Google and YouTube’s enthusiasm for podcasting has cooled off in recent times. Bryan Barletta, speaking at Frequency’s CEO Pete Jimison’s event, will discuss how podcast networks can automate their vetting process in order to gain speed, efficiency, and scale their network. Despite holding fourth place in podcast downloads, Google Podcasts lacks any way to generate revenue, and Google is pushing for podcasters to upload content directly to YouTube instead. This one-sided relationship does not benefit the podcast industry, and new features such as RSS ingestion, measurement, and audio ads are needed for YouTube Podcasts to be beneficial to both sides. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
