Alex Goldman on Reply All, Hyperfixed and Podcasting

Goldman introduces his current shows and recounts his route from journalism and IT work to radio at WNYC. He describes making the early podcast *TLDR*, moving to Alex Blumberg’s new podcast company, and launching *Reply All*. The hosts discuss the show’s 2014 debut and the advantages of arriving during *Serial*’s first run.

The conversation compares early podcast discovery with YouTube. Goldman describes relying on word of mouth and placing stories on programs such as *This American Life* and *Radiolab*, where editorial collaboration brought new listeners. He also explains how *Reply All* treated the internet as a place where people live and interact, rather than merely a subject for coverage.

Goldman explains how the team assessed pitches by asking whether there was a question to answer, whether the stakes mattered, and whether they were curious. Many ideas did not become episodes. He describes a team of around six or seven, a slowing release schedule, stories that could take weeks or much longer, and putting unfinished reporting on hold when it lacked a payoff.

Goldman says recurring segments such as *Yes Yes No* were conceived as flexible “furniture”: less intensive than standard reported stories but still substantial. He explains the format’s origins in Alex Blumberg asking for help understanding internet posts. The group discusses the segments’ popularity and the way certain episodes and moments stayed with listeners.

Goldman describes podcast metrics as limited, noting that a former tracking tool could show listening and drop-off patterns but is no longer available. The hosts discuss the lack of comparable data across shows, changing chart positions, and the spread of listeners across Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other players.

Goldman describes *Hyperfixed* as a show where listeners submit problems for him to investigate or help solve. Examples include a question about microwave popcorn buttons, a family or interpersonal issue, a cake recreated with Claire Saffitz, and a malfunctioning Logitech mouse. The hosts also discuss a possible software fix for the mouse.

Goldman recounts pitching projects after *Reply All*, including a fandom show that did not find a buyer, and deciding to make *Hyperfixed* independently. He says podcast saturation and advertising rates have changed the business and that repeating an earlier promotional strategy did not bring the same response. The hosts compare the difficulty of starting today in podcasting and on YouTube.

The hosts discuss YouTube’s changes to public view counts and how they affected Waveform’s internal comparison of new videos. Goldman talks about creators trying to adapt to algorithms without sacrificing their preferred work. He describes resisting pressure to follow news topics and discusses his relationship with Radiotopia, advertising choices and companies he does not want to sponsor.

Asked why he has not shifted *Hyperfixed* to video, Goldman points to his limited video-editing skills, the extra workload, the show’s scripted and rewritten recording process, and its tightly edited audio style. The hosts discuss video podcasts and YouTube examples that adapt podcast-like conversations with visuals and extensive editing.

Goldman and the hosts compare podcast subscriptions with algorithm-driven feeds on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. They discuss platforms’ focus on keeping users engaged, the influence of TikTok-style recommendations, and social media products converging on similar formats. The hosts describe their experience moving Waveform to video and debate whether short-form views lead people back to a podcast.

The hosts describe viewers making clips from their material and their hope that repeated exposure might encourage people to watch longer videos, while noting they cannot directly measure that effect. Goldman explains that his small, geographically dispersed team works remotely, making a video setup more difficult, particularly when he records in a small basement room.

Goldman outlines the premium offer: two bonus episodes each month, discounts and a Discord server. He describes the community and how members have helped solve a mystery about an old game and assisted with a German-language source for a story. He also discusses the difficulty of repeatedly promoting subscriptions and gives an approximate count of the problems submitted over the show’s run.

Marquez and Andrew describe how Waveform’s chapter markers repeatedly break, disappear or show titles from a previous episode. They explain that chapters must be entered in the video description and ask Goldman to consider the problem for *Hyperfixed*. Goldman discusses the difficulty of getting technology companies to comment, says he will contact YouTube, and agrees the chapter-entry process could be improved.

The hosts introduce a product-reaction segment and show Goldman a discontinued Samsung Galaxy Z Fold tri-fold phone. They discuss its high price and whether carrying a foldable tablet in a pocket is worth the cost. The conversation turns to the first Galaxy Fold, which was recalled after reviewers’ screens broke, and how folding phones have changed since then.

The hosts show Goldman a small, app-controlled camera robot that can jump, flip and travel quickly. They discuss its tracking and recovery abilities, its price and possible uses, including pet footage. The hosts recount receiving an early unit without clear setup instructions and watching it race around the office.

The group discusses Nike and Hyperice’s heated, massaging shoes, including their compression function and the suggestion that they might be worn while walking or travelling. They compare their appearance and practicality with other recovery products. Andrew explains why being able to walk across a room while using recovery equipment could be useful, even if he would not wear the shoes out.

The hosts show Goldman Dyson headphones with an attachable air-purifying device that directs filtered air toward the nose and mouth. They discuss the product’s appearance, its possible relevance during smoke from fires, and concerns that its airflow might spread germs. They note that a later version omitted the mask and that the product was discontinued.

The hosts describe the Tau cleaning robot, which is remotely operated by someone who enters a home to clean while data is collected for possible future automation. They react to its appearance and show clips of it struggling with cleaning tasks. The discussion raises questions about the robot’s operator, possible damage inside a home, and the service’s terms.

In a rapid-fire segment, Goldman says he listens at normal speed and uses Overcast. He recalls a Casio SK-1 sampling keyboard that could record a short sound and play it across the keys, and discusses its cost and sampling sound. The hosts then talk about a Yamaha keyboard associated with the original *Blade Runner* score and Goldman’s chance to see the instrument.

The hosts ask Goldman a question referencing *Reply All* and the 76ers, then joke about his confusion over Ronaldo and Messi. They invite him to type the alphabet against a guest leaderboard. Goldman makes three attempts, and the hosts discuss his final time and the existing record.

The hosts thank Goldman and ask where listeners can find his work. He points them to *Hyperfixed* on social platforms, its website and podcast players. A brief attempted closing pickup follows.