
There Are No Girls on the Internet
Marginalized voices have always been at the forefront of the internet, yet our stories often go overlooked. Bridget Todd chronicles our experiences online, and the ways marginalized voices have shaped the internet from the very beginning. We need monuments to all of the identities that make being online what it is. So let’s build them.
Latest episodes

Aug 8, 2023 • 35min
What the History of Autotune Tells Us About the Future of AI
It's the 50th anniversary of hip hop, and that’s a great opportunity for Bridget to dig into one of her favorite subjects to nerd out about: trends in audio. In this episode, she breaks down the history of auto-tune. Today it’s incredibly common, but when musicians first started using it there was a huge backlash. Prominent musicians said it was ruining music, and Time Magazine put it on their list of “50 Worst Inventions.” Yet artists like T-Pain and Cher used it to create new sounds that listeners loved, and today it is widely accepted as a valuable tool for legitimate artists to use for making music. The disruptive history of auto-tune, originally derided as a toy before innovators embraced it to create something new, offers lessons for how we should understand AI in 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 snips
Aug 4, 2023 • 54min
Henrietta Lacks’ family gets justice; Professional hater targets grants for Black business women; Facebook pulls news in Canada; Online porn privacy update in Utah and Arkansas, Attenzione! New TikTok milkshake duck just dropped; Uber CEO has no idea how much Ubers cost – NEWSCAST
Henrietta Lacks’ family settles lawsuit with a biotech company that used her cells without consent: https://apnews.com/article/henrietta-lacks-hela-cells-thermo-fisher-scientific-bfba4a6c10396efa34c9b79a544f0729 Uber CEO balks after a reporter tells him the cost of his 2.9-mile Uber ride: 'Oh my God. Wow.' https://finance.yahoo.com/news/uber-ceo-balks-reporter-tells-171042745.html Man Behind U.S. Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Decision Sues VC Fund Supporting Black-Women-Owned Businesses https://afrotech.com/black-venture-capital-firm-fearless-fund-has-been-sued Classic TANGOTI on that time Facebook banned news in Australia: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-there-are-no-girls-on-the-65877505/episode/disinformed-facebooks-bans-news-in-australia-77921963/ Pornhub goes dark in Arkansas after age verification law kicks in: https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/3/23818865/pornhub-mindgeek-arkansas-age-verification-block-ban-porn Viral Italian voice behind ‘Attenzione pickpocket’ revealed as racist counsellor for far-right: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/08/02/viral-italian-voice-behind-attenzione-pickpocket-revealed-as-counsellor-for-far-right-legaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 2, 2023 • 1h 7min
Johnny Depp case sets standard; Texas A&M President Hiring Fiasco; Senate Bills Save the Children; Google’s Anti-Climate Cash-In; Twitter is X and X gone give it to you — NEWS ROUNDUP
We were off last week while Bridget recovered from surgery. But don’t feel bad for her, she’s been screwing up emails for 6 months and she is sorry for that. Send more emails to Bridget at hello@tangoti.com Texas A&M president resigns over "controversial" hire of a Black woman to lead the journalism school. Similar to the White House cybersecurity director, it sounds like the incoming professor was well qualified but faced a different level of scrutiny because of her identity: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/21/texas-am-president-resigns-00107695 Must read Intercept piece - YEARS AFTER #METOO, DEFAMATION CASES INCREASINGLY TARGET VICTIMS WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO SPEAK OUT: https://theintercept.com/2023/07/22/metoo-defamation-lawsuits-slapp/ Senate panel advances rival bills to childproof the internet: https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/27/23809876/kosa-coppa-2-child-safety-privacy-protection-social-media Google-Owned YouTube Makes Millions From Channels Pushing Climate Disinformation: https://www.commondreams.org/news/youtube-climate-disinformation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 29, 2023 • 1h 22min
Lena Dunham and the cruel lie that just won’t die — BEST OF TANGOTI
Lena Dunham is in the news, which means a particularly sticky misleading claim about her is, too. We have no strong position on Lena Dunham, but we are solidly against misleading claims. In this best-of episode from last year, Bridget sits down with producer Mike to explain the origins of the idea that Lena Dunham abused her little sibling, why it persists, and why it matters for the rest of us. Got a burning question for Bridget and the TANGOTI team? We’ll answer it in a live AMA! Submit your questions for free at Patreon.com/tangoti Emily in Paris to Become Polly in Pocket: https://www.vulture.com/2023/07/lily-collins-lena-dunham-polly-pocket-movie-details.html The Lena Dunham child abuse controversy, explained: https://www.vox.com/2014/11/8/7157065/dunham-child-abuse Ben Shapiro sings WAP (you should definitely watch this): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZYzauhOJcQ It didn't make it into the episode, but Ben Shapiro HATED the Barbie movie...a lot: https://www.them.us/story/barbie-movie-ben-shapiro Want to support the show (thank you so much!)? Tell a friend! Or subscribe, join our patreon, leave a review, or buy some merch at There Are No Girls on the Internet’s store: TANGOTI.COM/STORE Say hello at hello@tangoti.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 26, 2023 • 55min
Moral panic over trafficking gets a movie; The writer who criticized it gets death threats. Interview with Rolling Stone’s Miles Klee
Rolling Stone’s Miles Klee has become a target of an extremist harassment campaign after publishing a review of the new movie Sound of Freedom. ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Is a Superhero Movie for Dads With Brainworms https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/sound-of-freedom-jim-caviezel-child-trafficking-qanon-movie-1234783837/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 21, 2023 • 54min
