New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

In this engaging discussion, John Kaag, a philosopher and co-founder of Rebind AI, explores how AI can enhance reading by creating interactive spaces for learning, including the innovative Rebind Study Bible. He reveals how Rebind allows readers to engage deeply with texts alongside AI-generated commentary from scholars. Kaag argues that this technology democratizes access to knowledge while highlighting the irreplaceable value of human teachers. Personal anecdotes and future expansion plans for Rebind add an inspiring touch to the conversation.

Amanda Parrish Morgan, an author and scholar specializing in parenting and culture, discusses her book *Stroller*, revealing fascinating insights about strollers as cultural symbols. She explores how these everyday objects reflect class and identity, the societal pressures of parenting, and the impact of social media on parenting philosophies. Morgan critiques modern anxieties surrounding safety and the role of technology, discussing how strollers represent both protection and pressure in the parenting journey. Her engaging perspectives highlight strollers as not just tools, but cultural narratives.

Paulette F. C. Steeves, a Métis and Cree scholar and Associate Professor of Sociology, reclaims Indigenous history in the Americas through her groundbreaking work. She argues that Indigenous peoples have been in the Western Hemisphere for over 60,000 years, disputing long-held archaeological beliefs. Steeves emphasizes the importance of integrating Indigenous oral traditions with scientific evidence, the need for more Indigenous archaeologists, and critiques the Clovis concept. Her research aims to inspire hope and healing in Indigenous youth while advocating for decolonizing narratives in academia.

Elisabetta Ferrari, a scholar of communication and digital studies, explores the intersection of activism and digital technology. She delves into how activists in Italy, Hungary, and the U.S. creatively appropriate and negotiate Silicon Valley's tech narrative. Ferrari contrasts freedom and populism in the tech discourse while discussing the varied activist strategies, from the Hungarian Internet Tax Protest to pragmatic organizing by Philly Socialists. She emphasizes the challenges activists face in rejecting mainstream tech paradigms and introduces her future research on mutual aid during the pandemic.

Meg Bernhard, a journalist and essayist with hands-on experience in family vineyards in Spain, discusses her book, which explores wine's complex cultural and power dynamics. She reveals the evolution of wine from a humble beverage to a luxury good, highlighting issues of class and access. The conversation touches on gender dynamics in winemaking, the ecological impacts of climate change on vineyards, and innovation in response to environmental challenges. Bernhard also shares her personal journey with wine, emphasizing the cultural significance of shared experiences.

Karen Weingarten, a cultural historian of reproduction and professor at Queens College, dives into the historical and cultural significance of home pregnancy tests. She reveals how these tests shifted control over reproductive information from male doctors to women, fostering empowerment. Weingarten shares the story of Meg Crane, the inventor of the practical home test, and discusses the commercialization of pregnancy testing and its impact on societal norms. The conversation also touches on how early detection has redefined pregnancy and loss in today's context.

In this engaging discussion, Tom White, an author known for his work on social and environmental history, dives deep into the tragic legacy of asbestos. He explores its dangerous properties and the devastating health effects, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, linking these to historical mining practices in apartheid South Africa. White highlights Britain's widespread use of asbestos in postwar construction and outlines the struggles of activists fighting against industry giants. He emphasizes the urgent need for a phased removal plan to safeguard public health.

Heather Davis, Assistant Professor of Culture and Media and author of *Plastic Matter*, explores the profound impact of plastics on modern life. She discusses how plastic shapes identities and reflects tensions of petrocapitalism. Delving into the connection between plastic pollution and colonialism, Davis shares insights on the 'Plastisphere' and its microbial inhabitants. The conversation challenges conventional views on ecology, urging a reexamination of relationships across species. Her work provokes thought about the implications of plastics in a queer and ecological context.

Oana Godeanu-Kenworthy, an expert in Global Intercultural Studies and author of Videotape (2025), delves into the fascinating journey of VHS technology. She explores how videotape shifted entertainment dynamics and privacy, transformed social interactions, and even impacted political regimes in Eastern Europe. Oana reveals the unintended consequences of anti-piracy laws and discusses how VHS made adult content more accessible, influencing public policy. She also connects videotape's legacy to today’s digital rights issues and streaming dynamics.

“If I had been enslaved for a year or two, I might not be able to believe in humanity any more.” “I am a victim of modern slavery.” These chilling words come from a Taiwanese female lured by a fake job offer, only to be sold into a scam compound in Cambodia. She is not alone. She is one of thousands deceived into this industry—people who left home hoping for a better life, only to find themselves trapped in a living nightmare. Scam: Inside Southeast Asia's Cybercrime Compounds (Verso Books, 2025) arrives at a critical moment, shedding light on one of the world’s fastest-growing criminal economies: Southeast Asia’s online scam industry. Running the gamut from the notorious “pig butchering” romance scams to elaborate online extortion and investment frauds, this system has transformed parts of the region into global hubs of cybercrime. Meticulously researched and grounded in years of fieldwork, Scam offers an unflinching look into the prison-like compounds that have mushroomed across multiple countries. Within these walled complexes, victims are often coerced into becoming perpetrators—trapped in what the authors describe as “compound capitalism,” a chilling hybrid of enslavement and exploitation. Scam traces how small-scale online gambling rings evolved into an international “scamdemic,” accelerated by the disruptions of COVID-19. It examines the “victim–offender trap”, a moral and psychological paradox that makes empathy difficult for outsiders. The result is a deeply human investigation into how modern slavery adapts to digital capitalism. The authors uncover the operations of scam compounds across Southeast Asia. In my interview with Ling and Ivan, what stood out was not only their depth of knowledge but their compassion. They used their skills to build trust with victims, gather evidence, and, in some cases, help orchestrate rescues. Their work is both rigorous and profoundly humane, illuminating a crisis that grows more complex each day. Though many of those involved—both perpetrators and victims—are ethnically Chinese, the networks now span continents. The scam compounds are a global phenomenon, built on economic desperation, weak governance, and digital interconnectivity. Scam is more than an exposé. It is a call to action and a vital first step toward understanding a new form of global exploitation—where modern technology and ancient cruelty combine to create a system that enslaves the vulnerable and profits from despair. Ling Li is pursuing a PhD at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice with a focus on the role of technology in enabling modern slavery and human trafficking in East and Southeast Asia. In the past few years, she has been providing support to survivors of scam compounds in Southeast Asia, interacting with local and international civil society organisations to bring them relief and help with repatriation. Ivan Franceschini is a lecturer at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. His current research focuses on ethnic Chinese transnational crime, especially in the field of online fraud. He co-founded the Made in China Journal and The People’s Map of Global China/ Global China Pulse. His books include Proletarian China (2022), Global China as Method (2022), and Afterlives of Chinese Communism (2019). He also co-directed the documentaries Dreamwork China (2011) and Boramey (2021). Mark Bo is a researcher who has been based in East and Southeast Asia for 2 decades. He has worked globally with local civil society partners to monitor and advocate for improved environmental and social practices in development projects and utilises his background in corporate and financial mapping to investigate stakeholders involved in Asia’s online gambling, fraud, and money laundering industries. Bing Wang receives her PhD at the University of Leeds in 2020. Her research interests include the exploration of overseas Chinese cultural identity and critical heritage studies. She is also a freelance translator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society