The GIG Economy Podcast

The Gig Economy Podcast
  • 4.5 (58)
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  • Updated Weekly

Talks about our Gig Economy adventures and breaking down the Gig Economy News

  1. 3d ago

    Who Really Controls The Ride: Drivers, Riders, Or The Algorithm?

    We would love to hear your feedback! We trade real stories from the road and break down how small app details can make or break your night, from reservation pressure to what CarPlay leaves out. Then we move through the week’s biggest gig economy headlines, including new rideshare safety rules, tip trust problems, and why grocery delivery keeps shifting across platforms.  • night driving challenges and why visibility matters  • Uber reservation screens and where to find the pickup time  • CarPlay versus phone info and mileage confusion  • getting the same passenger twice, and how re-pairing can happen  • remembering riders through ADHD pattern memory  • Colorado’s new Uber and Lyft safety law, plus concerns about training  • Uber Lost and Found report and what people actually leave behind  • DoorDash hiring for real-time X posting and “terminally online” brand voice  • a DoorDash customer note about not tipping and the ethics around it  • customers asking if drivers really get the tip and what to say back  • DoorDash personal shopper pilot and the $25 per-order bonus  • Instacart markup pricing and stores fighting back  • Uber quests math and when bonuses are worth chasing  • Waymo videos that show autonomous driving mistakes  • rider messages that cross the line and why a dash cam helps   Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    1h 2m

  2. Jun 1

    Gig Work’s Biggest Perk Is Becoming Its Biggest Problem | Ep 303

    We would love to hear your feedback! We bounce from a major union milestone for rideshare drivers to the everyday grind of app glitches, background checks, and pay that keeps sliding. We also dig into delivery fees that turn small orders into big bills, Gen Z jumping into gig work, and what self-driving cars and safety stories mean for the road ahead.  • Massachusetts rideshare drivers forming the first US rideshare union and what negotiations could change  • Why higher driver pay has to show up somewhere in fares, incentives, or profits  • The real driver fear behind sudden deactivations and the need for an appeal process  • A seatbelt beeping story that turns into a talk on rider safety and basic etiquette  • Lyft background checks and why drivers get blocked at the worst times  • Grubhub reactivation loops and the support black box problem  • The fee stack that makes delivery feel like a scam to customers  • Why stacked orders can hurt food quality and long-term demand  • Gen Z growth in gig work and what more drivers means for pay  • Lyft aiming at corporate travel and bundling perks  • Waymo clips, self-driving partnerships, and what “asset light” really means  • A tragic DoorDash follow-up and what it says about driver conduct and consequences  Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    55 min

  3. May 25

    Uber's $10 Billion Robotaxi Bet | Are Human Drivers Running Out Of Road? | Ep 302

    We would love to hear your feedback! We trade real road stories from St Louis and Grand Rapids, then zoom out to the bigger shift as Uber pours $10 billion into robotaxis while Waymo keeps scaling on its own. Along the way, we dig into gig worker basics like bathroom access, easy side income disappearing, and how AI is already being used to scam riders with fake damage claims. • Using Lyft promos and credits to cut ride costs • Driving around major events when road closures break geofences and GPS • What Uber’s autonomous vehicle fleet plan signals for rideshare drivers • Why Waymo’s growth challenges Uber’s role in robotaxi rides • DoorDash delivery robots getting stuck and what that says about last-mile reality • Dovetail.ai shutting down and why gig workers will miss that easy money • Drift subscription air fresheners and why a “natural” scent matters in rideshare • Restaurants banning restroom use for Dashers and the ripple effect on pickups • AI-generated cleaning fee photos and why bank alerts save riders • Follow-up on a DoorDash driver shooting and the 17-year sentence • Empty Waymos clogging a neighborhood cul-de-sac and why residents are furious • Why so many drivers cancel IHOP orders and how restaurants can fix it. Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    1h 2m

  4. May 18

    Uber And DoorDash Built A Business Around Subscription Addiction | Ep 301

    We would love to hear your feedback! We track how gig platforms chase predictable revenue through subscriptions and premium customers while drivers still eat the chaos of gas prices, bad estimates, and the algorithm. We also swap stories that sound funny at first, then land on the same point: trust and safety break fast when platforms and people cut corners.  • Uber One, DashPass, and Instacart subscriptions are driving earnings despite inflation  • Why “big spenders” matter more to the platforms than price-sensitive users  • A balloon delivery fail that turns into a real lesson on wind, photos, and communication  • A hostile “private drive” sign and what drivers should do when access looks risky  • Amazon’s 30-minute delivery rollout, fees, and whether it can undercut food delivery apps  • A Walmart Spark shoplifting case and how fast greed leads to getting caught  • Spark mileage estimates not matching reality and why screenshots matter  • Waymo rider puke, how to protect your car’s paint, and why speed matters  • DoorDash Reservations and how credits keep customers inside the ecosystem  • Drift air freshener subscription and why riders notice the car smell  • Waymo flood recall and why water is hard for humans and robots  • Uber’s rental car delivery idea and the hidden costs of getting back home  • DoorDash account sharing, fake profiles, and why reporting protects everyone  • A Lyft pickup confrontation and the simplest rule for avoiding escalation  Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    58 min

