Best Sam Manual Podcasts (2025)

1
AI in Restaurants: Balancing Technology and Human Connection 33:35

1d ago33:35

33:35

Dive into the future of dining as industry experts explore the transformative potential of AI in restaurants. This eye-opening discussion reveals how artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize customer service, operational efficiency, and personalization—while preserving the essential human touch that makes dining special. Learn how restaurant…

1
Jennifer Holt, "Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:07:45

1d ago1:07:45

1:07:45

How the United States' regulation of broadband pipelines, digital platforms, and data—together understood as “the cloud”—has eroded civil liberties, democratic principles, and the foundation of the public interest over the past century. Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data (MIT Press, 2024) is a policy history that c…

1
How Much Does Google Ads Really Cost? A 2025 Guide for Small Businesses 14:19

2d ago14:19

14:19

In this episode, we break down the real costs of Google Ads in 2025 and explain how small businesses can budget effectively, avoid overspending, and get the most out of every dollar. You’ll learn: What factors influence your Google Ads cost, including industry competition and keyword selection How Google’s bidding system works and why Quality Score…

1
Boost Your Small Business Website: Proven SEO Strategies That Work 16:24

3d ago16:24

16:24

In this episode, we explore the best SEO practices for small business websites and offer practical tips for enhancing your online visibility and attracting more customers. You’ll learn: How to conduct effective keyword research to target the right audience The importance of optimizing page titles and meta descriptions for better click-through rates…

1
Boost Click-Through Rates and Conversions with These Copywriting Secrets 16:52

3d ago16:52

16:52

In this episode, we delve into proven copywriting techniques designed to enhance your click-through rates (CTR) and conversions. You’ll learn: How to craft headlines that capture attention and drive engagement The importance of clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs) Strategies for understanding and addressing your target audience's needs The r…

1
Tracy Fullerton and Matthew Farber, "The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully" (MIT Press, 2025) 33:08

5d ago33:08

33:08

How players evoke personal and subjective meanings through a new theory of player response. In The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully (MIT Press, 2025), Tracy Fullerton and Matthew Farber explore the experiences we have when we play games: not the outcomes of play or the aesthetics of formal game structures but the ephemeral and emotional expe…

1
Maximize Your Google Ads Budget With Manual Bidding: Proven Strategies for Small Business Owners 15:58

5d ago15:58

15:58

If you’re a small business owner struggling to get leads or sales through digital marketing, this episode is for you. Host Sam Ashrafi breaks down exactly how to maximize your ad budget using manual bidding—a powerful yet underused Google Ads strategy that gives you full control over your campaigns. You’ll learn: What manual bidding is and how it c…

1
Samuel Jay Keyser, "Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts" (MIT Press, 2025) 1:05:20

6d ago1:05:20

1:05:20

Leonard Bernstein, in his famous Norton Lectures, extolled repetition, saying that it gave poetry its musical qualities and that music theorists' refusal to take it seriously did so at their peril. In Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts (MIT Press, 2025), Samuel Jay Keyser explores in detail the way repetition works in poetry, music, and pai…

1
Peter Krapp, "Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:13:44

8d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Peter Krapp, the author of Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation (MIT Press, 2024), to the New Books Network. In Computing Legacies, Peter Krapp explores a media history of simulation to excavate three salient aspects of digital culture. Firstly, he profiles simulation as cultural technique, enabling symbol…

1
Jessica Smith on Engineering and Public Accountability in Energy Industries 1:09:56

9d ago1:09:56

1:09:56

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks to Jessica Smith, Professor in the Engineering, Design, and Society Department and Dean’s Fellow for Earth and Society Programs of the Colorado School of Mines, about her work on engineering and public accountability in energy and mining industries. The pair discuss Smith’s long-held interests in mining and …

1
Peter B. Kaufman, "The Moving Image: A User's Manual" (MIT Press, 2025) 52:05

22d ago52:05

52:05

Video (television, film, the moving image generally) is today’s most popular information medium. Two-thirds of the world’s internet traffic is video. Americans get their news and information more often from screens and speakers than through any other means. The Moving Image: A User's Manual (MIT Press, 2025) is the first authoritative account of ho…

1
The Benefits of Manual Bidding on Google Ads for Local Businesses 14:21

22d ago14:21

14:21

In this episode, marketing strategist Sam Ashrafi explains why manual bidding on Google Ads gives local businesses greater control, better ROI, and smarter audience targeting than automated strategies. You’ll learn: What manual CPC bidding is and how it differs from smart bidding How to control ad spend by adjusting bids at the keyword and ad group…

1
How Performance Max Campaigns Improve Remarketing 11:44

24d ago11:44

11:44

In this episode, marketing strategist Sam Ashrafi explains how Performance Max campaigns enhance remarketing strategies and work seamlessly with search ads to boost conversions. You’ll learn: How GA4 helps track visitors and build remarketing audiences How to import audience lists into Google Ads Where Performance Max campaigns appear (YouTube, Gma…

1
How to Choose the Best Google Ads Agency for Small Business 15:31

24d ago15:31

15:31

If you’re a small business owner struggling to get leads or sales through digital marketing, this episode is for you. Host Sam Ashrafi breaks down how to choose the right Google Ads agency to get the best ROI on your marketing budget. You’ll learn: Why small businesses benefit from hiring a Google Ads expert What to look for in an agency’s case stu…

1
How Can a Digital Marketing Agency Work With AI? 11:42

24d ago11:42

11:42

AI isn’t just the future of digital marketing—it’s already changing the way we work. In this episode, Sam Ashrafi breaks down how artificial intelligence is transforming digital marketing agencies, from SEO and paid advertising to email campaigns and customer journey mapping. ✅ What you’ll learn: How AI boosts SEO performance and content strategy W…

1
Google Ads Automated Assets: Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Them Too Much 18:25

24d ago18:25

18:25

Automated assets in Google Ads can save time—but at what cost? In this episode, Sam Ashrafi dives into the real pros and cons of Google Ads automated assets, explaining how relying too much on automation can hurt your CTR, branding, and conversions. Learn which automated assets to avoid, when they might help, and why a hands-on approach still wins.…

1
Introduction to Google My Business and Google Ads Integration 15:02

24d ago15:02

15:02

In this episode, Sam Ashrafi breaks down the powerful combination of Google My Business (GMB) and Google Ads—and how integrating these tools can drastically improve your local visibility, drive more foot traffic, and increase conversions. Learn how to: ✅ Use location assets to boost your Google Ads performance ✅ Link your Google Ads and GMB account…

1
How to Increase the CTR in Google Ads? 12:34

24d ago12:34

12:34

In this episode, Sam Ashrafi breaks down the top strategies to improve your click-through rate (CTR) in Google Ads. Learn how to craft compelling ad copy, use sitelinks and ad extensions, leverage negative keywords, and run effective A/B tests. Discover how these techniques not only boost CTR but also enhance your quality score and reduce your cost…

1
Top Digital Marketing Strategies for LA Service Businesses in 2025 10:04

24d ago10:04

10:04

📝 Episode Description: In this episode, we share the most effective digital marketing strategies Los Angeles service businesses should be using in 2025. Whether you're in home services, healthcare, legal, or local retail—this guide is packed with practical tips to help you grow smarter this year. What we cover: Local SEO tips to boost visibility in…

1
Jennifer Clapp, "Titans of Industrial Agriculture: How a Few Giant Corporations Came to Dominate the Farm Sector and Why It Matters" (MIT Press, 2025) 1:04:57

25d ago1:04:57

1:04:57

Every year, hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of farm machinery, fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides are sold to farmers around the world. Although agricultural inputs are a huge sector of the global economy, the lion's share of that market is controlled by a relatively small number of very large transnational corporations. The high degree of co…

1
Google Aligns Merchant Center Clicks with Google Ads: What It Means for You 6:46

25d ago6:46

6:46

In this episode, we break down Google’s latest update: aligning click reporting between Google Merchant Center and Google Ads. Starting April 21, 2025, this shift brings consistency to how clicks are tracked across platforms—reducing confusion and improving reporting accuracy. We’ll cover: What’s changing in Google’s reporting structure Why this ma…

