kill switch

In this engaging conversation, philosopher C. Thi Nguyen uncovers the nuances of gamification and how it impacts our lives. He argues that scoring systems often hijack deeper values, transforming meaningful experiences into mere metrics. They explore examples like gamified baptisms and corporate leaderboards, revealing how these systems can misdirect our goals. Nguyen also discusses the addictive nature of play versus its potential for meaningful engagement, offering insights on how to reframe scoring systems to align with personal values and community needs.

In this engaging discussion, security professional Ramy Ghaly, who has over a decade of experience protecting journalists, sheds light on the escalating issue of online harassment. Ramy explains the various forms harassment can take and the alarming trend of real-world threats like doxing. He shares practical advice on immediate steps to take if you find yourself a target, including tightening privacy settings and employing filters. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation and personal safety, making digital security accessible for everyone.

Nina Mohanty, the innovative founder and CEO of Bloom, dives into the world of communal finance, transforming traditional savings practices for modern use. She shares insights on the challenges immigrants face with credit access and how age-old rotating savings systems, like Roscas, offer unique solutions. Nina discusses building a successful app that fosters trust among strangers, the hurdles of fundraising in fintech, and her vision for expanding financial opportunities for immigrant communities. Her passion for financial inclusion shines through as she explores the future of money.

Jake Gallen, a crypto collector and former NFT seller, shares his harrowing tale of being targeted in a Zoom social engineering hack that cost him valuable NFTs and assets. He discusses his rise in the crypto world, the allure of NFTs, and the shocking way hackers exploited a Zoom interview to gain access. Gallen highlights the importance of digital security, suggesting Zoom should default remote control settings off to thwart similar attacks. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities in our online lives.

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 Business Insider, about why betting is everywhere, how any of it is legal, and if it’s changing how we experience real world events. Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky. Read: Emily’s article, “Everything’s casino”: https://www.businessinsider.com/kalshi-polymarket-fanduel-draftkings-sports-betting-gambling-2025-11 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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 neverpo.st and Freedom of the Press Foundation at freedom.press.  Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky. Listen + Watch: Check out our episode with Gaby Caplan on tablets in prison: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-review-tablets-in-prisons/id1449757372?i=1000719762318 kill switch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Sports Business Journal, to explore how new technologies like Hawk-Eye are reshaping sports officiating.  Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky. Read:  Joe’s article on automating officiating in sports: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/09/15/how-why-and-whether-to-automate-more-officiating-in-sports-and-what-are-the-trade-offs/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we’re sharing an episode from another podcast we’re excited about. 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.  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. 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. Subscribe to Shell Game wherever you get your podcasts. And check out more at shellgame.co. Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky. Read:  Eric’s website Commsrisk: https://commsrisk.com/ Eric’s article on Huang, the boy sold to a Myanmar scam compound: https://commsrisk.com/17-year-old-chinese-girl-accused-of-selling-boyfriend-into-myanmar-scam-compound-slavery/ How to turn off 2g for android: https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/cellular-security/toggle-2g Listen + Watch: Labi Siffre - Bless the Telephone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpy2O6fYiTk  A Tribe Called Quest - Skypager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYc50S23pQY kill switch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8oh6zDRg1zgHkyOfikoeQS7cafAytstv&si=zrCE7MYWVBgmpWqi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Zara Stone, a culture reporter at The San Francisco Standard, as she dives into Silicon Valley's obsession with peptides and biohacking. She unpacks the shift from tech innovation to self-optimization, revealing how injectables have become the latest trend among tech bros. Zara explains the complexities of sourcing peptides, the risks involved, and the cultural shift they represent. Discover the implications of new norms, the rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding pediatric use in this fascinating exploration of wellness in tech.