Relay

Material

Material is a weekly discussion about the Google and Android universe. Your intrepid hosts try to answer the question, “What holds up the digital world?” The answer, so far, is that it’s Google all the way down. Hosted by Andy Ihnatko and Florence Ion.

Author

Relay

Category

Technology

Podcast website

relay.fm

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

400: Ash Wednesday 24.02.2023

We didn't expect this episode to be so _religious_, but what else did you expect from our 400th episode? We're celebrating our podcast about Google just as a recent ex-Googler spills the I-just-quit tea to everyone willing to read.

399: The Gift That Keeps On Giving 17.02.2023

Google's chatbot hasn't been officially released, and yet it's delivering a cornucopia of interesting tidbits. Flo is still out this week, so consider this part two of Andy catching you up on how Google is scrambling to join the AI race.

398: Late to the Game 15.02.2023

This week's podcast is a beautiful primer on everything that's been going on with Google lately, and you'll want to tune in if you wonder why everyone's scratching their heads at the company lately. Andy will walk you through Google's latest earnings call, including where it's making money and losing it. Plus, what that AI-based event in Paris was all about, and why Google employees aren't too thr...

397: Gauche 06.02.2023

It's been a week. We'll recap everything we saw at Samsung Unpacked and then some. We'll talk about the new SmartThings Station, why Flo's smart home is a mess, and why the Galaxy S23 Ultra is kind of boring. Then, why Google is shaking in its bones about ChatGPT and what it plans to do to outrun it.

396: Google's Horrible, No Good Week 27.01.2023

Yet again, Flo is out sick this week. But thankfully, we have Andy to hold down the fort and explain why it's been an alarming week for Google. First, there were massive layoffs, with news that resonated through the zeitgeist. And then, the US Department of Justice came down with the antitrust banhammer. What will happen to Google next?

395: Society's Challenges 20.01.2023

Andy and Flo catch up before discussing the not-so-wild rumor that Google is working on its version of Apple's AirTag tracking mechanism. Then, why is Google pushing its work in AI so hard this week? Does the company doth press release too much? We'll also discuss why the Google Podcasts app may not be long for this world--or at least its integration into search results.

394: The Mess After CES 13.01.2023

Your co-hosts pull it together to bring you a super-sized episode about CES 2023. What did Flo see, touch, hear, and feel? A bit too much all at once, as CES is absolute sensory overload. But in the midst of it was some noteworthy news about satellite connectivity coming to Android smartphones, Google's services in the car, and a giant tablet that should reconsider life as a Chromebook.

393: Bing Certainly Tries 07.01.2023

Microsoft is coming after Google by infusing Bing with ChatGPT—should Google be concerned? Then, Big Tech had massive layoffs this week while folks were down in Vegas checking out new gadgets. Will that include Google, too? Andy will also walk you through January's Pixel security update.

392: Too Big to Fail 31.12.2022

Happy new year! Our last episode of the year features a deep dive into why Google should worry about technology like ChatGPT coming for its money-maker. We'll also discuss whether Google has a responsibility to deplatform apps like TikTok for being _extremely_ bad actors. Plus, the Pixel 7 is named "Phone of the Year" even if the camera lenses seem to combust spontaneously.

391: Christmas Economics 24.12.2022

Happy Christmas eve! Andy shares his favorite app for the holiday to take pictures of things you need to last forever. Then, we get into Google's latest "macroeconomic conditions" and why it's a little silly that the Pixel Tablet leaked in its entirety on Facebook Marketplace. We also discuss some of the results of MKBHD's "smartphone camera of the year" poll.

390: Inflection Point 16.12.2022

Andy and Flo have reunited again after both taking trips out of town. We talk about Google playing it cool around ChatGPT and how Android Auto taught Flo to understand the metric system. We also discuss YouTube's new moderation tactics and two new interactive games from Google.

389: A Simple Tweak, a Familiar Tool 09.12.2022

Flo is on vacation, but Andy's holding it down in a special solo show. Surprise, surprise: Google's made some changes to one of its beloved apps, and it might change the way you're used to doing things. Then, Andy takes a peek at Google's online gift shop.

