Attack Ads! The Podcast
News & Politics
About
Attack Ads! questions the dominance of media supported mainly by the corrupting influence of commercial advertising sponsorship, and aims to raise both awareness and outrage at the limitations such a system produces.
Episodes
- Many Voices Make Lies Work
Episode 282 of Attack Ads! The Podcast, titled "Many Voices Make Lies Work," examines the surprising commonalities between modern advertising and military propaganda efforts.
- My Brother's Experiment
This episode discusses the current trend of using "intelligent" computers in business and personal projects. The host explores some recent experiments conducted by his brother.
- Sky Father The Uncrumbly
In Episode 280, titled 'Sky Father The Uncrumbly,' the host explores the challenges of defining abstract concepts by examining their various applications and associations, suggesting a method of definition using double negatives.
- Why Capitalists Don't Exist
This episode of Attack Ads! The Podcast examines the pitfalls of over-categorization and how certain labels, such as 'capitalists,' might impede a true understanding of the world.
- The Magical Manipulation of Desire
Episode 278 of Attack Ads! The Podcast discusses the manipulative nature of advertising, suggesting it may exploit psychological vulnerabilities and potentially employ methods beyond psychology, exploring the "Magical Manipulation of Desir…
- Ratcheting the Ridiculous
This episode explores differences between peoples that extend beyond culture, impacting even those who share a common language.
- The Fuel & The Fire
This is an episode of the Attack Ads! The Podcast titled The Fuel & The Fire.
- Nullius In Verba
In Episode 275, "Nullius In Verba," the host reflects on an impending great change, acknowledging uncertainty about its timing. To provide context for this realization, the episode delves into necessary background information.
- Our New Normal… Is Abby
Episode 274 of Attack Ads! The Podcast, titled 'Our New Normal… Is Abby', discusses the societal tendency for negative forces to counteract positive steps. The host explores one such example within the episode.
- Chattel Trapped In Chat Hell
Episode 273 of Attack Ads! The Podcast, "Chattel Trapped In Chat Hell," delves into how poor corporate decisions can be financially beneficial. The host shares a personal experience of being directed to chat support for connecting a device.
- Henry Saw This Coming
This episode frames current economic issues through the lens of Henry George's philosophy, noting the historical suppression of relevant thinkers. Show notes are available online.
- Baffling Ripples of Synergy
Episode 271 of Attack Ads! The Podcast covers the new development of advertisements being displayed on refrigerator doors.
- Pulling at Tightly Woven Threads
Episode 270, "Pulling at Tightly Woven Threads," features a discussion with guest KMO about how humans should interact with new technologies, considering that societal norms and language have not evolved to accommodate them.
- An Abunance of Lies
This episode, "An Abundance of Lies," critically examines a widely publicized book, presenting evidence that its claims are unsubstantiated and suggesting it functions as a propaganda campaign.
- Senator John Sherman's Address to The Senate
This bonus episode features a reading of an edited version of Senator John Sherman's address to the Senate, where he defended the Sherman Act.
- Rich Uncle Money-Bork, Welfare Queen
This episode of Attack Ads! The Podcast discusses the relatively recent phenomenon of government enabling corporate monopolies through mergers and acquisitions. It critiques the ideas and funding behind these monopolies.
- Breathing Together, Choking Apart
Propaganda is not just a thing that happens in the here and now. Dig well enough, and you might find old institutional knowledge that started originally as a conspiratorial plot designed to sway society. Make such propaganda profitable eno…
- Garbage Fires and Angry Weasels
When propaganda falls, it can lead to social impacts more powerful than kinetic weapons. The troubles come when the propagandists conceal their manipulation of society with misdirecting propaganda that we have trouble detecting, let alone…
- A Stringent, Crystalline Vision
As I've quoted before, "ideas need patrons." I'll dive into economic ideas bought by the wealthy and spread by those Chicago school economists in this Episode 265: A Stringent, Crystalline Vision. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadsp…
- Archeologists of a Bygone Age
Perhaps for the first time in human history, we people can now buy things more easily than we can fix them. Repair shops have become a thing only on television, even though so much of value could be repaired. I spend most of this Episode 2…
- The Hits To Our Privates Just Keep Coming!
