Podcasts by Lets Know Things

Food Delivery Apps from 2021-03-02T20:00

This week we talk about Pizzanet, Cyberslice, and GrubHub.

We also discuss DoorDash, World Wide Waiter, and food delivery apps.

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App Tracking Transparency from 2021-02-23T20:00

This week we talk about cookies, ATT, and IDFAs.

We also discuss Federated Learning of Cohorts, targeted ads, and Facebook.

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Meme Squeeze from 2021-02-16T20:00

This week we talk about Dogecoin, GameStop, and the short squeeze.

We also discuss Bitcoin, Greater Fools, and bubbles.

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Myanmar Coup from 2021-02-09T20:00

This week we talk about Aung San, the Anglo-Burmese Wars, and the 2021 Myanmar military coup.

We also discuss Aung San Suu Kyi, genocide, and the politics of democracy.

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Russian Protests from 2021-02-02T20:00

This week we talk about the Soviet Union, Alexei Navalny, and Vladimir Putin.

We also discuss Russia of the Future, protests, and Putin's Palace.

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Relaxation Drinks from 2021-01-26T20:00

This week we talk about GABA, Driftwell, and functional beverages.

We also discuss L-Theanine, magnesium, and marketing.

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Digital Services Act from 2021-01-19T20:00

This week we talk about Section 230, Trump’s online bans, and extraterritorial jurisdiction.

We also discuss the Digital Markets Act, liability, and the European Union.

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Brain Lenses: Okrent's Law from 2021-01-14T20:00

I've got something a little different for you today: a bonus episode from my other podcast, Brain Lenses, that I think is particularly relevant to the sorts of things I talk about on Listen

Post-Stagnation from 2021-01-12T20:00

This week we talk about The Great Stagnation, Robert Solow, and total factor productivity.

We also discuss low-hanging economic fruit, technological innovations, and looms.

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Debt Cancellation from 2021-01-05T20:00

This week we discuss seisachtheia, Jubilee years, and student debt cancellation.

We also discuss Solon, healthcare, and the cost of higher education in the US.

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Qatari World Cup from 2020-12-29T20:00

This week we talk about Qatar, the FIFA 2022 World Cup, and carbon neutrality.

We also discuss Middle Eastern conflicts, sporting event diplomacy, and human rights.

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Thai Protests from 2020-12-22T20:00

This week we talk about the Chakri dynasty, the Siamese Revolution of 1932, and the 2020 Thai protests.

We also discuss the FFP, the Tai peoples, and German ski resorts.

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Protein Folding Problem from 2020-12-15T20:00

This week we talk about SETI@home, macromolecules, and AlphaFold2.

We also discuss proteins, Foldit, and CASP.

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WebRTC from 2020-12-08T20:00

This week we talk about the iOS App Store, GeForce Now, and web-based gaming.

We also discuss Android, Fortnite, and browser capabilities.

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mRNA Vaccines from 2020-12-01T20:00

This week we talk about Messenger RNA, recombinant vaccines, and COVID.

We also discuss the history of vaccine development, variolation, and efficacy versus effectiveness.

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Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership from 2020-11-24T20:00

This week we talk about RCEP, diplomacy, and the TPP.

We also discuss the CPTPP, trade liberalization, and geopolitical gravity.

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End SARS Protests from 2020-11-17T20:00

This week we talk about coups, Nigeria, and #EndSARS.

We also discuss the Spacial Anti-Robbery Squad, SWAT, and the Lekki Massacre.

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Hydrogen Power from 2020-11-10T20:00

This week we talk about fuel cells, steam reforming, and electrolyzers.

We also discuss the hydrogen economy, fracking, and the race between the EU and China to claim hydrogen fuel domina...

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COVID-19 Update from 2020-11-03T20:00

This week we talk about the COVID-19 pandemic, thus far, and what might happen next.

We also discuss air circulation, face masks, and secondary consequences.

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EV Skateboard Platforms from 2020-10-27T19:00

This week we talk about economies of scale, Foxconn, and the skateboardification of the electric vehicle world.

We also discuss EV economics, vertical integration, and Tesla.

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Workplace Politics from 2020-10-20T19:00

This week we talk about lobbying, Coinbase, and stakeholder capitalism.

