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Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by m_ke on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @11:10AM (#21574492)
90% of podcasts these days are just people rambling on without much thought while trying to sell you something. I have a feeling that most people who listen to podcasts do so for background noise, as a way inject some dopamine into their boring commute or routine chores.

I used to listen to podcasts a ton but switched to listening to lectures or conference talks.

Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by asdff on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @03:09PM (#21577709)
I'm not sure why you've picked up downvotes, it's exactly right. Most podcasts, just like youtube videos, have matured to specific lengths optimized for interspersed advertising opportunities.
Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by hombre_fatal on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @04:07PM (#21578302)
At the same time, the criticism is useless without knowing the podcasts someone is listening to.

Pretty big difference between listening to Wendy Williams vs, I don't know, philosophical debates and deep dives into history and all sorts of intellectually stimulating things. Most people I know including myself listen to the latter which is nothing short of welcome mind-expansion and I'm a more interesting person as a result of it.

People listening to podcasts or reading books really aren't the people I'm worried about in the modern era.

Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by m_ke on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @06:38PM (#21579593)
I mostly listened to software engineering radio, software engineering daily, talking machines, this week in machine learning, village global, freakonomics, econtalk and other similar tech and business shows.

Most of the content in those shows is still fluff and nowhere near as information dense as a lecture from Stanford or MIT. Take talking machines as an example, an interview with a guy like David Blei will be very shallow and watered down for the general audience, I'd much rather listen to him give a lecture at a machine learning summer school.

Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by stjohnswarts on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @05:04PM (#21578803)
What? My podcasts are all on subjects that I'm interested in and rarely (other than sponsored 1 or 2 minute ads that I can fast forward through) mention a product. What are you on about?
Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by m_ke on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @06:20PM (#21579447)
I mostly listened to tech podcasts like talking machines and econ/business stuff like freakonomics or village global. They all mostly follow an interview format where the guest is only there to promote something that they work on.
Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by y_tho on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @08:00PM (#21580141)
They are there because they have insight into a phenomenon they have studied and is being discussed, and they may have a book or something that further explains what they are talking about should the listener be interested. Should they not mention or promote their work?
Re:TikTok hits 1.5B downloads, outperforming Instagram by skinnymuch on Tuesday November 19, 2019 @08:43PM (#21580383)
Almost always the main guest is there to primarily plug something. They almost are never there just to discuss some findings.