Despite David Z.’s best efforts, we’re still solidly in a golden age of TV. Your favorite “famously sparkling” pod has fresh recs and picks just for you. This week: Big Bird auditions for the “Die Another Day” remake, Etsy copyright infringement, and a ProPublica style exposé of the Target App. 🎯. Links: SF Chronicle - Someone left a Tesla in the middle of S.F.’s Alta Plaza Park Kitchenaid decal - Etsy Waterloo Teams Up with Guy Fieri to Introduce Three New Limited-Time Flavors - Waterloo Spark...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 48 min
Bears hibernate for the winter, sometimes podcasts hibernate for the spring. What’d we miss? This week: escape room Google Sheets, demo day for real this time, and a quick check in with everyone’s favorite increasingly problematically monopolistic fruit company. 🪚. Links: The Property Brothers Have Done ‘Hundreds’ of Escape Rooms - WSJ "Rivian Automotive Inc" - to the government “Rivian” - to most “RIVN” - to shareholders "The cars with the cute eyes" - to kids “My community” - to our owners Th...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 43 min
Every year we think we’ve hit ‘peak tenuously-linked brand integration’ and year after year we’re shown that no, there’s no lemon that a David Zaz-type won’t try to squeeze into a diamond. This week: dank memes, TV for boomers, and asking Alexa+ to pour one out for Skype. 📺. Links: We want to make sure it's perfect 🥲 #PhizCoffee #MintMojito I need to take a personal day after seeing this version of adam scott as mark scout in Severance 🥵🤤😮💨 UMMMMMMMMMMMM Your outie wisely avoided the Netf...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 17 min
At this point, we’re like eighteen months away from the Property Brothers having their own cereal. Honestly it’s been a slippery slope ever since Reese’s Puffs. This week: TCL’s bush league OLED fear-mongering, Detroit style cookware, and the predictable end of the fast casual city challenge. 🌁. Links: Kelce Mix Kraft Lucky Charms Marshmallows-7oz : Target Introducing 'Meet The Moores': TCL 98" Q Class 4K TV Commercial ft. Justin Herbert - YouTube The Office - Dinner Party - Plasma TV Scene - Y...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 43 min
This Sonos shakeup is the biggest corporate drama to hit the Santa Barbara area since the Silvergreens in Isla Vista closed. This week: a change of Venu, entertainment centers frozen in time, and more intrigue in the fast casual running challenge world. 📺. Links: Wolf Blitzer on X: "I’m very happy. #GoBills! https://t.co/Ull9zkpThn" / X Wolf Blitzer on X: "Enjoying a Wolf Spritzer at El Presidente restaurant here in DC. https://t.co/AXFQm7aZ14" / X Now I’m worried Apple Intelligence is doing th...
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 35 min
Why aren’t business deals related to streaming services more like pro athlete deals? Fubo, you’re heading to Disney. Venu? You’re cut. Elmo? You’re the new power forward for the Pelicans. Hope you like humid summers buddy. This week: running for a [fast casual] cause, robot on robot crime, and EV showrooming. 🌯. Links: Food Delivery Robot Hit By Waymo : waymo Residents of one Northern California neighborhood had a good laugh after Thursday's powerful earthquake struck the region: a robotic vacu...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 46 min
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me, Three inflatable snowmen Two sets of string lights And a home improvement store finally rolling out support for contactless payments. That’s right folks, it’s the 2024 Holiday Spectacular. This week: Inside Bob Iger’s NBA, Italian smart lights, and the lump of coal that is Apple Intelligence (so far). 🪨. Links: Apple Intelligence notification summaries are honestly pretty bad - Ars Technica Philips Hue Festavia 65-Foot 250-LED Smart String ...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 53 min
