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

PublishesDailyEpisodes113Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Better Offline

Latest Episodes

In this week’s monologue, Ed Zitron walks you through World, Sam Altman’s meaningless new “World” startup that trades you cryptocurrency for a scan of your eyeballs, and how it proves something is deeply wrong with our society.

YOU CAN NOW BUY BETT... more

In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by Steve Burke of GamersNexus to talk about how tariffs are throwing the PC gaming industry into disarray, and how the era of affordable computing is coming to an end.

GamersNexus:

The End Of Affordable Computin... more

YouTube

In this episode, Ed Zitron walks you through all the signs that the bubble is bursting, and how hysterical boosters continue to desperately keep it from doing so.

YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to cottonbureau.com/people/better-of... more

YouTube

In this week’s monologue, Ed Zitron walks you through why better tech criticism will lead to a better tech industry - and a better society at large.

YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline and use ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Paris Martineau
Writer at The Information
The Information
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Allison Morrow, Paris Martineau & Ed Ongweso Jr.
Edward Ongweso Jr.
Writer and podcaster focused on tech topics
Tech Bubble Newsletter, This Machine Kills
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Allison Morrow, Paris Martineau & Ed Ongweso Jr.
Allison Morrow
Author of CNN Business Nightcap
CNN
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
Nathan Grayson
Author of 'Stream Big, The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and The Stars Behind the Screen'
Independent Gaming Site Aftermath
Episode: How Growth Is Killing Video Games
Gita Jackson
Co-founder of Aftermath and former Kotaku staff member
Independent Gaming Site Aftermath
Episode: How Growth Is Killing Video Games
Jeremy Kaplowitz
Host of the Quorators podcast
Quorators
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Jeremy Kaplowitz of the Quorators
Devindra Hardawar
Tech journalist from Engadget
Engadget
Episode: Better Offline CES 2025: Day 4 - Pt. 1

Host

Ed Zitron
Host and tech industry veteran known for his critique of the tech sector and its societal implications. Zitron combines storytelling, interviews, and panels to examine the impact of growth-focused strategies on society, often engaging in raw, candid discussions about current issues in the industry.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • One Star

    Rants about the same thing every time. Gets old. Was hoping for a broader conversation about the internet

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TexasTattoo
    United States12 days ago
  • Ed is doing real journalism

    Ed is the only authority on LLM and ‘AI’ that’s digging into their existence to out them as the absolute frauds they are. I support him and his podcast 100% so my industry can finally escape this bubble. Let’s pop the bubble together with Ed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DMM1224
    United States21 days ago
  • Love it

    After 20 years of working in IT (not in Silicon Valley or in the cutting edge field of AI) I’ve become cynical and jaded. I’ve worked under managers that unquestioningly buy into the latest hype and trends. They all know better than the developers at the coal face despite in many cases, never having coded in their lives. I’ve had to deal with the consequences of their decisions. Nothing is learned, management changes and the cycle continues. I think this is pretty common in large IT companies. I... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SuperMike101
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • Good

    Fave eps are when the Eds multiply.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mossykodama
    United States25 days ago
  • Ed makes Tech Journalism Entertaining and Accessible

    I adore this show because it breaks down tech news so that I can truly understand what the eff tech heads are blabbering about. It does get a little repetitive, but I know AI is the tech obsession lately

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnarchoPotato
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the sharp critique of the tech industry and the host's engaging delivery. Many note the informative nature of the discussions, while some express concerns over repetitive themes and commercial interruptions.
Ed Zitron is recognized for his unique perspective on generative AI and other tech issues, receiving praise for his authenticity and insight, though criticism arises regarding the frequent advertisements that disrupt the flow. Highly-rated reviews reflect a strong connection with the audience and articulate the challenges and frustrations many feel towards the tech industry's direction.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Radio Better Offline: Andy Richter
Q: Do you think it's going off to Blue Sky at all, or is it different?
Yes, I mean, and it's why I mostly do Blue Sky now, is because it feels the most like the joke gym.
Radio Better Offline: Andy Richter
Q: How did you prepare for the show? Just a very basic, for the show, how much work did you have to do?
Earlier on, like back in the late night days, I was a writer on the show and was expected to do, for the first few years, as much as any other writer.
How Growth Is Killing Video Games
Q: Can you describe Gamergate for people that were outside of it?
Gamergate was a reactionary movement in video games that started when a jilted ex published a manifesto about a game developer, claiming she engaged in unethical relations with journalists for positive coverage, which spiraled into a broader attack on women in gaming.
Better Offline CES 2025: Day 1
Q: What have you seen at CES today?
The crew discusses a panel on artificial intelligence, where they humorously recount an instance of a room laughing about job losses due to AI.,Timestamp: 156648}],
FTC Chair Lina Khan: The Better Offline Interview
Q: What are your major concerns regarding artificial intelligence?
Khan emphasized that there is no 'AI exemption' from existing laws and the importance of maintaining competitive markets.

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?

The content focuses on the complex and often troubling relationship between technology and society, examining how the tech industry's practices impact daily life and broader societal shifts. Common themes include critiques of generative AI, financial instability within tech firms, and the ethical implications of data-driven decisions, advertising tactics, and the pursuit of profit over genuine user needs. Noteworthy is the host's candid and sometimes confrontational delivery, which engages listeners while critically unpacking the narratives pushed by major tech players.

Where can I find podcast stats for Better Offline?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Better Offline. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Better Offline and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Better Offline get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Better Offline, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Better Offline?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Better Offline, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Behind the Bastards
4. Some More News
5. Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

How many episodes of Better Offline are there?

Better Offline launched a year ago and published 113 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Better Offline?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Better Offline?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Better Offline. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Better Offline?

Recent guests on Better Offline include:

1. Paris Martineau
2. Edward Ongweso Jr.
3. Allison Morrow
4. David Shing
5. Andy Richter
6. Nathan Grayson
7. Gita Jackson
8. Jeremy Kaplowitz

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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