We also discuss the attempt to be apolitical, neutrality as non-neutrality, and venture capitalists.

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Mass Pardons from 2020-10-13T19:00

This week we talk about United Nations conventions, cannabis legality, and pardons.

We also discuss the US incarceration rate, the War on Drugs, and hemp.

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Climate Pledges from 2020-10-06T19:00

This week we talk about UN climate talks, corporate responsibility, and carbon neutrality.

We also discuss China, the Paris Agreement, and the 75th United Nations General Assembly.

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The FinCEN Files from 2020-09-29T19:00

This week we talk about Al Capone, money laundering, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

We also discuss document leaks, tax evasion, and suspicious activity reports.

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Normalizing Relations from 2020-09-22T18:49:15

This week we talk about Middle Eastern history, the Six-Day War, and relations between Israel and its neighbors.

We also discuss Palestine, the Yom Kippur War, and the UAE.

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Worldscraping from 2020-09-15T19:29:57

This week we talk about Microsoft Flight Simulator, Niantic, and digital twins.

We also discuss augmented reality, data scraping, and price-tweaking bots.

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Abe's Japan from 2020-09-08T19:00

This week we talk about Shinzō Abe, the Meiji Restoration, and the Lost Decade.

We also discuss the Japanese Empire, Edo Society, and the Tokugawa Shogunate.

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Chat Apps from 2020-09-01T19:00

This week we talk about SMS, Belarus, and Telegram.

We also discuss VK, WhatsApp, and protest communication tools.

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EU Renaissance from 2020-08-25T19:00

This week we talk about the etymology of Europe, economic recovery plans, and reserve currencies.

We also discuss Hamilton, Macron, and Merkel.

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Athleisure from 2020-08-18T19:01:43

This week we talk about sweatpants, Fashion Week, and Laver’s Law.

We also discuss fast fashion, pandemics, and synthetic fibers.

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The Twitter Bitcoin Scam from 2020-08-11T19:07:08

This week we talk about Fleming, Marconi, and the hacking of verified social media accounts.

We also discuss Joybubbles, SIM-jacking, and the etymology of the word “hack.”

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Mars 2020 Missions from 2020-08-04T18:45:11

This week we talk about Tianwen-1, Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion, and Perseverance.

We also discuss the Space Race, orbital periods, and the Emirates Mars Mission.

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Jio Platforms from 2020-07-28T16:08:50

This week we talk about super apps, Mukesh Ambani, and Reliance Jio.

We also discuss Alibaba, mobile services, and the Indian tech industry.

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Flash from 2020-07-21T19:32:03

This week we talk about GeoCities, Adobe Flash, and the Digital Dark Age.

We also discuss PenPoint OS, Macromedia, and Kongregate.

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Siberia from 2020-07-14T18:57:33

This week we talk about planetary equilibrium temperature, permafrost, and polar amplification.

We also discuss trade winds, record Arctic temperatures, and the three Siberias.

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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam from 2020-07-07T18:35:44

This week we talk about the Nile River, Ethiopian politics, and dams.

We also discuss the Nile Basic Initiative, the Nile Waters Agreement, and Chinese infrastructural investments.

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Chiplomacy from 2020-06-30T19:05:37

This week we talk about TSMC, ARM, and Huawei.

We also discuss Apple, 5 nanometer processes, and the coming chip wars.

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Playing the Market from 2020-06-23T19:29:30

This week we talk about dividends, Hertz, and legal gambling.

We also discuss bankruptcies, day trading, and questionable stock offerings.

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Rogue Geoengineering from 2020-06-16T19:38:23

This week we talk about phytoplankton blooms, aerosol injection, and giant space mirrors.

We also discuss enhanced weathering, regenerative agriculture, and large-scale reforestation.

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Police Violence from 2020-06-09T18:34:15

This week we talk about less-lethal weapons, qualified immunity, and the Blue Wall.

We also discuss police unions, the 1033 program, and the Kerner Commission.

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Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior from 2020-06-02T19:32:54

This week we talk about COINTELPRO, Occupy Wall Street, and the Internet Research Agency.

We also discuss botnets, social media warnings, and antitrust.

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Vitamins from 2020-05-26T19:20:46

This week we talk about scurvy, Casimir Funk, and the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

We also discuss vitamin D, the supplement industry, and dietary health.

