Tweets

@devberkan That’s @DescriptApp!

@JackEllis @pjrvs @usefathom 🤣

@n8udd Exactly. 💯

@RikNieu We don’t need to convince every citizen: we just need to lobby governments to create the policy.

@HardwickNYC You’re wrong.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/climate-change-increases-risk-fires-western-us

🤯 “This summer marks the third time in five years that B.C. has seen more than half a million hectares burn in a wildfire season. In the 70 years prior to 2017, it only happened once.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-wildfire-summers-small-towns-1.6128606

We need to push our governments to create policy that dramatically decreases our carbon emissions.

“If we manage to rapidly cut our emissions, restore natural ecosystems and get better at preventing wildfires, we might put a stop to this cycle.”

https://time.com/6087748/wildfires-around-the-world-photos/

@iChris I was pooping when I read this thanks 😊

@RamliJohn Yup.

This happens in TV as well: Ted Lasso was a breakout hit not because of a huge ad campaign, but because people loved it and shared it. https://twitter.com/taylorbarada/status/1323888543131869185

@pjrvs @JackEllis @michaeldyrynda Lol. Nice.

Although, to be fair, that’s the same energy I have with @jonbuda. 🤣

“Justin, just chill for a second.” Hahaha

@theothercole @VoiceBlastsfm @meepsapp Help dozens of indie creators and founders succeed using the “indie stack:”

- web
- email
- Stripe

It’s going to be the hub that creators own. Then, they can choose to link out to other platforms: Discord, Slack, etc.

@JackEllis @michaeldyrynda Wait, @pjrvs: you started a company with a MILLENNIAL?!?

@theothercole @VoiceBlastsfm I agree that there’s a tension between bigger (centralized) platforms and indies.

Open protocols (RSS, email), and indie platforms (VoiceBlasts, @meepsapp) can help hold that tension. 👍

We bring balance to the force.

@michaeldyrynda @JackEllis Even if they start a gaming platform, they'll still have 209 million+ subscribers who just want to sit on a couch, do nothing, and be entertained.

* not interactivity necessary.

@theothercole @VoiceBlastsfm Indie creators have always had to do arbitrage on bigger platforms. That won't change.

But increasingly, indies are bringing that audience back to open platforms/protocols that they control (RSS, email lists, podcasts, the web).

https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1423451118089097226

@theothercole Getting into the top 0.001% has always been hard.

But here's what's interesting: indies *do* break into the top 100 all the time!

Shows like @DarknetDiaries, @lorepodcast, and @yourewrongabout have all accomplished it (even when competing again big megacorps™ with huge $$$)

Indie creators / podcasters will continue to rely on the two channels they’ve always used to grow their audiences:

- Word of mouth
- Doing arbitrage on bigger platforms

@AdamJRochette Lol. Nope.

I agree with @edzitron: https://ez.substack.com/p/clubhouse-is-the-big-stinker-that

Whenever I hear VCs and billionaires talk about "podcasting 2.0" they don't mean contributing to an open-source ecosystem where everyone benefits...

For them:

Podcasting 2.0 = "centralized platform we control and can monetize" 😡

@AdamJRochette One of the reasons I think platforms like Clubhouse and Fireside won't become popular is that... most rooms are not interesting to listen to.

Anyone who thinks billionaires (like Cuban) will be "good for podcasting" should read my piece here:

"VCs are particularly hungry for there to be a "centralized platform" for podcasting. That desire serves no one but VCs."

https://justinjackson.ca/podcasts-and-capital

@dohertyjf Totally.

I think on the creator side, we'll always be reliant on arbitrage to grow our audiences.

The best advice, for any content, is still: "make something that people tell their friends about."

https://twitter.com/Aazarshad/status/1423283771718000658

It turns out that most "call-in radio shows" are actually not that fun to listen to. 😬

https://twitter.com/AdamJRochette/status/1423445311897456640

@NateElliott BTW - have you tried @podysseyapp yet? Lots of good recommendations there.

