As a father, I’ve been "cornered" more times than I can count. The setting is always the same: a dimly lit bedroom, a small voice asking for "just one more story," and the pressure to deliver something magical before sleep finally wins.

Some of those stories I invented on the spot—heroic squirrels, talking refrigerators, and lost socks finding their way home. Others were borrowed treasures from my own dad, stories he used to tell me years ago. Looking back, those bedtime tales aren't just memories; they are the memories. My daughters still recount some of them in vivid detail, remembering plot points I had long forgotten.

Over the long weekend, as I was thinking about those moments, a thought crossed my mind: What if we could automate the process of making stories? Not to replace the heart behind them, but to give parents (and anyone with a creative spark) a new way to bring ideas to life instantly.

So, I built Petrol.

Petrol is a story generation platform that lets you create audio stories from just a simple storyline—about 100 characters, or roughly 20 words. You type the idea, and the AI handles the rest: the text, the cover art, and the audio narration. Right now, it works in Hindi and English, bridging the languages that feel closest to home.

I’d love for you to try it out. You can browse the library of stories here:

👉 https://petrol.phnk.in/library

I have a few favorites in the collection already. One that hits close to home is about a stuffed toy that gets left behind at Grandma’s house and has to hitch a ride to get back to the little girl who owns it. Let’s just say... it may or may not be based on real events. You can listen to it here: https://petrol.phnk.in/library/94

And then there’s the story of a determined dog who must find a way back to Chicago to attend the Annual Polka-Dot Sock Convention. Yes, it’s exactly as wonderful as it sounds: https://petrol.phnk.in/library/96

If you give it a spin, please do let me know what you think. Whether you’re a parent looking for a new tale, or just someone who loves hearing a good story, I hope Petrol brings a little bit of that bedtime magic to your day.

Have a storyline in mind? Head over to the library and see what Petrol can create from your words.

The Night I Built a Storyteller (With a Little Help from AI)