iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

On the latest for Phonograph, Britta talks to Alex Kotlowitz, a documentarian known for his book There Are No Children Here, and we explore his quietly stunning body of non-narrated radio stories for Chicago Public Radio and This American Life. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

An Audio Mural with Alex Kotlowitz — Phonograph

On this episode, Rob and Britta explore the audio work of Alex Kotlowitz, a documentarian probably best known for his book There Are No Children Here , who spent years building a quietly stunning bod...

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Can't wait for the President's update on the cease fire situation, the ongoing wildfires, and the worst air pollution event in U.S. history.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

@romanmars.bsky.social I think there's a good chance you'd enjoy this episode of my show exploring the amazing career of Julia Barton, from Weekend America and DTFD to The Broadcast Clock and the history of why radio was free. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Julia Barton and the Invisible Clock of Audio Stories — Phonograph

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Julia Barton @bartona104.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

OK you guys I got the "This is Your Life" treatment — and it couldn't have happened on a better show. Get your Phonograph subscription on. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Julia Barton and the Invisible Clock of Audio Stories — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

@isaacbutler.bsky.social Based on the way you talk about culture on CultFest, I feel like there's a chance you'd enjoy my podcast Phonograph, and especially this one about a classic episode of @thisamericanlife.org. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Its Own Kind of Clock: "24 Hours at the Golden Apple" with Guest Joe Richman — Phonograph

Click here to subscribe on any podcast player

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

In high school, my co-host Britta Greene (inspired by @thisamericanlife.org's "24 Hours at the Golden Apple") tried to interview everyone at an all-night diner. We dig into that episode with Joe Richman of Radio Diaries, who produced one of its key stories. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Its Own Kind of Clock: "24 Hours at the Golden Apple" with Guest Joe Richman — Phonograph

Click here to subscribe on any podcast player

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Your chatbot seems witty because it drank the essence of a Gelfling.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I swear I almost messaged @michaelhobbes.bsky.social to suggest covering this book a month ago. As someone who was briefly red-pilled by the whole "cognitive skills" discourse when I left public radio to teach college writing, I've never been more grateful for a book's takedown.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I feel like there's not enough praise of audiobooks that have the perfect narrators. Some of my favs: Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (author) Sisters by Daisy Johnson (Daisy Edgar-Jones) Jesus Son and Train Dreams (Will Patton) The Trial (George Guidall) Dubliners (Andrew Scott) Others?

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

I feel like Birth/Rebirth is the most under-rated horror movie of the past decade. Such an incredible premise and the characters keep changing in relationship to each other right to the very end. And why is it *so* scary when the girl wakes up?

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Maybe @davidpierce.xyz would know if someone has tried this, but I’ve been wondering lately why we don’t have the option of video-free phones. No other restrictions on internet access. Full text and images. Podcasts. Music. Just no video. I feel like people would love that.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

@snell.zone I can almost guarantee you’ll enjoy this episode of my podcast about the history of podcast ads, including that time Cards Against Humanity asked a guy to review a series of toasters. Also featuring Lex Friedman and Casey Liss. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Knob Feel: The Story of the Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

@viticci.macstories.net Does it count as a clip show if the clips are all of John Siracusa reviewing toasters? www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Knob Feel: The Story of the Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

@hotdogsladies.bsky.social You might enjoy this episode of my show about the golden age of podcast ads, featuring your friend John and the story of ATP’s toaster reviews, but you should also know that you make a cameo appearance thanks to Casey Liss. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Knob Feel: The Story of the Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

On Phonograph, I talk to @lexfri.xyz about of the golden age of podcast ads, and then I turn to @johnsiracusa.bsky.social and Casey Liss for the story of how Cards Against Humanity asked John to review a series of toasters as a performance art ad campaign. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Knob Feel: The Story of the Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Seems like one of the biggest problems with AI is not that it’s not good at some things. It’s that it’s extremely difficult for most ordinary people to tell which things it’s good at. And the things it’s bad at are very bad for those same people.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

@davidpierce.xyz I have a strong feeling that you would enjoy this episode of my podcast about the history of podcast advertising and specifically the time John Siracusa reviewed a series of toasters on @atp.fm as an ad campaign for Cards Against Humanity.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

@gruber.foo I think you'll very much enjoy this episode about the backstory of the @atp.fm toaster review ad campaign.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

phonographpodcast.com

Knob Feel: The Story of the Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time — Phonograph

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John Siracusa @siracusa.social · 02/04/2026

Rob McGinley Myers and Britta Greene just released an episode of their podcast, Phonograph, about “The Greatest Podcast Ad Campaign of All Time,” featuring me and some other folks I know. pod.link/1438655330/e... overcast.fm/+ABTumP7B7PY beforeithadatheme.libsyn.com/knob-feel-th...

pod.link

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Every time I finish a draft of my podcast Phonograph, I go for a walk and listen to it, take notes on my phone as I walk, come home and make edits. I do this between 10 and 30 times per episode. Tonight I go for what I hope is the final walk with an episode I've been working on for almost a year. 🤞

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

@myke.social @snell.zone Loved the Rest Is History homage in the latest Upgrade! I feel like narrative is an underused tool in the arsenal of technology podcasts. And tech history is so fun!

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I had an adjacent AI/daemon thought recently: imagine a dystopian future (hinted at by Melania's robot) where all children are assigned an AI companion as infants: a model that doesn't just grow and learn with each child, but adapts specifically to each child over the course of their entire lives.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I love the idea of normalizing the promotion of indie art. To me, creating art feels like building a campfire, whereas promoting art feels like working a shift in a nuclear power plant. Mutual encouragement could help protect us from radiation sickness.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

I can’t think of another tv show theme song I have such nostalgic feelings for, without any memory of a single episode I actually watched.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

I accidentally took my son driving in North Oaks when he had his drivers’ permit. I didn’t even know it existed. But almost immediately I fully believed that if we pulled over and parked, someone would have shouted, “Send out the hounds!”

