Topic: Career Advice

Craig Jones shares a story from the mid-2010s when John C. Dvorak gave him honest phone advice to avoid a career in tech journalism. Dvorak's prediction of the industry's downsizing proved accurate, leading Jones to a more stable life path. BT Dave recalls being "gotten" by Dvorak's 1995 April Fool's article regarding 2-bit computing.

A classic clip features Dvorak offering cynical but practical career advice, suggesting that employees should ignore their supervisors' "bullcrap" while pretending to comply. Curry contrasts this with his own advice of finding a passion and getting paid for it. Curry credits Dvorak's business instincts for the success of the "Value for Value" model, which allowed Curry to transition into podcasting full-time.

The hosts examine "boots on the ground" reports from Gen Z and Millennial workers expressing frustration with the modern corporate environment. Common complaints include the perceived unfairness of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hiring practices and the failure of higher education to provide a return on investment. The discussion touches on the role of HR departments in shaping company demographics.

The hosts discuss how producers like Nussbaum and Melanson have successfully integrated their No Agenda peerage titles into their professional LinkedIn profiles. They argue that these unique titles can serve as conversation starters and help in the technology job market.

John C. Dvorak offers career advice to younger listeners, suggesting that most supervisors are "full of crap." He recommends a strategy of appearing attentive and agreeable to a supervisor's suggestions while continuing to work in one's own preferred way. He claims that supervisors rarely notice the lack of change and will often praise the "improvement" regardless.

Adam Curry advises listeners to find what they love and find someone to pay them for it. The hosts discuss the origin of the word "podcasting," with Curry crediting Danny Gregoire for the term, while acknowledging Guardian journalist Ben Hammersley for coining "podcasts" earlier. They encourage listeners to eventually start their own podcasts about their lives.

The hosts briefly discuss the girl band KSM and the potential for one of its members to become a major star on the level of Miley Cyrus. They critique the band's longevity and the specific look of the members. The conversation serves as a brief aside on the manufactured nature of pop music careers.

A guest appearance on the Dudley and Bob morning radio show in Austin leads to a discussion about finding one's true calling. The narrative encourages listeners to pursue their passions over "slave jobs," despite the financial risks involved.

The hosts suggest that listeners who are unemployed can use "Executive Producer of the No Agenda Show" as a legitimate credit on their resumes. They offer to vouch for donors, explaining that the role involves story curation and financial support similar to Hollywood production roles. This is presented as a way to explain gaps in employment during the recession.

A listener who is a truck driver writes in to express relief that he did not pursue a career in television journalism after hearing the hosts' descriptions of the industry's inner workings. The hosts praise the listener for having a "real job" that contributes to the country's backbone.