Condensed Soup

Today, two examples of gamifying labor. The classic smartphone game Pokémon Go has been using player game data and labor to map the world. Plus, ReCAPTCHA provides security -- and your security logins are digitizing books and articles.

If you're still playing Pokémon Go, you're helping train data-gobbling GPS AI for Niantic Spatial (Fran Ruiz, Eurogamer, Mar 16, 2026)

How Pokémon Go is giving delivery robots an inch-perfect view of the world (Will Douglas Heaven, MIT Technology Review, Mar 10, 2026)

Web Security Words Help Digitize Old Books (Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, Aug 14, 2008)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

St. Patrick's Day is here! Don't forget to hydrate if you head to the pub.

World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade to return to Hot Springs (Kathryn Roley, THV 11, Mar 16, 2026)

How Corned Beef and Cabbage Became a Holiday Staple (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mar 15, 2013)

Learn All About the Origins of Corned Beef and Cabbage (Meaghan Glendon, Westchester Magazine, Mar 12, 2025)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

Grey hair may be inevitable for most of us. We're learning more about the way hair loses pigment -- and possibly how to reverse that.

Is it true that … if you pluck a grey hair, two will grow in its place? (Kate Lloyd, The Guardian, Mar 9, 2026)

A Study Says Gray Hair May Be Reversible (Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, Jan 30, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

Renouncing

State Department slashes fee to renounce US citizenship by 80% to $450 (Matthew Lee, AP, Mar 13, 2026)

Renounce or lose your citizenship (USA (dot) gov, accessed Mar 14, 2026)

Five things to know about statelessness (UNHCR staff, UNHCR USA, Aug 15, 2024)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my hotel room.

Need a tasty new job? Take a bite out of one of these. (And then make a video about it)

Hidden Valley hiring 'Ranch-bassadors' to try ranch on European foods (Amaris Encinas, USA Today, Mar 11, 2026)

Pizza Hut to pay 'Crust Connoisseur' to eat pizza. See how to apply. (Fernando Cervantes, Jr., USA Today, Mar 11, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in a hotel room.

Is there an upside to global warming? King penguins may have an idea.

King penguins are the rare species benefiting from a warming world. But that could change (Seth Borenstein, AP, Mar 11, 2026)

Global Temperature Report for 2025 (Robert Rohde, Berkeley Earth, Jan 14, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

New emojis are showing up on your smartphone. Anyone want to talk about cryptids or ballet dancers?

And Condensed Soup pals -- if we were to submit an emoji, what would it be?

8 new emojis are coming to Apple products with iOS 26.4. Take a look. (Greta Cross, USA Today, Mar 11, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

Five Guys is giving away burgers through the 12th -- it's both a celebration and an apology. Plus, Australia offers asylum to the Iranian women's soccer team.

Five Guys is redoing its BOGO burger offer. How to get the deal. (Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, Mar 10, 2026)

Five Guys BOGO Deal Is Back — and Today Is Your Last Day to Use It (Mo. Basuony, Filmogaz, Mar 10, 2026)

Five Guys Announces BOGO Redo After Being Unprepared for 'Overwhelming' Response: 'Didn't Meet Our Own Standards' (Erin Clements, People, Mar 10, 2026)

2 more members of the Iranian women's soccer team granted asylum in Australia (Charlotte Graham-McLay and John Pye, Mar 10, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

Work parties can be tough for people navigating sober lifestyles.... here's how to make sure the party includes everyone!

What to say if you're in recovery and your workplace encourages social drinking (Jaimie Ding, AP, Mar 4, 2026)

Gen Z is ghosting alcohol and changing what a 'night out' looks like (Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, Mar 6, 2026)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.

Boarding a flight? Make sure to pack your headphones!

United Airlines can now refuse to transport passengers who won't wear headphones (Jasmine Baehr, FOXBusiness, Mar 5, 2026)

9 Myths About Flight Attendants That Are 'Just Plain Insulting' (Caroline Bologna, Huff Post, Aug 19, 2025)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

[email protected]

*This episode was recorded in my bedroom.