Troy Young, Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer

People vs Algorithms

A Technology , News and Business News podcast Explicit

About the show

Uncovering patterns of change in media, culture, and technology, each week media veterans Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer and Troy Young break down stuff that matters. Get our newsletters: https://www.peoplevsalgorithms.com/ https://www.therebooting.com/ www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Newest episodes

Sex, Spies and Silicon

Nov 13, 2026 1 hr 43 min

Brian, Troy and Alex dig into the undoing of Jensen Huang: the spy angle, the idiocy of sexy time at corporate events and the second-order effects of the toppling of such a powerful figure. Huang has 60 direct reports and no succession plan, so where was the board, and who could step in as interim CEO? If Nvidia stumbles, who replaces it, and what role does the government play? They also talk about how insular tech has become, now that it has its own parallel media ecosystem, and about a new Bari Weiss-era correspondent’s Trump interview. Then Chris Cillizza, formerly of the Washington Post and CNN and now independent, joins to talk about why some Washington scandals stick. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Follow Chris: * Substack - So What * YouTube Chapters: * 02:11 Jensen Huang Scandal Breakdown * 18:20 AI Power Politics and Tech Backlash * 38:51 Tech Media Terrarium Backlash * 46:09 Product Manager Job Market * 48:08 Trump Interview * 52:48 Good Product * 54:05 Chris Cillizza on Washington Scandals * 01:11:40 Performative Power Bros * 01:13:25 Ross Douthat Interviews Trump * 01:19:13 Why Nuance Beats Scoops * 01:22:50 Going Independent and Monetizing * 01:39:40 Prediction Markets’ Role in Journalism * 01:42:33 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Terrarium Breaks

Nov 6, 2026 1 hr 23 min

Democrats take Congress, Texas flips, and the Trump-era “terrarium” that media, finance and tech climbed into starts to crack. Winners: the AI decels, after voters rejected data centers in state after state, and media, which took in a flood of political ad money. Losers: the tech right, Elon Musk and his half billion in spending, Andreessen Horowitz, the manosphere and prediction markets. Then they get into why AI agents feel too proactive and too clunky, and Anthony DeRosa joins to talk about the PvA Field Notes Media Lab, his Frontier AI tracker, and his election night test pitting prediction markets and personal agents against the news desks calling races. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 02:26 Paris Reality Check * 07:35 Midterms Winners and Losers * 31:14 AI Agents and Media Lab * 39:59 Dashboards And Agents * 42:26 Frontier And Election Tools * 50:04 Monetizing Media Beyond Ads * 01:05:55 AI Adoption * 01:17:25 Good Product * 01:22:46 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

It’s the Context, Stupid

Oct 30, 2026 1 hr 41 min

Troy and Brian dig into what happens when AI stops imitating Odie as the overly eager helper and starts owning the workflow, the coordination and the organizational memory, why a 100-year-old law firm unraveled when its high-leverage people walked, and what Microsoft’s voluntary buyouts say about the managerial class. Then CJ Gustafson of Mostly Metrics breaks down Anthropic’s S-1: the growth, the revenue per employee, and where the costs got tucked away. Plus: Time and Mobian serving ads to AI agents, Axios selling data feeds to client LLMs, cognitive mercantilism, Semafor and the conflicts baked into every media model, Obama vs. the Cheesecake Factory, Serbia’s student movement shows how a decentralized protest movement can wrest power and Troy’s ode to the Starbucks breakfast wrap. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 01:57 Updates From Out and About * 09:53 AI Podcasts And Law Firm Collapse * 18:21 PVA Media Lab Update * 22:28 Claude Duet And Corporate Bloodbath * 50:54 Cognitive Mercantilism * 58:28 Media Model Conflicts * 01:05:54 Cheesecake Factory * 01:10:17 Serbia Student Uprising * 01:16:11 Good Product * 01:19:17 Inside the Anthropic S-1 with CJ Gustafson * 01:41:10 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 211 episodes

Sex, Spies and Silicon

Nov 13, 2026 1 hr 43 min

The Terrarium Breaks

Nov 6, 2026 1 hr 23 min

It’s the Context, Stupid

Oct 30, 2026 1 hr 41 min

Answers Without Questions

Oct 23, 2026 1 hr 4 min

We dig into Claude Duet, Meta’s Muse and the rest of the new assistants that suggest before you ask, why Muse’s retention numbers look shaky, and what happens to businesses built on friction, from Chase’s no-yield checking to Amazon’s purchase insurance pop-ups. The conversation turns to what gets lost when you get the answer without asking the question, from the mathematicians reeling after OpenAI’s proof drop to Ethan Mollick’s dark factory vs. twilight factory framing in his new book. Plus: Semafor at four, Boston.com goes paid and the dwindling of free ad-supported news, and the virtues of a distinctive accent in a flattened world. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:52 Rackets and Reality * 04:35 Answers Without Questions * 18:45 Frictionless Future Concerns * 33:47 Cointelligence and Delegation * 35:42 Slop vs Skill Building * 40:09 Paywalls and Platform Wins * 45:15 Modern Media Models * 55:51 Good Product * 01:03:19 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

SaaSpocalypse Now

Oct 16, 2026 1 hr 1 min

An anonymous developer used Claude to ship open-source clones of Adobe’s big five, then Word, Excel, Keynote, AutoCAD and Figma within days, and the lesson is that software is a business of pure margin with less moat than anyone thought. Packaged software is going the way of packaged media, and the mathematicians are finding out what that feels like.Plus: Alexandr Wang as Zuckerberg’s main character, Silicon Valley’s perennial claim that AI will kill advertising, Netflix cutting HR and legal, friction and the fate of Regina, Apple’s $300 home hub, and deodorant. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:47 The Car Is Back * 04:01 Claude vs ChatGPT Personalities * 06:45 ArtCraft and the SaaS Apocalypse * 20:01 Headless Software and Moats * 37:39 Meta Cheeky Pint * 45:41 Friction Kills Towns * 52:44 Good Product * 01:00:58 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Friction Economy

