Podcasts about Rufus

As the co-founder and CEO of Circle — the fintech powerhouse that issues USDC, a popular cryptocurrency pegged to the US dollar — Jeremy Allaire has had a front-row seat to the crypto revolution. Circle now commands a market cap of over $20 billion, yet Jeremy insists it is still an "early stage company." Why? Because the true transformation of the global economy, he says, is just beginning. "In this episode, Jeremy and Rufus discuss how the economic system is becoming “internet native," what happens when money becomes programmable, and why blockchain is the "major missing layer" of the internet. Sponsored By: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at shopify.com/nbi —

What does 2026 hold for indie authors and the publishing industry? I give my thoughts on trends and predictions for the year ahead. In the intro, Quitting the right stuff; how to edit your author business in 2026; Is SubStack Good for Indie Authors?; Business for Authors webinars. If you'd like to join my community and support the show every month, you'll get access to my growing list of Patron videos and audio on all aspects of the author business — for the price of a black coffee (or two) a month. Join us at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability (3) The start of Agentic Commerce (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever You can find all my books as J.F. Penn and Joanna Penn on your favourite online store in all the usual formats, or order from your local library or bookstore. You can also buy direct from me at CreativePennBooks.com and JFPennBooks.com. I'm not really active on social media, but you can always see my photos at Instagram @jfpennauthor. 2026 Trends and Predictions for Indie Authors and Book Publishing (1) More indie authors will sell direct through Shopify, Kickstarter, and local in-person events — and more companies like BookVault will offer even more beautiful physical books and products to support this. This trend will not be a surprise to most of you! Selling direct has been a trend for the last few years, but in 2026, it will continue to grow as a way that independent authors become even more independent. The recent Written Word Media survey from Dec 2025 noted that 30% of authors surveyed are selling direct already and 30% say they plan to start in 2026. Among authors earning over $10,000 per month, roughly half sell direct. In my opinion, selling direct is an advanced author strategy, meaning that you have multiple books and you understand book marketing and have an email list already or some guaranteed way to reach readers. In fact, Kindlepreneur reports that 66% of authors selling direct have more than 5 books, and 46% have more than 10 books. Of course, you can start with the something small, like a table at a local event with a limited number of books for sale, but if you want to consistently sell direct for years to come, you need to consider all the business aspects. Selling direct is not a silver bullet. It's much harder work to sell direct than it is to just upload an ebook to Amazon, whether you choose a Kickstarter campaign, or Shopify/Payhip or other online stores, or regular in-person sales at events/conferences/fairs. You need a business mindset and business practices, for example, you need to pay upfront for setup as well as ongoing management, and bulk printing in some cases. You need to manage taxes and cashflow. You need to be a lot more proactive about marketing, as you won't sell anything if you don't bring readers to your books/products. But selling direct also brings advantages. It sets you apart from the bulk of digital only authors who still only upload ebooks to Amazon, or maybe add a print on demand book, and in an era of AI rapid creation, that number is growing all the time. If you sell direct, you get your customer data and you can reach those customers next time, through your email list. If you don't know who bought your books and don't have a guaranteed way to reach them, you will more easily be disrupted when things change — and they always change eventually. Kindlepreneur notes that “45% of the successful direct selling authors had over 1,000 subscribers on their email lists,” with “a clear, positive correlation between email list size and monthly direct sales income — with authors having an email list of over 15,000 subscribers earning 20X more than authors with email lists under 100 subscribers.” Selling direct means faster money, sometimes the same day or the same week in many cases, or a few weeks after a campaign finishes, as with Kickstarter. And remember, you don't have to sell all your formats directly. You can keep your ebooks in KU, do whatever you like with audiobooks, and just have premium print products direct, or start with a very basic Kickstarter campaign, or a table at a local fair. Lots more tips for Shopify and Kickstarter at https://www.thecreativepenn.com/selldirectresources/ I also recommend the Novel Marketing Podcast on The Shopify Trap: Why authors keep losing money as it is a great counterpoint to my positive endorsement of selling direct on Shopify! Among other things, Thomas notes that a fixed monthly fee for a store doesn't match how most authors make money from books which is more in spikes, the complexity and hassle eats time and can cost more money if you pay for help, and it can reduce sales on Amazon and weaken your ranking. Basically, if you haven't figured out marketing direct to your store, it can hurt you.All true for some authors, for some genres, and for some people's lifestyle. But for authors who don't want to be on the hamster wheel of the Amazon algorithm and who want more diversity and control in income, as well as the incredible creative benefits of what you can do selling direct, then I would say, consider your options in 2025, even if that is trying out a low-financial-goal Kickstarter campaign, or selling some print books at a local fair. Interestingly, traditional publishers are also experimenting with direct sales. Kate Elton, the new CEO of Harper Collins notes in The Bookseller's 2026 trend article, “we are seeing global success with responsive, reader-driven publishing, subscription boxes and TikTok Shop and – crucially – developing strategies that are founded on a comprehensive understanding of the reader.” She also notes, “AI enables us to dramatically change the way we interact with and grow audiences. The opportunities are genuinely exciting – finding new ways to help readers discover books they will love, innovating in the ways we market and reach audiences, building new channels and adapting to new methods of consuming content.” (2) AI-powered search will start to shift elements of book discoverability From LinkedIn's 2026 Big Ideas: “Generative engine optimization (GEO) is set to replace search engine optimization (SEO) as the way brands get discovered in the year ahead. As consumers turn to AI chatbots, agentic workflows and answer engines, appearing prominently in generative outputs will matter more than ranking in search engines.” Google has been rolling out AI Mode with its AI Overviews and is beginning to push it within Google.com itself in some countries, which means the start of a fundamental change in how people discover content online. I first posted about GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) and AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) in 2023, and it's going to change how readers find books. For years, we've talked about the long tail of search. Now, with AI-powered search, that tail is getting even longer and more nuanced. AI can understand complex, conversational queries that traditional search engines struggled with. Someone might ask, “What's a good thriller set in a small town with a female protagonist who's a journalist investigating a cold case?” and get highly specific recommendations. This means your book metadata, your website content, and your online presence need to be more detailed and conversational. AI search engines understand context in ways that go far beyond simple keywords. The authors who win in this new landscape will be those who create rich, authentic content about their books and themselves, not just promotional copy. As economist Tyler Cowen has said, “Consider the AIs as part of your audience. Because they are already reading your words and listening to your voice.” We're in the ‘organic' traffic phase right now, where these AI engines are surfacing content for ‘free,' but paid ads are inevitably on the way, and even rumoured to be coming this year to ChatGPT. By the end of 2026, I expect some authors and publishers to be paying for AI traffic, rather than blocking and protesting them. For now, I recommend checking that your author name/s and your books are surfaced when you search on ChatGPT.com as well as Google.com AI Mode (powered by Gemini). You want to make sure your work comes up in some way. I found that Joanna Penn and J.F. Penn searches brought up my Shopify stores, my website, podcast, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even my Patreon page, but did not bring up links to Amazon. If you only have an author presence on Amazon, does it appear in AI search at all? Do you need to improve anything about what the AI search brings up? Traditional publishers are also looking at this, with PublishersWeekly doing webinars on various aspects of AI in early 2026, including sessions on GEO and how book sales are changing, AI agents, and book marketing. In a 2026 predictions article on The Bookseller, the CEO of Bloomsbury Publishing noted, “The boundaries of artificial intelligence will become clearer, enabling publishers to harness its benefits while seeking to safeguard the intellectual property rights of authors, illustrators and publishers.” “AI will be deeply embedded in our workflows, automating tasks such as metadata tagging, freeing teams to focus on creativity and strategy. Challenges will persist. Generative AI threatens traditional web traffic and ad revenue models, making metadata optimisation and SEO critical for visibility as we adjust to this new reality online.” (3) The start of Agentic Commerce AI researches what you want to buy and may even buy on your behalf. Plus, I predict that Amazon does a commerce deal with OpenAI for shopping within ChatGPT by the end of 2026. In September 2025, ChatGPT launched Instant Checkout and the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which will enable bots to buy on websites in the background if authorised by the human with the credit card. VISA is getting on board with this, so is PayPal, with no doubt more payment options to come. In the USA, ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Free users can now buy directly from US Etsy sellers inside the chat interface, with over a million Shopify merchants coming soon. Shopify and OpenAI have also announced a partnership to bring commerce to ChatGPT. I am insanely excited about this as it could represent the first time we have been able to more easily find and surface books in a much more nuanced way than the 7 keywords and 3 categories we have relied on for so long! I've been using ChatGPT for at least the last year to find fiction and non-fiction books as I find the Amazon interface is ‘polluted' by ads. I've discovered fascinating books from authors I've never heard of, most in very long tail areas. For example, Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby, recommended by ChatGPT as I am interested in medical anatomy and anatomical Venuses, and The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson, recommended as I like art history and the supernatural. I don't think I would have found either of these within a nuanced discussion with ChatGPT. Even without these direct purchase integrations, ChatGPT now has Shopping Research, which I have found links directly to my Shopify store when I search for my books specifically. Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to create AI-first shopping experiences, and you have to wonder what Amazon might be doing? In Nov 2025, Amazon signed a “strategic partnership” with OpenAI, and even though it's focused on the technical side of AI, those two companies in a room together might also be working on other plans … I'm calling it for 2026. I think Amazon will sign a commerce agreement with OpenAI sometime before the end of the year. This will enable at least recommendation and shopping links into Amazon stores (presumably using an OpenAI affiliate link), or perhaps even Instant Checkout with ChatGPT for Amazon. It will also enable a new marketing angle, especially if paid ads arrive in ChatGPT, perhaps even integrating with Amazon Ads in some way as part of any possible agreement, since ads are such a good revenue stream for Amazon anyway. The line between discovery, engagement, and purchase is collapsing. Someone could be having a conversation with an AI about what to read next, and within that same conversation, purchase a bookwithout ever leaving the chat interface. This already happens within TikTok and social commerce clearly works for many authors. It's possible that the next development for book discoverability and sales might be within AI chats. This will likely stratify the already fragmented book eco-system even more. Some readers will continue to live only within the Amazon ecosystem and (maybe) use their Rufus chatbot to buy, and others will be much wider in their exploration of how to find and discover books (and other products and services). If you haven't tried it yet, try ChatGPT.com Shopping Research for a book. You can do this on the free tier. Use the drop down in the main chat box and select Shopping Research. It doesn't have to be for your book. It can be any book or product, for example, our microwave died just before Christmas so I used it to find a new one. But do a really nuanced search with multiple requirements. Go far beyond what you would search for on Amazon. In the results, notice that (at the time of writing) it does not generally link to Amazon, but to independent sites and stores. As above, I think this will change by the end of 2026, as some kind of commerce deal with Amazon seems inevitable. (4) AI-assisted audiobook narration will go mainstream I've been talking about AI narration of audiobooks since 2019, and over the years, I've tried various different options. In 2025, the technology reached a level of emotional nuance that made it much easier to create satisfying fiction audio as well as non-fiction. It also super-charges accessibility, making audio available in more languages and more accents than ever before. Of course, human narration remains the gold standard, but the cost makes it prohibitive for many authors, and indeed many small traditional publishers, for all books. If it costs $2000 – $10,000 to create an audiobook, you have to sell a lot to make a profit, and the dominance of subscription models have made it harder to recoup the costs. Famous narrators and voice artists who have an audience may still be worth investing in, as well as premium production, but require an even higher upfront cost and therefore higher sales and streams in return. AI voice/audio models are continuing to improve, and even as this goes out, there are rumours on TechCrunch that OpenAI's new device, designed by Jony Ive who designed the iPhone, will be audio first and OpenAI are improving their voice models even more in preparation for that launch. In 2026, I think AI-narrated audio will go mainstream with far-reaching adoption across publishing and the indie author world in many different languages and accents. This will mean a further stratification of audiobooks, with high quality, high production, high cost human narrated audio for a small percentage of books, and then mass market, affordable AI-narrated audio for the rest. AI-narrated audiobooks will make audio ubiquitous, and just as (almost) every print book has an ebook format, in 2026, they will also have an audio format. I straddle both these worlds, as I am still a human audiobook narrator for my own work. I human-narrated Successful Self-Publishing Fourth Edition (free audiobook) and The Buried and the Drowned, my short story collection. I also use AI narration for some books. ElevenLabs remains my preferred service and in 2025, I used my J.F. Penn voice clone for Death Valley and also Blood Vintage, while using a male voice for Catacomb. I clearly label my AI-narration in the sales description and also on the cover, which I think is important, although it is not always required by the various services. You can distribute ElevenLabs narrated audiobooks on Spotify, Kobo Writing Life, YouTube, ElevenReader, and of course your own store if you use Shopify with Bookfunnel. There are many other services springing up all the time, so make sure you check the rights you have over the finished audio, as well as where you can sell and distribute the final files. If they are just using ElevenLabs models in the back-end, then why not just do that directly? (Most services will be using someone's model in the back-end, since most companies do not train their own models.) Of course, you can use Amazon's own narration. While Amazon originally launched Audible audiobooks with Virtual Voice (AVV) in November 2023, it was rolled out to more authors and territories in 2025. If your book is eligible, the option to create an audiobook will appear on your KDP dashboard. With just a few clicks, you can create an audiobook from a range of voices and accents, and publish it on Amazon and Audible. However, the files are not yours. They are exclusive to Amazon and you cannot use them on other platforms or sell them direct yourself. But they are also free, so of course, many authors, especially those in KU, will use this option. I have done some for my mum's sweet romance books as Penny Appleton and I will likely use them for my books in translation when the option becomes available. Traditional publishers are experimenting with AI-assisted audiobook narration as well. MacMillan is selling digital audiobooks read by AI directly on their store. PublishersWeekly reports that PRH Audio “has experimented with artificial voice in specific instances, such as entrepreneur Ely Callaway's posthumous memoir The Unconquerable Game,” when an “authorized voice replica” was created for the audiobook. The article also notes that PRH Audio “embrace artificial intelligence across business operations—my entire department [PRH Audio] is using AI for business applications.” And while indie authors can't use AI voices on ACX right now, Audible have over 100 voices available to selected publishing partnerships, as reported by The Guardian with “two options for publishers wishing to make use of the technology: “Audible-managed” production, or “self-service” whereby publishers produce their own audiobooks with the help of Audible's AI technology.” In 2026, it's likely that more traditional publishers — as well as indie authors — will get their backlist into audio with AI narration. (5) AI-assisted translation will start to take off beyond the early adopters Over the years, I've done translation deals with traditional publishers in different languages (German, French, Spanish, Korean, Italian) for some fiction and non-fiction books. But of course, to get these kinds of deals, you have to be proactive about pitching, or work with an agent for foreign rights only, and those are few and far between! There are also lots of languages and territories