In this episode, Todd and Tony dive into the “slop” of modern media and the importance of authentic audience relationships. From the pitfalls of AI-generated April Fool’s jokes to the gritty reality of independent publishing, the duo discusses why building “brand love” requires real deposits of time and effort rather than just checking a box.

Later, Tony provides a cautionary review of the zombie sequels 28 Years Later and The Bone Temple, warning listeners about a surprising escalation in violence between parts one and two.

Key Discussion Points

* Damp April & Media Literacy: Tony discusses his “fat boy punishment juice” (water and weekend gin) while Todd reflects on how bad AI content on April Fool’s Day serves as a litmus test for poor media literacy.

* Deposits vs. Withdrawals: A deep dive into brand loyalty; why lazy AI posts are a “withdrawal” from your audience’s trust, whereas quality content that educates or entertains is a “deposit”.

* The Power of Niche Audiences: Why having 100 dedicated listeners in a specific industry (like Tony’s funeral industry podcast) is more valuable than chasing millions of “empty” views.

* Movie Review - 28 Years Later & The Bone Temple: A breakdown of the latest in the zombie franchise, featuring Ralph Fiennes, a “bone temple” ossuary, and a warning about extreme onscreen torture.

* The Business of “No”: Tony and Todd discuss the importance of valuing their work, avoiding “free” projects for ungrateful clients, and “showing up for yourself” like Olympic athletes.

Show Notes

* Health and Aging: The hosts discuss the realities of getting older, including Tony’s recent bout with gout after a trip to New Jersey and his choice to swap alcohol for 5mg THC tea drinks to manage his “dopamine hit” later in the day.

* Sponsor Spotlight: Dewey Raw: Todd introduces his other podcast, Dewey Raw, a “party podcast” featuring behind-the-scenes looks and on-the-street interviews from Dewey Beach.

* Podcast Fandom and Feedback: A humorous segment on listener engagement, including a “scathing” text from a fan (Josh) and the adoption of the fan nickname “Raw Doggers” for Dewey Raw listeners.

* Substack and Social Media Tips: Discussion on using Substack’s chat function and leveraging video frames in Canva to drive Facebook traffic to niche websites like on deathcare.com.

* Scams in the Funeral Industry: Tony highlights a growing scam where predators use obituaries to call grieving families, pretending to be from a funeral home to demand extra money for cremations.

* Return to Political Coverage: Tony announces his new “Destination Delmar” political section starting Monday. He expresses frustration with local apathetic voters and the lack of involvement in town meetings despite virtual access.

* New Business Ventures: Todd shares plans for a property management newsletter/podcast project aimed at helping businesses create evergreen content through recorded interviews.

Todd and Tony are back to discuss why everyone’s headshot is terrible, the “ick” factor of AI filters, and Tony’s deep dive into the surprisingly cheap history of Ocean Pines. They also cover the return of 2000s-era digital cameras at the Starboard and how to use robots to edit your writing without losing your soul.

This Week:

* The Headshot Intervention: Tony and Todd plead with realtors and professionals to stop using photos from 1980 or “sloppy” selfies with poles growing out of their heads.

* The Uncanny Valley: A look at why AI-generated photos and filters feel unsettling, like a “caricature drawing at a school bazaar”.

* Vintage Tech is Back: Todd spots a swarm of University of Delaware seniors ditching iPhones for old-school “one-shot” digital cameras during opening weekend.

* Ocean Pines for a Bargain: Tony shares a rumor from his upcoming history book that the entire development may have sold for just $1.4 million in 1968.

* Drones and Palm Trees: Todd shows off a new drone with “object avoidance” to prevent a repeat of his Florida palm tree casualty.

* Working with the Robots: How Tony uses AI as a “copy editor” to fix his snarky tangents and improve his writing productivity.

* Dewey Raw Live: Details on catching the crew live at the Starboard for opening weekend festivities.