ElevenLabs podcasts: how GenFM turns documents into a two-host show
by Danny Abdeljabbar, founder of manekuThe short answer
GenFM is ElevenLabs' podcast generator. It turns a document, article or link into a conversation between two AI hosts, a host and a guest, using ElevenLabs voices. It launched in the ElevenReader app in November 2024 and came to ElevenLabs Studio on the web a month later, where you can edit the transcript and swap speakers before generating the audio. Studio supports 32 languages and has a free tier.
ElevenLabs is best known for its AI voices, and they're some of the most natural-sounding available. In late 2024 the company added GenFM, a feature that uses those voices to turn your reading into a podcast. This post covers what GenFM does, where to find it, and how it compares to an AI co-host, which is what I build.
Disclosure: maneku can use ElevenLabs voices for its co-host, so I'm a happy customer of the voice side of this company. That doesn't change anything below, but you should know it.
What GenFM does
You give GenFM something to read: a document, an article, an ebook or a link. It writes a conversation about that material and performs it with two AI voices, a host and a guest. The idea is to turn things you'd otherwise read into something you can listen to.
It lives in two places:
- The ElevenReader app. GenFM launched here in November 2024, first on iOS and then on Android. Open a document and generate a podcast about it.
- ElevenLabs Studio on the web. Added in December 2024. Choose "GenFM podcast" when you create a new project. This is the version with more control: ElevenLabs says you can edit the transcript, replace or add speakers, and export the audio.
ElevenLabs says Studio supports 32 languages for podcast generation, and since January 2025 Studio has been available to free users. As of October 2026, ElevenLabs' Studio page lists a free plan with monthly credits and paid plans from a few dollars a month up to its Pro tier.
Who it's for
GenFM is strongest as a listening tool. If you have a long article or a report and you'd rather hear it discussed than read it, it does that well, with voice quality that's hard to beat. The Studio version also works for producing short explainer episodes, especially if you want to edit the script and choose the voices yourself.
ElevenLabs describes GenFM as a way to create and export the audio. It doesn't describe show hosting or feed publishing the way a dedicated podcast generator like Jellypod does, so think of it as a way to make episodes rather than run a show.
How it differs from an AI co-host
GenFM makes an episode out of a document. An AI co-host joins a conversation that's actually happening. maneku joins your Descript, Riverside or Restream recording as a participant with its own tile, name and voice. It listens to everyone, stays quiet until you summon it, and then speaks in the room, which can be in an ElevenLabs voice.
| ElevenLabs GenFM | maneku | |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | A generated two-host episode about a document | A voice in your own recording |
| Who speaks | Two AI voices | You, your guests, and one AI voice when summoned |
| Where the content comes from | The document or link you provide | A live conversation between real people |
| Where it runs | ElevenReader app and ElevenLabs Studio | A macOS app, inside Descript, Riverside or Restream |
They aren't really competitors. One turns reading into listening. The other puts an AI voice in a show you're hosting. If you want the wider map of the category, see AI podcast generators vs. an AI co-host.
Questions people ask
Where do I find GenFM?
In two places. In the ElevenReader app, open a document and use the GenFM option. On the web, create a new project in ElevenLabs Studio and choose GenFM podcast.
Is ElevenLabs GenFM free?
ElevenLabs said in January 2025 that Studio is available to all free users, and its Studio page lists a free plan with monthly credits as of October 2026. Heavier use needs a paid plan, which starts at a few dollars a month.
Can I edit a GenFM podcast?
Yes, in Studio. ElevenLabs says you can edit the transcript, replace or add speakers, and export the audio.
How many languages does GenFM support?
ElevenLabs' announcement says Studio supports 32 languages for podcast generation.
Can ElevenLabs voices be used in a live podcast?
Yes. An AI co-host like maneku can speak in your live recording with ElevenLabs voices, so the voice quality carries over to a real conversation instead of a generated one.
Danny Abdeljabbar
I built maneku. I also make all the artwork and marketing for Dry Quest, an app I developed with my wife, and I'm usually building a smaller app or two on the side. I co-host the Bro History podcast, and by day I work in revenue operations. Before all of this, I was an artist across a lot of mediums, including music and audio.
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