Best Greg Sterling Podcasts (2025)

1
AI Search, Reviews, and the Future of Local SEO — Darren Shaw Breaks Down the 2026 Ranking Factors 44:10

3h ago44:10

44:10

Send us a text Local SEO just got a major shake-up. In this episode, Darren Shaw of Whitespark joins Mike Blumenthal, David Mihm, and Greg Sterling to reveal key takeaways from the 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors study — including how AI search, behavioral signals, and reviews are changing the local game. Hear what really moves the needle, what’s…

1
Adam Levin Reads David Foster Wallace 1:06:21

11d ago1:06:21

1:06:21

Adam Levin joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Backbone,” by David Foster Wallace, which was published in The New Yorker in 2011. Levin, a winner of the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Fiction Award, is the author of the story collection “Hot Pink” and the novels “The Instructions,” “Bubblegum,” and “Mount Chicago.” Learn about your a…

1
TikTok’s Local Play: How Gen Z Is Rewriting Local Search 46:45

7d ago46:45

46:45

Send us a text In this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Celeste Gonzalez (Rickety Roo) dive into TikTok’s “Local Explorer” — a new review and discovery program inside the app. They explore how Gen Z’s shift toward TikTok and Instagram is reshaping local search, what the Adobe and SOCi studies reveal, and why authenticity may be TikTok’s…

1
Google’s Local Antitrust Battle with Yelp, Gemini’s “Grounded” Local AI, and ChatGPT’s New Local Results 33:29

14d ago33:29

33:29

Send us a text In Episode 229, Mike and Greg unpack Yelp’s revived antitrust lawsuit against Google and what it reveals about search dominance. They dive into Google’s “grounded” Gemini AI—supposedly tied to Maps data—and Mike’s test results showing how unreliable it still is. Finally, they explore ChatGPT’s new local results format, which borrows …

1
AI & Local Business: How AI Is Rewriting Location Management; Interview with Ana Martinez, P2 34:51

21d ago34:51

34:51

Send us a text AI is reshaping how businesses manage their locations, from adoption challenges to AI Overviews in Google Search, to the renewed importance of citations and directories. Mike Blumenthal, Greg Sterling, and Ana Martinez from Uberall discuss AI’s role in visibility, customer journeys, and local SEO strategy. Subscribe to our newsletter…

1
Inside Uberall’s Local AI Shift: From Culture Shift to Client Tools; Part 1 31:58

1M ago31:58

31:58

Send us a text Uberall’s CTO Ana Martinez joins Greg Sterling & Mike Blumenthal to reveal how the company is going “AI native with their Local Platform location management.” From internal culture shifts to new client-facing tools like UBI and Location Performance Score, learn how AI is reshaping products, teams, and customer expectations. Subscribe…

1
Google GBP Suspension Increases?, The Future of Reviews, and Liz Reid’s AI Vision for Search 35:53

1M ago35:53

35:53

Send us a text In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal dig into Google Business Profile suspension increases over time, the broken state of reviews, and insights from Google’s Liz Reid on AI Overviews, AI Mode, and monetization. What do these changes mean for small businesses, SEOs, and consumers? Tune in for an unfilter…

1
Karen Russell Reads Louise Erdrich 49:19

1M ago49:19

49:19

Karen Russell joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Stone,” by Louise Erdrich, which was published in The New Yorker in 2019. Russell is the author of six books of fiction, including the story collections “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” and “Orange World and Other Stories” and the novels “Swamplandia!,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer…

1
Google Review Extortion, Maps AR, What ChatGPT is Missing & YouTube’s Strategic Power 33:02

1M ago33:02

33:02

Send us a text In this episode of the Near Memo, Mike and Greg break down: The rise of Google Business Profile review extortion scams 📉 Google Maps’ new AR feature: See it. Snap it. Ask it. 🗺️ Why ChatGPT still falls short for local search vs Google 🔎 YouTube’s strategic role in Google’s AI & local marketing future ▶️ 👉 Subscribe for more insights …

1
Morton Buildings Repairs & Renovations Revisit 1:01:00

1M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Machinery Pete welcomes back guest Jeremiah Fairbanks, General Mgr. of Morton Buildings Repairs & Renovations Division. Tremendous growth in this unique Division of Morton Buildings, a storied company with roots to rural fencing 122 Years ago in 1903. Machinery Pete even suggests a unique Christmas gift idea for farms that have everything…

