I really enjoyed the latest episode about "Social Studies." I don't have kids so I wouldn't necessarily be interested in watching the series, but I found the discussion fascinating.
I personally like it when podcasts I enjoy take breaks (e.g. Normal Gossip and You Must Remember This). The last thing I want is for the creators whose work I cherish to burn out.
I really, really love the deep dives like with the all-American barbecue scrubber. Interesting and also so relevant to our future.
I’m not gonna lie I really do miss yes yes no. It was so fun to listen to you guys pick a part and explain a tweet that made no sense to me. I found it so delightful.
The bbq scrubber episode is the kind of podcast episode I send to my Dad; interesting, informative, a bit of fun while being to the point. In short, a perfect podcast episode.
PJ- from a business / financial perspective, the best thing you can do is cultivate more paid (incognito mode) members. And the best way to do that is to put up a paywall on one episode a month.
Lots of freeloaders out there will freeload if they’re able, but pay if they must. It’s human nature.
You can also offer free memberships to anyone who claims a financial hardship, a la Sam Harris, Blocked & Reported, and I’m sure others.
Ads suck. Paying subscribers rock. Ditch the former and lean into the latter.
Eh I like this model. I'm a subscriber, my good friend I discuss the episodes with isn't, but she has an enormous social media reach and has posted multiple episodes, so just from a growth category it's beneficial to do this
Also with all my patreons and such, I really subscribe more to support what I like, not to unlock
I loved the first season of the show and I became a paid member as soon as I could. And I shared many episodes with friends. And then something changed, without any acknowledgement of the change until, as far as I know, this note where you name that some of the shows will be "some pretty straight interviews".
That's fine, in itself, but I have to say that it's not what I signed up for.
I love your deep dives and I kind of think that's who you are. For example, I love Ira Glass and am curious enough that I'd listen to an interview with him, but an interview with Ira does not answer the question "Is it okay to just work all the time?" And I would really appreciate it if you actually tried to answer that question.
You know?
I'm sharing this for two reasons: one is that I've been wanting to but didn't know when/where and the second is that you're announcing a change with some financial risk and I want to let you know I am considering cancelling my subscription. I want your deep dives, the original search engine. That's what makes you special and it's why I ran to be a subscriber and I will happily take fewer shows.
But as fascinating as your interviewees are, I can go and listen to those people in other places too, and no single author or expert can answer a true Search Engine question.
Thanks for the note, Gordon. I like feedback, including from disappointed people. I interpret it as meaning you care.
I will say that from my perspective as a person making Search Engine, I don't know that I can agree that the show has changed in the way you're describing.
Meaning, the show was designed to be a hybrid at its outset. Our preview episode "How sad are the monkeys in the zoo?" was a pretty straight interview. Our third episode ever, "How do I find new music when I'm old and irrelevant?" was the same format as the Ira episode. The fourth episode was an interview with Andrew Leland with no writing at all! I could go on but I'm boring myself.
Sruthi and I really truly love interview shows. Really, truly. It's most of what both of us listen to. I think part of the power of podcasting can be in deep, intimate conversations between two people. And many of our most popular episodes, and the ones that get the most emails, are those interview episodes.
We're always going to do narrative, too. And this new cadence lets us, if we want, chase some deeper, weirder deep dives. But the interview part of the show is a feature not a bug. I hope you stick around, and I appreciate your note.
FWIW, as a listener from the first hour (and Reply All before that), I agree. I have appreciated the transparency from the very beginning that this was going to be a blended show, with some investigative reporting and some 'simpler' episodes, and I have not noticed any changes in this respect (other than some periodic adjustments in the frequency). I personally appreciate all formats this show does (the interviews are not "just interviews." They're good interviews!), but even if I didn't, surely listeners can understand that a podcast run by a small staff can't put out an episode that takes months to produce every week or even every month!
Anyway, thanks for the transparency in this post as well.
Thanks PJ, I appreciate the response and I believe you of course, (and therefore stand corrected) when you say this is not a change and is part of the show's DNA.
A more appropriate framing of my feedback is probably that I see unique value (i.e. your USP or value proposition) in the deeper, search-y-er, weirder content (chicken bones anyone?!). I really feel that's where you stand out and set the bar (given you appear to have spawned copy-cat podcasts at this point!)
In fairness I've been listening to you since early days of TL;DR so the chances of me not sticking around are pretty slim...
Gordon question that I mean in a legit curious way, no judgement: do you hang out on the subreddit?
Anyone I've discussed the podcast with really enjoys it and we have great convos about it; every few months after I really like an episode I check the subreddit, and it's like 95% negativity. I've wondered how many people have come out of an episode liking it, going on the subreddit, then going like "oh yeah, that sucked"
I’m surprised that just 3 of you have managed such high caliber production at this pace for so long, thank you all for your hard work on the show. And thank you for being open and honest - it’s one of the best parts of the show, you are real people and not just characters.
One suggestion on your “rerun” episodes…. Don’t just repost them as-is. When I see those from other shows I just hit the “mark as played” button. In this world of too many podcasts I just don’t have the time or will to listen to it again. Please take just a bit of time to add in a small update to the situation since the original airing. You know, re-search it. 😉.
I really enjoyed the latest episode about "Social Studies." I don't have kids so I wouldn't necessarily be interested in watching the series, but I found the discussion fascinating.
I personally like it when podcasts I enjoy take breaks (e.g. Normal Gossip and You Must Remember This). The last thing I want is for the creators whose work I cherish to burn out.
I really, really love the deep dives like with the all-American barbecue scrubber. Interesting and also so relevant to our future.
