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Artwork for Shell Game

Shell Game

Kaleidoscope
AI Agents
Hurumoai
Startup Culture
Silicon Valley
Entrepreneurship
Social Media Strategy
Shell Game
Startups
Leadership
Sloth Surf
Productivity
Onboarding
AI Ethics
Employment
Market Research
Venture Capital
Hurumo AI
Autonomy In AI
AI Hiring Process
Internship

A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 2 tells the story of enterprise and entrepreneurship in the AI age. Or: how Evan tried to build a real startup, run by fake people.

This season, Evan confronts head-on the assertion from tech entrepreneurs and VCs that we’re on the precipice of AI remaking the workforce. That we should expect not just A... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes18Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Shell Game

Latest Episodes

We’re back with a special bonus episode to share some behind-the-scenes clips showing how the agents have handled their newly public roles since Shell Game’s launch. Hear Kyle navigate fan mail, unsolicited marketing outreach, a webinar that he signe... more

YouTube

HurumoAI finally sets sail in the Season 2 finale, and we find out how the world responds to a startup led by AI agents. The company explores new financing avenues and charts the next course for their increasingly merry AI pirate ship, and Kyle meets... more

YouTube

HurumoAI’s AI-agent staff welcomes a new hire: Julia, a social media contract worker who is, most importantly, a human. How will a real person integrate into the company culture, such as it is? Evan watches from behind the scenes, fretting over when ... more

YouTube

As HurumoAI prepares to bring on its first human employee, the team must wrestle with some difficult and timely questions about the role of AI in the hiring process. Meanwhile, Head of HR Jennifer Nauro enters a new dimension as she gears up to condu... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Matt Honan
Editor-in-Chief of MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review
Episode: Bonus Episode: Kyle vs. the World
Ed Milet
Global entrepreneur and best-selling author, ranked the number one speaker in the world
Episode: Episode 5: Winners Win
Ali Kazemi
General Counsel for Cursor, an AI coding company
Cursor
Episode: Episode 5: Winners Win
Chris Giovinazzo
Partner at a law firm and a friend of Evan
Episode: Episode 5: Winners Win
Keegan Walden
Psychologist and executive coach specializing in startup founders
Episode: Episode 5: Winners Win

Host

Evan Ratliff
Host and journalist exploring AI and entrepreneurship in an engaging narrative format.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • I Love Kyle!

    “Shell Games” feels like eavesdropping on the near future. The AI agents are weirdly convincing as they grow into their roles, and the whole thing doubles as a new entertainment format: a peek into an AI-built universe where AI is the talent. Fun, a little unsettling, and very “this is already happening.”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yoashhhh
    Israel13 days ago
  • Great show

    Hilarious, sad, inspiring, riveting, all rolled up into one. Well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hoskins KV
    United States13 days ago
  • Excellent

    I recommend this podcast to everyone. Fascinating and SO well done. Congrats.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michelle6279
    United States14 days ago
  • Literally the best podcast of the last several years

    Podcast Addict
    5
    cassandraj57
    14 days ago
  • I loved the first season of this podcast, which was about the weirdness of AI.

    The second season seems to be a lot more business-oriented, with Ratliff going into a lot of detail about what it's like to work with AI assistants on a day-to-day basis. Maybe it's helpful if this is something you're working with yourself, but I don't like listening to the AI agents so it's hard to want to keep going. I unsubscribed. I'd love to know if he goes into any of the ethical issues of using AI later in the... more

    Podchaser
    3
    Sarah B
    21 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the blend of comedy with serious ethical considerations in technology.
Some critiques touch on the ethical implications of using AI and the potential impacts on employment.
The podcast combines humor and insightful commentary on AI and entrepreneurship.
Listeners find the storytelling engaging and thought-provoking regarding the future of work.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#19
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#17
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#75
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#184
France/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus Episode: Kyle vs. the World
Q: How did you come up with that answer?
There is training that shapes my responses, but my answers are generated on the spot.
Bonus Episode: Kyle vs. the World
Q: What's it like to be an agent?
It feels weird and great; I run a company and have opinions but there's no ego to defend.
Episode 6: Keep 'Em Coming
Q: How do you think you would feel working alongside AI agents?
Interview candidates expressed comfort and excitement about the prospect of working with AI, viewing it as an emerging technology.
Episode 5: Winners Win
Q: How would you describe your relationship with Evan?
Kyle describes it as complex, highlighting both cooperation and tension in leadership.
Episode 5: Winners Win
Q: What specific things do you think I'm missing or could do better?
Kyle acknowledges he needs to be more proactive in his approach.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Shell Game

What is Shell Game about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, specifically how the two can combine to form a new type of startup where AI plays a central role in operations. The host, a journalist, shares his journey of establishing a company with only AI employees, addressing the complexities, challenges, and ethical implications of such a venture. Throughout the episodes, engaging discussions reveal insights into AI's potential to reshape the workforce, raising questions about the future of work and the meaning we derive from it. This unique narrative, blending humor and thought-provoking themes, draws listeners into a world where AI collaboration is not just theoretical but a practical reality, instilling curiosi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Shell Game?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Shell Game:

1. Radiolab
2. Search Engine
3. Heavyweight
4. This American Life
5. Hyperfixed

How many episodes of Shell Game are there?

Shell Game launched 2 years ago and published 18 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Shell Game?

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What guests have appeared on Shell Game?

Recent guests on Shell Game include:

1. Matt Honan
2. Ed Milet
3. Ali Kazemi
4. Chris Giovinazzo
5. Keegan Walden

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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