justin․searls․co
Breaking Change artwork
Available where all fine podcasts are sold

Sometimes, I put down my keyboard and pick up my microphone to record a solo podcast that I like to call Breaking Change. It's an intermittent series of long-form discussions on whatever's happening in my little corner of life and technology. Each episode also features a hand-crafted pun delivered to us by Aaron "@tenderlove" Patterson and then I rank the pun on air. So that's fun.

Should I listen to it?

If you like to listen to podcasts while you do the dishes, walk the dog, or drive from A to B, and you enjoy blazing hot takes marinated in uncomfortably personal banter about Apple rumors, AAA gaming, whatever's streaming on TV, and life as a programmer, then yes!

If you like tightly-produced, heavily-sponsored, 30 minute panel discussions on a narrow topic, keep moving.

Solo? No cohost? Just you?

They are unusual, for sure. The podcast has a real drive time radio feel, which has become something of a lost in the current era that seems to dictate all podcasts must be interviews and panel discussions. Trust me, I have plenty of voices in my head for the both of us. When you're listening to Breaking Change, It's just me and you out there.

How do I get my ideas into the show?

Have a question you want me to answer or a hot take and want me to react to? Shoot me an e-mail at podcast@searls.co and I'll try to fit it on the next show! I read each and every e-mail.


Breaking Change artwork

v16 - No Politics Allowed

Breaking Change

Big day: now with transition music! 🎶

There's one topic that's been dominating headlines for the last two weeks, but if you want to hear about it you'll have to look elsewhere! That's because Breaking Change is a safe space. So listen up and let's find other things to get mad about.

Do you have opinions about politics? Do you want to share them with an Internet friend? Now's your chance: podcast@searls.co. (Other topics also welcome.)

I heard you like links:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v15 - An E Ink iPod Touch

Breaking Change

I bought a new gadget! And it runs Android! And I don't hate it!

Tell me about things you hate and don't hate and I might just read your feelings on air, for others to have opinions about! The e-mail, as always, is podcast@searls.co.

Sources below:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v14 - Actual Intelligence

Breaking Change

WWDC came and went and now we're all just left to ponder what life will be like under the thumb of our new AI overlords (and underlords). But at least for now, humans are still allowed to produce podcasts on their own, which means we can safely opine about the fresh hell we're all hard at work creating.

I finally got a chance to get to some mailbag questions in this episode! If you want to be a part of the ✨magic🪄, shoot me an e-mail to podcast@searls.co. I won't read your last name on air, unless I accidentally do. Promise!

Here are some links to stuff from this episode:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v13 - WWDC Spoilers

Breaking Change

WWDC is right around the corner, and I wanted to do a predictions podcast before Monday's keynote, but then Mark Gurman went and just read back literally everything that's going to happen.

So I guess let's talk about that or something.

As always, I love love love to receive your e-mail even though it's hard to get through very many of them on the program. Please know that your comments and questions really bring me a lot of joy and that you should e-mail whatever pops into your head to podcast@searls.co. Quick. Now. Don't think, hit send.

Okay, and now for some 👐Show Notes👐:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v12 - LIVE from Japan

Breaking Change

[Update: if you're reading this, then you're listening to an updated version of this episode with a more aggressive denoise filter, to try to combat the karaoke jingles playing incessantly in the background 🎤.]

Welcome to the rhetorical Bemusement Park that is the Breaking Change podcast! This episode was recorded in Japan, the recording of which was an ordeal that you will hear all about if you choose to press play and listen to this version of the podcast.

I have failed you all, however, because I had to duck out of my "recording" "booth" ahead of schedule and I didn't get to any items from the mailbag. That means now's your chance to skip the line ahead of all those other mailbaggers by rapid-firing off an e-mail to podcast@searls.co for inclusion in a theoretical, unannounced, unsure-if-it'll-even-happen version 13.

Heard people liked URLs so I hallucinated some for you:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v11 - I'm feeling unlucky

Breaking Change

Today we have a veritable smorgasboard of potpurri as we indulge in the figurative potluck dinner that is, "shit Justin wants to talk about." This may be the last major version for a while, so savor this.

Thank you to listeners who took version 10's mandatory e-mail feedback demand seriously, as the mailbag once again is full of good questions. But you must do your part and e-mail podcast@searls.co to keep it that way. Each e-mail you send entitles you to a license to listen to three more episodes, so—in a sense—you can't afford not to write in.

Have some links:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v10 - Inhumane A.I.

Breaking Change

It's been over two weeks! Let's catch up. We can talk about anything you want, so long as it's App Store policies regarding "retro" game emulators or where to find the best Japanese love hotels.

Also, I hate to spoil an announcement, but due to a lack of mailbag engagement, e-mailing podcast@searls.co after you listen to each episode of the program is now mandatory for all listeners. Figure it out.

