Podcast Episodes

Curls, Coils, and Pixels: Researchers Crack the Code on Black Hair Animation

The animation industry has long struggled to get Black hair right — from the infamous “Killmonger locs,” named after the Black Panther character and copied across video games, to the stiff, oversized…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago

The Spotify Effect, Pt 2: Micro-Genre Madness

Spotify didn’t just change how we listen to music — it changed what a genre even is. In this episode, producer and rapper Quinn reflects on being thrust into the spotlight at age 15 as one of the bre…

Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Elon's Great Crash-Out / Unmasked in LA

Elon Musk and President Trump breaking up? LA protesters clashing with law enforcement? Waymos on fire (again)? Things have been moving fast the last few days — and like you, our feeds are on overloa…

Published on 5 months ago

The Spotify Effect, Pt 1: Ghosts in the Playlist

Spotify has morphed from a straightforward music library and search engine into a data-driven system built to feed you songs to match your mood and optimize your time on the platform. 

In this episod…

Published on 5 months, 1 week ago

Do You Hear What I Hear? Audio Illusions and Misinformation

Are you old enough to remember the “Magic Eye” optical illusion mania that gripped the nation in the 90’s—random patterns that you had to squint at just right for the 3D image to pop out?  It turns o…

Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Why Can’t Hentai Go Legit?

Hentai, sexually explicit Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), is a genre that’s been criticized for depicting violent or ethically questionable scenarios. But some fans also see it as a sp…

Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago

The Surveillance Machine, Pt 2: No Opt-Out

Think you can opt out of surveillance? Think again. Our locations, behaviors, and images are being tracked at unprecedented levels — and private tech companies are at the center, selling that informa…

Published on 5 months, 4 weeks ago

The Surveillance Machine, Pt 1: How We Got Here

The tools of high tech surveillance are increasingly all around us: security cameras in public and embedded in doorbells, location data on your phone, online ad tracking. A lot of this has become nor…

Published on 6 months ago

Recession Indicator Memes Are Getting Too Real

Recession indicator memes are everywhere, pointing to everything from office wear at the club to Lady Gaga’s return to pop music as signs of looming economic doom. But with the stock market sinking a…

Published on 6 months, 1 week ago

How Safe is AI Therapy?

After a divorce, KQED health reporter Lesley McClurg felt anxious over the prospect of dating again. On a whim, she turned to ChatGPT for a little emotional support — and found herself unexpectedly c…

Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago