Rephonic
Artwork for Better Offline
Google
Elon Musk
Musk Foundation
Openai
Vision Pro
Bluetooth Keyboards
Apple
Venture Capital
Meta
Technology
Rot Economy
Starlink
Unicef
Texas
Bastrop, Texas
Spacex
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
Ad Astra School
Flint, Michigan
Google Docs

Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build.

Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes an... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes164Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Better Offline

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by writer Brian Merchant to talk about US AI regulation, and how governments never seem to make the effort to understand technology.

www.bloodinthemachine.com/

www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/were-ab... more

YouTube

Welcome to Radio Better Offline, a tech talk radio show recorded out of iHeartRadio's studio in New York City. Ed Zitron is joined in studio by The Verge’s Victoria Song and Defector’s David Roth to talk about Sora 2, Meta’s AR glasses, the “friend” ... more

YouTube

In part four of this week’s four-part case against generative AI, Ed Zitron walks you through how there’s literally not enough money in the world to pay for OpenAI’s estimated $1 trillion four-year burn, and why the media tell the truth about AI to s... more

YouTube

In part three of this week’s four-part case against generative AI, Ed Zitron walks you through how “AI replacing software engineers” is a myth spread by the media and investors - and how Microsoft only has 8 to 12 million active paying customers for ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Colton Voege
Programmer and writer known for his insights on AI's impact on software engineering.
Episode: AI Isn't Making Engineers 10x As Productive with Colton Voege
Allison Morrow
From CNN Nightcap Newsletter
CNN
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Edward Ongweso Jr. & Allison Morrow
Edward Ongweso Jr
From the Tech Bubble Newsletter
Substack
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Edward Ongweso Jr. & Allison Morrow
Gare Davis
Editor and commentator on technology and media
Cool Zone Media
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Gare Davis, Victoria Song, Allison Morrow
Karen Hao
Author of the upcoming book, Empire of AI, which discusses the implications of AI and its commercialization.
Episode: Empires of AI With Karen Hao
Steve Burke
Host of GamersNexus
GamersNexus
Episode: Tariffs and The End Of Affordable Computing w/ Steve Burke
Paris Martineau
Writer at The Information
The Information
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Allison Morrow, Paris Martineau & Ed Ongweso Jr.
David Shing
Digital prophet, speaker, and consultant
AOL
Episode: Radio Better Offline: David "Shingy" Shing
Andy Richter
Comedian and former writer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Andy Richter

Host

Ed Zitron
Ed Zitron is a technology industry veteran known for his analytical insights and forthright critiques of the sector. He frequently challenges prevailing narratives in technology, making complex topics engaging and accessible through lively discussion and an unapologetic style.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Great topics, frustrating tone

    I agree wholeheartedly with the points and content of this podcast but the John Oliver style ranting is distracting and stops it from being the salve I’m looking for in these mad times.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    oli sh
    United Statesa month ago
  • Blind and Angry

    While there may be some merit to the economic arguments against certain AI companies, the idea that LLMs are useless is absurd. They are extraordinarily useful for numerous tasks, and the fact the host can’t see that is baffling. I suspect he got some success critiquing big tech and then became polarised and extreme on the topic via audience capture. The reality is always more nuanced and complex.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MrMagicBeans9000
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Full of ads

    So many ads, the shows start with them, they end with them and all in between. No announcement though. So difficult to skip. Unsubscribed even though the other content seemed good

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Moburkhardt88
    Germanya month ago
  • Compelling ideas mired by uneven style

    I deeply appreciate Ed’s analytical perspective and thoroughly enjoy the panels. There are a lot of interesting ideas here.

    Unfortunately, many episodes are delivered as scripted monologues (ie, rants), which Ed struggles to articulate. To me, these are basically unlistenable… and the pissy tone largely undermines the analysis.

    Love Ed, but really hoping the show will find a new editorial voice.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Elixir357
    United Statesa month ago
  • Recording quality needs improvement

    Great show but deserves better recording quality. Sound comes off abrasive, flat, rushed (feels sped up and badly paced) and unpleasant.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Teccgooru
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback indicates a desire for more varied content rather than repetitive themes.
There is notable concern about the frequency of advertisements disrupting the listening experience.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth critiques of technology and its societal implications.
Many find the host's style engaging and insightful, although some express fatigue over overly critical rants.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

AI Isn't Making Engineers 10x As Productive with Colton Voege
Q: Does the nature of coding make it hard to generate quality code?
Yes, because coding is complex and requires understanding of context, systems, and styles of the existing codebase, which AI lacks.
AI Isn't Making Engineers 10x As Productive with Colton Voege
Q: Why can't AI coding tools make you a 10x engineer?
AI is good at generating code, especially boilerplate, but coding encompasses much more problem-solving and system understanding that AI struggles with.
AI Isn't Making Engineers 10x As Productive with Colton Voege
Q: Can you explain what you do for a living?
I'm a software engineer focusing on web application development, building interactive applications that run in browsers.
CZM Rewind: The Academics That Think ChatGPT Is BS
Q: How did you decide to write this?
The idea originated from discussions about the prevalence of ChatGPT-generated essays and the connection to philosophical concepts of bullshit, leading to a realization that there was material for an academic paper.
CZM Rewind: The Academics That Think ChatGPT Is BS
Q: Can you define bullshit for me?
Bullshitting is speaking without caring about the truth of what you say; it suggests a lack of regard for the truth while trying to persuade others.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Better Offline

What is Better Offline about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the intersection of technology and society, episodes critically assess how the tech industry manipulates public perception and drives unsustainable growth. Notable discussions cover topics like the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, the environmental and ethical implications of tech advancements, and the financial practices of major tech companies.

The show features a mix of narrative storytelling, interviews, and panel discussions, allowing listeners to gain insight into the industry's operations from multiple perspectives. With a blend of skepticism and critical analysis, it strives to demystify complex issues, appealing to tech-savvy individuals as well as those concerned about societal impacts, making it a compelling ... more

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How many listeners does Better Offline get?

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How many subscribers and views does Better Offline have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Better Offline has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Better Offline?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Better Offline:

1. It Could Happen Here
2. Tech Won't Save Us
3. Weird Little Guys
4. Behind the Bastards
5. Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

How many episodes of Better Offline are there?

Better Offline launched 2 years ago and published 164 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Better Offline?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Better Offline from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Better Offline?

Recent guests on Better Offline include:

1. Colton Voege
2. Allison Morrow
3. Edward Ongweso Jr
4. Gare Davis
5. Karen Hao
6. Steve Burke
7. Paris Martineau
8. David Shing

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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