worldwide, and most deals are for the bigger markets, leaving a LOT of blue water for books in translation, even if you have licensed some of the bigger markets. I did my first partially AI-translated books in 2019 when I used Deepl.com for the first draft and then worked with a German editor to do 3 non-fiction books in German. While the first draft was cheap, the editing was pretty expensive, so I stopped after only doing a couple. I have made the money back now, but it took years. In 2025, AI Translation began to take off with ScribeShadow, GlobeScribe.ai, and more recently, in November 2025, Kindle Translate boosting the number of translated books available. Kindle Translate is (currently) only available to US authors for English into Spanish and also German into English, but in 2026, this will likely roll out to more languages and more authors, making it easier than ever to produce translations for free. Of course, once again, the gold standard is human translation, or at least human-edited translations, but the cost is prohibitive even just for proof-reading, and if there is a cheap or even free option, like Kindle Translate, then of course, authors are going to try it. If the translation gets bad reviews, they can just un-publish. There are many anecdotal stories of indie success in 2025 with AI-translated genre fiction sales (in series) in under-served markets like Italian, French, and Spanish, as well as more mainstream adoption in German. I was around in the Kindle gold-rush days of 2009-2012 and the AI-translation energy right now feels like that. There are hardly any Kindle ebooks in many of these languages compared to how many there are in English, so inevitably, the rush is on to fill the void, especially in genres that are under-served by traditional publishers in those markets. Yes, some of these AI translated books will be ‘AI-slop,' but readers are not stupid. Those books will get bad reviews and thus will sink to the bottom of the store, never to be seen again. The AI translation models are also improving rapidly, and Amazon's Kindle Translate may improve faster than most, for books specifically, since they will be able to get feedback in terms of page reads. Amazon is also a major investor in Anthropic, which makes Claude.ai, widely considered the best quality for creative writing and translation, so it's likely that is used somewhere in the mix. Some traditional publishers are also experimenting with AI-assisted translation, with Harlequin France reportedly using AI translation and human proofreaders, as reported by the European Council of Literary Translators' Associations in December 2025. Academic publisher Taylor and Francis is also using AI for book translation, noting: “Following a program of rigorous testing, Taylor & Francis has announced plans to use AI translation tools to publish books that would otherwise be unavailable to English-language readers, bringing the latest knowledge to a vastly expanded readership.” “Until now, the time and resources required to translate books has meant that the majority remained accessible only to those who could read them in the original language. Books that were translated often only became available after a significant delay. Today, with the development of sophisticated AI translation tools, it has become possible to make these important texts available to a broad readership at speed, without compromising on accuracy.” (6) AI video becomes ubiquitous. ‘Live selling' becomes the next trend in social sales. In 2025, short form AI-generated video became very high quality. OpenAI released Sora 2, and YouTube announced new Shorts creation tools with Veo 3, which you can also use directly within Gemini. There are tons of different AI video apps now, including those within the social media sites themselves. There is more video than ever and it's much easier to create. I am not a fan of short form video! I don't make it and I don't consume it, but I do love making book trailers for my Kickstarter campaigns and for adding to my book pages and using on social media. I made a trailer for The Buried and the Drowned using Midjourney for images and then animation of those images, and Canva to put them together along with ElevenLabs to generate the music. But despite the AI tools getting so much easier to use, you still have to prompt them with exactly what you want. I can't just upload my book and say, “Make a book trailer,” or “Make a short film.” This may change with generative video ads, which are likely to become more common in 2026, as video turns specifically commercial. Video ads may even be generated specifically for the user, with an audience of one, maybe even holding your book in their hands (using something like Cameos on Sora), in the same way that some AI-powered clothing stores do virtual try-ons. This might also up-end the way we discover and buy things, as the AI for eCommerce and Amazon Sellers newsletter says about OpenAI's Sora app, “OpenAI isn't just trying to build a TikTok competitor. They're building a complete reimagining of how we discover and buy things …” “The combination of ChatGPT's research capabilities and Sora's potential for emotional manipulation—I mean, “engagement”—could create something we've never seen before: an AI ecosystem that might eventually guide you through every type of purchase, from the most considered to the most impulsive.” In 2026, there will be A LOT more AI-generated video, but that also leads to the human trend of more live video. While you can use an AI avatar that looks and sounds like you using tools like HeyGen or Synthesia, live video has all the imperfect human elements that make it stand-out, plus the scarcity element which leads to the purchase decision within a countdown period. Live video is nothing new in terms of brand building and content in general, but it seems that live events primarily for direct sales might be a thing in 2026. Kim Kardashian hosted Kimsmas Live in December 2025 with a 45 minute live shopping event with special guests, described as entertainment but designed to be a sales extravaganza. Indie authors are doing a similar thing on TikTok with their books, so this is a trend to watch in 2026, especially if you feel that live selling might fit with your personality and author business goals. It's certainly not for everyone, but I suspect it will suit a different kind of creator to those who prefer ‘no face' video, or no video at all! On other aspects of the human side of social media, Adam Mosseri the CEO of Instagram put a post on Threads called Authenticity after Abundance. He said, “Everything that made creators matter—the ability to be real, to connect, to have a voice that couldn't be faked—is now suddenly accessible to anyone with the right tools.” “Deepfakes are getting better and better. AI is generating photographs and videos indistinguishable from captured media. The feeds are starting to fill up with synthetic everything. And in that world, here's what I think happens.Creators matter more.” It's a long article so just to pick a few things from it: “We like to talk about “AI slop,” but there is a lot of amazing AI content … we are going to start to see more and more realistic AI content.” I've talked to my Patreon Community about this ‘tsunami of excellence' as these tools are just getting better and better and the word ‘slop' can also be applied to purely human output, too. If you think that AI content is ‘worse' than wholly human content, in 2026, you are wrong. It is now very very good, especially in the hands of people who can drive the AI tools. Back to Adam's post: “Authenticity is fast becoming a scarce resource, …The creators who succeed will be those who figure out how to maintain their authenticity [even when it can be simulated] …” “The bar is going to shift from “can you create?” to “can you make something that only you could create?” He talks about how the personal content on Instagram now is: “unpolished; it's blurry photos and shaky videos of people's daily experiences … flattering imagery is cheap to produce and boring to consume. People want content that feels real… Savvy creators are going to lean into explicitly unproduced and unflattering images of themselves. In a world where everything can be perfected, imperfection becomes a signal. Rawness isn't just aesthetic preference anymore—it's proof. It's defensive. A way of saying: this is real because it's imperfect.” While I partially love this, and I really hope it's true, as in I hope we don't need to look good for the camera anymore I would also challenge Adam on this, because pretty much every woman I know on social media has been sent sexual messages, and/or told they are ugly and/or fat when posting anything unflattering. I've certainly had both even for the same content, but I don't expect Adam has been the target for such posting! But I get his point. He goes on:“Labeling content as authentic or AI-generated is only part of the solution though. We, as an industry, are going to need to surface much more context about not only the media on our platforms, but the accounts that are sharing it in order for people to be able to make informed decisions about what to believe. Where is the account? When was it created? What else have they posted?” This is exactly what I've been saying for a while under my double down on being human focus. I use my Instagram @jfpennauthor as evidence of humanity, not as a sales channel. You can do both of course, but increasingly, you need to make sure your accounts at places have longevity and trust, even by the platforms themselves. Adam finishes: “In a world of infinite abundance and infinite doubt, the creators who can maintain trust and signal authenticity—by being real, transparent, and consistent—will stand out.” For other marketing trends for 2026, I recommend publicist Kathleen Schmidt's SubStack which is mostly focused on traditional publishing but still interesting for indies. In her 2026 article, she notes: “We have reached a social media saturation point where going viral can be meaningless and should not be the goal; authenticity and creativity should. She also says, “In-person events are important again,” and, “Social media marketing takes a nosedive… we have reached a saturation point … What publishers must figure out is how to make their social media campaigns stand out. If they remain somewhat uninspired, the money spent on social ads won't convert into book sales.” I think this is part of the rise of live selling as above, which can stand out above more ‘produced' videos. Kathleen also talks about AI usage. “AI can help lighten the burden of publicity and marketing.” “A lot of AI tools are coming to market to lessen the load: they can write pitches, create media lists for you, send pitches for you, and more. I know the industry is grappling with all things AI, but some of these tools are huge time savers and may help a book more than hurt it.” On that note … (7) AI will create, run, and optimise ads without the need for human intervention Many authors will be very happy about this as marketing is often the bane of our author business lives! As I noted in my 2026 goals, I would love to outsource more marketing tasks to AI. I want an “AI book marketing assistant” where I can upload a book and specify a budget and say, ‘Go market this,' then the AI will action the marketing, without me having to cobble together workflows between systems. Of course, it will present plans for me to approve but it will do the work itself on the various platforms and monitor and optimize things for me. I really hope 2026 is the year this becomes possible, because we are on the edge of it already in some areas. Amazon Ads launched a new agentic AI tool in September 2025 that creates professional-quality ads. I've also been working with Claude in Chrome browser to help me analyse my Amazon Ad data and suggest which keywords/products to turn off and what to put more budget into. I'll do a Patreon video on that soon. Meta announced it will enable AI ad creation by the end of 2026 for Facebook and Instagram. For authors who find ad creation overwhelming or time-consuming, this could be a game-changer. Of course, you will still need a budget! (8) 1000 True Fans becomes more important than ever Lots of authors and publishers are moaning about the difficulty of reaching readers in an era of ‘AI slop' but there is no shortage of excellent content created by humans, or humans using AI tools. As ever, our competition is less about other authors, or even authors using AI-assisted creation, we're competing against everything else that jostles for people's attention, and the volume of that is also growing exponentially. I've never been a fan of rapid release, and have said for years that you can't keep up with the pace of the machines. So play a different game. As Kevin Kelly wrote in 2008, If you have 1000 true fans, (also known as super fans), “you can make a living — if you are content to make a living but not a fortune.” [Kevin Kelly was on this show in 2023 talking about Excellent Advice for Living.] Many authors and the publishing industry are stuck in the old model of aiming to sell huge volumes of books at a low profit margin to a massive number of readers, many of them releasing ever faster to try and keep the algorithms moving. But the maths can work for the smaller audience of more invested readers and fans. If you only make $2 profit on an ebook, you need to sell 500 ebooks to make $1000, and then do it again next month. Or you can have a small community like my patreon.com/thecreativepenn where people pay $2 (or more) a month, so even a small revenue per person results in a better outcome over the year, as it is consistent monthly income with no advertising. But what if you could make $20 profit per book? That is entirely possible if you're producing high quality hardbacks on Kickstarter, or bundle deals of audiobooks, or whole series of ebooks. You would only need to sell to 50 people to make $1000. What about $100 profit per sale, which you can do with a small course or live event? You only need 10 people to make $1000, and this in-person focus also amplifies trust and fosters human connection. I've found the intimacy of my live Patreon Office Hours and also my webinars have been rewarding personally, but also financially, and are far more memorable — and potentially transformative — than a pre-recorded video or even another book. From the LinkedIn 2026 Big Ideas article: “In an AI-optimized world, intentional human connection will become the ultimate luxury.” The 1000 True Fans model is about serving a smaller, more personal audience with higher value products (and maybe services if that's your thing). As ever, its about niche and where you fit in the long long long long long tail. It's also about trust. Because there is definitely a shortage of that in so many areas, and as Adam Mosseri of Instagram has said, trust will be increasingly important. Trust takes time to build, but if you focus on serving your audience consistently, and delivering a high quality, and being authentic, this emerges as part of being human. In an echo of what happened when online commerce first took off, we are back to talking about trust. Back in 2010, I read Trust Agents: by Julien Smith and Chris Brogan, which clearly needs a comeback. There was a 10th anniversary edition published in 2020, so that's worth a read/listen. Chris Brogan was also on this show in 2017 when we talked about finding and serving your niche for the long term. That interview is still relevant, here's a quick excerpt, where I have (lightly edited) his response to my question on this topic back in 2017: Jo: The principle of know, like, and trust, why is that still important or perhaps even more important these days? Chris: There are a few things that at play there, Joanna. One is that the same tools that make it so easy for any of us to start and run a business also allow certain elements to decide whether or not they want to do something dubious. And with all new technologies that come, you know, there's nothing unique about these new technologies. In the 1800s, anyone could put anything in a bottle and sell it to you and say, this is gonna cure everything. Cancer — gone. And the bottle could have nothing in. You know, it could be Kool-Aid. And so, the idea of trying to understand what's behind the business though, one beautiful thing that's come is that we can see in much more dimensions who we're dealing with. We can understand better who's the face behind the brand. I really want people to try their best to be a lot clearer on what they stand for or what they say. And I don't really mean a tagline. I mean, humans don't really talk like that. They don't throw some sentence out as often as they can that you remember them for that phrase. But I would say that, we have so many media available to us — the plural of mediums — where we can be more of ourselves. And I think that there's a great opportunity to share the ‘you' behind the scenes, and some people get immediately terrified about this, ‘Ah, the last thing I want is for people to know more about me,' but I think we have such an opportunity. We have such an opportunity to voice our thoughts on something, to talk about the story that goes behind the product. We were all raised on overly produced material, but I think we don't want that anymore. We really want clarity, brevity, simplicity. We want the ability for what we feel is connection and then access. And so I think it's vital that we connect and show people our accessibility, not so that they can pester us with strange questions, but more so that you can say, this person stands with their product and their service and this person believes these things, and I feel something when I hear them and I wanna be part of that.” That's from Chris Brogan's interview here in 2017, and he is still blogging and speaking at writing at ChrisBrogan.com and I'm going to re-listen to the audiobook of Trust Agents again myself as I think it's more relevant than ever. The original quote comes from Bob Burg in his 1994 book, Endless Referrals, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.” That still applies, and absolutely fits with the 1000 True Fans model of aiming to serve a smaller audience. As Kevin Kelly says in 1000 True Fans, “Instead of trying to reach the narrow and unlikely peaks of platinum bestseller hits, blockbusters, and celebrity status, you can aim for direct connection with a thousand true fans.” “On your way, no matter how many fans you actually succeed in gaining, you'll be surrounded not by faddish infatuation, but by genuine and true appreciation. It's a much saner destiny to hope for. And you are much more likely to actually arrive there.” In 2026, I hope that more authors (including me!) let go of ego goals and vanity metrics like ranking, gross sales (income before you take away costs), subscribers, followers, and likes, and consider important business numbers like profit (which is the money you have after costs like marketing are taken out), as well as number of true fans — and also lifestyle elements like number of weekends off, or days spent enjoying life and not just working! OK, that's my list of trends and predictions for 2026. Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you agree? Am I wrong? What have I missed? The post 2026 Trends And Predictions For Indie Authors And The Book Publishing Industry with Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

