1 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: Welcome to tech Stuff, a production from iHeartRadio. Hey there, 2 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: and welcome to tech Stuff. I'm your host, Jonathan Strickland. 3 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: I'm an executive producer with iHeart Podcasts and how the 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Tech Are you well Here in the United States. It 5 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: is the day after Thanksgiving, and normally I would serve 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: up a rerun on a daylight today because our office 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: is closed for the holiday. But considering I'm winding down 8 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: my sixteen and a half year long run on tech Stuff, 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: I thought instead I would do a timely episode to 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: talk about thankfulness and the gratitude I feel toward the 11 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: many people who have contributed to this show over the years. 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: And yes, there will be a lot of overlap with 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: that previous episode I did when I announced that I 14 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: was leaving the show. But starting off, the first person 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: I have to thank is Conall Byrne So. 16 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 2: Today, Connell is. 17 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: The CEO of the Digital Audio Group at iHeartMedia, but 18 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: back in two thousand and eight, he was the new 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: head of a little website called HowStuffWorks dot com. So 20 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: Connell came into the company and helped broker the deal 21 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: with Discovery Communications that would see how Stuffworks dot Com 22 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: emerge from being part of a private company that was 23 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: called the Convex Group and into becoming a component of 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,919 Speaker 1: Discovery Communications digital strategy. That happened in late two thousand 25 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: and seven. Now, those of y'all who have been listening 26 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: to tech Stuff for a while now know that ultimately 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 1: this relationship between Discovery and how Stuff Works didn't work out, 28 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: and Discovery would go on to sell how Stuffworks dot 29 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: Com to another company called Blue Cora several years later. 30 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: But none of that really matters here. So it was 31 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: Connall who came to me and to my editor and 32 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: my friend Chris Pollette and asked us if we would 33 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: consider launching a podcast focusing on technology. So Chris and 34 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: I talked about it and we agreed, and Stuff was 35 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: the result. Connell was willing to give writers and editors 36 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: a chance to create shows and to grow those shows 37 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: and shape them, even after we realized that using the 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: shows as a brand extension had limited success. Now by that, 39 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: I mean the original concept for all the podcasts under 40 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: the Stuff brand was to raise awareness for the website 41 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: HowStuffWorks dot com because we weren't monetizing podcasts or anything 42 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: like that at that point. But I'm sure you're all 43 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: aware or at least suspect that most people aren't likely 44 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: to take action on one platform after hearing about it 45 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: on a different platform. It's just tricky because you're not 46 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: listening to the podcast while you're also on your computer 47 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: on your browser. Keep in mind, this is two thousand 48 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: and eight. This is before people were using their smartphones 49 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: to listen to podcasts. Like, if you were listening to 50 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: a podcast, you were using probably iTunes to subscribe to 51 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: a podcast, and you would physically link your iPod to 52 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: your computer and transfer new episodes over to your iPod 53 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: so you can listen to them. It was a pretty 54 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: you know, clunky process at that point. And so if 55 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: you're listening on your iPad or iPod rather not even 56 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: iPad at this point, you're listening on your iPod and 57 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: someone mentions, hey, go to this website HowStuffWorks dot com 58 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: to learn more about it. Well, by the time you 59 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: get in front of a computer again, you probably don't 60 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: remember to do that. So it was entirely possible for 61 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: Connell to just pull the plug and say, you know, 62 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:36,839 Speaker 1: this was a good idea, but it's not working out 63 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: for us and we're not making money. So let's instead 64 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: use your time to write articles for the website. He 65 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: could have done that, but he didn't. He saw that 66 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 1: there was still potential value for keeping the show going, 67 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: and the shows did do really well, particularly Stuff You 68 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: Should Know that became an early breakout success story in 69 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: the podcast world and really resonate with lots of listeners. 70 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: So we were getting lots of downloads. Even if it 71 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: wasn't moving the needle that much on the website. It 72 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: was clear that what we were doing was having some 73 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: residents out there in the world. So Connall, let us 74 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: keep doing the shows. 75 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: Now. 76 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: Over the years, Connall would rise in the ranks of 77 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: Discovery Communications and we saw him less frequently around the office. 78 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: He did remain an important part of How Stuff Works, 79 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: but we didn't see him around quite as frequently. He 80 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: eventually moved to work in a virtual reality unit as 81 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: INN he was heading up virtual reality projects. He didn't 82 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: move into VR. He's not science fiction though he hasn't 83 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: been an actor in a couple of science fiction movies anyway. 84 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: How Stuff Works by that time had left Discovery and 85 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: gone through a couple of other changes in ownership, and 86 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: then over time he returned to become the head of 87 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: Stuff Media, so there had been a separation for a while. 88 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: But then Conall comes back and he takes the helm 89 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: of stuff Media, which had split off from how Stuffworks 90 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: dot Com. And not too long after that, I Heart 91 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: acquired stuff Media, and Connall has played an important part 92 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: in Iheart's digital strategy ever since. So I don't see 93 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: him that often anymore, at least at the time. I 94 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: don't know if it's still true, but he didn't live 95 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: that far from me. But I don't see him that frequently, 96 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: but he does make time to chat with us old 97 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: timers whenever we run into one another at company functions 98 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: and such. And again, without Connell, there would be no 99 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: Tech Stuff. So I am thankful very much for his 100 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: initiative and his support of the show. I'm also deeply 101 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: thankful for Chris Bollett, my former editor and co host 102 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: I went through. I went through a lot of editors 103 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: while I was at hou Stuffworks dot Com. I don't 104 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: know if that means I was a problem child or not. 105 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: I may have been. 106 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: One of my editors was one of the original hosts 107 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: of What would become Stuff You missed in history Class. 108 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: I went through like four or five before Chris became 109 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: my editor. Chris was the editor who would end up 110 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: spoiling me. So most editors, the way they work is 111 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: they receive a piece from a writer. They mark up 112 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: that piece and return it to the writer in order 113 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: for them to make changes, like if something doesn't make sense, 114 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: or if there needs to be more clarification or more detail, 115 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: or maybe there's just a mistake that needs to be fixed. 116 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: The editor returns into the writer and the writer makes 117 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: the changes. But Chris would just change the dang thing himself, 118 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 1: and he made my work better. And the same was 119 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: true for the podcast. He made that better too. Most 120 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: of our recording sessions were lots of fun. We would 121 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: sit across from each other that we would talk about 122 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: tech and we would make some jokes and references. I 123 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: would typically flip out over the fact that he had 124 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: never seen the movie Jaws, which is my favorite movie 125 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: of all time. He would talk about how he once 126 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: used to do things like go on tour with the 127 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: Indigo Girls. It was a great time. Of course, Chris 128 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: would eventually decide to change his career path and that 129 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: meant leaving HowStuffWorks dot Com and the show, but Tech 130 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: Stuff would not be what it is today without Chris 131 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: Pollette's influence. I still have a promotional poster of the 132 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: two of us, and it's hanging up on my home 133 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: office's door. And yeah, so I see Chris every day 134 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: I go to work because I see him. 135 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 2: On that poster. 136 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: Now, as I mentioned in my look Back on tech Stuff, 137 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: that episode I did not too long ago. I also 138 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: have to thank Lauren Vogelbaum. She had never hosted a 139 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: podcast before she joined Tech Stuff as a new co 140 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: host once Chris left the show, and she agreed to 141 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: be a co host, even though tech was not her passion, 142 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: that wasn't an area she was particularly interested in, but 143 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: she was eager to learn how to podcast. She wanted 144 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: to help me out because clearly I was in, you know, 145 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: a real state once Chris left. She worked very hard 146 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: for about two years on the show before she decided 147 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: she wanted to launch some shows of her own. She 148 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: wanted to create a space for herself, not just be 149 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: part of a space that other people had already created. 