Topic: Podcast Feed

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak discuss the inherent value of podcast RSS feeds and subscriber lists after a host's death, citing the continued activity on Scott Adams' and Charlie Kirk's feeds. They joke about their own "exit strategy" and remind listeners to support the show via the value-for-value model ahead of Valentine's Day.

The "Value for Value" model encourages listeners to support independent media through direct donations of time, talent, and treasure. Hosts advocate for the use of modern podcast apps that utilize the open Podcast Index rather than centralized platforms like Apple or Spotify, which have been known to censor or skip episodes. These independent apps allow for features like real-time art updates and chapter-specific content.

Spotify is launching a new strategy to compete with YouTube by paying creators for video podcast views and offering ad-free video to subscribers. However, industry experts warn that this move toward centralized video platforms threatens the open RSS feed model of podcasting. By hosting video directly, platforms gain more control over content and advertising, potentially leading to increased de-platforming and loss of creator independence.

Apple has begun automatically generating transcripts for podcasts that do not provide their own, a move that the hosts suggest may have copyright implications. They advocate for the Podcasting 2.0 standard, which allows creators to include their own transcripts in the RSS feed. The discussion highlights the benefits of modern podcast apps, such as faster updates and chapter support, over the default Apple and Spotify platforms.

The hosts process a final round of donations, including a "Damehood" for Lydia Terry Dominelli. A listener's question prompts a "Podfather" judgment on whether a show is a "true podcast" if it lacks an RSS feed; the host rules that the RSS feed is the defining technical requirement. The segment also addresses claims by Tucker Carlson regarding Joe Rogan's role in the history of podcasting.

The hosts address a growing media narrative that "podcasting is dead" and has been replaced by YouTube. They argue this is a coordinated effort to move creators onto centralized platforms like Spotify and Apple, where content can be easily censored via Terms of Service violations. They emphasize the importance of independent RSS feeds and the "Value for Value" model.

The hosts discuss the 24/7 No Agenda live stream at trollroom.io and the benefits of using modern podcast apps over legacy platforms like Spotify. They mention that legacy apps frequently drop episodes or censor content. A call is made for co-host Horace to move his "DH Unplugged" show off Google's Feed Burner service.

The hosts acknowledge the "trolls" in the live studio audience and discuss technical aspects of the show's production, including the use of Clean Feed and the No Agenda Art Generator. They mention hardware issues currently affecting the art generator site managed by Sir Paul Couture.

The Tech Against Terrorism podcast discusses how the decentralized nature of RSS feeds allows "extremist" creators to bypass the content moderation of platforms like Spotify and Apple. The hosts mock the researchers for only recently discovering that podcasting was designed to be independent of centralized gatekeepers. The ability to "throw a file up" and reach a global audience is described by the NGO as a "subversive" distribution model.

NewsGuard announced plans to begin rating the "trustworthiness" of 200 popular podcasts in 2024 to help advertisers avoid content containing misinformation. The hosts criticize this move as an attempt to exert editorial control over the medium. They also highlight a Daily Mail report mislabeling a non-RSS-based extremist broadcast as a "podcast," arguing that the term is being weaponized against independent media.

Rachel Maddow has launched a new podcast titled "Ultra," which focuses on 1940s-era true crime and political extremism. The show critiques the production, noting that Maddow has used "feed takeovers" from Chris Hayes to bolster her numbers. There is also a broader discussion on the definition of a "genuine" podcast versus repurposed radio content, specifically regarding Dan Bongino and Apple's platform policies.

The history of the No Agenda art generator is traced from Drupal and Drop.io to its current iteration maintained by Sir Paul Couture. Technical hurdles with Apple Podcasts' RSS requirements are discussed, specifically the mandate for 2000x2000 pixel images.

Apple's new podcast monetization system launched with a major bug that caused many independent podcasts to disappear from the directory. The technical failure highlights the importance of the independent Podcast Index as Apple's API changes broke third-party apps like Overcast.

Spotify appears to be struggling with its strategy to corner the podcast market, as Joe Rogan's original RSS feed has been reactivated to post clips. Despite the exclusive deal, Rogan is again posting content to YouTube, suggesting that Spotify is having difficulty converting listeners to its proprietary app. This move is seen as a sign that the "walled garden" approach to podcasting is failing.

The hosts review the artwork for episode 1320, highlighting the "Quarantine Dodgers" and "Year of the Bull" themes. They discuss a rejected show title, "Flux d'Etat," which was discarded due to technical issues with the "accent aigu" character in RSS feeds and Apple's podcast directory. The "Value for Value" model is credited for the high quality of community-contributed art.

The No Agenda Show was removed from Spotify following a series of emails regarding podcaster portals and dashboard registrations. After attempting to claim ownership of the feed via a support link, a copyright claim requirement was presented, which was ignored. The removal is attributed to Spotify shoring up agreements with creators to enforce strict licensing and terms of service.

A technical error occurred where the "Mo' Facts with Adam Curry" feed was accidentally published to the No Agenda RSS feed, causing confusion for some subscribers. Listeners are advised to unsubscribe and resubscribe if their podcast apps are still showing the incorrect episodes. The mistake is jokingly compared to Bill Gates' historical attempts to consolidate power within Microsoft.

Technical issues with the Apple podcast app caused crashes for users attempting to listen to episode 1019. Speculation arises that including a hashtag in the episode title, "Delete the Bag," may have triggered a coding error where the software interpreted the title as a comment. Similar issues have been reported by other podcasters involving various grammatical characters in RSS feeds.

A parody of the classic country song "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" warns parents against the struggles of independent podcasting. The lyrics reference the technical difficulties of RSS feeds, the reliance on Patreon for income, and the suggestion that children would be better off as YouTube influencers or working at Walmart.

Episode 959 of the No Agenda show features artwork by Gaston Garcia titled "The Talking Stick," which depicts a crowded train as a commentary on Canadian immigration. The hosts noted that special characters in the artist's name caused technical issues with the show's RSS feed. Listeners are encouraged to visit the No Agenda Art Generator and the official shop for t-shirts and other merchandise.