Never Post

Dr. Jess Rauchberg, assistant professor and researcher of internet culture, studies lolcows and online spectacle. She traces how vulnerable creators are provoked and monetized in live-streams. She links these dynamics to medieval freakshows, platform design, text-to-speech instigation, algorithmic ableism, and the need for protections and creator labor rights.

Elizabeth Wissinger, a CUNY professor who studies fashion, technology and bodies, discusses how the social internet transformed tween style. She traces the collapse of tween retail, explains how platforms democratized tastemaking, and explores how algorithms and broad marketing flattened distinct age-based fashions. Short, sharp reflections on trends, influence, and who gets to set style.

Ali Latifi, Kabul-based freelance journalist and contributing producer, narrates his first-person account of Afghanistan's 48-hour internet blackout. He describes the sudden notice, the complete disconnection, and the scramble to keep communication alive. Stories cover disrupted banking and trade, journalists cut off from sources, social strain and a surprising burst of in-person conversation before the online rush when service returned.

Joe Hanson, biologist and creator of Be Smart, Trace Dominguez, Emmy-nominated science host, and Alex Dainis, geneticist turned communicator, discuss science communication today. They talk about misinformation, prebunking versus debunking, emotional versus logical persuasion, community and identity’s role in belief, conversational outreach techniques, and the value of admitting uncertainty to build trust.

Rory Carroll, publisher at AlloyMag who covers car industry trends, and Jeffrey Parkin, founder of Rogue.site who writes on games industry news, dig into the looming chip shortage. They trace why AI data center demand squeezes supply. They explain how concentrated fabs, automotive and console production cycles, and hyperscaler buying power create fragility. Practical consumer timing and industry tensions come up.

Charles Soukop, a communication professor who studied virtual third places, and Katherine Dee, an internet culture writer known for essays on the internet’s placeness, discuss how to picture the web. They trace tactile early computer rooms to always-on connectivity. They debate whether online spaces feel like community third places, standardized non-places, or an otherworld accessed through portals.

Mike Stabile, a 20+ year industry researcher; MelRose Michaels, performer-turned-entrepreneur; and Hans Buetow, data-driven producer, probe why Pornhub shows a spike in safe-for-work content. They explore SFW formats like ASMR, unboxing, and wellness chats. Conversation touches on creators selling access, platform search limits, friction-maxxing, and how creator economies reshape audience connection.

Bijan Stephen, writer and narrative designer known for reporting at Vice, Vox, and The Verge, explores the phenomenon of 'posting disease.' He explains seeing life as potential posts and how algorithmic rewards amplify provocative behavior. They compare different types of overposting, name public archetypes, and offer a pre-post checklist to pause before posting.

Mike, Hans, and Georgia discuss the recent U.S. deal with TikTok, how it’s changed the app,  whether it’s worth sticking around to see what happens, or if it's better to just log off for good. –Become a Never Post member at https://www.neverpo.st/ for an ad-free version of the show and bonus content– Call us at 651 615 5007 to leave a voicemail Drop us a voice memo via airtable Or email us at theneverpost at gmail dot com –DuckDuckYesNo Kalshi gets banned Court order against Kalshi - Mass Gov Boston Globe Hackers against ICE - Techdirt EFF vs ICE tracking apps France bans Zoom - Politico Shopify comes to ChatGPT The new era of AI storefronts - McKinsey Craig Newmark pulls back on funding journalism - Neiman Lab NoAI for DuckDuckGo YesAI for DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo’s statement on their study The U.S. / TikTok deal - ABC News –Never Post’s producers are Audrey Evans, Georgia Hampton and The Mysterious Dr. Firstname Lastname. Our senior producer is Hans Buetow. Our executive producer is Jason Oberholtzer. The show’s host is Mike Rugnetta.There is no promise like the presentthough the present’s not promise at all.The grifter flashes a glimmer like it wasa sure thing. Clinging to these turnsblindsides what’s before the eye, a fistbehind dice. I want distraction evenmore than you, but both of us lostthe duel when our seconds went missing.Excerpt of Against Hope By Charles BernsteinNever Post is a production of Charts & Leisure and is distributed by Radiotopia

Never Post is live streaming their very own Olympiad!Join us on Monday, February 2nd at 11:30am ET to watch intrepid competitors try to win the internet by doing various internet-related tasks for points.Want to compete? Go to neverpo.st/olympiad to find out how! Tryouts must be submitted by 11:59pm ET on Wednesday, January 28.To watch the 2026 Never Post Olympiad, head over to twitch.tv/theneverpost.–Become a Never Post member at https://www.neverpo.st/ for access to extended and bonus segments, and our side shows like “Slow Post”, “Posts from the Field” and “Never Watch”– Call us at 651 615 5007 to leave a voice mail Drop us a voice memo via airtable Or email us at theneverpost at gmail dot com –Never Post’s producers are Audrey Evans, Georgia Hampton and The Mysterious Dr. Firstname Lastname. Our senior producer is Hans Buetow. Our executive producer is Jason Oberholtzer. The show’s host is Mike Rugnetta.Never Post is a production of Charts & Leisure