“Dear Mr. Hanks, As you know, our Client owns all intellectual property rights globally in and to the concept of “your body breaking down and becoming a slow healing, creaky pile of mush after the age of 28.” Your blatant alteration and repurposing of this concept in the media constitutes unauthorized use and dilution of our Client’s prior art. We immediately demand you cease and desist all future activity related to conveying a specific date as to when aging really hits you like a ton of bricks...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr 22 min
Kinda nice of Apple to spend the week before the election giving us all little bite size Mac updates as a distraction. Wait, new notification hold on. From the NYT: “Here’s why the Mac mini power button is bad news for Harris amongst undecided voters.” ffs. This week: cracklin’ lattes, Excel productivity, and defunct startups. ☕ Links: Tungle launches non-annoying scheduling service - CNET Honestly, this is a work of art. - The Verge 💙💛 Alan D 💙💛 on X: "not today excel. https://t.co/NYqmRznM...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 18 min
How long until we have the Chipotle Burrito Assembly Line by Fisher Price® on every five year old’s Christmas list i mean really now. This week: Bay Area childless dog man parenting corner, EV door handles as a troubling metaphor, and Ryan backslides into his dangerous case-free lifestyle. 🐣. Links: Amazon.com: Amazon Delivery Van Ride On Toy for Kids, Blue Toddler Ride on Toy for Ages 2+, Amazon Exclusive : Toys & Games Favorite Day Target Store Sugar Cookie Kit Ready To Build BB 05/24 | e...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 32 min
The kids want media that’s quicker, more concise, and timely. That’s why we’re introducing the podcast equivalent of baseball’s pitch clock: “one quick thought”. Judging by the episode length, it’s a work in progress. This week: spiced is the new spiked, freemium is the new spon-con, and brining some Barlow energy to Waterloo.💦. Links: Coca-Cola Spiced is getting canceled after 7 months on the market | AP News Forbidden Mountain Dew : forbiddensnacks Did Someone Say Pumpkin’ Spiked? Dunkin’® Ad...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 37 min
Two great tastes that taste great together, or a sign of a nation on the decline? The proof is in the faux-crème filling. This week: Steve Ballmer wants your face, Tim Cook wants your money, and Mela wants your recipes. 🏀. Links: Apple TV Remote Stand | Studio Neat Reeder: A New Approach to Following Feeds - MacStories Mela - Recipe Manager on the App Store @acedtect • Face ID at the Intuit dome works. Didn’t need to take my phone out of my pocket until I went to... • Threads Intuit Dome leanin...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 55 min
Half of this pod is now just stanning for future Cy Young award paw-cipiant Decoy Ohtani. The other host is uh, not a fan. This week: everyone’s now all caught up on The Bear, Jim Farley personally cancels development of Ryan’s future car, and your perfunctory Apple event speculation. 🚗. Links: Shohei Ohtani's dog, Decoy, throws out the first pitch at a Dodgers game 🥹 - YouTube Sonos CEO says the old app can’t be rereleased - The Verge Peacock Gained 3 Million Subscribers in Olympics First Wee...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 39 min
While the official gold medal count for Team USA sits at 40, let’s make it 41 since Peacock stuck the landing. This week: Double Stuf collabs, Diners Target Drive Ups and Dives, and the triumphant return of Still or Sparkling. 💦. Links: NBC’s Olympics coverage enjoying a viewership surge, though there’s a caveat - The Athletic U.S.-France men’s basketball final averages 19.5 million viewers, most watched gold medal game since 1996 - The Athletic Tyrese Haliburton on X: "When you ain’t do nun on...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 28 min
Behind every world class athlete is that friend who starts an Apple Watch workout during boozy brunch. Olympians each in their own right. This week: Peacock-ing, spritzing, and legacy purchasing. 🦚 Links: Le Diplomate El Presidente HOME | Pie Punks Wolf Blitzer on X: "Enjoying a Wolf Spritzer at El Presidente restaurant here in DC. https://t.co/AXFQm7aZ14" / X El Presidente's viral Wolf Spritzer cocktail recipe - Axios Washington D.C. Mike Isaac's PB&J Take Disney, Fox and Warner Sports Str...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 31 min
We’re back from summer break. What’d we miss? This week: made-up holidays, political realities, and knowing when to walk away. 🛤️. Links: Biden Ice Cream @hunterwalk • Lights must be flickering in Brooklyn from equipment power surge for all the EMERGENCY PODS • Threads Netflix Keeps Streaming Crown With Continued Subscriber, Revenue Growth - WSJ Streaming Churn Rates Rivian CEO says CarPlay isn’t going to happen - The Verge Rivian: Volkswagen takes $1 billion stake in EV maker New York Times to...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 17 min
“Siri, use Apple Intelligence to make this episode sound 30% more erudite.” “Here’s what I found on the web for Eurovision...” Worth a shot… This week: chocolate flavored sandwich cookies with creme filing, spendy so-so automobiles, and sure — Apple’s take on AI. 🍪. Links: Crumbl's New Surprise: Cookies Turned Into Cereal! No One Wants a New Car Now. Here’s Why. - WSJ 2024 BMW i5 Photo Microsoft’s all-knowing Recall AI feature is being delayed - The Verge Warner Bros. Discovery's NBA Rights Hop...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 52 min
Honestly at this point all the ‘will they won’t they’ between Adam Silver and his media partners has gone on about almost as long as Jim and Pam and we do not have the same attention span we did in 2008, b-ball guy. This week: Rent-A-Hue®, more Sonos haterade, and a preview of Tim’s developer symposium.🍎. Links: @pmarquees_ • MKBHD dropping bombs • Threads A $200 Million Difference May Cost David Zaslav the NBA - Bloomberg Diamond Sports bankruptcy: NBA, NHL voice concerns over reorganization R...
Jun 05, 2024•1 hr 25 min
The first restaurant in California to be fined over the new surcharge and fee ban? Surprisingly, it’s Ryan’s new Detroit Style Pizza Parlor and Play Place. What even is a “Marin County smart lighting surcharge”? This week: Barkley v. Zaz, Carlos’ continuing dedication to making big mistakes, and Sonos’ courageous app update. 🔈 Links: MV7+ - Podcast Microphone - Shure USA SF Chronicle - Restaurant surcharges will soon be illegal in California Mozzarella Ball Pizza Howto: Easily Remove a Breville...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 58 min
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: it’s our most powerful iPad ever, and we just can’t wait to see what you do with it. This week: Adam Silver pulls an Equator, cookie cocktails, and 94123 it’s all about me. 🍪. Links: These Girl Scout Cookie Cocktails Are Only Available Once a Year in San Francisco | KQED Reservations — Left Door Cocktail and a la carte Menus Amazon Prime has framework deal for NBA broadcast rights, per sources, putting pressure on TNT, NBC - The Athletic The Fight for th...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 43 min
Do bad reviews kill good products? For the love of God please don’t test that hypothesis out on this show. This week: the capitalist haunted house that is TurboTax, conical burrs, and proof one of your hosts is out of touch with the common philatelist. 📫. Links: Elmo & Cookie Monster Cookie Monster Siri Commercial - YouTube This is the Humane Ai Pin - YouTube Humane AI Pin review: the post-smartphone future isn’t here yet - The Verge The Humane AI Pin is the solution to none of technology's...
