No Agenda
No Agenda is a podcast hosted by Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak and takes place twice a week on Thursday and Sunday at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. The show is primarily focused on mainstream media deconstruction.
The show has no advertisers, instead relying on its listeners to voluntarily donate in either lump sums or a voluntary recurring plan. The show also relies on their listeners to provide artwork and audio clips.
In July 2016, the show won the Podcast Award for Best Podcast in the category "News & Politics." In September 2013, the show was nominated for Podcast Awards in two categories, "People's Choice" and "Politics / News".
In December 2009, the show announced they had reached 450,000 listeners.
Talkers Magazine featured the podcast in their "Frontier Fifty", an alphabetically sorted list containing a "Selection of Outstanding Talk Media Webcasters."
A primer has been produced for newer listeners, both as an introduction and a discussion of the show.
History
No Agenda debuted in October 2007. Its premise was that the co-founder and then vice-president of mevio would have an unfiltered dialogue. The impetus for starting the show, according to Curry, was a 4-minute phone call made to Dvorak saying that they "should do a show together." Little thought was given to what the show would be about, in fact only the name was agreed upon before the first show was recorded.The original tagline of No Agenda was that it would be the show with "no sponsors, jingles, and of course no agenda." The show's only sound effect came during the closing minute, where the jazz song On the Seventh Day by the Marriott Jazz Quintet played as the hosts signed off. Topics included the news of the day, restaurant reviews, and family.
The show gradually moved in the direction of news and political commentary. Jingles have been introduced, and have evolved into catch phrases. The show discusses current news and conspiracy theories, with the hosts discussing topics in response to their belief that the mainstream media glosses over what they see as the real facts. Celebrity gossip and other soft news stories are brought up for ironic effect, with the one that has garnered the most attention often being named "Distraction of the week".
Certain numbers are used repeatedly in the show: 33 is the "magic" number, "double nickels on the dime" as the donation amount to become a "No Agenda Minuteman", $111.11 as "make it rain ", and $999.99 being the amount of donation to become a No Agenda "Knight". Episode #250 introduced the "Quad Niner" donation level: Whenever someone donates $99.99, Curry is obligated to bark: "niner, niner, niner, niner!"—a reference to his use of "niner" for "nine" in show openings.
The podcast does not accept advertising and is supported by the listeners to prevent conflicts of interest. Through this direct listener-supported model, those that contribute amounts above a predetermined level are referred to as executive producers.
No Agenda was named to Talkers Magazine's Frontier Fifty list for 2011, a list of 'Outstanding Media Webcasters.'
Influences
Curry tends towards a more counter-cultural outlook of the world. He often discusses his perceived links between current world events and a large number of conspiracy theories, most of which center around supposed global plans to bring about a so-called New World Order. Dvorak is much more mild tempered, often referencing his knowledge of history and his own life experience to shed light on the topics of the day, however, he appears to share many of the same opinions as Curry. Inside jokes and references to previous topics recur with great frequency in each episode which may take time for new listeners to fully grasp. The hosts prefer not to provide a recap or explanation of a phrase or anecdote unless necessary, and Curry will often sound an alarm if Dvorak begins repeating something previously discussed.The show was influenced by the run up to the 2008 Election, the financial crisis starting that September, and the transition to the Presidency of Barack Obama.
Both hosts are self-proclaimed independents, having no allegiance to one political party or ideology. Much of this is attributed to their belief that there is little difference between the two main United States political parties, whether by accident or design. Curry endorsed Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul during the 2008 and 2012 Republican primary elections.
No Agenda Stream
Starting in early 2009, Curry began to stream the audio production of the show live, with both hosts advertising the beginning of the show via Twitter. During the week of March 15, 2009, Curry began to experiment with running the audio stream 24/7, carrying music when No Agenda was not being recorded. By March 19 the stream contained computer speech integration and an auto-DJ. After a few songs the station would break for podcast promos, news updates, and Twitter messages sent to the No Agenda Twitter account from listeners.The music and speech integration has since been replaced by a schedule of podcasts currently consisting of the latest episode of the show Tech5, music interludes and DH Unplugged. In 2011 the No Agenda Stream added a new daily live show, Dirty Boxers. In between each podcast are one or two No Agenda jingles or soundbites. On Thursdays and Sundays the loop is interrupted for the Pre-show of the No Agenda live recordings, which most often occur in the morning, thus the catch phrase "In The Morning"; and lasting up to about three hours. During this time Curry plays listener produced novelty songs and voice-overs while reading feedback from and interacting with the audience until he is joined by Dvorak.
As of November 2019, the No Agenda stream features the following podcasts in regular rotation: Airline Pilot Guy, Congressional Dish, Cordkillers, DH Unplugged, Grimerica, Grumpy Old Bens, Hog Story, Mark and George Show, Nick the Rat, On the Odd, Randumb Thoughts, RynoTheBearded, That Larry Show, and Who Are These Podcasts.
The No Agenda stream also features live podcasts on a regular schedule. Hog Story airs Monday nights starting at 7:00PM Central. DH Unplugged airs Tuesday nights at 8:00PM Central, Nick The Rat airs Wednesday nights starting at 10:00PM Central, No Agenda airs Thursday mornings starting at 11:00AM Central, Grumpy Old Bens airs Friday mornings starting at 11:00AM Central, Mark and George Show airs Friday afternoons starting at 2:00PM Central time, RynoTheBearded airs Friday nights starting at 6:00PM Central time, No Agenda airs Sunday mornings starting at 11:00AM Central.
Recurring themes and catch phrases
- Gitmo Nation – The combined United States, United Kingdom and Netherlands whose governments, in the eyes of the hosts, are in the process of stripping citizens of their rights. The phrase comes from the terrorist prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. During the introduction to the show the hosts tell the listeners from which part of Gitmo Nation they are broadcasting. Dvorak usually is at his home in "Northern Silicon Valley" and adds that location after he states he is in Gitmo Nation West. When he is at his compound in Port Angeles, Washington he says that he is speaking from Gitmo Nation Northwest. Italy is known as Gitmo Nation Pizza
- Crackpot & Buzz-Kill – refers to Curry and Dvorak, respectively.
- Just send your cash – refers to the Haiti earthquake and its aftermath, where Curry ironically theorizes that the Haiti earthquake was done on purpose by an earthquake machine so that Bill Clinton can build hotels on the northern shores of Haiti. The "just send your cash" quote comes from George W. Bush during a fundraiser for Haitian relief.
- That's a great question – one of Dvorak's pet peeves is this response to an ordinary question.
- Sponsorship, underwriting, advertising, call it whatever you want – a quote from former NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller used as an illustration of public media's susceptibility to corporate influences.