LINUS+50 SHADES OF GREY! - WAN Show Feb 17, 2017
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Dollar Shave Club : Get your one dollar trial at DollarShaveClub.com/linus Forum link: linustechtips.com/main/topic/73977…n-show-document/ Soundcloud link: soundcloud.com Timestamps courtesy of JJMC89. 00:03:16 - The art of jingles 00:07:15 - PewDiePie dropped by Disney after anti-Semitic stunt 00:18:17 - Porn, sex ed, and parenting 00:34:44 - Sponsor: Dollar Shave Club 00:37:45 - Samsung heir arrested as part of South Korea's government scandal 00:39:14 - Ryzen specs and prices leaked 00:42:51 - Buzzfeed and Facebook try to break readers out of their social media bubbles 00:48:12 - Dad who live-streamed his son's birth on Facebook loses in court 00:48:43 - YouTube will kill unskippable 30-second ads next year 00:49:18 - Bill Gates says robots that take your job should pay taxes 00:54:57 - Star Wars: The Last Jedi is officially plural
WAN Show Feb 17, 2017 kicks off with Linus and James teasing a volatile episode, promising a mix of tech topics, pop culture, and some light humor. The hosts riff on the art of jingles and the nostalgia of classic ad music, lamenting that jingles feel outdated in today’s advertising landscape. They pivot to current events in tech and entertainment, including PewDiePie’s Disney fallout, which they frame as a high profile example of modern brand risk management and public perception. The discussion then meanders through lighter territory, such as sponsorships and office dynamics, before diving into more substantive tech topics. First up is a sponsor segment with Dollar Shave Club, which segues into a broader chat about consumer branding and the role of advertising in tech content. The team then covers a wave of late 2016-early 2017 tech news, from the Samsung heir scandal to Ryzen leaks, with Ben and James offering practical takes on market dynamics and product positioning. They also touch on how social media bubbles affect reader exposure and the broader media landscape, referencing surveillance-like tracking of information flow and the challenges of algorithmic curation. The hosts discuss a real-world example of online content monetization and brand safety by describing a family livestream incident and the shifting stance of YouTube on unskippable ads. The show then examines how major players like YouTube and tech leaders perceive the impact of automation on jobs, including Bill Gates’ tax proposal for automation and robotics concepts. The long form conversation culminates in an analysis of Star Wars continuity, noting the official pluralization of The Last Jedi, and what this implies for franchise branding and fan expectations. The hosts pivot to a candid, personal note about their own branding and channel partnerships, emphasizing brand safety, partner alignment, and the balance between edgy humor and responsible content strategy. Throughout, Linus and James blend memetic humor with earnest debate about industry trends, leaving viewers with a mosaic of practical insights and provocative takes on the state of tech media in 2017. The episode closes on a reflective note about future Ryzen coverage, potential multi-part CPU launch videos, and an enthusiastic look at AMD’s prospects, paired with a realistic caution about hype cycles. In sum, WAN Show 2017-02-17 functions as a microcosm of late-2010s tech culture: a blend of consumer tech discourse, media ethics, industry rumor, and irreverent humor delivered with Linus’s characteristic candor and enthusiasm.
Topics · technology · entertainment · business · science-and-technology
Questions answered
- What topic sparked the discussion about PewDiePie and Disney's relationship, and what was the core issue debated?
- The discussion centered on PewDiePie being dropped by Disney after a controversial anti-semitic stunt, with the core issue being whether the reaction and brand actions were overblown versus justified, and how context and intent affect brand safety decisions.
- Why do the hosts bring up Ryzen leaks and what is the potential impact on the market?
- They discuss Ryzen specs and prices leaks to illustrate how pre-release information can influence consumer expectations, pricing dynamics, and the competitive landscape, especially for a budget-conscious segment seeking value in new CPUs.
- What concern about YouTube ads is raised in the episode?
- They note that YouTube plans to kill unskippable 30-second ads in the future, which raises questions about revenue models, creator monetization, and user experience on the platform.
- How do the hosts view brand safety in sponsorships and channel partnerships?
- They emphasize that brands care deeply about context and placement, and that partnering with certain content or platforms can risk associating a brand with negative imagery or controversial topics, which could harm business relationships.