Ethics often interfere with profits. When more profits are "required," companies often face a hard choice…or an easy one. Results vary. I look into two compromises/profitable opportunities in this Episode 263: The Hits To Our Privates Just…
- The Shitcaca Sküll
I'm reminded almost daily about how the current elevation of private enterprise has made our lives crap. It's helpful to remember that this industrial fetish had an origin, and can be reversed, as I discuss in this Episode 262: The Shitcac…
- Ways We Are All Getting Torq'd
I didn't really know how much advertisers surveil us. I started to look into it. Then I stopped looking: how much we have all lost our privacy was just too scary. I look back on 10 years of reading in this Episode 261: Ways We Are All Gett…
- Two Scientists
Episode 260: Two Scientists. Find the Show Notes at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2025/03/episode-260-two-scientists.html
- The Butchers of Certainty
Not only does a constant onslaught of information drown us, we must sift out not just business propaganda, but ideological propaganda as well. The effort leaves us cynical. We should blame those in the title of Episode 259: The Butchers of…
- Ticky Tacky Talkin'
Putting the descriptor "foreign" on any term often gives it more gravitas, perhaps more of a threat, than simply uttering the term alone. I consider adversaries foreign and domestic in this Episode 258: Ticky Tacky Talkin'. Find the Show N…
- Here Today…
When we chronicle the efforts businesses have made to influence how the public feels about the government, into Propaganda's Hall of Fame must go the National Association of Manufacturers. I'll share some of their efforts in this Episode 2…
- It's In The Cards
When one ponders stuff, it's best if one knows the actual facts of whatever it is one ponders, as opposed to made-up crap stuffed into one's head by others. Otherwise you might as well use a tarot deck and see the title of Episode 256: It'…
- Reasoning & Irrationality
We humans are funny critters, with loves and hatreds and outright loathings that too often bear no real resemblance to any cogent rationality. Yet it's all we've got. I explore this in Episode 255: Reasoning & Irrationality. Find the Show…
- It Can't Happen Here
Not since the late 1800s has America elected a president twice out of order. Should we worry? Or should we worry about the moneyed forces behind our former president? I explore context everyone should know in this Episode 254: It Can't Hap…
- SaaSsy Pirates Say ARR
While lots of opinion page ink has been spilled over ASOLs making our lives unpredictable, no one, it seems, has taken the time to think of a good reason why. I explore one both possible and likely reason in this Episode 253: SaaSsy Pirate…
- Stupid ASOLs
When something is new, its very introduction can cause friction, even havoc. People always wonder how good or bad things could get. In this Episode 252, I offer a bit disjointed ranting on the business end of Large Language Models, or Stup…
- Let There Be Some Light
In looking into sources of private propaganda, I am constantly struck on how far back it goes. Today I go back a hundred years to a time when the private electrical power industry was insisting on the title to this Episode 251: Let There B…
- TANA Addiction Through Engagement
In business, simply maintaining the same level of profitability every year is regarded as failing; one must grow to thrive. But what if the product design is clearly dangerous to use? I explore this reality in Episode 250: Addiction Throug…
- Advertising Makes You Fat
We see slim and slender people all the time, every day… even when none walk among us. This screws with our brains in ways most of us never consider for a second. The bottom line for this phenomenon is the title of Episode 249: Advertising…
- More Reasons For Real Worry
All too often today the forces driving the changes that increase suffering are hidden, unavailable for us to adequately understand, let alone change. Matt Stoller delivers yet another industry machination in this Episode 248: More Reasons…
- Swinging the Hammer of Demonetization
How communities deal with bad behavior should be an ongoing debate. Private companies, though, today use "community standards" to steal both platforms and the cash they deliver. Hence, Episode 247: Swinging the Hammer of Demonetization. Fi…
- Why The Rent Is Too Damned High
Most people today feel they have can choose from whichever experts best confirm their own deeply-seated beliefs. Sadly, this is wrong, and to understand how wrong, I try to answer the question of Episode 246: Why The Rent Is Too Damned Hig…
- Don't Trust Mainstream Media.
Too many grapple today with common but un- or poorly-defined terms, especially "mainstream." What is mainstream? When it comes to mainstream news, I've got a simple suggestion, which I give you in this Episode 245: Don't Trust Mainstream M…
- Adam Smith's Invisible Handjob
All political philosophy is propaganda, an attempt to describe both the way things are and proscribe the way things should be. Let me give you an example written over a quarter of a millennia ago in this Episode 244: Adam Smith's Invisible…
- Dear George
It's inevitable. One day, you'll find a writer who doesn't agree with a topic you wholeheartedly embrace enough to snidely attack it and distort the facts. There goes your remaining trust. I cover this in an open letter called Episode 243:…
- WAM The Art and Craft of Resublimation.
Advertisers have been stealing good ideas for years and using them to crassly push their products. It's only fair, then, that we mock those ads, perhaps enough to destroy their sales effectiveness. Hence, Episode 242: The Art and Craft of…
- TANA, ATU Edition
In my last episode, I questioned use of the word "accidents," which take focus away from the hazards that cause them. Why? Because hazards can be fixed. I'll give you some real-world examples of good places to start in this Episode 241: TA…
- Ten Freakin' Years!
This is merely a brief calendrical announcement and celebration. Enjoy. Find the Show Notes (for what they're worth) at: https://attackadspodcast.blogspot.com/2024/03/ten-freakin-years.html
- There Are No Accidents
For too long, the question of what is "safe"—and who should take the blame when it isn't—has been muddled in the name of profits. Maybe we should avoid the word "accident" itself. I'll explore that question in this Episode 240: There Are N…
- What I Do With The Mad That I Feel
My show is reactive: things happen, and I react to them. This happened recently when the number and tone of commercials in my podcast feed spiked. I cover this and speculation on why it happened in this Episode 239: What I Do With The Mad…
- The Third Estate Rising
Politics in America comes down to the DEMs vs. the GOPs, right? One represents wealth, and the other claims the hearts of regular people, right? Well, it's more complicated. I'll explore this not so much in this Episode 238: The Third Esta…
- Spare Me The EULAgee!
We all suspect our devices are increasingly using their microphones and cameras to snoop on us. Over the years, I've explored that suspicion. I'll go over some of that history, and finish with some news, in this Episode 237: Spare Me The E…
- Madison's Farcical Tragedy
I introduce a new word in this episode more to point out that it does not represent a new concept, but rather a very old one. The problem of controlling this recent outbreak due to an old story is the topic of this Episode 236: Madison's F…
- A Winkling In The Making
Our homes are the greatest asset most Americans have. This should therefore scare the living shit out of us: right now more renting a place to live than getting a chance to own at all. What can be done? On to Episode 235: A Winkling In The…