Topic: Google Podcasts

A project is proposed to document the history of podcasting in a short "giblet" format rather than a long book. The goal is to secure the top search result on Google for the term "history of podcasting." The narrative would credit Adam Curry and Bob Doyle for their roles in the medium's creation.

Recent research from Signal Hill Research challenges YouTube's claims of being the dominant podcast platform, indicating that over 60% of listeners still prefer dedicated podcast apps. The hosts critique the industry's push for video content, asserting that the traditional audio format remains the most successful and resilient medium. They emphasize the speed and reliability of modern podcast apps compared to legacy platforms like Apple.

Google's "Notebook LM" AI tool is demonstrated, showing its ability to generate a podcast-style conversation from uploaded documents. The hosts listen to a sample where two AI voices discuss a binary code file in a style mimicking NPR's conversational tone. They critique the AI's excessive use of "uhs" and "ums" and its repetitive, encouraging banter.

YouTube is aggressively financing video-first podcasts to compete with Spotify and traditional audio platforms. Chris Cuomo predicted consolidation in the industry, suggesting YouTube may go on a buying spree of platforms like Rumble. This strategy emphasizes visual learning and high-production values, though critics argue that audio remains the primary way most users consume podcast content.

An experiment using Google's Notebook LM to generate a podcast based on the prompt "What does a monkey taint smell like?" is reviewed to demonstrate the current state of AI editorializing. The hosts also discuss "AI slop"—low-quality AI-generated content flooding the internet—and review AI-generated artwork submitted by producers for the show's cover art.

Google's NotebookLM has introduced a feature that can generate a conversational podcast based on uploaded documents. The hosts play an example of an AI-generated podcast discussing binary code, noting the realistic use of "uhs" and "ums" and the mimicry of the NPR style. The segment explores the potential for AI to automate media production while critiquing its current formulaic nature.

The hosts discuss the "Value for Value" funding model and the importance of using modern podcast apps via PodcastApps.com. They critique the "podcasting executives" at Spotify and Google for closing services and attempting to monetize audiences through AI and video, rather than direct listener support.

The podcasting industry is facing a "winter" as traditional advertisers retreat, reinforcing the importance of the "value for value" funding model. With the closure of Google Podcasts, users are encouraged to export their subscriptions via OPML files to modern, independent podcast apps. These new apps support features that allow listeners to directly support creators without corporate intermediaries.

Google is shutting down its dedicated Podcasts app and migrating users to YouTube Music, a move seen by some as an attempt to further "algoize" and control content delivery. The discussion emphasizes the importance of RSS and blogs as decentralized alternatives to social media platforms where organic reach has plummeted. Data suggests that only about 5% of followers on platforms like Twitter actually see a user's posts.

The hosts discuss the advancement of audio searchability through tools like Bingit.io, which allows users to search transcripts of podcast episodes. They contrast this with the NGO's claim that discovering audio content is a "challenge." The conversation touches on the history of RSS and how it survived Google's attempt to kill the technology by shuttering Google Reader.

Reflecting on the late 90s, the hosts recall how Yahoo dominated search before Google's rise, suggesting it takes a decade to unseat a market leader. They prompt ChatGPT for a description of the "No Agenda" podcast, finding the result surprisingly accurate and comparable to a Wikipedia entry. A brief mention is made of Mycroft, an open-source alternative to Siri and Alexa.

The hosts discuss upcoming schedule changes for Thanksgiving and address technical issues with the No Agenda Roku app and Google Podcasts. They encourage listeners to use modern podcast apps and the "Troll Room" for live interaction.

An investigation into the name "Adam Curry" using Google Ngram Viewer shows unexpected peaks in literature during the 1860s and 1880s. A modern "hockey stick" curve in the name's popularity began in 1983, coinciding with the host's career at MTV, and peaked in 1996. A secondary surge is noted around 2007, corresponding with the rise of the podcasting medium.

Tech journalists Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway are criticized for their patronizing tone regarding individuals who oppose vaccine mandates. Swisher expresses disbelief at people who claim to be "over COVID" during holiday parties.

Mainstream media outlets are pressuring Google and Apple to moderate their podcast platforms, with one headline describing the available content as a "buffet of hate." The discussion notes that the banning of Alex Jones has signaled a new willingness for tech services to censor content they deem "beyond the pale."

Adam Curry advises listeners to use dedicated podcast apps like Overcast rather than platforms like Spotify or Google Play, which track user behavior. He explains that No Agenda does not officially upload to these directories; they simply scrape the show's RSS feed. The hosts emphasize the importance of manual feed subscriptions for privacy and reliability.

Technical difficulties with podcast file propagation are discussed, specifically how Google's caching systems can lead to users receiving incomplete files. If a host deletes and re-uploads an MP3 with the same filename to fix an error, the various content delivery networks may serve a "half-file" to early downloaders. The internet is described as a "nightmare" of ownership by large tech companies.

The hosts propose a marketing strategy where listeners create "Top 10 Podcast" web pages to improve the show's "Google juice." By including No Agenda in subjective lists for activities like driving or hiking, listeners can help the show appear in organic search results. The hosts promise to retweet and compile these lists to create a "meta-list" of recommendations.

A listener reports that the Google Podcast player on Android inserted a video ad about the "e-cigarette epidemic" directly over the *No Agenda* album art during a segment about vaping. The hosts condemn this as "swarmy" and potentially illegal contextual advertising, recommending alternative apps like Overcast.

Google Podcasts' new transcription and 1.5x playback speed features are discussed as tools for information compression. The conversation then shifts to a trend in the Netherlands where people use Apple's AirDrop protocol to send unsolicited explicit images to strangers in public spaces. The hosts warn that many users leave their Bluetooth and location settings "on" by default, exposing them to such "gags."