The trick is to avoid shows that don’t have a clear objective unless they are comedians who are actually funny most of the time. “Three friends just sitting around talking about life, the universe, and everything!” -like descriptions are a major red flag. Extra deductions if their logo shows a glass of whiskey or a beer.

Oh shit. I hate that bro.

It’s a form of parasocial relationship. It can trigger the same feelings as if you were in a room with some friends chatting. You get to “know” the people’s personalities, you can anticipate their reactions to things, you get invested in their personal relationships.

Most of the stuff I listen to is either professionally funny people or specialized topics that I’m interested in.

You need to find better podcasts to listen.

I listen to My Brother, My Brother and Me because I like to listen to the three brothers be funny at each other.

Some people don’t need or want intellectually challenging media all the dang time.

The same appeal as reading the pointless shit people type out while sitting on toilets.

It’s like Facebook in the early days.

Here’s a picture of my breakfast yogurt.

Here’s a picture of me getting on the bus.

Here’s a picture of my desk setup.

Here’s a geotag of where I’m having lunch along with a photo of my BLT. It was so yummy! Duck face pic!

Here’s the geotag and photo of the place I got coffee on the way back to work! Luv u all!

I list n to podcasts about science, space, farming, linguistics, and literature. They’re actually rather interesting. I don’t think I could do just random bullshit

I listen to a variety of podcasts for different moods, and I also use it like music. Sometimes I’m in a music mood, sometimes I decide I need to hear how terrible Kissinger really was, sometimes I want to hear Dan research and refute all the lies Alex Jones spouts (the last two come often with the benefit of learning the origin of bullshit being spouted by some internet personalities), and sometimes I want to hear 3-5 guys who I find funny discuss movies and/or Wikipedia articles. I also like listening to factual and historical podcasts that have more detailed researching.

Why listen when I could look up and read it? Well I do look up and read specific topics, but that takes my full attention. I have ADHD and my mind can wander without additional input if I’m doing something tedious. So I listen while driving, cooking, cleaning, working, and even gaming. Gaming isn’t tedious per say, but sometimes you have bursts of that (farming items, repeatable dailies, etc). I pause when I really need to, but some games I also play for relaxation, and I can relax and listen to a funny podcast at the same time. If it’s work or gaming where I need focus, music works better.

I actually really enjoy “stuff you should know” it’s a podcast with 2 guys from the “how stuff works” network that explain everything from “how cranes work” to the “Tulsa race riots.” They’re good people that like to joke with each other so it’s not just straight boring facts.

That said, they aren’t experts and will sometimes read emails that correct things they got wrong lol

Man, I know. Especially when they go off the actual topic and start talking about some random shit while cackling like a bunch of dumbasses.

The only time they appeal to me is when the facehole flappers are genius comedians like Norm Macdonald or Tom Green. Tom was doing his own streaming live shows before Youtube existed and before most others had even realized it was possible.

I have one podcast I listen to like this because I know them personally, and it’s like hanging out with them. I need to have a hook to listen.

I like Making It with Jimmy DiResta, David Piccutto, and Bob Clegatt (I like to make stuff on YT) because they’re makers and youtubers. They do talk about random crap sometimes, but they also talk about making stuff and youtube and being middle aged with all those things in the mix.

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Not all podcasts are about pointless shit. Here are two guys talking about books:

https://www.ifbookspod.com/

I mean, it just comes down to entertainment ability. Some podcasts like Spitballers can talk about random stupid stuff and make it hilarious. Some podcasts just try that and…don’t quite pull it off.

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oh shit

so 99.99% of podcasts

Specifically why I’ve never successfully listened to a podcast.

40 minute podcast about [subjext] is 10 minutes of actual content, 30 minutes of riffing, going off on tangents, taking about their other podcasts, sponsors, talking about their next podcasts, talking about each other, their day, etc…

dudes rock

The only unscripted podcasts I listen to are D&D sessions

I think radiolab is largely unscripted and also they leave a lot in that other podcasts would edit out. Imo this all makes the show as good as it is. It feels more authentic to me than a show like freakonomics for example. It’s more like hanging out with several people who are mostly really intelligent and who ask good questions of others who can often provide smart answers. I love radio lab so much… just my two cents as to why it’s that good.

I appreciate the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast, which has scripted readings punctuated by the hosts talking about the story being read.

Two important factors that make it work: First, the hosts are knowledgeable and engaged with the topic, which means their commentary actually feels like it contributes something. Second, when they do start to ramble too long, the editing just hard cuts them off and goes back on topic.

Casefile is a slog. I think its fascinating but it will eat away at your soul after a while and the host knows it cause it’s everything he can do to stay sane.

The others are top tier podcasts but once you’ve caught up, if you last that long, it’s forever between releases.

Isn’t wait wait don’t tell me a game show?

Well there’s your problem. It’s partly scripted. They have an agenda to go through, but they do some improvisation.

It’s nice to be in a room with someone who knows their shit, and never actually talk about the shit they know about, and instead connect to them at a human level.

But that’s not useful for podcast listeners.

It’s a stable opportunity because of para social people.

I stopped listening to Second Wind’s podcasts because of this. 1h45 on a topic I’m interested in? Amazing! Turns out half of it is the hosts catching up with each other and reading chat.

In the end, people just like hearing familiar voices. If you trick people into getting familiar with your voice, it doesn’t matter what’s being said as much as it seems.

I’m the same way. I don’t mind tangents that lead up to, or remain adjacent to, the primary topic. But if they get into small talk I’m out.

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Love yourself, The world’s a hard, strange place. Keep your chin up. Don’t hate yourself for what you were born into.

When I was in my early 20s, I read this poem And it stuck with me .

Desiderata - Words for Life Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Ahhh, when I use to write fanfic I thought the same way but came to the opposite conclusion.

I am writing for me, I want to write it and read it, and I’ll throw this into the ocean of other fanfics and no longer care if anyone else wants to read it. If they do, it’s there for them.

Lol same. I think it’s probably because commenting is more like normal conversation; you’re responding to other people in ways that are specifically meaningful to the circumstances. Writing is sorta like talking to the void in my mind. I find I spend much more time thinking and checking and re-reading to make sure I’m appealing to my imagined audience, rather than just contributing a sentence or two to a conversation where the audience is a bit more concrete.

I forget the specifics and who came up with it, but: pick an amount you haven’t written before. Then, write that much without looking back. If you can set your word processor to only keep your current line visible, even better. Once you’ve written that many paragraphs or pages, do a fast edit. Use a timer so you can’t linger. Then write that much again with the same strategy. After 3-5 times, do a more thorough edit of the whole thing.

It’s not necessarily how you always want to write, but it can help getting over that initial confidence block as an exercise.

It’s so hard. I swear I try writing lyrics for songs. And the entire time I’m just like “God, I’m so bad at this. Nobody will like any of this” then I move on to a new song. Rinse and repeat.

Reporting in that I did, in fact, want to listen to it, and did so. Thank you for sharing your work!

Listening now with morning coffee, quite a pleasant start to the morning I don’t mind saying.

SoundCloud link is broken for me and it’s not on Tidal, but I’m vibing to ThassChill Vol.1 at work rn. Digging it, you got a follow

Jumping on your bandwagon, I made this alt just to post my music today because of this post.

I’ve been making ambient music since 2008 (and before, probably) mostly kept it on my computer or dumped it to various sites and did no promo work 👍

https://denizennomad.bandcamp.com/album/time-void

Trash taste

Joe Rogan