Pull up a chair and take a look at what’s on the desk. Each episode of On the Desk of Brian delivers quick takes and thoughtful commentary on a rotating mix of tech, sports, productivity, entertainment, and economics. With a casual, curious tone and a dash of wit, Brian shares ideas and insights meant to inform, inspire, and occasionally entertain. Whether you’re an educator, a tech enthusiast, a gamer, a sports fan—or just someone who enjoys a smart variety show—you’ll find something worth picking up.
On the Desk of Brian
Claim This Podcastby Brian
5.0(1 reviews)
31 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
27
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality53
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
Podcast Overview
Pull up a chair and take a look at what’s on the desk. Each episode of On the Desk of Brian delivers quick takes and thoughtful commentary on a rotating mix of tech, sports, productivity, entertainment, and economics. With a casual, curious tone and a dash of wit, Brian shares ideas and insights meant to inform, inspire, and occasionally entertain. Whether you’re an educator, a tech enthusiast, a gamer, a sports fan—or just someone who enjoys a smart variety show—you’ll find something worth picking up.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/26/2025
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
27
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality53
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement0
6
Excellent Areas
2
Good Performance
11
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
19 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
Publishing Consistency
Every 11 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Episode Thumbnails
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for On the Desk of Brian
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 9, 2026
Episode 031:Malware, Matches, and Missing Discs
<p>🎙️<strong>Episode 031:Malware, Matches, and Missing Discs</strong></p><p><br></p><p>🌍 <strong>World Cup Economics</strong> — Vancouver may lose big hosting matches: $685-729M in costs vs. only $250M projected in tax revenue, per Pique Newsmagazine.</p><p>⏳ <strong>The Power of Waiting</strong> — Fast Company piece argues patience, not constant action, is an underrated leadership trait (see: JFK, Cuban Missile Crisis).</p><p>🚨 <strong>World Cup Piracy Bust</strong> — DOJ seized ~500 illegal streaming domains, per Reuters, which were also exposing users to malware.</p><p>📡 <strong>Starlink Goes Mobile</strong> — Motley Fool reports SpaceX may launch retail mobile service, riding Starlink's ~50% revenue growth.</p><p>📺 <strong>Silo Season 3 Shakeup</strong> — 9to5Mac breaks down big changes, including a blended timeline pulling from two different books.</p><p>🏢 <strong>Comcast Splits Off NBCUniversal</strong> — Engadget: Comcast spinning off NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Sky, keeping Xfinity.</p><p>🎬 <strong>Sony Deletes 551 Movies</strong> — Nerdist: PlayStation libraries lose 551 films (including Terminator 2) on Sept. 1, no refunds.</p><p>💿 <strong>End of PlayStation Discs</strong> — Physical PS game production ends January 2028; brands like Domino's and KFC mocked the news online.</p><p>🏀 <strong>Suns Offseason Moves</strong> — Arizona Sports recaps: traded for Miles Bridges, signed Kennard, drafted Koa Peat.</p><p>⚾ <strong>MLB All-Star Week Preview</strong> — Philadelphia hosts July 10-14, featuring the Futures Game, Home Run Derby, and All-Star Game.</p><p>🏈 <strong>Sorsby Banned from CFL</strong> — ESPN: CFL won't register Sorsby amid gambling scandal, closing his last pro pathway.</p><p>🎓 <strong>ASU Heads to London</strong> — Arizona Sports covers Sparky's London tour ahead of ASU's Sept. 19 game and new London campus.</p><p><br></p><p>----------------------------</p><p><strong>Sources:</strong></p><p>Economics</p><p><a href="https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-news/opinion-the-baffling-economics-of-hosting-the-world-cup-12469937">https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-news/opinion-the-baffling-economics-of-hosting-the-world-cup-12469937</a></p><p><br></p><p>Productivity</p><p><a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/91563632/the-leadership-skill-no-one-teaches">https://www.fastcompany.com/91563632/the-leadership-skill-no-one-teaches</a></p><p><br></p><p>Technology</p><p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-seizes-nearly-400-websites-that-were-illegally-streaming-world-cup-doj-says-2026-06-26/">https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-seizes-nearly-400-websites-that-were-illegally-streaming-world-cup-doj-says-2026-06-26/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/06/26/spacex-might-soon-launch-a-starlink-mobile-internet-service-competing-directly-with-att-and-verizon/">https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/06/26/spacex-might-soon-launch-a-starlink-mobile-internet-service-competing-directly-with-att-and-verizon/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Entertainment </p><p><a href="https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/24/silo-returns-next-week-with-three-major-changes-for-season-3/">https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/24/silo-returns-next-week-with-three-major-changes-for-season-3/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.engadget.com/2203860/comcast-spins-off-nbcuniversal-as-it-exits-media-entirely/">https://www.engadget.com/2203860/comcast-spins-off-nbcuniversal-as-it-exits-media-entirely/</a></p><p><a href="https://nerdist.com/article/playstation-deleting-551-movies-from-customers-libraries/">https://nerdist.com/article/playstation-deleting-551-movies-from-customers-libraries/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/legal/psvideocontent/">https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/legal/psvideocontent/</a></p><p><a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/">https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.deseret.com/business/2026/07/02/companies-troll-playstation-for-stopping-production-of-physical-discs/">https://www.deseret.com/business/2026/07/02/companies-troll-playstation-for-stopping-production-of-physical-discs/</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Sports</p><p><a href="https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/2026-phoenix-suns-offseason-how-moves-viewed-so-far">https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/2026-phoenix-suns-offseason-how-moves-viewed-so-far</a></p><p><a href="https://www.mlb.com/phillies/fans/all-star-game">https://www.mlb.com/phillies/fans/all-star-game</a></p><p><a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49188893/cfl-says-brendan-sorsby-allowed-join-league">https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49188893/cfl-says-brendan-sorsby-allowed-join-league</a></p><p><a href="https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state/arizona-state-football/sparky-trip-asu-london-union-jack-classic">https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state/arizona-state-football/sparky-trip-asu-london-union-jack-classic</a> </p><p><br></p><p>----------------------------</p><p>You & I both get a free month of Setapp with a paid subscription:<strong> </strong><a href="https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun%E2%81%A0"><u>https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes. If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.</p><p><br></p><p>Macstock 9’s Digital Pass is now available! <a href="https://macstockconferenceandexpo.com/product/macstock-ix-digital-pass/">https://macstockconferenceandexpo.com/product/macstock-ix-digital-pass/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Please visit my website, <a href="http://brian8944.com">brian8944.com</a> so you can keep up with all my ongoing and upcoming projects. You can also contact me there with any feedback you may have.</p>
June 25, 2026
Episode 030: Coal Is Out, Knicks Are In
<p>🎙️<strong>Episode 030:</strong>Coal Is Out, Knicks Are In</p><p><br></p><p>💡<strong> Economics</strong></p><ul><li>🌞 Solar surpassed coal in U.S. electricity generation for the first time ever in May (12.8% vs. 12.2%), making it the third-largest energy source nationally and the fastest-growing, with 7.8 gigawatts added in Q1 2026 alone.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>⚡<strong> Productivity</strong></p><ul><li>📋 AI can help manage overwhelming to-do lists through five prompts: Triage, Eisenhower Matrix, Energy Budget, Ruthless Elimination, and 15-Minute Momentum — each designed to help prioritize, sort, and finally tackle avoided tasks.</li><li>📶 Boost hotspot speeds by switching to the 5GHz band and selecting <strong>5G Auto</strong> on your iPhone for faster data without sacrificing connectivity.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>📱<strong> Technology</strong></p><ul><li>🍎 AT&T launched an <strong>Unlimited iPad Day Pass</strong> — $3 for 24 hours of data, first day free, no existing account needed. Requires a cellular, eSIM-capable iPad.</li><li>🚗 <strong>iOS 27</strong> brings CarPlay upgrades including parked video playback, audio scrubbing, a Dashboard mini-player, and Siri AI conversation history for iPhone 15 Pro and newer.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🎬<strong> Entertainment</strong></p><ul><li>📺 <strong>Fox is buying Roku for $22 billion</strong>, combining Roku's 100M streaming households and connected TV platform with Fox's sports, news, and Tubi. Deal closes first half of 2027; Roku stays open for streaming partners.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🏀<strong> Basketball/Suns</strong></p><ul><li>🏆 The <strong>New York Knicks</strong> are NBA Champions, defeating the Spurs 4-1. No repeat champion since 2019 — will the Knicks buck that trend next season?