Cordkillers 595: Station to Stationballs

In this episode of Cordkillers Only, hosts Tom Merritt and Brian Ibbott dive into a range of media and technology topics with their signature blend of humor, insight, and deep dives. They begin by celebrating YouTube's upcoming 'stations' feature, a new tool allowing creators to curate live streams from existing content—like past performances or archived shows—without needing to maintain constant oversight. The hosts envision this as a game-changer for fan communities, nostalgic content, and even live commentary during events like Coachella or the World Series of Poker. They also discuss the emotional weight of human spaceflight, particularly NASA’s Artemis II mission, which has become a daily ritual for Tom, who watches the live stream of the crew returning from lunar orbit. The episode touches on the cultural significance of the first woman seeing Earth whole, sparking a broader conversation about online discourse and the desire for authentic human connection in an AI-saturated world. Later, they explore Netflix’s new AI tool Void, which can remove objects from video scenes and simulate realistic physics, and reflect on the shifting dynamics between creatives and AI in Hollywood, especially after the Writers Guild of America’s recent deal. The show closes with reflections on the end of regional sports networks, the potential of AI in storytelling, and a passionate debate over whether AI training constitutes fair use or exploitative extraction.