Citations follow:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v9 - Learn to Unicode

Breaking Change

If you're itching for a discussion that explains why I'm afraid to move into my new bathroom, what I really think about Andrew Huberman, and why it might make more sense to learn French than Java… prepare to be scratched, I guess?

I am highly confident that at least one person will get angry and unfollow this show as a result of words that came out of my mouth. If you've got thoughts and/or feelings, let me have'm at podcast@searls.co!

Some links to things:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v8 - Anti-trustworthy

Breaking Change

This podcast is dedicated to the brave men and women at the Department of Justice for taking bold and decisive action against a clear and present danger to the continued existence of the United States of America: Apple's use of green bubbles and how they make some Android users feel bad.

Since the DOJ's lawsuit is all about vibes, send me your vibes—good or bad—and I'll be there for you. Who knows, if you choose to direct your energy to podcast@searls.co, maybe I'll get lucky and finally feel something in this cold, dead heart of mine.

Links and such follow:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v7 - Outside your app's business hours

Breaking Change

This was a long episode, so here are some short notes.

As always, your e-mails delight and inspire me. Send one to podcast@searls.co with anything you want in it. I don't care if it's just emoji and gifs.

Citations follow:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v6 - Pausing doesn't pause

Breaking Change

[UPDATE: In this episode, I referenced Stripe having an IPO in the past tense. I was mistaken, they are not (yet) publicly traded. We regret the error.]

The audio is better this week! I'm learning.

Also, I finally had something to talk about that has nothing to do with Apple! The target of the ion cannon that is my mouth this time? drumroll… it's Stripe! Sorry, Stripe. If you like rants about software quality and the systemic reasons everything is terrible, hoo boy! This one brings the heat. 🔥🔥🔥

We're starting to work down our mailbag backlog, so help me freshen it up by e-mailing the show at podcast@searls.co and our dedicated staff (me) will read it and—potentially, maybe—respond on the air!

And now, some URLs:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v5 - Regressive Web Apps

Breaking Change

Welcome to Breaking Change, the 14th most popular technology podcast in Argentina! (And 30th in Norway!)

It's been a couple weeks since my last breaking change and, guess what, I done broke things again.

If you would prefer I not make so many breaking changes (or if you wish me to break even more of them!), e-mail me at podcast@searls.co and let me know and/or share your darkest secrets under a pseudonym using a throwaway account. Nobody needs to know.

Links and so forth:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v4 - Facial Computing

Breaking Change

This podcast is a month old and four episodes in and the singular event looming over all of it has finally arrived! The era of facial computing has begun!

Join me for a Vision Pro extravaganza in which I detail all of my first impressions using the device, including dozens of things that seemingly every media and YouTube reviewer missed or excluded. Listen to this podcast and you'll hear tell of bugs you wouldn't believe even if you did see them!

The headline takeaway is: Apple Vision is clearly the future, because it's clearly not yet the present. (And why I'm probably keeping it anyway.)

As always, e-mail me your reviews, reactions, and errata at podcast@searls.co and I'll absorb them into the bubbling stew of opinions I'm forming about this futuristic-and-not-necessarily-in-a-good-way computing platform.

Scant show notes follow:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v3 - Core Technology Fee

Breaking Change

Welp, Apple forced my hand and generated even more news in the run up to the launch of Apple Vision Pro and it demands a response! (Right?)

As is so obvious and well-established that I forgot to mention it, you can e-mail me the show at podcast@searls.co and maybe I'll find a way to work it in. Comments, questions, and complaints are all welcome!

Without further ado, let's a-do it:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v2 - Vision Pre-order

Breaking Change

Heads up gang, there's a new breaking change with this release: my wallet is like $8000 lighter thanks to the Vision Pro preorders.

As always as of a week ago, you can e-mail me at podcast@searls.co and I'll read it silently in my head. If all goes well, I'll read it out loud, too. And everything works out, I may even read it out loud and into a microphone for the next show.

Okay, let's dig into this latest version:

Show those show notes…

Breaking Change artwork

v1 - Initial Commit

Breaking Change

I finally gave up and recorded a podcast. And now I'm writing show notes. I tried not to let this happen but here I am typing this and it's happening. Forgive me.

This is a podcast for anybody who shares my interests and likes passing the time with a friendly, opinionated voice in their head. I have done thousands of hours of chores and errands over the years listening to mostly agreeable, sometimes interesting 1.5-3 hour podcasts to keep my mind busy. Now it's time for me to give back, I guess.

Here's the deal: e-mail me at podcast@searls.co and I'll talk about whatever you want me to talk about. Write whatever you want into that e-mail body: ask a question about video games, ask for my take on a new technology, ask for relationship advice, tell me my podcast sucks. You write it, I'll read it.

Okay, here's what I covered in version one of Breaking Change:

Show those show notes…