What if you could talk to your audience and ask what it thinks of your next product? What if you could test your ads or social content with a simulated version of 200 to 1,000 members of your audience in less than 1 minute? In this fascinating conversation, James He, founder of Artificial Societies, reveals how AI-powered audience simulation is transforming the way we experiment with ideas before putting them into the world.

From his journey as a Cambridge social science researcher frustrated by the difficulty of running human experiments, to building a platform that creates "artificial societies" from real social media profiles, James walks us through the technology that's making market research faster, cheaper, and more experimental than ever before.

We explore the mechanics of how chatbots can mimic real human behavior patterns, the surprising 82-83% accuracy rates in predicting content performance (beating the founders themselves at 57-67%), and the philosophical implications of giving everyone the power to experiment without real-world consequences.

What You'll Discover: • How AI chatbots trained on real social media profiles achieve 82% accuracy (beating human experts at 57%) • The exact process from start to finish • Why traditional surveys miss the crucial element of social influence • Real examples of testing 10x more content variants than ever possible • The ethics of modeling people through AI

The Bigger Picture: James's vision goes beyond marketing optimization. Could giving everyone "experimental superpowers" help us find our individual and collective "golden path"? We explore the implications of a world where anyone can test ideas without real-world consequences

Perfect for: Product managers, marketers, social scientists, AI enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of human experimentation

Guest: James He, Founder of Artificial Societies, Cambridge social science researcher, former misinformation researcher

Key Topics: AI simulation, behavioral science, social influence, content optimization, research ethics, democratization of experimentation

Subscribe for more conversations where AI meets human behavior and emerging technologies shape how we understand ourselves.

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Who’s the Audience of Magic? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🪄

From TikTok tarot readings to “manifesting crypto gains”, we explore how audiences are engaging with magic to reassert individual agency, reinterpret identity, and regain some level of control over systems trying to define them. In this episode, Fran has a magical conversation with hosts of the Five and Nine podcast, cultural strategist A.X. Mina and writer, artist and media scholar Dorothy R. Santos PhD. Fran, AX and Dorothy dissect AI-generated audience personas to ask what happens when machine learning tries to map belief. Throughout, they reflect on the rise of mystical frameworks not as escape, but as resistance: a response to overexposure, over-simulation, and a growing desire to feel agency again. Whether it’s tarot as feedback loop, divination as dialogue, or witchcraft as subculture, magic is increasingly where audiences go to find meaning beyond the algorithm.

The Audiences Podcast is the audience discovery show. We talk to guests who build audiences for a living. And as we discuss what it takes to build an audience, we explore new emerging audiences in fashion, tech, media and many other industries. Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: AX Mina & Dorothy Santos

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

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TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Five and Nine Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/fiveandnine_podcast/

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Who’s the Audience of Romance? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🌹🎬

Romance, Romance. Wherefore art thou, Romance? In this episode, Francesco D’Orazio talks with film analyst and industry researcher Stephen Follows to examine how the script has flipped on romantic storytelling in entertainment. From the big-screen romances that dominated the 90s to today's streaming-friendly, binge-worthy love stories, Fran and Stephen delve into why romance as a genre is thriving in books and TV but struggling on the silver screen. Discover how shifts in audience values around gender and sexuality, technological advancements, and changing viewing habits are redefining romantic storytelling. Are romantic movies truly gone with the wind, or are they simply evolving into something new entirely?

The Audiences Podcast is the audience discovery show. We talk to guests who build audiences for a living. And as we discuss what it takes to build an audience, we explore new emerging audiences in fashion, tech, media and many other industries. Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: Stephen Follows

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

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TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s the Audience of Wrestling? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🤼‍♂️

In this episode, Francesco D’Orazio is tagging in Charlie Palmer, Marketing Director at Audience Strategies to pin down the dynamic, interactive, and evolving world of wrestling fandom.

