We're talking about the fact that you're not actually here: Virtually Parkinson, Podcasting, AI, and the audio interview

Berry, Richard (2026) We're talking about the fact that you're not actually here: Virtually Parkinson, Podcasting, AI, and the audio interview. Radio Journal: International Studies in Broadcast & Audio Media. ISSN 14764504 (In Press)

Item Type:	Article

Abstract

This article examines the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) hosts in podcasting through a case study of Virtually Parkinson, a 2025 podcast series that deploys a cloned voice of the late broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson. The series is presented as an iterative experiment in which ‘AI Parky’ conducted real-time interview with contemporary celebrities and in doing so presents key questions about the role of AI in audio media.

Drawing on textual analysis of episode transcripts and production debriefs; the study interrogates how AI-mediated interviewing reshapes the dynamics of the podcast interview. The article suggests that although ‘AI Parky’ can emulate elements of conversational style it struggles to reproduce key aspects of human interaction, such as turn-taking, humour, and natural empathy.

By comparing the series to contemporary conversational podcasting practices, the study highlights the continued centrality of the human to the podcast form. Ultimately, it contends that while AI can augment and extend podcast production, it cannot yet wholly replicate the experience.

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