Podcast – Cory Doctorow's craphound.com

Picks and Shovels virtual launch with Yanis Varoufakis and David Moscrop, presented by Jacobin

Feb 16, 2025

Yanis Varoufakis, an economist and former Greek finance minister, joins host David Moscrop to launch Cory Doctorow's "Picks and Shovels." They dive into the tumultuous history of Silicon Valley and discuss the monopolistic tendencies of tech giants. Varoufakis highlights the alarming rise of oligarchy and economic inequality, using Bill Gates as a case study. The conversation also touches on the need for collective action against technofeudalism and the challenges posed by restrictive digital laws, making for a thought-provoking discussion.

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Episode guests

David Moscrop

Yanis Varoufakis

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast discusses the notion of historical contingency in technology, illustrating that the internet's monopolization stemmed from specific policy decisions rather than inevitable market forces.

A fictional company in the speaker's book exemplifies how tech development can exploit social trust, highlighting consumer vulnerabilities intertwined with pyramid schemes.

The episode emphasizes the critical role of interoperability in empowering consumers and advocates for policy changes to encourage competition against monopolistic tech firms.

Deep dives

Start of the Book Tour

The episode opens with the speaker discussing the beginning of a book tour for his latest work, 'Picks and Shovels.' The tour started at a local science fiction convention, followed by a well-attended event at Brookline Booksmith, where he conversed with renowned author Ken Liu. He also highlights participation in notable panels, such as one at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, and an online book launch with economist Yanis Varoufakis. The speaker shares upcoming tour dates across various cities, emphasizing the interactive component of his events.

Intro

4min

Signed Books and a Dive into Silicon Valley's History

2min

The Evolution of Tech and Power

28min

Oligarchy and Economic Disparities

10min

Interoperability, Subscription Saturation, and Systemic Challenges in Tech

5min

Power, Technology, and Collective Action

14min

Understanding Capital Markets and Tech Growth Dynamics

5min

This week on my podcast, I bring you the audio from yesterday’s Jacobin virtual book launch for my book Picks and Shovels, with Yanis Varoufakis, hosted by David Moscrop. You have until Monday night to order personalized, signed copies of the book from Los Angeles’s Secret Headquarters (I’m dropping by the warehouse to sign them on Tuesday, on my way to my event at LA’s Diesel Bookstore with Wil Wheaton). See the whole tour schedule (20+ cities and still growing!) here.

MP3