What Is Podcasting 2.0? (And Why No Agenda Keeps Telling You to Use It)
If you’ve listened to more than a couple episodes of No Agenda, you’ve heard it: “get a real podcast app.” That’s not just a running bit — it’s a genuine push toward something called Podcasting 2.0, an open-standard upgrade to how podcasts work, co-created by Adam Curry himself (yes, the same guy hosting the show) alongside developer Dave Jones. They run a companion podcast, also called Podcasting 2.0, where they build out new features for the RSS podcast standard in the open, live, most Fridays.
So what actually is it? Regular podcasts run on RSS — an open, decentralized format nobody controls, unlike Spotify or Apple. Podcasting 2.0 adds a set of new optional tags to that RSS feed: things like chapters, transcripts, live notifications, funding links, and — the big one — the ability to send tiny real-time payments (called “boosts” or “streaming sats”) directly to a podcast while you listen, using Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. This is the technical backbone of what No Agenda calls “Value for Value” — no ads, no subscriptions, just listeners directly supporting the show with money, time, or talent.
Popular Podcasting 2.0 apps worth trying:
- Fountain — probably the most popular Value4Value app; built around Lightning payments and clip-sharing, with a strong music discovery angle too
- TrueFans — created by Sam Sethi (also behind the Pod News Weekly Review), focused specifically on creator monetization
- Podverse — open source, no account required, available on iOS, Android, F-Droid, and web; solid all-around choice for chapters and transcripts
- AntennaPod — free, open source, Android-only, a longtime favorite for people who want a no-frills, no-account player
- Podcast Guru — lightweight, pulls straight from the open Podcast Index directory, supports transcripts and chapter art without requiring a login
Why bother switching from Apple Podcasts or Spotify? A few concrete benefits:
- Live notifications — get an actual push alert the moment a show like No Agenda goes live, instead of waiting for the app to eventually refresh
- Real chapters and clickable timestamps — jump straight to segments instead of scrubbing blindly
- Transcripts built in — no more hunting down a separate website
- Direct creator support — Value4Value means money goes straight to the show, not skimmed by a platform’s ad network first
- No lock-in — since it’s all open RSS, you can switch apps anytime without losing your subscriptions or history
Bottom line: if you’re only ever hearing about this stuff secondhand through a podcast, it’s worth actually experiencing what it’s for. Grab one of the apps above, and next time the show says “we’re live,” your phone will actually tell you.
[No Agenda — ongoing / referenced across many episodes, including #1893]
TV Tip: The West Wing
According to Adam Curry, this is a classic worth revisiting (or discovering for the first time): Aaron Sorkin’s political drama follows a fictional U.S. president and his White House staff through crises, idealism, and hard political realities. It won 26 Emmys across its seven seasons. Beyond the drama, it’s genuinely a fascinating look at how policy actually gets made — deals, tradeoffs, and all the stuff that never makes the news. Worth watching even decades later; the politics may be fictional, but the “how the sausage is made” parts still land.
Get The West Wing: The Complete Series on Amazon ?
[No Agenda #1892 1:24:47]
Product Tip: Yousef’s Hummus
Store-bought hummus is a mixed bag, but Yousef’s earns a nod as one of the better grab-and-go options — the kind you forget you bought and rediscover happily in the fridge. It won’t fully replace the deep, garlicky, slow-made hummus from an old-school Middle Eastern kitchen, but for a quick snack or party dip, it holds its own. Worth keeping stocked for last-minute guests or a lazy weeknight spread with pita and veggies. John Dvorak forgot where he got it, but we checked and it’s available in the San Francisco Bay Area at Whole Foods and Berkeley Bowl.
Not currently sold on Amazon — it’s a regional brand available via Instacart, Whole Foods, Berkeley Bowl and select grocers.
Thrifty Find: Vintage Mink Coats
Here’s an odd little secret: because fur coats have fallen out of fashion in a lot of places, genuine vintage mink coats — the kind that cost the modern equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars when new — can turn up secondhand for next to nothing. Check local listings and estate sales. It’s a strange market quirk, but a real one, and a fascinating bit of history to own if you don’t mind the ethics debate that comes with it.
Not an Amazon product — check local listings, estate sales, and vintage sellers.
[No Agenda #1886 1:45]
Money Tip: Hidden Credit Card Perks
John Dvorak had some reservations with this tip as it’s culled from a news report that seemed a lot like a native ad. Also, it promotes a cashless society. So, with that caveat…
Most people ignore the fine print on their credit cards, but it’s worth a second look. Depending on the card, you may already have extended warranties, purchase protection for lost or damaged items, price protection if something you bought drops in price, and even free roadside assistance or rental car insurance. Call your card issuer or check online — you could be sitting on hundreds of dollars in unused benefits without realizing it.
[No Agenda #1889 1:19]
Movie Tip: The President’s Analyst (1967)
A satirical Cold War-era spy comedy starring James Coburn that was written off as absurd fiction decades ago — and now plays as eerily prescient, according to Insta-Knight Roy Pierce. It pokes at telecom surveillance and government overreach into private life, themes that land very differently in hindsight. The 60s-style acting and bright, campy sets add to the charm. A genuinely fun watch, and a surprisingly relevant one.
Stream The President’s Analyst on Amazon
[No Agenda #1889 00:54]
What Is Podcasting 2.0? (And Why No Agenda Keeps Telling You to Use It)
If you’ve listened to more than a couple episodes of No Agenda, you’ve heard it: “get a real podcast app.” That’s not just a running bit — it’s a genuine push toward something called Podcasting 2.0, an open-standard upgrade to how podcasts work, co-created by Adam Curry himself (yes, the same guy hosting the show)…
TV Tip: The West Wing
According to Adam Curry, this is a classic worth revisiting (or discovering for the first time): Aaron Sorkin’s political drama follows a fictional U.S. president and his White House staff through crises, idealism, and hard political realities. It won 26 Emmys across its seven seasons. Beyond the drama, it’s genuinely a fascinating look at how…
Product Tip: Yousef’s Hummus
Store-bought hummus is a mixed bag, but Yousef’s earns a nod as one of the better grab-and-go options — the kind you forget you bought and rediscover happily in the fridge. It won’t fully replace the deep, garlicky, slow-made hummus from an old-school Middle Eastern kitchen, but for a quick snack or party dip, it…
What Is Podcasting 2.0? (And Why No Agenda Keeps Telling You to Use It)
If you’ve listened to more than a couple episodes of No Agenda, you’ve heard it: “get a real podcast app.” That’s not just a running bit — it’s a genuine push toward something called Podcasting 2.0, an open-standard upgrade to how podcasts work, co-created by Adam Curry himself (yes, the same guy hosting the show)…
TV Tip: The West Wing
According to Adam Curry, this is a classic worth revisiting (or discovering for the first time): Aaron Sorkin’s political drama follows a fictional U.S. president and his White House staff through crises, idealism, and hard political realities. It won 26 Emmys across its seven seasons. Beyond the drama, it’s genuinely a fascinating look at how…
Product Tip: Yousef’s Hummus
Store-bought hummus is a mixed bag, but Yousef’s earns a nod as one of the better grab-and-go options — the kind you forget you bought and rediscover happily in the fridge. It won’t fully replace the deep, garlicky, slow-made hummus from an old-school Middle Eastern kitchen, but for a quick snack or party dip, it…