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 49 min
Fun fact! More people decide to build a cabin off the grid after using Google Nest products than successfully get it working with the rest of their smart home. This week: Amazon walks out on Just Walk Out, pouring one out for Logitech Harmony, and the doom loop narrative comes for EVs. 🚗 Links: Shaq + Epson: A Winning Team | Epson US Smart Homes start with Google Nest Task Management Software Built For Pros - OmniFocus - The Omni Group Amazon.com: Sideclick Universal Remote Attachment for 2nd G...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Yeah, I mean it’s not too much of a stretch that automakers are selling your data and snitching on speeding to your insurer, but sending a report to Lin Manuel Miranda about how off key I sing “It’s Quiet Uptown” is a bridge too far. This week: EV surprises, NAS surprises, with a dash of regulatory scrutiny surprises via one Merrick Garland. 🍎. Links: 1Password Chase Center Sponsorship 1Password is The Official Password Manager of The Golden State Warriors | 1Password Tesla Superchargers Aren’t...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 23 min
We know it’s been a while since Econ 201 but Jiminy Christmas are Hue bulbs the new Veblen good? What are these things made out of avocado toast? Come on. This week: dust covered Vision Pros, NACS snaccs, and a peppering of Spring Apple news. 🥽. Links: Apple now selling Belkin MagSafe iPhone mount for video calling on Apple TV 4K - 9to5Mac Max Will Be Available in Bundle With Mega Sports App Diamond Sports Files Official Re-Org Plan, Will Cut Ties With Bally's WSJ's Joanna Stern on Apple Vision...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 45 min
We didn’t get a ballot but that ain’t stopping us. A fruit company year in review. This week: hi Barbie, football (the non-Messi one), and a bit more on VR. 🥽. Links: AdWatch: Pepsi / More Than OK - YouTube Irvine-based Vizio being acquired by Walmart : orangecounty The Apple Vision Pro – Stratechery by Ben Thompson FuboTV sues Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. over sports joint venture ESPN will launch its flagship direct-to-consumer service in fall 2025 Apple in 2023: The Six Colors report card – Six...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 53 min
New ways to watch sports from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Brothers. All without a cable subscription. Sports from ESPN. FOX. Warner Brothers. Are you getting it? These are not three separate services. This is one device, and we’re calling it - Iger-ulu. This week: plug in hybrids, old movies, and an update on the Chicago food scene. 🌭. Links: ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform - WSJ Peacock's AFC Wild Card game was the "most-streamed event ever in the US." - The Verge Di...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 45 min
Chris Nolan gets roasted by Peloton instructors and Soulcycle stays mum on Wes Anderson making the same movie over and over again for three decades. Hmm. This week: cursed airports, (smart) locks of love, and area Cinnabon manager snubbed for the umpteenth time by the Emmys. 📺. Links: Schlage BE499WB CEN 622 Encode Plus WiFi Deadbolt Smart Lock with Apple Home Key, Keyless Entry Door Lock with Century Trim, Matte Black - Amazon.com Amazon.com: Eve Door & Window – Smart Contact Sensor for Do...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 46 min
Did each engineer designing the Chevy Blazer EV’s infotainment software spend at least 10,000 hours on it before it went into production? Okay, this is a very funny joke about Malcolm Gladwell, trust me. This week: Taylor’s concert film, Ryan’s sports dilemma, and Tim’s headset. 🏀. Links: La Colombe Ball Cap - La Colombe Coffee Roasters MVP Hat – La Colombe Coffee Roasters La Colombe acquired by Chobani in $900 million deal - WHYY M&L Ice Cream Croissant GM stops selling the Chevy Blazer EV...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 37 min
“It’s only ridiculous if it doesn’t work.” - Tyler Florence, probably. This week: the enduring legacy of a flat panel icon, Amazon Prime Video with Special Offers, and a look at peak Donkey Sauce Capitalism. 🫏 Links: The Experience | Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate - Better with Pepsi - Las Vegas 2024 Flavortown Kitchen - Guy Fieri Guy Fieri's American Kitchen & Bar - Guy Fieri Zoom videoconferencing app now available on Apple TV - 9to5Mac Apple to Drop Goldman Sachs for Apple Card; Chase Bank Is...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 24 min
iPod Socks? Again? Worry not friends, it is finally time: our first annual holiday gift guide. This week: Kiri the fire truck, unplugging for the holidays, and more tales from retail lock up. 🧦. Links: Cyber what? I still remember a time when they said I was the future. . #tomorrow #keitruck #cybertruck #tesla #daihatsu #firetruck… | Instagram @amahnke • There is a large graveyard filled with my enemies. I do not wish to add to it, but will given no ... • Threads Target earnings: CEO says custo...
Dec 01, 2023•2 hr 10 min