150 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: And I fully respect that. So from twenty thirteen through 151 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: most of twenty fourteen, Lauren did me a solid by 152 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: co hosting the show once she left, things got a 153 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: lot more challenging because it really was just me as 154 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: the host. I would reach out to my coworkers to 155 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: occasionally show up as a co host, but you know, 156 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: that was dependent upon people's availability week to week, and 157 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: that was never a guarantee. 158 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 2: So it was pretty rough. And for the last decade 159 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: or so, Tech Stuff has. 160 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: Been a solo host show. I've been the one person researching, writing, 161 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: and recording each episode. I'm not exactly sure how many 162 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,760 Speaker 1: episodes I did all by myself because we also have 163 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: stuff in the feed that includes like reruns as well 164 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: as fiend drops for shows like smart Talks with IBM 165 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: and the Tech Stuff feed, So I can't just look 166 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: at our publishing platform and say, oh, here's how many 167 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: episodes I did. Doing some rough math, it's somewhere the 168 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: range of one thousand, five hundred episodes all by myself. 169 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: And that is a lot y'all. And I should say 170 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: the all by myself part is a little deceptive. First, 171 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: I don't really do all of this by myself. Even 172 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: on episodes where I've chosen the topic, I have done 173 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: all the research, I've written my notes up, and I've 174 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: done all the recording. I don't do it all by myself. 175 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: I mean I might even do a quick edit pass, 176 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: but then I have to hand my episode off to 177 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: super producer Tari, who has been with me for several 178 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: years now. And I've mentioned Tari many times over the 179 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: years on this show, but she typically prefers to stay 180 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: off microphone and out of the spotlight. So now I'm 181 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: going to take some time to talk about my super producer. 182 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: So Tari and I are a great team. I mean, 183 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: it's just a fact. She is positive, she is silly. 184 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 1: I tend to be grouchy and cantankerous, and our interactions 185 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: have become a source of entertainment for many of our 186 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: coworkers because I will often get very grouchy toward her, 187 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: she will smile and laugh it off, and everyone thinks 188 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: it's the funniest thing. 189 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 2: Ever. 190 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: It's a great working relationship, and best of all, I 191 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: can always have the full confidence that Tari's going to 192 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: take care of the recording when I hand it off 193 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: to her. She has my full trust because she's proven 194 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: that she's capable of that. She's responsible and accountable, and 195 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: Tari and I have had several adventures together over the years. 196 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: She and I traveled a lot, especially back when I 197 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: was doing the podcast The Restless Ones. She can tell 198 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: you stories about traveling to places like Chicago or San 199 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: Francisco or Los Angeles with me, and I can talk 200 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 1: about how the two of us rode the roller coaster 201 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: on the Santa Monica Pear, though the version of that 202 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: story depends upon which of us you ask, because she 203 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: swears that I convinced her to do it, but my 204 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: memory is that she wanted to ride the roller coaster, 205 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: so I agreed to it. Both versions of the story 206 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: include the bit where she was praying to anyone who 207 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: would listen while we were on the actual ride. Oh 208 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: and they also had us go around the whole thing 209 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: a second time, which came as a bit of a 210 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: surprise to both of us. But more to the point, 211 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: Tari is the person we all have to thank for 212 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: tech stuff sounding as good as it does. She's the 213 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: producer that handles everything once I finished recording, So my 214 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: metaphorical hat is off to Tari. And as I mentioned 215 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: in that earlier episode where I looked back on the 216 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,599 Speaker 1: history of the show, I have had several other producers 217 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: over the years. Ramsey Yunt was another great producer. Ramsey 218 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: books some of the most interesting guests we've ever had 219 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 1: on the show, including Steven Lisberger who directed Tron and 220 