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Orbital Power from 2020-05-19T19:29:48

This week we talk about Vladimir Syromyatnikov, space mirrors, and the X-37B.

We also discuss rectennas, space-based solar power, and the Znamya project.

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Satellite Imagery from 2020-05-12T19:14:55

This week we talk about North Korea, Starlink, and Kremlinology.

We also discuss the Kim Dynasty, the 2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack, and oil shocks.

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Coronadivorces from 2020-05-05T19:24:31

This week we talk about limerence, China’s divorce spike, and nuclear families.

We also discuss coronarelationships, amatonormativity, and marriage.

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Plastic-Eating Enzymes from 2020-04-28T19:17:57

This week we talk about PET, Celluloid, and biodegradability.

We also discuss polyurethane, fungi, and shellac.

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Pandemic Sports from 2020-04-21T19:08:36

This week we talk about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, esports, and pankration.

We also discuss Athens, league cancellations, and Evangelos Zappas.

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Sunset Provisions from 2020-04-14T21:04:06

This week we talk about dictators, the Patriot Act, and Viktor Orbán.

We also discuss the free press, Benjamin Netanyahu, and rule by decree.

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The National Emergency Library from 2020-04-07T20:26:01

This week we talk about cuneiform, Controlled Digital Lending, and the Internet Archive.

We also discuss the Authors Guild, the Wayback Machine, and circulation libraries.

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Internet Infrastructure from 2020-03-31T18:23:52

This week we talk about the TAT-8, submarine telecommunications cables, and streaming content.

We also discuss shark attacks, the MAREA, and fiber-optics.

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Saudi-Russia Oil Price War from 2020-03-24T18:50:22

This week we talk about OPEC, shale oil, and petroleum price wars.

We also discuss cartels, fracking, and simultaneous supply-demand shock.

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COVID-19 Impact from 2020-03-17T19:55:42

This week we talk about the novel coronavirus, epidemics, and the Event 201 scenario.

We also discuss canceled sports, canceled conferences, and canceled pretty much everything else.

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Lifelong Learning from 2020-03-10T18:01:45

This week we talk about automation, the future of work, and Garry Kasparov.

We also discuss user agents, AlphaGo, and social safety nets.

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Data Centers from 2020-03-03T22:02:36

This week we talk about colonialism, music streaming, and CDs.

We also discuss redundancy, software as a service, and sustainability.

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Adversarial Technology from 2020-02-25T18:03:52

This week we talk about countershading, microphone jamming, and dazzle camouflage.

We also discuss facial recognition, adversarial makeup, and infrared-reflecting sunglasses.

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Swatting from 2020-02-18T17:17:54

This week we talk about griefers, trolls, and Caller ID spoofing.

We also discuss STIR/SHAKEN, doxing, and robocalls.

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Newspaper Industry from 2020-02-11T19:39:18

This week we talk about avvisi, local news, and vulture capitalists.

We also discuss Warren Buffett, dibao, and Deadspin.

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Venture Capital from 2020-02-04T20:40:06

This week we talk about Shark Tank, angel investors, and the JOBS Act.

We also discuss Dragon’s Den, the Dotcom Bubble, and private equity.

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Communicable from 2020-01-28T20:09:20

This week we talk about Wuhan pneumonia, the Spanish Flu, and propaganda.

We also discuss quarantines, coronaviruses, and World War I.

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Index Funds from 2020-01-21T19:25:25

This week we talk about securities, BlackRock, and the S&P 500.

We also discuss indices, mutual funds, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

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Greenwashing from 2020-01-14T06:31:59

This week we talk about Formula One, Vogue Italia, and flight shame.

We also discuss electric cars, carbon neutrality, and the Golden Globes.

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Exascale Computing from 2020-01-07T18:06:09

This week we talk about orders of magnitude, Matrioshka brains, and neuromorphic engineering.

We also discuss FLOPS, petascale capabilities, and supercomputers.

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Online Addresses from 2019-12-31T12:20:11

This week we talk about ICANN, IPv4, and .org domain names.

We also discuss telegraphy, the Internet Society, and undecillion.

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SUVs from 2019-12-24T17:41:07

This week we talk about station wagons, gravity assist maneuvers, and the Chicken Tax.

