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The Algorithm Owns How We Think We Think
In this episode of Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer take on the growing frustration around algorithms. Not just how often they change, but how little control users actually…
Wrapped With a Bow (and a Lock-In Clause)
In this end-of-year episode of Surprise - It’s Not a Toaster, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer take on the annual ritual of being “Wrapped.” What began as a fun reflection has turned into a full-blown…
The Holiday Gift Guide Nobody Wanted
In this very special holiday episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer crack open the shimmering, pine-scented world of modern “smart” gifts — which somehow manage to be both futuristic and profoundly…
How Streaming Became Cable, But Worse
Hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer face the modern entertainment apocalypse: streaming content. What started as freedom from cable has devolved into a fragmented, confusing, overpriced mess where your…
(How) Will AI Kill Us?
Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer open the episode with a semi-rant on the AI marketing hype machine - billions pouring in, big-tech companies tossing money back and forth, and everyone pretending this is…
Chatbait, Trick Questions, and Ultrasonic Wisdom
Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer dive into the latest digital annoyance: chatbait. It’s the AI version of clickbait - when chat tools just can’t let go, coaxing you to “keep the conversation going” long…
Cancel My Subscription (to Everything)
Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick things off with a rant about the subscription economy. From Columbia House record clubs in the 1970s to the boom of Blue Apron, Birchbox, and Stitch Fix, subscriptions…
S2E10 Taco Tuesday Goes Quantum
Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer kick off with a rant about vertical video — because nothing says “breaking news” like watching a natural disaster unfold in portrait mode. Sure, TikTok made it trendy and…
Big Buttons, Big Reports, and Bigger Personalities
Turns out the future of tech might not be sleek voice commands or intuitive design — it might just be one giant button you can’t miss. Ed and Chris debate the glory of the “big hard button,” skim…
FIlter Culture
You thought filters were just for photos? Think again. In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer wade through the murky waters of modern digital life, where everything seems to be a filter:…
Sludge Happens
Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett step knee-deep into sludge. Not the metaphorical goo clogging your gutters, but the bureaucratic muck that slows down everyday life. Inspired by The Atlantic’s takedown of…
Liquid What Now?
Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive nose-first into Apple’s latest design offense: Liquid Glass. Or as users have dubbed it, Liquid Ass. A sleek new look, sure — if you enjoy smudges, glare, and…
The Seduction of Streaks
Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unravel the oddly powerful pull of digital streaks. Whether it’s Duolingo applauding your 99-day run or the shame spiral from missing one puzzle in the NYT Games app,…
Zoom Sucks - Prove Me Wrong
In this episode of Surprise, It's Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett unleash a technical rant on the UX war crimes committed by modern video apps — with Zoom front and center. They talk about…
Henry Winkler Is Not Dead (and Other Digital Lies)
This week on Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster, we dive headfirst into the chaotic dumpster fire that is YouTube clickbait. Apparently, Henry Winkler has died 11 times, and there are at least 17…
Everything Everywhere All at Once
In this episode, Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer unpack the dangers of being good at absolutely everything — which, spoiler alert, means you’re probably not good at anything.Inspired by Sam Altman’s…
The Rise of Dumb Smart Appliances
Surprise! It’s Not a Toaster returns for season 2 with a full-frontal assault on the Internet of (Questionably Useful) Things. Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett kick things off with a deliciously irritated…
S1E36 Watchbait Woes, Agentic AI, and the Art of Arguing with ChatGPT
Ever clicked on a Facebook video promising something shocking only to watch 10 minutes of filler before realizing you've been played? Welcome to the world of Watchbait—those misleading, overhyped…
S1E35 The Internet’s Comment Section: Humanity’s Greatest Mistake?
In this episode of Surprise – It’s Not a Toaster, Chris Boyer and Ed Bennett dive into the wild world of online comments—from YouTube rants to Google reviews and Twitter’s never-ending chaos (which…
S1E34 Paywall Pandemonium, AI Tar Pits, and Tech Translations
In this episode of Surprise—It’s Not a Toaster, hosts Ed Bennett and Chris Boyer rant (just a little) about the ever-growing paywall problem—because apparently, reading an article online now requires…
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise - It's Not a Toaster has published 54 episodes since October 2023, covering topics in Technology.
Surprise - It's Not a Toaster is currently declining with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 24m.
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