23 chapters across the catalog
The hosts review several listener-submitted clips for the "ShowMix" and discuss the "gnarly" quality of some submissions. John C. Dvorak explains that the "Tip of the Day" from Mimi was delayed due to his medical treatments but promises its return in the next episode.
Mimi brings nine audio clips (ISOs) for the production segment, though Adam finds many of them too long for standard use. They play clips featuring Asmongold and Tucker Carlson, debating which ones are suitable for future show production. The segment highlights the collaborative effort in selecting the "sound" of the podcast.
A brief internal discussion regarding the naming conventions and spelling errors in the podcast's audio clip list. One host notes that several clips are untitled or misspelled, such as "VLIMET" for climate and "ICEKAND" for Iceland.
The hosts address listener feedback regarding the show's production and the hosts' perceived political shifts. One host emphasizes the unrewarded effort put into the technical engineering and clip management of the show. They also mention a 10-hour Lex Fridman interview with Dave Smith and Scott Horton, which they decline to watch, maintaining their focus on their own media deconstruction.
The hosts engage in an "ISO off," comparing two short audio clips to determine which is better for future production use. They settle on a "Sunday Funday" clip, noting its relevance to the current broadcast day.
End of Show Mixes, Fall Back Theme, Time Change
The hosts select the "Fall Back" audio clip as the theme for the end-of-show mix, reflecting the recent daylight saving time change. They credit the various producers who contribute audio mixes to the program.
The hosts compete to select the best "ISO" (isolated soundbite) to end the show. Options include "You're completely wrong," "Who cares about Twitter followers," and "Sort of leaves you physically sick," with the latter being chosen as the favorite.
A look into the daily labor required to produce the show reveals that the hosts work seven days a week, filtering hundreds of emails and evaluating news clips from global sources like DW and TRT. They credit "clip collectors" like Dave Ackerman and Neil Jones for their assistance. The hosts argue that the podcasting model fails when companies like Spotify try to treat it like traditional radio with large staffs.
ISO Soundbite Competition and "This is Like Crack"
The hosts engage in a playful competition to select new "ISOs" (isolated soundbites) for the show's production. They test various clips, including "This is like crack" and "Thank you for having me," ultimately debating which audio snippets have the most comedic or utility value for future episodes.
The hosts engage in their traditional end-of-show process of selecting a short audio clip (ISO) to close the episode. After reviewing several options, they settle on a clip of Joe Biden saying, "Gotta go get some mac and cheese," which is then layered with other sound effects for the final out-cue.
The hosts search for a new "ISO" (isolated audio clip) to use in the show's production. They debate between a clip of someone saying "ridonculous"—attributed to Rachel Maddow—and a clip about "wreaking havoc on the industry." They ultimately settle on "ridonculous" despite finding it "shitty" and "worthless," noting that show production quality is often cyclical.
ISO Jingle Selection, Smorgasbord and Happy Days
The hosts selected new "In Search Of" (ISO) jingles for the show's soundboard. The chosen clips include a "Smorgasbord" line featuring Yogi Bear and a "Happy Days" musical sting. These audio elements are used to punctuate segments and respond to listener contributions during the live broadcast.
A listener named Neil Jones, now dubbed the "Official No Agenda Clip Custodian," has significantly aided show production by providing edited news clips. Jones, who operates from a high-tech home setup in Mississippi, has been homeschooling his children while monitoring multiple news feeds. His contributions save the hosts significant preparation time each week.
The hosts clarify that the show is not their "exit strategy" and they enjoy the production process. A technical question is answered regarding the term "ISO," explaining it stands for "isolated" and refers to a separate camera feed or an isolated audio clip.
The hosts debate the selection of the "End of Show ISO" (In Search Of) audio clip, considering options like Joe Biden's "shoot him in the leg" and a "fire" exclamation from a millennial podcast. They eventually settle on a combination of the two clips. The segment provides a behind-the-scenes look at the show's informal production style and decision-making process.
Podcast Production Schedule and New Knighting
The hosts detail their rigorous weekly production schedule, which involves 12-hour days of clip harvesting and assembly. The segment concludes with the official knighting of Dame Carolyn of Hogtown and Sir Vick Knight for their significant financial support of the show.
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak introduce a special "Best Of" edition of the show, noting it is likely the final compilation produced by long-time contributor Ramsey Cain. Cain has moved on to a new job, ending a run of approximately six to ten produced clip shows. The hosts discuss the rarity of taking time off, noting they only do so a few times a year, and invite listeners to provide feedback on the "Best Of" format.
A brief technical error occurs during the podcast where a clip is played incorrectly or cut off prematurely. The hosts acknowledge the "epic fail" in the transition between topics.
Podcast Production Workflow and Listener Clip Submissions
The hosts describe their technical process for gathering and editing news clips, involving DVR recordings and digital transfers the morning of the show. They request that producers and listeners avoid sending the same "gem" clips to both hosts simultaneously to maintain the element of surprise during the broadcast. This coordination is intended to streamline the deconstruction process for the Sunday and Thursday episodes.
Morning Production, File Naming and Memory Retention
To ensure memory retention, Dvorak produces his final clips on the morning of the show, as filenames are often too short to contain full descriptions. He organizes these into folders to keep track of the "nut" of each segment. Curry follows a similar process, organizing both his and Dvorak's clips into folders just before the broadcast begins to ensure a smooth, real-time flow.