I’m not gonna lie I really do miss yes yes no. It was so fun to listen to you guys pick a part and explain a tweet that made no sense to me. I found it so delightful.
The bbq scrubber episode is the kind of podcast episode I send to my Dad; interesting, informative, a bit of fun while being to the point. In short, a perfect podcast episode.
I have been delighted by the reported episodes such as the Berghain saga. I will gladly trade some frequency for that level of gleaming detail!
the weekly podcast release schedule was amazing but I have no idea how y'all did that. so it totally makes sense to go to a more moderate schedule!
also Search Engine podcast was in my dream last night... congrats?
PJ - Quality over quantity wins every time! Love this show, love where it's come from and where it's heading :)
It's such a treat to hear the great work you're doing and that you all are thriving! Congrats on hitting the milestone!
Thanks for sharing all this detail, PJ! Wishing good things for you and the podcast.
PJ- from a business / financial perspective, the best thing you can do is cultivate more paid (incognito mode) members. And the best way to do that is to put up a paywall on one episode a month.
Lots of freeloaders out there will freeload if they’re able, but pay if they must. It’s human nature.
You can also offer free memberships to anyone who claims a financial hardship, a la Sam Harris, Blocked & Reported, and I’m sure others.
Ads suck. Paying subscribers rock. Ditch the former and lean into the latter.
Sincerely,
Some rando
Eh I like this model. I'm a subscriber, my good friend I discuss the episodes with isn't, but she has an enormous social media reach and has posted multiple episodes, so just from a growth category it's beneficial to do this
Also with all my patreons and such, I really subscribe more to support what I like, not to unlock
Thanks for the update.
I have thoughts, and you might not like them.
I loved the first season of the show and I became a paid member as soon as I could. And I shared many episodes with friends. And then something changed, without any acknowledgement of the change until, as far as I know, this note where you name that some of the shows will be "some pretty straight interviews".
That's fine, in itself, but I have to say that it's not what I signed up for.
I love your deep dives and I kind of think that's who you are. For example, I love Ira Glass and am curious enough that I'd listen to an interview with him, but an interview with Ira does not answer the question "Is it okay to just work all the time?" And I would really appreciate it if you actually tried to answer that question.
You know?
I'm sharing this for two reasons: one is that I've been wanting to but didn't know when/where and the second is that you're announcing a change with some financial risk and I want to let you know I am considering cancelling my subscription. I want your deep dives, the original search engine. That's what makes you special and it's why I ran to be a subscriber and I will happily take fewer shows.
But as fascinating as your interviewees are, I can go and listen to those people in other places too, and no single author or expert can answer a true Search Engine question.
Thanks for the note, Gordon. I like feedback, including from disappointed people. I interpret it as meaning you care.
I will say that from my perspective as a person making Search Engine, I don't know that I can agree that the show has changed in the way you're describing.
Meaning, the show was designed to be a hybrid at its outset. Our preview episode "How sad are the monkeys in the zoo?" was a pretty straight interview. Our third episode ever, "How do I find new music when I'm old and irrelevant?" was the same format as the Ira episode. The fourth episode was an interview with Andrew Leland with no writing at all! I could go on but I'm boring myself.
Sruthi and I really truly love interview shows. Really, truly. It's most of what both of us listen to. I think part of the power of podcasting can be in deep, intimate conversations between two people. And many of our most popular episodes, and the ones that get the most emails, are those interview episodes.
We're always going to do narrative, too. And this new cadence lets us, if we want, chase some deeper, weirder deep dives. But the interview part of the show is a feature not a bug. I hope you stick around, and I appreciate your note.
PJ
FWIW, as a listener from the first hour (and Reply All before that), I agree. I have appreciated the transparency from the very beginning that this was going to be a blended show, with some investigative reporting and some 'simpler' episodes, and I have not noticed any changes in this respect (other than some periodic adjustments in the frequency). I personally appreciate all formats this show does (the interviews are not "just interviews." They're good interviews!), but even if I didn't, surely listeners can understand that a podcast run by a small staff can't put out an episode that takes months to produce every week or even every month!
Anyway, thanks for the transparency in this post as well.
Thanks PJ, I appreciate the response and I believe you of course, (and therefore stand corrected) when you say this is not a change and is part of the show's DNA.
A more appropriate framing of my feedback is probably that I see unique value (i.e. your USP or value proposition) in the deeper, search-y-er, weirder content (chicken bones anyone?!). I really feel that's where you stand out and set the bar (given you appear to have spawned copy-cat podcasts at this point!)
In fairness I've been listening to you since early days of TL;DR so the chances of me not sticking around are pretty slim...
Gordon question that I mean in a legit curious way, no judgement: do you hang out on the subreddit?
Anyone I've discussed the podcast with really enjoys it and we have great convos about it; every few months after I really like an episode I check the subreddit, and it's like 95% negativity. I've wondered how many people have come out of an episode liking it, going on the subreddit, then going like "oh yeah, that sucked"
Oh no, that sounds awful!
No I haven’t been there. Now I feel defensive and want to go there to argue for the episodes I love!!
I’m surprised that just 3 of you have managed such high caliber production at this pace for so long, thank you all for your hard work on the show. And thank you for being open and honest - it’s one of the best parts of the show, you are real people and not just characters.
One suggestion on your “rerun” episodes…. Don’t just repost them as-is. When I see those from other shows I just hit the “mark as played” button. In this world of too many podcasts I just don’t have the time or will to listen to it again. Please take just a bit of time to add in a small update to the situation since the original airing. You know, re-search it. 😉.