Podcast Summary
The Verge introduces a new podcast: Control Walt Delete: The Verge expands its podcast lineup with a new show, Control Walt Delete, featuring Walt Mossberg discussing tech, and celebrates the success of its science program and host Liz Lopato.
The Verge is expanding its podcast lineup with the launch of a new show called Control Walt Delete, featuring tech columnist Walt Mossberg. This announcement came during a special science-focused episode of The VergeCast, where hosts discussed the importance of science coverage and shared their excitement for Liz Lopato's achievements in building The Verge's science program over the past year. Additionally, Ariel Bogle filled in for Sam Sheffer in the "hype seat," adding a new energy to the show. The first episode of Control Walt Delete, which covers the iPhone and The Verge's iPhone reviews, is now available on iTunes.
The Importance of Solid Research in Science and Technology: Ask critical questions, dig into data, and ensure scientific foundations before believing tech innovations and scientific discoveries.
Science and technology are interconnected, and it's important to ensure that scientific discoveries and innovations are backed by solid research and data before they reach consumers. The speaker expressed her excitement about the possibilities that science offers, especially in the field of technology, but also highlighted her skepticism towards tech companies entering the science world without a solid scientific foundation. She emphasized the importance of asking critical questions and doing thorough research to avoid being misled by buzzwords and marketing hype. The Verge, as a media outlet, aims to serve as a trusted source by digging into the data and exposing any potential mistakes or inaccuracies in scientific studies or technological claims.
Criticisms of U.S. Dietary Guidelines Report: The BMJ article contained errors and misinterpretations about the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Report, including claims of excluding studies on diets for managing diabetes and deleting meat as a recommendation. However, the guidelines are not intended for managing illnesses and lean meat can be part of a healthy diet.
A recent article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) criticizing the upcoming U.S. Dietary Guidelines Report contained numerous errors and misinterpretations. The BMJ article claimed issues with the science used in the report and accused the committee of excluding studies on diets for managing diabetes. However, the guidelines are not intended for managing illnesses but rather for preventing chronic diseases like diabetes. Thus, studies on populations with diabetes are not relevant. The article also falsely claimed that meat had been deleted as a recommendation from the report. In reality, the report states that lean meat can be part of a healthy diet. Furthermore, the author of the BMJ article has a book promoting a high-fat, low-carb diet, leading to accusations of bias. Overall, the Verge team emphasized the importance of critically evaluating scientific investigations and separating fact from fiction.
Considering the impact of technology on health: While fitness trackers and health apps can benefit some, they may negatively affect those with eating disorders. Not all metrics lead to improved health outcomes, and it's essential to evaluate tech's impact critically
While science and technology have the potential to improve our lives, it's important to critically evaluate their impact and consider the potential negative consequences. For example, the widespread use of fitness trackers and health apps can be helpful for some people, but for others, especially those with eating disorders, the constant quantification of health data can be triggering and add to anxiety. Additionally, simply counting metrics like calories or steps may not lead to better health outcomes, and it's essential to wait for solid data before endorsing these technologies. Overall, it's crucial to approach these advancements with a thoughtful and nuanced perspective, rather than blindly embracing them.
The Importance of Understanding User Behavior: Technology is useless if people don't use it or notice its absence. Understanding user behavior and preferences is crucial in designing and promoting effective technology.
While technology can be impressive with its features, it's ultimately meaningless if people don't use it or notice its absence. The speaker shared an experience of wearing a dead Apple Watch for weeks without anyone noticing, highlighting the device's lack of importance in their daily life. The speaker's personal preference for not wearing jewelry or accessories also played a role in their decision not to purchase an Apple Watch. However, they expressed admiration for other devices like the Note 5, which met their needs effectively and efficiently. Ultimately, the speaker's experience underscores the importance of understanding user behavior and preferences when designing and promoting technology.
Size and comfort matter in phone choice: People have diverse preferences for phone sizes and fashion accessories, with some preferring larger devices and others smaller ones, and companies like Warby Parker cater to affordable and stylish eyewear choices
Personal preferences and comfort play a significant role in choosing a phone size. While some people may prefer the larger screens and features of bigger phones, others may find that smaller phones better suit their needs and hand size. The speaker in this conversation expresses her contentment with her small iPhone 6, despite societal pressure to upgrade to a larger model. She also highlights the importance of affordable and fashionable eyewear through her discussion of Warby Parker, which offers high-quality glasses at an affordable price. The conversation underscores the idea that individuals have unique preferences and needs when it comes to technology and fashion accessories.
Warby Parker's Risk-Free Glasses Try-On and Charity Initiative: Warby Parker lets customers try glasses risk-free with free shipping, and for each purchase, they donate a pair to someone in need
Warby Parker offers a risk-free way to try and buy glasses, with free shipping both ways and the added bonus of providing a free pair to someone in need for every purchase. Exclamation points, while often seen as informal or even childish, can be used effectively to convey excitement and tone in writing. In the discussion, it was agreed that one or three exclamation points are acceptable, but two may come across as indecisive. The conversation then shifted to space news, including new high-resolution images of Pluto from NASA and ongoing private space exploration efforts.
New Horizons mission reveals Pluto's geology and composition: Government shutdown could halt data analysis and delay future observations for New Horizons mission, impacting productivity and research progress.
The ongoing exploration of Pluto through the New Horizons mission continues to reveal new information about the dwarf planet's geology and composition. Each new image provides clues about the presence of methane ice, icy mountain ranges, glacial flow, and other features. However, the government shutdown could potentially impact the mission, leading to a halt in data analysis and possibly even a delay in future observations. This is because non-essential personnel, including those working on the New Horizons team, would be required to stay home during the shutdown. The implications of this are still uncertain, but past shutdowns have resulted in significant losses of productivity and research progress.
Impact of Government Shutdown on Space Exploration: The government shutdown hinders scientific advancements and innovation in space, affecting NASA projects and the private space industry's progress. We should demand excellence and push for continuous improvement in space exploration.
The government shutdown significantly impacts scientific research, particularly NASA projects, and the private space industry's progress. Space exploration is challenging, but instead of accepting failures as inevitable, we should demand excellence from private space companies. The government shutdown hinders scientific advancements and innovation in space. NASA's focus on the International Space Station is crucial, but other projects might be neglected. The private space industry, led by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, is revolutionizing space exploration, but their progress can be hindered by setbacks. Instead of accepting space as inherently difficult, we should push for continuous improvement and hold these companies accountable for their failures.
Push boundaries in space, don't settle for the status quo: Elon Musk's ambitious plans raise concerns, but established space companies like ULA should not be overlooked. Keep striving for progress, not complacency.
While acknowledging the challenges of space exploration, we should not accept "space is hard" as an excuse for complacency. Elon Musk's ambitious endeavors, though impressive, raise concerns about overextension. The reliability of established space companies like United Launch Alliance, often overshadowed by flashier competitors, should not be overlooked. We as a species have the potential to push boundaries further, and it's essential to keep striving for progress instead of settling for the status quo. The "cult of personality" surrounding Musk should not hinder constructive criticism or healthy competition. By recognizing and addressing these issues, we can foster a more productive and innovative approach to space exploration.
Critiquing Science and the Importance of Accessible Cloud Infrastructure: Critiquing science is essential for improvement, cloud infrastructure should meet specific business needs, and Software's cloud services offer efficient and powerful solutions for businesses
The reverence given to scientists and those who can speak the language of science should be democratized, and critiquing science is an essential part of making it better. The discussion also touched upon the importance of having cloud infrastructure that meets specific business needs and the benefits of using Software's cloud services. The ULA, or the Uniform Laser Association, was criticized for its ominous name and lack of a cult of personality. The speakers emphasized the importance of making science accessible to everyone and the significance of having efficient and powerful cloud infrastructure for businesses. Software's cloud services, which are an IBM company, offer dedicated servers, virtual servers, storage, networking, and security services, all connected to a unique network of networks. Listeners can get $500 off these services by visiting software.com/podcast. The speakers acknowledged the challenges of keeping up with the latest technology and encouraged everyone to explore and understand the benefits of using advanced cloud infrastructure.
The hype desk can lose its effectiveness when overused: During discussions, focus on providing accurate and informative content rather than excessive hype to engage and educate the audience.
The hype desk, a segment used to validate or devalue various topics, loses its effectiveness when its power is questioned or used excessively. During a discussion about the Super Blood Moon event, the hosts got carried away with their own hype and forgot to validate its significance, missing an opportunity to provide valuable context and information for their audience. The Super Blood Moon is a rare astronomical event where a full moon coincides with a lunar eclipse, resulting in a larger and redder appearance of the moon. This phenomenon, which starts around 8:11 p.m. Eastern time and lasts for over an hour, is a natural wonder that captivates people around the world. Instead of focusing on the hype, it's essential to provide accurate and informative content to engage and educate the audience.
Childhood experiences shape our perspectives and interests: Childhood experiences, even seemingly insignificant, can significantly impact our perspectives and interests in life
Childhood experiences, even seemingly insignificant ones, can shape our perspectives and interests as we grow up. The speaker shared a story from his childhood in the 80s when his father let him drive a car home from a young age. This experience led him to develop a fascination with technology and gadgets. Another experience involved growing up thinking that firemen performed essential services around the house due to his father's profession as an ER doctor. These experiences influenced his adult life, leading him to call a fireman when he needed to fix something at home, only to learn that it doesn't work that way. Similarly, the speaker's sister grew up with the same belief due to their father's profession, and the speaker's own experience of participating in childhood experiments at a preschool influenced his perspective on science. These experiences shaped the speaker's worldview and influenced his adult life in significant ways. Childhood experiences, no matter how small they may seem, can have a profound impact on our lives.
The impact of delaying gratification on adult success: Delaying gratification in childhood, as shown in the marshmallow experiment, can lead to positive outcomes in adulthood, including success. We also emphasized the importance of education, sharing knowledge, and finding joy in the unexpected.
Delaying gratification, as demonstrated in the marshmallow experiment, can be a predictor of adult success. This simple test, where a child is given a marshmallow and told they will receive two if they can wait for the experimenter to return, has been found to correlate with various positive outcomes in adulthood. During our conversation, we also touched upon the importance of education and sharing knowledge with the audience. I expressed my desire to expand our program and delve deeper into scientific analysis and explanations. We discussed the idea of creating science videos and reviews to make complex concepts more accessible and entertaining. Additionally, we shared a light-hearted moment about the unexpected direction our "Science Review" section took, with Liz's suggestion to focus on animal reviews, which resonated with our team and became a popular feature. Overall, our conversation revolved around the importance of patience, learning, and finding joy in the unexpected.
The Power of Social Media for Digital Media Outlets: Social media drives traffic and engagement for digital media outlets like The Verge. Engaging content, such as cute animal photos, can attract large followings and generate significant clicks. The Verge has over a million followers on Twitter and 50,000 on Snapchat, and encourages listeners to check out their podcasts, including Control Walt Delete and GSP.
Social media plays a significant role in driving traffic and engagement for digital media outlets like The Verge. The discussion highlighted the success of sharing cute animal photos on various platforms like Twitter and Instagram, which can attract a large following and generate significant clicks. The Verge team expressed their excitement about their growing presence on these platforms, with over a million followers on Twitter and 50,000 on Snapchat. They also mentioned their new podcast, Control Walt Delete, and encouraged listeners to check out their science and entertainment podcast, GSP, hosted by Emily Ishida and the team. Braintree's sponsorship of the Vergecast was also mentioned as a means of payment processing to support their ad-free content. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of social media for media outlets and the power of engaging content to attract and retain audiences.