1
Google Ads Double Serving: What It Means for CTR & Impressions 9:45

25d ago9:45

9:45

In this episode, we explore Google’s new Double Serving Experiment and how it might impact your ad performance. With two ads from the same advertiser now appearing on the same search results page, CTR and impression metrics may shift—for better or worse. We cover: What the Double Serving Experiment is and why it matters How it could increase impres…

1
Why SEO Fundamentals Are 10x More Vital with Google Ads 11:21

25d ago11:21

11:21

In this episode, we explore why strong SEO fundamentals are critical to making your Google Ads campaigns work smarter—not harder. From landing page optimization to keyword synergy and analytics, we dive into how SEO directly improves your ad quality score, cost-per-click, and long-term performance. What you'll learn: Why SEO makes Google Ads more c…

1
How to Use Google Ads and GA4 to Target High-Value Customers 15:52

25d ago15:52

15:52

In this episode, we break down how to combine Google Ads with GA4 to reach your most valuable customers and increase ROI. Using real-world strategies from an e-commerce brand, we explain how to define high-value segments, build smarter audiences, and optimize Performance Max campaigns. You'll learn: How to set up GA4 and link it with Google Ads Way…

1
The 3 Essential GTM Strategies for Restaurant Tech Success 7:05

1M ago7:05

7:05

The three essential Go-To-Market strategies for restaurant tech companies by Paul Molinari of Popcorn GTM. The strategies include: defining your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) to focus your efforts on specific restaurant segments; mastering the sales process through clear lead qualification and team alignment; and leveraging strategic partnerships wi…

1
Economic Impact on Restaurant Growth 14:19

1M ago14:19

14:19

With nearly 20% of America's food imported, tariffs up to 145% on Chinese goods are driving up costs for essential ingredients. Consumer pushback is rising as restaurant prices increase, with over half of Americans spending less on dining out. Large chains can absorb some costs, while independent restaurants struggle with narrower margins. Despite …

1
James Boyle Draws the Line Between Humans and AI 53:43

1M ago53:43

53:43

It’s the UConn Popcast, and we spoke with Duke Law Professor James Boyle about his new book The Line: AI and the Future of Personhood (MIT Press, 2024). We spoke with Boyle about how our legal and moral understandings of personhood are being challenged by advances in AI. We discussed the role of the law, popular culture, tests of sentience, and our…

1
A Philosophy of Echoes 1:02:23

2M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

We spend our 50th episode (the last of this season) with communication theorist Amit Pinchevski. Amit’s recent book Echo (MIT Press) explores its topic through mythology, etymology, history, technology, and philosophy. The book challenges the notion that echo is mere repetition. Instead, Pinchevski argues, echo is a generative medium that creativel…

1
Restaurant Industry Market Update with Sam Oches 57:34

2M ago57:34

57:34

In this insightful episode of The Restaurant Report, host Paul Barron and Sam Oches from Informa's Restaurant & Food Group analyze the critical challenges and opportunities facing the restaurant industry in 2025. They dive into corporate layoffs affecting major brands, the impact of Trump's tariffs on supply chains, tech integration challenges, and…

1
Mia Consalvo et al., "Streaming by the Rest of Us: Microstreaming Videogames on Twitch" (MIT Press, 2025) 43:20

2M ago43:20

43:20

The vast majority of people who stream themselves playing videogames online do so with few or no viewers. In Streaming by the Rest of Us: Microstreaming Videogames on Twitch (MIT Press, 2025) Dr. Mia Consalvo, Dr. Marc Lajeunesse, and Dr. Andrei Zanescu investigate who they are, why they do so, and why this form of leisure activity is important to …

1
M. Chirimuuta, "The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience" (MIT Press, 2024) 52:44

2M ago52:44

52:44

This book is available open access here. The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience (MIT Press, 2024), Mazviita Chirimuuta argues that the standard ways neuroscientists simplify the human brain to build models for their research purposes mislead us about how the brain actually works. The key issue, instead, i…

