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Two hosts dig into a week of wild gig-economy stories: a convicted murder tied to a scam, a federal Uber SA trial with explosive internal messages, delivery partnerships that shift the market, and autonomy failures that expose design gaps. We weigh real fixes, from portable background checks to camera standards, and call out bad driver behavior, cash-ride risks, and privacy myths.

• scam-driven shooting of an Uber Eats driver and how to prevent repeats
• Reddit culture vs empathy for new drivers facing scams
• home-made drinks for drivers and delivery safety norms
• the appeal of being a known regular and community ties
• Kiefer Sutherland arrest and driver safety liability
• Uber–Kroger on-demand groceries and Postmates’ persistence
• drones, Walmart pilots, and realistic tech timelines
• delivery robot destroyed by a train and Waymo’s gate logic
• grocery dump video, tipping debate, and quality control
• rideshare legislation in Israel and taxi industry pushback
• “hood Uber” cash rides, insurance gaps, and better alternatives
• ICE location claims, warrant requirements, and privacy facts

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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!

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Ep 285 News Links

We chase a slow January across rideshare, delivery, and shopping, then dig into AI hoaxes, rising energy costs from data centers, and where autonomy helps or harms. Laws, kiosks, drones, and tipping rules collide with real driver pay and trust.

• dry January reducing orders and routes
• multi‑app strategies to survive slow demand
• AI misinformation and fake whistleblower fallout
• data centers raising electricity costs and bills
• California refund mandate risks and abuse
• Spark broccoli mix‑up and shopper training
• Amazon Flex safe‑driving app and data privacy
• Uber airport kiosks for travelers without data
• Waymo track incident and robotaxi safety
• Zooks launches free rides on the Strip
• NYC lawsuit on tipping UI suppressing tips
• Walmart and Wing expanding drone delivery

Please fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!

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.

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We would love to hear your feedback!

Ep 284 News Links

We break down a wild start to 2026: rumors of a DoorDash “desperation score,” shifting incentives across Uber, Lyft, and Spark, and the thin line between algorithmic efficiency and exploitation. From a Waymo red-light fail to McDonald’s weighing bags, we push on safety, trust, and what drivers can actually control.

• Uber quest math vs Lyft drought on bonuses
• Spark incentives influencing supply on holidays
• Long-trip deadhead realities and hourly trade-offs
• DoorDash payout rumors and algorithmic steering
• Government scrutiny of pricing tests and AI ethics
• McDonald’s weighing deliveries to curb missing items
• Uber wrapped sparking budget wake-up calls
• Octopus tablet tying rewards to Uber Journey TV
• Pickup trucks powering hauling and delivery side gigs
• EV pullbacks and battery plants pivoting to data centers
• Waymo running a red and a trunk stowaway risk
• Delivery fraud by photo and string, trust erosion
• Zesty by DoorDash for AI restaurant discovery

Please fill out the survey for a chance for a 25.00 Gift Card!

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