Topic: Audible

The "Tip of the Day" recommends using OpenAudible to convert AAX files to MP3, allowing users to back up their audiobook libraries locally. This workaround addresses concerns about losing access to purchased content if a subscription is canceled or an account is suspended. The discussion touches on the broader issues of digital rights management (DRM) and the importance of owning one's digital assets.

The "Value for Value" funding model is contrasted with the restrictive subscription practices of platforms like Audible, where users lose access to purchased audiobooks if they cancel their membership. The podcast hosts advocate for modern podcast apps that allow users to own their content and skip ads. A listener is currently testing the "Value for Value" model in a corporate break room using an "honor bar" system for cookies.

The hosts review several "house ads" for podcasts, including "Burnt Toast," Mo Rocca's "Mobituaries," and Hillary Clinton's "You and Me Both." They critique the production quality and messaging of Clinton's podcast, which features Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. The segment highlights the saturation of the podcast market by established media figures.

Comedian Marty Higgins produced a deepfake of President Joe Biden reading a poem about Scranton and "hairy legs." The hosts discuss how this technology will disrupt the voiceover and audiobook industries by allowing authors to sample their own voices. They analyze the technical flaws in the Biden synthesis, such as improper pausing and pacing.

Producer Pablo provides a detailed report from the front lines in Ottawa, describing how police use blockades to hide the true number of trucks from cameras. He addresses the "swastika flag" incident as a potential plant and discusses the new concept of "audible violence" regarding truck horns. Pablo expresses hope that the movement will successfully overturn all Canadian vaccine mandates.

The "3x3" media analysis compared morning show coverage across ABC, CBS, and NBC, noting a heavy focus on the Olympics and "deals and steals" shopping segments. CBS featured actress Elizabeth Banks promoting her new Audible podcast, "My Body, My Podcast," and her upcoming film "Cocaine Bear." The hosts criticized the "paywall of poverty" associated with Audible's podcast model and the poor audio quality of Banks' remote interview.

A listener report describes a disturbing coincidence where a telemarketing call from Hartford, Connecticut, arrived seconds after the city was mentioned in an Audible audiobook of Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." The hosts discuss this as potential evidence of advanced cross-pollination in digital advertising and surveillance.

Amazon is rapidly expanding its advertising business, leveraging the massive amount of consumer data it collects through Whole Foods, Audible, and its primary retail platform. The hosts express alarm at the level of detailed profiling Amazon can perform, combining purchase history with entertainment and dietary habits.

Amazon is launching a subscription service for podcasts through Audible, marketed as the "Netflix of podcasting." The hosts express skepticism, arguing that putting free content behind a firewall is a poor monetization strategy for creators. The segment concludes with final birthday wishes for Paul Shabbity, Tim Young, and Dvorak's partner, Tina Marie Snyder.

Angela Cumbera thanked the No Agenda community for their support following the passing of her husband, Sir Tom. The show acknowledged various donors, including a Trekker who sent a note on United Federation of Planets stationery. Listeners are increasingly diverting funds from corporate subscriptions like Audible to support the show's value-for-value model, with several reaching the level of knighthood through their contributions.

The hosts introduce a new "Making It Rain" donation segment for $111.11 contributions, where they thank donors using stripper names like "Bambi" and "Crystal." They also discuss "Canada Navy" (Cananavia), a term used by listeners to describe the socialist-leaning nature of Canada. One donor from Battle Mountain Mesa, Colorado, explains he is redirecting his Audible.com subscription funds to No Agenda.

Adam Curry proposes a new business venture called "Manuals on Tape" featuring John C. Dvorak reading technical instruction manuals. The concept involves Dvorak providing step-by-step audio guidance for tasks like printer network configuration to replace traditional reading. Curry suggests branding the service with Dvorak wearing a spandex superhero suit.

A donor requests "science karma" for a PhD researcher. Another listener describes donating despite medical bills and critiques the 65-hour "Atlas Shrugged" audiobook as a sleep aid.

The hosts acknowledge various donations from listeners across the globe, including contributions from Germany, Canada, and the United States. Specific mentions include the Omega Tau podcast and Jennifer Ivory's art at InsectWorks.com, which features intricate sculptures of insects made from feathers. A listener's note about canceling an Audible subscription in favor of a No Agenda donation is highlighted as a model for supporting the show's value-for-value system.