From wrestling's old school TV early days on to today’s global streaming phenomenon, Charlie and Fran explore how wrestling narratives are shaped, at their very core, by audience engagement. Now that digital platforms have transformed fan interactions, it’s taken a new leap forward. Discover why wrestling is becoming the new political theatre, how memes have shaped storylines long before social media, and how WWE has turned audience intelligence into entertainment. Wrestling's unique blend of live spontaneity and scripted drama, places it in media like no other sporting or entertainment phenomenon. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just curious about why wrestling keeps dominating the mainstream, this episode dives deep into the psychology, demographics, and future trends shaping wrestling audiences today.

The Audiences Podcast is the audience discovery show. We talk to guests who build audiences for a living. And as we discuss what it takes to build an audience, we explore new emerging audiences in fashion, tech, media and many other industries. Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: Charlie Palmer

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

X https://x.com/audiencedisco

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s the Audience of the Unhinged? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🤪🌀

In this episode, Francesco D’Orazio speaks with Annie House, Strategy Director at OK COOL, to unravel the phenomenon of unhinged.

From the early days of unhinged marketing on Twitter to the rampant TikTok chaos of today, we explore how unhinged became a political and cultural force. We go into the unhinged hourglass effect and why the internet keeps swinging between hyper-polished and completely feral. Is unhinged is a creative revolution… or just the next thing brands will ruin? If you’ve ever liked a chaotic Duolingo post, accidentally laughed at a Ryanair clapback, or wondered why brands are acting like meme accounts, this ep is for you.

The Audiences Podcast is the audience discovery show. We talk to guests who build audiences for a living. And as we discuss what it takes to build an audience, we explore new emerging audiences in fashion, tech, media and many other industries. Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: Annie House

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

X https://x.com/audiencedisco

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Fran and David Boyle, Director of Audience Strategies as they dive into the impact of AI on market research. David, ever a passionate advocate for AI-first strategies in insights, shares his vision for the future of research, emphasising how AI is transforming workflows, uncovering hidden patterns, and enabling faster, more impactful (and cost-effective) decision-making.

The episode unpacks AI’s role in synthesis, learning, thinking, and writing, exploring its potential to create deeper, more strategic insights while maintaining the human touch. From big reports to rapid answers, the emergence of insight architects, and the return of a certain class of insights manager: creative strategists. Join us as we explore how AI is shaping a more integrated and forward-thinking approach to audience understanding.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: David Boyle

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

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TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s the Audience of Horror? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? 🧟

Horror is experiencing a double boom: we've never produced as many horror movies as today and the horror share of all movies produced is also the highest that's ever been.

What's going on? We talk to film analyst Stephen Follows to understand what's behind the rise of Horror and how the audience behind it is evolving. Stephen recently published the Horror Movie Report 2.0 which examines 27,000 horror films, analyzing factors like production, audience demographics, and the unique aspects of horror films in over 350 charts.

Join as Stephen and Fran explore why horror films defy traditional critic and audience relationship models and delve into horror's cultural significance. They touch on the rising global production of horror films, the genre's diversification, and its increasingly mainstream and society-reflecting audience. They also discuss the societal and technological factors influencing horror film trends and speculate on future developments in the world of horror.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: Stephen Follows

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

The Horror Movie Report: https://stephenfollows.com/p/the-horror-movie-report

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Who’s the Audience of Nuclear? How has it evolved over the past few years? Where is it going next? ☢️

Join us as we speak to Pablos Holman, General Partner at Deep Future - a Nuclear technology advocate who’s been investing in high-tech solutions that reshape the reality and the narrative around nuclear energy. We delve into the evolving public perception of nuclear energy, exploring its history, challenges, opportunities and potential - this episode is a deep dive into the intersection of energy innovation and public opinion. Get into the critical role both play in addressing climate change and global energy needs.

We’re also joined by James Box, Pulsar’s Associate Research Director, who explores the evolving communities surrounding nuclear energy. With audience clusters from progressive activists to MAGA supporters, we explore their motivations and perceptions as well as how key influencers such as Isodope shape public opinion - and what that means for future energy policies.

Subscribe to never miss an episode.

Hosted by: Francesco D’Orazio

Guests: Pablos Holman, James Box

Produced by: Sal Morton

Music: DJ Tennis

Supported by Pulsar

X https://x.com/audiencedisco

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@audiencespodcast

IG https://www.instagram.com/audiencespodcast/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.