Technology
kill switch
Kaleidoscope
Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On kill switch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host Dexter Thomas answers questions big and small - like who’s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer? kill switch also brings the DIY back to tech - “How to Now” on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more “user-friendly” our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We’re here to help you take back control. And if we can’t… Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.
Open in Clue Episodes to Learn English 71
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From Uncanny Valley: ‘Stop Trying to Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto’ Says Actor Ben McKenzie
May 18, 2026 34 min<p>Here’s a recent favorite of ours from our friends at the Uncanny Valley podcast.</p> <p>Actor Ben McKenzie (<em>The O.C.</em>) is out with a new documentary, <em>Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,</em> which follows his journey into becoming an anti-cryptocurrency advocate. He says we should all stop trying to unmask the presumed original developer(s) of bitcoin known as Satoshi Nakamoto because it benefits only the mysterious inventor. The actor-director talks with Katie about why he thinks crypto is a scam, and why he says people are falling for it. </p> <p>Listen and subscribe to Uncanny Valley here: <a href="https://swap.fm/l/wired-uv-drop">https://swap.fm/l/wired-uv-drop</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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it's not sci-fi. mind-reading tech is here
May 6, 2026 41 min<p>Your brain is the last place companies don’t have access to… yet. But that’s changing fast. Nita Farahany, professor of law and philosophy at Duke University and author of <em>The Battle for Your Brain</em>, explains why the sci-fi future of mind-reading technology is here, and already sitting on the shelves at Best Buy. Dexter talks to Nita about how AI is learning to decode your mental state, how employers are using neurotechnology to monitor workers, and why this might be our last chance to protect the one thing that’s still private: what’s actually going on inside your head. </p> <p>And be sure to listen through the end of the episode for a note from Dexter.</p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod on IG, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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discord’s new age verification is about to spy on every message
Apr 29, 2026 33 min<p>Discord announced it would start scanning users' account data to guess their age and if it couldn't figure out how old you were, it would ask for your government ID or a face scan. Gamers lost it, and within weeks, Discord backed down. But the fight isn't over. Dexter talks with Rin Alajaji of the Electronic Frontier Foundation about why age verification doesn't actually protect kids, how California's new Digital Age Assurance Act means your next laptop might card you before you can turn it on, and why a policy that started with gamers is quietly becoming everyone's problem.</p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Links: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">EFF’s Age Verification and Age Gating: Resource Hub: <a href="https://www.eff.org/issues/age-verification">https://www.eff.org/issues/age-verification</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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new from kaleidoscope: two percent with michael easter
Apr 27, 2026 30 min<p>This week, we’re sharing a clip from another podcast we’re excited about. Two Percent with Michael Easter is a deep dive into the science of living better, balancing rigorous evidence with a healthy dose of skepticism to cut through the noise of the modern wellness industry.</p> <p>In this episode, Michael takes a nuanced look at vices and whether some of them might actually enhance your life when you use them the right way. We don't have to live like monks to live a good life.</p> <p>We’re sharing the first segment of the episode featuring Dean Stattmann, a GQ reporter who spent three months sober and wrote a now-viral piece titled "Why My 2026 Resolution Is to Start Drinking Again." His Whoop scores got better, but his friendships, his marriage, and his mood got worse. Dean explains what alcohol actually does for human connection, what anthropologists call "costly signaling," and why moderate drinking might not be the villain the internet has made it out to be.</p> <p>Check out the rest of the episode and the show, Two Percent with Michael Easter, wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube.</p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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this is the wellness wild west
Apr 22, 2026 40 min<p>The wellness and health tech space is more crowded and confusing than ever – influencers are selling dubious health and beauty products and tech companies are developing wearables that track everything, from your sleep to your blood. Victoria Song, senior reviewer at The Verge, calls it the “wellness wild west.” Dexter talks to Victoria about the growing wellness trends online, the gray area between medical devices and wellness devices, and the mental health consequences of it all that no one talks about.</p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Links: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Victoria’s newsletter, Optimizer: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/optimizer-newsletter">https://www.theverge.com/optimizer-newsletter</a></li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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why are AI agents everywhere? and how useful are they, actually?
