Would you consider removing spoilers from Top Chef podcast episode titles?

[Howard Shawl]

Hi, folks. I love and subscribe to Chow's Top Chef loser debrief podcast, but I have a small problem with it. I Tivo new episodes of Top Chef and don't watch it the night it airs, due to scheduling conflicts. However when each new episode of Chow's Top Chef podcast arrives in iTunes, the name of that week's loser is right in the title of the podcast and I can't avoid seeing it when I see what files are being downloaded. This ruins the show when I get to sit down and watch it, because I already know who lost. I was wondering if you could take the name of the loser out of the episode title of your Top Chef podcasts, so this doesn't happen?

I realize I'm in the minority due to my having to wait to watch Top Chef until Friday (after your podcast is sent out to iTunes), but I may not be the only one. Thanks for considering this request, as I've had the outcome of three episodes so far "spoiled" due to this small problem.

[mudaba]

First of all, thank you so much for subscribing to and loving our podcast interviews! That makes me very happy. On a less happy note, I'm so sorry to hear that the episodes have been ruined for you by the title of our podcasts. Here is what I recommend: update your podcasts, but don't open the Top Chef folder until after you've seen the show. Just stay away from it. We can't get rid of the names because it's the only way people will know which podcast was which later on, as opposed to "Episode 5" which means little at this point. I don't want your viewing experience to be hampered but we also can't make podcast navigation very difficult for the long run.

I never see the titles of podcasts unless I open the folder, so I hope this helps for you too. It's just an avoidance technique, really, until the time is right for the loser to be revealed.

Thanks again for listening!

Meredith of CHOW

[Howard Shawl]

I appreciate you taking the time to consider the request and replying. It happened again tonight, so I already know who got kicked off. The technique you mentioned does not work because I see the name of the episode in the "Downloads" list of podcasts that are being downloaded by iTunes. I don't remember that I shouldn't look at iTunes until the name of the podcast shows up and instantly I see the name of that weeks loser, so it's too late to unlearn it. I definitely appreciate that it's not your job to cater to my needs, but here's one other idea in case it appeals to you: name the episode with the day's date instead of a loser name. I can imagine this solution probably won't appeal to you given your conserns voiced above, but you can't blame me for trying. This is the fourth time I've had the outcome of the show spoiled this season. I'm thinking it will be best that I unsubscribe at this point as, even though I really enjoy your podcast, it would be nice to be able to see the show the way it was intended, with an element of suspense.

Thanks again for your reply.

[mudaba]

Aha! I get it. So it's an issue of the "downloading" folder. Well, another suggestion. Don't go into that area until after you've watched the show. Just look at the show folders and know not to open the Top Chef folder if you see a new podcast there. Sorry, I know this means changing your behavior but it is easy to avoid the downloads area. In fact I rarely look at them so I know it's possible! There's no way around us naming the show with the person's name, but I do hope that doesn't mean you stop listening.

Meredith