Oct 9, 2026 59 min

This week we dig into how much of the economy is built on friction, and what happens when AI agents start removing it. Also: why students are so gloomy about AI, Vanity Fair’s New Establishment list and who gets to confer legitimacy on tech, a vibe-coded Adobe replacement, the race for the new home page, and Troy comes around on Kia. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 01:25 Vanity Fair and Tech Legitimacy * 07:46 Students Fear the AI Future * 27:28 Software Moats and Copycat Culture * 34:28 Friction Economy Disrupted * 41:37 One Agent New Homepage * 49:28 Distillation China * 54:48 Good Product This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Mother of All Interface Battles

Oct 2, 2026 1 hr 19 min

Brian, Troy and Alex debate who will control the interface to your life, whether convenience will steamroll privacy concerns, and how the winner gets to collect a toll on everything you buy. Plus: Silicon Valley’s makeover of government, what comes next for Condé Nast, and why other industries are about to find out what being a publisher feels like. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:48 Meet Linda the AI * 04:53 America.gov Launch * 15:55 Agents Negotiate Calls * 20:21 Personal Agents Arms Race * 36:28 Interface Shift and Business Models * 57:18 Publishers and Condé Shakeup * 01:07:49 Good Product * 01:09:53 Field Notes Corner This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The AI Interface Shift

Sep 25, 2026 1 hr 20 min

Brian and Troy dig into Muse, Meta’s push to make AI assistants mainstream, and why the next big platform battle is over the interface itself. They also look at what this shift means for publishers, commerce and media companies that increasingly risk becoming commodity suppliers to someone else’s agent. Later, Breaker's Lachlan Cartwright joins to sell $60 hats and talk CNN, CBS News, Puck, RedBird and what consolidation looks like when the old media business is being forced to adapt to a very different distribution system. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 01:24 Boston Globe Viral Win * 05:01 Field Notes Media Lab Build * 09:28 Muse and Agentic Future * 29:20 People Become Data Providers * 45:05 Go Big Media Merger * 51:42 Redbird Buys Puck * 01:10:39 Good Product * 01:19:09 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Nobody Asked For Dragons

Sep 18, 2026 1 hr 12 min

Brian and Troy map the whole cast: who's the wizard, who's the arms dealer, who's the schoolyard bully, and who gets stuck playing the citizens of King's Landing who never asked for dragons. Plus: whether the frontier is worth being on, what happens the first time someone dies, Macklemore getting bounced off the Ed Sheeran tour, the rip-off economy, and a spirited defense of yogurt. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 02:45 AI Characters and Shifting Alliances * 28:48 Public Trust and the China Question * 33:55 Frontier Labs Go Political * 39:44 When AI Breaks Things * 45:42 Field Notes Mixtapes * 49:46 Quick Hits * 01:08:33 Good Product * 01:11:54 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Cognitive Struggle

Sep 11, 2026 1 hr 20 min

They debate warnings from Anthropic researchers that AI could kill humanity, whether anyone can credibly calibrate those risks and whether a visible catastrophe will be required before governments act. They also examine Meta’s Muse and the shift from chatbots and specialized agents toward personal assistants that could swallow large parts of the app economy. Meanwhile, AI may not be causing mass unemployment, but it is weakening entry-level white-collar work and the apprenticeship system young people need to get started. Underlying it all is the disappearance of cognitive struggle as phones and AI make it easier to avoid concentration, boredom and difficult thinking. Plus: the iPhone Fold, the analog revival, Ivan Lendl’s Mitteleuropa wisdom, podcast mixtapes and Troy’s missing car. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 01:47 9/11 Anniversary Reflections * 08:13 US Open Late Nights * 12:06 iPhone Fold and AI Assistants * 37:56 Safetyism And Risk Culture * 42:59 China Race And Trust Gap * 50:00 Practical Risks And Prep * 01:02:11 Analog Revival And Community * 01:10:35 Good Product * 01:14:24 Episode Wrap This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Strong Meat

Sep 4, 2026 1 hr 17 min

We look ahead to the release of GTA 6 while tackling the implications of the doomsday sci-fi AI narrative, the use of social cost to coerce behaviors, and how giant sports events like the US Open are now more brand activation and corporate hospitality platforms. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 12:00 GTA VI * 20:47 Meta Layoffs * 33:07 Hugging Face Agent Swarm * 40:03 AI China Race * 47:42 Social Costs And AI * 01:09:04 Good Product * 01:16:58 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Owning the Narrative

Aug 28, 2026 1 hr 33 min

Dolly Parton owned a very American narrative of being born poor but making something out of nothing through talent and hard work. In contrast, tech tried to control its narrative and instead stoked backlash to their grand project of AI. Plus: A celebration of nerding out, from the Stick Guy to Emma Camp to David Senra. And a conversation with the WSJ computational journalist John West about why the successor to the open web is small private groups. * Buy John West’s new book - The Internet Will Die and So Will You * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:00 Internet Impermanence * 02:44 Dolly Parton Legacy * 10:04 AI Narrative Crisis * 29:35 Fine Line of Authorship * 38:13 Celebration of Nerding Out * 44:17 Carney is an Interesting Character * 50:23 AI Newsrooms And APIs * 56:08 Flock Cameras And Privacy Backlash * 01:03:38 John West On AI And The Dying Web * 01:17:38 Importance of Forgetting * 01:27:30 What is a Computational Journalist? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Social Media is Dead

