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Build a Fully Automated Podcast Bot in 20 Minutes
Imagine publishing a new podcast episode every single day — without writing a word, recording your voice, or editing audio manually. With n8n and ElevenLabs, that's not a dream. It's a 20-minute workflow you can build right now.
In this guide, you'll see exactly how to connect these two powerful tools to create a podcast automation pipeline that goes from topic idea to finished audio — entirely on autopilot.
What You'll Need
- n8n — the open-source workflow automation platform (self-hosted or cloud)
- ElevenLabs — AI voice synthesis with ultra-realistic voices
- An OpenAI API key (for GPT-based script generation)
- A storage destination (Google Drive, Dropbox, or an S3 bucket)
How the Workflow Works
The n8n workflow follows a simple four-step logic:
- Trigger — A scheduled trigger fires daily (or weekly, your choice)
- Script Generation — An OpenAI node writes a full podcast script based on your topic niche
- Voice Synthesis — The script is sent to elevenlabs via API, returning an MP3 audio file
- Storage & Distribution — The audio file is saved and optionally pushed to your podcast host or RSS feed
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Create a Schedule Trigger in n8n
Open your n8n dashboard and create a new workflow. Add a Schedule Trigger node. Set it to fire at your preferred interval — daily at 8:00 AM is a solid default. This is the heartbeat of your podcast bot.
Step 2: Generate the Script with OpenAI
Add an HTTP Request node or use the native OpenAI node inside n8n. Configure a prompt like:
- "Write a 5-minute podcast script about [TOPIC]. Use a conversational tone. Include an intro, three key points, and an outro."
You can make the topic dynamic by pulling it from a Google Sheet, Notion database, or even an RSS feed of trending headlines. The n8n workflow handles all of this natively with dedicated nodes.
Step 3: Send the Script to ElevenLabs
Add another HTTP Request node and point it to the elevenlabs Text-to-Speech API endpoint:
- URL:
https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/text-to-speech/{voice_id} - Method: POST
- Headers: Include your elevenlabs API key as
xi-api-key - Body: Pass the generated script text as
text, setmodel_idtoeleven_multilingual_v2
The response will return binary audio data — your podcast episode as an MP3. elevenlabs offers dozens of premium voices, so pick one that matches your show's personality.
Step 4: Save and Distribute the Audio
In n8n, add a Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS S3 node to save the binary MP3 file. Name it dynamically using a timestamp or episode number expression like {{ $now.toFormat('yyyy-MM-dd') }}_episode.mp3.
Want to go further? Add a Webhook or RSS node to notify your podcast hosting platform (like Buzzsprout or Podbean) automatically.
Pro Tips to Level Up Your Bot
- Dynamic topics: Pull weekly topics from a Notion database so every episode feels curated
- Voice cloning: Use elevenlabs' voice cloning feature to create a custom AI host that sounds like you
- Multi-language: Add a translation node in n8n to produce episodes in Spanish, French, or German automatically
- Metadata automation: Generate episode titles, descriptions, and show notes using the same OpenAI call — just extend the prompt
Why This Workflow Is a Game-Changer
The combination of n8n and elevenlabs removes every manual step in podcast production. You're not just saving time — you're building a content machine that scales without burning out.
For content creators, marketers, and indie podcasters, this means you can run multiple shows simultaneously, test different niches, and build audience without studio costs.
Get Started Today
Set up your n8n account, grab your elevenlabs API key, and follow the steps above. The entire workflow takes about 20 minutes to configure — and then it runs itself, every single day.
Your AI podcast studio is one workflow away.
This post was created with tools we use and recommend: n8n for workflow automation, Turbotic as an AI-native automation alternative, ElevenLabs for AI voiceover, Placid for visual content creation, and Hostinger for reliable VPS hosting. Some links are affiliate links.