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Interview with Barry Schwartz: Review Ransom, The State of the Open Web, and the Implications of AI on Search Interfaces 49:32

2M ago49:32

49:32

Send us a text In this episode, Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Barry Schwartz discuss various pressing topics in the digital marketing landscape, including the rise of local review ransom schemes, the ongoing debate about the state of the open web, and the implications of AI on search interfaces. They explore how Google's recent changes and th…

1
Google’s Action Links Crackdown, The “Declining” Open Web, and Siri + Gemini 33:39

2M ago33:39

33:39

Send us a text We discuss Google’s new guidelines for Business Profile action links, the company’s conflicting statements about the health of the open web in an antitrust case, and Apple’s rumored partnership with Google’s Gemini to power Siri. Together, these stories highlight Google’s tightening grip on local businesses, the shifting economics of…

1
AI Overviews in Local: When & Where, DOJ Google Remedies (?), and an SMB GBP Case Study 33:05

2M ago33:05

33:05

Send us a text We dig into when/where Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) appear in local, how people actually split tasks across Google vs. ChatGPT, what the DOJ’s remedies mean for defaults, and a fresh case where a brand-new local biz triggered an AIO—plus practical takeaways. Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/s…

1
Victor Lodato Reads Denis Johnson 1:30:37

2M ago1:30:37

1:30:37

Victor Lodato joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden,” by Denis Johnson, which was published in The New Yorker in 2014. Lodato is a playwright and the author of the novels “Edgar and Lucy,” “Mathilda Savitch,” the winner of the PEN USA Award for fiction, and “Honey,” which came out in 2024. He has been publishing…

1
AI Overviews & Why consumers like them, Reviews vs. Reality & Why Google Search Volumes Aren’t Falling 26:42

2M ago26:42

26:42

Send us a text Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling discuss three hot-button topics: Consumer vs. industry perspectives on Google’s AI Overviews How review expectations differ from actual behavior in the legal vertical Why Datos data shows AI growth isn’t displacing search usage Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.c…

1
Google’s LSA Shake-Up, Google LSA Dark Patterns & BrightLocal SMB Marketing Insights 28:26

3M ago28:26

28:26

Send us a text Google is consolidating Local Services Ads trust signals into a single verification badge — but is it really about trust or revenue? Greg and Mike discuss Google’s evolving ad strategy, the ongoing degradation of organic results, their "dark patterns" that elevate LSA usage and new BrightLocal data showing less than half of small bus…

1
Part 2- Barnacle SEO in the AI Era: Will Scott on Tools, Automation & Content Strategy 31:02

3M ago31:02

31:02

Send us a text In part two of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott of Search Influence joins Mike Blumenthal and Greg Sterling to unpack how AI is reshaping search, why semantic SEO matters, and how to use no-code automation tools to scale content. Learn how to barnacle onto high-authority sites, repurpose content across platforms, and adapt to a…

1
Part 1: Barnacle SEO in the AI Era: Will Scott on Leveraging AI for Search & ChatGPT Visibility 32:52

3M ago32:52

32:52

Send us a text In Part 1 of this interview, SEO veteran Will Scott joins Near Memo to unpack the rise of Barnacle SEO in a world reshaped by AI. We explore how content visibility, listicles, and trusted sources like Reddit and Yelp are influencing AI-generated responses. Plus, we debate the viability of “GEO” as a term, Google’s evolving narrative,…

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Machinery Pete Mid Summer ’25 Used Market Update + Jack Lyon Heavy Equipment Market Update 26:27

3M ago26:27

26:27

Machinery Pete highlights the latest data trends on used farm equipment values through the month of July ’25, referencing a number of high interest auctions around the country. Pete also highlights an upcoming farm auction August 11, 2025 in Bronson, IA featuring the most extensive line of Versatile Tractors he’s seen on a farm sale. Pete also brin…

1
Lauren Groff Reads Elizabeth Hardwick 1:12:03

3M ago1:12:03

1:12:03

Lauren Groff joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Faithful,” by Elizabeth Hardwick, which was published in The New Yorker in 1979. Groff’s works of fiction include the novels “Fates and Furies” and “Matrix,” both of which were finalists for the National Book Award, and “The Vaster Wilds,” which was published in 2023. A new story collecti…

1
The Future of Maps: User Focused, Contextual & Integrated AI with Goetz Weber 47:38

3M ago47:38

47:38

Send us a text Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal talk with mapping expert Goetz Weber about why today’s maps fail to deliver personalized, contextual experiences — and what needs to change. From intent modeling to the limits of monetization, from ChatGPT to Snap Maps, Goetz lays out a compelling vision for mapping 2.0: visual, social, and powered b…

1
Pew & Ahrefs Reveal Click Declines & AIO Disruption, Local SEO vs. AI: What Happens to the Pack?, 32:45

4M ago32:45

32:45

Send us a text This week, Greg and Mike dissect new data from Pew and Ahrefs showing how AI Overviews impact user click behavior, local pack visibility, and publisher traffic. They explore the branding mess of “AIO” vs. “GEO,” ChatGPT’s growing usefulness, and YouTube’s quiet dominance. Plus: a burrito search showdown and dishwasher repair gone AI.…

1
Google Fixes GBP Alerts Sort Of, Expands "Ask for Me" Local Quotes, ChatGPT Local Search Disurptor? 36:55

4M ago36:55

36:55

Send us a text In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal dive into Google’s overhaul of its Business Profile dashboard notifications and why it's problematic, the rollout of Google’s AI-powered “Ask for Me” local quote feature, and ChatGPT’s growing impact on local search. Plus: Will businesses benefit from the Ask for Me …

1
Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT’s Search Shift, and Google's Secret Weapon 31:44

4M ago31:44

31:44

Send us a text In this episode of the Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss fresh insights into how consumers engage with local AI Overviews, explore the theory that ChatGPT may be using Google's search index, and dig into the explosive growth and influence of Google's Local Guides program. The discussion also touches on zero-click s…

1
GBP Suspensions, AIO Overviews & New Best Practices for AI-Era Local SEO and Reviews 39:38

4M ago39:38

39:38

Send us a text Greg and Mike unpack the latest in local search: an uptick in suspensions, why AI overviews are shifting lower on SERPs, and what local businesses must do to thrive in an AI-dominated search world. Also, a pig roas Subscribe to our newsletters and other content at https://www.nearmedia.co/subscribe/…

1
Souvankham Thammavongsa Reads Samanta Schweblin 48:30

4M ago48:30

48:30

Souvankham Thammavongsa joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Size of Things,” by Samanta Schweblin (translated, from the Spanish, by Megan McDowell), which was published in The New Yorker in 2017. Thammavongsa is a Laotian Canadian writer. Her publications include the poetry collections “Light” and “Cluster” and the story collection “How…

1
AI, Reviews & the Future of Local SEO: What Darren Shaw Says You Need to Know 46:16

5M ago46:16

46:16

Send us a text Darren Shaw of Whitespark returns to the Near Memo to talk with Mike and Greg about what’s actually working—and what’s not—in local SEO as AI begins reshaping consumer behavior. From the rise of first-party reviews to YouTube’s power for B2B lead gen, this episode tackles how agencies can prepare clients for a future beyond Google. T…

1
How to Stay Verified on Google, Where Search Is Headed, and What’s Up with Siri? 36:31

5M ago36:31

36:31

Send us a text In this episode, Mike and Greg break down three major developments shaping the local search and AI landscape. First, they tackle the growing wave of Google Business Profile suspensions caused by rigid, AI-driven video verification—where even legitimate businesses are getting flagged. They offer practical advice on how to avoid gettin…

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June Auction Talk 31:28

5M ago31:28

31:28

Machinery Pete spotlights pair of upcoming farm auctions, June 21 in Lime Springs, IA and June 26 in Merrill, IA featuring extremely nice low hour equipment line ups. Pete also recalls June Auction memories of one of the most memorable sales he's ever covered, a June 28, 2014 collector auction in Bedford, IA featuring amazing vintage Allis Chalmers…

1
Google’s Next Move: AI, Antitrust Battles & the Decline of Search 29:29

5M ago29:29

29:29

Send us a text In this episode of The Near Memo, Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal break down some of the biggest tectonic shifts happening at the intersection of AI, search, and antitrust law. The focal point? Google's claim that its Gemini AI now boasts 350 million monthly users. But what exactly counts as a user—and does stuffing Gemini into eve…

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Edwidge Danticat Reads Zadie Smith 44:06