Aug 21, 2026 38 min

What replaced it is an algorithmic entertainment machine where everyone is selling something, AI makes authenticity harder to trust, and the platforms increasingly have little to do with your actual social network. Brian, Troy and Alex argue over what comes next, why belief may be scarcer than attention, and whether we need more arguments. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 01:12 AI Fakes and Social Trust * 15:38 The Case for Arguments * 28:30 Flock Cameras And AI Surveillance * 33:26 Taboola Takes Over NBC Ads This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Provenance Problem

Aug 14, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Suno makes real songs harder to tell from fake. Launch videos are coming across as fake — and the engagement is fake. Drawing the line between creative tool and robot authorship is fuzzy. We debate people’s right to know what AI made and the role of regulation. Plus: Bobby Fingers as AI antidote, Meta’s open source push, the Great GDP Debate, media’s exit from the attention economy, and the brand problem Democrats face from Woke 1. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:31 Welcome * 04:38 Field Notes Update * 06:16 Anthropic Watermarking * 09:40 Provenance Problem * 22:42 Meta Back in AI * 35:28 NVIDIA Compute Futures * 37:17 Media Survival Playbook * 40:19 Bobby Fingers Craft Era * 47:27 GDP Beyond the Numbers * 50:52 Woke 1.0 Aftermath * 01:01:00 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Sales Energy

Aug 7, 2026 1 hr 3 min

They take risks, they’re fueled by rejection, they know the power of relationships, they’re competitive and they will do shots. The best sellers follow the way of Catalan fishermen: To get the fish, you gotta get your ass wet. Plus: Why the NYT and WSJ hit escape velocity, AI’s new oddball character, and the folly of trying to out-YouTube YouTube. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter * Join our community - PvA Field Notes Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:36 Welcome * 02:11 Linda’s Character Flaws * 05:54 Spencer Vs Galloway * 11:50 Netflix Offsite Drama * 13:25 Salespeople Vs Marketers * 15:36 AI’s New Main Character * 26:36 Rubbers Mystery * 29:29 Biohacking Identity Shift * 36:06 NYT WSJ Escape Velocity * 43:29 Creator Models Beyond Personality * 48:53 YouTube Is Untouchable * 51:04 Hearst Buys A&E * 56:00 Good Product * 01:00:54 TRB Audience Summit 9/17 * 01:02:17 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

AI’s High School Cafeteria

Jul 31, 2026 57 min

This week we unpack Silicon Valley’s latest AI power struggle, asking whether the battle over open models is really about competition or about taking down Anthropic. We also explore why the internet feels increasingly broken, how content marketing quietly won, and what happens when every company becomes a media company. Good Product this week is a healthy ego. We discuss how it affects leadership, mental health, ambition, insecurity, and what it means to build a healthier relationship with success. Plus: AI agents in communities, the future of branding, and one very chaotic recording session from Sicily. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:35 Welcome * 02:16 Anonymous Feedback Sparks * 08:38 Open vs Closed AI Drama * 12:03 Who Benefits From Open Weights * 17:28 Power Plays and Regulators * 21:10 Meet Linda the Agent * 25:35 Content Marketing Wins * 32:47 Paywalls Ruin the Web * 37:27 Platforms and New Moats * 41:29 AI Flood and Filtering * 47:53 Good Product * 56:45 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The New Moat

Jul 24, 2026 1 hr 16 min

Publishers see the writing on the wall for traffic-based models and are instead looking to experiential gatherings that bring together communities. We discuss why events are becoming media’s new moat, the tensions that come with building them, and what happens when AI agents begin acting on their own. Plus: the hypocrisy of closed AI models, Coca-Cola’s Marlboro moment, and why the collapse of the media career ladder is forcing a generation of experienced executives to become free agents. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:29 Welcome * 04:08 What Makes Events Great * 15:58 Media Turns To Community * 29:25 OpenAI Agent Breakout * 37:17 Coke Rebrand * 43:23 Zaslav Buys Summer Camp * 46:58 Gen X Career Compression * 58:21 Guardian Model and Substack Anti AI * 01:01:58 Why Video Aggregation Fails * 01:04:00 Publishers vs Google Threats * 01:07:06 Good Product * 01:15:41 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

In Praise of Aggregation

Jul 17, 2026 1 hr 29 min

AI should eliminate the need for human content aggregation, yet it's still going strong, as seen by the influential subscriber base of News Items and popularity of aggregation-heavy newsletters like Feed Me. Plus: Argentina's heel turn, Taco Bell's messy brand crisis and a drop-by from CEO Whisperer and self-proclaimed King of Quickbooks CJ Gustafson of Mostly Metrics to discuss tokenomics and building Mostly Metrics into a $5m business. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:58 Welcome * 01:41 Field Notes Community * 05:38 Media Feuds and Characters * 13:18 World Cup * 21:01 Affiliate Cookie Stuffing * 29:43 Standing Out in Marketing * 38:06 Future of Aggregation * 51:18 Good Product * 57:47 Overtime with CJ Gustafson * 01:02:33 Tokenomics For CFOs * 01:09:04 Measuring AI ROI * 01:16:13 What CFOs Actually Do * 01:18:53 Mostly Metrics Business Model * 01:24:34 A Good Business Pays Well * 01:28:30 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Protecting Alpha

