Shell Game podcast | Listen online for free

21 episodes

Episode 3: The Friends We Made Along the Way
2026/11/04 | 42 mins.
It’s the final episode of our three-part miniseries on AI slop, in which we ask: Who are AI-generated podcasts for, and what does the wave of AI slop mean for the future of storytelling? Evan sets out for answers and finds them staring back at him from a piece of toast. And finally, our own fully AI-generated show is set and ready to launch. Will it find its perfect audience?

Show notes:
Evan Finds a Friend
Daniel Munroe's paper, "Artificial Storytellers"
Keegan Walden's upcoming book, "The Founder's Journey"
This episode includes AI-generated content.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Episode 2: Hear What Matters
2026/10/28 | 47 mins.
Evan goes looking for the humans behind the flood of AI-generated podcasts, and gets some complicated answers to his questions about what they think they’re making and what AI slop means to them. Meanwhile, Shell Game’s own bot-hosted shows move to the prototype stage, and we hear the first efforts in our quest to make an AI-generated show that will truly resonate with listeners.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Episode 1: Into the Slop
2026/10/21 | 40 mins.
Evan creates his own AI-generated podcast detector, locates thousands of AI-hosted shows, and sets off on a synthetic audio listening binge. Strange patterns begin to arise amidst the voices, illuminating the essence of AI slop. The Shell Game band gets back together to put Evan's findings to the test, and see whether it’s possible to build an AI-generated podcast that a listener would actually find meaningful.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Season 3 is Coming!
2026/10/14 | 1 mins.
The next season of Shell Game arrives October 21!
Here's a hint, and another new show from Shell Game to check out in the meantime: Evan Finds a Friend.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bonus Episode: Shell Game x No Such Thing
2026/02/25 | 49 mins.
In this bonus episode to close out Season 2, Evan and Maty talk with the hosts of the show No Such Thing, who like to settle their arguments by consulting research and experts. The subject of this argument: Will AI take our jobs? Maty weighs in as the expert, and Evan comes along for the ride.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About Shell Game

A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 3 is a miniseries in three episodes, telling the story of how Evan tried to understand the tsunami of AI-generated content by injecting as much of it as possible straight into his ears. What exactly is AI slop anyway? How do you actually define it? Who is behind it all? And what does it mean for the human storytelling that we care about? We journey deep into the muck, and fight our way back out with answers. Shell Game is a multiple award-winning series that has been named one of the best of the year by Apple, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Vulture, The Information, The Economist. It's "riveting," says The New Yorker, "awesome" says The Verge, "slightly terrifying," says The Globe and Mail, and “a dry, funny plunge down the rabbit hole that pokes at something essential about the hours we spend on this earth,” says Vulture. www.shellgame.coThis show includes AI-generated content.

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