The story sounds like science fiction, yet it is entirely real. Told in the latest episode of the podcast Hyperfixed and summarised by the trade newsletter Podnews on 26 October 2026, it concerns Sanderson Jones, a creator who had eventually put his podcast on hold. His show, however, never stopped: someone kept publishing it in his place, using his own voice recreated with artificial intelligence.
A dormant podcast, then hijacked
The starting point is ordinary. Sanderson Jones made a podcast that his listeners enjoyed but that did not really earn him any money, so he stopped making it. That is when things went wrong. A third party took control of his account, moved the show to another host and then cloned his voice to produce new episodes. The result: a programme published under his name, in a voice identical to his, but saying things he would never say.
According to Podnews, the impostor had moved the podcast to RSS.com, where it earned $1,293. Once the Hyperfixed team got involved, RSS.com paid that money directly to Sanderson Jones, on the basis that the show was his, and helped him transfer the podcast back.
What the case reveals
This episode highlights two weaknesses that affect every audio producer. The first is familiar: a poorly protected account with a host or a directory can be enough to lose control of an RSS feed, along with its audience and subscribers. The second is newer: voice cloning tools now make it credible to fabricate content in someone's name, using the hours of archive material that person has published themselves.
An abandoned podcast or show is an ideal target. Nobody is watching the statistics, notifications go unnoticed, and loyal listeners have no reason to doubt a new episode.
What it means for web radio
Web radios are directly concerned. Their presenters broadcast hours of voice every week, and many also offer their shows on demand or as podcasts. A few habits are essential:
- Secure your access: unique passwords and two-factor authentication on your podcast host, your streaming server and your platform accounts.
- Don't leave feeds abandoned: a podcast that has ended should be clearly archived, or its access reviewed, rather than forgotten.
- Monitor your content: regularly check that the episodes listed in directories are really yours and that the feed still points to the right host.
- Inform your audience: list the station's official channels on your website so listeners can spot a copy.
A question of trust
Beyond the financial damage, relatively modest here, what is at stake is the credibility of a voice. For a radio station, the on-air voice is an asset built up over years. The Sanderson Jones case ended well thanks to the host's response, but it shows that protecting that asset now depends as much on cybersecurity as on editorial quality.
Source : Podnews