The Verge Launches New Consumer Technology Podcast, Version History

The Verge and Vox Media announced the launch of Version History, a new podcast hosted by editor-at-large David Pierce. The video-first series will revisit defining products from consumer tech’s past – the gadgets, apps, websites, and cultural touchpoints that shaped the world we live in today – and explore what they meant then, what they mean now, and what we can learn from how it all went down. Premiering on October 5th, new episodes will be available weekly on Sundays across audio and video platforms, including Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

“We’re hoping to make a different kind of tech show,” says Pierce. “We’re going to try and tell the inside stories of the best, worst, strangest, and most important products ever, but also to understand how the products we use have changed us — and how we changed them. The whole tech world is always talking about the future, but there’s a lot to learn from what went right, and what went wrong, in the past. Also, old gadgets are awesome, and this gave us a reason to buy a lot of them on eBay.”

Pierce is The Verge’s editor-at-large and the co-host of The Vergecast, the publication’s flagship podcast. At The Verge, Pierce covers everything from the inner workings of tech power player deals to the buzziest product releases. He’s the author of The Verge’s newsletter, Installer, which offers a weekly digest of recommendations of what to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore. Pierce re-joined The Verge in 2022 after stints at the Wall Street Journal, Wired, and Protocol.

“Podcasts are a large and growing part of The Verge’s business, and I’m excited to add Version History to our slate of hit shows alongside The Vergecast and Decoder,” says Verge Publisher Helen Havlak. “We’re launching Version History as a video-first show to attract audiences across platforms, and to strengthen that audience’s relationship with our talent and our brand.”

Version History joins a roster of shows at The Verge that includes the interview show, Decoder, hosted by editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, and The Vergecast. The launch marks the latest milestone in The Verge’s continued investment in podcasts – the team recently brought on Ms. Rachel and BuzzFeed alum Kevin McShane as its new editorial director for podcasts. It also expanded Decoder to video, with full-length episodes publishing on YouTube.

Version History will also be part of the Vox Media Podcast Network, which is one of largest U.S. podcast publishers (it currently ranks as #7 on Podtrac), and home to a slate of top-tier tech shows, including Pivot (hosted by journalist Kara Swisher and entrepreneur Scott Galloway), Channels (hosted by journalist Peter Kafka), Solutions (hosted by Business Insider co-founder Henry Blodget), ACCESS (hosted by journalist Alex Heath and brand strategist Ellis Hamburger) and more.

Subscribe to Version History on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. The trailer is out today and available here.

About The Verge:

The Verge is an ambitious multimedia effort founded in 2011 to examine how technology will change life in the future for a massive mainstream audience. Our original editorial insight was that technology had migrated from the far fringes of the culture to the absolute center as mobile technology created a new generation of digital consumers. The Verge tells the full story of technology and how it’s shaping the future. We cover the news, we tell you why it matters, and we review the products to find out if they’re any good — without any advertisers standing in the way of what we want to say.

About the Vox Media Podcast Network:

The Vox Media Podcast Network is one of the largest U.S. podcast publishers, home to some of the most popular and influential shows. Reaching a monthly audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms, our podcasts spark conversations and shape culture, covering everything from politics, technology, and business to sports, entertainment, and more. The Vox Media Podcast Network is powered by Vox Media, the leader in modern media, and home to a prestigious portfolio of editorial brands including New York Magazine, Vox, The Verge, Eater, SB Nation, and more. Learn more about the network at podcasts.voxmedia.com.