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

PublishesDailyEpisodes175Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Better Offline

Latest Episodes

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

YouTube

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

YouTube

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

YouTube

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

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Charlie Meyer
Esteemed blogger and CEO of Picode
Picode
Episode: Vibe Coding is BS w/ Charlie Meyer
Paris Martineau
Freelance writer at Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Episode: The Internet Is The World's Worst Pharmacy w/ Paris Martineau & Ashwin Rodrigues
Ashwin Rodriguez
Freelance writer, primarily on topics surrounding health and supplements
Episode: The Internet Is The World's Worst Pharmacy w/ Paris Martineau & Ashwin Rodrigues
Brian Merchant
Author and writer of the book and newsletter Blood in the Machine
Episode: The World of AI Regulation with Brian Merchant
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
Molly White
Critic and author of the Citation Needed Newsletter
Episode: Building A Newspaper Out of the Internet with Molly White
Gare Davis
Editor and commentator on technology and media
Cool Zone Media
Episode: Radio Better Offline: Gare Davis, Victoria Song, Allison Morrow

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 2.3k ratings
  • The content is great, the audio levels are tough

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lexacorncow
    United Statesa month ago
  • Produced by I heart radio makes no sense

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    cpm1993
    United States2 months ago
  • A great show with to many ads

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dgffjdgjfcnfdjs svjsbzxb
    United States2 months ago
  • Learn more about rationalists

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JackusAnarchus
    United States2 months ago
  • Full of ads

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    carol86_1
    Germany2 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.

Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron on Enshittification and the Rot Economy
Q: If you had to guess, what is the timeline we're looking at for the AI bubble to pop?
No later than Q2, 2026.
Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron on Enshittification and the Rot Economy
Q: Is the bubble real?
Yes, there's a bubble forming, especially in AI and related technologies, and it's likely to pop soon.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. Some More News

How many episodes of Better Offline are there?

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.

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.

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What guests have appeared on Better Offline?

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

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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