Apr 15, 2026 43 min<p>AI agents can do stuff for you: like organize meetings or, accidentally delete your hard drive.<strong> </strong>Is this the future Silicon Valley wants for us? To get a preview of what it might be like, Evan Ratliff launched a startup with almost exclusively AI employees and documented the whole thing in his podcast <em>Shell Game</em>. Dexter talks with Evan about what it feels like to have a robot apologize for interrupting your lunch, why Clawdbot and Moltbook weren’t as groundbreaking as you might think, and why he thinks fellow journalists should consider using AI agents. </p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Links: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Shell Game on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shell-game/id1753117762">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shell-game/id1753117762</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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why the IRS killed a free, easy way to file your taxes
Apr 8, 2026 30 min<p>Direct File promised a free and easy way for Americans to file their taxes, but after two successful tax seasons, it was shut down. Dexter talks with Merici Vinton, who helped build Direct File, about the project's development, why it was an example of a good government program, and how lobbying from private tax companies and DOGE’s involvement ultimately led to its downfall. Could Direct File make a comeback, or has the opportunity for free tax filing already passed? </p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Links: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Merici’s Direct File story: <a href="https://fas.org/publication/end-of-irs-direct-file/">https://fas.org/publication/end-of-irs-direct-file/</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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why Iran is winning the AI propaganda war
Apr 1, 2026 36 min<p>Wartime propaganda isn’t new – but the use of AI slop in churning out propaganda videos is. And in this proxy war, Iran is winning. Dexter talks to Matthew Gault, who recently wrote about the Iran-US slopaganda war for 404 Media, about the strategy behind Iran’s videos, why the US is losing online, and how AI has amplified an age-old war tactic.</p> <p>Read Matthew’s piece for 404: <a href="https://www.404media.co/iran-is-winning-the-ai-slop-propaganda-war/">https://www.404media.co/iran-is-winning-the-ai-slop-propaganda-war/</a></p> <p>Hit us up: killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>This episode was livestreamed on YouTube. Catch the next one live by subscribing to our channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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he monetized the web. now he has a plan to fix it
Mar 25, 2026 38 min<p>Ethan Zuckerman helped design the amateur web as we know it. In the 90s, he worked at Tripod, providing free web space for anyone to build their own site. His invention, pop-up ads, helped make that possible. The industry ran with it, and the Internet was never the same.<br><br>Since then, Ethan’s been on a mission to fix the Internet and bring it back to what he hoped it would be – he even sued Facebook over it. Dexter talks to Ethan about how to make advertising less surveillant, a “free-trade coffee” model of the web, and why ad blockers might hint at a way to make Facebook a better place.</p> <p>Hit us up: <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod and @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p><strong>Links: </strong></p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Ethan Zuckerman and Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci’s proposal on Forgetful Adveritising: <a href="https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/isp/documents/zuckerman.pdf">https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/area/center/isp/documents/zuckerman.pdf</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Ethan’s op-ed in the New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/opinion/facebook-court-internet-meta.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/opinion/facebook-court-internet-meta.html</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Ethan and Isaac Brickman’s proposal for middleware: <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/JMYZ3GJKPE7UTCN8ZR3K/full">https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/JMYZ3GJKPE7UTCN8ZR3K/full</a></li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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how the tech boom is killing India’s best coders
Mar 18, 2026 34 min<p>India’s tech industry was supposed to be a ticket to the middle class, a way out of poverty. Instead, for many workers, it’s become something else: long hours, intense competition, and a growing mental health crisis. Dexter talks to journalist Parth MN about the mounting pressure inside India’s tech workforce, the rise in suicides among engineers, and how a system built for relentless growth leaves little room for failure. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Parth’s article, “Death of an Indian tech worker” - <a href="https://restofworld.org/2026/india-tech-workers-crisis-suicide/">https://restofworld.org/2026/india-tech-workers-crisis-suicide/</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">VICE’s video, “ The Women Behind the Indian Farmers Protest” - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knMUaiBiw4U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knMUaiBiw4U</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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who is palantir, and why are they involved with ICE?