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: Jess Royle and John Hilton who worked on the series 221 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: Stranger Things. Ramsey actively sought ways to mix things up 222 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: on my show, which was always really nice, and like 223 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: I said in that previous episode, there were lots of 224 00:11:55,800 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: others to think. Right, there's Jerry, the producer best associated 225 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: with stuff you should know, but she produced episodes and 226 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: tech stuff as well. Tyler Klaang, who's here in the 227 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: office today. He also produced several episodes. Matt Frederick and 228 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: Noel Brown and Elizabeth Johnston and others have taken turns 229 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: sitting in the producer's chair over the years. I also 230 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: need to thank all the producers who have stepped up 231 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: to produce the show during those times when my producer 232 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: needs to take a holiday or a sick day. That's 233 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: one of the wonderful things about working not just at iHeart, 234 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: but like throughout every iteration of the company I have 235 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: worked for. I've done the same job, but the company 236 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: has changed. It's that there's a real sense of teamwork 237 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: and caring for each other and stepping in when extra 238 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: effort is needed. Thanks to everyone who ever did that 239 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: to help keep the show going. All of them have 240 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: touched the show in various ways, and I'm grateful to 241 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,680 Speaker 1: all of them. All Right, the love fest is not over, 242 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: but we do have to take a quick break to 243 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 1: thank our sponsors. 244 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: Will be right back. So here we are. 245 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: We're back again, and the thank train is going to continue. 246 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: I have to say I'm thankful for amazing guests I've had, 247 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: like Shannon Morse and Ias Actar. Not just guests, these 248 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: are friends of mine, people I did not know before 249 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: I started podcasting, and whom I would end up depending 250 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: upon to appear on the show and be like a 251 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: phenomenal resource. Like they both have extensive knowledge and they're 252 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: great communicators, and they took time out of their schedules 253 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,959 Speaker 1: or to appear on the show. They also were incredibly 254 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: nice to me whenever I would run into them at 255 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: events like cees, because often I would be sent to 256 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: ces by myself, and y'all, I don't know about you. 257 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: I don't do so well when I'm all on my own. 258 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: I get kind of lonesome and like you can be 259 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: in a big crowd feel lonely, right like if you 260 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: don't know anyone, that can be a very isolating experience. 261 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: And I found cees to be pretty dawn ding. But 262 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: then I met Ias, and I met Shannon, and I 263 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 1: met others like Tom Merritt and folks like that Brian Tong. 264 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: These were people who were incredibly welcoming and friendly toward me, 265 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: and even those who had been working in communication for 266 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: years before I got started. They were generous with their time, 267 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: their expertise, and their friendship in ways that mean an 268 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: awful lot to me. And again, I think the show 269 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: benefited from that. I learned a great deal from these people, 270 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: and I'm so thankful that they were so generous with 271 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: their time and their skill and that they would agree 272 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: to come on my little show and talk about tech. 273 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: I highly recommend you seek out their work. If you 274 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: like tech stuff, then look for stuff that Ias Actar 275 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: and Shannon Morris and Tom Merritt are doing, because they 276 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 1: can continue to make incredible content that is in and 277 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: around the tech field. And some of it is more 278 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: product oriented, some of it is more sort of general news, 279 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: but it's all phenomenal work. So thanks again to all 280 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: of those wonderful people. I'm also thankful for our sponsors, 281 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: so again, for the first few years of our show. 282 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: If you listened to that earlier episode, you know, those 283 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: first few years we weren't monetized. And it's no secret 284 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: that without sponsors, without ads, without financial support, shows just 285 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't exist. Every podcaster I know personally is really passionate 286 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: about what they do, but that doesn't just pay the 287 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: bills on its own. I wish it did, but it doesn't. 288 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: So whether it's rent or mortgages, or food bills or 289 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: college funds or whatever it might be, we all need 290 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: to make a living, and sponsors and ads have created 291 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: that opportunity, and we've had a lot of great sponsors 292 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 1: over the years. It's also meant that on occasion we 293 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: end up being sent stuff to try it out, to 294 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: make sure we're willing to voice ads or do a 295 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: fully sponsored episode or an endorsement, and I can't tell 296 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: you how thankful I am for that as well, Like 297 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: these are companies that want to make sure that the 298 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: people who are reading ads are actually fans of those products, 299 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: and we've been incredibly fortunate to work with some really 300 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: thoughtful sponsors out there. Not long ago I talked about 301 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: Sons and how that company had sent me products to 302 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: try out. It's not lost on me how fortunate I 303 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: am to be in that position. And I'm going to 304 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: be real here, if I didn't already own a pair 305 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: of sos Ace headphones that they have sent me, that 306 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: would definitely be on. 307 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 2: My wish list. 308 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: I have used them every single day since I received them. 309 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: That and the so Nos move to speaker, I use 310 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: that every single day as well. They're both really great, 311 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: and you know, I love the fact that I can 312 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: use an app to select whatever I want to hear 313 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: on them, and I can work these different products together 314 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: so that they create a full sound system in my home. Anyway, Sorry, 315 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: I don't need to get off on a tangent, but 316 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,479 Speaker 1: that's just a great example of working with a partner 317 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 1: that makes really cool stuff and also supports the show 318 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: and makes it possible for me to create the show. 319 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: And I think there's some great synergy there. And it's 320 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: tricky to do. It's tricky to do ads and sponsorships 321 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: and endorsements in a way that's genuine and feels honest. 322 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,880 Speaker 1: It's not the most straightforward path for everybody. But I've 323 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 1: been so lucky that the sponsors I've worked with have 324 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,640 Speaker 1: been such a good fit. And also to that end, 325 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: I'm deeply thankful for our sales team here at iHeart. 326 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: So one thing that has been consistent for many years 327 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 1: at the Stuff Media House Stuff Works at iHeart is 328 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: that we've had a policy that allows us, the podcasters, 329 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: to actually decide which partners we want to work with 330 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: and which ones we would rather not work with. Pull 331 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,400 Speaker 1: back the curtain a bit. This is behind the scenes, 332 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,480 Speaker 1: but this is how the sausage gets made. We have 333 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: a project management tool where sales will upload new opportunities 334 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: and we call it vetting. We're vetting the ad opportunities. 335 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: So as the host, I would go in onto this 336 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,640 Speaker 1: tool and I would see, Oh, you have an AD 337 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: opportunity with company X, and you would read up on 338 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: company X. You'd read up on what the ad was 339 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: about and what messaging they wanted to give, and then 340 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: you would decide, Okay, am I happy to voice an 341 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: AD for this company for this product, or maybe you know, 342 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: do an endorsement, in which case they were going to 343 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 1: send me whatever it is they make and I get 344 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: to try it out and then give my honest opinion 345 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: about it, or maybe even a fully branded episode. Sometimes 346 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,120 Speaker 1: that was a case, but whatever it was, I would 347 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: get the chance to say yes or no, and. 348 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 2: If, for whatever reason, I. 349 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: Don't feel comfortable doing it, I can decline that offer 350 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: and that's it, which is huge because it means I'm 351 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: not being compelled to voice an ad for something that 352 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: I don't believe in. So there are certain types of 353 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: products I just don't support. I'm not going to go 354 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: into detail here what products those might be. 355 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: But if you've. 356 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: Listened to my show for a long time, then if 357 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: you don't skip the ads, and if you listen to 358 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: other podcasts out there, you can probably start piecing things together. 