  5. May 11

    Uber Wants AI To Run The Ride While Drivers Take The Risk | Ep 300

    We would love to hear your feedback! Uber’s newest AI features promise easier booking and more add-ons, but we keep asking how it changes driver pay, rider behaviour, and accountability when things go wrong. We also compare side hustles like BabyQuip and laundry apps by running the numbers and calling out the hidden costs that don’t show up in the ads.  • weekend rideshare stories, drunk passengers, hourly targets and what “good money” looks like  • BabyQuip explained, startup fee, store setup, delivery fees as the real profit centre  • Jesper’s update, family, travel, work-from-home programming and internet marketing  • Uber voice booking, speed and accuracy, accessibility upside, new ways riders add stops  • coffee and snacks for Uber Black, what it could mean for UberX and eating in cars  • Uber and Expedia hotel booking, discount claims, why direct booking can be safer  • Hertz and Uber partnerships, fleets, Lucid and autonomous robotaxi plans  • delivery slip-and-fall video, why you always report injuries and protect yourself  • Poplin laundry earnings claims, cost of utilities and supplies, workload reality, pricing limits  Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    1h 2m

  6. May 4

    When Algorithms Decide What You’re Worth | Ep 299

    We would love to hear your feedback! We trade real driver stories from busy nights on the road, then dig into how policy, algorithms, and safety risks shape what gig workers actually earn. We debate Seattle’s pay law, Uber’s upfront pricing backlash in Hawaii, and what it means when platforms push narratives that don’t match driver experience. • Road stories that show the weird and human side of rideshare • Seattle minimum pay study results for app-based delivery workers • Platform pushback from Uber and DoorDash and what it signals • Amazon delivery video that highlights delivery safety risks • A DoorDash customer note that turns food theft into comedy • Cybertruck high-mileage economics and a $7,200 repair surprise • Lawsuit over a DoorDash crash and the contractor vs employee fight • DoorDash tip messages and why “trying too hard” can backfire • Hawaii drivers claiming Uber AI and upfront pricing reduce pay clarity • Practical math for evaluating rides by time and distance • Drift air freshener talk and why riders notice car scent • Uber’s EV charging partnerships and skepticism about follow-through • Passenger front-seat etiquette and what makes drivers uneasy • Nashville attempted carjacking story and self-protection realities • Colorado rideshare safety bill and what new requirements could change Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    57 min

  7. Apr 27

    Uber Eats Wants Your Returns And Drivers Want Answers | Ep 298

    We would love to hear your feedback! We bounce through the latest gig economy news and call out how apps keep expanding into “everything” while drivers are left to do the math on pay, fees, and risk. We also hit the real-world safety side of delivery work and the weird tech trends showing up in cars and autonomous driving.  • Uber Eats is launching retail item returns, and how the fees might work  • How platform ecosystems keep people spending inside one app  • A hit and run video and practical reminders for delivery driver safety  • The in-car toilet patent and what it says about life on the road  • Uber’s commercial permits and insurance pitch plus the fine print  • Stablecoins explained and why crypto payouts feel sketchy  • Uber liability in North Carolina under common carrier law  • DoorDash drivers’ most hated restaurant pickups and why wait time kills earnings  • Waymo confusion at a flashing red light and what it signals for AV rollout  • Lyft’s 30% monthly fee cap and the bigger transparency problem  • Walmart Spark batching grocery and dot com orders in one trip  Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    1h 1m

  8. Apr 20

    From EV Incentives To Melted Ice Cream… Gig Work Gets Messy | Ep 297

    We would love to hear your feedback! That moment when you order ice cream at 9:15 and it shows up at 11:10 tells you almost everything about modern delivery. We kick things off with stories from the road that remind you how weird rideshare can get, then we unpack what happens when apps stack doubles and triples and the customer pays the price while the driver takes the blame. From there we get practical about electric vehicles for gig work. Uber’s EV grant is expanding nationwide, and we talk real numbers on fuel savings, the hidden cost of fast charging, and the “range anxiety” that changes which trips you accept. We also get into EV rentals, why Level 2 home charging is the real game changer, and how weather and highway speed can wreck the best laid battery plan. Then it is back to platform experiments and the future of work: Uber’s old Cargo vending setup getting paused, the rise of car wrap and rooftop ad schemes, DoorDash testing reusable delivery containers in California, and Uber’s investment in Lucid as it pushes toward a robotaxi future. We even hit the absurd side of gig life, from tiny Walmart Spark incentives to viral tip “hacks” and a dash cam debate about handling inappropriate rider comments with professionalism. If you like smart gig economy talk with zero sugarcoating, subscribe, share the show with a driver friend, and leave a quick review. What is the biggest change you want Uber or DoorDash to make this year? Support the show Everything Gig Economy Podcast Related:  Download the audio podcast Newsletter Octopus is a mobile entertainment tablet for your riders. Earn 100.00 per month for having the tablet in your car! No cost for the driver! Want to earn more and stay safe? Download Maxymo   Love the show? You now have the opportunity to support the show with some great rewards by becoming a Patron. Tier #2 we offer free merch, an Extra in-depth podcast per month, and an NSFW pre-show https://www.patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast The Gig Economy Podcast Group. Download Telegram 1st, then click on the link to join.  TikTok Subscribe on Youtube

    1h 6m
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4.5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

Talks about our Gig Economy adventures and breaking down the Gig Economy News

Information

  • Creator
    The Gig Economy Podcast
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    358
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The GIG Economy Podcast
  • Show Website
    The GIG Economy Podcast

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