you pick from pre-made voices and allow you to clone your own for a more personal touch. The best AI voice platforms out there sound less robotic and more like a real person, with natural inflections and pauses.

2. LLMs for Scripting

With the right prompts, an LLM like ChatGPT can take over a large part of your production process. Ask it and it will give you: an entire script, summarized research you come across, and fitting dialogue between two AI speakers for you. There are no limits here. Some podcasters use AI to draft episodes, and then refine the text manually to add a personal touch. Others feed AI a set of ideas and let it generate multiple takes, picking the best parts. There’s no one way to go about it, it’s more about finding a flow that works best for you. But this can’t be stressed enough: you have to guide the AI. A generic prompt leads to generic content. A well-structured one can produce podcast scripts that feel natural.

3. AI-Assisted Audio Editing

Once the script is generated and the AI voice has narrated it, editing helps smooth out the rough edges. This is where AI-powered platforms shine. Instead of manually cutting and adjusting every second of audio, smart editing tools can handle noise reduction, and pacing, and add royalty-free background music in just a matter of clicks.

4. A Hosting & Distribution Platform

Podcast hosting platforms distribute episodes to major directories like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Sometimes, you’ll find content creation software that has podcast hosting already integrated into its toolset. If not, your safest bet is registering for free on something like Podbean.

Scripting Your AI Podcast with LLMs

A podcast lives or dies by its script. You could have the most lifelike AI voice, a weak script will make the entire episode feel stiff, awkward, or worse, soulless. That’s because AI can write, but it needs guidance.

Here’s how to get the most out of an LLM like ChatGPT or Claude when scripting your AI podcast.

1. Start with a Strong Prompt

Think of an LLM like an eager (but clueless) intern. It’ll generate pages of content, but only if you give it clear direction. A weak prompt, something like “Write a podcast script about the history of space travel”, will lead to generic results. Instead, a structured prompt with specific details produces something worth using. Try this instead: “Write a conversational podcast script featuring two hosts discussing the history of space travel, specifically [insert specific information regarding the history of space travel you’d want the LLM to cover]. The tone should be engaging, with a mix of facts and humor. Include natural pauses and rhetorical questions to make it feel like real dialogue.”

This tells the AI exactly what you need, reducing the amount of editing later.

2. Edit for Flow & Natural Speech

You could have a great prompt, but LLM-generated text can still end up feeling off. Sentences may be too formal, phrases might repeat, and dialogue might lack personality. But with just a few key tweaks, you can make a script sound like a real conversation: Shorten long sentences: AI loves to write complex, wordy phrases. Cut them down. Add contractions: Rather than “I cannot believe it,” aim for “I can’t believe it.” Break up blocks of text: Long paragraphs don’t work in spoken format. Add pauses. Inject personality: If the AI’s tone feels flat, rewrite sections to match your style.

3. Fine-Tune Tone & Pacing

Some LLMs allow you to tweak output based on tone. You could get something formal, casual, humorous, or dramatic out of your prompts. Experimenting with these settings can help find a style that fits your podcast. If your show is meant to be fun and engaging, but the AI keeps writing like a research paper, adjust your prompts:

• “Write in a friendly, casual, and conversational tone using simple words”
• “Make this script sound like a late-night radio show with dramatic pauses.”
• “Act as if you were a seasoned podcast host, keeping the tone engaging, unscripted, and full of natural flow”

Tone adjustments can transform the feel of an episode, making AI-generated content sound more intentional and engaging.

Choosing the Right AI Voice for Your Podcast

So, the script is out of the way, but let’s say that’s only half the equation. The voice delivering it matters just as much. The wrong AI voice can make an episode sound robotic, monotonous, or completely disconnected from the tone of the content. Finding that balance takes some trial and error.

1. Pick a Voice That Matches the Podcast’s Style

Every podcast has its own vibe. A business podcast needs a confident, professional tone. A comedy show works better with a voice that sounds expressive and animated. The goal is to make sure the voice fits the content, just like casting the right actor for a role.

2. Experiment with Delivery & Emotion

AI-generated voices have improved dramatically, but they still need tweaking. The best (and easiest) way to control the way an AI voice sounds is by taking a look at your punctuation and wording. Try using a full stop or period instead of a comma, or an exclamation mark instead of a full stop or period. Experiment with colons, semi-colons, ellipses, parenthesis, and hyphens, and see what brings out the best from the AI voice. If none of that works, you might want to try out completely different wording for your sentence or switch to another AI voice altogether.

3. Consider Cloning Your Own Voice

For creators who want to automate their podcast while keeping it personal, AI voice cloning is an option. Some tools allow you to train an AI on your own voice, letting it read scripts in a way that matches your natural speaking style. This can be useful for podcasters who want to:

• Generate episodes without recording every time
• Repurpose blog posts or scripts into spoken content
• Maintain a consistent voice when using AI for automation

4. Blend AI Voices with Human Touches

You can rely fully on AI, but you don’t have to. Some creators mix AI-generated narration with human-recorded intros, interviews, or commentary. This keeps the podcast engaging while still benefiting from AI automation. For example, an episode could open with a human-recorded introduction, followed by an AI-generated segment, and then wrap up with a personal sign-off. This hybrid approach adds warmth and authenticity while keeping production efficient.

5. Adding Music & Sound Effects

A podcast without music or sound effects can feel a little lifeless. A simple intro track can set the tone for an episode, making the whole production feel more polished. Background music during transitions keeps the pacing smooth, while subtle sound effects can reinforce key moments.

Some AI-powered platforms now suggest background tracks based on the tone of the script, making it easy to find music that complements the content. Others offer automatic audio ducking, which lowers music volume whenever the AI-generated voice is speaking. These small touches make a big impact, helping the podcast feel more immersive rather than just a machine reading text out loud.

Pro Tip: Bring AI and Human Creativity Together

AI can automate a lot of the heavy lifting in podcast production, but that doesn’t mean it should replace every part of the process. After all, a podcast is a creative endeavor!

Let AI Handle the Repetitive Work

Some parts of podcast production don’t necessarily need a personal touch. Use AI for the bits that slow down your creative process. It could be when generating script drafts, or filling in the blanks where you have a creative block. On a more technical note, AI-powered content creation platforms can help you clean up audio and adjust pacing in a few clicks.

Where Human Input Still Matters

No matter how good AI gets, there are things it just doesn’t do well. Humor, for one, is tough to nail. Sarcasm and nuance often get lost (or just sound nonsensical) in AI-generated speech. AI also struggles with emotional storytelling, where the scripts require things like subtlety, warmth, or a deeper connection with the audience that you might only get through personal experience or human stories. Another area where human creativity wins? Topic selection. AI can help generate ideas, but it doesn’t have instincts. It won’t pick up on cultural trends the way a real person can. It won’t predict what will spark a conversation online or know which angles feel fresh. AI-generated content is based on existing data. It doesn’t innovate. That’s where a creator’s intuition comes in.

Ready to Create Your First AI Podcast?

AI can handle just about anything these days, but the most crucial bit of all is figuring out where exactly AI fits into your workflow. Maybe for you, it works best when used as an assistant rather than the entire production team. Or, it might be another setup entirely. In any case, some of the most interesting AI-driven podcasts aren’t fully automated, as they mix AI-generated elements with human perspectives to keep things dynamic. For creators willing to experiment, there’s an opportunity to push the boundaries of what an audio show can be. Whether it’s an entirely AI-powered podcast or a hybrid approach, the future of podcasting is wide open. The only limit is how far creators are willing to take it.