Never Post’s Mike Rugnetta on the creative process and the value of reliable power
The Verge • • technology
Key Points:
- Mike Rugnetta is a multifaceted creative professional known for hosting podcasts like Never Post and Fun City, and for his work on PBS’s Idea Channel and Crash Course series.
- He emphasizes the importance of reliable tools in his work, particularly his long-trusted Sony MDR-7506 headphones and dependable power supply, noting ongoing challenges with unstable electricity in his studio.
- Rugnetta is critical of modern tech trends such as the removal of headphone jacks from smartphones, which he views as symbolic of societal decline, and prefers apps like Firefox Focus, Signal, and Bandcamp for daily use.
- He describes his creative process as a negotiation with the momentum of his work, advising that overcoming creative blocks often involves either embracing unexpected directions or seeking inspiration from others’ work.
- Rugnetta values investing in quality items that endure over time, enjoys immersive gaming experiences like Doom and Quake mods, and finds his online "happy place" in Bandcamp despite concerns about its labor practices.