AI is changing podcasting fast. That is not even up for debate anymore. What is still very much up for discussion is how we, as creators, choose to use it.
Some people are all-in and automating everything. Some people are avoiding it completely. Most of us are somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out how to use it in a way that actually helps our work without flattening our voice or disconnecting us from what makes our content human.
That is where I am right now.
I have been in the podcasting space for over 21 years, and I have watched every major shift you can imagine. From early audio blogging days, to the rise of iTunes, to the social media explosion that changed how we promote content, to now, where AI is sitting in the middle of almost every creative conversation.
And I want to share my honest perspective, not as someone chasing trends, but as someone who is actively using these tools every week in real time.
This is not a hype conversation. This is a grounded one.
Let’s talk about AI podcasting, ethics, and authenticity.
AI is a tool, not a replacement
One of the biggest shifts I had to make mentally was this: AI is not here to replace my thinking. It is here to support it.
That distinction matters more than people realize.
I see a lot of creators using AI in a way that skips the thinking process entirely. They are asking it to generate ideas, write scripts, create posts, and essentially do the entire creative process for them.
And while that might feel efficient, something important gets lost in that process.
Your voice.
Your discernment.
Your lived experience.
Your ability to decide what actually matters.
For me, AI is a tool I use to support my work, not something that replaces my creative responsibility.
I still have to think. I still have to decide. I still have to bring my voice into everything that gets published.
Because if I do not, the content might be polished, but it will not be mine.
The problem with AI right now
Let’s be honest. There is a lot of noise in the AI space right now.
There are endless tools, endless tutorials, and a constant pressure to automate everything so you can “scale faster.”
But here is what I have noticed.
A lot of content created with AI right now is starting to sound the same.
It is clean. It is structured. It is technically correct.
But it often lacks depth. It lacks personality. It lacks the human fingerprints that make content feel lived in.
And I think part of that is because people are skipping the most important step: clarity.
If you do not know what you think, AI will not fix that for you. It will just organize your confusion faster.
That is why I always come back to intention.
Why am I using this tool?
What part of my process actually needs support?
Where do I still need to stay fully engaged?
Those questions matter more than the tool itself.
How I actually use AI in my podcast workflow
Let me make this practical and real for you, because I do use AI regularly in my podcasting workflow. But I use it in very specific ways.
1. Brainstorming and outlines with ChatGPT
I use ChatGPT as a thinking partner.
This is where I go when I am trying to get unstuck or when I want to explore different angles for an episode.
Sometimes I will take a rough idea and ask it to help me expand it or structure it. Sometimes I just brainstorm out loud.
But I am very intentional here.
I am not letting it define my message. I am using it to sharpen what I already sense I want to say.
It helps me move faster, but I am still driving the direction.
2. Writing and expanding content with Claude
Once I have my direction, I often use Claude to help me flesh things out.
This is where I might take an outline and ask it to help me organize my thoughts more clearly or expand certain sections into full ideas.
It is especially helpful when I am building podcast scripts or trying to turn scattered thoughts into something structured.
But again, I do not just copy and paste.
I read it. I adjust it. I rewrite parts of it. I bring my tone back into it.
Because the goal is not efficiency alone.
The goal is clarity that still sounds like me.
3. Deep research and source-based thinking with NotebookLM
One of the most interesting tools I have started using is NotebookLM.
This is different because it allows me to work directly from my own materials.
So instead of pulling random information from the internet, I can upload things like:
- past podcast episodes
- notes
- outlines
- blog posts
And then ask it to analyze my own content.
I use it to:
- compare themes across episodes
- identify patterns in what I have already taught
- deepen my understanding of my own work
This is powerful because it keeps me grounded in my actual voice and not just external information.
It also helps reduce one of the biggest risks with AI, which is misinformation or “hallucinated” answers.
When I am working from my own content, I know the foundation is solid.
AI should expand your thinking, not replace it
One thing I have learned quickly is that AI is most powerful when it expands your thinking, not when it replaces it.
If I rely on it too heavily, my content starts to feel generic.
But when I use it well, it helps me:
- clarify ideas faster
- see angles I might have missed
- structure my thoughts more effectively
It becomes a support system, not a decision-maker.
And that difference is everything.
My concerns about AI as a creator
I also want to be honest about my concerns, because I do not think this conversation should be one-sided.
There are three things I think about often:
1. Ethics and accountability
We are still learning how to use these tools responsibly.
Who is accountable for the content being created?
How do we ensure accuracy?
How do we avoid spreading misinformation or overly polished but empty content?
These are real questions, and I do not think we have all the answers yet.
2. Authenticity and voice
The more AI-generated content we consume, the more everything starts to sound the same.
That is where creators need to be careful.
If we are not actively protecting our voice, we risk blending into a sea of sameness.
Your voice is not just your words. It is your perspective, your lived experience, and your discernment.
AI cannot replace that.
3. Environmental impact and responsibility
This is something I think more people need to talk about.
AI systems require significant energy to run. That has an environmental cost.
So even as we use these tools, I think we also need awareness.
Not fear. Not avoidance.
But awareness.
We should be asking:
- How often am I using this?
- Am I using it intentionally?
- Am I creating value with it or just convenience?
Those questions matter.
Where I land with AI right now
I am not afraid of AI.
I am not rejecting it either.
I am actively learning how to use it in a way that supports my work, respects my voice, and keeps me grounded in my values.
I think that is the middle ground a lot of creators are trying to find right now.
We are all figuring this out in real time.
But here is what I know for sure:
AI will not replace thoughtful creators.
It will amplify whatever is already there.
If there is clarity, it will amplify clarity.
If there is confusion, it will amplify confusion.
If there is intention, it will amplify intention.
So the real work is not learning every tool.
The real work is staying clear about who you are and what you are creating.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, I think AI is here to stay.
The question is not whether we use it.
The question is how we use it.
For me, the answer is simple.
I use it to think better, not to think less.
I use it to support my creativity, not replace it.
And I use it while staying deeply aware that my voice, my discernment, and my humanity are still the most important parts of what I create.
Because that is what people actually connect to.
Not perfection.
Not automation.
But presence.
If you are a creator navigating this too, I would love to hear where you are with it. Are you experimenting with AI, avoiding it, or still figuring it out?
This is a conversation we are all part of now.
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