What they
saw coming.

Questions whether platforms even fully understand or control how their own algorithms behave, and notes that reaching 'the top' of rankings gets self-reinforcing exposure.

2018 observation that platforms may not understand or control their own recommendation algorithms.

Why does Lucy Green prefer an email list over relying solely on Instagram followers?

She says an email list is an owned asset you fully control, unlike social platforms where algorithms can change, accounts can be hacked, or platforms may start charging businesses to reach followers.

Owned email lists over rented platform audiences — now standard creator advice.

Josh describes writing a blog post around 2012-2013, while working in radio, predicting that Spotify would eventually add spoken-word/podcast content, which Tommy says reads as prescient today.

Josh's circa-2012 blog post predicting Spotify would add spoken-word/podcasts, recalled on ep743.

“You hand over your catalogue to Spotify, and in 5 years you're no longer hosting it because they've worked out how to take all of your episodes and create compelling content.”

Platform-dependency warning about handing a podcast catalogue to Spotify, September 2020.

Rogan is no longer truly independent once a platform like Spotify can control distribution and algorithmic push, even without direct editing.

On Rogan's Spotify deal: distribution control ends independence even without editing.

Internal employee pressure at a company that brands itself as 'woke' could realistically push Spotify toward some version of content moderation or trigger warnings, regardless of the financial investment.

Predicted internal Spotify pressure would push toward moderation of Rogan; the Rogan content controversy followed in 2022.

“Joe Rogan could change an election like that. Like, that's like, I really believe that to be true.”

Josh on podcast influence at scale, September 2020.

The issue isn't commercialisation itself but the emergence of monopolies/duopolies (Spotify, Apple, Amazon) that concentrate control over distribution and advertising, and creators should build independent, owned infrastructure rather than accept this as inevitable.

Argues the threat is platform monopolies, not commercialisation; creators should build owned infrastructure.

Why does Josh Janssen think Spotify and other big platforms are a risk for independent podcasters?

Josh argues that platforms like Spotify (which bought podcast host Anchor) are moving toward controlling ad rates (CPM) and ad insertion without creator input, similar to what happened with YouTube monetisation, so podcasters risk losing control over their content and revenue if they rely solely on these platforms.

Predicted Spotify/Anchor would centralise ad rates and insertion the way YouTube monetisation did.

“There will be a whole chapter on the death of the open web.”

Seth Godin on the show in October 2020, predicting how historians will describe platform centralisation.

Views the shift toward platforms like Spotify as a step toward walled gardens and lock-in reminiscent of Google Reader's shutdown of blogs; favours open, intermediary-free RSS/podcasting even though it's less convenient, predicting historians will write about 'the death of the open web.'

Godin's full position: Spotify-style lock-in echoes Google Reader killing blogs; favours open RSS podcasting.

Expresses concern that raising these platform-risk issues makes podcasters seem like out-of-touch 'fuddy-duddies' with no commercial viability, while acknowledging the risk is real and most people aren't connecting the dots (citing The Social Dilemma).

Tommy's response to Godin: the platform risk is real but raising it makes podcasters look uncommercial.

“The algorithm is controlling what we're thinking about.”

Views it as worrying in principle, a step toward 'pay your way' into visibility that could set a troubling precedent for how podcasts and creators might be treated.

On Spotify's 2020 tool trading algorithmic boost for lower royalties.

Frames it bluntly as a profit mechanism for the company, agreeing fresh/young creators are unlikely to benefit.

Same Spotify royalties-for-reach discussion, ep905.

Argues playing the algorithm's game (dancing, templated reels, clickbait thumbnails) homogenises creativity and pulls people away from their actual values, even though it's tempting because it's the fastest path to visibility and revenue.

The 'finite game' of platform algorithms homogenising creativity, early 2021.

TV won't die but will evolve into a streaming delivery model rather than disappearing, citing Channel 7 and Foxtel's streaming investments.

Trevor Long, 2018: TV evolves into streaming delivery rather than dying.

“The, um, I've called it, radio's dead.”

Josh's 'radio's dead' call, episode 111 (mid-2018).

Declares 'radio's dead' after Google Maps outperformed live radio traffic reports, arguing Google Maps, Spotify streaming, and podcasting have overtaken radio's usefulness.

Pushes back, arguing short-form (e.g., Instagram Stories) remains extremely effective and that the shift is more about monetization catching up than short-form disappearing; believes all content types will coexist.

2018 pushback on 'short-form is dying' — predicted all content types would coexist, with monetisation catching up.

Believes formats will eventually disintegrate into a single delivery system, predicting platforms like YouTube will add audio-optimised live-streaming so podcasting can replicate radio features like calls and licensed music.

2019: predicted formats would converge and YouTube would add audio-optimised live streaming for podcasts — before YouTube's podcast push.

Agrees the distinction is blurring but notes the gatekeeping cost of radio (licensing, expensive studio setups) is currently a key differentiator that podcasting lacks.

Jack Post's counterpoint: radio's gatekeeping cost was the remaining differentiator.

Mainstream radio and TV are being replaced by individually curated content; filming/distributing content online drove his actual ticket sales, not the radio broadcast itself.

Guest Lewis Spears, 2019: individually curated online content replacing mainstream radio/TV.

“I think the future of radio is shows. It's shows. It won't be breaking songs or music formats and stuff. I think the future of radio will be like Netflix. It'll be shows all the time.”

Radio host Jase Hawkins predicting radio's future as Netflix-style shows, not music formats.

What does Zach Sang think is the future of radio and podcasting?

He argues content will always be king regardless of delivery system; as Wi-Fi and autonomous vehicles change in-car listening, radio brands and personalities will persist but should distribute content across as many platforms (YouTube, Instagram, streaming) as possible to reach audiences.

US radio host Zach Sang on in-car listening changing with Wi-Fi and autonomous vehicles.

Pessimistic/uncertain — believes digital media and podcasts are reshaping listening habits, and that local-content compliance rules protecting regional breakfast shows could eventually be relaxed, undermining regional radio's viability, though strong networks like Jason PJ that also succeed in podcasting will likely endure.

Regional radio host on digital media reshaping listening habits and regional radio viability.

Believes the pandemic will permanently accelerate the shift toward releasing films for home viewing much sooner after (or instead of) theatrical release, based on strong early results from films like Onward and Invisible Man.

Early 2020: predicted the pandemic would permanently shorten theatrical release windows.

Believes commercial FM radio will not return to its previous state, citing layoffs, JobKeeper reliance, and restructuring across SCA, Channel 10, Nova and KIIS, though advertisers may eventually return.

Christian Hull, 2020: commercial FM radio would not return to its pre-COVID state.

What is deepfake technology as discussed on The Daily Talk Show?

Tommy explains deepfake as a technology, originating from a Reddit/4chan user, that uses thousands of sampled photos of a person's face from different angles to render realistic fake videos, including superimposing celebrities' faces onto other footage such as adult films.

Deepfakes explained to a general audience in episode 16, February 2018.

How do Josh and Tommy view Uber drivers and the threat of driverless cars?

Tommy argues Uber is currently incentivizing drivers because it needs them, but predicts the company will replace them once driverless cars are viable (he once told a Sydney Uber driver this might happen within 3-5 years), raising broader questions about how businesses balance profit with worker welfare.

2018: predicted Uber would replace drivers once driverless cars became viable.

Believes major job loss from automation is imminent and serious, and that universal basic income may become necessary; was dismissed by government-affiliated panelists who downplayed the risk.

Envato co-founder on automation-driven job loss and universal basic income, 2019.

Dystopian prediction: as machines take over repetitive jobs, the market itself will stop caring about creative, unique products and will settle for cheap, predictable, mass-produced content instead.

2019: predicted markets might settle for cheap, mass-produced content as machines take over — pre-generative-AI.

Technology makes mass repetition easier, but that very ubiquity increases the value of handcrafted, unique, imperfect work (e.g. artisan knives) as a differentiator and status marker.

Counter-prediction: ubiquity of machine output raises the value of handcrafted work.

Argues it's more about long-term efficiency and reliability, with automation gradually replacing human workers regardless of current profit framing.

2020: automation gradually replacing human workers regardless of profit framing.

Having worked remotely for almost three years, he wonders if forced remote work during the pandemic will make it more broadly accepted by big businesses.

Guest Peter Shepherd, March 2020, in the first week of lockdown.

Believes employment has always been a 'false security' and that the crisis is accelerating an inevitable shift toward freelance, output-based, more flexible work.

March 2020: predicted an accelerating shift toward freelance, output-based, flexible work.

What do Josh and Tommy think about working from home during COVID-19?

Both describe it largely as a positive 'reset' — Tommy says he feels more productive and has gained time by skipping the commute, while Josh argues the crisis is forcing a long-overdue rethink of employment security, output-based management, and the traditional 8-hour workday.

March 2020 episode on WFH as a forced rethink of the 8-hour workday.

Remote work shifts are just an acceleration of existing trends, not a radical change; the bigger concern is the vulnerability exposed in gig-economy workers and how society supports mass unemployment with compassion.

Michael Bungay Stanier framing remote work as acceleration, with gig-worker vulnerability the bigger story.

Speculates many businesses will reconsider the need for large office spaces and in-person staff after seeing remote work function effectively during the pandemic.

Ben Fordham, 2020: businesses would reconsider large office footprints.

What do the hosts think work will look like after lockdown ends?

Josh argues lockdown forced a reframe that makes remote work and new ways of working easier to justify going forward, while Tommy predicts many larger businesses with leases and in-person staff will return to traditional office setups as soon as legally possible.

The hosts' split call on post-lockdown work — hybrid reality vindicated parts of both.

Believes the next big cultural/content buzzword will be around 'disconnection' from devices and a growing distinction between virtual and real-world life.

2018: predicted 'disconnection' from devices would be the next cultural buzzword.

What is Tommy Jackett's prediction for 2019 in terms of social media trends?

Tommy predicts 2019 will be 'the year of getting off social media,' as people realize that 2018's trend of posting personal flaws for authenticity didn't bring satisfaction.

Tommy's prediction for 2019: 'the year of getting off social media'.

“Mate, just join my TikTok, it's the future. Did you enjoy this?”

Dan Ilic in 2019, on TikTok before its mainstream explosion.

Suggests the next major cultural shift might not be a new app at all, but people simply quitting social media and apps altogether.

Predicted the next shift after Instagram might be quitting social apps altogether.

Enthusiastic that Clubhouse has 'gone zeitgeisty' and become genuinely popular with high-profile users, seeing it as a fun, sticky new format worth exploring.

January 2021, Clubhouse at its peak: Josh bullish.

More skeptical/neutral, noting that any new app's success depends on getting enough users and questioning whether it's primarily a 'movers and shakers' platform.

January 2021: Tommy's scepticism about Clubhouse aged well.

What is dual-SIM/eSIM technology and will it work in Australia with the new iPhones?

The new iPhones support a physical SIM plus a built-in eSIM that's activated via software, letting users run two numbers or carriers on one phone. Trevor Long predicts Australian telcos (who control eSIM activation) will resist enabling this quickly to avoid losing revenue, estimating it won't be available until mid-next year at the earliest.

Trevor Long, 2018: Australian telcos would resist eSIM activation to avoid losing lock-in.

Josh recounts a years-long running argument with his brother James that began when Apple launched its first Apple Watch; Josh predicted Fitbit would struggle without expanding beyond basic accelerometer tech, and now treats Google's $2.1 billion purchase of Fitbit as vindication.

Josh's years-long Fitbit-vs-Apple-Watch prediction, vindicated by Google's $2.1B Fitbit purchase (ep505, 2019).

“We said, like, whether it's— if it's not going to be the climate that fucks us, it's going to be, you know, some virus.”

Said in March 2020, recalling an earlier conversation on the show about climate or a virus being the disruptor.

“At episode 1,000, this show will have either become something else or sparked a new idea.”

Hamish Blake at episode 100 (mid-2018), looking ahead to episode 1,000 — which the show reached in April 2021.