This playlist is 67% vinyl friendly. Poor. ‘In the year 2021, few turntables have captured the essence of that time the way that the Old Future Turntable and Speaker has. The silhouette of the player itself pays homage to ’70s architecture in Seoul. Slanted roofs were common during that era, and when you place the turntable and speaker side-by-side, they look like part of a ’70s city skyline. Some vinyl-lovers may not like this product initially because a flat, horizontal turntable would be preferred for sound quality. For those who care about audio quality over aesthetics, the turntable's legs are adjustable, so you can make the table more even‘. – yankodesign.com Looks like it could more readily blow out hot and cold air than music. Any track marked * has been given either a tiny or a slightly larger 41 Rooms tweak/edit/chop and the occasional tune might sound a bit dodgy, quality-wise. On top of that, the switch between different decades and production values never helps in the mix here. Lyric of Playlist 147 ‘Observational, not sexist‘ noted Jean-Jacques Burnel. 00.00 (Intro) THE FLAMINGOS – Stars (Edit) – Unreleased demo – 1983. Episode #1 for info. 00.41 NEW ORDER – Face Up – Low-life, LP – Factory – 1985 Face Up? More like Jump up, given the NO audience reaction when the chorus kicks in. 05.25 THE YOUNG GODS – Mes Yeux De Tous – Appear Disappear, 2LP – Two Gentlemen Records – 2025 Given that in the mid ’80s they were initially loosely bandied around in the same ‘industrial’ bag as my ‘charges’ Click Click I’ve heard very little of their lengthy and regular catalogue. This though is a mighty tune. 09.19 BLAWAN – Toast – Dismantled Into Juice, 12″ EP – XL Recordings – 2023 Nicely odd, with a ‘chorus’ that makes me smile. 11.56 BASETANK – Got Some Skills – The New Breed, v/artists promo only CD – Detonation – 1999 If it wasn’t for the 35 year age gap I might have said the vocalist on Got Some Skills and the modern day Microwave Man and his electric dirt bike online ‘Let Me Tell You Something, right?‘ words of wisdom sketches were of the same family. 15.44 9 LAZY 9: Turn Me Loose; UP, BUSTLE & OUT: Nightwalk; DJ FOOD: Klutes Groove; DJ TOOLZ: Rusty Goes GaGa; FUNKI PORCINI: It’s A Long Road – The Morning After The Night Before (one half of a CD free with DJ magazine – 1994 Old skool mixing from Cold Cut. ‘It’s (been) a long road… ‘ indeed. 22.00 HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR (feat HIPS & LIPS) – Someone Else Is Calling, 12″ EP – Stratasonic – 2025 The sort of hypnotic beats that could have fitted in with a Winkles, Bedford set list back in the ’80s… although someone might point a sound or two here didn’t exist back then. 26.12 FUNKY GREEN DOGS – The Way * – 12″ – Twisted – 1997 ‘Anyone who ever liked That Sound from the Murk camp will like this just as much, even if they do whinge that it’s very similar to their previous favourite. The original is the heart-winner with its quivering vocal and acid-meets-funk groove, but the mixes are all attractive in their respective ways – Farley & Heller plod sweetly, Canadian Crash Productions do something along the same lines. Dirty White Boy rock and roll and Club 69 kick up a noisy messy rumpus. The best track of all is possibly the excellent FGD way-out beats. **** Daisy & Havoc, Record Mirror (Music Week), 10.5.97 Tough, liquidy goings on from the Murk camp. I was a fan. 32.51 JOY – Fragile Space – 7″ – DB-Low – 2000 ‘Isaac Hayes meets Led Zeppelin‘ ran the press release for Joy Jones’ one-off (at the time) dip into music, and there’s something sad about a single of substance that didn’t do enough for the artist to build on. 35.52 TALKING HEADS – Listening Wind – Remain In Light, LP – Sire – 1980 Just checked. This is the last in a near complete run of the album’s tracks making it to 41 Rooms. So, that must make Remain In Light a bit of a classic to my ears. 39.36 THE SOULSAVERS – Rumblefish – Beginning To See The Dark 12″ – Ghost Ride Music – 2002 The sort of drifting beats thing that would crop up late night/early morning on KISS FM or maybe Ross Allen radio shows of the time. 43.28 BETHANY & RUFUS – 900 Miles – 900 Miles, CD only – Little Monster Records – 2005 With Bethany being the daughter of ’60s folk group, Peter Paul and Mary’s Pete Yarrow, an ancient tune reworked. And it’s a cello apparently, not a double bass. 46.48 STARGARD – (Theme Song From) Which Way Is Up – 7″ – MCA -1977 As funky now as the day it was delivered. I was 20… and this would have been hitting someone’s decks at Bedford’s Nite Spot, Spectrum, Pilgrims, The Anglers’ Laird bar and elsewhere out of town I went. 51.29 THE STAPLE SINGERS – I’ll Take You There – 7″ – Stax – 1972 They never let on where exactly ‘there’ is but with their gospel background we can maybe guess. Good luck with it. 55.30 CARLA THOMAS – Things Ya Make Me Do (Summer Mix) – 12″ – Ruff Justice – 1994 Not the ’60s Stax label Carla Thomas but it’d be nice to think this CT’s parents had that lady in mind when naming this lady. What might have been tagged ‘street soul’… and possibly out of Manchester, UK. 59.06 THOMAS DYBDAHL – All’s Not Lost – That Great October Sound, CD only – Checkpoint Charlie Audio Productions – 2001 Delicate sounds from Norway. 01.04.06 PURESSENCE – Don’t Know Any Better – 7″ – Reaction Records – 2008 James Mudriczki’s vocal… 01.07.22 DAVID SYLVIAN – Nostalgia – Brilliant Trees, LP – Virgin – 1994 Post Japan, his first solo album making its mark in fine style. It was unlikely to do otherwise. 01.12.57 JOY DIVISION – Insight – The Peel Sessions, 12″EP – Strange Fruit – 1986 Peel sessions sort of mimicked a live gig recording at its crystal clear best… this one included. 01.16.50 SIOUXSIE and THE BANSHEES – Christine (Warner Chappell demo) – Kaleidoscope, CD only – Polydor – 2006 With everyone and everything here ‘battling’ to be the most understated – and with it all quite possibly recorded in a rehearsal room, on the likes of (say) a 4-track Portastudio – this is as demo’ish as a major act’s demo could sound back then. 01.19.32 THE FLAMINGOS – Shone Like The Sun #3 (unreleased demo) – 1984 With Cliff (Peacock) in Scott Walker-mode there were a few versions of this tune and to these ears it sounds even better now than it did back then. In effect the above might have doubled as my 27th birthday party and Shone Like The Sun was very likely on the Flamingos set list. 01.24.12 THE WAKE – Make You Understand – Here Comes Everybody, CD only comp – Factory Benelux – 2015 Recorded for a Feb ’84 BBC Radio 1 session for David/Kid Jensen and played live but the former only ever surfaced on the above. Stephen, Mac, Carolyn and Caesar: Winkles, Bedford, 13.11.83 Photo credit/copyright: Dec Hickey 01.26.33 LITTLE NEMO – Bed In Summer – La Cassette Froide, split cassette (with Rain Culture) – self released – 1986 Not the first European band in the mid to late ’80s to have sounded as if heavily influenced by UK bands of the early ’80s and with a track only to be found on this cassette. I won’t be acquiring one any time soon. 01.30.27 THE STRANGLERS – London Lady – 7″ – United Artists – 1977 Yep, Jean-Jacques Burnel with a lyric or two (well, one in particular) that we youth most probably laughed through back in the day but now would maybe slightly wince at. The times… 01.32.52 ELVIS COSTELLO – (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea – 7″ – Radar – 1978 I had a brief moment with Declan’s singles around this time… and you had to admire the balls of a musician who wanted to strike out as an Elvis. 01.35.53 THE SUB ENSEMBLE – Faster Than The Sun (Domu Remix) – Download only – 2008 Very short-lived crew aided and abetted here by acclaimed Bedford-based (then, anyway) DJ, producer, remixer, Domu. 01.41.01 JAZZ THE GLASS – 16 Seconds – Download only, Soundcloud – 2019 A 41 Rooms regular, with another winner. Dave reminded me it uses a sample from a US boy band. I think it was a white label 12″ with anonymous writing (just initials?), that I took a punt on at no more than 20p. 01.44.47 FPI PROJECT – Come On (And Do It) (TC Funky Mix) – 12″ – Synthetic Records – 1993 ‘Tremendous funky Italian offering as ever from those talented members of Ital’s most consistent band. Chocca full of good alternative mixes, including a wicked guitar ladened TC Funky mix… ‘ – Kenny Grogan, Mixmag Update, 28.4.93 ‘Everything you love/hate about Italian records in double helpings. Very FPI Project but bang on time with its riffing flamenco-style guitar and a bundle of irresistibly funked up mixes firm Mother-man Lee Fisher, which include a wonderful reinvention of the bouncy original into a big booming beast of a track‘. Matthew Cole, Record Mirror (Music Week), 10.7.93 ‘Girl chanted powerful Hamilton Bohannon-ish happy party pounder’s original Gypsy Kings-like guitars strummed 125bpm Official, 125.2bpm Gipsy, TC 1993 wukka-wukked 125.2bpm TC Funky Mixes, new sax squawked jerkily percussive building 124.9bpm Mothers At Work Remix and Dub‘. – James Hamilton, Record Mirror (Music Week), 7.8.93 As mentioned on the show, a one and a bit trick pony but sometimes a funky break and some vocal snippets is all you need for some head nodding bizniz. 01.49.36 CHEZ DAMIER & CO-INSIDE – Give A Little Love (Made In Detroit Mix) – The United States EP, 12″ – t:ime – 1993 ‘Nottingham’s Sine boys have always (worn) worthier US influences on their sleeves. This time they make a more permanent connection with two excellent transatlantic collaborations. Their Made In Detroit Mix of Give A Little Love by Chez Damier & Co-Inside is a supremely cool organ-washed garage groove with the repeated title line drifting in and out of the mix. It becomes less mellow and more dubby as it progresses…‘ – Andy Beevers, Record Mirror (Music Week), 4.9.93 And yet another tune with a minimal use of different lyrics… and here you’re not getting the full nine minutes they’re spread over on the 12″. Still, jaunty US house with a bit of a UK ’90s garage’y feel… and I think I edited out some frogs sounds. 01.53.15 THE REESE PROJECT – The Colour of Love (Groove Corporation Trance Mix) * – 12″ – Network – 1992 ‘Even by his own standards, Kevin Saunderson is having a good year. With Inner City firmly re-established as one of the world’s leading dance acts, he now takes the limelight under his alter-ego for what will be one of the biggest tunes of the year. The Deep Reese mix (featured on the Network ‘Elixir Vitae’ double pack extravaganza that some might say is their apology for KWS) is still the one for me. The coffee table intro soaring into a menacing groove with the hookiest of vocal samples… bliss. But wait, let us not forget Groove (aka Electribe 101) Corporation’s four mixes full of true British grit and trance appeal… ‘ – Dave Seaman ****1/2 Mixmag Update, July 9, ’92. ‘Kevin ‘Master Reese’ Saunderson’s powerful Rachel Kapp wailed Club Chart topper is now out on one single in brilliant swimming bass pulsed wriggly warbling 121.6bpm Magic Juan Atkins Mix, gospelishly started hypnotically chugging (0-)123.4bpm Deep Reese Mix, piano plonked 121.6-121.5bpm Underground Resistance Mix, repetitively stuttered Kym Sims-ish 122-122.1bpm MK Deep Dub, good insistently rolling 114.7-114.8bpm Groove Corporation Trance Mix and bass bubbled blippy 114.9-114.8bpm Groove Corporation Wobble Dub, while the first of the separate promos had its throbbing somehow then steady 115bpm Vocal (Trance Mix) and 115-114.9bpm Acid Revival (Wobble Dub), plus alternative swirlingly chugging 115bpm Plae Blue Mix and Instrumental Groove Corporation 021 Remixes‘. – James Hamilton, Record Mirror (Music Week), 1.8.92 Slinky Saunderson… and albeit it the same theme, a thousand miles from Terry Callier’s What Colour Is Love in every other way. Show 148 should surface here Feb 1. Dec x The post Post Punk Plus Podcast Playlist 147 – Original upload 4.1.26 appeared first on 41Rooms.

