/personalized-podcast

name: podcast
description: Generate a podcast episode from content you provide. Paste text, point to local files, or describe a topic. Two AI hosts discuss it in a natural conversation. Listen locally or in your favorite podcast app via RSS.

Path convention

Throughout this file:

• `SKILL_DIR` = the directory where this SKILL.md file lives (the skill's install location)
• `DATA_DIR` = `~/.personalized-podcast` (where user data, config, and episodes are stored)

Resolve these to absolute paths before running any commands.

Personalized Podcast

When the user invokes this skill, start by introducing it:

> "This skill turns any content into a podcast episode with two AI hosts who discuss it in a natural, conversational style. Think NotebookLM, but you control everything: the script prompt, the hosts' voices, the show format. > > You can use it to: > > - **Listen to anything on the go.** Paste an article, point to a file, drop a URL. Instead of reading, you get two people breaking it down while you walk, commute, or cook. > - **Understand yourself from the outside.** Feed it personal content like meeting transcripts, your resume, or journal entries, and have the hosts share their impressions of you. It's genuinely illuminating. > - **Create your own show.** Set up an RSS feed and new episodes show up in the podcast app you already use (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Snipd). No new app to download. > > Let's get started. What content do you want to turn into a podcast?"

If the user already provided content with their `/podcast` command, skip the question and go straight to setup check.

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First-time setup

If `DATA_DIR/config.yaml` does not exist, run through this setup BEFORE generating. Do each step yourself - don't ask the user to run commands.

Step 1: Install dependencies

mkdir -p DATA_DIR/{scripts_output,episodes,logs}
python3 -m venv DATA_DIR/venv
DATA_DIR/venv/bin/pip install httpx pydub pyyaml python-dotenv jinja2 audioop-lts

Check ffmpeg is installed:

ffmpeg -version

If not found, install it: `brew install ffmpeg` (macOS) or `sudo apt install ffmpeg` (Linux).

Step 2: Create config with default voices

cp SKILL_DIR/config/config.example.yaml DATA_DIR/config.yaml

The config comes with two pre-picked voices that work out of the box. No voice selection needed for first use.

Step 3: Get Fish Audio API key

Tell the user:

> "To turn your script into audio, this skill uses Fish Audio for text-to-speech. They have a free tier with 2 million+ voices. You just need an API key: > > 1. Go to https://fish.audio and create a free account > 2. Go to https://fish.audio/app/api-keys/ and create an API key"

Then create the .env file and open it:

echo "FISH_API_KEY=your_key_here" > DATA_DIR/.env
open DATA_DIR/.env

Tell them: "Paste your Fish Audio API key in this file, replacing 'your_key_here'. Save and close."

IMPORTANT: Never ask the user to paste API keys in the chat. Always use the .env file.

Step 4: Done

Tell the user:

> "You're all set! The default show has two hosts - Alex (curious, energetic) and Sam (analytical, witty) - with voices pre-configured. Let's generate your first episode."

Then proceed to generate the episode. Do NOT set up RSS or GitHub Pages during first-time setup. That's optional and comes later.

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Generating an episode

Step 1: Read the content

Read all the content the user provided. If they pointed to files, read them with the Read tool. If they pasted a URL, fetch it. Combine everything into your understanding of the source material.

Step 2: Write the podcast script

Read the prompt file at `SKILL_DIR/PROMPT.md` for the hosts, style, structure, and output format. Follow those instructions to write the script.

If the user included custom instructions in their `/podcast` message (e.g., "make it a debate" or "hosts should eavesdrop on my conversation"), incorporate those. The user's inline instructions override PROMPT.md for that episode.

Save the script as a JSON array using the Write tool to: `DATA_DIR/scripts_output/YYYY-MM-DD.json` (use today's date). If a file for today already exists, append a number (e.g., `2026-04-05-2.json`).

Step 3: Generate audio

Tell the user: "Script written. Now generating audio - this takes about a minute depending on episode length."

Run the speak script:

DATA_DIR/venv/bin/python SKILL_DIR/scripts/speak.py --script <path_to_script.json>

This outputs the path to the generated MP3 file.

Step 4: Play the audio

IMMEDIATELY open the audio file for the user:

open <path_to_mp3>

On Linux use `xdg-open` instead of `open`.

Step 5: Post-generation tips

After the audio plays, tell the user:

> "Your episode is ready! A few things you can do from here: > > **Try different show formats.** The default is two hosts chatting, but you can do anything. Just describe it when you run `/podcast`: > > - "/podcast make it a debate about this article" > - "/podcast hosts should eavesdrop on my conversation and share their impressions of me" > - "/podcast interview format, one host asks questions and the other is the expert" > - "/podcast solo narrator, walk me through this research paper" > - "/podcast news roundup, read each tweet aloud then discuss" > > Or edit `PROMPT.md` to permanently change your show's format. > > **Pick your own voices.** The default voices are solid, but Fish Audio has 2 million+ to choose from. Browse https://fish.audio/discovery, find two you like, and update the voice IDs in `DATA_DIR/config.yaml`. > > **Listen in your podcast app.** Want new episodes delivered to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or Snipd automatically? Just ask me to set up an RSS feed for you - takes about a minute."

Only show these tips the FIRST time, or if the user asks about customization.

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RSS feed setup (only when user asks)

When the user wants to set up an RSS feed, explain why it's us