1
Lessons on Living with AI from the Home Computer Revolution: Revisiting Sherry Turkle’s “The Second Self” 58:08

2M ago58:08

58:08

It’s the UConn Popcast, and we've been experiencing a revolution in the past few years, as artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly common part of everyday life. Powerful AI tools are now integrated into our work, our schools, our creative industries, and our experiences of dating and companionship. This is a disorientating experience, one t…

1
From Manual Notes to AI: How Bikky is Changing the Restaurant Game 26:25

2M ago26:25

26:25

In this eye-opening episode of The Restaurant Report, Abhinav Kapur, founder and CEO of Bikky, reveals how AI and data analytics are reshaping the restaurant industry. From voice ordering systems to customer retention strategies, Kapur shares insights gained from analyzing 350 million guest profiles across major brands like Bojangles and Dave's Hot…

1
Chris Higgins, "Undeclared: A Philosophy of Formative Higher Education" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:05:37

2M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Undeclared: A Philosophy of Formative Higher Education (MIT Press, 2024) is an imaginative tour of the contemporary university as it could be: a place to discover self-knowledge, meaning, and purpose. What if college were not just a means of acquiring credentials, but a place to pursue our formation as whole persons striving to lead lives of meanin…

1
Christos Lynteris, "Visual Plague: The Emergence of Epidemic Photography" (MIT Press, 2022) 1:17:33

2M ago1:17:33

1:17:33

How epidemic photography during a global pandemic of bubonic plague contributed to the development of modern epidemiology and our concept of the “pandemic.” In Visual Plague: The Emergence of Epidemic Photography (MIT Press, 2022), Christos Lynteris examines the emergence of epidemic photography during the third plague pandemic (1894–1959), a globa…

1
Insights from Bloomberg's Michael Halen on Restaurant Industry Trends 30:37

2M ago30:37

30:37

In a recent Restaurant Report podcast episode, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Halen shared insights on restaurant industry trends, highlighting AI integration at companies like Chipotle, management changes at major chains, and Chili's remarkable 31.4% same-store sales growth under Kevin Hochman's leadership. Halen discussed Shake Shack's ne…

1
Jeff Yoshimi, "Gaming Cancer: How Building and Playing Video Games Can Accelerate Scientific Discovery" (MIT Press, 2025) 22:24

3M ago22:24

22:24

Can experimenting with game design increase our chances of finding a cure for cancer? Cancer is crafty, forcing us to be just as clever in our efforts to outfox it—and we’ve made excellent progress, but is it time for a new play in the playbook? In Gaming Cancer: How Building and Playing Video Games Can Accelerate Scientific Discovery (MIT Press, 2…

1
Aure Schrock on Politics Recoded: The Infrastructural Organizing of Code for America 1:36:09

3M ago1:36:09

1:36:09

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Aure Schrock, an interdisciplinary technology scholar and writing coach and editor at Indelible Voice, about their book, Politics Recoded: The Infrastructural Organizing of Code for America (MIT Press, 2024) Politics Recoded examines the history and culture of Code for America, an organization that, as …

1
Daniel Oberhaus, "The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum" (MIT Press, 2025) 59:34

3M ago59:34

59:34

AI psychiatrists promise to detect mental disorders with superhuman accuracy, provide affordable therapy for those who can't afford or can't access treatment, and even invent new psychiatric drugs. But the hype obscures an unnerving reality. In The Silicon Shrink: How Artificial Intelligence Made the World an Asylum (MIT Press, 2025), Daniel Oberha…

1
Jesper Juul, "Too Much Fun: The Five Lives of the Commodore 64 Computer" (MIT Press, 2024) 36:40

4M ago36:40

36:40

The surprising history of the Commodore 64, the best-selling home computer of the 1980s—the machine that taught the world that computing should be fun. The Commodore 64 (C64) is officially the best-selling desktop computer model of all time, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. It was also, from 1985 to 1993, the platform for which most…

1
James Malazita, "Enacting Platforms: Feminist Technoscience and the Unreal Engine" (MIT Press, 2024) 40:01

4M ago40:01

40:01

An analysis of the game engine Unreal through feminist, race, and queer theories of technology and media, as well as a critique of the platform studies framework itself. In this first scholarly book on the Unreal game engine, James Malazita explores one of the major contemporary game development platforms through feminist, race, and queer theories …