359 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: You can say, huh on other shows, I hear ads 360 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: for X, Y and Z, but I never hear them 361 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: on Jonathan's show. Then you can start drawing conclusions of oh, 362 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,640 Speaker 1: maybe that's just something that he doesn't want to voice 363 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: an ad for. Well, the whole reason why I'm able 364 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 1: to do that is because the company supports me in 365 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,679 Speaker 1: that approach, and I have a sales team that is 366 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: really understanding when it comes to that. Sometimes it can 367 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: be frustrating for them because they might be a big 368 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: sales opportunity. But if I say no, I say no, 369 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: and they don't, you know, really push back on that. 370 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 1: Occasionally they might ask for more information just so that 371 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: they understand, so that they don't bring opportunities that are 372 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: a waste of time to me. Right, they'll know like, oh, well, 373 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: that's not even bother asking Jonathan about that because it's 374 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: not a good fit. We'll go somewhere else. Ultimately, all 375 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: of these decisions are made to serve three purposes in 376 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: my view. Purpose one is to support the show to 377 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: earn money that allows the show to continue. Purpose two 378 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: is to bring things that I believe in as parts 379 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: of the ads for the show, so that you, the listeners, 380 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to hear about something that I think 381 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: is legitimately pretty cool or interesting or useful. And so 382 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: hopefully if you are in need of whatever that company provides, 383 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: it's enough for you to say, oh, let me go 384 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: try that. 385 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 2: Purpose three is. 386 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 1: That I want to be able to contribute to my 387 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: company without compromising my own beliefs, my own ethics, and ultimately, 388 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:51,199 Speaker 1: I'm very thankful that the show has allowed me to 389 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 1: do that. Now, y'all, I'm not gonna lie. I know 390 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: that ads can sometimes be a lot. I am also 391 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 1: a media consumer like you. I am also not crazy 392 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 1: about ads popping up all the time. But it's always 393 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: been my goal to do ads as well as I 394 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: possibly can, and moreover, to pick advertisers who align well 395 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: with the show and what I want to accomplish. So yes, 396 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: I get it from those of you who find ads 397 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: to be disruptive or distracting, but you know, it is 398 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: a requirement if we're going to have the show unless 399 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: we put it behind a paywall. And I don't like 400 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: that idea very much. Some shows can do that and 401 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: no shade on them. It just never felt like the 402 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: right approach for me, so I never pursued it. There 403 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: were opportunities to look at subscription based models, but I 404 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: didn't really want to do it that way. So I 405 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 1: am very thankful to all the sponsors out there who 406 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 1: allowed me to keep doing this show year after year. 407 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 1: And there's one other group that I'm thankful for, and 408 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 1: then I'm going to have to talk about. But before 409 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: I get to that, let's take another quick break to 410 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: thank those sponsors again. Gosh darn it, I just talked 411 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: about how thankful I am. Well, let's prove it be 412 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 1: right back. 413 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 2: Okay. 414 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: So there's one more group I've got to specifically call 415 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: out as people to whom I am thankful, and that 416 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: is all of you. I am so deeply thankful for 417 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: all of you listeners out there. Tex Stuff fans are 418 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: an incredible group of people. I've been fortunate to meet 419 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: a few of you in person. That has always been 420 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 1: a huge pleasure. Some of y'all have sent gifts. Sometimes 421 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: I get postcards. Sometimes I would receive hilarious photoshop fan posters. 422 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: I got a great Star Wars one hanging up in 423 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 1: my office at home. I remember getting cool wire art 424 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: sculptures from a listener who took metal wire and twisted 425 00:22:55,880 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: them into different figures and sent them to us. The 426 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: heck One listener once built me a custom ukulele out 427 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 1: of hardware supplies and even included an acoustic piezoelectric pickup 428 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 1: on the ding dang darn thing. That's insanely cool. But 429 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 1: whether I've met you or not, whether you've reached out 430 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: or just listened to the show, I'm so incredibly thankful 431 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: for you. Way back in the old days when Chris 432 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: and I were first sitting down to record the show 433 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: back in mid two thousand and eight. We had no 434 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: idea if anyone was going to listen. For months when 435 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: we started podcasting, we didn't know if anyone was listening. 