We also discuss the Voyager program, electric vehicles, and General Motors.

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The Election Industry from 2019-12-17T18:09:20

This week we talk about polling, the voting machine industry, and election hacking.

We also discuss oligopolies, confidence intervals, and the Reverse Bradley Effect.

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Wildfires from 2019-12-10T18:26:39

This week we talk about creation myths, the Pleistocene, and slash and burn agricultural methods.

We also discuss serotiny, Prometheus, and the Air Quality Index.

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Browser Wars from 2019-12-03T17:09:29

This week we talk about the Chromium, Netscape, and the Mozilla Foundation.

We also discuss the World Wide Web, Adobe Flash, and Internet Explorer.

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Splinternet from 2019-11-26T17:57:07

This week we talk about the Ottoman Empire, the GDPR, and Balkanization.

We also discuss Section 230, Norwegian ebooks, and censorship.

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Anonymity from 2019-11-19T17:36:02

This week we talk about Hellenism, impeachment hearings, and whistleblowers.

We also discuss the Talking Statues of Rome, the Watergate scandal, and A Warning.

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One-Day Shipping from 2019-11-12T16:46

This week we talk about last mile logistics, transport layer security, and the Paris Agreement.

We also discuss Amazon Prime, climate pledges, and the Sears mail order catalog.

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Stalkerware from 2019-11-05T15:42:30

This week we talk about the Selectric bug, keylogging, and parental monitoring apps.

We also discuss Absher, mSpy, and security updates.

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Soft Power from 2019-10-29T16:26:37

This week we talk about the NBA, South Park, and Hong Kong.

We also discuss Tencent, Blizzard, and Apple’s app store.

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False Information from 2019-10-22T15:27:51

This week we talk about misinformation, disinformation, and the SCL Group.

We also discuss malinformation, propaganda, and Russian PSYOPs.

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Secularism from 2019-10-15T16:11:01

This week we talk about Charvaka, Zeno of Citium, and the New Zealand 2018 census.

We also discuss asset poverty, cultural norms, and religiosity in the United States.

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Alternative Energy Storage from 2019-10-08T15:54:42

This week we talk about molten salt, lithium mining, and pumped-storage hydroelectricity.

We also discuss stacked bricks, wattage, and hydrogen fuel infrastructure.

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E-Cigarettes from 2019-10-01T16:44:07

This week we talk about tobacco, vaping, and Juul.

We also discuss nicotine, aerosols, and Hon Lik.

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Pest Control from 2019-09-25T05:05:36

This week we talk about rats, moa, and New Zealand.

We also discuss Macquarie Island, kiwi, and localized species extermination.

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Surveillance from 2019-09-17T15:37:02

This week we talk about smart doorbells, Gorgon Stare, and wide-area motion imagery.

We also discuss Neighbors, King’s Cross, and facial recognition.

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Feature Phones from 2019-09-10T17:11:06

This week we talk about Symbian, Harmony OS, and the JioPhone.

We also discuss Pocket PC 2000, Nokia, and KaiOS.

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New to Let's Know Things? from 2019-09-07T13:52:58

You can find out more about the show, view transcripts and episode notes, and find out how to support it if you enjoy what you hear at Listen

Greenland from 2019-09-03T16:31:38

This week we discuss Little Norway, Arctic diplomacy, and Project Iceworm.

We also discuss Thule Air Base, Henrick Kauffman, and Operation Chrome Dome.

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The We Company from 2019-08-27T18:28:16

This week we talk about SoftBank, WeWork, and S-1 filings.

We also discuss Masayoshi Son, Adam Neumann, and initial public offerings.

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Kashmir from 2019-08-20T15:31:56

This week we talk about Smiling Buddha, the British Raj, and Modi’s power grab.

We also discuss Jammu & Kashmir, Articles 370 & 35A, and populism.

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TikTok from 2019-08-13T18:32:50

This week we talk about Douyin, ByteDance, and Generation Z.

We also discuss Huawei, soft power, and Millennials.

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Federal Funds Rate from 2019-08-06T19:07:40

Update: a glitch appeared after I uploaded this week's episode. I've re-uploaded the file and that glitch is gone, but if your episode is getting weird at around 11:34, kindly delete the episode...

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Drought from 2019-07-30T17:26:26

This week we talk about wells, arcologies, and desalination.

We also discuss climate change, salt water, and Buckminster Fuller.

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Audio Industry from 2019-07-23T18:28:18

This week we talk about virtual assistants, peak podcast, and audiobooks.

We also discuss podfade, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

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Cloud Kitchens from 2019-07-16T20:44:31

This week we talk about chuckwagons, food delivery, and ghost kitchens.

We also discuss proprietary eponyms, food trucks, and real estate optimization.

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Hypersonic Missiles from 2019-07-09T20:18:20

This week we talk about nuclear strategy, ridiculously fast missiles, and the new global arms race.

We also discuss ICBMs, cruise missiles, and vengeance weapons.

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I Agree from 2019-07-02T19:13:17

This week we talk about Restatements of the Law, EULAs, and contract law.

We also discuss Terms of Service, informed consent, and the Mueller Report.

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The Libra Association from 2019-06-25T19:54:01

This week we talk about cryptocurrency, remittances, and Facebook’s tough year.

We also discuss the unbanked, Tether, and stablecoins.

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African Swine Fever from 2019-06-18T18:45:34

This week we talk about panzootics, pigs, and the pork industry.

We also discuss China’s meat market, globalized viruses, and preventative culling.

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Cold Fusion from 2019-06-11T19:51:03

This week we talk about isotopes, the Fleischmann-Pons experiment, and pathological science.

We also discuss free energy suppression conspiracy theories, Google’s X Development, and the c...

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Ransomware from 2019-06-04T16:35:29

This week we talk about The Shadow Brokers, patches, and EternalBlue.

We also discuss OTA programming, cyberwar, and the NSA’s TAO.

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Sandbox Gaming from 2019-05-28T20:21:24

This week we talk about augmented reality, street art, and Minecraft Earth.

We also discuss user interfaces, Microsoft, and Pokémon Go.

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Venezuela from 2019-05-21T20:56:39

This week we talk about coups, Simón Bolívar, and Nicolás Maduro.

We also discuss chavismo, international politics, and the human cost of national conflict.

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Guns in America from 2019-05-14T22:02:25

This week we talk about mass shootings, the NRA, and fire lances.

We also discuss hand cannons, gun legislation, and amplified violence.

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Fake Meat from 2019-05-07T16:16:28

This week we talk about Beyond Meat, the Impossible Whopper, and meat analogues.

We also discuss stock listings, dietary ethics, and casual gamers.

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African Continental Free Trade Area from 2019-04-30T14:07:51

This week we talk about Jumia, the African Union, and free trade areas.

We also discuss global economics, IPOs, and continental ignorance.

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The Shirky Principle from 2019-04-23T15:40:08

This week we talk about carbon capture and storage, floating cities, and perverse incentives.

We also discuss perpetuating problems, private prisons, and tax software.

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Capacitors from 2019-04-16T15:12:11

This week we talk about Leyden Jars, cascading failures, and MLCCs.

We also discuss dielectrics, batteries, and the global economy.

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Ethics Boards from 2019-04-09T20:06:03

This week we talk about ethics, axiology, and the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council.

We also discuss the Heritage Foundation, Google, and value theory.

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Generative Adversarial Networks from 2019-04-02T18:57:59

This week we talk about Photoshopping, GANs, and Lincoln’s fake body.

We also discuss AI-generated cats, scientific discovery, and creative self-consciousness.

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Privilege Spirals from 2019-03-26T20:40:12

This week we talk about mafias, Silicon Valley, and the Ivy League.

We also discuss the Traitorous Eight, schadenfreude, and the Matthew Effect.

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Identity Politics from 2019-03-19T19:43:27

This week we talk about labor unions, divide and rule, and identity.

We also discuss US political parties, the Combahee River Collective, and labels.

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Sharenting from 2019-03-12T20:43:57

This week we talk about stock photography, augmented reality, and online personhood.

We also discuss simultaneous localization and mapping, sharing while a parent, and Mirrorworld.

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Brand Disassociation from 2019-03-05T14:44:41

This week we talk about Disney, YouTube, and crisis management.

We also discuss algorithms, recommendation spirals, and ad buyers.

