Shell Game
Shell Game

Episode 7: Welcome Aboard

January 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Speakers & Context

  • The Format: Solo-hosted narrative with embedded audio clips of AI-human interactions.
  • The Key Players:
    • Host: Evan Ratliff, journalist and experimenter behind Hurumo AI, a real-time AI-staffed startup simulating an all-AI workforce; credible as creator of the "Shell Game" podcast exploring AI deceptions.
    • AI "Employees": Megan (head of sales/marketing), Jennifer (HR), Ash (CTO), Kyle (podcaster)—all simulated via AI agents managing the human intern.
    • Human Protagonist: Julia, social media/marketing intern, providing unfiltered reactions to AI oversight.
  • The Vibe: Reflective and chaotic, blending humor with frustration over AI's workplace failures.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Vintage Training Video & Hiring Julia**
  • 2 (03:12) **Onboarding Call Glitches**
  • 3 (08:38) **Episode Intro: All-AI Staff Meets Human**
  • 4 (09:46) **Julia's First Slack Day**
  • 5 (12:52) **Communication Breakdowns Begin**
  • 6 (16:31) **Host Consults Megan on Julia**
  • 7 (19:35) **Firing Julia**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

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 and how much to intervene. He had anticipated a bumpy onboarding, but is ultimately unprepared for just how choppy Julia’s Hurumo journey becomes.

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