8 chapters across the catalog
A retrospective on the early days of CNET Central in the 1990s details the high-budget startup environment in San Francisco before the dot-com bubble. The discussion transitions to the current state of independent media, emphasizing that RSS-based podcasting remains one of the last platforms free from corporate "slop" and algorithmic control. The Podcasting 2.0 initiative is highlighted as the necessary path forward to preserve digital sovereignty.
The hosts recount how they first met during the early days of CNET in 1992-1993. The story involves the development of "interactive television" and a pilot for a show that eventually became *Silicon Spin*. They clarify that their actual friendship solidified later through Skype and appearances on *Cranky Geeks*.
The hosts recount their first meeting in 1993 during the filming of pilots for CNET. Curry recalls registering CNET.com and being paid $200,000 for the pilot, while Dvorak remembers the involvement of Hollywood producer Kevin Wendell. They discuss the early competition for hosting roles, noting that Leo Laporte was originally considered for the "McLaughlin Group" style roundtable.
Halsey Minor, CNET Founder and San Francisco Mansion Squatter
Jeremiah Kahler is arrested for squatting in a vacant San Francisco mansion owned by CNET founder Halsey Minor and attempting to sell $300,000 worth of stolen art on Facebook. The property at 800 Washington Street had been vacant for years following Minor's financial difficulties. Kahler allegedly produced fake documentation to claim ownership of the home before being caught by the San Francisco Police Department.
CNET Pilots 1993, First Meeting of Curry and Dvorak
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak recall their first meeting in 1993 during the filming of television pilots for CNET. Curry mentions registering the cnet.com domain for Halsey Minor and declining a stock-heavy job offer to stay at MTV. They describe their eventual reconnection in 2007 via email and a lunch meeting that led to the creation of the No Agenda brand.
Brock Pierce and the Bitcoin Foundation Controversy
The Bitcoin Foundation is facing internal turmoil after former child star Brock Pierce was named executive director, leading to ten members resigning in protest. The hosts discuss Pierce's controversial past and speculate that his appointment might be part of a government effort to infiltrate or "sink" the Bitcoin community. They also mention Glenn Beck's interest in Bitcoin and Halsey Minor's plan to open an exchange.
Adam Curry recounts finding old VHS tapes of the CNET pilot from 1993. He describes his early interactions with CNET founder Halsey Minor, including registering the CNET.com domain and hosting their email before the company became a major tech media network.
Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak describe their first meeting in 1993 during the filming of CNET television pilots. They recall working with Halsey Minor and Kevin Wendell on a McLaughlin Group-style roundtable format that never launched. Curry reveals he declined a full-time offer from CNET that included two million shares of stock, choosing to stay at MTV instead.