388: Naughtiness 02.12.2022

Andy spent some cash over the holiday, and Flo is still wondering where to spend her Google Store store credit. We'll discuss the $9 million penalty that Google and iHeartRadio have to pay for deceptive Pixel 4 ads, plus the $5 Billion Google will owe Play Store customers if the latest class action suit goes terribly. We'll also lament over how hard it is to move to Mastodon.

387: Gobble, Gobble 23.11.2022

It's our annual listen-to-us-while-cooking episode! Andy and Flo regale what's on the docket this turkey/tofurkey holiday, then count down the most worthy of Google's Black Friday deals. Be sure to listen in if you're shopping!

386: Hazmat Playsuit 18.11.2022

Andy and Flo wonder what's next in social media. The two friends talk about Google's $400 million location-tracking faux pas, though Apple doesn't have clean hands either. Then, a new beta feature in DuckDuckGo to keep Android apps from tracking your activity.

385: According to an Email 11.11.2022

YouTube Kids remains questionable, and Andy has found a sincere appreciation for the Nest Hub. We'll discuss how to get your refunds from Google's defunct Stadia cloud gaming platform and what it's like to play PC games on a Chromebook. We also chat about what's next from Fitbit and its plans for a kid-centric device.

384: Grey Text 09.11.2022

Last week's podcast, today! 'Tis the season for sickness, but we're back in your ears with two episodes this week. First up: Andy does a solo show where he recaps his Nest WiFi Pro experience and notes from Google's AI@ day.

383: No Defense 28.10.2022

This week, Flo wonders why her Google search page is rife with ads, and Andy is excited over his Nest WiFi Pro on the way. The two friends discuss Alphabet's third-quarter earnings call this week. Plus, updates to the Google Home and YouTube apps.

382: Clock’s Ticking 22.10.2022

Lately, Andy and Flo's world has revolved around getting the know their Pixel Watch review units. Then, we chat about _The Information_'s report that Google is scaling back on the Assistant and what we think of this week's Messages update.

381: Pixels Pixels Pixels 15.10.2022

The two friends made it to the opera! Andy and Flo recap last week's Google Pixel boot camp. Then, we discuss our first impressions of the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch.

380: Convince Me, Google 06.10.2022

It's the eve of the Pixel event. Flo is feeling crummy, and Andy has sandwich fantasies. Will these two friends finally make it to the opera? Find out next week! Until then, here's a rundown of the new Nest devices Google introduced this week, including a highly-anticipated update to the Google Home app.

379: The TikTok-ification of Search 30.09.2022

Flo is still under the weather, making it the perfect time to test out the new Chromecast with Google TV HD. Andy's got the iPhone 14 Pro. We'll run down the major parts of Google's Search On event this week. And we'll explain why we're not surprised that Google shuttered Stadia.

378: It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day 23.09.2022

Andy is tired of diehards, and Flo is taking a break from the Apple Watch. We get into what's coming from Google, including the newly announced Chromecast with Google TTV (HD). Plus, Framework is making a modular Chromebook, Google Arts & Culture dropped a cool game, and we're _loling_ over LOLNeRF.

377: Macroeconomics 16.09.2022

Flo is back! And Andy brought a cake! It's the best way to start a podcast between two friends who have missed one another. Flo and Andy discuss the new iPhone 14 Pro and why it's compelling. They also strategize what Google needs to do to make the Pixel 7 a hit. Then, a bit of an update on all the goings-on internally at Google. Last week, Sundar Pichai was at the Code Conference talking about cu...

376: Hootenanny and a Half 09.09.2022

Flo will be back next week, so enjoy this week's last Andy solo show for a while. It was Apple event week, so there was lots of Apple vs. Google talk. Andy walks through some of the iPhone 14/14 Pro and Apple Watch's new features and where Android could do better. And then, a call out to Tim Cook, who would rather have you buy your mom an iPhone than open up iMessage to Android users. Le sigh!

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