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EP 266 News Links

Ever wondered what happens when a gig worker has to jump a fence during an Amazon delivery? Or how Nashville became home to some of the highest airport rideshare fees in America? The Gig Economy Podcast dives deep into these stories and more as we explore the increasingly chaotic landscape facing today's drivers.

When Nashville International Airport implemented a combined $12 round-trip surcharge for rideshare vehicles while simultaneously forcing drivers to use confusing parking garage drop-offs instead of terminal curbsides, it highlighted the growing tension between traditional services and the gig economy. Meanwhile, autonomous vehicles continue their march into mainstream transportation, with Tesla expanding its robo-taxi service from Austin to California's Bay Area—though their boast of 7,000 miles without incidents drew chuckles from hosts who regularly exceed that distance in mere months of driving.

The darker side of the gig economy emerges in shocking incidents captured on video: a rideshare driver with a fake license physically assaulting a CEO over his service dog, a DoorDash driver confronted by a nude customer, and a pedestrian violently attacking a Waymo autonomous vehicle. These stories illuminate the very real safety concerns facing both human and robotic participants in today's transportation ecosystem.

From Uber's surprising partnership with Turo allowing in-app car rentals to Walmart Spark's changing delivery structure, we examine how companies continue shifting their business models—often at drivers' expense. We also provide practical insight on how canceling rides affects passenger ratings (it doesn't!) and share our experiences with app algorithms and promotional opportunities that vary wildly between markets.

Whether you're a full-time gig worker, occasional driver, or just fascinated by this rapidly evolving industry, our no-nonsense conversation provides both entertainment and essential information to navigate today's complex gig economy landscape. Subscribe now and join our Telegram group to connect with fellow gig workers nationwide!

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The gig economy landscape is rapidly transforming with technological advancements and policy changes affecting both drivers and customers alike.

Ep 265 News Links

• Waymo autonomous vehicles are gaining popularity in Atlanta, where riders cancel multiple human drivers to secure a driverless experience
• Amazon is eliminating backdoor and side door deliveries by August 2025 to enhance driver safety
• $175 million settlement for rideshare drivers in Massachusetts, guaranteeing $33.48/hour minimum pay for active driving time
• Tesla is offering $33/hour positions for robo-taxi safety coordinators as they expand autonomous vehicle testing
• Amazon is launching its "most significant grocery expansion ever" with same-day fresh food delivery to over 1,000 cities
• Drone delivery is facing economic challenges at $1,350 per delivery compared to $2 for traditional vehicle delivery
• DoorDash is partnering with Ace Pickleball Club as their official delivery platform and championship sponsor

Join us on Patreon for bonus content and become part of our Telegram community, where you can connect with fellow gig workers nationwide.

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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

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The gig economy landscape continues to evolve with DoorDash reaching a $100 billion valuation and expanding globally through strategic acquisitions.

• DoorDash overcharged a California bakery by applying a 30% commission instead of the contracted 13% for eight years, resulting in over $100,000 in excess charges
• Disturbing videos show children as young as 10 delivering packages for Amazon Flex and DoorDash drivers, raising serious safety concerns
• DoorDash is testing drone delivery programs, hiring workers at $18/hour to transport food from restaurants to drone loading stations
• Walmart Spark is implementing geo-fencing to prevent drivers from camping out in store parking lots, with no offers sent to drivers within 150 feet of pickup areas
• A rapper stranded with car trouble was driven 10 hours to his show by an Uber driver after their vehicle hit an object on the highway, puncturing the gas tank
• Waymo autonomous vehicles continue to experience issues, with a recent video showing one making an illegal left turn at a right-turn-only intersection

Join our Patreon at patreon.com/thegigeconpodcast for ad-free episodes and exclusive content. Connect with other gig workers in our Telegram group to share experiences and tips from the road.

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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!

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

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We dive into the alarming story of a DoorDash driver whose car was vandalized by a customer who tracked her to her home address. The incident raises serious questions about driver safety and privacy in the gig economy.

• Discussing best practices for DoorDash drivers when marking arrivals at restaurants and waiting for orders
• Analyzing a viral news story about a driver whose windshield was smashed by an angry customer
• Examining discrepancies in the news reporting and questioning how the customer obtained the driver's address
• Sharing frustrations about content monetization on TikTok when covering news stories
• Exploring the challenges of platform-specific rules for content creators
• Addressing safety concerns for online creators, especially women
• Discussing strategies for maintaining privacy while building an audience
• Highlighting the importance of boundaries in parasocial relationships with followers

If you enjoyed this episode, follow us for more content about the gig economy and subscribe to get updates about future episodes of The GIG Economy Podcast.

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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!

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

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The gig economy continues to evolve with new features, challenges, and opportunities for drivers navigating rideshare and delivery platforms. We discuss market-specific strategies and ways to adapt when conditions change.

