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Artwork for Version History

Version History

The Verge
The Verge
Apple
Hoverboards
Iphone 4
Zune
Instant Messaging
File Sharing
Antenna Gate
AOL Instant Messenger
Power Glove
Flappy Bird
Music Industry
Copyright Law
Google Glass
Facetime
Video Games
The Wizard
Digital Media
Guitar Hero
Celebrity Endorsements

Version History is a show about the best gadgets ever. And the worst ones. And the ones that might have changed the world, if they ever actually shipped. Every week, your favorite people from The Verge and beyond hang out to tell and debate the story of a gadget, app, website, or any other tech product, and try to determine the item’s true legacy. Because not every product is a hit, but every prod... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes21Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryTechnology

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Artwork for Version History

Latest Episodes

For years, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos knew the computer he wanted to build. He wanted it to be cheap, accessible everywhere, and controlled entirely by voice. It took Amazon a number of years, a lot of false starts, and some deeply strange focus groups, b... more

The Macintosh wasn't a hit, at least not in its first incarnation. But it was still unquestionably one of the most iconic computers ever made — and it came with one of the most iconic ads ever made, too. In this episode, David Pierce, Nilay Patel, an... more

The vocoder was never meant to change the music business – it wasn’t meant for music at all. But the research that started a century ago as a way to cheaply move voices over telephone wires took on a life of its own: It turned into a crucial bit of s... more

If you were launching a new app in 2020, it was either the worst timing (see: Quibi) or the best timing (see: Clubhouse). Clubhouse was an initially invite-only, audio-based social network that worked like an old-timey party line or radio call-in sho... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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

John Gruber
Daring Fireball founder
Independent
Episode: Macintosh: All in one
Ashley Carman
Technology journalist; former Verge staff, now at Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Episode: Clubhouse: Pivot to audio
Casey Newton
Reporter and founder of Platformer; longtime tech journalist
Platformer
Episode: Clubhouse: Pivot to audio
Sean Hollister
The Verge reporter joining remotely
The Verge
Episode: Furby: Talk Furbish to me
Vee Song
Tech journalist and AIM enthusiast
The Verge
Episode: AIM: Away message
Kyle Chayka
Writer and cultural commentator
Freelance
Episode: AIM: Away message

Host

David Pearce
Host focused on historical tech storytelling with deep dives into gadgets and their legacy

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 152 ratings
  • I think this is excellent

    The main host (David Pierce) is really great. His guests are very hit or miss. I've listened too most of them so far. I LOVE the long-ish format!!! I have time, give me all the info you can. I want more!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    manayunk wall
    United States24 days ago
  • ‘Member when tech was fun?

    What if ‘member berries from that one South Park episode were real, and you fed them to your favorite tech journo podcasters? This would be the result, and it is delightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thechallenger
    United Statesa month ago
  • Out of touch, big lack of research or perspective

    It started off good, but alot of these episodes just devolve into trips down nostalgia lane, where a bunch of elder millennials pine for apps, or devices that are gone, and then proceed to be completely unaware of modern equivalents that fill the same Niche. Prime example is the episode on AIM. The hosts go on and on about the vibe of AIM and how nothing quite like it exists anymore. How instagram and Facebook aren’t the same. As if Meta products are the only social media or messaging apps out ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    killn1
    United States3 months ago
  • 180 proof pure distilled geekery

    If you’re the type to be sentimental about the first few years of Wired, or the WEC, or you read Neuromancer in the 1980’s, this show is aimed directly at your cerebral cortex

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fire Tower Film Freak
    Canada3 months ago
  • Fun

    A really fun and informative listen. It’s always interesting learning about the fate of the tech from my childhood era. I do wish it were a bit more geared towards a podcast format. I do feel as if I’m missing out, not being able to see the videos or photos mentioned in the podcast. Overall I love the idea and topics. Hoping they cover other old video game tech. An episode on DDR or more old consoles would be cool.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ST.Bambii
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the host's interviewing style and ability to surface interesting anecdotes.
The show's mix of history and culture resonates with fans who want more context around tech's evolution.
Content can be polarizing when expectations clash with historical interpretations.
Guest quality and storytelling are often praised, though some criticize overreliance on nostalgia.
Listeners enjoy long-form, in-depth analysis and the nostalgia factor.
Episodes with strong archival context are frequently highlighted as standout.
Pod is generally praised for thoughtful framing, with occasional critiques about pacing or depth on certain topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#52
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#36
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#42
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#69
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#137
Germany/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Vocoder: Magic mic
Q: What is a vocoder and how does it work?
A vocoder combines a voice input with a synthesizer, encoding the vocal spectrum into frequency bands that the synthesizer then renders, producing a characteristic robotic timbre that is both intelligible and eerily otherworldly.
Zune: The would-be iPod killer
Q: Could you reboot it now?
Yes, a reboot could work in a limited capacity, appealing to nostalgia and collector's markets, but it would unlikely find mainstream success.
Zune: The would-be iPod killer
Q: Is there an alternate timeline in which this thing was more or even more successful?
Potentially, if the Zune had launched earlier, before the iPod became ubiquitous, it might have gained more traction and recognition.
Zune: The would-be iPod killer
Q: What feature of this thing should every current version have?
The FM radio feature from the Zune should be included in modern devices as a nostalgic utility.
Zune: The would-be iPod killer
Q: If you could go back and make it yourself, what would you do differently?
Improving the software to make it intuitive and user-friendly would be crucial for a better user experience.

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 Version History

What is Version History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Version History sits at the intersection of tech history and culture, often unpacking how iconic devices shaped how we use technology today. Episodes mix deep-dive histories with personal anecdotes from a rotating set of guests and Verge reporters, exploring everything from the Macintosh and VoCoder to social platforms and beloved toys. The show stands out for its long-form, narrative approach to technology—favoring storytelling, design decisions, and industry context over quick takes. Potential listeners who enjoy thoughtfully revisiting tech's past, paired with behind-the-scenes industry insights, will likely find the discussions engaging and both informative and entertaining.

Where can I find podcast stats for Version History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Version History. 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 Version History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Version History get?

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What are the audience demographics for Version History?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Version History, 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 Version History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Version History 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 Version History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Version History:

1. The Vergecast
2. Decoder with Nilay Patel
3. The Talk Show With John Gruber
4. Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
5. Hard Fork

How many episodes of Version History are there?

Version History launched 7 months ago and published 21 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 Version History?

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 Version History?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Version History?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Version History. 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 Version History?

Recent guests on Version History include:

1. John Gruber
2. Ashley Carman
3. Casey Newton
4. Sean Hollister
5. Vee Song
6. Kyle Chayka

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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