1
Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, "The Unequal Effects of Globalization" (MIT, 2023) 51:35

5M ago51:35

51:35

The recent retreat from globalization has been triggered by a perception that increased competition from global trade is not fair and leads to increased inequality within countries. Is this phenomenon a small hiccup in the overall wave of globalization, or are we at the beginning of a new era of deglobalization? Former Chief Economist of the World …

1
Julien Mailland, "The Game That Never Ends: How Lawyers Shape the Videogame Industry" (MIT Press, 2024) 40:39

5M ago40:39

40:39

A guide to the fascinating legal history of the videogame industry, written for nonlawyers. Why did a judge recall FIFA 15, a nonviolent soccer game, from French shelves in 2014? Why was Vodka Drunkenski, a character in Nintendo-Japan’s Punch-Out!, renamed Soda Popinski in the US and then in Western Europe, where the pun made no sense? Why was a Du…

1
Luci Pangrazio and Neil Selwyn, "Critical Data Literacies: Rethinking Data and Everyday Life" (MIT Press, 2023) 40:00

5M ago40:00

40:00

Data has become a defining issue of current times. Our everyday lives are shaped by the data that is produced about us (and by us) through digital technologies. In Critical Data Literacies: Rethinking Data and Everyday Life (MIT Press, 2023), Luci Pangrazio and Neil Selwyn introduce readers to the central concepts, ideas, and arguments required to …

1
J. Mijin Cha, "A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future" (MIT Press, 2024) 27:48

5M ago27:48

27:48

To meet the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed to stave off the worst impacts of climate change, a transition away from fossil fuels must occur, as quickly as possible. But there are many unknowns when it comes to moving from theory to implementation for such a large-scale energy transition, to say nothing of whether this transition will be…

1
McDonalds's and Doodles Unite for New Consumer Marketing 9:30

5M ago9:30

9:30

McDonald's recent partnership with Doodles marks a significant leap into Web3 and culture marketing for the fast-food giant. This collaboration, launching on November 18, 2024, introduces a holiday-themed campaign called "GM Spread Joy" that blends physical and digital experiences12. The campaign features: Limited-edition McCafé cups with custom Do…

1
Victor P. Petrov, "Balkan Cyberia: Cold War Computing, Bulgarian Modernization, and the Information Age Behind the Iron Curtain" (MIT Press, 2023) 57:59

6M ago57:59

57:59

Balkan Cyberia: Cold War Computing, Bulgarian Modernisation, and the Information Age Behind the Iron Curtain (MIT Press, 2023) examines the history of the computer industry in socialist Bulgaria. Combining the histories of technology and political economy with that of the Cold War and the modern Balkans, Balkan Cyberia challenges the notions of bac…

1
Todd Stern, "Landing the Paris Climate Agreement: How It Happened, Why It Matters, and What Comes Next" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:15:46

6M ago1:15:46

1:15:46

From the U.S. lead negotiator on climate change, an inside account of the seven-year negotiation that culminated in the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015—and where the international climate effort needs to go from here. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change was one of the most difficult and hopeful achievements of the twenty-first century: 195 n…

1
Greg Epstein, "Tech Agnostic: How Technology Became the World's Most Powerful Religion, and Why It Desperately Needs a Reformation" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:29:57

7M ago1:29:57

1:29:57

Technology has surpassed religion as the central focus of our lives, from our dependence on smartphones to the way that tech has infused almost every aspect of our lives including our homes, our relationships, and even our bodies. Beyond these practical matters, Tech has become a religion with multiple sects who follow their own beliefs, practices,…

1
Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing Up Autistic in the Digital Age 1:16:03

7M ago1:16:03

1:16:03

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Meryl Alper, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, about her recent book, Kids Across the Spectrums: Growing Up Autistic in the Digital Age (MIT Press, 2023). In addition to being a professor, Alper is also an educational researcher who has worked over the past 20 year…

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