Podcast
Nonsense with cj little and Jeff Parker
Hosted by cj little and Jeff Parker · EN
Nonsense desperately tries to make sense of today’s business, technology, and (sometimes) entertainment headlines. Not too serious and occasionally funny, join technologist cj little and leggy blonde Jeff Parker for their unique take on the past week. While we can’t promise you’ll laugh every week, we can promise you’ll learn something new (and maybe even interesting).
New episodes drop every Tuesday & Thursday mornings (UTC). Produced by an orangutan; art thanks to artificial intelligence.
https://nonsense.productions
Twitter: @nnsnspdcst
Instagram: @nnsnspdcst
Gmail: nnsnspdcst@gmail.com
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
HEADLINES: The Dark Side of the Moon, Adhesive Poop Bags, and the Great Chip Backfire
Apr 700:32:42Tap to summarize(0:00) Pre-Show(1:03) Open(2:01) Metric System Day(3:48) cj's week: Yosemite!(6:06) Jeff's Week: Injury!(7:02) Headline: Artemis II Smashes Apollo 13’s Distance Record(18:10) Headline: The Fight for Rural Broadband: Starlink’s Refusal to Follow Federal Rules (23:57) Headline: How U.S. Bans Handed China’s Chipmakers a Monopoly(29:35) ESPN MobileHumanity is back in the lunar neighborhood! We cover the Artemis II flyby of the dark side of the moon, where communications go dark and the views get historic. We talk about Commander Reid Wiseman’s emotional call home and why the moon currently looks like a Spalding basketball held at arm's length. It’s a beautiful, poetic moment for our species - right up until the waste management system started smoking.We get into the "nitty-gritty" (literally) of the Orion’s plumbing issues. From "ice" blocked pipes to the return of the Apollo-era adhesive waste bags, we explain why space travel is 10% science and 90% figuring out what to do with your own business. It’s a messy job, but someone has to do it while traveling thousands of miles per hour.To wrap things up, we discuss the $700 million game of chicken between Congress and Starlink. SpaceX wants the cash upfront, but the Feds want the rules followed. Plus, we analyze the unintended consequences of U.S. tech restrictions: China is now building an AI chip empire out of pure spite and necessity. Grab your headphones; it’s a long way down.NASA’s Artemis II astronauts break Apollo’s distance record | Scientific AmericanLive updates: Artemis II astronauts break records in historic moon flyby | CNNTrack NASA’s Artemis II Mission in Real Time - NASADems: Feds Should Rescind $700M for Starlink if SpaceX Won't Play by the Rules | PCMagChinese chip firms hit record high revenue driven by the AI boom and U.S. curbsESPN Mobile 2006 CommercialSports Heaven Superbowl AdSend us a voice message!Nonsense is available here.
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Aliens Part II: Silicon Breath, Biological Grey Goo, & Our Galactic Zoo
Apr 200:31:11Tap to summarizeThe math says they exist, but what do they actually look like?In the second half of our Big Story on extraterrestrial life, the boys move past the equations and into the messy, terrifying reality of alien biology. Forget "Little Green Men" - we’re talking about silicon-based lifeforms that literally cough out grains of sand and civilizations so small they could hide inside a single asteroid.Your fearless co-hosts also (attempt to) tackle the "un-happy outcome" of first contact: biological incompatibility. It turns out that meeting an alien might not lead to a handshake, but rather a catastrophic case of anaphylactic shock or being dissolved at a molecular level into "biological grey goo." It’s a reality check on why "sharing a beer with an ET" is probably a death sentence for everyone involved.And if they aren't here to eat us, why would they come? We explore the "Galactic Zoo" theory and the "Historian Hypothesis." Are we a rare laboratory of biological improv, or are we just a primitive species being watched by "living crystals" who find our music as interesting as a beaver dam? Pull up a chair and grab some paella - the truth is out there, and it’s weirder than you think.Black–Scholes model - WikipediaStarman (film) - WikipediaSend us a voice message!Nonsense is available here.
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HEADLINES: Lawsuits for Likes, Haunted Python, & the Great Router Ban of ‘26
Mar 3100:31:27Tap to summarizeIs social media a "lion hunting a gazelle"? A California jury thinks so. We’re breaking down the $3 million verdict against Meta and YouTube that focused on "product liability" rather than free speech. It turns out that infinite scroll might be legally equivalent to a car without seatbelts, and the legal floodgates are officially open.We also tackle the LiteLLM breach - a digital house fire that’s currently stealing API keys and cloud tokens across the tech industry. It’s a "transitive risk" nightmare that shows just how vulnerable the AI revolution really is when the underlying code gets poisoned by hackers.Lastly, grab your flags, because your next router might have to be 100% American. The FCC has blacklisted foreign consumer routers to stop state-sponsored botnets from hijacking our power grids. We dig into whether this is a genius security move or a massive shock to the tech industry that’s going to leave us all staring at "No Connection" icons.Baby CarrotsCB Bucknor missed 20 calls in one game, a breakdownA Legal Decision That Could Change Social Media - The AtlanticLiteLLM PyPI compromise: Everything we know so far | IT ProTeamPCP Expands Supply Chain Campaign With LiteLLM PyPI Compromise - Infosecurity MagazineLiteLLM PyPI Malware Steals Cloud, Crypto, Slack, and Discord Keys - OX SecuritySupply chain attack hits widely-used AI package, risks impacting thousands of companiesFCC expands Covered List to block high-risk routers and drones, tighten ban on foreign-made connectivity devices - Industrial CyberFAQs on Recent Updates to FCC Covered List Regarding Routers Produced in Foreign Countriespf Sense RoutersSend us a voice message!Nonsense is available here.
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Aliens Part 1: A $300k Bet & Math Behind The Great Galactic Graveyard
Mar 1900:28:33Tap to summarize(0:00) Pre-Show(1:05) The Real Reason the Government is Hiding Their UFO Data(6:29) Protect The Sensors(11:23) How Many Civilizations Are There?(22:12) Extraterrestrial Geology(24:34) cj’s recommendation: Mars Attacks!(26:07) Jeff’s Recommendation: AliensWhy did a mysterious trader or two just bet six figures that the U.S. government will confirm the existence of ETs by the end of the year? This week, the guys dive into the xenological deep end to find out if someone knows something we don’t, or if the prediction markets have finally lost their minds.They’re pulling back the curtain on why the government is so obsessed with keeping their UAP data under lock and key - and hint: it has more to do with our own "god-like" satellite sensors than it does with little green men.From the "Sensor Trap" to the "Galactic Graveyard," we break down the math of why we’re probably not alone, even if we’re just living in a universe full of extinct civilizations. We’re talking Drake Equations, the terrifying precision of Next-Gen Infrared, and why plate tectonics might be the reason you’re smart enough to listen to this podcast. Grab your tinfoil hats; it’s about to get astronomical.Send us a voice message!Nonsense is available here.
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HEADLINES: From $50B Drone Superpowers to Poisoned Playlists & Expensive Teachers
Mar 1700:31:44Tap to summarize(0:00) Pre-Show(1:02) Open(2:01) St. Patrick’s Day(2:56) cj's week: Pools & BBQs!(4:30) Jeff's Week: The Oscars(7:10) Headline: The $50 Billion Ukrainian Drone Disruptor(12:40) Headline: Meta Cuts Human Staff to Fund $135B AI Infrastructure(20:44) Headline: Poison in Your Playlist: Why Your Headphones Are Leaking Toxins(23:40) Headline: Why Everyone is Panicking Over Trump’s New $100,000 Visa Levy(26:31) Davong Systems' DSI-501Ukraine is flipping the script on modern warfare, moving from a recipient of aid to a global defense powerhouse with a proposed $50 billion drone pipeline. While Kyiv pitches low-cost interceptors to the Gulf, Meta is "de-layering" its human staff to fund a $135 billion AI infrastructure binge. From acquiring a social network exclusively for bots to pushing a 1:50 human-to-AI management ratio, Zuckerberg is betting the farm on a future where your coworker is a line of code.The "Year of Efficiency" gets even weirder as an EU study finds a 100% failure rate in headphone safety, revealing that your favorite "premium" brands are leaking hormone-disrupting chemicals directly into your ear sweat. To cap off the chaos, a new $100,000 H-1B visa fee designed to tax tech titans has accidentally "body-slammed" rural schools and hospitals. We’re breaking down how a policy aimed at Mark Zuckerberg ended up making a special ed teacher from the Philippines cost more than a Ferrari.Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Seeks Drone Deals With US, Gulf Region - BloombergUkraine's anti-drone tech is in high demand as Iran attacks its neighborsZelenskiy says Ukraine wants money, technology in return for Middle East drone help | ReutersIran war highlights Ukraine’s rapid rise to drone superpower status - Atlantic CouncilMeta is reportedly laying off up to 20 percent of its staffReport: Meta could lay off 20% of its staff and replace many of them with AI workers - SiliconANGLEOwner With No Medical Background Invents Cure for Dog’s Terminal Cancer - NewsweekEuropean retailers yank popular headphones after study reports trace amounts of hormone-disrupting chemicals | The VergeEU study finds BPA toxins in 81 headphone brandsThe Sound of Contamination: A Comprehensive Analysis of Endocrine Disruptors and Hazardous Additives in the HeadphonesThe $100,000 fee for H-1Bs is causing all sorts of problemsDavong DSI-501Tandon Corporation - WikipediaSend us a voice message!Nonsense is available here.
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The Silicon Takeover: Will Your Next Boss Be a Toaster?
Mar 1200:29:04Tap to summarize(0:00) Pre-Show(1:25) The AI Revolution Doesn’t Have To Be A Pink Slip(3:36) Developers, Developers, Developers!(10:58) The Roles Going Away(12:08) Be The Orchestrator(19:13) What About The Doctors?(22:58) And The Humans(25:09) cj’s recommendation: A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator(26:44) Jeff’s Recommendation: Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed SullivanIn this episode, the guys are staring directly into the glowing red eye of the future to ask the big question: Is AI coming for your cubicle, or is it just here to help you write better emails?They break down the shift from blue-collar automation to white-collar "hallucination," exploring why your graphic design degree might be sweating right now. Diving deep into the myth of the "Prompt Engineer," is humanity destined for a life of leisure or just a life of trying to prove to a CAPTCHA that we aren’t robots?From the "Human Premium" in art to the possibility of a world where nobody has to work (but nobody has any money), we’re sorting through the digital debris to find out where you fit in.It’s a thoughtful, slightly panicked look at the labor market of 2030. Grab your coffee while a human still knows how to make it - this one is a wild ride through the uncanny valley of employment.Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidence \ AnthropicAmerica Isn’t Ready for What AI Will Do to Jobs - The AtlanticThe Worst-Case Future for White-Collar Workers - The AtlanticEnshittification - WikipediaA Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificatorWatch Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan | Netflix Official SiteSend us a voice message!
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HEADLINES: The Global Chip Choke, Trump’s Secret Streaming Stash, and the Pentagon’s Alien Attic
Mar 1000:31:24Tap to summarizeThe AI Revolution just hit a 21-mile brick wall. The Strait of Hormuz is closed, and Taiwan’s chip foundries are running on fumes. From the "Iron Maiden" ship trying to identify as Chinese to avoid a blockade, to the "Global AI Winter" threatening your next GPU, we break down why the tech world is currently gasping for air.Is the Trump Trust the world’s luckiest investor? While the DOJ was judging the Paramount merger, the Trump family was quietly loading up on Netflix and Warner bonds. We dive into the $1.1 million "double-play" that has ethics critics screaming and the former President’s portfolio dreaming.The truth is out there... and it’s probably a sensor glitch. President Trump has ordered the declassification of the "alien files," but don't pack your bags for Mars yet. We discuss why the "smoking gun" is likely just a blurry weather balloon and a lot of black highlighter.No One, Not Even Beijing, Is Getting Through the Strait of HormuzSouth Korea warns Iran war could disrupt chip supplies | Daily SabahHormuz Strait: A risk to the AI economy - The Business TimesTrump bought Netflix and Warner Bros bonds at height of bidding war with Paramount | ReutersTrump says he doesn't know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs, more | PBS NewsVintage Computer Ads that Show How Far We've Progressed, 1970-1990Osborne 1 - WikipediaSend us a voice message!
Transcribe →Plastics: The Alchemy of Our Own Undoing
Mar 500:27:36Tap to summarize(0:00) Open(1:05) Plastic Purgatory: Past, Present, & Future(7:20) Methane is the Problem(10:40) Curbing Use: An Attempt(15:09) And What About Recycling?(20:08) The Nanoplastics Are Inside You(23:23) cj’s recommendation: Kelly Boesch(25:04) Jeff’s Recommendation: The Plastic Detox (2026)In 1955, we were told that "Throwaway Living" was the ultimate liberation. Plastic was the 20th century’s greatest engineering triumph: a synthetic miracle that saved the elephants, democratized luxury, and extended human life.But in 2026, the bill has come due. Today, we are finding plastic in the blood, the placenta, and the very soil that feeds us.Think your recycling bin is saving the planet? Think again. In this episode, we dismantle the "Mirage of Recycling," exposing this history of calculated industry deception and tell the story of how a byproduct of the oil industry became the scaffolding of modern progress - and its greatest existential threat. And still, the industry continues to shift the blame onto consumers while flooding the earth with indestructible carbon chains. This is not good.‘They pushed so many lies about recycling’: the fight to stop big oil pumping billions more into plasticsOil | The GuardianPlastic Pollution - Our World in DataThe global plastics crisis explained in 6 charts | Grist'Throwaway Living': When Tossing Out Everything Was All the Rage | TIMEPlastics Industry Insiders Reveal the Truth About Recycling | "Plastic Wars" | FRONTLINE + NPRPlastic Industry’s Fake Tearskellyboesch.comThe Plastic Detox | Official Trailer | NetflixSend us a voice message!
