How to Train Your Podcasting AI to Sound Like You

Episode 277 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer
How to Stop Podcasting AI from Making You Sound Generic
AI can be a total game-changer for scaling your podcast â it can save you time, expand your reach, and streamline your workflow.
But hereâs the catch: itâs only going to work if you take the time to dial in your core message first, then spend time training the AI to reflect your voice. Otherwise, you risk churning out the same cookie-cutter content everyone else is producing. Or as Michael Katz, founder of Flowsend, puts it, âThe challenge isnât using AIâitâs using it in a way that doesnât strip away your individuality.â
âA lot of platforms are focused on cranking out content fast,â Michael shares, âBut speed means nothing if youâre putting out content that doesnât feel like you.â The key is to train your AI to support your voice, not mimic a generic version of it.
So, if you want to learn exactly how to train AI for your podcast so you can streamline your content creation without losing the voice that makes you stand out â and youâre ready to harness AI to save time and reach more people while keeping your voice front and center, read on.
What Does Quality Really Mean in AI?
Before you can even think about training your podcasting AI to sound like you, weâve got to talk about âquality.â Youâve heard the phrase a million times: quality over quantity. But when it comes to AI-generated content, what does that really mean?
Like Michael explains, itâs not just about perfect grammar or polished sentences â itâs about creating content that actually connects with your audience and keeps them engaged. âItâs not about being flawless â itâs about being real,â he says. But letâs be clear: that doesnât mean intentionally teaching your AI to use bad grammar or misspell words just to sound more âauthenticâ either.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about AI is that it can crank out high-quality content without much input. âPeople assume they can just hit a button and magic happens,â Michael said. âBut AI isnât there to replace you. Itâs there to help you produce more of your voiceâ ⊠but the part most people miss is the fact that you have to teach it what your voice is. Which is going to be tough to do if you donât already have your core messaging dialed in and clear understanding of who you are speaking to on your podcast.
Many business owners and brands turn to AI thinking it will help them define their âbrand voiceâ and improve the way others perceive them â but itâs actually the other way around. You have to know what your brand voice is first, so that you can train your AI to mirror it. Hereâs why this is so important:
Your Voice: The Catalyst for Meaningful Impact
I asked Michael how becoming a father has impacted his view on voice and legacy. Michael, a self-proclaimed AI skeptic throughout his tech career and especially when tools like ChatGPT first hit the scene, said it shifted his entire perspective.
âI started thinking about what I want my kids to remember me for,â he shared. âAnd for me, thatâs about using my voice to create something meaningful. Itâs not just about getting content out there â itâs about making sure that content matters.â
Your voice is the legacy you leave behind, and AI should amplify that, not dilute it. âAI can help you produce more,â Michael said, âbut it canât replace the authenticity of your own voice.â Because thatâs where the real value is.
How to Train Your AI to Sound Like You
So that brings us to the real question: where do you start? If you want to ensure your voice stays front and center when using AI, youâve got to lead the AI â not the other way around. Michaelâs approach is simple: âFeed it your best content. Give it the kind of material youâd be proud to have your name on. Thatâs how you make sure AI doesnât make you sound like everybody else.â
But how do you actually train AI to sound like you? âThink of AI as a new team member â you wouldnât hire someone and expect them to get everything right on day one. AI is the same. Youâve got to train it, tweak it, and refine it over time.â
His advice? Start with your most representative content. âFeed your AI with the podcasts, blogs, or videos that really showcase who you are,â he suggested. âAnd donât stop there â give real-time feedback to the AI so it learns what you like and what you donât. Just because itâs smart doesnât mean it automatically knows your preferences.â
Michael also emphasized the importance of feedback loops. âItâs not enough to just use the AI once and expect perfection,â he said. âYou need to be involved in the process. If something doesnât feel right, adjust it. Over time, the AI will learn to better mimic your tone and style.â
Practical Tips for Keeping Your Voice Your Voice While Using AI
Now that weâve covered the core principles of training AI to reflect your voice, the next step is putting it into action. So, how do you keep your podcasting AI true to your unique style while saving time and scaling your reach? Here are some practical tips from Michael to help you keep your voice front and center as you integrate AI into your workflow:
- Start by feeding it your best writing and content you feel is genuinely you. âWhat you give the AI is what you get back, so the more personal and true-to-you your input is, the better the AI will perform,â Michael says.
- Donât treat AI like a shortcut. âThink of it as a collaboration,â Michael said. âYou still need to review and tweak what it produces, and give it direction.â
- Give specific feedback. âTell the AI what you like and what you donât,â he emphasized. âIt wonât automatically know your preferences unless you tell it.â Over time, this feedback helps it learn how to speak more like you.
- Be consistent with your messaging. This is key! Whether AI is helping with episode titles, show notes, or blog posts, Michael suggested keeping everything aligned with your brand â and this means being crystal clear on your message first. âConsistency builds trust,â he said.
- Let your voice evolve. Michael notes that when starting out, it's okay to emulate voices you admire as a way to find your own. He shared, "Weâre all imitators, whether we like it or not. Starting by emulating other voices you respect can help you develop your own style over time." The goal is to start there, but as you create more content, your unique voice will naturally emerge. âYouâre not static,â Michael emphasized, and your voice will evolve, too.
The future of podcasting AI isnât about automating your voice â itâs about scaling it with purpose. âAI can help you get more content out there,â Michael concludes, âbut itâs up to you to make sure that content still feels like you.â Look at podcasting AI as a tool that can help you amplify your voice, not replace it.
If you want more free advice on starting a podcast, growing your podcast, or turning more of your listeners into clients (all of the above, maybe!?) make sure youâre following Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a new episode.
Or if youâre an established coach or consultant who needs help dialing in your podcastâs messaging so you can stand out from the competition, attract more listeners to your show, and ultimately turn those listeners into leads and sales, book a free strategy call with our team to find out if youâre a fit for PodLaunchÂź â weâre here to help.
Up Next:
In the next episode, weâre diving into listener psychology to unpack the science behind bingeworthy episode titles. Because despite what you might have heard? Valuable episode content is NOT enough to attract new listeners. (You could have the most valuable content on the planet, but if you can't get listeners to click play, they'll never hear it and you have no way to grow). You have to know how to "sell" listeners on why your show is worth listening to in the first place, which happens BEFORE they hit play. How do you do it? Join me in the next episode and find out!