
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
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 175 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Technology | |||

In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by Gerrit De Vynck of The Washington Post to discuss what an analysis of 47,000 ChatGPT conversations can tell us about how people use the service - and how willing it is to fuel basically any conversation.
We an... more
In a Better Offline exclusive, Ed Zitron reveals how much OpenAI spent on inference in 2024 and 2025, as well as how much it paid Microsoft as part of its 20% revenue share. Inference costs are much higher - and implied revenues much lower - than pre... more
This week’s Better Offline is a recording of a panel held by Clarion West in Seattle earlier this year with Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron, discussing enshittification, The Rot Economy, and the destruction of modern tech platforms, moderated by Whitney ... more
In this week's Better Offline monologue, Ed Zitron talks about OpenAI hinting they’d want a federal backstop for data center loans, NVIDIA’s weird, desperate post about China, and his deep suspicion about OpenAI’s leaked numbers.
Want to support me?... more
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I’m thrilled with this podcast. I asked for Pod recs from Bryan Merchant on his substack and this was one of a handful he recommended, and maybe the only one I will continue to listen to. I was looking for a less fawning alternative to Hard Fork, and this is definitely it. The rants are enjoyable, and the data is solid. I enjoy it. I’ve also subscribed to the written version to get into the real meaty bits of how AI is not all it’s hyped up to be.
My one complaint is the audio levels. I usuall... more
Lots of great information in this show, but I have a hard time taking it seriously due to the contradiction of the show’s messages vs the constant stream of ads, many of which are probably ai-generated (it feels like 50% of the total episode is ads). I hope the host/creator will consider going independent or finding a better production company. For now, I will be unsubscribing.
I want to love this podcast, the journalism is great and I really like Ed’s rants. However, the sheer amount of ads (often three or four in a row) interspersed throughout an episode is infuriating. I get that a guy needs to eat, but a better monetization model is desperately needed.
Before dismissing them as a legit threat to the tech industry, especially because of their deep connections to the ML field. I had to turn off this last episode because of the ignorance by the break. They are a dangerous cult incubator with some pretty wild thoughts, I.e the zizians. EY is more than some nerd grifter, and rationalism isn’t about “rational thought” at all.
Why is this Podcast full of annoying ads? I wouldn’t have thought ed zitron is that greedy.
One or two ads is ok but this is not fun to listen anymore.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #17 | |
Apple Podcasts | #20 | |
Spotify | #16 | |
Apple Podcasts | #15 | |
Apple Podcasts | #23 | |
Spotify | #19 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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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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5. Some More News
Better Offline launched 2 years ago and published 175 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Better Offline include:
1. Charlie Meyer
2. Paris Martineau
3. Ashwin Rodriguez
4. Brian Merchant
5. Colton Voege
6. Allison Morrow
7. Edward Ongweso Jr
8. Molly White
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