This week on Bet the Process, Jeff and Rufus bring on old friend Preston Johnson, the Sports Cheetah, and discuss Crawley Town FC, Preston's journey away from sports gambling, and some college football playoff predictions.

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 3.200 jaar geleden. Schrijver Sîn-leqi-unnini verwerkt zijn angsten in een episch verhaal over Gilgamesj. Zal dat indruk maken op de nieuwe Babylonische koning? Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze ombudsman via ombudsman@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur:Karen Sonik. ‘Characterization and Identity in Mesopotamian Literature: The Gilgamesh Epic, Enuma elish, and Other Sumerian and Akkadian Narratives' in Dahlia Shehata e.a. (eds) Contemporary Approaches to Mesopotamian Literature. How to Tell a Story, Brill 2024. Sophus Helle. ‘Gilgamesh Returns' in Articulations, in juni 2024.Amanda H. Podany. 'Weavers, Scribes, and Kings A New History of the Ancient Near East', Oxford University Press 2022. Sophus Helle. 'Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic', Yale University Press 2021 Andrew George. 'The Epic of Gilgamesh. The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian', Penguin 2020 (tweede druk).Herman van Stiphout. 'Het epos van Gilgames', SUN 2011 (derde druk). Gwendolyn Leick (ed). 'The Babylonian world', Routledge 2007 Benjamin R. Foster. 'Before the muses: an anthology of Akkadian literature', CDL Press 2005 (derde druk). Zie ook ‘Het epos van Gilgamesj: hoe een held mens wordt' in NRC op 6 juli 2019.Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THE TRIAL OF RUFUS AND CICERO'S MISOGYNY Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin describes a trial where Clodia accused her ex-lover Rufus of poisoning. Cicero defended Rufus by launching misogynistic attacks on Clodia, calling her "cow-eyed" and alleging incest. Boin argues this famous speech unfairly solidified Clodia's negative historical reputation while obscuring the political power she wielded. NUMBER 15

SHOW 12-25-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THE MODERN STORY OF MARY AND HER FAMILY. 1868 NAZARETH SEPPHORIS AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF MARY'S LIFE Colleague James Tabor. Tabor identifies Sepphoris, a Roman capital near Nazareth, as Mary's birthplace. He reimagines Jesus and Joseph as "tektons" (builders) working in this urban center rather than simple carpenters. This proximity meant Mary witnessed Romanbrutality and the city's destruction, influencing her family's spiritual views on the Kingdom of God. NUMBER 1 INVESTIGATING THE NAME PANTERA Colleague James Tabor. Tabor explores the name "Pantera," found in rabbinic texts and on a Roman soldier's tombstone. He suggests this might be a family name rather than a slur, investigating the possibility that Jesus's father was a relative or soldier, which challenges the theological narrative of a virgin birth. NUMBER 2 RECLAIMING THE HISTORICAL JEWISH FAMILY Colleague James Tabor. Highlighting the Protoevangelium of James, Tabor contrasts its depiction of a perpetual virgin Mary with historical evidence of a large Jewish family. He argues Mary had numerous children and that her parents were likely wealthy property owners in Sepphoris, integrating Jesus into a close-knit extended family. NUMBER 3 JAMES THE JUST AS TRUE SUCCESSOR Colleague James Tabor. Tabor asserts James, Jesus's brother, was the movement's true successor, not Peter. Citing Acts and the Gospel of Thomas, he notes James led the Jerusalem council and stood at the cross. Tabor argues the "beloved disciple" entrusted with Mary's care was this blood brother, not Johnthe fisherman. NUMBER 4 THE HEADQUARTERS ON MOUNT ZION Colleague James Tabor. Tabor describes excavations on Mount Zion, identifying a first-century house foundation as the "upper room" and headquarters of the early movement. He visualizes Mary as the matriarch in this courtyard, welcoming pilgrims and apostles like Paul, and establishes James as the leader of this house synagogue. NUMBER 5 THE FLIGHT TO PELLA AND MARY'S DEATH Colleague James Tabor. Tabor discusses the Christian flight to Pella during the Roman revolt. He speculates Mary died before this event, likely around 49–63 CE, and was buried on Mount Zion. Consequently, she disappears from the New Testament record, which shifts focus to Peter and Paul after the Jerusalem church's dispersal. NUMBER 6 THE TALPIOT TOMB AND DNA EVIDENCE Colleague James Tabor. Discussing the Talpiot tomb, Tabor details ossuaries bearing names like "Jesus son of Joseph" and "Mariamne." He argues statistical clusters and potential DNA evidence suggest this is the Jesus family tomb, positing that physical remains support historical existence without necessarily negating the concept of spiritual resurrection. NUMBER 7 THE Q SOURCE AND MARY'S TEACHINGS Colleague James Tabor. Tabor identifies the "Q" source as a collection of ethical teachings shared by Matthew and Luke. He attributes these core values—such as charity and humility—to a family tradition taught by Mary to Jesus, James, and John the Baptizer, aiming to restore Mary'shistorical influence as a teacher. NUMBER 8 VIRGIL'S RURAL ORIGINS AND AUGUSTAN CONNECTION Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The guests discuss Virgil's birth in 70 BCE near Mantua and his rural upbringing, which influenced his poetry. They trace his move to Rome during civil war and his eventual connection to Augustus, noting that Virgil promised a grand epic for the emperor in his earlier work, the Georgics. NUMBER 9 TRANSLATING THE SOUND AND METER OF VIRGIL Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The translators explain choosing iambic pentameter over dactylic hexameter to provide an English cultural equivalent to the original's epic feel. They describe their efforts to replicate Virgil's auditory effects, such as alliteration and assonance, and preserve specific line repetitions that connect characters like Turnus and Camilla. NUMBER 10 THE AENEID'S PLOT AND HOMERIC INFLUENCES Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. McGill and Wright summarize the plot, from Troy's destruction to the war in Italy. They analyze Virgil's dialogue with Homer, noting how the poem's opening words invoke both the Iliad's warfare and the Odyssey's wanderings. They also highlight the terrifying, visual nature of Virgil's depiction of the underworld. NUMBER 11 ROMAN EXCEPTIONALISM VS. HUMAN TRAGEDY Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. They discuss whether the Aeneid justifies Roman empire or tells a human story. McGill argues the poem survives because it creates sympathy for antagonists like Dido and Turnus. They explore how Virgil portrays the costs of empire and Aeneas's rage, complicating the narrative of Augustan propaganda. NUMBER 12 CLODIA'S PRIVILEGE AND CICERO'S AMBITION Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin introduces Clodia, a privileged woman from an ancient Roman family on Palatine Hill. He contrasts her aristocratic, independent nature—manifested in her name spelling—with the rise of Cicero, a talented outsider. Boin frames their eventual conflict as a clash between established power and ambitious newcomers. NUMBER 13 THE POLITICS OF TRIBUNES AND REFORM Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin details the divide between the Optimates and Populares. He explains how Clodia and her brother Clodius used the office of Tribune—the "people's protector" with veto power—to enact reforms. This strategy allowed them to challenge the Senate's authority and set the stage for Clodius's political dominance. NUMBER 14 THE TRIAL OF RUFUS AND CICERO'S MISOGYNY Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin describes a trial where Clodia accused her ex-lover Rufus of poisoning. Cicero defended Rufus by launching misogynistic attacks on Clodia, calling her "cow-eyed" and alleging incest. Boin argues this famous speech unfairly solidified Clodia's negative historical reputation while obscuring the political power she wielded. NUMBER 15 THE DEATH OF CLODIUS AND THE REPUBLIC'S END Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin recounts the violent death of Clodius by rival gangs, marking a turning point toward the Republic's collapse. He views Clodia's subsequent disappearance from history as a symbol of the loss of women's influence and civic rights, framing her story as a cautionary tale about political violence. NUMBER 16