Threads is flopping because Facebook is brand-safe and deeply unsexy; Elon Musk ghosts Kenyan staff; AI bot Harriet Tubman; Gamer guys mad about women in soccer; Misogynoir sinks White House cyber security director; Don’t bring your phone to this island in Finland — NEWS ROUNDUP
WANT TO LISTEN TO AD-FREE BONUS CONTENT AND SUPPORT THE SHOW? CHECK US OUT ON PATREON AT PATREON.COM/TANGOTI Laid-off Twitter Africa team ‘ghosted’ without severance or benefits: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/17/tech/ghana-twitter-layoffs-severance-intl-hnk/index.html Meta rejected scores of women’s health ads. Democrats want answers: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/17/meta-rejected-dozens-womens-health-ads-democrats-want-answers/ Threads Usage Drops By Half From Initial Surge: https://www.similarweb.com/blog/insights/social-media-news/threads-week/ Harriet Tubman research material: https://archives.nypl.org/scm/20868 Would you visit this phone free island? https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/finland-phone-mobile-free-island-b2361499.html EA Sports FC 24 Fully Revealed: Release Date, Ultimate Team, and More: https://www.ign.com/articles/ea-sports-fc-24-fully-revealed-release-date-ultimate-team-and-more Personal debts said to scuttle nomination of Biden’s acting cyber director, an unusual level of scrutiny: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/15/kemba-walden-nomination-cyber-director/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 19, 2023 • 52min
Elizabeth Holmes works the press like a pro
The disgraced CEO of Theranos, the scam blood testing company, built her career with savvy press moves. Now she’s headed to prison, but not before doing a flashy New York Times Magazine profile on the way in. Bridget talks with legendary media OG Lea Goldman, deputy editorial director of G/O Media and founder of the social first media newsletter Hazmat Hotel about what it means, what it tells us about women’s media, celebrity profiles, and why it matters. FOLLOW HAZMAT HOTEL! I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING FROM LEAH’S MEDIA MUSINGS: https://www.instagram.com/leajgoldman/ Liz Holmes Wants You to Forget About Elizabeth: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/07/business/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-interview.html The New York Times’ Elizabeth Holmes Profile Is Causing Drama in the Newsroom: “What the Hell Happened Here?”: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/05/elizabeth-holmes-new-york-times She’s left the Firm behind. Harry’s found a polo team in Santa Barbara. The kids are doing great. Now she’s ready for her next act: https://www.thecut.com/article/meghan-markle-profile-interview.html .Donahue Show Gay Marriage 1991 https://youtu.be/cfXwwzg_Ntc Want to support the show? Get ad free content on our Patreon: Patreon.com/Tangoti See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 15, 2023 • 1h 11min
Elon Musk turns Twitter into an MLM with payout promises; AI deep fakes put voice actors in porn with lawsuits aplenty; Surgeon live streams and loses license; Buffalo shooting victims sue; Smartphone removable batteries; Happy Birthday TANGOTI! – NEWS ROUNDUP
Happy Birthday There Are No Girls on the Internet! The podcast turned 3 years old this week! We are officially a toddler! Thanks to everyone who made this possible by listening! Twitter promises payouts for ad share...but will they pay up? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/13/twitter-creators-payments-right-wing/ The FTC is reminding Open AI that laws are a thing! https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/13/ftc-openai-chatgpt-sam-altman-lina-khan/ Did Google steal everything you ever searched online? Yes they did: https://gizmodo.com/google-bard-ai-stole-data-class-action-suit-says-1850631307 Sarah Silverman is suing Open AI for stealing her book: https://apnews.com/article/sarah-silverman-suing-chatgpt-openai-ai-8927025139a8151e26053249d1aeec20 Voice over actors are pissed their voices are being cloned in AI porn: https://www.gamesradar.com/voice-actors-call-out-ai-as-imitations-spread-in-erotic-skyrim-mods-i-do-not-give-consent/ Buffalo shooting victims sue social media companies and demand change: https://gizmodo.com/google-reddit-facebook-instagram-sued-buffalo-massacre-1850635671 Don’t live stream yourself performing surgery! https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/12/us/dr-roxy-tiktok-operations-livestream.html Your next smartphone will have a removable battery! https://mashable.com/article/replaceable-batteries-smartphones-iphones-2027 Bridget has a bone to pick with Jeff Lewis, formerly of Bravo. Listen on Patreon: Patreon.com/tangotiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 12, 2023 • 52min
What is a journalism? TikTok and the future of news (w/ Vitus Spehar of Under the Desk News!)
Bridget has a deeply fascinating and important conversation with the brilliant Vitus Spehar from Under The Desk News about “the news.” TikTok and social media have changed who gets to tell the news, for good and for bad. On the positive side, engaging creators are making important issues resonate with their communities more deeply than Walter Cronkite ever could have dreamed. On the negative side, social media algorithms reward outrage and encourage disinformation that entrenches polarization. It’s complicated! Fortunately we have people like V who can succinctly tell us, and legislators, what we need to know. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 10, 2023 • 6min
Jonah Hill, Keke Palmer, and social media’s role in controlling relationships [PATREON TEASER]
Jonah Hill’s ex released some pretty controlling texts from the actor policing her Instagram posts. Keke Palmer’s boyfriend publicly shamed her concert outfit on Twitter. It’s clear we need to talk about the role social media plays in controlling relationships. We get into it all on Patreon and here’s a preview. For the full ad free episode, check our our Patreon: Patreon.com/tangotiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.