Podcast Producer

Create complete podcast episodes, interviews, and conversation-style audio content.

This is an orchestrator skill that combines:

• Script/dialogue generation (Claude)
• Multi-speaker voice synthesis (Gemini TTS)
• Intro/outro music (Lyria)
• Audio assembly (FFmpeg via media-utils)

What You Can Create

| Type | Example | |------|---------| | Podcast episode | Two hosts discussing a topic | | Interview | Q&A format with host and guest | | Dialogue | Scripted conversation between characters | | Audio drama | Story with multiple characters | | Radio show | Formatted audio program with segments |

Prerequisites

• GOOGLE_API_KEY - For Gemini TTS (voices) and Lyria (music)
• FFmpeg installed: brew install ffmpeg (macOS) or apt install ffmpeg (Linux)

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Requirements (REQUIRED)

⚠️ DO NOT skip this step. Use interactive questioning — ask ONE question at a time.

Question Flow

⚠️ Use the AskUserQuestion tool for each question below. Do not just print questions in your response — use the tool to create interactive prompts with the options shown.

Q1: Topic > "I'll create that podcast episode! First — what's the topic? > > (What should the hosts discuss?)"

Wait for response.

Q2: Hosts > "Who are the hosts/speakers? > > (Names and brief personality — e.g., 'Sarah, enthusiastic tech expert' — max 2 for TTS)"

Wait for response.

Q3: Duration > "How long should the episode be? > > - 5 minutes > - 10 minutes > - 15 minutes > - Or specify your own"

Wait for response.

Q4: Tone > "What tone? > > - Professional > - Casual/conversational > - Funny/entertaining > - Serious/educational > - Or describe your own"

Wait for response.

Q5: Music > "What music style for intro/outro? > > - Upbeat pop > - Chill lo-fi > - Corporate/professional > - Electronic > - Or describe your own"

Wait for response.

Quick Reference

| Question | Determines | |----------|------------| | Topic | Script content and discussion points | | Hosts | Voice selection and script style | | Duration | Script length | | Tone | Writing style and energy | | Music | Lyria prompt for intro/outro |

Step 2: Generate the Script

Use Claude to create the dialogue script with speaker labels:

[INTRO MUSIC: 10 seconds, upbeat tech podcast vibe]

Sarah: Welcome back to Tech Talk! I'm Sarah, and today we have something exciting.

Mike: Hey everyone! I'm Mike, and yes - we're diving into AI in healthcare.

Sarah: So Mike, what's the biggest change you've seen this year?

Mike: Great question! The use of AI for diagnostic imaging has exploded...

[Continue dialogue...]

[OUTRO MUSIC: Fade under last lines, 5 seconds after]

Sarah: Thanks for listening! Follow us for more episodes.

Mike: See you next time!

Script Guidelines:

• Use speaker names exactly as they'll be configured in TTS
• Include music cues in brackets: [INTRO MUSIC: description]
• Natural conversation flow with back-and-forth
• Aim for ~150 words per minute of audio

Step 3: Plan Asset Generation

Create a manifest of what needs to be generated:

json
{
  "project": "tech_talk_ai_healthcare",
  "duration_target": "5 minutes",
  "speakers": [
    {"name": "Sarah", "voice": "Kore", "style": "Enthusiastic, upbeat"},
    {"name": "Mike", "voice": "Puck", "style": "Friendly, knowledgeable"}
  ],
  "assets": [
    {
      "type": "music",
      "name": "intro_music",
      "prompt": "upbeat tech podcast, electronic, modern",
      "duration": 15,
      "script": "lyria"
    },
    {
      "type": "dialogue", 
      "name": "main_content",
      "speakers": ["Sarah", "Mike"],
      "text": "[the dialogue script]",
      "script": "gemini_tts"
    },
    {
      "type": "music",
      "name": "outro_music",
      "prompt": "same as intro, fade out",
      "duration": 10,
      "script": "lyria"
    }
  ],
  "assembly": [
    {"action": "mix", "voice": "intro_with_music", "music": "intro_music", "music_volume": 0.8},
    {"action": "concat", "files": ["intro_with_music", "main_content"]},
    {"action": "mix", "voice": "main_content_end", "music": "outro_music", "fade_out": 5}
  ]
}

