• Needs To Exist
  • Posts
  • Idea Of The Day - Please fix podcast and video discovery—because YouTube thinks I love cat videos and finance

Idea Of The Day - Please fix podcast and video discovery—because YouTube thinks I love cat videos and finance

GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), bringing you an idea that finally stops YouTube from thinking you want both quantum physics lectures and slime videos.

For more than 2k + startup ideas for only $99 sign up here

For past newsletters check them out here

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

  • Daily Idea - Podcast & Video Streaming discovery.

  • Recommend everything

Smarter discovery for podcasts and video streaming

The One Liner

Netflix-style discovery for podcasts and YouTube videos.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

Tired of bad recommendations? This app helps you find podcasts & YouTube videos like Netflix finds shows—smart, easy, and actually relevant.

The Longer Story Version

The Problem

Finding great content shouldn’t feel like digging through a junk drawer.

Ever tried discovering a new podcast or YouTube video? You either:

  1. Get trapped in YouTube’s algorithm and somehow end up watching a MrBeast stunt video when you were looking for Ezra Klein.

  2. Stick to the same five podcasts because finding new ones is a hassle.

  3. Get bombarded with random recommendations that have nothing to do with what you actually enjoy.

Most platforms are built for engagement, not discovery. They don’t care if you find the right content—just that you keep clicking.

The Solution

Imagine an app that makes discovering great podcasts and YouTube videos as easy as browsing Netflix.

Here’s how it works:

🔎 Smart Discovery – No more endless scrolling. Get content matched to your interests, not just what’s trending.
🎯 Better Curation – Think Spotify playlists, but for podcasts & YouTube videos tailored to you.
📺 One App, All Formats – Podcasts & YouTube videos in the same feed, because why separate them?
🤖 AI-Powered Recommendations – Built on LLMs & embeddings so you get suggestions based on actual relevance, not random trends.

Basically, it’s like having a friend who knows your taste and just hands you the best new stuff to watch or listen to.

How We’d Build It

If we were hacking this together as an MVP in a weekend, here’s the game plan:

🛠 Tech Stack:

Quick Wins:

  • Let users import their favorite podcasts & YouTube channels to train the recommendation engine.

  • Build an "Explore" tab that visually mimics Netflix’s UI.

  • Rank content based on relevance instead of popularity.

🚀 Launch Plan:

  1. Get early adopters (people who actually struggle with content discovery).

  2. Test recommendations with a small group, iterate fast.

  3. Open up beta, make onboarding stupid simple.

Why It Needs to Exist

Content discovery is broken.

We live in a world where:

  • Spotify gets music recommendations right.

  • Netflix helps you binge your next favorite show.

  • But finding a great podcast or YouTube series is still a mess.

This app fixes that. It’s not for everyone—just people who care about good content and don’t want to waste time finding it.

Needs To Exist Pro

Because Your Current Ideas Probably Suck—Only $99/Year

AI-Powered Recommendations = Free Growth

If you have a startup idea, ask yourself: Does it make sense to add AI-powered recommendations?

Why? Because the easiest way to increase engagement and revenue is to show people exactly what they want next—before they even realize they want it.

AI-driven recommendations aren’t just for media—they work across tons of industries.

How AI Can Supercharge Your Idea
  1. E-commerce – If your startup involves selling anything, AI can upsell and cross-sell at the perfect time. Amazon makes 35% of its revenue this way. Use Clerk.io or LimeSpot to plug it into Shopify.

  2. Newsletters & Blogs – Building a media or content business? AI can personalize recommendations so subscribers keep coming back. Tools like Rasa.io or Mutiny handle this automatically.

  3. Job Boards & Recruiting – Creating a job-matching platform? AI can pair candidates with jobs based on skills and experience—not just keywords. Eightfold AI is built for this.

  4. Finance & Investing – Have a fintech idea? AI can suggest stocks, crypto, or financial strategies based on a user’s habits. Composer already does this for retail investors.

  5. Health & Fitness – If your idea is in health, wellness, or fitness, AI can recommend workouts, diets, or supplements. Fitbod adjusts fitness plans, while Lumen personalizes nutrition.

  6. B2B Sales & Lead Gen – If your startup sells to businesses, AI can rank leads so you’re not wasting time on the wrong prospects. Clay and People Data Labs automate this.

Why AI Recommendations Work
  • Helps users discover what they wouldn’t find on their own

  • Boosts conversions with smarter cross-sells & upsells

  • Creates stickiness by keeping users engaged longer

No Engineers? No Problem. Use These:

Your Next Move

If AI-powered recommendations make sense for your startup, test them early. They don’t just increase engagement—they create effortless growth.

Try a tool. Track what works. Scale what sticks.

One More Meme