A Podcast Without Your Own Voice? Here's How with ElevenLabs

Can you have a successful podcast without speaking yourself? Spoiler: Yes, absolutely. In this guide, I'll show you how with ElevenLabs — including practical workflows and the ethical questions you should ask yourself.

Why an AI Podcast?

• Time savings: Writing a script is faster than recording flawlessly
• Consistency: No bad recording days, no voice fluctuations
• Scaling: Daily episodes without burnout
• Anonymity: Share personal stories without voice identification
• Multilingual: One podcast in 10 languages with the same "voice"

Best Formats for AI Voices

Ideal: News/summaries, storytelling, educational content, meditation/ASMR, documentaries.

Less suitable: Interview podcasts, comedy, personal branding (your voice IS the brand).

Setup: Zero to First Podcast

Step 1: Concept

Define your topic (niche beats mainstream), format (solo/dialog/narration), length (10-20 minutes works well), and frequency.

Step 2: Choose a Voice

At ElevenLabs: stock voices (quick, no extra cost), voice cloning (unique branding), or Voice Design (create from description).

Step 3: Write the Script

Structure: Intro (30s) → Hook (60s) → Main content (10-15 min) → Takeaway (60s) → Outro (30s). Write for TTS: short sentences, natural language, mark pauses with "...", spell out numbers.

Step 4: Generate Audio

Use the Projects feature: create project, import script, choose voice, generate chapter by chapter, fix individual spots, export.

Step 5: Post-Production

Add intro/outro music, normalize volume, apply light EQ, export as MP3 128-192kbps.

Step 6: Distribution

Podcast hosts: Buzzsprout, Anchor (Spotify), Transistor, Podbean. Most platforms have no rules against AI voices (yet).

Two-Voice Podcast: The Dialog

A "conversation" between two AI voices sounds more natural than a monologue. Write a script for both speakers, generate each separately, combine in a DAW, adjust timing.

Cost Calculation

Ethics: Should You Disclose?

My recommendation: Be transparent. A brief note in show notes suffices: "This podcast uses AI-assisted speech synthesis. Content was researched and written by [Name]."

Conclusion: The Voice Is Just the Medium

An AI podcast with ElevenLabs is technically easy. The real work is in the content — just like traditional podcasts. The question isn't "Can I make an AI podcast?" but "Do I have something to say?"