Mar 11, 2026 37 min<p>Do you know what Palantir does? Don’t feel bad: neither do a lot of their employees. In fact, WIRED senior writer Makena Kelly recently uncovered company chat logs showing how angry and confused Palantir workers are about the company’s involvement with ICE. Dexter talks to Makena about this new reporting, what exactly the company is providing ICE, and how the company creates mystery behind everything from Partiful rumors to skyrocketing stock price.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Makena’s reporting about Palantir employees: <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-ice-dhs-alex-pretti-killing-workers-slack-minneapolis/">https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-ice-dhs-alex-pretti-killing-workers-slack-minneapolis/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">404 Media’s zine on ICE: <a href="https://www.404media.co/icezine/">https://www.404media.co/icezine/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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why is the government fighting with claude?
Mar 5, 2026 30 min<p>kill switch went live on March 4th to cover one of the newsier topics of the week: the fight between the US government and Anthropic, the company behind Claude. Dexter talked to WIRED senior writer, Will Knight, to discuss what exactly is happening, why, and the stakes for all of us.</p> <p>Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch our next live episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Will’s articles on WIRED:</li> <ul> <li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trump-moves-to-ban-anthropic-from-the-us-government/">https://www.wired.com/story/trump-moves-to-ban-anthropic-from-the-us-government/</a></li> <li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-shockwaves-silicon-valley/">https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-shockwaves-silicon-valley/</a></li> </ul> <li aria-level="1">Will’s AI Lab newsletter: <a href="https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/ai-lab">https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/ai-lab</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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silicon valley’s plan to make the “perfect baby”
Feb 25, 2026 34 min<p>The 1997 science fiction film Gattaca depicts a dystopian future where genetic technology creates a two-tier society: people who were born with the “best” genes selected vs. people who were conceived naturally. This was a cautionary tale, showing us a future we don’t want. But now, Silicon Valley is heavily investing in making this technology real. Dexter talks to Amanda Gerut, West Coast editor at Fortune, about the rise of polygenic screening companies, the investment in gene editing of embryos, and how close we are to creating designer babies.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Amanda’s article, “Silicon Valley sets its sights on building the perfect baby” - <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/ivf-silicon-valley-billionaire-baby/">https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/ivf-silicon-valley-billionaire-baby/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">WSJ's reporting, “Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.” - https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/genetically-engineered-babies-tech-billionaires-6779efc8</li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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are we all going to end up in AI relationships? [panic world special]
Feb 18, 2026 1h 4m<p>This week, we have a special collab episode with our friends at Panic World: From research to vibe coding to therapy to girlfriends and boyfriends, how are we using AI these days? Dexter joins Ryan Broderick on Panic World to talk about the interesting relationships people are forming with AI — for better and (mostly) worse.</p> <p>Check out Panic World wherever you get your podcasts, or on YouTube at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@panicworldpod">https://www.youtube.com/@panicworldpod</a></p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Our episode on AI therapy: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-switch/id1449757372?i=1000725849687">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-switch/id1449757372?i=1000725849687</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Our episode on Only Fans chatters: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-onlyfans-girlfriend-might-be-a-guy-or-a-robot/id1449757372?i=1000731948555">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-onlyfans-girlfriend-might-be-a-guy-or-a-robot/id1449757372?i=1000731948555</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Our episode on VTubers: <a href="https://youtu.be/8bCU8MkO420?si=RXwh0aP8_BVcYXAT">https://youtu.be/8bCU8MkO420?si=RXwh0aP8_BVcYXAT</a></li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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a tour of the year’s worst new tech
Feb 11, 2026 35 min<p>Tech companies are constantly putting out new products to chase the hype – but they’re not all winners. Each year, nonprofit consumer advocates put on an award ceremony recognizing the lousiest of the bunch, called the Worst in Show. Dexter talks with Liz Chamberlain, who runs Worst in Show, about this year’s awards, the products that earned them (spoiler: a product featured during the Super Bowl is on the list), and what we risk when we chase the hype (read: add AI to everything).</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">This year’s Worst In Show: <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/115344/worst-in-show-returns-at-ces-2026-calling-out-gadgets-that-make-things-worse">https://www.ifixit.com/News/115344/worst-in-show-returns-at-ces-2026-calling-out-gadgets-that-make-things-worse</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Worst In Show website: <a href="https://www.worstinshowces.com/">https://www.worstinshowces.com/</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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how the internet learned to extract