</li></ul><p><br></p><p>⚾<strong> Baseball/D-backs</strong></p><ul><li>💰 Pirates ace <strong>Paul Skenes</strong> slammed the MLB owners' CBA proposal as "very, very bad," with the Players Association estimating it could cost players $500M. The current deal expires December 1, 2026, and players say they're willing to let games be cancelled.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🏈<strong> Football/Packers</strong></p><ul><li>💚 Minicamp standouts included <strong>Lukas Van Ness</strong>, <strong>MarShawn Lloyd</strong>, <strong>Josh Whyle</strong>, and <strong>Isaiah Neyor</strong> — with pass rush depth especially critical given Micah Parsons' expected early-season absence.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>🎓<strong> College/ASU</strong></p><ul><li>🏈 Texas Tech QB <strong>Brendon Sorsby </strong>has decided to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft after being at the center of a major eligibility controversy regarding gambling.</li><li>🏀 ASU basketball's <strong>Randy Bennett</strong> has nearly completed a roster overhaul featuring three 7-footers, eight international players, and a shift to a slower half-court style — with 10 of 14 players having eligibility remaining.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>----------------------------</p><p><strong>Sources:</strong></p><p>Economics</p><p><a href="https://sherwood.news/world/solar-generated-more-power-than-coal-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-ever/">https://sherwood.news/world/solar-generated-more-power-than-coal-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-ever/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Productivity</p><p><a href="https://www.earthsattractions.com/what-to-do-when-your-to-do-list-is-too-long/">https://www.earthsattractions.com/what-to-do-when-your-to-do-list-is-too-long/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.makeuseof.com/i-stopped-setting-up-my-hotspot-the-default-way-and-got-noticeably-faster-speeds/">https://www.makeuseof.com/i-stopped-setting-up-my-hotspot-the-default-way-and-got-noticeably-faster-speeds/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Technology</p><p><a href="https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/10/att-launches-new-3-unlimited-day-pass-plan-for-ipad-cellular/">https://9to5mac.com/2026/06/10/att-launches-new-3-unlimited-day-pass-plan-for-ipad-cellular/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/everything-new-coming-to-carplay-with-ios-27/">https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/everything-new-coming-to-carplay-with-ios-27/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Entertainment </p><p><a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/fox-acquiring-roku-1236781308/">https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/fox-acquiring-roku-1236781308/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Sports</p><p><a href="https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-champions">https://www.nba.com/news/history-nba-champions</a></p><p><a href="https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-there-s-line-going-cross-pirates-ace-paul-skenes-makes-feelings-crystal-clear-mlb-s-first-cba-proposal">https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-there-s-line-going-cross-pirates-ace-paul-skenes-makes-feelings-crystal-clear-mlb-s-first-cba-proposal</a></p><p><a href="https://thepackerspost.com/these-packers-players-have-stood-out-at-mandatory-minicamp/">https://thepackerspost.com/these-packers-players-have-stood-out-at-mandatory-minicamp/</a> </p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2026/06/15/big-12-filing-texas-tech-brendan-sorsby-punishment/90556918007/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2026/06/15/big-12-filing-texas-tech-brendan-sorsby-punishment/90556918007/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2026/06/09/asu-basketball-roster-news-updates/90463487007/">https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2026/06/09/asu-basketball-roster-news-updates/90463487007/</a></p><p>----------------------------</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>You & I both get a free month of Setapp with a paid subscription:<strong> </strong><a href="https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun%E2%81%A0"><u>https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes. If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.</p><p><br></p><p>Please visit my website, <a href="http://brian8944.com">brian8944.com</a> so you can keep up with all my ongoing and upcoming projects. You can also contact me there with any feedback you may have.</p>
June 11, 2026
Episode 029: Subject to Change
