Podcast · 164 episodes
The 404 Media Podcast, page 2
by 404 Media · English
Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, smart blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media you’ll read, and hear, stories you can’t find anywhere else written by journalists who are leading experts on their beats. Subscribe to 404 Media at 404media.co to gain access to an ad-free version of this podcast, as well as a bonus podcast episodes. Subscribers are the bedrock of building a sustainable business for our journalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
All episodes, page 2
Liberation, Eroticism, and Sex in Public (with Angela Jones)Angela Jones’s book Sex in Public and the episode’s argument that sexuality is shaped by “the public” (institutions, media, law) and that erotic life has social power—while also being commodified and…13 Jul 2026 · 54 min · 22 chapters
How Influencers Fake Being RichInfluencers and “hustle bros” fake wealth online using spoofed payment dashboards (Stripe/Shopify/OnlyFans-style analytics), fake notifications, and staged luxury lifestyle content to sell courses…8 Jul 2026 · 51 min · 22 chapters
Is the Best Game of the Year a Failure?The episode debates whether Bungie’s new extraction shooter Marathon can succeed commercially, despite being beloved by hardcore players.6 Jul 2026 · 1 h 40 min · 30 chapters
The Tokenpocalypse Is HereThe episode “The Tokenpocalypse Is Here” argues that AI adoption is shifting from “unlimited, cheap, productivity” to “token economics,” where companies scramble to curb AI usage costs.1 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 17 chapters
How Brands Use Reddit to Poison AI SearchMarketing companies are manipulating AI “deep research” and AI search by inserting short promotional “poison” snippets into Reddit (and other user-generated sites), a tactic framed as AI Engine…29 Jun 2026 · 42 min · 13 chapters
If AI Is Sentient Then So Is ‘Age of Empires IIThe episode discusses two stories. First, a paper argues that if people claim LLMs have “human-like” sentient traits, then similar traits should also be found in other systems with the same…24 Jun 2026 · 42 min · 14 chapters
Stopping Tech Company Censorship (with Jake Hanrahan)Independent journalism and documentary distribution under platform censorship; how YouTube/Patreon demonetization and age restrictions disrupt revenue, plus workarounds via an uncensorable Away Days…22 Jun 2026 · 44 min · 23 chapters
The Government Wants to End Anonymity on PhonesThe FCC is proposing rules to end phone-network anonymity by requiring telecoms to collect customer identifiers (name, physical address, government ID number, and an alternate phone number) before…17 Jun 2026 · 50 min · 19 chapters
Meet Me at the Opsec Rave (with Imani Thompson)Community-based digital security education framed as “OPSEC rave” events; why visibility isn’t protection; how to self-dox, reduce exposure, and “de-google” without panic.15 Jun 2026 · 53 min · 25 chapters
Google Employees Meme About How Bad Their AI IsGoogle employees share internal memes mocking JetSki (Google’s AI coding assistant) after public claims that AI generates most of Google’s code; the episode also covers Microsoft’s internal strategy…10 Jun 2026 · 35 min · 17 chapters
It’s So Not Over for Hollywood (with Devindra Hardawar)Whether Hollywood is “over” due to generative AI, and how AI is being used (or misused) in film and media business decisions.8 Jun 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 29 chapters
Hackers Asked Meta AI To Let Them In. It WorkedThe episode covers two AI-related stories. First: hackers used Meta AI’s Instagram/Facebook support chatbot to take over accounts.3 Jun 2026 · 39 min · 13 chapters
A Repairable, No-Tech TractorDoug Wilson of Ursa Ag argues that modern tractors add “complexity” (sensors, software locks, CAN-bus integration, coded error states) that doesn’t improve most farmers’ day-to-day work, but instead…30 May 2026 · 39 min · 20 chapters
How Deepfakes Destroyed a High SchoolA deeply reported case study of how AI deepfakes (via a nudify-style app) spread through Radnor High School in Pennsylvania, and how the school and police responded; the episode also discusses a…27 May 2026 · 51 min · 15 chapters
Millions of People Are Installing Malware on Their Partners’ PhonesStalkerware/spouseware phone spyware—how it’s bought and installed, how it steals messages/photos/location, and why victims can’t safely be notified.25 May 2026 · 50 min · 17 chapters
Boo-stersStudents boo commencement speakers who frame AI as the “next industrial revolution,” arguing AI is harming humanities jobs and worsening the entry-level job market; the episode also covers a separate…20 May 2026 · 45 min · 14 chapters
The Physical Politics of the Internet with Britt ParisBritt Paris argues that the internet’s “digital” problems come from physical politics: fiber, minerals, labor, and who controls internet exchange points.18 May 2026 · 38 min · 14 chapters
The Chinese Deepfake Software Powering ScamsThe episode covers two stories. First, Haoqian AI, a Chinese real-time deepfake program used to impersonate people during live video calls on platforms like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.13 May 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 17 chapters
How the World Became a Casino (With Natasha Schüll)How gambling design moved from mechanical slot reels to computerized “virtual” reels and multi-line slots, and how the same attention-holding incentives now shape politics, music, sports apps, and…11 May 2026 · 49 min · 21 chapters
Flock Used Cameras at a Children’s Gymnastics Center for a Sales PitchFOIA-revealed Flock Network access logs show Flock employees accessing video cameras in a children’s gymnastics room (Jewish community center) in Dunwoody, Georgia, framed by Flock as sales demos;…6 May 2026 · 58 min · 17 chapters
The New Luddites: Why People Are Destroying Surveillance and AI InfrastructureThe episode argues that today’s backlash to AI, surveillance, and automation (including vandalism and sabotage) follows a “new Luddite” pattern: people feel disenfranchised as tech firms impose…4 May 2026 · 53 min · 18 chapters
How This Trippy Image Started A Massive Conspiracy Theory404 Media podcast episode covering (1) a viral X “time-traveling AI” conspiracy tied to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner attempt, and (2) Arizona State University’s AI learning platform…29 Apr 2026 · 47 min · 13 chapters
Government Hacking Tools Are Now in Criminals' Hands (with Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai)Insider theft and resale of government-grade hacking exploits, showing how “Five Eyes” offensive toolmakers’ tools can end up with Russia, then China, and be used in widespread iPhone attacks.27 Apr 2026 · 51 min · 15 chapters
How Algorithms Make Us Feel Bad and WeirdHow algorithmic feeds shape wedding/body-image expectations and spending anxiety, then a separate story on an AI “clean room” tool (Malice.sh) that satirically and practically helps generate code…22 Apr 2026 · 58 min · 18 chapters