Did Google Just Ruin Podcasts?
Thoughts on NotebookLM, getting back to some timeless podcast recommendations, and other links to make you think.
Welcome to Hurt Your Brain #205, the place to get podcasts and links that will make you think, sent every so often.
It’s been a while! Got some timeless podcasts for you below that will make you think and fill your ears with joy.
I wrote an article with some thoughts on Google’s new NotebookLM audio feature that can create a podcast from your documents at the push of a button. It’s worth playing around with it (it’s free) to see what’s coming for the audio world, even if you roll your eyes at AI hype. Have you tried it? Let me know.
On to the recommendations!
PODCAST RECOMMENDATIONS
Don’t Drink the Milk: Homeopathy – Can sugar pills fill the holes in modern medicine?
The Big Idea: I get heated about what a big pile of bunk homeopathy is, but this episode is a much more well rounded, well researched, and well presented explanation of the history and reality of what homeopathy is than I could ever do. It really tells you everything you need to know.
The reason I get heated is that like so many parents out there, I first bought homeopathy medicine when one of my kids was teething as a baby, and I wanted something that was gentle that could help. Once I looked up what homeopathy actually is a few days later, I was pretty livid that it’s even sold in pharmacies (hint: it’s not a “natural” or “herbal” remedy like you might assume).
The episode from their new season about Witch Hunts is also really good.
The Big Idea: John Green and Dr Katie Mack are such a genius pairing for a podcast about the universe, and this last episode is a great ending to the series, and it just so happens to be about the ending to end all endings. The potential ends of the universe are all fairly wild and for the most part, very, very far in the future (probably farther than you can imagine).
You should check out all eleven episodes in the series, but you can certainly listen to this without prior listening.
The Daily: The Profitable Business of Holding Patients Against Their Will
The Big Idea: One of those great standalone pieces of reporting that The Daily sometimes does, and a welcome escape from politics.
I can only link to the website because of the new paywall The New York Times is doing with their audio. Transcript is included on site at least.
Endless Thread: Ignore All Previous Instructions
The Big Idea: A fun and informative history of how “ignore all previous instructions” caused all sorts of havoc on AI bots across social media (that sadly doesn’t work anymore for the most part).
Search Engine: Why is it so hard to tax billionaires? (Part 1) and (Part 2)
The Big Idea: A more interesting than you would think exploration of the history of income tax in the US and why it’s so damn hard to tax billionaires.
PODCAST LINKS
Did Google Just Kill Podcasts? No, but the new audio overview feature of NotebookLM is pretty wild and will have ramifications for the podcast industry.
VISUALS
FOR FUN
The Wizard And The Unfillable Hole. This is the type of light hearted and creative content that still makes me enjoy social media.
Baby birds don’t know how to eat. Get in my mouth worm!
Please like or comment (or reply) if you want to share any comments. See you next time.
P.s. My son wanted a mushroom grow kit from a craft fair, and it was great fun (and here they are cheaper but without the fun art). They grow wildly fast and were incredibly delicious cooked in butter.