The Observer: News & podcasts

I love this app and their journalism. I have listened to many podcasts and am always impressed with the quality of reporting. The News Meeting is perfect for my walk back from the gym. I love that they keep an eye on stories in the world that the rest of the news media has pivoted away from covering despite nothing being resolved. I also love the podcasts on particular stories. I found the podcasts because of the Neil Gaiman story and just started another on a spiritual life counselor (I do not really know what to call her) that manipulated and abused her patients. I will be sharing the content with friends and family.

I’m a former Tortoise subscriber and an avid podcast listener. I have a great podcast app set up exactly as I like it. It has numerous features I value. But Tortoise is busy erecting an audio walled garden. If I want to listen to Tortoise podcasts using my subscriber benefits (early and ad free listening) I am forced to listen in the pared down audio player offered by the Tortoise app. Why can’t I access my subscriber benefits via an RSS link in my podcast player of choice? Other publications make this easy for subscribers - the Economist is a great example. But Tortoise foists a substandard experience on its subscribers and expects me to now juggle multiple apps to accomplish my podcast listening. I cancelled my subscription and Tortoise has lost the subscription revenue. If matters change I would resubscribe. But the current state of affairs shows a disrespect for listeners’ workflows and time.

I am, as many others are I presume, time poor. I don’t have time for the barrage of news that interrupts my day. All contradicting itself. I need a well-informed friend to tell me what’s what, in just the right amount of detail so that I actually learn something instead of superficial fast news that can’t keep up with itself. I only need to know about the stuff that matters. Tortoise is my new digital friend in the know in that respect. An antidote to fake news, and much like noise cancelling headphones amidst the cacophony of media noise. Bravo team. Keep slow and carry on