Podcast Episodes

How the FBI got everything it wanted (re-air, feat. Joseph Cox)

Season 6 Episode 15

For decades, digital rights activists, technologists, and cybersecurity experts have worried about what would happen if the US government secretly broke into people’s encrypted communications.

The wei…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

Is AI "healthy" to use?

Season 6 Episode 14

“Health” isn’t the first feature that most anyone thinks about when trying out a new technology, but a recent spate of news is forcing the issue when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI).

In June,…

Published on 5 months ago

Corpse-eating selfies, and other ways to trick scammers (feat. Becky Holmes)

Season 6 Episode 13

There’s a unique counter response to romance scammers.

Her name is Becky Holmes.

Holmes, an expert and author on romance scams, has spent years responding to nearly every romance scammer who lands a me…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

The data on denying social media for kids (feat. Dr. Jean Twenge) (re-air)

Season 6 Episode 12

Complex problems often assume complex solutions, but recent observations about increased levels of anxiety and depression, increased reports of loneliness, and lower rates of in-person friendships fo…

Published on 6 months ago

What does Facebook know about me?

Season 6 Episode 11

There’s an easy way to find out what Facebook knows about you—you just have to ask.

In 2020, the social media giant launched an online portal that allows all users to access their historical data and …

Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago

How Los Angeles banned smartphones in schools (feat. Nick Melvoin)

Season 6 Episode 10

There’s a problem in class today, and the second largest school district in the United States is trying to solve it.

After looking at the growing body of research that has associated increased smartph…

Published on 6 months, 3 weeks ago

The AI chatbot cop squad is here (feat. Emanuel Maiberg and Jason Koebler)

Season 6 Episode 9

“Heidi” is a 36-year-old, San Francisco-born, divorced activist who is lonely, outspoken, and active on social media. “Jason” is a shy, bilingual teenager whose parents immigrated from Ecuador who li…

Published on 7 months, 1 week ago

Did DOGE "breach" Americans' data? (feat. Sydney Saubestre)

Season 6 Episode 8

If you don’t know about the newly created US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there’s a strong chance they already know about you.

Created on January 20 by US President Donald Trump through…

Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago

Is your phone listening to you? (feat. Lena Cohen)

Season 6 Episode 7

It has probably happened to you before.

You and a friend are talking—not texting, not DMing, not FaceTiming—but talking, physically face-to-face, about, say, an upcoming vacation, a new music festival…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

What Google Chrome knows about you, with Carey Parker

Season 6 Episode 6

Google Chrome is, by far, the most popular web browser in the world.

According to several metrics, Chrome accounts for anywhere between 52% and 66% of the current global market share for web browser u…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago