All posts by Todd Cochrane

About Todd Cochrane

Todd Cochrane is the Founder of Geek News Central and host of the Geek News Central Podcast. He is a Podcast Hall of Fame Inductee and was one of the very first podcasters in 2004. He wrote the first book on podcasting, and did many of the early Podcast Advertising deals in the podcasting space. He does two other podcasts in addition to Geek News Central. The New Media Show and Podcast Legends.

The Dark Side of AI: Trust and Information in the Digital Age #1752



A new report from Google experts warns that AI-generated content could distort reality and erode trust in digital information. The report highlights the misuse of AI for manipulation and profit, requiring minimal technical skill by bad actors. Google’s own AI Overviews feature faced backlash for inaccuracies, leading to decreased mobile searches. Despite concerns, AI Overviews did see engagement from users which questions is Google now leading the sharing or disinformation. Which raises serious questions

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Google Podcast is Dead



What a sad ending to another Google endeavor that has happened so many times. Honestly, I am not surprised, as they have a track record of experimenting at the user’s expense. Killing off products that did not meet revenue expectations from a business perspective, I get it, but from a user experience, I hate it.

The loved Google Reader of the past was canceled when Google could not earn ad dollars from it as millions of people could consume content on it versus a platform they could monetize.

When Google Podcasts rolled out, I had high hopes after many years of working to help Android users find a decent Podcast app through my companies, SubscribeOnAndroid.com product, which gained a lot of traction with shows encouraging Android listeners to follow and subscribe.

We are now making sure that the product is again viable for Android users as Google has essentially created an extinction event for a percentage of Android Podcast listeners. Google has adopted a scorched earth policy and brainwashes people into thinking that YouTube is the end-all for Podcast consumption. Sure, some big shows are being discovered on their platform, but for the majority, it could be farther from the truth than anything to come out of their mouths.

Podcasters, by and large, hate the YouTube channel integration and the bevy of rules they must follow, which they do not have to follow in the traditional podcast space. The everyday challenges of being on that platform exist due to cancel culture and strict content monitoring.

Google will monetize against all your content, while the majority of podcasters will get nothing, no new audience, and indeed no money, as it’s nearly impossible to monetize through YouTube’s extensive hour-long listening rules to qualify to monetize podcasts unless you make the break and become and do a YT first strategy and put in the work to build a YT channel.

The fabled “podcast” menu item on YouTube only has a handful of successful so-called podcasts; everyone else is nowhere to be found. The average podcaster has little chance of breaking out, as we learned from Spotify. They don’t care about the podcast space. All they care about is monetizing on the back of creators.

Google Podcast, good riddance; we don’t need you anymore. Podcasters are taking back the podcasting space we created and expanding it through the Podcasting 2.0 initiative and great new apps at PodcastApps.com. We must rely on something other than gatekeepers to help the podcasting space grow and thrive. We have to do it on our own.

At the recent Podcast Movement Evolutions, YouTube presented to about 500 podcasters, and it was the most “I love me speech” I’ve heard in many years, and from the post-presentation reaction, they did not win many hearts and minds.

Meanwhile, Google Podcasts has abandoned millions of listeners and caused an extinction event, causing podcasters to lose 4% of their audience almost overnight.

We already are hearing podcasters scream bloody murder who have their heads down, as many do not follow the day-to-day news. On the one hand, it is a bad day for podcasting; on the other, we know whom we can trust to go forward.


Blubrry Podcasting AI: Level up Your Podcast with AI



I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Blubrry Podcast AI Assistant (Blubrry PAI), a game-changing tool designed to streamline your podcasting process and enhance your content. Say hello to easier planning, production, and promotion, all powered by cutting-edge AI technology. I have been using the production tool here at Geek News Central for over a month, and the quality of the podcast and podcast episode posts is excellent.

What Makes Blubrry Podcast AI Stand Out?

  • AI-Driven Planning: Overcome creative blocks and align your content with audience preferences. Blubrry PAI provides insights from your episode goals, guest bios, and source material to help you craft compelling topics, questions, and scripts.
  • All-in-One Production: Simplify your workflow with an integrated dashboard that offers transcript creation, title suggestions, show summaries, episode art generation, and more—no need for extra services or special skills.
  • Automated Promotion: Amplify your reach with Blubrry PAI’s social clip creator and email campaign tools. Tailor your promotional efforts to each social platform’s unique vibe, ensuring your episodes get the attention they deserve.
  • AI-Media Clipping: (Coming Soon) Create promotional video clips tailored to each social media platform for maximum impact.

