Topic: Leo Laporte

Marty, a former joke writer and collaborator, recounts working with Dvorak on early CNET pilots alongside Leo Laporte. He describes Dvorak as a polymath who could converse expertly on topics ranging from Oswald Spengler and modern art to the direction of the music industry. The segment touches on Dvorak's "avuncular" but grumpy personality and his history of leaking Microsoft development secrets to the press.

Curry and Horowitz trace the origins of their respective shows back to 2007 and 2008. Horowitz recalls starting "DH Unplugged" after a series of long, private phone calls with Dvorak during the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. Similarly, Curry and Dvorak began "No Agenda" by recording their casual Skype conversations while Curry was living in London and Dvorak was in San Francisco.

Jeremy recalls first seeing Dvorak on MSNBC's "The Sight" and later on ZDTV. He fondly remembers Dvorak "terrorizing" Leo Laporte on TWiT and Adam Curry on No Agenda. He dedicates his donation to the memory of his late brother, Sir Zachary.

John C. Dvorak discusses his post-surgery recovery and the lack of communication from former peers like Leo Laporte. He notes that his health situation was featured in "Pod News," marking a rare moment of industry publicity. Plans for an upcoming meetup are discussed, though Dvorak remains uncertain about his ability to attend so soon after his double bypass.

Following a teleprompter glitch during a Kamala Harris town hall, the hosts recount their own professional experiences with prompter failures on TechTV and MTV. They discuss the skill required to write for prompters and the difficulty of transitioning to paper scripts during live broadcasts.

The history of Rush Limbaugh’s rise in the late 1980s is discussed, noting how the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine allowed for the growth of conservative talk radio. Limbaugh’s success in syndication eventually displaced local talk show hosts like Leo Laporte. The hosts argue that podcasting has since solved the problem of centralized media control.

A donor promotes "Metal Spirits," a new vodka and whiskey brand. The hosts discuss the release of the RODECaster Pro II, criticizing tech manufacturers for sending free units to "dipshit YouTubers" while ignoring established podcasters. The lack of honesty in tech journalism, specifically regarding Apple and Leo Laporte, is critiqued.

The professional background of Becky Worley is reviewed, including her early days as a producer for Leo Laporte on MSNBC and TechTV. Her transition from behind the camera to an on-air role at Good Morning America is highlighted. Comparisons are made to veteran broadcasters like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters.

A historical anecdote reveals that Rush Limbaugh's syndication success led to Leo Laporte being bumped from his radio slot on KNBR. Despite this, Limbaugh later recorded a promo for a computing show hosted by Laporte and one of the podcast hosts, as Limbaugh was a known "Mac head." A personal meeting with Limbaugh at New York's 21 Club is described, noting his surprisingly average height and pleasant demeanor.

A listener criticized the "Security Now" podcast for running advertisements for Manscaped, a male grooming company. The critique highlighted the contrast between traditional ad-supported podcasts and the "Value for Value" model, which avoids awkward product placements. The listener expressed discomfort with host Leo Laporte discussing personal grooming kits during a technical security program.

The hosts conclude the episode with a series of audio mixes featuring Donald Trump, Leo Laporte, and various "evergreen" clips. They remind listeners to support the show via the "Value for Value" model and sign off with their traditional "Adios Mofos."

A listener from San Antonio sent in "Fiesta pins" featuring Beto O'Rourke on a skateboard and a vintage copy of "Twit Magazine." The magazine, a gay lifestyle publication from Texas, is used to prove that the name "Twit" was in use long before Leo Laporte's "This Week in Tech" network. The hosts humorously compare the two entities and discuss the "hunky" imagery in the vintage publication.

An NPR special on the late hacker Adrian Lamo, who turned in Chelsea Manning, featured a clip of tech host Leo Laporte from "The Screen Savers." The program's framing was criticized for treating Laporte as an obscure figure from the past rather than an active leader in the podcasting industry. The segment also touched on Laporte's recent comments regarding the Green New Deal.

The effectiveness of podcast advertising is questioned, specifically the trend of long "live reads" at the beginning of shows like The Joe Rogan Experience. While hosts like Leo Laporte are praised for their sincere delivery, others like Ben Shapiro and the Pod Save America crew are criticized for sounding disinterested in the products they promote. Data suggests a 15% listener drop-off during donation or ad segments.

John C. Dvorak reflects on his recent appearance on the TWiT network with Leo Laporte, noting his goals were to increase social media followers and promote the No Agenda Show. Critique is offered regarding the harsh downlighting at the TWiT studios which affects on-camera appearance. A recommendation is made for podcasters to avoid referring to their audience as "normal people" who cannot understand technical concepts.

Listeners inquire about the historical reasons for the hosts' departure from the TWiT network, with the explanation being a simple decision by Leo Laporte to end the professional relationship. Long-time fans also request the return of classic show references, such as Stargate and Codex Alimentarius. The segment reflects on the evolution of the show over its first decade and its roots in early tech podcasting.

On March 23, Petaluma Police responded to a bomb threat at the "TWiT Brick House," the studio for Leo Laporte's technology podcast network. A caller claimed to have placed eight pipe bombs in the building because he was upset with the company and his life. While the building was not formally ordered to evacuate, most employees left while police conducted a visual inspection.

The hosts recount how Tech TV and ZDNet failed to consult their own experts, like Leo Laporte and Chris Pirillo, when setting up corporate blogs. They use this as an example of how large organizations often ignore the talent they hire. They also briefly defend their own use of Squarespace for the show's website.

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.

John C. Dvorak (K6LNG) claims he is responsible for the creation of the "Ham Nation" podcast, asserting that his own entry into ham radio incited Leo Laporte to do the same. Adam Curry criticizes "Ham Nation" as a boring show sponsored by ICOM that focuses on "old white dudes." The hosts exchange "73s" and discuss the terminology of "lids" (poor radio operators).