5M ago44:06

44:06

Edwidge Danticat joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Two Men Arrive in a Village,” by Zadie Smith, which was published in The New Yorker in 2016. Danticat, a MacArthur Fellow and a winner of the Vilcek Prize in Literature, has published six books of fiction, including “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” “The Farming of Bones,” “Claire of the Sea Light,…

1
Clicks Are Dead, Reviews Are King: Surviving Google’s AI Local Shakeup 39:01

6M ago39:01

39:01

Send us a text In this jam-packed episode of The Near Memo, hosts Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal welcome back Adam Dorfman, VP of Product at BirdEye, for a timely deep dive into the ever-shifting world of local SEO, AI Overviews, and Google’s evolving search ecosystem. The trio unpacks the seismic shifts happening in local search, AI-generated r…

1
SEO Tactics from the Frontline: Real User Behavior in AI Overviews - Part 2 of the UX Study Analysis 24:00

6M ago24:00

24:00

Send us a text Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive into the most revealing SEO and UX research of 2025. In this episode of the Near Memo podcast, Greg Sterling, Kevin Indig, and Eric Van Buskirk break down how users actually interact with AI Overviews on Google—and what that means for your SEO strategy moving forward. 00:55 – “Trust over Traffic: Th…

1
Trust Before Clicks: What Google’s AIO UX Study Reveals About Real User Behavior 32:37

6M ago32:37

32:37

Send us a text 🎙️ Trust Before Clicks: What Real Users Do With Google’s AI Overviews We’ve all seen the headlines: Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) are changing search forever. But how do real people actually use them? In this episode of The Near Memo, we dive into the first behavioral UX study of Google’s AIOs, conducted by Kevin Indig and Eric Van Bu…

1
Google's Power Grab: AI Journeys, Monetized Moments, & the End of SEO as We Know It with Cindy Krum 45:44

6M ago45:44

45:44

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of the Near Memo podcast, SEO veteran Cindy Krum joins Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal to unpack how Google's evolving use of AI, including MUM (Multitask Unified Model), is reshaping the search landscape. Krum explains how Google is moving from keyword- and entity-based indexing to modeling “journ…

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AmpUp Webinar, Yelp’s Antitrust V Google, Google AIO for Local Reviews, ChatGPT Gets Product Search 33:03

6M ago33:03

33:03

Send us a text 00:00 GatherUp's AmpUp Webinar Overview 05:56 Yelp Antitrust Case Insights 13:32 Google Local Review's AI Overviews and Their Impact 26:45 ChatGPT's Shopping Capabilities and Future Directions In this episode, Greg and Mike discuss the upcoming AmpUp 2025 virtual conference with Mel Atia of GatherUp, focusing on local SEO, reputation…

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Yiyun Li Reads William Trevor 1:11:01

6M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

Yiyun Li joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Piano Tuner’s Wives,” by William Trevor, which was published in The New Yorker in 1995. Li has published eight books of fiction, including the novels “Must I Go” and “Book of Goose,” a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and the story collection “Wednesday’s Child,” which was a fina…

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Girard Auction - Leaders in Farm Toy/Pedal Tractor Auctions 41:33

7M ago41:33

41:33

Machinery Pete conversation with Ken Girard with Girard Auction & Land Brokers of Wakonda, SD about how he has built the auction company his late father Marv Girard started 55 Years ago in 1970 into a worldwide leading auction firm for Farm Toys, Pedal Tractors and Farm Memorabilia. Pete and Ken highlight the upcoming Jay Eudy Collector Estate Auct…

1
Know Before You Go: New on GBP Profiles, G Under Legal Fire, & the Coming Shift in Search 30:16

7M ago30:16

30:16

Send us a text We discuss the latest developments in Google's antitrust trial and the introduction of new AI features in Google Business Profiles. They explore the implications of these changes for local SEO and user experience, as well as the potential future of search in an AI-driven world. The conversation highlights the challenges Google faces …

1
The Future of Reviews: What Businesses Need to Know 30:40

7M ago30:40

30:40

Send us a text Greg Sterling, Mike Blumenthal, and Sammy Paget of BrightLocal discuss the evolving landscape of consumer reviews, focusing on how consumer behavior has changed over the years, the importance of businesses responding to reviews, and the impact of AI on review management. They explore the future of reviews, the decline in trust, and G…

