Yes you can pretty easily selfhost sync for AntennaPod and Kasts with https://github.com/bohwaz/micro-gpodder-server (there are more official options that are heaver)

idk but somehow popular enough that the today show picked up on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P2A_eh0h58

They are far too chill about using ML to kill people:

While other countries press forward, many Silicon Valley engineers remain opposed to working on software projects that may have offensive military applications, including machine learning systems that make possible the more systematic targeting and elimination of enemies on the battlefield. Many of these engineers will build algorithms that optimize the placement of ads on social media platforms, but they will not build software for the U.S. Marines.