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 3.800 jaar geleden. Mijnwerker Lachisch verstopt zich in een tempel een leert daar vreemde tekentjes. Hoe nuttig kan dat nieuwe alfabet worden? Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur: Ludwig D. Morenz. ‘El(-GOD) as “Father in Regalness”. Mine M in Serabit el Khadim as a Middle-Bronze-Age (c. 1900 BC). Working Space sacralised by Early Alefbetic Writing' in Working Paper 13 Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, 2023. Martijn Jaspers en Toon Van Hal. ‘Van huisje tot hashtag, van ossenkop tot apenstaart. Een geschiedenis van het alfabet', Maklu uitgever, 2023. Silvia Ferrara. ‘The Greatest Invention. A History of the World in Nine Mysterious Scripts', Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2022 (Vertaald uit het Italiaans door Todd Portnowitz). Felix Höflmayer e.a. ‘Early alphabetic writing in the ancient Near East: the ‘missing link' from Tel Lachish' in Antiquity, juni 2021. Philip J. Boyes en Philippa M. Steele (eds). ‘Understanding Relations Between Scripts II Early Alphabets', Oxbow books, 2020. Miriam Lichtheim. ‘Ancient Egyptian Literature', University of California Press, 2019 (eerste druk 1975).Aaron Koller. ‘The Diffusion of the Alphabet in the Second Millennium BCE: On the Movements of Scribal Ideas from Egypt to the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Yemen', in Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, in december 2018. Steven R. Fischer. ‘History of Writing', Reaktion Books, 2003.Brian E. Colles. ‘The Proto-Alphabetic Inscriptions of Canaan' in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, 1991.Lina Eckenstein. ‘A History of Sinai', Macmillan 1921. Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This past week has brought its share of A&M-adjacent football disappointment, but Melanie is finding comfort and solace by celebrating the Aggies' national championship in volleyball (GLASS HALF FULL, you understand). Meanwhile, here in Alabama, this past week has taught me some things about my personal needs from health care providers who draw blood, and I have found comfort and solace in watching television. As one does. Melanie also has some thoughts about Amazon's AI assistant, Rufus, and it's my turn for Five Favorites. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody! Join Us on Patreon  Our Amazon Shop 2025 Big Boo Holiday Gift Guide Show Notes: Aggie women's volleyball wins National Championship Chicken Oil Co. in Bryan Aggie football loses to Miami Johnny Manziel couldn't make it Jazz TX Pullman Market in San Antonio Owning Manhattan on Netflix The End of an Era on Disney+ My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman on Netflix Murdaugh: Death in the Family on Hulu Love, Meghan on Netflix Will Guidara Spicy Hamburger Soup Truremedy soap sleeveless puffer vest Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater turquoise big bead necklace Aerie Like Candy crew sweater Sponsors: Homeserve - use this link to find the plan that's right for you Hungryroot - use code BIGBOO to get 40% off and a free item of your choice for life AG1 - use this link for $126 in free gifts for new subscribers Trust & Will - use this link for 20% off

Rev. Rufus Smith teaches as we prepare for Christmas. Baby Jesus (the reason for the season) was God's best gift to us, and your commitment to Him is your best gift to give back to God.Stay connected with Hope Church Memphis:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @Hope4MemphisTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @Hope4MemphisPrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 4.200 jaar geleden. Koningsdochter Enheduana schrijft een woedend gedicht en ruilt haar goddelijke echtgenoot in voor een godin. Zal dat haar macht herstellen? Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur: Sophus Helle. 'Enheduana: The Complete Poems of the World's First Author', Yale University Press, 2024. Amanda H. Podany. 'Weavers, Scribes, and Kings A New History of the Ancient Near East', Oxford University Press, 2022. Gina Konstantopoulos. ‘The Many Lives of Enheduana. Identity, Authorship, and the “World's First Poet”' in Kerstin Droß-Krüpe e.a. (eds) Powerful Women in the Ancient World. Perception and (Self)Presentation, Zaphon 2021. Annette Zgoll. ‘Innana and En-ḫedu-ana Mutual Empowerment and the myth INNANA CONQUERS UR' in Kerstin Droß-Krüpe e.a. (eds) Powerful Women in the Ancient World. Perception and (Self)Presentation, Zaphon 2021. J.N. Postgate. 'Early Mesopotamia. Society and economy at the dawn of history', Routledge 1992 (herdruk 2017).Gwendolyn Leick. 'Mesopotamia. The invention of the city', Penguin 2001. Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 12.000 jaar geleden. Sjamaan Slata wandelt naar Göbleki Tepe, bakt brood en hallucineert op beschimmelde rogge. Zullen zijn visioenen de landbouw vooruit helpen?Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur:Oliver Dietrich ‘Shamanism at Early Neolithic Göbekli Tepe, southeastern Turkey. Methodological contributions to an archaeology of belief' in Praehistorische Zeitschrift, in mei 2024. Steven Mithen ‘Shamanism at the transition from foraging to farming in Southwest Asia: sacra, ritual, and performance at Neolithic WF16 (southern Jordan)' in The Journal of the Council for British Research in the Levant, in September 2022.David Graeber en David Wengrow. ‘The Dawn of Everything, A New History of Humanity', bij Penguin in 2022. Li Liu e.a. ‘Fermented beverage and food storage in 13,000 y-old stone mortars at Raqefet Cave, Israel: Investigating Natufian ritual feasting' in in oktober 2018. Amaia Arranz-Otaeguia e.a. ‘Archaeobotanical evidence reveals the origins of bread 14,400 years ago in northeastern Jordan' in PNAS, op 13 juli 2018.Leore Grosman e.a. ‘A Natufian Ritual Event' in Current Anthropology, in juni 2016.Marion Benz ‘Symbols of Power - Symbols of Crisis? A Psycho-Social Approach to Early Neolithic Symbol Systems', Neo-Lithics, in januari 2014. Leore Grosman e.a. ‘A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel)' in PNAS, op 18 november 2008. Zohar Kerem e.a. ‘Chickpea domestication in the Neolithic Levant through the nutritional perspective' in Journal of Archaeological Science, in augustus 2007.Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PART 2 OUT ON BOXING DAY - EXCLUSIVELY ON PATREON!https://www.patreon.com/c/RadioRufusMERCH: All New Radio Rufus Merchandisehttps://visualanticsapparel.com/collections/radio-rufusMarshall - https://www.tiktok.com/@marshallexler?lang=enhttps://www.instagram.com/marshallexler/?hl=enRufus - https://www.instagram.com/rufusrice_/https://www.tiktok.com/@rufusdailyAidan - https://www.instagram.com/aidanraff_/https://www.tiktok.com/@aidanraff_Follow Our Socials: https://linktr.ee/radiorufuspodListen on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/twSX8Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/aFHW0

Back in January 2020, Rufus sat down with Priya Parker — a conflict resolution specialist who's worked on peace processes around the world — to talk about her book The Art of Gathering. What she told him changed how we think about every dinner party, every work meeting, every family get-together we host. Priya's argument is simple but radical. She says most of our gatherings fail because we focus on the wrong things. We obsess over the menu, the playlist. And we ignore the one question we should be asking: Why are we bringing these people together? With the right answer to that question, she says, you can turn any gathering into something meaningful — maybe even transformative. Supported By: Aura Frames - Get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code IDEA at auraframes.com  GoDaddy - Get a domain for pennies at godaddy.com/nbi The Next Big Idea Club - Take 20% off a subscription or gift with code PODCAST at nextbigideaclub.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

* This is an audio-only version of my interview with Rufus Harrington, trustee of The Doreen Valiente Foundation. I am so excited to share this special conversation with Rufus Harrington about the legendary Doreen Valiente!As a thank you for your incredible support, this interview is being released as a free bonus episode for both my dedicated Patreon members as well as my YouTube community. Happy Yule!In this insightful conversation, I sat down with Rufus Harrington, a psychologist and long-standing practitioner of the craft, who currently serves as a trustee for the Doreen Valiente Foundation.This interview traces the life and spiritual impact of the woman widely known as the "Mother of Modern Witchcraft." We begin by exploring Rufus's own journey into Wicca and how his professional background in psychology provides a unique lens through which he views the evolution of the pagan community.The Heart of the Conversation: Who was Doreen Valiente? We dive into a biography of this pivotal figure, moving beyond her titles to understand her as a poet, a researcher, and a spiritual revolutionary.The Gardnerian Connection: Rufus distinguishes Valiente's contributions from those of her contemporary, Gerald Gardner, highlighting how her poetic voice and ethical framework shaped the Craft as we know it today.The Foundation's Mission: Rufus discusses the vital work of preserving sacred artifacts, rare writings, and the personal legacy of a woman who sought to bring the magic of the old world into the modern era.Spirituality in Practice: From the "Charge of the Goddess" to her scholarly research, we discuss the enduring resonance of Valiente's work and why it remains "alive" for practitioners in the 21st century.Whether you are a long-time practitioner or simply curious about the history of modern spirituality, this interview offers a deep dive into the stewardship of a legacy. Rufus shares personal reflections on his role as a trustee and offers guidance on where seekers can find authentic resources to further their own studies.PROGRAM NOTESHome | Doreen ValienteBooks by Doreen Valiente (Author of Natural Magic)Natural Magic: Valiente, Doreen: 8601404398032: Amazon.com: BooksTHE ATLANTIS BOOKSHOP | The living history of magicHome - Museum of Witchcraft and MagicLifting the Veil: A Witches' Guide to Trance-Prophesy, Drawing Down the Moon and Ecstatic Ritual: Farrar, Janet, Bone, Gavin: 9780719831621: Amazon.com: BooksWhat Witches Do: A Modern Coven Revealed: Farrar, Stewart: 9780719831539: Amazon.com: BooksAradia or the Gospel of the Witches: The Founding Book of Modern Witchcraft, Containing History, Traditions, Dianic Goddesses and Folklore of Wicca: Leland, Charles Godfrey: 9781985818026: Amazon.com: BooksHigh Magic's Aid - Kindle edition by Gardner, Gerald . Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Books by Vivianne Crowley (Author of Wicca)Books by Patricia Crowther (Author of Lid Off the Cauldron)John Belham-Payne Founder of the Centre For Pagan Studies – Centre For Pagan StudiesJohn Belham-Payne – Gardnerian WiccaMusic & End Production: Stephanie Shea

Encore Episode from March 18, 2025 (and the most popular of the year)_____________________________Well known Rocker Dog Dad Rufus Taylor of The Darkness joined the show in the early months of 2025 to give our inquiring minds all we need to know about his Instagram famous 4 year old Boston Terrier Don. We cover "The Don's" embodiment of the Rock-n-Roll Party Cowboy lifestyle, the "train with love" philosophy his grandmother instilled in him and getting recognized in public as he scoops poop. It's a great conversation from a great appreciator of all dogs.Rufus elected to give a shout out to The Voice of Animals Foundation in Thailand, a dog rescue run by Michael Chour who's dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs in Thailand. To learn more check them out on Instagram at @chourmichael_thesoundofanimalsFor more pics and clips of Rufus and Don follow the show on Instagram @rockerdogpodcast

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 40.000 jaar geleden. De jonge Doi staat oog in oog met zijn verre familie, een groep dansende neanderthalers. Zullen ze hem accepteren? Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur: Francesca Romagnoli e.a. (eds) ‘Updating Neanderthals. Understanding Behavioural Complexity in the Late Middle Palaeolithic', Academic Press 2022 Mateja Hajdinjak e.a ‘Initial Upper Palaeolithic humans in Europe had recent Neanderthal ancestry' in Nature 8 april 2021. Rebecca Wragg Sykes. ‘Kindred. Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art', Bloomsbury 2021 Rudolf Botha. ‘Neanderthal Language. Demystifying the Linguistic Powers of our Extinct Cousins', Cambridge University Press 2020 Katerina Harvati. ‘Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia. Human Evolution and its Context', Springer Press 2016 Qiaomei Fu e.a. ‘An early modern human from Romania with a recent Neanderthal ancestor' in Nature, 13 augustus 2015.Wil Roebroeks en Paola Villa ‘Neandertal Demise: An Archaeological Analysis of the Modern Human Superiority Complex' in PLOS One, 30 april 2014.João Zilhão e.a. ‘The Peştera cu Oase People. Europe's Earliest Modern Humans' in K. Boyle e.d. (eds) Rethinking the Human Revolution, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, 2007.Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

mélange azimut pour public épicurien....

Deze week hoor je in NRC Vandaag onze serie Wilde eeuwen, het begin. Een van de verhalende series die we dit jaar maakten: perfect voor tijdens de dagen rond Kerst.Het is 50.000 jaar geleden. Seddi staat trots voor haar grote tekening van een wrattenzwijn, diep in een grot op Sulawesi. Zal het zwijn haar volk helpen te overleven? Heeft u vragen, suggesties of ideeën over onze journalistiek? Mail dan naar onze redactie via podcast@nrc.nl.Voor deze aflevering is onder meer gebruikt gemaakt van deze literatuur: Maxime Aubert e.a. ‘Narrative cave art in Indonesia by 51,200 years ago' in Nature, op 25 juli 2024. Rikai Sawafuji e.a. ‘East and Southeast Asian hominin dispersal and evolution: A review' in Quaternary Science Reviews,Volume 333, op 1 Juni 2024. April Nowell ‘Oral Storytelling and Knowledge Transmission in Upper Paleolithic Children and Adolescents' in Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, in Maart 2023. Adam Brumm e.a. ‘Oldest cave art found in Sulawesi' in Science Advances, op 15 januari 2021. Chris Stringer e.a. ‘Did the Denisovans Cross Wallace's Line?', in Science, op 18 oktober 2013. Michael Witzel ‘The origins of the world's mythologies', bij Oxford University Press, in 2012.Sally Mcbrearty e.a. ‘The revolution that wasn't: a new interpretation of the origin of modern human behavior' in Journal of Human Evolution, in november 2000.Zie ook ‘Het oudste verhaal ter wereld werd 50.000 jaar geleden getekend in een grot op het eiland Sulawesi', in NRC op 16 november.In deze aflevering komt muziek voor van de volgende artiesten: Fralalai, Frodi Fransman, Hidde Meenhorst, Arno Adelaars, Imre Peemot.Tekst en presentatie: Hendrik SpieringRedactie en regie: Mirjam van ZuidamMuziek, montage en mixage: Rufus van BaardwijkBeeld: Jeen BertingVormgeving: Yannick MortierZie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Inspired by my time in the Thai islands, this set marks the one year anniversary of Resonance and takes us through the deep sounds of house, from organic to progressive island energy. Set List // Teahupoo - Nora En Pure Blink - Bob Moses My Soul - Avesie Groove La Afrika - Mele Watermark - Nora En Pure Water - Bicep Lean into Light - Qrion, pinkpirate Dancing in the Night (Lucky Shot Mix) - CIOZ, Eleonora The Runner - Rufus Du Sol Remix - Foals & Rufus du Sol Snake Charmer - Dennis Cruz Moments - Ben Bohmer & Nils Hoffmann Remix - Kidnap, Leo Stannard, Ben Bohmer, Nils Hoffman Burning Sun - Georgio, Darno, Cafe De Anatolio La Brisa - Ail Griga Reason - Bedouin, Marieme Isla (Aevion Remix) - Felon ft. Kaleem Taylor Jardmi (Dott Remix) - Marginal "

AI search adoption accelerated faster than streaming TV's decade-long transition. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO at Evertune, explains how mainstream consumers now encounter AI-powered results across Google AI Overviews, Amazon's Rufus, and voice assistants without actively seeking AI tools. The discussion covers strategic positioning frameworks for the "breathtaking" speed of AI-first discovery and competitive distribution strategies, including Walmart's partnership with ChatGPT to leverage their price optimization advantage in AI-mediated commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textAmazon sellers saw nonstop changes in 2025. From product title rules and feedback updates to the complete removal of FBA prep services. This video covers the most critical Amazon updates of the year and how they will impact your listings, ads, variations, and seller feedback. Understand what's changing before it costs you conversions or account health.You'll also learn how Amazon is crawling brand websites for compliance, what Rufus AI is actually doing behind the scenes, and how their silent variation page update could affect your sales. The video also covers Amazon's push for more discounts and ad spend, and how sellers should prepare their strategy heading into 2026.Don't let Amazon's new rules ruin your 2026 plan, get a free custom strategy call now: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonUpdates #AmazonSellers #FBA2025 #EcommerceTips #amazonnews -------------------------------------------------------------------------Want free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTQ4 Selling Playbook: https://bit.ly/46Wqkm32025 Ecommerce Holiday Playbook: https://bit.ly/4hbygovAmazon PPC Guide 2025: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXAmazon Crisis Kit: https://bit.ly/4maWHn0TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Amazon Updates Weekly Now00:29 - New Title Requirements in 202502:28 - Search Query API: Big Data Change04:07 - Two-Part Titles Survey from Amazon06:06 - Impact of Short vs. Long Titles08:01 - Amazon Is Crawling Brand Websites10:40 - FBA Prep Service Ends in 202613:57 - Feedback Abuse Gets Easier in 202516:49 - Amazon Rufus Tracks Order History19:31 - Rufus AI: Real SEO Impact or Hype?21:00 - Subscribe & Save Now Costs Sellers More23:00 - New Variation Pages Launched25:57 - Limiting Variations to Improve Sales27:37 - Amazon Price History Feature May Hurt You31:00 - Final Thoughts on Rufus and Pricing Strategy________________________________Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast:My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

AI search adoption is accelerating at breathtaking speed across all major platforms. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO of Evertune, explains how consumers are already experiencing AI-powered results through Google's AI Overviews, Amazon's Rufus, and voice assistants, even without actively seeking AI tools. The discussion covers strategic positioning opportunities for retailers like Walmart's early ChatGPT partnership and how the mainstream integration of AI search is creating new competitive dynamics in e-commerce discovery.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Bet the Process, Jeff and Rufus answer questions from listeners, with topics including their first times meeting Tony Kornheiser, betting second halves, and reflections on happiness and fulfillment.

Send us a textConfused if you need to optimize for Rufus? Here's why you don't, and what still matters for Amazon SEO. Amazon SEO in 2026 hasn't changed as much as people think. Rufus might be the trending buzzword, but organic sales, CTR, and proper listing optimization still drive rankings. This video breaks down updated SEO weight factors, A+ content myths, image alt text, and why turning off PPC will tank your organic rank.Book a call with our team and get expert help: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu#AmazonSEO #EcommerceSEO #RufusAmazon #ClickThroughRate #MyAmazonGuy--------------------------------------------------------------------------Want free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTQ4 Selling Playbook: https://bit.ly/46Wqkm32025 Ecommerce Holiday Playbook: https://bit.ly/4hbygovAmazon PPC Guide 2025: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXAmazon Crisis Kit: https://bit.ly/4maWHn0TIMESTAMPS00:00 - 2026 Amazon SEO Patch Notes00:13 - Rufus and Why It Doesn't Affect SEO00:40 - Organic Sales and Ranking Factors01:40 - Click-Through Rate Is Still Critical02:53 - Why Main Image Changes Everything04:08 - PPC Impacts Organic Ranking06:14 - CTR Example: Cookie Baking Sheet08:00 - A+ Content Indexing Still Matters09:30 - How to Check and Use Alt Text11:00 - Missed SEO Opportunities by Big Brands12:20 - Example of Poor SEO in a Listing13:40 - Conversion Rate and Off-Amazon Triggers15:00 - Finger-in-the-Air Data: How We Track SEO Signals16:00 - Rufus Hype vs Reality: No Impact Yet17:15 - How to Actually Learn Amazon SEO (MAG School + Free Guide)________________________________Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast:My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

AI search adoption is accelerating faster than streaming TV's decade-long transition. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO at Evertune, explains how mainstream consumers now encounter AI-powered search results across Google's AI Overviews, Amazon's Rufus, and voice assistants without actively seeking AI tools. The discussion covers strategic positioning frameworks for retailers like Walmart's ChatGPT partnership to capture price-sensitive searches and the competitive advantages of early AI search optimization.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natty Bumpercar and Aloysius J Pig attempted to record a podcast without their producer, who was on vacation. They faced numerous technical issues, including a chilly studio at 48 degrees and malfunctioning wires. Despite their efforts, the recording equipment failed. Aloysius humorously recounted his search for a tomato soup can to record, while Natty yawned into the microphone. They received messages from their producer and Rufus, who warned them about the cold studio, broken wires, and not eating frog cookies. The episode concluded with a reflection on their failed attempt and the chaos that ensued. You should send us an email to bumperpodcast@nattybumpercar.com. We’re here and we’re listening!

Mark 15:16-32 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss the crucifixion from the perspective of Simon of Cyrene.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23790The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

AI search adoption accelerated faster than streaming TV's decade-long transition. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO at Evertune, brings enterprise AI search expertise from his previous role at The Trade Desk where he witnessed major consumer behavior shifts in media consumption. The discussion explores how mainstream AI integration through Google's AI Overviews, Amazon's Rufus, and strategic partnerships like Walmart-ChatGPT are reshaping search discovery patterns. Stempeck analyzes the competitive implications of price-optimization strategies in AI-powered commerce environments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shopping is shifting from keyword-based search toward AI-driven, conversational guidance. Rajiv Mehta, Amazon.com's vice president of Search and Conversational Shopping, joins Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Poonam Goyal on this episode of the Tech Disruptors podcast to discuss Rufus, Amazon's AI shopping assistant that integrates large language models with the company's commerce data and personalization capabilities. Rufus helps customers identify suitable products using natural language, images and even handwritten lists. Mehta outlines how features such as price history, “help me decide,” image upload and agentic tools like price alerts and auto-buy are reshaping product discovery, conversion and customer loyalty on Amazon — and why he expects highly personalized, agent-supported shopping experiences to define the next phase of retail.

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!  The one and only Vicki Gunvalson has returned! She joins us to get into what to expect from the next season of RHOC, how it feels to have her orange back, get a little tea on Ultimate Road Trip, play a Hot Mic game and more! Later, we get into the most recent episodes of Southern Charm and RHOBH. Meanwhile, Nick shares his close brush with a car, we share our thoughts on Rob Reiner's and his wife Michelle's passing, the Diddy documentary and more! "Everybody lies. Get over it!" Buy Our Merch: https://shop.viallfiles.com/  Are you interested in being a part of a dating docuseries, with the opportunity of meeting your one? Fill out our casting call! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8_echsNPYsFZZ1tIpyY_aMD75tB3kZwKWCfgVZuYeS-xJQg/viewform Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter  Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  We've partnered with Mint Mobile to open a hot takes hotline to hear your scorching hot opinions! Give us your hot takes, thoughts and theories and we'll read and react to the best ones on an upcoming Reality Recap episode! All you have to do is call 1-855-MINT-TLK or, if you prefer the numbers, that's 1-855-646-8855 and leave us a message. Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with "Texting Office Hours" in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Amazon - Visit https://Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter, more affordable holiday shopping. Helix Sleep - Go to https://helixsleep.com/viall for 20% off sitewide for their extended Cyber Monday Sale. American Home Shield - Get 20% off any plan today at https://ahs.com/viallfiles. See https://ahs.com/contracts for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions. American Home Shield. Don't worry. Be warranty. Thrive Market - Go to https://thrivemarket.com/viall to get 30% off your first order, and a free $60 gift. Aura Frames - For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://auraframes.com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code VIALL at checkout. Goldbelly - Go to https://goldbelly.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code VIALL. Legendz – When you sign up today, you can get a 100% match on your first purchase — up to $100. Just go to the https://legendz.com and use promo code VIALL Cymbiotika – Go to https://cymbiotika.com/viall to get 20% off plus free shipping. Omaha Steaks – Save big on gourmet gifts and more holiday favorites with Omaha Steaks. Visit https://omahasteaks.com. And for an extra $35 off, use code VIALLFILES at checkout. Terms apply. See site for details.   Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:37 - Household Headlines 37:13 - Vicki Gunvalson 1:03:47 - Southern Charm 1:23:13 - RHOBH Episode Socials: @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @vickigunvalson @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell @the_mare_bare  

AI search adoption accelerated faster than streaming TV's decade-long transition. Brian Stempeck, co-founder and CEO at Evertune, explains how mainstream consumers now encounter AI-powered results across Google, Amazon's Rufus, and Siri without actively seeking AI tools. The discussion covers strategic partnerships like Walmart's early ChatGPT integration to capture price-conscious searches and how retailers can leverage AI discovery tools to compete in commodity consumer goods categories.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rev. Rufus Smith continues the Advent season with a message on "Love", "Why We Know How to Love." God's radical love towards us teaches us to relentlessly love others.Stay connected with Hope Church Memphis:Website • HopeChurchMemphis.comInstagram • @Hope4MemphisTikTok • @Hope4MemphisFacebook • @Hope4MemphisPrayer • HopeChurchMemphis.com/PrayerGiving • HopeChurchMemphis.com/Give