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Attention from 2019-02-26T22:41:35

This week we talk about the Red Market, binge-watching, and peak attention.

We also discuss Fortnite, net worth, and corporate shade.

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Superheavy Elements from 2019-02-19T21:45:57

This week we talk about the Periodic Table, the Large Hadron Collider, and the Higgs boson.

We also discuss extreme chemistry, particle physics, and Dmitri Mendeleev.

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Hardware Parasites from 2019-02-12T15:07:28

This week we talk about parasitical fungi, the right to repair, and the Game Genie.

We also discuss ROM cartridges, John Deere tractors, and Project Alias.

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Eyeglasses from 2019-02-05T20:33:58

This week we talk about the Nimrud lens, non-compound eyes, and EssilorLuxottica.

We also discuss Big Lens, transparent medical pricing, and reading stones.

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Cannabis from 2019-01-29T23:47:16

This week we talk about exploitation films, the Cannabis plant, and the Shafer Commission.

We also discuss the prison industrial complex, the International Opium Commission, and hashish.<...

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The 10 Billion Diet from 2019-01-22T20:17:24

This week we discuss flexitarianism, Banting, and the global diet industry.

We also discuss population growth, Claude Bernard, and Godzilla-scale problems.

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Global Positioning System from 2019-01-15T19:54:35

This week we talk about Sputnik 1, satellite triangulation, and the Guugu Yimithirr.

We also discuss the GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo constellations.

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Cameras from 2019-01-08T17:07:53

This week we talk about selfies, the Daguerrotype, and smartphone cameras.

We also discuss film, Kodak, and the perception of captured reality.

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Bandwidth Inequality from 2019-01-01T13:45:06

This week we talk about internet access milestones, the rural digital disadvantage, and the benefits of broadband access.

We also discuss bandwidth issues in the US, internet non-users, a...

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China's Evolution from 2018-12-25T18:59:31

This week we talk about the Cultural Revolution, the Great Leap Forward, and China's middle class.

We also discuss GDP, the benefits and downsides of scale, and international tourism.

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Creative Platforms from 2018-12-18T18:39:17

This week we talk about busking, deplatforming, and the Tumblr porn ban.

We also discuss megaphones, Patreon, and the friction between creating and funding.

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Sex Recession from 2018-12-11T19:54:25

This week we talk about asexuality, penile measurements, and the mesolimbic pathway.

We also discuss dating apps, pornography, and biological reward systems.

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Germline Modification from 2018-12-04T22:01:31

This week we talk about insulin, genetic engineering, and rogue scientists.

We also discuss CRISPR/Cas9, assisted reproductive technology, and gene editing ethics.

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Facebook: It's Complicated from 2018-11-27T21:40:10

This week we talk about Cambridge Analytica, Friday news dumps, and the Definers scandal.

We also discuss data breaches, Soros, and Brexit.

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Government Subsidies from 2018-11-20T20:04:12

This week we talk about corporate welfare, Amazon's HQ2, and cronyism.

We also discuss helipads, private space companies, and Wisconsin.

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Motorized Scooters from 2018-11-13T16:33:14

This week we talk about the Razor, scooter economics, and traversing microdistances.

We also discuss Bird, the difference between docked and dock-less transportation, and the scooter-char...

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Cosplay from 2018-11-06T22:35:26

This week we talk about fandom, conventions, and Mr. Skygack, from Mars.

We also discuss subcultures, kawaii, and harassment.

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New Climate Report from 2018-10-30T19:54:21

This week we talk about hurricanes, 1.5˚ Celsius, and the IPCC 2018 special report on climate change.

We also discuss what real climate action looks like, why it probably won’t happen, an...

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Hardware Hacking from 2018-10-23T20:09:01

This week we talk about the Coventry Blitz Conspiracy, Supermicro, and Fancy Bear.

We also discuss state-sponsored hacking, the CIA, and Pearl Harbor.

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Consumer-Grade Medical Devices from 2018-10-16T20:59:38

This week we talk about hypochondria, heart monitoring, and medical device classes.

We also discuss postmarketing surveillance, electrocardiograms, and smartwatches.

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Selling Privacy from 2018-10-09T20:47:02

This week we talk about surveillance, iPhones, and profit margins.

We also discuss vertical integration, Fan Bingbing, and the Chrome browser.