Also, this recommendation thread on Reddit is good:
https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasts/comments/oy1xks/one_year_of_podcast_listening_thoughts_and/

@NateElliott I'm not convinced that centralized algorithms are the answer. 😉

https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1423445278598836224

Netflix is a $232 billion company that owns their centralized platform. They have some of the best algorithm engineers in the world.

And yet, people are still on Twitter asking for "Netflix recommendations."

It's possible that "more technology" is not going to solve discovery.

🎯 Yup, lots of people find out about new shows by... listening to their current favorites. 👍

https://twitter.com/DaronSpence/status/1423440838919589892

🎯 It's ok to for podcasts to be simple broadcasts.

When I sit down for Netflix, I don't want to interact.
When I turn on the radio, I don't want it to need more input from me.
When I listen to a podcast, I want listen while I'm doing the dishes.

https://twitter.com/JackEllis/status/1423438300350648320

🎯 Exactly. We need to ask: "what do listeners *like* about podcasts now?"

Why are we trying to change the central features of podcasting that make it great?

https://twitter.com/dragosilinca/status/1423438087799992320

🎯 Trading podcasting's open RSS protocol for "more distribution" is like making a deal with the devil.

The devil always wins.

These corps & VCs don't want to help podcast creators; they want to OWN podcast creators.

https://twitter.com/alex_sugg/status/1423437613097226240

We already have "Podcasting 2.0."

It's the ongoing effort to improve podcasting's RSS spec, with new metadata, new tags, and yes, new interactive possibilities.

Most importantly, it's open source:
#overview--libraries" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://podcastindex-org.github.io/docs-api/#overview--libraries

You want to make podcasts more like social media?

Have you looked at YouTube comments lately?

Have you seen how creators get penalized by centralized algorithms?

Most importantly: how listeners *actively* searching for these types of features?

(I haven't seen much evidence)

@dohertyjf How were blogs made "more discoverable?"

Lots of folks pushing to make "podcasts more interactive." ✨

Think about Netflix shows, the movies, audiobooks... how have these been made "more in interactive?"

Maybe... there are good channels for interactivity that listeners already use (Reddit, group texts, Twitter).

People keep talking about podcasting's "discovery problem;" but the people I know, who listen to podcasts regularly, seem to have no problems in finding new shows to listen to. 🤔

If anything, they have the opposite problem: too many good shows to listen to!

I'll go even further than Tom here. 🌶️

I'm not convinced listeners actually care about any of these things:

- making podcasts "more discoverable"
- making podcasts "more interactive"
- making podcasts "more social"
- the "podcasting 2.0" label https://twitter.com/webby2001/status/1423372126707453967

@thejonotron @joshuaanderton @meepsapp @ProductHunt YES! It can work for free communities.

That will be our lowest tier. 👍

@picsiechick @joshuaanderton @meepsapp @ProductHunt You *can* use it as a MailChimp alternative; but it adds a bunch more power:

- ability to take payments + have paid newsletter
- ability to have a directory for subscribers
- ability to easily link to other subscription perks like Discord chat (or Slack chat)

Ok. @joshuaanderton and I are so close to getting 500 people signed up to our early access list for @meepsapp on @ProductHunt.

🙏 Know anyone who's looking for a better way to build a membership site, online community, private newsletter?

https://www.producthunt.com/upcoming/meeps

@AndrewWarner @nevmed You should reach out to Justin Tallant at the @friendsinaustin podcast.

I’ll dm you his contact info. 👍

@ropetko Totally

@yongfook Totally. I need more of this in my life!

@theDevBee Totally. I need more of this vibe in my life.

@retromauro He’s got mega chill

@j_mcnally Lol. I knew there’d be somebody in the comments.

My son wanted to order a cheese pizza and eat it on a paddleboard lol 🍕

After weeks of wildfire smoke, we finally have some clean air on the horizon for #vernonbc! 🙏

@rezzz That’s what was causing my voice loss.

@derrickreimer @savvycal_ Nice work!

@rezzz Are you, by chance, on a puffer or allergy meds?

@jamesm Is this a fleet 😄

@Lascorbe That’s @DescriptApp!

https://transistor.fm/podcast-audio-video-clip/

@drewwilson @mwseibel For founders with an audience, crowdfunding seems like a better approach: up to $5 million per year; incentives seem more aligned for the founder, employees, and customers.

(Although, I've been critical of whether they're truly good for investors)

https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1371555374440980480

@iamtomelliot @spencerfry Sorry; I misunderstood you. I thought you were saying my critiques were "lame, broad generalizations." 😉

I've offered lots of examples of why I think VC has systemic issues. 👍

@iamtomelliot @spencerfry What's wrong with broad critiques?

A systemic problem in the underlying structure is going to require a critique that (broadly) challenges the whole system.

I personally wouldn’t take money from a VC who says “their only responsibility is to return money to their LPs.”

VCs should feel some responsibility for the founders they invest in.

VCs & founders also have a shared responsibility towards employees, customers, and society.

Money has strings attached, but not all capital comes with the same strings. 😉

The underlying structure of the relationship (the incentives, the governance, who controls the money, who has the social influence) will determine "how good of a deal" you get as an entrepreneur.

@chrisfosterelli Um. But doesn't this section feel like an abdication of that responsibility?

https://share.descript.com/view/diJtqeJq3v2

Yes!

VCs: start by acknowledge that you *do* have influence on the founders and startups you invest in (don't pretend it doesn't exist).

You can't have a healthy relationship if one party abdicates all of their responsibility from the get-go.

https://twitter.com/chrismessina/status/1422972054354096128

@chrisfosterelli @mwseibel Let's start with this: "it's important for investors to acknowledge and take seriously the levels of influence they have over founders they invest in, not just bizarrely pretend it doesn't exist at all."

https://twitter.com/tylertringas/status/1422970819932737537

@mattwensing @einarvollset @mwseibel @spencerfry I guess Steve Jobs was just a weak entrepreneur not ready to play in the majors. 😉

https://twitter.com/TylerMKing/status/1422968634704551939

🎯 VCs pretending that they have no influence on founders is ridiculous.

VC is still an "old boys club." They have tremendous influence on who gets deals, who gets subsequent rounds, etc.

https://twitter.com/tylertringas/status/1422966256832073734

@mattwensing @harriskenny @mwseibel Oh jesus.

VCs = governance?

You want to give the people with the money, the board seats, and the social influence in the Valley *more* power?

@einarvollset @mattwensing @mwseibel @spencerfry My point is that VCs *do* wield power and influence.

We can't say the founder is "100% responsible" or has "100% of the power" in this relationship. It's not true.

https://medium.com/s/understanding-venture-capital/if-you-take-venture-capital-youre-forcing-your-company-to-exit-fc08fcdb32cc

@tylertringas @mwseibel @csallen 🎯

In a healthy society, we need to identify and challenge power dynamics.

It's not OK for VCs to put all of the onus on the entrepreneur.

These structures can be fixed. Power can be re-balanced.

But not if VCs wash their hands of all responsibility.

@chrisfosterelli @mwseibel In a healthy society, we need to identify and challenge power dynamics.

It's not OK for VCs to put all of the onus on the entrepreneur.

These structures can be fixed. Power can be re-balanced.

But not if VCs wash their hands of all responsibility.

@mattwensing @mwseibel @spencerfry There are lots of real-world examples of these kinds of dynamics.

If you're not hitting the right growth numbers, they are incentivized to ask you to shut down (so they can write off the investment).

@mattwensing @mwseibel The term sheet doesn't tell the whole story.

VCs have the connections (and often the power) to determine if you will be able to raise subsequent rounds (or if you can be acquired).

That's power.

Putting the onus completely on founders is an abdication of responsibility by VCs.

@DanielZarick @mwseibel Except, VCs have the connections (and often the power) to determine if you will be able to raise subsequent rounds (or if you can be acquired).

That's a lot of leverage.

Putting the onus completely on founders is an abdication of responsibility by VCs.

@mwseibel Your example was to ask @csallen to take something valuable and throw it off a bridge.

That's a faulty analogy; that's not at all like the VC/founder dynamic.

It's not just "words" that have influence; it's capital, equity, board seats, social threats..

https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1422956748311248897

Capital is not neutral!

Money has influence; it introduces a power dynamic that many VCs exploit.

Michael is using a faulty analogy.

VCs don't just use "words" to influence you; they have real leverage over founders as soon as they invest.

"A lot of founders are fearful that investors are going to push them to make bad decisions."

@mwseibel: "I'll push back on that. Investors can't hold a gun to your head. If you're influenced by their words that's your inner weakness."

☝️ this rhetoric ignores power dynamics.

I've had @seanwes and @BretFisher jump on Zoom calls with me to give me advice on my AV setup. Immensely helpful.

Bret helped me fix this mic-camera sync problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtpxIVTr7jA

AV setups are finicky. More people should invest in improving their setup. 👍

@podse_io Nice! What areas are you looking in?

Business idea:

💰 Charge $200+
👩‍💻 for a 1-hour Zoom call,
📹 where you evaluate people's streaming setups (camera, mic, lighting, sound, room treatment).
✨ Give them practical tips to improve their setup.

@JamesCridland @jekyllrb Yup. Been there. https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/902960614577815552

@ajcwebdev @jonbuda @TransistorFM @jsonperl Thanks! 🙌

🤔 what’s Laurinburg, NC like?

$150k for a mid-century modern!?!!!

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13100-Blues-Farm-Rd-Laurinburg-NC-28352/126782261_zpid

Is venture capital bad?

Listen to my chat with @spencerfry and let us know what you think:

https://overcast.fm/+MBmUtJ7Bs

@chddaniel @joshuaanderton @meepsapp It's not official yet, but you can now sign up for early access to Meeps here:

https://meeps.app/

🇨🇦 So many amazing indie makers from Canada (or who have moved here!).

🗒️ I'm making a list; who else should I add?

https://twitter.com/i/lists/1199804081042182144?s=20

Just made it "@indiehackers official:"

https://www.indiehackers.com/product/transistor/hired-our-first-full-time-engineer--MgDJjiwPSE51J49o1bG

Jon and I are still focused on building a company that is:

- Small: no more than 10 people
- Profitable: good margins, low expenses
- Calm: not heavy, complicated, or a chore to run

@jonbuda @TransistorFM @jsonperl This brings the Transistor team to a total of 4 full-time people: me, @jonbuda, @HelenRyles, @jsonperl.

We believe that a small team can produce incredible software (in our case, podcast hosting & analytics), and provide the best customer experience in our industry.

Big day for me and @jonbuda, and our journey with @TransistorFM:

We've hired our first full-time engineer, @jsonperl! 🎉

https://transistor.fm/jason/

@jorgeluisrudo @profwolff But what’s the alternative?

@AndrewWarner @hunterwalk @Stammy I agree. It brought a dynamic to Twitter that Twitter needed: more human, relatable, personal.

@insideyourhead0 @TransistorFM That usually happens if you load the site during a deployment. You can refresh (or hard refresh) and it will load properly. 👍

@arvidkahl Welcome to Canada 🇨🇦🎉!

@RichJDSmith Haha.

Probably won’t be moving.

Kids are all set here (friends, school, etc)

The smoke definitely sucks, but with climate change lots of places will have problems.

@pjrvs IT’S A DEAL! 🙌

@profwolff But which system is demonstrably better than capitalism?

Is there no place for a “reformed capitalism?”

Indoor waterslide?

I’ll take it! 🙌

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/479-E-1450-N-Orem-UT-84097/11940123_zpid/

@SquadCastFM @EspreeDevora And @TransistorFM would be interested too!

@AlbanBrooke @PodcastMovement Canadian-USA border is still closed. 🤦‍♂️

Airport is closed because of wildfire smoke! 😩

Hopefully @TransistorFM will make an appearance next year. 🤞

Coming tomorrow on the @buildyoursaas podcast:

Spencer and I discuss whether "VCs are bad." 😜

Subscribe here to get it when it drops:
https://saas.transistor.fm/subscribe https://twitter.com/spencerfry/status/1415020244477808645

@startupvernon @HansSonOfGreger ❤️💐🌺🌼