Feb 4, 2026 37 min<p>For a while, the internet felt like it might actually work. Dexter talks with legal scholar and author Tim Wu about his new book <em>The Age of Extraction </em>and how that early optimism faded as companies learned how to extract value from just about everything. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch:</p> <ul> <li><em>The Age of Extraction</em>, by Tim Wu: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691177/the-age-of-extraction-by-tim-wu/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691177/the-age-of-extraction-by-tim-wu/</a></li> <li>kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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how an editor uncovered an AI journalist
Jan 28, 2026 33 min<p>When an editor at a local magazine in Toronto received a pitch from a promising new freelancer, he didn’t expect it to spiral into an obsessive investigation. What followed was a deep dive into a web of fake interviews, impossible bylines, and fake reporting. Dexter talks with Nicholas Hune-Brown to trace how he uncovered an AI journalist and what it reveals about journalism today. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">“Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era” <a href="https://thelocal.to/investigating-scam-journalism-ai/">https://thelocal.to/investigating-scam-journalism-ai/</a> </li> <li aria-level="1">“The Fallout From Our AI Freelancer Investigation” <a href="https://thelocal.to/fallout-from-ai-freelancer-investigation/">https://thelocal.to/fallout-from-ai-freelancer-investigation/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">The Local’s recent issue, “The Cost of Care” <a href="https://thelocal.to/winter-2026/">https://thelocal.to/winter-2026/</a> </li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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the hack that broke myspace
Jan 21, 2026 35 min<p>In 2005, Myspace pages were flooded with the saying “Samy is my hero” and then suddenly, the platform went dark. Dexter talks with Jack Rhysider, host of the podcast <em>Darknet Diaries</em>, about Samy Kamkar, how he accidentally took down the biggest social media platform at the time, and how it changed the modern Internet. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Listen: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Jack’s <em>Darknet Diaries</em> episode with Samy: https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/61/</li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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everything’s a game… even baptisms
Jan 14, 2026 33 min<p>From language learning to investments to Amazon leaderboards, it seems like everything has become a game. But are these gamified things actually fun, or are we the ones being played? Dexter talks to philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, who recently wrote a book about why gamification can suck the life out of things called <em>The Score</em>. They talk about why the same mechanism in games and gamified metrics – the scoring system – works so differently, why gamification can trick you into caring about the wrong thing, and how this phenomenon hits everything… even baptisms.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">C. Thi Nguyen’s book, <em>The Score</em>: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735252/the-score-by-c-thi-nguyen/">https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735252/the-score-by-c-thi-nguyen/</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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how to: protect yourself from online harassment
Jan 7, 2026 33 min<p>Journalists, public figures, and just about anyone with an online presence today can suddenly face harassment: ranging from nasty posts and replies to real life threats like doxxing. Dexter talks with Ramy Ghaly, a security professional, about how online harassment has gotten worse, how to respond if it happens to you, and what you can do, right now, to prepare and protect yourself.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Resources:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Pen America’s Online Harassment Field Manual: https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/</li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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from ‘click here’: an illusion of control
Dec 24, 2025 22 min<p>This week, we’re sharing an episode from the podcast <em>Click Here</em>, from our friends at Recorded Future News and PRX:</p> <p>Jake Gallen was a rising star in crypto. Then, after what seemed like a routine YouTube interview, his digital world unraveled. His NFTs? Liquidated. His social accounts? Hijacked. It turns out, the hackers didn’t need phishing links or fake job offers. They needed something much simpler: a Zoom invite.</p> <p>Subscribe to Click Here on Apple Podcasts (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/click-here/id1225077306">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/click-here/id1225077306</a>) or wherever you get your podcasts.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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now you can bet on real life. but should we?