436 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:41,639 Speaker 1: We didn't have any insight into the analytics, you know, 437 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: as far as we knew, we were just talking into 438 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: microphones for a couple of hours each week, and then 439 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 1: the file would go off into the void and that 440 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: would be it. 441 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 2: We would just do it again the next week. 442 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: But the audio to us was just just echoing out 443 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: there and that's it. But over time, gradually it became 444 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: clear people were actually listening, and in fact, on occasion 445 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: we would have people right in to talk about things 446 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: we said on the show, including famous people who would 447 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: sometimes write in, usually to correct me, which you know, 448 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: that's stung, but it was important. I'll never forget the events. Surf, 449 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: one of the pioneers of the Internet, one of the 450 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: architects for the Internet, who was one of the big 451 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 1: contributors for TCPIP. He wrote to me to explain how 452 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 1: wrong I was about some stuff in a very nice way. 453 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: I don't want want to come across and say that 454 00:24:32,040 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: he was being rude. 455 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 2: He wasn't. He was just being very clear. 456 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: And that's a humbling experience when someone who is responsible 457 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: for the very sets of rules that you depend upon 458 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: whenever you're using the Internet reaches out to say, hey, 459 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,239 Speaker 1: thank you for this show, but you got a lot 460 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:53,199 Speaker 1: of stuff wrong. You know, that's an experience these days, 461 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,479 Speaker 1: I'm well aware that people listen to the show, and 462 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: then I'm not just talking into a can as oh brother, 463 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: where art thou would say. So, that's remarkable, and I 464 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,439 Speaker 1: know that I haven't made myself particularly easy to track down. 465 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: Once upon a time, tech stuff had a fairly active 466 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,880 Speaker 1: social presence. You know, we still do have a Facebook page. 467 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: I just haven't really touched it very much in years. 468 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: Same with Instagram, Twitter, also the same. If I'm being 469 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: totally honest and vulnerable, it's because I reached a point 470 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 1: where being active on social media was taking such a 471 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: taxing effect on my mental health that I needed to 472 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: stop doing it. And I didn't have anyone else to 473 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: handle the social accounts for the show, so they kind 474 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: of died. And that's sort of send number one. With podcasting, 475 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: you know, if you're doing a good job with podcasting, 476 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: one of the things you want to do is create 477 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,719 Speaker 1: a space for your community so that your community can 478 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 1: connect with one another as well as to connect with you. 479 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: And I didn't really have the mind share to do 480 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: that over the last several years, and yet people still listened. 481 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,439 Speaker 1: And when I made the announcement that I was stepping 482 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,480 Speaker 1: away from the show, several people have found creative ways 483 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: to reach out and let me know what the show 484 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 1: has meant for them. And that is beyond remarkable because again, 485 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: I haven't made it easy to do that, and the 486 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,119 Speaker 1: fact that people still took the effort to find ways 487 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:22,719 Speaker 1: to get in touch with me and let me know 488 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: that says a lot about the impact the show has made, 489 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: which makes me feel great because obviously I don't get 490 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: up and just talk it to a microphone just because 491 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,719 Speaker 1: it's my job. I do it because I really believe 492 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: in it and I have a real passion for it, 493 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: and so to hear people respond well to that it 494 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 1: means the world to me. So for all of you 495 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: out there who have listened, whether it's to just one 496 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 1: episode or one hundred episodes or, bless your heart, a 497 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: thousand or more episodes, what are you doing but no, 498 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: thank you? It really means the world to me. And 499 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 1: we've still got new episodes of the show coming out 500 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: between now and when I step away in January of 501 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, so I'm looking forward to chatting with you. 502 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 1: Then hopefully we'll get a few special guests on for 503 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,200 Speaker 1: some of those episodes. That's what we're working on now. 504 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: In the meantime, I hope you are all happy, healthy, 505 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: and surrounded by your loved ones. 506 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,680 Speaker 2: I'll talk to you again really soon. 507 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: Tech Stuff is an iHeartRadio production. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, 508 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 509 00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.