Get Started with Blubrry PAI:

Ready to elevate your podcasting experience? Blubrry Podcasting AI is available for all Blubrry hosting podcasters via a trial on the Podcaster Dashboard. Explore AI features and discover insider tips and tricks to maximize this powerful tool.

In a world saturated with podcasts, Blubrry Podcast AI Assistant gives you the edge to join the conversation and lead it. Whether you’re crafting your first episode or looking to scale your podcasting empire, Blubrry Podcast AI is your go-to for making every step of the journey seamless and impactful.


Hertz Puts Brakes on EV Expansion #1720



Hertz has halted its ambitious plan to expand its electric vehicle (EV) fleet, reversing its earlier commitment to acquire 65,000 Polestars and sell a significant portion of its Tesla EVs. This shift comes after the rental car giant faced substantial financial losses attributed to the rapid depreciation, high repair costs, and reduced value of its EVs. Despite initial enthusiasm for leading the EV market, Hertz’s change in strategy reflects broader industry challenges, including softer demand and financial sustainability concerns. The company’s decision underscores the volatile nature of the EV sector and marks a significant step back from its goal of electrifying a quarter of its fleet by the end of 2024.

We have a goal of 1500 listeners contributing $2.00 per month in 2024. We hope you will help us reach that goal to ensure GNC can continue to do what I do with this podcast and become a GNC Insider Today.

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Continue reading Hertz Puts Brakes on EV Expansion #1720


Tesla Model 3’s Suddenly Shutdown on Highway #1719



In North Carolina, a Tesla Model 3 owner, James Hanna, experienced a sudden and alarming incident on Interstate 277. While driving to pick up his son, the car unexpectedly beeped and stopped completely in the middle of the highway despite having a 60% charge. Hanna, unable to restart the vehicle or re-enter it after exiting due to a dead battery in the door mechanism, had to call for a tow truck. Imagine if your car came to a sudden halt on the highway.

We have a goal of 1500 listeners contributing $2.00 per month in 2024. We hope you will help us reach that goal to ensure GNC can continue to do what I do with this podcast and become a GNC Insider Today.

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Continue reading Tesla Model 3’s Suddenly Shutdown on Highway #1719


Google’s New Chrome Disclaimer Following $5 Billion Privacy Lawsuit #1718



Google has introduced a new disclaimer in Chrome’s Incognito mode following a $5 billion lawsuit alleging the mode’s misleading privacy claims. The updated blurb informs users about data collection practices, clarifying which browsing data is not saved and which Google can still access. This change comes after a federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed, which accused Google of violating privacy and wiretapping laws. The tech giant’s previous attempts to dismiss the complaint were unsuccessful, leading to a substantial settlement and these recent alterations to Incognito mode’s user notification. Special Music Artist Feature: Abbi Muir

We have a goal of 1500 listeners contributing $2.00 per month in 2024. We hope you will help us reach that goal to ensure GNC can continue to do what I do with this podcast and become a GNC Insider Today.

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Apple’s New App Store Tax Sparks Outrage Among Critics #1717



Apple recently updated its App Store policies, introducing a 27 percent commission on alternative payment methods, following the Epic v. Apple court ruling. This move has drawn criticism from major players like Spotify and Epic Games. Spotify’s spokesperson, Jeanne Moran, expressed dissatisfaction, calling it a tactic to protect Apple’s profits. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney labeled the policy as anticompetitive and harmful to price competition. The Coalition for App Fairness also criticized the policy for not promoting consumer choice or competitive pricing. Similar policies by Apple in the Netherlands and South Korea have faced regulatory pushback and fines.

We have a goal of 1500 listeners contributing $2.00 per month in 2024. We hope you will help us reach that goal to ensure GNC can continue to do what I do with this podcast and become a GNC Insider Today.

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Continue reading Apple’s New App Store Tax Sparks Outrage Among Critics #1717