Analog Signals

Analog Signals

Author: J.D. Biersdorfer and Pedro Rafael Rosado August 28, 2025 Duration: 35:56
On this episode of Pop Tech Jam, El Kaiser and J.D. discuss Google’s new Pixel 10 phones, Apple’s upcoming iPhone plans and dumb things done by artificial intelligence, all before pondering new trends related to GenZ’s growing fascination with “predigital” technology. Listen up here on Episode 385! • “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX/Hulu) • Google Pixel 10: 9 new AI features and updates (Google blog) • 10 Crazy Features Powering Google's Pixel 10 Phones (and Watch) (WIRED) • Apple’s three-year iPhone plan is a break from the boring (The Verge) • Apple is in talks to use Google’s Gemini for Siri revamp, report says (TechCrunch) • Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple and OpenAI over AI competition, App Store rankings (Reuters) • Citizen Is Using AI to Generate Crime Alerts With No Human Review. It’s Making a Lot of Mistakes (404 Media) • Wired says 'AI-written' story did not have 'proper fact-check process'  (Press Gazette) • Stephanie Shirley, Who Created a Tech World for Women, Dies at 91 (The New York Times) • Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Prince of Darkness’ Turned Reality TV Star, Dies at 76 (The New York Times) • Narrative Podcasts Are Disappearing. What Happened? (Rolling Stone) • Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi over age assurance law (TechCrunch) • 'KPop Demon Hunters' Leads Box Office Over 'Weapons' in Theatrical Debut (Variety) • Taylor Swift’s new album comes in cassette. Who is buying those? (CNN Business) • Why Gen Z Is Resurrecting the 1990s (The New York Times)

Tune into POP | TECH | JAM for a weekly conversation that feels like grabbing a coffee with friends who are just as obsessed with the latest streaming series as they are with the inner workings of a new gadget. Hosts J.D. Biersdorfer and Pedro Rafael Rosado steer this independent audio magazine, blending sharp commentary on movies and television with insightful, accessible discussions about the technology shaping how we experience all that culture. Each episode is a deliberate mash-up, finding the unexpected connections between a trending app and a classic film, or how a breakthrough in tech might influence the next must-watch show. You'll hear thoughtful reviews, dig into news that matters across these intertwined worlds, and get a sense of the genuine curiosity and rapport the hosts bring to every topic. This podcast thrives on that energetic mix, creating a space that’s both informative and engaging without ever taking itself too seriously. It’s less a formal broadcast and more of a dynamic, ongoing jam session-hence the name-where pop culture and digital life collide in entertaining and thought-provoking ways.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 170

POP | TECH | JAM
Podcast Episodes
Candied Apples [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:19
Brand new iPhones, iPad and Apple Watch plus two new monthly subscription services debuted by Apple at their annual fall announcements as El Kaiser and J.D. wade into the fruit-themed toymaker's news-stream after a look…
Jacked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:19
As The Summer of 2019 winds down, El Kaiser and J.D. discuss the latest tech news and consider whether it's worth being an early adopter.
Rise Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:13
El Kaiser and J.D. take off through the week's headlines, including more accusations of retaliatory workplace culture at Google, the move toward "pay with your face" forms of authentication and requirements for getting o…
All Aboard the Claim Train! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
The tech news of the week, including the Fortnite World Cup results, pocket air-conditioners and worrisome multimedia surveillance plus tips on where to find archival material from the historic 1969 Apollo 11 moon landin…
Bye, Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:10
Breaking down Jony Ive's departure from his long-time design post at Apple and, after decades of living the 3.5mm life, El Kaiser unboxes his very first set of Lightning-connector earbuds and tests them out.
Call the Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
El Kaiser and JD discuss some of the assorted bits of legislation aimed at regulating intrusive technology and, in a (Hopefully) Helpful Hint, JD offers tips for whipping up your own letterhead.
Slide Tackle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:24
JD has a ton of tech news to parse through with El Kaiser — including the annual Mary Meeker Internet Trends presentation — and El Kaiser reviews the Mixcder E9 wireless headphones.
Apple-Picking Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:59
El Kaiser and J.D. were off binging Good Omens, but finished just in time for Apple's 2019 edition of its World Wide Developers Conference.
Vaporized [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
'Game of Thrones' may be over on HBO, but El Kaiser and J.D are still here talking tech, pop culture and everything else in between.
Separation Anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
El Kaiser and JD finally got out of Avengers: Endgame and are back in the recording bunker to discuss recent tech news. Episode 308 awaits!