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Stratigraphy from 2018-10-02T12:55:59

This week we talk about the Meghalayan stage, the ICS, and the Law of Superposition.

We also discuss Dr. Guy Middleton, lithostratigraphy, and academic geology shade.

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Open Source from 2018-09-25T19:17:41

This week we talk about Richard Stallman, Wikipedia, and GitHub.

We also discuss Common Clause, Amazon Web Services, and Linux.

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Debt Trap from 2018-09-18T19:21:36

This week we talk about the Safavids, Djibouti, and debt-book diplomacy.

We also discuss the Belt and Road Initiative, China's structural weaknesses, and the Silk Road.

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Soybeans from 2018-09-11T19:28:03

This week we talk about Morse & Piper, fake milk, and the Dust Bowl.

We also discuss FDA standards, plant-based protein, and soybean politics.

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Flying Cars from 2018-09-04T20:05:16

This week we talk about the Ford Flivver, the Space Race, and ideas that came too soon.

We also discuss civil rights, the Nucleon, and ideas that came too late.

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Apology Tour from 2018-08-28T20:16:56

This week we talk about Ambien, reputation management, and the Twinkie Defense.

We also discuss GABA, drug enforcement schedules, and moral judgement.

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Persuasive Technology from 2018-08-21T20:38:31

This week we talk about Captology, Pigovian taxes, and dopamine.

We also discuss adolescent psychology, smoking, and dark patterns.

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Trust from 2018-08-14T21:07:17

This week we talk about shopping malls, Goop, and societal trust.

We also discuss e-commerce, the war on journalism, and confirmation bias.

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5G from 2018-08-07T20:48:02

This week we talk about life-changing speeds, millimeter waves, and wireless disruption.

We also discuss the 5G rollout, BS telecommunications technologies, and MIMO antenna arrays.

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Online Dating from 2018-07-31T19:18:26

This week we talk about swiping, otaku, and the gamification of intimacy.

We also discuss dating sims, population stats, and Match Group.

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Sacred Cows from 2018-07-24T20:11:24

This week we talk about the US Constitution, the free market, and property law.

We also discuss Canada's international influence, dictatorships, and AI authoritarians.

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Socialism from 2018-07-17T20:23:02

This week we talk about the French Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, and municipal socialism.

We also discuss the $15 minimum wage, the benefits of capitalism, and automation.

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Crypto Scams from 2018-07-10T20:41:42

This week we talk about multi-level marketing, Dennis Rodman, and BitConnect.

We also discuss the crypto commons, Ripple, and PotCoin.

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Reading from 2018-07-03T20:25:01

This week we talk about neolithic tablets, secondary orality, and speed reading.

We also discuss narrative, the myth of multitasking, and modern distractedness.

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Sleep from 2018-06-26T20:00

This week we talk about whale oil, the DEC2 gene variation, and the economic costs of insufficient sleep.

We also discuss LEDs, luminous efficacy, and contemporary sleep science.

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Conspiracy Theories from 2018-06-19T19:59:40

This week we talk about sonic weapons, mass hysteria, and Occam's Razor.

We also discuss Cuba, Guangzhou, and encephalopathy.

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Competitive Video Gaming from 2018-06-12T20:53:18

This week we talk eSports, Fortnite, and gaming as a service.

We also discuss Twitch, augmented reality, and Battle Royale.

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Complex People from 2018-06-05T22:28:22

This week we talk about Fritz Haber, the Korean Peninsula, and moral gray areas.

We also discuss attribution bias, giving credit where credit is due, and Mother Teresa.

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Personal Genomics from 2018-05-29T18:58:13

This week we talk about citizen science, genealogy services, and serial killers.

We also discuss genetic privacy, HR 1313, and DNA analysis.

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Killer Robots from 2018-05-22T20:23:49

This week we talk about androids, drones, and Project Maven.

We also discuss lethal autonomous weapons, the Terminator, and cyberwarfare.

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The Call of the Commons from 2018-05-15T21:50:22

This week we talk about Robogate, call centers, and phone fraud.

We also discuss the tragedy of the commons, the Do Not Call Registry, and noise.

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Art Forgery from 2018-05-08T20:21:09

This week we talk about art valuation, Morellian analysis, and Duchamp's Fountain.

We also discuss market-demolishing faux Rodins, connoisseurs, and what art actually is.

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Counterfeit from 2018-05-01T23:39:31

This week we talk about Gresham's Law, drop shipping, and Section 230.

We also discuss FOSTA-SESTA, stealing books, and reeded coins.

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Regulatory Capture from 2018-04-24T23:13:05

This week we talk about rent-seeking, the Shirky Principle, and the tax-preparation industry.

We also discuss the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Zuckerberg's testimony, and the public inter...

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The Right to Be Forgotten from 2018-04-17T23:15:38

This week we talk about the GDPR, crypto-shredding, and online privacy.

We also discuss deleted files that aren't, Google as journalism, and EU standards.

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Organs from 2018-04-10T17:35:27

This week we talk about Galen, organs-on-chips, and the interstitium.

We also discuss microbiota, Ptolemy I, and commensalism.

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Trade War from 2018-04-03T20:32:08

This week we talk about bribery, the Anglo-Irish Trade War, and Bananagate.

We also discuss China, tariffs, and the United Fruit Company.

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Digital Dark Age from 2018-03-27T18:35:37

This week we talk about the Universal Serial Bus, cuneiform, and 5D optical data storage.

We also discuss chip aging, solid-state drives, and the Arch Mission Foundation.

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Food Fraud from 2018-03-20T21:42:06

This week we talk about fast food, the diet industry, and plastic rice.

We also discuss growth stunting, horse meat, and nutritional deficiencies.

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Millennials from 2018-03-13T21:12:46

This week we talk about fashion forecasting, Theosophy, and the Generation formerly known as Y.

We also discuss Boomer, Aryans, and color consultants.

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Satellite Broadband from 2018-03-06T21:57:02

This week we talk about Starlink, Arthur C. Clarke, and atmospheric satellites.

We also discuss Facebook Aquila, space manufacturing, and the Falcon Heavy.

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Untouchable from 2018-02-27T22:34:11

This week we talk about Napoleon, Jacob Zuma, and what it takes to become legally untouchable.

We also discuss financial crises, too big to fail, and political deposition.

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Passive Architecture from 2018-02-20T22:37:27

This week we talk about thermal bridges, superinsulation, and the Leaky Condo Crisis.

We also discuss zero-energy buildings, standards of living, and quality of life.

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Data Portability from 2018-02-13T23:08:21

This week we talk about edge cases, WHOIS, and information brokers.

We also discuss China's Social Credit System, the GDPR, and data ownership.

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Information Imbalance from 2018-02-07T17:09:15

This week we talk about geolocation, Strava heat maps, and transparency.

We also discuss optimization, Zuckerberg's walls, and social media insider regrets.

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Cardboard Entertainment from 2018-01-31T00:10:04

This week we talk about Zappers, board games, and Nintendo Labo.

We also discuss barcades, makerspaces, and unusual consoles.

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Geoengineering from 2018-01-23T22:59:38

This week we talk about contrails, space mirrors, and iron fertilization.

We also discuss stratospheric aerosol injection, meat, and paleoclimatology.

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Mergers & Acquisitions from 2018-01-16T23:48:17

This week we talk about the HHI Index, the Consolidation Curve, and Disney.

We also discuss tax bills, the Panic of 1893, and rightsizing.

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Quantification from 2018-01-09T23:05:05

This week we talk about sensors, inventories, and the quantified self.

We also discuss venture capital, fitness trackers, and PARC.

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Norms from 2018-01-02T22:17:15

This week we discuss virtue signaling, hype cycles, and the Overton Window.

We also talk about pronking, online dating, and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory.

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Space War from 2017-12-26T23:10:46

This week we discuss the Strategic Defense Initiative, the X-37B, and Project Excalibur.

We also talk about space treaties, Patriot missiles, and mutually assured destruction.

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Prison-Industrial Complex from 2017-12-19T22:15:51

This week we talk about mass incarceration, sketchy Skype-clones, and private prisons.

We also discuss oubliettes, stop-and-frisk, and the War on Drugs.

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Sex Dolls from 2017-12-12T23:15:52

This week we talk about the Uncanny Valley, the sex toy industry, and porn addiction.

We also discuss pedophilia, sexual aggression, and the age of consent.

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