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From Stars to Skepticism: How Reviews Evolved & Why Trust Is Declining - Sammy Paget Interview Part1 29:48

7M ago29:48

29:48

Send us a text 01:59 Evolution of Consumer Review Behavior 05:03 Trust in Reviews: A Declining Trend 08:14 The Impact of Fake Reviews and AI 14:18 Alternative Review Platforms and Their Trustworthiness 19:30 Key Findings from the 15-Year Review Study 22:07 Best Practices for Review Solicitation 29:22 Consumer Expectations and Business Responses In …

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Used Equipment Market Update Early April ’25 + Jack Lyon Interview 34:46

7M ago34:46

34:46

Machinery Pete talks through update on current used farm equipment market with lot of eye opening fresh examples from the auction front. Early ’25 has provided a very surprising market adjustment. Pete also gets monthly update from Jack Lyon with Alex Lyon & Son Auctions, largest family owned auction company in the world, on very latest in the used…

1
Google’s Euro DMA Headaches, GBP Local Chaos AND Uncharacteristic Google Comms & AI Search Futures 35:39

7M ago35:39

35:39

Send us a text In this milestone 200th episode, the NearMemo crew unpacks Google’s mounting regulatory woes in Europe, including fresh scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act. Mike breaks down a storm of GBP bugs and business suspensions and ponders the fact that Google is actually admitting to them.. Greg steers the convo into the evolving future o…

1
David Wright Faladé Reads Madeleine Thien 1:16:54

7M ago1:16:54

1:16:54

David Wright Faladé joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Lu, Reshaping,” by Madeleine Thien, which was published in The New Yorker in 2021. Falade is the author of the novels “Black Cloud Rising” and “The New Internationals,” and the nonfiction work “Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesav…

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The Ned Garver Story - Farm Boy From Ney, OH - 1950's Major League Baseball Star 1:01:50

8M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

With the 2025 Major League Baseball season kicking off this week Machinery Pete shares the very timely tale from 70+ years ago of a young farm boy from Ney, OH who went on to become a Major League Baseball star, winning 20 Games as a pitcher for the 1951 St. Louis Browns who lost 102 games that year. After his baseball career Garver returned to Ney…

1
Surviving the New Google: Suspensions & Appeal Delays, AI Overviews, & the Future of Local Marketing 23:51

8M ago23:51

23:51

Send us a text Greg Sterling and Mike Blumenthal discuss the current state of Google suspensions, the impact of AI overviews on local search traffic, and the evolving landscape of digital marketing strategies. They emphasize the importance of businesses becoming less reliant on Google and exploring alternative marketing channels while navigating th…

1
EU Targets Google, Listings Get Suspended, and AI Heats Up: Search is Changing Fast 32:27

8M ago32:27

32:27

Send us a text In this episode, Greg and Mike discuss the recent EU findings regarding Google's non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the implications of algorithm changes leading to increased suspensions and verifications, and the evolving landscape of AI competition, particularly focusing on Google's strategies to retain users amidst…

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Micheal Oliver - Wildcat Chevrolet - Cadiz, KY 1:00:05

8M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Machinery Pete heads to Cadiz, KY to talk with Micheal Oliver of Wlidcat Chevrolet. Micheal is a former John Deere dealer that transferred over to the automobile industry. If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to the Machinery Pete Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your p…

1
Google GBP Suspensions Update, AI in Local Search, Google Selling Chrome? & Tesla’s Brand Freefall 38:53

8M ago38:53

38:53

Send us a text Buckle up for another Near Memo packed with search drama, AI experiments, and a high-speed Tesla takedown. Mike and Greg dive into Google’s ongoing Business Profile suspensions, unpack the latest AI-driven search changes, and speculate on whether Elon Musk has permanently tanked Tesla’s brand. Plus, a peek at Google’s antitrust battl…

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The Rise of GBP Suspensions, Is Google's 5 trillion search number real? New AI Mode IS the Future 31:23

8M ago31:23

31:23

Send us a text 00:00 Overview of Topics 01:07 Increase in Business Suspensions - Resinstatements very slow 06:27 Google's Search Query Insights - Is Google Cooking the Books? 21:03 Google's AI Mode as the Future of Search We discuss the recent increase in suspensions and the delay of reinstatements on Google, the implications of Google's five trill…

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