<p>🎙️<strong>Episode 029: Subject to Change</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Economics</strong></p><ul><li>💼 Most Americans retire earlier than planned, often due to health issues, layoffs, or caregiving responsibilities</li><li>📅 Workers expect to retire at 65, but many end up retiring closer to 62</li><li>🗂️ Experts recommend having a backup retirement plan in case life intervenes</li></ul><p><strong>Productivity</strong></p><ul><li>🏆 Simon Sinek believes failure is a common thread among the world's most successful people</li><li>📉 Research from Northwestern University suggests failure can increase future success when lessons are learned from it</li><li>🍎 Steve Jobs being ousted from Apple in 1985 before his legendary return is cited as a prime example</li></ul><p><strong>Technology</strong></p><ul><li>👓 Smart glasses like Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley models are becoming harder to spot in public</li><li>💡 Look for small lenses near the hinges and recording indicator lights to identify camera-equipped glasses</li><li>🕵️ Some hidden-camera glasses use tiny pinhole lenses, making them even more difficult to detect</li></ul><p><strong>Entertainment</strong></p><ul><li>🕷️ Spider-Noir starring Nicolas Cage released early on MGM+, then on Prime Video, and features both color and black-and-white versions</li><li>🍎 Apple TV+ has maintained a quality-over-quantity approach over its 6+ years, resisting ads and focusing on creator-driven projects</li><li>🚀 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 debuts July 23rd on Paramount+, with a focus on supporting characters as the series winds down</li></ul><p><strong>Sports</strong></p><ul><li>🏀 The NBA overhauled its Draft Lottery system starting in 2027, rewarding competitive play and discouraging tanking</li><li>⚾ MLB is anticipated to expand from 30 to 32 teams around 2032-2033, with Nashville and Salt Lake City as frontrunners</li><li>🏈 An NFL stadium ranking highlights the Commanders, Bears, and Browns as needing upgrades, while Lambeau Field and others are considered untouchable</li></ul><p><br></p><p>----------------------------</p><p><strong>Sources:</strong></p><p>Economics</p><p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2026/05/25/early-retirement-job-loss-health-layoffs/90218745007/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2026/05/25/early-retirement-job-loss-health-layoffs/90218745007/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Productivity</p><p><a href="https://fortune.com/article/simon-sinek-successful-people-failure-hit-zero/">https://fortune.com/article/simon-sinek-successful-people-failure-hit-zero/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Technology</p><p><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/are-you-being-secretly-recorded-heres-how-to-spot-smart-camera-glasses">https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/are-you-being-secretly-recorded-heres-how-to-spot-smart-camera-glasses</a></p><p><br></p><p>Entertainment </p><p><a href="https://movieweb.com/spider-noir-mgm-plus-early-release-prime-video-schedule/">https://movieweb.com/spider-noir-mgm-plus-early-release-prime-video-schedule/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.macworld.com/article/3142153/how-apple-tv-changed-streaming-forever.html">https://www.macworld.com/article/3142153/how-apple-tv-changed-streaming-forever.html</a></p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-season-4-feature-more-varied-stories">https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-season-4-feature-more-varied-stories</a></p><p><br></p><p>Sports</p><p><a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48903380/sources-nba-bog-votes-expand-lottery-disincentivizes-tanking">https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48903380/sources-nba-bog-votes-expand-lottery-disincentivizes-tanking</a></p><p><a href="https://www.thebiglead.com/possible-mlb-expansion-has-2-cities-as-heavy-favorites/">https://www.thebiglead.com/possible-mlb-expansion-has-2-cities-as-heavy-favorites/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/5-nfl-teams-that-desperately-need-a-new-stadium-and-5-whose-stadiums-are-untouchable/">https://www.totalprosports.com/nfl/5-nfl-teams-that-desperately-need-a-new-stadium-and-5-whose-stadiums-are-untouchable/</a></p><p>----------------------------</p><p><br></p><p>Interested in subscribing to Setapp? If so, you & I both get a free month of Setapp with a paid subscription at this link: <a href="https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun%E2%81%A0"><u>https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes. If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.</p><p><br></p><p>Macstock 9’s Digital Pass is now available! <a href="https://macstockconferenceandexpo.com/product/macstock-ix-digital-pass/">https://macstockconferenceandexpo.com/product/macstock-ix-digital-pass/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Please visit my website, <a href="http://brian8944.com">brian8944.com</a> so you can keep up with all my ongoing and upcoming projects. You can also contact me there with any feedback you may have.</p>
31 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for On the Desk of Brian
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is On the Desk of Brian?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.