How to Create a Custom Audio Podcast Using Your Own Words and Voices with ElevenLabs

Creating an audio podcast programmatically allows you to turn your written content into a spoken format, giving you complete control over the words and voices used. Traditional podcast apps, like Podcastle or Anchor, often rely on large language models (LLMs) to generate the dialogue based on provided topics or context. While these apps can produce high-quality content, the final output is ultimately shaped by the LLM's interpretation, which may not fully align with your specific vision or message. To achieve a more personalized and precise podcast, I decided to explore a method where the words spoken are my own, and the voices are precisely as I envisioned them. This involves using ElevenLabs, a sophisticated text-to-speech (TTS) platform known for generating highly customizable and natural-sounding voices. Here’s how I set it up: Choosing the Content: First, I selected the text I wanted to convert into a podcast. This could be an article, a script, or even a collection of notes. The key is to have a well-structured document that reads naturally. Setting Up ElevenLabs: Next, I signed up for an account on ElevenLabs. The platform offers various pricing tiers, including a free tier with limited usage. For more extensive projects, consider a paid subscription, which provides additional features and higher usage limits. Please note that I am an affiliate for ElevenLabs, and clicking on the affiliate links in this article to sign up for a paid subscription will result in me receiving a commission. Customizing Voices: ElevenLabs allows you to customize the voices used in your podcast. You can choose from a variety of pre-made voices or create your own by uploading voice samples. This ensures that the podcasters sound exactly as you want them to, whether they are real-life personas or fictional characters. Text Preparation: To make the text suitable for TTS conversion, I formatted it to include speaker names and pauses. For instance: Speaker 1: "This is the introduction of the podcast." Pause: 2 seconds Speaker 2: "I agree. It sets the stage perfectly." This formatting helps ElevenLabs understand when to switch between speakers and when to insert pauses for a more natural flow. Generating the Audio: Once the text was prepared, I uploaded it to ElevenLabs. The platform automatically generated the audio, but you can also fine-tune the voices and speech patterns to better match your preferences. Post-Processing: After the audio was generated, I used a digital audio workstation (DAW) software like Audacity to clean up any imperfections, such as background noise or unnatural intonations. This step is crucial to ensure the final product sounds polished and professional. Exporting and Publishing: Finally, I exported the audio file and published it to my preferred podcast hosting service, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podbean. Each of these platforms has straightforward guides on how to upload and publish your content. By following these steps, I successfully created an audio podcast that precisely reflected my content and vision. The ability to control every aspect—from the words spoken to the voices used—makes this method particularly appealing for those who want a more tailored and authentic podcast experience. ElevenLabs stands out for its user-friendly interface and advanced TTS capabilities, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to bring their written content to life through audio. Whether you’re creating educational podcasts, fictional stories, or detailed discussions, this approach offers a level of customization and control that traditional methods simply can’t match.