NEWS LINKS EP 263

• Lyft introduces "favorite driver" feature, but only for scheduled rides, limiting its usefulness for most drivers
• DoorDash driver experiment: accepting every order for 12 hours yields $215 for 221 miles
• WAG pet service files for bankruptcy after being valued at $650 million
• Two Waymo autonomous vehicles crash into each other at Phoenix airport
• Driver shares $505 "unicorn" ride for approximately 100-mile trip
• Former nursing home employee charged with stealing $2,688 from patient through Uber Eats
• Octopus tablets offer a passive income opportunity for rideshare drivers
• Importance of pivoting between different gig apps as market conditions change
• Every market is different - what works for one driver may not work for another

Support the show

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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!

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

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In this episode of The Shift Hustle Show, we dive headfirst into Uber's confusing "Advantage" and "Exclusive" modes—what they actually mean (or don’t), and whether they’re worth chasing. Spoiler: cherry pickers, you might already be winning.

Plus, we explore Sniffspot, the “Airbnb for dogs,” where you can turn your backyard into a money-making dog park. Is it a genius side hustle or a recipe for poop-filled chaos?

Also featuring shout-outs to Bubba Sue, Traveler, thoughts on the grind of solo content creation, fruit flies, and why gig apps just love to keep us guessing.

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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!

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

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We explore Lyft's new favorite driver feature and discuss how it only works for scheduled rides, limiting its usefulness for many drivers.

Ep 262 News Links

• Lyft's new favorite driver feature only works for scheduled rides
• Amazon Flex provides varied experiences, with some blocks containing very few packages
• Returning to rideshare work feels good, but pricing issues remain frustrating
• Lyft and Uber are known to lower prices when drivers attempt to accept rides
• A food delivery driver was caught on camera taking bites from a customer's order
• Spark is introducing photo verification to prevent account sharing or selling
• Amazon is changing Fresh blocks to include both tip and non-tip eligible orders
• Restaurant owners struggle with high delivery app fees, driving some to create their own apps
• Waymo autonomous vehicles still have glitches, including driving on the wrong side of the road

Check out the Octopus tablet for your rideshare vehicle - it's completely free and offers a way to earn extra money while driving.

Support the show

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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!

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

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We explore various gig work options to combat the summer slowdown, focusing on Skip Cart, Amazon Flex, DoorDash shopping, and the emergence of portable benefits legislation across multiple states.

• Skip Cart is a last-mile delivery service handling food, groceries, retail, pharmaceuticals, and electronics
• Skip Cart integrates with Shopify and frequently features 7-Eleven deliveries in many markets
• Amazon Flex can pay $28/hour with 4.5-hour blocks, often completed in 3 hours
• Using the FlexAlert app helps secure Amazon Flex blocks through auto-refreshing
• Organizing packages effectively in your vehicle is crucial for efficient Amazon Flex deliveries
• DoorDash shopping doesn't require Platinum status, but has separate Pro Shopper metrics
• Meeting Pro Shopper targets (92%+ original items found, 99%+ total items found) can earn 30% higher pay
• Shopping orders provide more control over your time compared to restaurant pickups
• Portable benefits legislation is spreading, with Utah, Alabama, and Tennessee already implementing laws
• Several states, including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Georgia, are running pilot programs
• Benefits models vary between cash stipends (like Prop 22) or structured benefits that follow workers across platforms

Join us Wednesdays at 7 pm Eastern for the Gig Economy News!

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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

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News links from Ep 261

We discuss how Uber and Lyft are pushing back against third-party apps like Maximo, Maestro, and GigU that allow drivers to cherry-pick more profitable rides. These apps have become essential tools for maximizing earnings, but platforms claim they violate the terms of service.

• Uber and Lyft are threatening to ban drivers who use apps that help them filter ride requests
• Security footage capturing a delivery driver assaulting a 67-year-old customer who questioned her package delivery
• Problematic AI customer service bots completely misunderstand basic customer complaints
• Financial analysts recommend Lyft stock despite skepticism from actual drivers
• Uber is testing a feature that allows women riders to be paired with women drivers
• Amazon package deliveries by drone and the potential HOA backlash
• The potential for tax-free tips for gig workers with a possible new federal tax deduction

Join our Telegram group to connect with other gig workers, share experiences, and get real-time advice on which apps are currently paying the best. Visit patreon.com/thegigeconomypodcast to support the show and get access to our exclusive content.

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 explore new developments in the gig economy landscape, from testing out Amazon Flex after a long absence to examining DoorDash's push for "portable benefits" legislation similar to California's Prop 22.

• Completed a $107 Amazon Flex route after finding Walmart Spark deliveries too slow
• DoorDash emails promoting "portable benefits" that would provide healthcare, PTO, and retirement options without employee classification
• Introduction to the Gig Spot app for mystery shopping with tasks ranging from $9 gas station audits to $65 apartment shopping evaluations
• Discussion of a California gig worker earning $2,700 in one week, with $1,759 coming from Prop 22 adjustment pay
• Reddit story about a driver holding a passenger's keys hostage for an increased fee, eventually resolved with police intervention
• Brief look at whether mystery shopping gigs provide comparable value to food delivery for similar pay

Join us on Wednesday at 7 pm Eastern for the Gig Economy News show.

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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