The return of the podcast to Manual do Usuário: collaborative project focused on 'healthy digital life' opens applications for 2027

On November 3, 2026, Manual do Usuário officially announced its desire to return to podcasting starting in 2027. Unlike traditional productions centered on a single host, the new project proposes a collaborative format with a rotating roster of participants. To make the idea viable, a public selection process was opened to recruit four members to structure and host the program, the central theme of which will be technology from the perspective of a "healthy digital life."

The initiative seeks to balance content creation with the experimentation of new project management formats on the internet, transferring creative and structural responsibility to the group that will be formed.

Context and background

The history of Manual do Usuário is intrinsically linked to the audio format. The outlet, known today for its articles, was originally born as a podcast, evolving into a blog only at a later stage. The original audio format was maintained and published during most of the site's existence, until it was eventually discontinued.

The current announcement marks not a return to the old show, but the creation of an entirely new product. The decision follows a recent shift in the blog's editorial line, which has moved to focus on the concept of a "healthy digital life" — a critical approach to the current pace of technology consumption and the impacts of digital tools on daily life. The new podcast aims to mirror this philosophy, letting go of the original creator's absolute control in favor of a collective production.

Concrete selection details

The selection process for forming the new team is already underway, governed by the following parameters established in the official announcement:

• Announcement publication date: November 3, 2026.
• Application deadline: November 10, 2026.
• Selection results date: November 18, 2026.
• Number of spots: Up to 4 people.
• Diversity criteria: Equal gender division (two men and two women).
• Link for application: The official form is hosted on the Tally platform (https://tally.so/r/Ge64do).
• Expected launch: Sometime in 2027.

Impact for the sector, users, and the market

The project emerges at a time when the on-demand audio market is reaching historic levels in the country. Recent data indicates that Brazil is the world's leading consumer of podcasts, encompassing 40.1% of domestic internet users — a rate that is more than double the global average (19.1%).

For the market and independent media sector, Manual do Usuário's proposal tests a model of collaborative and semi-independent production. By delegating fundamental decisions (such as name and structure) to a group of four people in a rotating system, the project challenges the traditional logic where the creator is the "channel owner" and centralizes all operations.

For users and blog readers, the initiative offers a dual impact: the opportunity to act actively as co-authors of a journalistic/technological product, or the chance to consume debates about technology that move away from the classic product review format (gadgets), focusing instead on behavioral impact. The financial risk and immediate commercial pressure are minimized by the transparency of the proposal, which focuses on experimentation.

What is still unknown

Despite the opening of the selection process, the project is in an embryonic stage, possessing intentional and structural gaps:

• Podcast name: It has not been defined yet and will be decided by the four chosen individuals.
• Technical and editorial structure: Publication frequency, episode duration, and exact recording format (whether audio-only or also a videocast) are open.
• Distribution platforms: It has not been specified whether the program will be exclusive to a platform or distributed via an open RSS feed.
• Final project viability: The announcement itself makes a clear caveat that, for numerous reasons, the idea might "come to nothing" and never be launched.

What to expect next

The next concrete steps depend on the selection process schedule. The application form will close on November 10. Afterward, the profiles will be evaluated, with the announcement of the four selected individuals scheduled for November 18.

After this date, the chosen group will begin the pre-production phase, where they will debate the format, visual identity, and recording schedule, aiming to put the first episode on air in 2027, provided the project proves viable.

Frequently asked questions

1. How do I apply for the podcast selection? Applications must be made by filling out a form on the Tally platform (https://tally.so/r/Ge64do) by November 10, 2026.

2. What will be the main theme of the new show? The podcast will focus on technology but will be aligned with the new editorial line of Manual do Usuário, which prioritizes discussions on "healthy digital life."

3. Is it guaranteed that the podcast will be launched in 2027? No. The author of the announcement expressly emphasized that the project is an attempt and warned candidates that the idea might "not become a reality" for various reasons.