The Clark Howard Podcast
The Clark Howard Podcast

08.28.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / AI & The Tech Effect On Employment

August 28, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“Clark, you stink worse than the aftermath of overindulging in the free samples of prune juice at Costco.” That was one of the gentler jabs on this episode of The Clark Howard Podcast, where the host dedicated the first half of the show to reading listener complaints about his own advice. But the episode wasn't just about self-critique. It also turned to a surprisingly optimistic take on artificial intelligence and employment — a topic Clark admits he usually covers with alarm. The throughline of the episode is about learning to adapt: both Clark learning from his audience's corrections, and workers learning to navigate a job market that technology will reshape rather than destroy.

Clark Stinks: When the Host Gets Corrected

The Friday tradition of “Clark Stinks” is where listeners call out Clark Howard for bad or incomplete advice. This week’s segment was unusually self-reflective. One listener from Oregon argued that the segment itself has become performative: “Most of the Clark Stinks letters you read are met with Clark defending his original position… Are the letters chosen to be read the ones that he can easily do this with?” Clark paused and admitted the criticism might be fair. “If I have fallen into a pattern of defending myself instead of listening as I should… I apologize if you and others feel that I’m not using Clark Stinks to its full advantage.”

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:05) **Show Open & Clark Stinks Introduction** - Clark introduces his favorite segment, Clark Stinks, where listeners critique his advice, and previews a later discussion on the positive side of AI in the job market.
  • 2 (02:43) **Clark Stinks #1: Remote Work Advice Critiqued** - A listener from Georgia challenges Clark's negative portrayal of remote work, arguing it can be an asset when done well.
  • 3 (05:56) **Clark Stinks #2: The Format of Clark Stinks Itself** - Deborah from Oregon criticizes that Clark often defends his original position rather than genuinely admitting fault, making the segment feel inauthentic.
  • 4 (07:55) **Clark Stinks #3: Dealership vs. Independent Shop for Car Maintenance** - A former mechanic and service advisor from Alaska argues that dealerships can be cheaper and more reliable than independents, contrary to Clark's usual advice.
  • 5 (10:51) **Clark Stinks #4: Rental Car Insurance in Europe** - Victor from Alaska questions Clark's advice to take rental company insurance in Europe, noting that travel credit cards often cover collision damage.
  • 6 (12:42) **Clark Stinks #5: TV Repair Success Story** - Jim from Alabama shares how he repaired his 3-year-old TV by replacing capacitors for under $10 using YouTube tutorials, a better value than buying new.
  • 7 (14:06) **Clark Stinks #6: The 50% Repair Rule Revisited** - Brandon from Michigan argues that Clark's old rule—dump a car if repairs exceed 50% of its value—is flawed, especially with today's high new car prices.

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Guests on this episode

Clark Howard

Show Notes

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa  shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks.   Also,  every time a major technological shift happens, we hear predictions of widespread job destruction—and the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence is driving those fears to a whole new level. Clark breaks down what the AI boom actually means for your paycheck, how tech expansion shifts hidden costs onto consumers, and the concrete steps you can take today to pivot, re-educate, and make your career resilient against technological change.

All this and more on the August 28, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show.

  • Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2
  • AI & Jobs: Segment 3
  • Ask Clark: Segment 4

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