Dec 17, 2025 34 min<p>Betting used to be something you did in a casino. Now it lives in your pocket and you can bet on just about anything: sports, Labubus, elections, and even forest fires. Dexter talks with Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at <em>Business Insider</em>, about why betting is everywhere, how any of it is legal, and if it’s changing how we experience real world events.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Emily’s article, “Everything’s casino”: https://www.businessinsider.com/kalshi-polymarket-fanduel-draftkings-sports-betting-gambling-2025-11</li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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social media reveals life behind bars. prisons want to block it
Dec 10, 2025 38 min<p>Social media has gotten a bad rap over the past decade – we blame it for our growing loneliness, shorter attention spans, and polarized politics. But for incarcerated people, social media can still live up to its original promise of connection. And for those on the outside, contraband cell phones give us an unprecedented look into what life is like behind bars. Dexter talks to Jeremy Busby, an incarcerated journalist, about how social media has helped to force positive changes in jails and prisons, and why he thinks prisons want to ban it.</p> <p>Shout out to the Never Post Podcast and the Freedom of the Press Foundation for connecting us with Jeremy. Check out Never Post episodes at <a href="https://www.neverpo.st/">neverpo.st</a> and Freedom of the Press Foundation at <a href="https://freedom.press/">freedom.press</a>. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Listen + Watch:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Check out our episode with Gaby Caplan on tablets in prison: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-review-tablets-in-prisons/id1449757372?i=1000719762318">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-review-tablets-in-prisons/id1449757372?i=1000719762318</a></li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi">https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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when the ref’s a robot
Dec 3, 2025 32 min<p>In the high-stakes world of sports, referees have always been under intense scrutiny… but what if tech could take some of the pressure off? Or will we lose something by replacing the referee with a robot? In this episode Dexter talks with Joe Lemire, senior writer at <em>Sports Business Journal</em>, to explore how new technologies like Hawk-Eye are reshaping sports officiating. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Joe’s article on automating officiating in sports: <a href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/15/how-why-and-whether-to-automate-more-officiating-in-sports-and-what-are-the-trade-offs/">https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/15/how-why-and-whether-to-automate-more-officiating-in-sports-and-what-are-the-trade-offs/</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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new from kaleidoscope: shell game (season 2)
Nov 26, 2025 34 min<p>This week, we’re sharing an episode from another podcast we’re excited about.</p> <p>In Season 2 of Shell Game, journalist Evan Ratliff tells a story of entrepreneurship in the AI age; or, how he tried to build a real company, run by fake people. </p> <p>In episode one, we meet Kyle Law and Megan Flores, Evan’s AI agent cofounders, as he puts to the test the claims about an emerging future in which AI employees work alongside — or instead of — humans.</p> <p>Over the course of the season, the three cofounders will grind it out in a sprint that would sound familiar to any start-up founder. They’ll churn out software code, hire interns, and even sit down with investors. But first, they need to come up with a name for their company. And make sure that Kyle and Megan can remember it.</p> <p>Subscribe to Shell Game wherever you get your podcasts. And check out more at <a href="http://shellgame.co">shellgame.co</a>.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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who is profiting from scam texts – and can we stop them?
