I use AI a lot to make Kitchen Table. Honestly, if it weren't for AI, I don't think this podcast would exist: it's just me, and there's a lot to producing a show that I didn't know how to do. So here's exactly where AI shows up, and where it doesn't.
The one rule
Everything you hear is my words and my take. I keep the AI working for me, not impersonating me. Claude doesn't decide what Kitchen Table believes, which topics we cover, or what I think about them.
Where I use AI
- Editing my scripts. Episodes start completely from me: sometimes a full draft, sometimes a long riff into a voice memo. Claude helps me cut, reorder, and tighten it, but the words remain 100% from me.
- Fact-checking and sources. I (usually) remember stats; I don't always remember where they came from. Claude tracks down the studies behind what I say, flags anything that doesn't hold up before I record, and helps build the show notes, so you can check everything yourself.
- The paperback version. Show notes, episode descriptions, titles, and the shorter clips and posts cut from each episode. I write the hardback; Claude helps make the paperback.
- Production and back office. Planning, scheduling, building the website.
Where I don't
- The opinions. What the show believes is mine.
- The voice. I record every episode myself. No AI voices, no AI-generated video of me.
- People. If you hear from me (a reply, a DM, a guest invite), that's me.
- The art. The background music is licensed stock music from Descript's built-in library. Logos and artwork are made by me or by a human designer I pay.
Questions about any of this? Email me at nate@natenichols.life.