Somewhere in my latest podcast episode… you’re not actually listening to me. At least, not the real me. Can you guess which parts are my actual voice and which are completely AI-generated?
That’s right. I cloned my voice. For real.
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on a little experiment I ran using an AI voice tool called ElevenLabs. This tech promised to replicate my voice, tone, and cadence—without me recording a single word.
And as someone who’s always chasing quiet moments between daycare drop-offs and dinner prep, you bet I was intrigued.
This blog post is the story behind the episode—how I did it, what I learned, what worked, what was… creepy, and how tools like this might just change the game for creators like us. Spoiler: I’m still a little freaked out (in a good way).
The Moment I Found ElevenLabs
If you’ve ever recorded a podcast, a course, or even a social audio snippet, you know the effort it takes. Mic setup. Perfect silence. Retakes. Editing.
So when I stumbled across a tool that claimed I could clone my voice and just… type out what I want to say and let AI speak for me—I had to try it.
ElevenLabs is one of the leading platforms in the AI voice cloning space. And it’s shockingly good. Like “my husband couldn’t tell the difference” good.
What Is Voice Cloning, Exactly?
Think of it like text-to-speech… but leveled up. Instead of sounding robotic and generic (hello, GPS lady), AI voice cloning creates a synthetic version of your voice.
It captures not just the sound, but the rhythm, tone, inflections—even the pauses you take when you’re thinking or the excitement in your voice when you’re telling a story.
The result? A digital version of you that can narrate scripts, blog posts, course content, podcast intros—you name it.
Why Would Anyone Clone Their Voice?
Let me paint the picture:
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- You need to re-record a course module, but your toddler has the flu and the house is chaos.
- You’ve written a killer blog post, but recording a voiceover feels like a mountain.
- You’re making a YouTube video, but dread hearing your own voice on playback.
That’s where AI voice cloning shifts from “cool” to “actually useful.
It’s not just about convenience—it’s about sustainability. It’s a way for busy creators (hi, that’s me) to show up consistently, even when life is messy.
How I Cloned My Voice in a Few Steps
It was much simpler than I expected:
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- Gather Audio: I uploaded about 1 hour and 20 minutes of clean podcast recordings (no background noise, no music).
- Upload to ElevenLabs: Their platform is super beginner-friendly—drag, drop, done.
- Train the Model: Their system processed my voice and generated a “clone” voice model.
- Start Generating Audio: I typed in a test script, hit generate… and out came “me.”
That’s it. No fancy software. No audio engineering. Just a clear mic and a few minutes of setup.
The weirdest part? When I heard my own voice read something I’d never actually said aloud. It was eerie… but also amazing.
Timestamps: When It’s Me vs. My AI Voice
As promised, here are the timestamps from the episode where I used an AI-generated version of my voice—and where it’s actually me talking. I wanted to test how seamless (or not) the shift is, and now you can judge for yourself.
AI voice used at:
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00:08.9 – 00:30.1
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00:46.8 – 00:49.7
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06:57.4 – 07:26.6
- 19:38.3 – 20:01.0
What did you think? Could you tell the difference? Did the AI version sound convincing—or kinda off?
I’d love to hear what you noticed. Drop a comment below or message me on my Instagram at @heyjuliabehrens and let’s geek out over the possibilities (and weirdness) of AI voice cloning.
What Worked, What Didn’t
The Good:
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- Fast & Efficient: Need to update a line in your course or repurpose a blog post into audio? Done in minutes.
- Human-Like Tone: It actually sounds like me on a good mic day—complete with casual inflections.
- Customizable: You can tweak the tone, pacing, and emotional expression.
- Scalable: More content, less burnout. That’s the dream, right?
The Not-So-Good:
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- Occasional Robotic Glitches: Every once in a while, there’s an unnatural pause or inflection.
- Voice Model Limitations: If your training audio isn’t clean, it shows.
- Emotional Range: It gets close, but it’s not fully you—especially in emotionally nuanced moments.
Where I See the Magic (and the Limits)
Voice cloning is never going to replace my real voice for everything. There’s something irreplaceable about human emotion, spontaneous laughs, and those “unscripted” podcast moments.
But it’s a powerful tool in the creative toolkit:
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- For batch-creating intros and outros
- For turning written content into audio without extra recording time
- For experimenting with new formats and languages
- For staying visible, even when your calendar is packed
Especially for solopreneurs, parents, neurodivergent creators, and anyone with limited bandwidth—this kind of tech makes space for rest without disappearing from your audience’s feed.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Before you try it, here’s my advice if you’re curious:
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- Use clean, high-quality audio to train your voice.
- Choose scripts that match your natural tone.
- Start small (a podcast intro, a blog narration).
- Test, tweak, and get feedback from people who know your voice well.
And don’t be afraid to laugh at the first few outputs. It’s weird. And cool. And weird.
If you’re feeling the pressure of always showing up, check out ContentCreationConversation.com. It’s the system I wish I had when I started—designed to help creators blend authenticity with automation (without burning out). AI tools are just one part of the puzzle. Let’s build a system that supports your actual life.
If you’re exploring ways to use AI for content creation and still have questions, you’re not alone. If you’re wondering whether it’s actually safe to use AI tools for your personal brand or business, check out my blog post on AI Privacy. And if you’re ready to actually make ChatGPT sound like you, don’t miss my step-by-step guide to training AI to write in your voice—it’s perfect for creatives who want to save time without sounding like a robot.
Would you clone your voice? What would you use it for? Let me know in the comments or send me a message—I’d love to hear your thoughts to keep our CONVERSaiTION going!