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Marc Andreessen strikes me as the kind of tech bro whose AI companion summarizes dozens of books for him a week. So much more efficient for packing in knowledge. I’m sure none of the nuance about “great men and women of the past” gets left out.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

@hankgreen.bsky.social Not sure why today's Decoder ep made me think you'd enjoy this, but just in case: some audio media criticism from two Twin Cities residents (and former pub radio producers) about ICE coverage, with clips of everything we talk about. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Found Footage Horror: Podcast Coverage of the Ice Invasion — Phonograph

Subscribe and listen on any podcast player.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

@romanmars.bsky.social You might enjoy this: my co-host and I listened to all the recent news podcasts on the ICE invasion, and we do something like a design analysis of that coverage. But since we also live in the Twin Cities, we have lots of feelings too. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Found Footage Horror: Podcast Coverage of the Ice Invasion — Phonograph

Subscribe and listen on any podcast player.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

@ryanhatesthis.bsky.social On this ep of my podcast, my co-host and I (both of us live in the Twin Cities) do heart-on-sleeve media criticism of how various podcasts have been covering ICE. You might enjoy our direct comparison of Panic World and The Daily. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Found Footage Horror: Podcast Coverage of the Ice Invasion — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Imagine if there was an AI company that was like, “We’re only going to train our models on high quality information. And we’re going to license it. Newspapers, books, magazines. Everyone who contributes to our models gets paid. And we have taste.” I feel like that could be a different thing.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

On the latest episode of Phonograph, Britta and I break down this past year's ICE coverage from @thisamericanlife.org, @panicworld.com, @fivefourpod.bsky.social, & more. Come for the heartfelt media criticism. Stay for my unhinged rant about The Daily. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

Found Footage Horror: Podcast Coverage of the Ice Invasion — Phonograph

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

My wife's least favorite podcast is listening to me talk about podcasts

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

There's a running joke in my house where my college-aged kids will ask if I've seen an old-ish movie, and, I'll say (assuming this is true), "Yeah. I saw it ... in the theater." And they always groan.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

I give my students two options: perform in live freestyle rap battles or improvise for the class (with a stringed instrument) sung Homeric poems about the material under discussion.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Are sanctuary cities to blame for authoritarian takeovers? www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/p...

nytimes.com

Can Trump Force Blue Cities to Cooperate With ICE?

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Reposted by Rob McGinley Myers

kottke.org @kottke.org · 03/02/2026

Podcast interview with two photojournalists who have been covering ICE in Minnesota. “It’s a conversation about what they’ve seen, the vital role of photojournalism at this moment, and the personal toll of doing this work.” [phonographpodcast.com]

phonographpodcast.com

To Show What's Going On: Photojournalists in Minneapolis — Phonograph

Listen in Your Podcast Player

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

A clip of the conversation my co-host Britta Greene had with two photojournalists covering Minneapolis, from the latest episode of Phonograph. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

@brihreed.bsky.social While working on this episode of my podcast, about a really moving conversation my co-host had with two photojournalists covering Minneapolis, I had your episode about local journalists in the back of my mind. So I thought I'd share. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

To Show What's Going On: Photojournalists in Minneapolis — Phonograph

Listen in Your Podcast Player

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

My co-host Britta Greene and I both live in the Twin Cities, so for our latest episode, Britta interviewed two photojournalists covering the situation in Minneapolis — a conversation about the personal toll of documenting what we're living through. www.phonographpodcast.com/phonograph/2...

phonographpodcast.com

To Show What's Going On: Photojournalists in Minneapolis — Phonograph

Listen in Your Podcast Player

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Reposted by Rob McGinley Myers

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 25/01/2026

A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

What do you ask someone about the experience of discovering that their parents are undercover agents for the CIA? @thisamericanlife.org:

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Ben Cannon @bencannon.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

The number of times I have said this exact line (including the Richard III reference, strangely) in the last year and a half is staggering. People’s whole demeanor changes when they know they’re being filmed! Video is not additive to the podcast experience. 100%. Full stop.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Really enjoying @davidpierce.xyz‘s podcast Version History, which mixes cultural history and cultural criticism on the topic of tech. The latest episode about the iPhone 4 might be my favorite yet, especially with this incredible moment when @reckless.bsky.social gives his take on smaller phones.

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Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

I’ve sometimes fallen into the trap of thinking that complementing a creative person for their work is less sophisticated or desired than discussion or debate about it but very often the best thing you can say to them is hell yeah and that doesn’t make you dumb it just makes you nice

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

So great to see @signalhillfm.bsky.social in @asarahlarson.bsky.social's list of the year's best podcasts. This episode of Phonograph about their show, including my interview with @jacksonroach.bsky.social and @lizayeager.bsky.social, is one of my favorite things Britta and I made this year.

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

The most harrowing essay you will ever read about driving 500 miles to visit family for Thanksgiving just after being diagnosed with depression in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis and then listening to an episode of the @newyorker.com Fiction Podcast. phonograph.beehiiv.com/p/this-is-it...

phonograph.beehiiv.com

This Is It

For the first entry of this newsletter about audio narrative, a story about how an episode of The New Yorker Fiction podcast basically saved my life back in 2008

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Rob McGinley Myers @robmcmyers.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Rewatching The Shining for the first time in a while and I suddenly imagine it cold-starting with Shelly Duvall’s chilling speech about her son’s dislocated shoulder. Cut the foreboding helcopter shit.

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