Nov 19, 2025 37 min<p>If it feels like you’re getting more scammy texts in the past few years, you’re not imagining it. Scam texts have exploded since 2020, and the operation behind them has become a massively lucrative industry. Dexter talks to Eric Priezkalns, a self-proclaimed ‘troublemaker’ in the telecommunications world and founder of the website Commsrisk, about the new technology that’s making scam texts easier than ever, what some of the weirder, long-game schemes are after, who’s behind these operations, and if there’s anything we can do to stop them.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read: </p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Eric’s website Commsrisk: <a href="https://commsrisk.com/">https://commsrisk.com/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Eric’s article on Huang, the boy sold to a Myanmar scam compound: <a href="https://commsrisk.com/17-year-old-chinese-girl-accused-of-selling-boyfriend-into-myanmar-scam-compound-slavery/">https://commsrisk.com/17-year-old-chinese-girl-accused-of-selling-boyfriend-into-myanmar-scam-compound-slavery/</a></li> <li aria-level="1">How to turn off 2g for android: <a href="https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/cellular-security/toggle-2g">https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/cellular-security/toggle-2g</a></li> </ul> <p>Listen + Watch:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Labi Siffre - Bless the Telephone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2O6fYiTk </li> <li aria-level="1">A Tribe Called Quest - Skypager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYc50S23pQY</li> <li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi">https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi</a></li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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‘my peptide guy’ is the new tech bro flex
Nov 12, 2025 29 min<p>Forget building the next app – Silicon Valley’s tech bros are now trying to rebuild themselves. Peptides are the new frontier into biohacking, promising better sleep, sharper focus, and maybe even eternal youth. Dexter talks to Zara Stone, a culture reporter at <em>The San Francisco Standard</em>, about her reporting on the Bay Area’s underground peptide scene, and what happens when tech’s obsession with optimization turns inward. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <p>Zara’s articles: <br><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/14/everyone-has-chinese-peptide-dealer-now/">https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/14/everyone-has-chinese-peptide-dealer-now/</a></p> <p><a href="https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/30/semen-sleep-syringes-tech-bro-s-manual-living-forever/">https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/30/semen-sleep-syringes-tech-bro-s-manual-living-forever/</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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‘my internet bed is broken’ is just the start
Nov 5, 2025 33 min<p>A few weeks ago on Monday, October 20, a major outage in Amazon Web Services took down a bunch of the Internet. How did an error in one data center in Virginia affect everything from Snapchat and Reddit to ‘smartbeds’ to government services? Dexter talks to Dr. Corinne Cath, a cultural anthropologist and technology researcher, about how the “cloud,” and therefore the Internet, became mostly controlled by 3 big tech companies – Amazon, Microsoft, and Google – why that puts our democracy at risk, and what we can do to change it.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <p>Corinne’s op-ed: <a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/amazon-cloud-outage-reveals-democratic-deficit-in-relying-on-big-tech/">https://www.techpolicy.press/amazon-cloud-outage-reveals-democratic-deficit-in-relying-on-big-tech/</a></p> <p>Our episode on AI and the environment: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-switch/id1449757372?i=1000711126940">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kill-switch/id1449757372?i=1000711126940</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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workslop: how AI is making you hate your coworkers
Oct 29, 2025 29 min<p>Corporate America has bet on AI to make work faster and cheaper. Companies like Meta and Microsoft are laying off employees, hoping it will save them money. But a new study has found that there’s a growing wave of “workslop” and AI is actually making <em>more</em> work for the people left in these organizations. It’s also costing companies millions. Dexter talks with one of the authors of the study, Kate Niederhoffer, to give us an inside look into the details of the study, what advice she has for organizations and individuals dealing with this new technology, and why AI workslop is a symptom of a much bigger problem. </p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <p>Kate’s paper, AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity: </p> <p>https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
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maybe ICEBlock was 'activism theater,' but is banning it protecting us?
Oct 22, 2025 35 min<p>ICEBlock was an app created to help people report ICE sightings. Then, Apple pulled it from the App Store. But in between those events, there was a semi-public fight over whether the app was actually helpful to immigrants. Dexter talks with security researcher and journalist Micah Lee about why he criticized ICEBlock (calling it “activism theater”), why he still supports the app’s developer in fighting censorship, and what all this means for your ability to use your phone how you want.</p> <p>Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.</p> <p>Read + Watch: </p> <p>ICEBlock app homepage:<br><a href="https://www.iceblock.app">https://www.iceblock.app<br></a></p> <p>Micah’s blog posts on ICEBlock: </p> <p><a href="https://micahflee.com/unfortunately-the-iceblock-app-is-activism-theater/">https://micahflee.com/unfortunately-the-iceblock-app-is-activism-theater/</a></p> <p><a href="https://micahflee.com/iceblock-handled-my-vulnerability-report-in-the-worst-possible-way/">https://micahflee.com/iceblock-handled-my-vulnerability-report-in-the-worst-possible-way/</a></p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