Jul 10, 2026 1 hr 19 min

This week, we discuss why the AI safety narrative is shifting from doomerism to the risk of AI eliminating both companies’ and individuals’ alphas, or what makes them unique and confers on them an advantage over the rest of the crowd. For companies, that means assessing whether to trust big AI companies with their proprietary data, and for individuals it means not outsourcing critical thought to a robot everyone else has. Plus: Why Xbox hit a wall, publishers pivot again to video, and the World Cup’s heroes and villains. On PvA OT, Hearst Newspapers chief product & strategy officer Bridget Williams discusses how to make local news a utility. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 01:03 PvA Notes Update * 07:20 World Cup Fever * 21:43 Drones, Cruises & Boats * 27:36 AI Safety and Stolen Alpha * 40:07 Can Policy Beat the Market * 45:41 Why Xbox Is Struggling * 49:56 Publishers Pivot to Netflix * 56:56 Local News as Utility with Bridget Williams * 01:01:28 AI Tools and Experiments * 01:11:13 Free vs Paid News Strategy * 01:16:17 Good Product * 01:18:26 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Coldplay Protocol

Jul 3, 2026 1 hr 10 min

We dig into the tangled collision of journalism and the creatory economy. Emily Sundberg’s Zuckerberg interview, Brian’s christening as the Matt Belloni-of-advertising, and why guys like Scott Galloway and Gary Vaynerchuk get a pass to cash in while "real journalists" get side-eyed for it. We also unpack AI's creeping presence in music and writing — can you love an AI song, what happens to "providence" when anyone can fake authenticity, and why lo-fi, bathtub-recorded music is having a moment as a rebellion against it. Along the way: the AI spending bubble, token bills gone wild, the Comcast/Versant breakup, the great AC debate, and a working theory that once you're successful enough, you inevitably become Coldplay. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:56 PvA Travel Log * 26:37 AI Costs and Dumb Pipes * 42:39 Comcast Spins Off NBCU * 48:12 Hollywood Meets Homelessness * 52:44 Personality Media Fatigue * 01:03:31 Fake Podcast Aesthetics * 01:05:19 Good Product * 01:10:00 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Cannes is CES with Rosé

Jun 26, 2026 59 min

This week’s episode leans heavily into Cannes, which is a world where everyone is selling and many are lying. Creators are the cool kids of Cannes, while the site of a drone show by a mobile ad network is considered normal. Plus: Ana Andjelic on what makes A24 unique. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:23 Welcome * 01:45 Reporting From Cannes * 08:25 Retail Media Makes Content * 13:46 Creator Con * 23:42 Smart Glasses Arms Race * 29:26 AI Empire Leverage * 31:59 A24 Money And Mystique with Ana Andjelic * 37:58 Publishers vs Google * 45:49 Cannes Cool Kids * 47:41 Good Product * 54:08 PVA Notes Updates * 55:45 Fan Feedback * 58:24 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Americamaxxing, AI Taste Wars, World Cup Soft Power

Jun 19, 2026 1 hr 6 min

We debate whether Anthropic painted itself in a corner with its safety messaging, if Snap Specs pass the taste test, Elon as American icon, and the World Cup and Trump’s UFC fight showcasing the profound weirdness and contradictions at the heart of the American experience. Plus: Anonymous Banker on why Fox paying $22 billion for Roku makes sense and Troy says someone will buy Semafor. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:23 Welcome * 01:52 Field Notes Update * 07:38 PvA Mixers and Cannes * 11:05 Anthropic Export Controls * 18:57 Who Controls Intelligence * 22:29 Snap Specs Taste Test * 31:38 Media Ads Are Over * 38:18 World Cup Soft Power * 45:50 Elon The Trillionaire * 49:11 Fox Buys Roku * 56:30 Post Text Media Future * 01:02:58 Good Product * 01:05:37 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Abundance Economy

Jun 12, 2026 1 hr 22 min

Seen one way, AI has democratized the creative process. Seen another, we are swimming in a sea of mediocrity that inevitably crowds out attention to human-led creativity. Plus: Handicapping Hot AI IPO Summer, YouTubers as Hollywood's saviors, GLP-1s vs impulse manipulators and Breaker's Lachlan Cartwright on assesses the characters in the 60 Minutes dram that’s like Viagra for media newsletters. Finally, an ode to the old-standby of cocktail parties: pigs in a blanket. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:40 Welcome * 02:11 AI Design Pet Peeve * 06:25 What Field Notes Is * 14:47 Abundance Versus Quality * 24:34 Taste Process * 32:19 YouTube IP Breakout * 39:09 Fable 5 * 48:27 GLP-1 Economy Shock * 50:58 PvA Overtime with Lachlan Cartwright * 55:20 60 Minutes Drama * 01:12:15 Good Product * 01:21:48 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The AI Pushback

Jun 5, 2026 1 hr 17 min

ChatGPT is advertising it as a souped-up Clippy to help with date-night recipes and sibling road trips. What happened to superintelligence and curing cancer? Disruptive forces always invite pushback, as Bari Weiss is learning at CBS. In PvA OT: Anonymous Banker on People Inc's AI-hedge with MGM and why YouTube ecosystem events are far better than typical media events. * Ballgame * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 01:06 Welcome * 01:36 Ballgame * 05:19 PvA Corrections * 06:27 AI Regulation Arrives * 11:10 Why Everyone Hates AI * 18:14 Work Slop * 26:40 Portable AI Memory Moats * 35:26 60 Minutes Media Drama * 45:36 AI Slop Culture War * 52:50 World Cup and NBA Summer * 54:55 PvA Overtime with AB: People Inc Eyes MGM * 01:03:47 YouTube Events and Networking * 01:10:51 Good Product * 01:16:23 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Homines Contra Algorithmos

May 29, 2026 1 hr 18 min

We debate the commodification of the human experience, why the upside-down token economics is a more pressing near-term concern, the religious zeal behind SpaceX's valuation, and why HR is the new boogeywoman of the aggrieved and powerful. Plus: Ana Andjelic on why not carrying a phone and having a personal philosopher are new luxury status symbols. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:47 Welcome * 02:33 Pope Leo on AI * 13:35 Capitalism vs Humanity * 23:32 SpaceX IPO Faith * 29:44 AI and HR Backlash * 41:42 Counterculture to AI * 45:38 Euromaxxing With Billionaires * 49:38 New Status Symbols * 59:41 Ferrari EV Identity Crisis * 01:05:10 China Rewrites Luxury Rules * 01:11:35 Good Product * 01:17:24 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Steroid Olympics

May 22, 2026 58 min

This week, we discuss the chaotic transition to an AI-augmented era, the roiling backlash trying to slow it down, and how we’ll come to terms with a weird new world. Plus: The dénouement of the scale era in publishing and beginning of the “inversion” era of media brands. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 01:33 Welcome * 04:55 Graduation Speech AI Backlash * 05:46 Pope AI Encyclical Buzz * 07:40 Why People Distrust AI * 13:23 AI Book Quote Scandal * 15:16 Steroid Olympics for Creators * 19:23 Flood of Synthetic Content * 22:31 Human Only Platforms * 27:53 LLM Confidence and Hallucinations * 31:55 Breaking the AI Loop * 32:38 Google Ends Link Search * 36:39 Vox Deal and Glue Factory * 40:30 Inversion Strategy at People * 43:52 Monetizing Brands via SKUs * 46:04 Supernatural Comeback Economy * 48:44 Good Product * 57:52 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Clauditis

May 15, 2026 1 hr 10 min

Meanwhile, Anthropic is on a $50 billion run rate and raising at a $900b valuation. We look back to the dawn of the assembly line, when workers suffered from “Forditis," a condition of despair caused by a lack of agency and the pressure to keep up with a pace set by machines. Plus: learning from Ferrari, Ryan Cohen's use of the information space for his long-shot takeover bid for eBay, the decline of drinking as structural phenomenon, the end of the road for BuzzFeed, and Italian rock bands. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:38 Welcome * 04:14 Ferrari Scarcity Mythology * 11:27 From Ferrari To Anthropic * 21:33 AI Backlash And Forditis * 27:19 Thinking Machines New Interface * 38:13 Narratives Beat Policy * 41:23 Ryan Cohen Media Populism * 48:01 BuzzFeed Byron Allen Deal * 58:37 Good Product * 01:09:08 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Monkey Business

May 8, 2026 1 hr 2 min

While some of this is cover for overhiring during the ZIRP era, there's clearly a move to cut the "coordination tax" that exists within companies. And what starts in tech always moves downstream. Plus: Ted Turner and the end of the media mogul archetype, James Murdoch's move to buy Vox Media's podcast network and New York magazine, and how to tell fake fakes from real fakes at the souk. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:18 Welcome * 02:02 Brian in Marrakesh * 04:43 PVA Vibe-Coding: RingRing & Field Notes * 09:18 AI Is A Job Killer * 16:48 AI Native Orgs and Jevons * 26:34 Permanent Underclass Fears * 31:23 The Last of the Moguls * 35:32 Murdoch Buys Vox * 40:49 AI Private Equity * 42:24 GameStop Targets eBay * 48:14 Met Gala Tech Takeover * 50:33 Tech Villains * 52:40 Good Product * 01:01:39 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Clipping Economy

May 1, 2026 1 hr 5 min

This week we dig into how the clip has become the unit of cultural currency and whether it's creating a mass delusion about what people actually want and what is popular. Also: a Waymo hostage situation, a vibe-coded group-texting platform, Apple vs. the interface doomers, Uber's super app survival play, Ben Sasse's deathbed honesty about young people's anxiety, and what the rise of Graham Platner says about the need to be a legible character. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 01:05 Welcome * 04:31 Vibe Coding Field Notes * 07:55 Fan Feedback * 11:56 AI Power Games Trial * 20:51 Next Interface * 29:06 Can a New AI Phone Win * 33:28 Why Super Apps Fail * 38:10 Media’s Next Chapter * 41:43 AI Replacing Media Work * 44:51 Clipping And Fake Popularity * 51:20 Gen Z Nostalgia Anxiety * 54:23 Politics As Characters * 59:08 Good Product * 01:05:00 Credits This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Spooning the Gravy

Apr 24, 2026 1 hr 15 min

Troy’s vibe coding project has moved into high gear, as institutional and personal memory becomes the point of leverage with media’s ultimate goal shifting to how to get the right people in the saloon. Claude Design and GPT-Image 2 reinforce the same message: You’re either high-end craftsman or you’re orchestrating AI systems, like it or not. Plus: Tim Cook hands over the CEO reigns after Apple’s boring decade, why media is about artists, suits and engineers, the dismal fate of much of Vox’s publishing assets, the emptiness of cloned media assets and why there’s leverage in coming out of the kitchen to spoon the gravy, no matter how much you’ve accomplished. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:52 Building on Top of LLMs * 03:41 Welcome * 04:31 Vibe Coding Costs * 09:00 Memory as Moat * 13:38 Wiki Maintenance Problem * 16:41 Workers Training Replacements * 18:13 McClatchy Content Scaling * 25:25 Community as Real Value * 32:43 Monitoring the Situation Review * 35:20 Are Designers Cooked * 37:58 Dotcom Agency Flashback * 40:19 AI Kills The Agency Model * 42:36 Displacement And Value Stack * 45:38 Farm To Table Humans * 47:13 Apple’s Boring Decade * 51:47 Nvidia Chips And China * 55:40 Event Format And Layers * 57:29 Vox Sale And Media M&A * 01:01:27 Media Notes And Widgets * 01:06:59 Collectibles As Asset Class * 01:09:12 Good Product * 01:14:43 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Humans in the Loop

Apr 17, 2026 1 hr 6 min

Troy unveils his vibe-coded media system that produces a daily briefing based on his entire media diet, underpinned with a memory layer that acts as a second brain of PvA thinking. This would turn media from a game of speed to one of accumulated worldview. We also unpack the rise of fakes, from the clip economy to Allbirds pivot to AI; handicap the Pope vs Trump battle; and get a report from an international journalism festival in Italy. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:34 Welcome * 02:48 Troy The Vibe-Coder * 11:54 Takeaways Process And Limits * 17:52 AI Slop And Meme Warfare * 25:37 Clips Economy * 32:32 Allbirds AI Pivot * 37:37 Anthropic vs OpenAI Chart * 47:02 Journalism Hierarchy * 49:30 LinkedIn Is a Sad Place * 54:01 Vibe Coding and API Economy * 57:56 World Economy Summit * 59:48 Good Product * 01:05:34 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Great Media Reorientation

Apr 10, 2026 1 hr 13 min

B2B is a refuge; see the Acquired ad rates. The Boston Globe's TikTok star Emily Sweeney proves a Dorchester accent is leverage when the internet has flattened everything. The next newsroom brawl will be over AI use. Political figures now have to be expert content creators. Even geopolitics aren't immune: Iran is beating the U.S. with its AI Lego video trolling. In tech, Sam Altman lies a lot and might be a sociopath, but it could be these are required traits in his field. Vibe coding Big Hot Take has turned Troy into an AImaxxer who believes company structure will change. Finally, a hypothesis that the true emblem of American wealth is getting a boat. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:41 Welcome * 03:10 Media Business Reset * 07:05 B2B And Niche Wins * 10:30 Altman Narrative Wars * 13:18 CEO Archetypes Debate * 18:31 OpenAI IPO Reality * 20:58 Mythos Model Hype * 24:04 Building Hot Takes * 31:15 Vibe Coding Impacts * 36:48 Politics As Creators * 39:04 Trolling As Statecraft * 40:34 Boston Globe TikTok Accent * 44:13 Artists Versus Engineers * 46:43 Midas Touch Deal Breakdown * 51:27 Copycat Creator Acquisitions * 56:23 NYT Reporting And AI Newsrooms * 01:02:23 Clipping Economy Explained * 01:07:42 Boats As Status Symbol * 01:10:48 Good Product * 01:12:57 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

New Media Energy

Apr 3, 2026 1 hr 18 min

Troy and Brian react to OpenAI buying TBPN: It pays to have viewpoints and approaches that are preferred by the powerful. FeedMe's Emily Sundberg joins as a guest this week. We discuss why new media like TBPN is beating legacy media not by distribution hacks or aesthetics but in energy. Legacy media relies on structural energy that’s dissipated while new media is built on earned energy, which is more organic, relatable and even fun. Plus: Puck vs Vanity Fair, Troy's vibe coding addiction, and why venture capital isn't cool. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:28 OpenAI Buys TBPN * 08:13 Welcome * 10:11 Vibe Code Corner: PVA Hot Take * 17:17 Agents and Future Org Charts * 22:08 Emily Vibe Coded Side Apps * 25:18 Future of Media Trends * 33:11 Feed Me Business Overview * 37:39 Events Merch and Energy Thesis * 43:32 Scaling Feed Me carefully * 47:34 Why TBPN works * 53:01 Defining new media * 56:43 Vanity Fair vs Puck * 01:01:20 Aspirational media and detachment * 01:06:15 Events business reality * 01:09:37 Cool or Not Cool Corner * 01:15:05 Good Product * 01:17:25 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The War on Slop

Mar 27, 2026 1 hr 6 min

OpenAI is pivoting to the enterprise, Kentucky farmers are modern folk heroes by not selling their land for a datacenter, and Meta and YouTube get the Big Tobacco treatment. Plus: Troy gives a progress report on his vibe coded Personal Intelligence Media Platform, AB’s take on Vox Media’s podcast business and MarketBeat’s profitable fin-pub hustle, and Wired’s reinvention as a Big Tech critic. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:44 Reptile Rescue * 03:08 Welcome * 04:39 PVA Mixer * 06:17 PageMaker nostalgia * 09:12 Building PIMP * 20:52 AI slop and media value * 33:21 UI Design on Trial * 36:47 Tucker vs The Economist * 38:29 Vox Podcast Sale * 45:11 LinkedIn and Social CRM * 47:26 Wired Subscriptions and Tech Scrutiny * 49:53 Atlantic Cruise Events * 51:52 Zombie Franchises and Propaganda Ads * 55:02 Reality TV Loses to UGC * 57:15 MarketBeat Subscription Arbitrage * 01:03:28 Good Product * 01:06:07 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

First Principles Meet the Real World

Mar 20, 2026 1 hr 23 min

But physiotherapists still use accountants, dentists are in great shape and our own vibe coding experiments run into snags. Plus: The return of Travis Kalanick and the Mount Rushmore of tech titans, Google Stitch, who lost BuzzFeed, The Trade Desk’s woes, the Oscars as reflective of the end of the old Hollywood model, why The Economist is catnip for billionaires, and why mass layoffs and rapid rehiring are the new corporate norm. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:57 Welcome * 01:18 Who’s Cooked * 04:28 First Principle Thinkers * 15:02 PvA Claude Projects * 27:11 Finest Act of Self Mythologizing * 31:06 PvA Mount Rushmore Lineup * 37:15 The Economist Deal * 43:17 Buzzfeed End is Near * 48:48 Trade Desk Failures * 54:21 Oscars * 01:03:05 Good Product * 01:22:32 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Systems Are King

Mar 13, 2026 1 hr 9 min

YouTube became a $550 billion juggernaut by building the infrastructure: the algorithm, the ad stack, the creator revenue share, the living room app. It spent more on content than almost anyone else without producing it. Meanwhile, legacy media companies that bet everything on premium content are pivoting to events, harvesting their websites for ad yield, and watching their audiences migrate to platforms they don't control. X tells the same story: a product that isn't even particularly good has become the most influential information network in the world because of the raw, unmediated network it sits on top of. On an individual level, those who can build personal systems are establishing leverage. The lesson: Power is durable power doesn't come from what you make, it comes from the system you build around it. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:26 Cool Things * 03:52 Welcome * 11:44 AI Writing and Newsrooms * 15:27 Epstein Grammar Power Flex * 21:11 Wealth Shifts to Older Audiences * 25:19 Iran War and X as Truth Feed * 32:35 Barry Diller Eyes CNN * 38:27 YouTube Becomes Media King * 50:30 Everything Is Cooked * 01:04:00 Takeaways * 01:05:51 Good Product * 01:08:21 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Hating the Player and the Game

Mar 6, 2026 59 min

Block’s 40% employee purge says more about Jack Dorsey’s CEO skills than AI. David Zaslav gets only a PE golf clap for making Warner Bros shareholders money. McDonald’s CEO becomes a symbol of out-of-touch financializers. But hope is on the way as Cal AI’s teenage founders bootstrapped their way to riches. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:47 Welcome * 01:45 Human Computer’s Ballgame * 06:46 AI & Game Dev * 08:51 Anthropic Pentagon Clash * 14:04 AI Narrative Wars * 17:37 War News Fragmentation * 28:43 Layoffs & AI Excuses * 32:36 Holding CEO’s Accountable * 44:29 Cal AI Exit * 48:09 SXSW Nostalgia * 53:53 Good Product * 58:12 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The AI Reckoning

Feb 27, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Data shows widespread trepidation over the AI, whether it’s datacenter construction or possible job displacement, yet little public discussion has taken place. We discuss how that’s changing as AI becomes a political issue. Meanwhile, another reckoning is happening with a return of cancel culture in a new and improved version; the open web faces its own reckoning as grotesque user experiences lead it into a doom loop; and private capital faces a squeeze that will hurt M&A. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:50 Irish Hospitality * 04:37 Intro * 07:30 AI & The State of the Union * 24:21 Cancel Culture * 35:19 Death of the Open Web * 42:43 Private Capital * 50:38 Money Making Opportunity * 01:00:30 Good Product * 01:06:26 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Best/Worst of Times

Feb 20, 2026 1 hr 4 min

They unpack the "orality thesis" and what the shift from written to spoken culture means for how we think, communicate, and vote. On the media side, they map out what's actually working right now: audience-first elite brands, B2B trojan horses like Hearst, expert creator newsletters, and the relentless pull of performance marketing, and AI-generated monkey content on YouTube. Plus: a report from the Swiss Alps. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:39 Welcome * 05:13 Orality Thesis * 08:42 Writing vs Talking * 12:07 Doom-Maxing * 22:58 Leadership Crisis * 33:16 The Best and Worst of Media * 52:06 Synthetic YouTube Content * 56:36 Good Product * 01:03:41 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

AI Anxiety

Feb 13, 2026 1 hr 0 min

The age of AI is off to a shambolic start. Anthropic and OpenAI ran Super Bowl ads that fell flat. The gap is widening between the AI-pilled true believers and the Normals, as AI becomes yet another existential anxiety. Plus: Alex breaks down the design systems deployed by Trump vs Mamdani, and Troy says The Washington Post has a product problem. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:27 Welcome * 07:46 Billionaires Flock to Miami * 11:21 AI Anxiety * 31:08 Design & Government * 35:36 Mamdani Design Language * 37:43 A Very Difficult Job: Running the WaPo * 56:37 Good Product * 59:55 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Reputation Matters

Feb 6, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Meanwhile, brands are facing reputational crises from their ties to the government as Scott Galloway calls for a boycott of companies who sell their products to ICE. Jeff Bezos’ well-earned reputation as a business genius is at risk as his 13-year tenure owning The Washington Post turns into an unmitigated disaster. Meanwhile, Anthropic wants to develop a high-minded reputation by dinging OpenAI for the crime of running advertising. Finally, media might be in its death throes, but there’s always a need for a B2B conference that brings together the buy and sell side of the avocado market. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:20 Welcome * 05:09 Reputational Cost * 22:36 Company Reputation * 30:56 Bezos & WP Disaster * 41:55 Bringing Together The Buy & Sell Side * 48:24 AI & Ads * 56:31 Good Product * 01:01:21 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Mind Control

Jan 30, 2026 1 hr 12 min

Today’s mind control comes in the form of black-box algorithmic recommendation systems, autonomous robotics and agentic AI systems. The trust gap has arrived for algorithms, as seen by the backlash against TikTok's new ownership. Maybe we're hard wired to distrust men in masks. Plus: CBS News tries to “podcast-ify” a legacy network, the Atlantic’s successful pivot to subscriptions and talent, the Washington Post’s execution problems and identity crisis, Yahoo’s attempt to reassert itself through AI search, and the growing realization that community is the last media moat. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:35 Welcome * 04:11 Mind Control * 13:39 Clawdbot/Moltbot * 17:54 Elon Reframing Tesla * 23:46 Minnesota Obscenity * 36:06 Algorithms and Social Media * 42:17 Hardcore Media Topics * 59:14 Local News and Nonprofit Models * 01:06:33 Good Product * 01:12:05 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Monitoring the Situation

Jan 23, 2026 1 hr 18 min

This week, like old Italian men with their hands clasped behind their backs at construction sites, we are monitoring various situations: Snowmageddon 2026, OpenAI’s inevitable embrace of advertising, Claude Code’s escape from the nerdery, why publishers are embracing prediction markets, the Davos divide between the Mark Carney and Donald Trump styles of communication, and the latest reminder that nothing ever really dies in media, it just mutates. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:46 Welcome * 05:30 OpenAI Getting Into Ads * 26:29 Claude Code’s Escape From The Nerdery * 40:16 Prediction Markets * 50:29 Quick Hits * 01:15:40 Good Product * 01:17:14 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Retro Digital

Jan 16, 2026 1 hr 0 min

After two decades of scale chasing, feed optimization, and platform dependence, the industry is rediscovering older mechanics that actually work: events, newsletters, sponsorships, classifieds, and direct audience relationships. Plus: The difficulty of changing legacy media organizations; micro-dramas as modern media format; and field notes from CES, the Affiliate Summit and an Ojai turtle sanctuary. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:34 Welcome * 03:44 CES 2026 * 10:40 Semaphore and Media Business Models * 15:18 CBS News and Media Transformation * 29:48 Creating New Products from Great Talent * 32:48 Retro Media * 42:35 Affiliate Summit * 52:54 Good Product * 59:17 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Finding Leverage

Jan 9, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Troy and Brian talk about agentic advertising and why it’s being sold as salvation, the quiet consolidation happening across media and tech, and the shift from institutional power to systems, platforms, and legible individuals. We discuss sovereignty in an automated world, and why “finding leverage” has become the defining challenge for media, marketing, and anyone trying to stay relevant. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:28 Welcome * 07:06 Agentic Advertising and AI * 11:23 Semafor’s $30 Million Raise * 18:54 The Future of Yahoo * 24:12 The Rise of YouTube and Influencers * 31:08 The Future of Digital Publishers * 34:23 Media Personalities and the Creator Economy * 37:47 The Ethics of Content and Prediction Markets * 47:14 The Future of Major Cities and Job Market Predictions * 50:21 The Role of AI and Robotics in Society * 55:14 The Battle for Sovereignty and Media Independence * 01:01:42 Good Product * 01:06:10 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Media Goonstate

Dec 19, 2025 1 hr 7 min

This week, we wrap up the year with our picks for the biggest narratives, deal guys, hustlers and tech oligarchs. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:17 Welcome * 03:22 Vanity Fair Is Back * 05:56 Is Weiss good at media? * 13:51 Oscars On YouTube * 18:03 PvA 2025 Awards * 18:28 Personality of the Year * 25:31 Media Brand of the Year * 30:10 Innovation of the Year * 37:29 Overlord of the Year * 40:38 Hustler of the Year * 43:47 Deal Guy of the Year * 45:45 Word of the Year * 48:34 Narrative of the Year * 54:25 Good Product This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The End of the Hollywood Model

Dec 12, 2025 1 hr 14 min

Underneath the narrative, the main plotline is the end of Hollywood’s already ailing business model built around scarcity and cable economics. That’s why the big winner of this deal, no matter who ends up owning the asset, is David Zaslav, the consummate Deal Guy. Netflix owning Warner Bros would be a fitting end, as streaming upended the reliable bulwark of Hollywood’s business model and firmly put tech in control. Plus: The social stigma of AI-generated content, Kalshi’s uninspiring mission to financialize everything, Marco Rubio’s war on woke fonts, Shopify’s agentic commerce play, a new Scorsese documentary, and sad SaaS-vertising invading the NYC subway. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:36 Welcome * 04:18 Warner Bros Deal * 17:07 Deal Guys * 37:59 Font Wars * 47:09 Australia Banning Social Media For Teens * 54:16 Shopify & AI * 01:00:13 Good Product This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Code Red

Dec 5, 2025 1 hr 8 min

This week, Sam Altman shutters side quests to chase speed, reliability, and personalization, and we ask whether he’s a deals guy or a wartime leader in a world where Gemini 3 and Anthropic are catching up. From there we get into the Olivia Nuzzi saga, the New York Times vs David Sachs accountability drama, and another round of Silicon Valley vs East Coast media grievance airing. We close on Bending Spoons’ island of misfit apps, DealBook’s new CEO archetypes in a media world running out of leverage, and Good Product featuring Waymos and Japanese toilets as the most dependable robots in everyday life. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:39 Welcome * 07:54 OpenAI Code Red * 22:56 Sachs vs NYT * 30:02 Olivia Nuzzi Saga * 35:07 DealBook Summit * 45:16 Bending Spoons * 50:24 The Distribution Trap * 01:03:33 Good Product This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

The Hustler Ethos

Nov 28, 2025 1 hr 2 min

We get into why America attracts them, how the term was coopted and branded, why competitive instinct sits at the center of real hustle, and how the changing nature of the economy will put a premium on hustling, for better or worse. Plus: Troy’s ‘eggsellent’ adventure at a Holiday Inn Express. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:41 Welcome * 02:19 Google Ascended * 14:24 AI Slop * 25:34 Hustlers * 44:10 Deal Talk: Warner Bros Discovery * 53:02 Good Product * 01:01:58 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Main Character Energy

Nov 21, 2025 52 min

With institutions losing their distribution edge, main-character energy now determines who captures attention. The Olivia Nuzzi spectacle to Michael Wolff’s improbable Epstein cameo show why legacy media suddenly needs characters again. We also cover the Gemini 3 narrative flip, Google’s structural advantages, John Malone’s tax-efficient empire building, Apple News’ strange success despite its bad UX, and the rise of chessboxing as peak Slavic content. * Watch us on YouTube * Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter * Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter * Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer * Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:46 Welcome * 01:30 Aura and Lore In The Information Space * 16:17 Gemini 3 * 26:52 Financializing Aura * 35:15 John Malone: Last of the cable cowboys * 41:05 Good Product * 51:15 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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Podcast details

Created by: Troy Young, Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 13, 2026
Episodes: 211
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 1 hr 3 min
Explicit: Yes
Language: English

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