Are you sitting down? Because we're joined by Variety's Kate Aurthur to talk all things Actors on Actors. We're diving into RHOP, RHOSLC, and then Natalie Maguire stops by to break down the new era of Vanderpump Rules, with plenty of tea along the way. Stay right here… this episode is too good to miss.  "He had 'duded' me out too many times." Buy Our Merch: https://shop.viallfiles.com/  Are you interested in being a part of a dating docuseries, with the opportunity of meeting your one? Fill out our casting call! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8_echsNPYsFZZ1tIpyY_aMD75tB3kZwKWCfgVZuYeS-xJQg/viewform Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter  Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  We've partnered with Mint Mobile to open a hot takes hotline to hear your scorching hot opinions! Give us your hot takes, thoughts and theories and we'll read and react to the best ones on an upcoming Reality Recap episode! All you have to do is call 1-855-MINT-TLK or, if you prefer the numbers, that's 1-855-646-8855 and leave us a message. Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with "Texting Office Hours" in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Amazon - Visit https://Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter, more affordable holiday shopping. Quince - Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://Quince.com/viall for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Blueland - Blueland has a special offer for listeners. Right now, get 15% off your first order by going to https://Blueland.com/viall Mack Weldon - Fall into comfort with Mack Weldon's Ace Collection. Go to https://MackWeldon.com and get 20% off your first order of $125 or more, with promo code VIALL. Starbucks - Together is the best place to be. Connect over your holiday favorites at Starbucks. Rosetta Stone - Don't wait—unlock your language-learning potential NOW! The Viall Files listeners can grab Rosetta Stone's LIFETIME Membership for 50% OFF! That's unlimited access to 25 language courses, for life! Visit https://www.rosettastone.com/viall to get started and claim your 50% off TODAY! Revolve - Whether it's a weekend away, a big night out, or a holiday party – your dream wardrobe is just one click away. Head to https://revolve.com/viall shop my edit, and take 15% off your first order with code VIALL. American Home Shield - Get 20% off any plan today at https://ahs.com/viallfiles. See https://ahs.com/contracts for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions. American Home Shield. Don't worry. Be warranty. Olipop - Get a free can of OLIPOP: Buy any 2 cans of Olipop in store, and we'll pay you back for one. Works on any flavor, any retailer, including the Yeti limited-edition cans! Go to https://drinkolipop.com/viall  Legendz – When you sign up today, you can get a 100% match on your first purchase — up to $100. Just go to the https://Legendz.com and use promo code VIALL Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 27:50 - Kate Joins 29:12 - Actors on Actors 38:56 - Netflix Acquisition 46:37 - Real Housewives of Salt Lake City 50:45 - Real Housewives of Potomac 58:15 - Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (again) 1:12:21 - Vanderpump Rules Season 12 Episode Socials: @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @kateaurthur @nataliemmaguire @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell @the_mare_bare

Amazon truckload hijacked, TikTok Shop creator tactics, new AI tools & strategies, Amazon PPC recovery, and a full revamp of the AM/PM & Serious Sellers Podcasts.

December 2025's Patch Tuesday brought major shifts, but the real action is in Microsoft's pricing, privacy battles, and the arms race to control AI-enabled browsers. Plus, Paul recommends Tiny11 Builder for a clean install, or Win11Debloat for an existing install. Then, Rufus to create installation media without the forced Microsoft account (MSA) sign-in or hardware requirement checks. Use MSEdgeDirect to use the default web browser for stories from Widgets, web-based search results, etc. And ExplorerPatcher can fix the performance and reliability issues in File Explorer. It's the final Patch Tuesday of 2025 Major dark mode updates (with a fix for the "flashbang" problem) AI Agent in Settings, Click to Do, Windows Studio Effects, and Search improvements for Copilot+ PCs Many other improvements: FSE, Share, Settings, Widgets, more More Windows 11 New 25H2 preview build on Beta/Dev adds MCP public preview, Quick Machine Recovery auto-enabled, Unified Update Orchestration Platform, Windows MIDI services Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is getting a lot more expensive in mid-2026. You didn't think all those free AI updates were free, did you? AI Paul has been talking about "programmatic" apps and services because he wasn't sure of a term for this type of interaction. But there is a term for this: Semantic. As in semantic web. And there you go Microsoft one of 1,000 companies partnering on Agentic AI Foundation because you're getting agents whether they work or not Gartner says NO to AI web browsers The New York Times is suing Perplexity for all the obvious reasons After a big win in the legal battle with OpenAI Opera for Android gets a big AI update Google Workspace Studio brings code-free agent creation to business users - automation is a solid AI use case Xbox Xbox Series X|S notably absent during Black Friday sales Call of Duty won't repeat the mistakes of the past anymore since it didn't work out twice now MS Flight Simulator 2024 is now available on PS5 Red Dead Redemption comes to mobile for the first time, free with a Netflix account Tips & Picks Tip and app(s) of the week: De-enshittify Windows 11 RunAs Radio this week: Incident Management and the Crowdstrike Event with Liam Westley Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Farm Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/windowsweekly auraframes.com/ink helixsleep.com/windows ventionteams.com/twit

Amazon truckload hijacked, TikTok Shop creator tactics, new AI tools & strategies, Amazon PPC recovery, and a full revamp of the AM/PM & Serious Sellers Podcasts.   In this episode, Bradley Sutton kicks off a brand-new era for both the AM/PM Podcast and the Serious Sellers Podcast with co-hosts Carrie Miller and Shivali Patel. This simulcast episode sets the tone for what's coming next: more Amazon, TikTok Shop, Walmart, and AI-driven strategies designed to help you make money in the AM and the PM. Bradley also shares the new format for both shows, including Weekly Buzz moving to AM/PM Podcast, expert-led trainings, and a renewed focus on real seller stories on Serious Sellers Podcast every Monday.   From there, things get wild. Carrie tells the story of a truckload of her Amazon inventory being hijacked on the freeway like a scene straight out of Fast & Furious, complete with a fake carrier, turned-off tracking, ransom demands, and a loss that ballooned to around $70K after tariffs. She breaks down what she learned about freight, tariffs, switching manufacturing from China to Turkey, and why sellers need to be more hands-on with carriers and agencies alike. Shivali then shares her own hard lesson: a high-margin product that kept failing customers, forcing her to pull the listing and rebuild the brand off-Amazon using a digital-first strategy that pairs a makeup mastery course with a physical product bonus and a new funnel powered by Google Ads.   To round out the episode, Shivali walks through exactly how she became a TikTok creator in just 12 days, qualified for the Creator Pilot Program, and started monetizing with TikTok Shop using existing camera-roll content, smart reposting, and product tagging. She also reveals some under-the-radar AI tools like Higgsfield and Arcads that can help sellers generate before-and-after content, influencer-style videos, and scalable creatives without always needing the physical product on hand. Carrie closes with one more key reminder for Amazon sellers: start paying attention to Rufus and optimize your listings around the real questions shoppers are asking, because AI-driven search is already changing how people discover products on Amazon.   In episode 477 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley, Carrie, and Shivali discuss: 00:00 – Bradley kicks off the new era of the AM/PM & Serious Sellers Podcasts 02:03 – Fast & Furious moment: an Amazon shipment gets hijacked 03:20 – How the thieves impersonated the carrier and held the load for ransom 05:14 – $70K in losses and what sellers MUST know about subcontracted carriers 07:48 – Turning a product failure into a digital-product-first business model 15:50 – Carrie moves manufacturing from China to Turkey - costs vs. tariffs 16:55 – Major announcement: Weekly Buzz moves to the AM/PM Podcast 22:10 – How Shivali became a TikTok Creator in 12 days &  27:45 – Carrie's Amazon PPC agency disaster & how she rebuilt with Helium 10 34:05 – AI tools sellers haven't heard of 36:45 – Optimizing Amazon listings for Rufus AI 37:55 – The future format of both podcasts moving forward  

December 2025's Patch Tuesday brought major shifts, but the real action is in Microsoft's pricing, privacy battles, and the arms race to control AI-enabled browsers. Plus, Paul recommends Tiny11 Builder for a clean install, or Win11Debloat for an existing install. Then, Rufus to create installation media without the forced Microsoft account (MSA) sign-in or hardware requirement checks. Use MSEdgeDirect to use the default web browser for stories from Widgets, web-based search results, etc. And ExplorerPatcher can fix the performance and reliability issues in File Explorer. It's the final Patch Tuesday of 2025 Major dark mode updates (with a fix for the "flashbang" problem) AI Agent in Settings, Click to Do, Windows Studio Effects, and Search improvements for Copilot+ PCs Many other improvements: FSE, Share, Settings, Widgets, more More Windows 11 New 25H2 preview build on Beta/Dev adds MCP public preview, Quick Machine Recovery auto-enabled, Unified Update Orchestration Platform, Windows MIDI services Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is getting a lot more expensive in mid-2026. You didn't think all those free AI updates were free, did you? AI Paul has been talking about "programmatic" apps and services because he wasn't sure of a term for this type of interaction. But there is a term for this: Semantic. As in semantic web. And there you go Microsoft one of 1,000 companies partnering on Agentic AI Foundation because you're getting agents whether they work or not Gartner says NO to AI web browsers The New York Times is suing Perplexity for all the obvious reasons After a big win in the legal battle with OpenAI Opera for Android gets a big AI update Google Workspace Studio brings code-free agent creation to business users - automation is a solid AI use case Xbox Xbox Series X|S notably absent during Black Friday sales Call of Duty won't repeat the mistakes of the past anymore since it didn't work out twice now MS Flight Simulator 2024 is now available on PS5 Red Dead Redemption comes to mobile for the first time, free with a Netflix account Tips & Picks Tip and app(s) of the week: De-enshittify Windows 11 RunAs Radio this week: Incident Management and the Crowdstrike Event with Liam Westley Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Farm Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/windowsweekly auraframes.com/ink helixsleep.com/windows ventionteams.com/twit

December 2025's Patch Tuesday brought major shifts, but the real action is in Microsoft's pricing, privacy battles, and the arms race to control AI-enabled browsers. Plus, Paul recommends Tiny11 Builder for a clean install, or Win11Debloat for an existing install. Then, Rufus to create installation media without the forced Microsoft account (MSA) sign-in or hardware requirement checks. Use MSEdgeDirect to use the default web browser for stories from Widgets, web-based search results, etc. And ExplorerPatcher can fix the performance and reliability issues in File Explorer. It's the final Patch Tuesday of 2025 Major dark mode updates (with a fix for the "flashbang" problem) AI Agent in Settings, Click to Do, Windows Studio Effects, and Search improvements for Copilot+ PCs Many other improvements: FSE, Share, Settings, Widgets, more More Windows 11 New 25H2 preview build on Beta/Dev adds MCP public preview, Quick Machine Recovery auto-enabled, Unified Update Orchestration Platform, Windows MIDI services Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is getting a lot more expensive in mid-2026. You didn't think all those free AI updates were free, did you? AI Paul has been talking about "programmatic" apps and services because he wasn't sure of a term for this type of interaction. But there is a term for this: Semantic. As in semantic web. And there you go Microsoft one of 1,000 companies partnering on Agentic AI Foundation because you're getting agents whether they work or not Gartner says NO to AI web browsers The New York Times is suing Perplexity for all the obvious reasons After a big win in the legal battle with OpenAI Opera for Android gets a big AI update Google Workspace Studio brings code-free agent creation to business users - automation is a solid AI use case Xbox Xbox Series X|S notably absent during Black Friday sales Call of Duty won't repeat the mistakes of the past anymore since it didn't work out twice now MS Flight Simulator 2024 is now available on PS5 Red Dead Redemption comes to mobile for the first time, free with a Netflix account Tips & Picks Tip and app(s) of the week: De-enshittify Windows 11 RunAs Radio this week: Incident Management and the Crowdstrike Event with Liam Westley Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Farm Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/windowsweekly auraframes.com/ink helixsleep.com/windows ventionteams.com/twit

