If you haven’t listened to this special version of The Talk Show, live from WWDC, take a few minutes and go here. It’s a great listen. Terrifically entertaining.

Next, go to Marco Arment’s absolutely brilliant insider’s look at the podcast, replete with pictures.

From the review:

But after a brief introduction from Merlin Mann and Adam Lisagor, John introduced, “and I shit you not,” Apple’s senior vice president of marketing, Phil Schiller. Being familiar with John’s dry humor, I’m not sure most of the audience believed him. Many cheered. Some hesitated. For a few seconds, nobody walked out, and people started laughing, thinking they got the joke. And then Phil Schiller really walked on stage.

And this next bit is critical:

Apple executives rarely speak publicly outside of Apple events, especially for live interviews. One of the highest-ranking executives of the world’s highest-profile company being subjected to questions, unprepared and unedited, in front of a live audience full of recording devices, is rarely worth the PR risk: the potential downside is much larger than the likely upside. Do well, and a bunch of existing fans will like you a bit more; do poorly, and it’s front-page news worldwide. Both Apple and Phil Schiller himself took a huge risk in doing this. That they agreed at all is a noteworthy gift to this community of long-time enthusiasts, many of whom have felt under-appreciated as the company has grown.

Phil took the risk. John Gruber made it pay off. And Marco caught the true essence of the moment. Nice.