Step 4: Generate Assets

Execute each generation step:

Generate intro music (Lyria):

bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/music-generation/scripts/lyria.py \
  --prompt "upbeat tech podcast, electronic, modern, positive energy" \
  --duration 15 \
  --bpm 120

Generate dialogue (Gemini TTS multi-speaker):

bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/voice-generation/scripts/gemini_tts.py \
  --multi \
  --speaker "Sarah:Kore" \
  --speaker "Mike:Puck" \
  --text "[dialogue script from Step 2]" \
  --style "Make Sarah sound enthusiastic and upbeat. Mike sounds friendly and knowledgeable."

Generate outro music (same as intro or variation):

bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/music-generation/scripts/lyria.py \
  --prompt "upbeat tech podcast, electronic, fade out feel" \
  --duration 10 \
  --bpm 120

Step 5: Assemble the Podcast

Use media-utils to stitch everything together:

Mix intro music with beginning of dialogue:

bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/media-utils/scripts/audio_mix.py \
  --voice dialogue.wav \
  --music intro_music.wav \
  --music-volume 0.4 \
  --fade-out 3 \
  -o intro_mixed.wav

Concatenate all segments:

bash
python3 ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/media-utils/scripts/audio_concat.py \
  -i intro_mixed.wav main_dialogue.wav outro_mixed.wav \
  --crossfade 1.0 \
  -o final_podcast.mp3

Step 6: Deliver the Result

Provide:

1. The final audio file
2. Summary of what was created
3. Offer adjustments

Example delivery:

"✅ Your podcast episode is ready!

File: tech_talk_ai_healthcare.mp3 (5:23)

What I created:

• Dialogue between Sarah (Kore voice) and Mike (Puck voice)
• 15s upbeat electronic intro music
• 10s outro music fade

Want me to:

• Adjust the voices or tone?
• Change the music style?
• Extend or shorten any section?
• Add more topics to the discussion?"

Voice Pairing Suggestions

| Host Type | Suggested Voice | Description | |-----------|-----------------|-------------| | Main host (energetic) | Kore, Puck, Laomedeia | Firm, upbeat | | Co-host (calm) | Charon, Algieba | Informative, smooth | | Guest (expert) | Rasalgethi, Gacrux | Knowledgeable, mature | | Interviewer | Achird | Friendly | | Narrator | Charon, Orus | Informative, clear |

Music Style Suggestions

| Podcast Type | Music Prompt | |--------------|--------------| | Tech/Business | "upbeat electronic, modern, corporate, positive" | | Casual/Comedy | "fun, playful, acoustic guitar, lighthearted" | | News/Serious | "subtle, professional, ambient, understated" | | Storytelling | "cinematic, emotional, orchestral, atmospheric" | | Health/Wellness | "calm, peaceful, ambient, gentle piano" | | True Crime | "dark, suspenseful, minimal, tension" |

Limitations

• Max 2 speakers per Gemini TTS call (for more, generate separate files and concatenate)
• Lyria is instrumental only - no vocals in music
• Duration estimates may vary - dialogue length depends on speaking pace
• Music loops if shorter than dialogue

Error Handling

| Error | Solution | |-------|----------| | "GOOGLE_API_KEY not set" | Set up API key per README | | "FFmpeg not found" | Install: brew install ffmpeg | | "google-genai not installed" | Run: pip install google-genai | | TTS too long | Split script into segments, generate separately, concat |

Example Prompts

Simple: > "Create a 3-minute podcast episode about remote work tips with two hosts"

Detailed: > "Create a 5-minute tech podcast episode. Hosts: Alex (enthusiastic, tech-savvy) and Jordan (skeptical, asks good questions). Topic: The future of AI assistants. Include upbeat electronic intro/outro music. Casual but informative tone."

With provided script: > "Turn this dialogue into a podcast episode with intro/outro music: > Alex: Hey everyone, welcome back! > Jordan: Today we're talking about..."