Close All Tabs

Liz Pelly, a music journalist and the author of *Mood Machine*, dives into the transformative power of Spotify as it evolves from a basic music library to a data-driven platform tailored to user moods. She discusses the rise of 'ghost artists' and the ethical concerns surrounding music authenticity. Pelly reveals how personalized playlists shift our relationship with music, leading to a potential loss of intimacy in listening. Plus, she creatively explores the mystery of whether she's being haunted by Sabrina Carpenter!

Are you old enough to remember the “Magic Eye” optical illusion mania that gripped the nation in the 90’s—random patterns that you had to squint at just right for the 3D image to pop out?  It turns out it's not just our eyes that can be fooled. Our ears can play tricks on us too. There's a whole world of auditory illusions that seem to say one thing when they're really saying something else, and that matters, especially in our age of digital misinformation. In today’s episode, Morgan talks to KQED Digital Community Producer Francesca Fenzi about why we hear  what we think we hear, and how understanding the limits of our perception might actually make us better at spotting dis- and misinformation online. Guest: Francesa Fenzi, KQED Digital Community Producer  Read the transcript here Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.org You can also follow us on Instagram Credits: This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. Our Producer is Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Sound Design by Maya Cueva. Original music by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Mixing and mastering by Katherine Monahan and Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hentai, sexually explicit Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), is a genre that’s been criticized for depicting violent or ethically questionable scenarios. But some fans also see it as a space for expanding the boundaries of art, culture, and sexuality in a way that reverberates beyond its status as a niche subculture. In this episode, Morgan talks with anime marketer Drea Ramirez about how discovering hentai helped her explore her own sexual identity — and how today’s streaming platforms are stifling weirder, more experimental forms of animation. We’ll also hear from Jacob Grady, CEO of the hentai manga site Fakku, about the challenges of running a licensed and legal business in the face of content piracy, and how anti-trafficking laws like SESTA and FOSTA can make it harder forhentai artists to make a living. This episode is part of a collaboration with our friends at the podcast Never Post. While we’re digging into the culture and industry behind hentai, they’re coming at it from a completely different angle. Give it a listen wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Drea Ramirez, social media marketing manager at Azuki Jacob Grady, founder and CEO of FAKKU Mike Rugnetta, host of Never Post Further reading: The Hentai Platform Streaming Wars — Aurélie Petit, Porn Studies  Why "The Crunchyroll of Hentai" Failed to Take Off — Jay Allen, Unseen Japan Hentai Sites Go To War, Leaving Animated Porn's Future In Doubt — Cecilia D’Anastasio, Kotaku  FOSTA-SESTA was supposed to thwart sex trafficking. Instead, it’s sparked a movement — Liz Tung, WHYY Read the transcript here Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.org You can also follow us on Instagram Credits: This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. Our Producer is Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Original music and sound design by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Mixing and mastering by Brendan Willard. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicol Turner Lee, a Senior Fellow at Brookings, digs deep into the chilling realities of surveillance in our lives. She emphasizes how opting out of government monitoring is nearly impossible and the role of tech companies in this dynamic. The discussion reveals how data brokers sell personal information and the implications of surveillance technologies on activism, particularly among students. Turner Lee also highlights the risks activists face and offers strategies to protect digital privacy in an increasingly monitored society.

Don Bell, policy counsel at The Constitution Project, dives into the long history of government surveillance on protest movements, highlighting its growth post-9/11 and during recent activism. He discusses the troubling normalization of invasive surveillance technologies, like social media monitoring, and connects it to the experiences of activists. Columbia University student Jalsa Drinkard shares her firsthand challenges with doxing and surveillance while organizing protests, emphasizing the serious implications for civil liberties and freedom of speech.

Recession indicator memes are everywhere, pointing to everything from office wear at the club to Lady Gaga’s return to pop music as signs of looming economic doom. But with the stock market sinking and tariffs piling up, the jokes are starting to hit closer to home. In this episode, KQED community reporter Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí joins Morgan to unpack how the memes might be fueling the very recession they joke about. We also hear from USC public policy professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett on the links between culture, consumption, and the economy. Guests: Candice Lim, co-host of ICYMI from SlateCarlos Cabrera-Lomelí, community reporter at KQED Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, professor of public policy at the University of Southern California Further reading: ‘Recession Indicator’: What Memes Tell Us About How We Experience the Economy - Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí, KQED The 'recession indicator' meme, explained - Christianna Silva, Mashable  Can Strippers Really Forecast a Financial Crisis?  - Jenny Singer, Glamour Read the transcript here Want to give us feedback on the series? Shoot us an email at CloseAllTabs@KQED.org You can also follow us on Instagram Credits: This episode was reported and hosted by Morgan Sung. Our Producer is Maya Cueva. Chris Egusa is our Senior Editor. Additional editing by Jen Chien. Sound design by Chris Egusa. Original music by Chris Egusa, with additional music from APM. Mixing and mastering by Brendan Willard and Katherine Monahan. Audience engagement support from Maha Sanad and Alana Walker. Katie Sprenger is our Podcast Operations Manager. Holly Kernan is our Chief Content Officer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lesley McClurg, a health reporter for KQED, dives into her personal journey of seeking solace from AI therapy after a divorce. She explores the rapid rise of mental health chatbots, discussing their potential benefits and the dangers they pose. From navigating emotional support to the stark limitations of AI in therapy, Lesley highlights the balance between technology and human connection. The conversation raises critical questions about privacy and safety, urging listeners to consider the nuances before turning solely to algorithms for emotional care.

Yogi Hale Hendlin, an environmental philosopher and public health researcher, joins tech reporter Samantha Cole to discuss the alarming rise of high-tech disposable vapes. They delve into the environmental hazards posed by these devices, emphasizing their contribution to e-waste and pollution. Cole shares her personal experience with a touchscreen vape that integrates social media, while Hendlin explains the regulatory loopholes that allow these products to thrive. The conversation calls for a rethinking of consumption and disposal practices in our increasingly digital world.

Candice Lim, a journalist and co-host of ICYMI from Slate, joins the conversation to tackle some of the internet's wildest topics. They humorously dissect the trend of alpha male morning routine videos and the intricate dynamics within the Manosphere. The discussion turns to Hailey Bieber’s legal battles over viral content and Luigi Mangione’s controversy, shining a light on media responsibility. They also navigate the complexities of content moderation on platforms like Reddit, pondering the balance between free speech and responsible sharing.

Margaret O’Mara, a historian and professor at the University of Washington, delves into the rise of the 'broligarchy' — a blend of wealth, right-wing ideals, and anti-establishment fervor. She examines terms like techno-fascism and authoritarian technocracy, exploring their implications in today's political landscape. O'Mara links the shift in Silicon Valley's political affiliations to the influence of tech leaders on governance, critiquing techno-optimism and the evolving role of technology post-Obama. A fascinating insight into the crossroads of tech and power!