Transcribe →HEADLINES: The Pentagon’s AI Side-Piece, the Great Streaming Slop-Bucket, and Charter Swallows the Internet
Mar 300:31:01Tap to summarize(0:00) Pre-Show(0:52) Open(1:43) World Wildlife Day(2:03) cj's week: A Carnival-Themed Birthday(6:32) Jeff's Week: Deferred Maintenance(8:35) Headline: The Claude Paradox: U.S. Missiles Fly Using AI the President Just Banned(16:33) Headline: Paramount/Warner Discovery Deal Eyes $6 Billion in "Synergy" Savings(23:02) Headline: Cable’s New King: Charter Buys Cox Surpassing Comcast(29:05) LaCie Joule Modular StorageThe Pentagon is currently using an AI that it officially banned, which is likely the most "government" thing to ever happen. This week, we dive into the toxic love triangle between the Department of Defense, Anthropic, and OpenAI.While Trump officially ghosted Anthropic with a federal ban, the military still employed Claude’s brain for "precision strikes" just hours later. Meanwhile, OpenAI caved to the Pentagon, effectively becoming the cognitive engine for autonomous drone swarms while ensuring the government a front-row seat to your search history. Is it national security, or is OpenAI just the world’s most expensive snitch? Plus, we look at the inevitable merger of HBO Max and Paramount+, because apparently, we won't be happy until every TV show ever made is trapped inside one giant, expensive app. If you ever wanted to watch The Sopranos and Paw Patrol in the same place while the government monitors your viewing habits, 2026 is your year.In "Bigger is Never Better" news, Charter is buying Cox to become the final boss of ISPs, and the FCC is pinky-promising it won't raise your bills (spoiler: it will).It’s a world where one company provides your internet, one company provides your movies, and both of them are likely reporting your "ideological alignment" to the DoW.How OpenAI caved to the Pentagon on AI surveillance | The VergeInside Anthropic’s Killer-Robot Dispute With the Pentagon - The AtlanticUnder a Paramount-WBD merger, two struggling media giants would unite - Ars TechnicaParamount to combine HBO Max and Paramount+ into one streaming service after WBD mergerHBO Max and Paramount+ to Combine Into One Streaming Platform, Paramount Says HBO Brand Will ‘Operate With Independence’Charter gets FCC permission to buy Cox and become largest ISP in the US - Ars TechnicaGoogle spinoff beams blazing-fast 25-Gbps internet around cities using lightLaCie Joule Modular Storage - Macworld June 1995Send us a voice message!
Transcribe →Sovereign AI: The Quest For Independence and The "Holy Trinity"
Feb 2600:32:17Tap to summarize(0:00) Open(1:00) Chips & Power(5:42) Data Lakes(7:56) N+1 Sovereign Redundancy?(13:17) Cultural Homogenization(17:17) The Concorde Fallacy(21:11) Quorums (24:44) What About The Humans?(27:35) cj’s recommendation: Martin Molin’s Wintergatan(30:03) Jeff’s Recommendation: I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2025)Sovereign AI, now a $100 billion global necessity, is viewed as the 21st-century power grid. Nations are rapidly shifting from "AI takers" to "AI makers" to protect their data, culture, and critical infrastructure control. The core concept is radical: a nation must own and control the physical and digital AI foundations, not rent them from foreign tech giants. True sovereignty requires control of the "Holy Trinity": domestic data, local energy grids, and the essential silicon hardware.In this episode the guys will explore some of the concepts, opportunities, and challenges pursuing Sovereign AI ultimately presents.Sovereign AI: pathways to strategic autonomySovereign AI: Own your AI futureWintergatan - WikipediaWintergatan - YouTubeWatch I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not | HBO MaxSend us a voice message!
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