Attack Ads! The Podcast

Categorizing certain things is important. Over-categorizing them, though, can be more damaging to one's understanding than not categorizing things at all. Lately, I've realized that categorizations have impeded understanding our world to the point that perhaps we should just jettison certain categorizations altogether. Hence, Episode 279: Why Capitalists Don't Exist. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/03/episode-279-why-capitalists-dont-exist.html

A deep dive into how advertising shapes and controls desire using ideas from historical magic and social signaling. Discussion of downward mobility as a deliberate practice and the tradeoffs between consumption and freedom. Exploration of ways to resist desire-education like removing ads, using blockers, and seeking alternative media.

Sometimes, the difference between entertainment between two countries is profound due to cultural differences. Today, I'd like to suggest that there are differences well beyond culture that affect two peoples, even those separated by a common language, in this Episode 277: Ratcheting the Ridiculous. Find the Show Notes Page at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2026/02/episode-277-ratcheting-ridiculous.html

For reasons I hope to make clear soon, advertising is not foremost on my mind right now. I made a realization that a great change will quite possibly befall us, and… I have no idea when. To understand my thinking on this, though, I feel it's necessary to give some background. Hence, some background in this Episode 275: Nullius In Verba. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2025/12/episode-275-nullius-in-verba.html

In a compelling discussion, the hosts tackle the unsettling state of the housing market and skyrocketing rents. They delve into the alleged collusion by RealPage and its intricate role in price coordination among landlords. Legal ramifications and ongoing lawsuits are explored, highlighting the Department of Justice's controversial settlement. Media complicity due to advertiser pressures is questioned, alongside the potential pitfalls of behavioral remedies. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes that only significant rent reductions signify real change.

Discover the dark side of corporate decisions and the surveillance that comes with modern devices. From decommissioned tech to the chaotic world of chat support, the host hilariously recounts his struggles with a streaming stick and a perplexing activation issue. Dive into the unsettling revelation about persistent listening enabled by an innocuous remote, while exploring privacy policies that offer little protection. Get ready for a thought-provoking discussion on how ad revenue shapes media and the surprising ways companies stay in control.

Delve into the philosophy of Henry George as the podcast explores economic issues exacerbated by technological advancements. The discussion highlights how exclusive land rights allow for rent extraction and how productivity gains often lead to increased rents rather than higher wages. Listeners learn why family farms are disappearing under oligopolistic pressures and the impact of patents on innovation. The conversation further critiques modern technology's role in perpetuating economic inequality, questioning whether escaping such systems is even feasible.

Just in case you don't get enough advertising in the privacy and sanctuary of your home, good news! Refrigideezers will soon show you ads on a screen on the door! It's true! I react to this silliness in this Episode 271: Baffling Ripples of Synergy. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2025/10/episode-271-baffling-ripples-of-synergy.html

Dive into the intriguing discussion about how we should treat machine-generated content. Explore the challenges of attributing authorship to corporate-generated texts and how LLMs differ from traditional tools. The duo debates the risks of automation and job displacement, pondering whether abundance could actually harm humanity. They delve into concerns about AI monopolies and the potential impact of big tech. Finally, the conversation shifts to envisioning a future shaped by AI, discussing both the promise and the perils it presents.