December 2025's Patch Tuesday brought major shifts, but the real action is in Microsoft's pricing, privacy battles, and the arms race to control AI-enabled browsers. Plus, Paul recommends Tiny11 Builder for a clean install, or Win11Debloat for an existing install. Then, Rufus to create installation media without the forced Microsoft account (MSA) sign-in or hardware requirement checks. Use MSEdgeDirect to use the default web browser for stories from Widgets, web-based search results, etc. And ExplorerPatcher can fix the performance and reliability issues in File Explorer. It's the final Patch Tuesday of 2025 Major dark mode updates (with a fix for the "flashbang" problem) AI Agent in Settings, Click to Do, Windows Studio Effects, and Search improvements for Copilot+ PCs Many other improvements: FSE, Share, Settings, Widgets, more More Windows 11 New 25H2 preview build on Beta/Dev adds MCP public preview, Quick Machine Recovery auto-enabled, Unified Update Orchestration Platform, Windows MIDI services Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is getting a lot more expensive in mid-2026. You didn't think all those free AI updates were free, did you? AI Paul has been talking about "programmatic" apps and services because he wasn't sure of a term for this type of interaction. But there is a term for this: Semantic. As in semantic web. And there you go Microsoft one of 1,000 companies partnering on Agentic AI Foundation because you're getting agents whether they work or not Gartner says NO to AI web browsers The New York Times is suing Perplexity for all the obvious reasons After a big win in the legal battle with OpenAI Opera for Android gets a big AI update Google Workspace Studio brings code-free agent creation to business users - automation is a solid AI use case Xbox Xbox Series X|S notably absent during Black Friday sales Call of Duty won't repeat the mistakes of the past anymore since it didn't work out twice now MS Flight Simulator 2024 is now available on PS5 Red Dead Redemption comes to mobile for the first time, free with a Netflix account Tips & Picks Tip and app(s) of the week: De-enshittify Windows 11 RunAs Radio this week: Incident Management and the Crowdstrike Event with Liam Westley Brown liquor pick of the week: Old Farm Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: 1password.com/windowsweekly auraframes.com/ink helixsleep.com/windows ventionteams.com/twit

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!  Get excited, because today we welcome Whitney Carson and Carson McAllister to talk all about winning Dancing With The Stars, their relationship and more! Plus, we get into the return of RHOBH, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Reunion, Southern Charm and more! Grab your Gandalf beards, because you won't want to miss this one!  "What does winning mean to you?" Buy Our Merch: https://shop.viallfiles.com/  Are you interested in being a part of a dating docuseries, with the opportunity of meeting your one? Fill out our casting call! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8_echsNPYsFZZ1tIpyY_aMD75tB3kZwKWCfgVZuYeS-xJQg/viewform Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter  Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  We've partnered with Mint Mobile to open a hot takes hotline to hear your scorching hot opinions! Give us your hot takes, thoughts and theories and we'll read and react to the best ones on an upcoming Reality Recap episode! All you have to do is call 1-855-MINT-TLK or, if you prefer the numbers, that's 1-855-646-8855 and leave us a message. Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with "Texting Office Hours" in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Amazon - Visit https://Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter, more affordable holiday shopping. American Home Shield - For new homeowners especially, it's one of the simplest ways to keep your budget on track and your stress down. Visit https://ahs.com/viallfiles for 20% off any plan today and see promo details. See https://ahs.com/contracts for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions.  Homeaglow - Take home cleaning off your plate this Holiday season by using Homeaglow! Head to https://homeaglow.com/viall to get your first 3 hours of cleaning for only $19! Wayfair - Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less. Head to https://wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. BILT - Join the loyalty program for renters at https://joinbilt.com/viall  Cymbiotika - Go to https://cymbiotika.com/viall to get 20% off plus free shipping. Rakuten – Keep an eye out for Rakuten's weekly Big Deal Reveals where one great store offers epic–ly high Cash Back for one day only. Membership is free and it's super easy to sign up! You can go to https://rakuten.com, download the app or install the browser extension.  Fabletics - Head to https://fabletics.com/viall and sign up as a VIP to get 80% off everything. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:56 - Mormon Wives Reunion 35:29 - Whitney and Carson Join 01:13:36 - RHOBH 01:23:30 - Southern Charm Episode Socials:  @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @witneycarson @carson.mcallister @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell @the_mare_bare

Send us a textAmazon recently made price history visible to every shopper through Rufus — but the data is wrong. In this video, I show multiple real examples where Rufus displays inaccurate pricing, missing price increases, ignoring discount windows, and misrepresenting Prime Exclusive Discounts.This misinformation can hurt your conversions, especially during high-traffic events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.What You'll Learn- Why Amazon Rufus price history is inaccurate- How Rufus differs from Keepa's price tracking- How incorrect price history reduces conversion rates- Why dynamic pricing may backfire under the new system- What sellers should do to protect pricing perceptionIf you rely on deal perception, strikethrough pricing, or coupons, Rufus could distort how your discounts appear to shoppers. This video breaks it all down with real client examples.#AmazonSeller #AmazonFBA #AmazonNews #AmazonUpdates #amazonpricing Need personalized help with your campaigns? Book a free strategy call: https://bit.ly/4jMZtxu.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Want free resources? Dowload our Free Amazon guides here:Amazon SEO Toolkit 2026: https://bit.ly/4oC2ClTQ4 Selling Playbook: https://bit.ly/46Wqkm32025 Ecommerce Holiday Playbook: https://bit.ly/4hbygovAmazon PPC Guide 2025: https://bit.ly/4lF0OYXAmazon Crisis Kit: https://bit.ly/4maWHn0Follow us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28605816/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenpopemag/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/myamazonguys/Twitter: https://twitter.com/myamazonguySubscribe to the My Amazon Guy podcast:My Amazon Guy podcast: https://podcast.myamazonguy.comApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-amazon-guy/id1501974229Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4A5ASHGGfr6s4wWNQIqyVwSupport the show

In this episode, Emma sits down with Mike O'Donnell, SVP Innovation and Business Transformation at Flywheel, to break down the real impact of AI-powered search on consumer behavior and brand strategy. Mike shares why consumers are embracing generative tools like Amazon's Rufus, how brands can adapt their content and measurement strategies for the new world of AI search, and what mass personalization means for the future of commerce. The conversation covers why consistent product data matters more than ever, how clean rooms and AI are unlocking audience-led advertising, and what Flywheel is building to help brands move from channel-based thinking to true return on consumer. Packed with practical insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in the evolving commerce landscape.Read the white paper, "From powerless to proactive: How brands can own the AI search revolution" here.

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!  Have you ever wondered how to become a New York real estate mogul? Well, all your questions will be answered, because we're so excited to have Ryan Serhant from Owning Manhattan on the show! Meanwhile, we get into the new Vanderpump Rules, RHOP and RHOSLC. Plus, the household discusses Spotify Wrapped, baby names, psychic readings and more! Grab your George Washington wigs, cause it's a great one! "Forsure the devil is fluid" Buy Our Merch: https://shop.viallfiles.com/  Are you interested in being a part of a dating docuseries, with the opportunity of meeting your one? Fill out our casting call! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8_echsNPYsFZZ1tIpyY_aMD75tB3kZwKWCfgVZuYeS-xJQg/viewform Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter  Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896 Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  We've partnered with Mint Mobile to open a hot takes hotline to hear your scorching hot opinions! Give us your hot takes, thoughts and theories and we'll read and react to the best ones on an upcoming Reality Recap episode! All you have to do is call 1-855-MINT-TLK or, if you prefer the numbers, that's 1-855-646-8855 and leave us a message. Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with "Texting Office Hours" in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Amazon - Visit https://Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter, more affordable holiday shopping. American Home Shield - For new homeowners especially, it's one of the simplest ways to keep your budget on track and your stress down. Visit https://ahs.com/viallfiles for 20% off any plan today and see promo details. See https://ahs.com/contracts for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions.  Sundays For Dogs - Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to https://sundaysfordogs.com/viall and get 50% off your first order. Nutrafol - For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to https://nutrafol.com and enter the promo code VIALL.  Happy Thursday -To find out more and find a Happy Thursday near you visit https://DrinkHappyThursday.com/VIALL  Chime - Chime is not just smarter banking, it is the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking fee free today.It just takes a few minutes to sign up. Head to https://chime.com/viall  Starbucks – Together is the best place to be. Connect over your holiday favorites at Starbucks. Quince - Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://quince.com/viall for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Clearstem - Discover the CLEARSTEM difference — Because CLEAR SKIN CHANGES EVERYTHING. Go to https://clearstem.com/viall and use code VIALL at checkout for 15% off your first order. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:55 - Spotify Wrapped and Top Baby Names 20:00 - SLOMW 41:55 - Ryan Interview 1:21:15 - Vanderpump Rules Season 12 1:37:30 - Real Housewives of Potomac 1:48:00 - Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Episode Socials: @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @ryanserhant @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell @the_mare_bare

Live from the Amazon Warehouse in Robbinsville, in this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton speaks with Amanda Doerr, Vice President of Core Shopping at Amazon, for a deep and practical look at how Amazon AI shopping is reshaping the entire buying journey. From the launch of Rufus AI shopping assistant and breakthroughs in AI review summarization to the rise of conversational commerce, voice commerce, and mobile-first e-commerce, Amanda shares how Amazon is solving customer friction and building the foundation for the future of e-commerce 2026.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Amanda Doerr on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!  We're back from Thanksgiving and not only are we full of turkey, but we're full of drama! We get into some Mormon Wives Fruity Pebbles gate as well as fallout from the Jessi and Jordan interview, the DWTS Finale, Southern Charm's centering of men, RHOSLC and more! Plus, Luann de Lesseps stops by to tell us all about RHONY, her relationship with Joe Bradley, and give us some flirting advice. You won't want to miss it! "Let's spill the tea, shall we…"   Buy Our Merch: https://shop.viallfiles.com/    Are you interested in being a part of a dating docuseries, with the opportunity of meeting your one? Fill out our casting call! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8_echsNPYsFZZ1tIpyY_aMD75tB3kZwKWCfgVZuYeS-xJQg/viewform Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter    Listen to Humble Brag with Cynthia Bailey and Crystal Kung Minkoff. Available wherever you get your podcasts and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@humblebragpod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/humble-brag-with-crystal-and-cynthia/id1774286896   Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/  We've partnered with Mint Mobile to open a hot takes hotline to hear your scorching hot opinions! Give us your hot takes, thoughts and theories and we'll read and react to the best ones on an upcoming Reality Recap episode! All you have to do is call 1-855-MINT-TLK or, if you prefer the numbers, that's 1-855-646-8855 and leave us a message. Please make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode and as always send in your relationship questions to asknick@theviallfiles.com to be a part of our Monday episodes. Follow us on X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheViallFiles   Listen To Disrespectfully now! Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disrespectfully/id1516710301 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0J6DW1KeDX6SpoVEuQpl7z?si=c35995a56b8d4038 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCh8MqSsiGkfJcWhkan0D0w   To Order Nick's Book Go To: http://www.viallfiles.com  If you would like to get some texting advice on Office Hours send an email to asknick@theviallfiles.com with "Texting Office Hours" in the subject line! To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles     THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Quince - Get your wardrobe sorted and your gift list handled with Quince. Don't wait! Go to https://quince.com/viall for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Bombas - Head over to https://Bombas.com/viall and use code viall for 20% off your first purchase. Amazon - Visit https://Amazon.com and look for the Rufus icon for smarter, more affordable holiday shopping. Grammarly - Sign up for FREE and experience how Grammarly can elevate your professional writing from start to finish. Visit https://Grammarly.com/podcast.  Aura Frames - For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code VIALL at checkout. FIGS Scrubs - Go to https://wearfigs.com and use code FIGSRX for 15% off your first order. Mint Mobile - Don't get them socks. Get them premium wireless for $15/mo. Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://mintmobile.com/viall  Quo - Try it for free when you go to https://Quo.com/viall Omaha Steaks - Save big on unforgettable gifts with Omaha Steaks. Visit https://OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide and an extra 20% off select favorites during their Cyber Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use Promo Code VIALLFILES at checkout. American Home Shield - For new homeowners especially, it's one of the simplest ways to keep your budget on track and your stress down. Visit https://ahs.com/viallfiles for 20% off any plan today and see promo details. See https://ahs.com/contracts for coverage details, including service fees, limitations, and exclusions.    Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:13 - Thanksgiving Recap 09:09 - Mormon Wives Hot Topics 31:25 - Luann Interview 53:26 -  Dancing With The Stars 1:02:33 - Southern Charm 1:12:58 - Real Housewives of Salt Lake City   Episode Socials:  @viallfiles @nickviall @nnataliejjoy @countessluann @ciaracrobinson @justinkaphillips @leahgsilberstein @dereklanerussell @the_mare_bare  

A few weeks ago, Rufus moderated a panel discussion at Vanderbilt's New York City campus on artificial intelligence and the future of American higher education. Today, we're bringing you that conversation. It features Nabiha Syed, executive director of Mozilla Foundation; Nicholas Dirks, president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences; Julie Samuels, president and CEO of Tech:NYC; and Matthew Johnson-Roberson, inaugural dean of the College of Connected Computing at Vanderbilt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this half-fresh Black Friday episode, Jack talks about how Amazon is winning the shopping-bot war, and we revisit a June 27, 2025 episode on what's ailing Target. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices