Gimlet's Reply All | Alex Goldman & PJ Vogt | Talks at Google

TL;DR

"Reply All, a podcast about the internet, delves into a range of fascinating topics, from medical mysteries to internet culture, delivering captivating storytelling."

Transcript

SPEAKER 1: Please welcome the hosts of "Reply All," PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman. [APPLAUSE] So "Reply All" launched a little more than two years ago, in the fall of 2014. You were the second podcast at Gimlet after "Startup," which was the podcast about the creation of Gimlet, the podcast that sort of eats its own tail. You've covered topics like medi... Read More

Key Insights

• 👻 The hosts of "Reply All" have a personal connection and long-time involvement with the internet and online culture.
• 👻 The podcast allows for experimentation and tries to strike a balance between internet-focused stories and other intriguing topics.
• 👻 The hosts embrace the podcast's title by exploring internet-based narratives and bringing attention to internet culture.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does "Reply All" define itself as a show about the internet?

Initially seen as a joke, the hosts explain that being a show about the internet means they can tackle hard internet-related stories or justify non-internet-focused stories.

Q: What makes a story right for "Reply All"?

The show values stories with emotional depth, unexpected turns, and small inconsequential topics that are treated with seriousness and focus. Stories that start in one place and go somewhere unexpected are highly valued.

Q: How far into the story development process do the hosts know if a story will make it into an episode?

The hosts try not to kill stories and keep working on them until they find a breakthrough. Some stories can take over a year to develop, and others may be shelved and revisited later.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Reply All" is a podcast that covers various topics such as medical mysteries, true crime stories, and internet culture.

• The hosts, PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, discuss their personal relationships with the internet and how it influences their storytelling.

• The show focuses on people and their emotional journeys, aiming to take listeners on unexpected and unpredictable narratives.