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So, Bob

Author: Spoke Media

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What is technology doing to you?

Civilian podcast producer Alia Tavakolian has always felt like a dumb tech consumer.
Veteran tech-journalist Bob Sullivan has spent his life showing people they're not dumb tech consumers - they're being hacked.

Each week, Bob and Alia join forces to answer your questions and untangle your sanity from this dark, scary world wide web.

So, Bob is a Spoke Media original.

44 Episodes
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In the final installment of our data broker project, Duke students Carter Forinash and Jake Satisky talk about what it took to remove all of Keith Reynold's information from the web. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
In a decade, the world will look pretty bleak if nothing is done to put some guardrails around invasive technologies. What rules, what innovations, might save us from this dark future? National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Hotline: 212-714-1141 Visit TechSafety.org for information on technology in the context of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
What does it feel like to be watched? What if you aren't even aware you've been spotted in the first place? National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Hotline: 212-714-1141 Visit TechSafety.org for information on technology in the context of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
We know why privacy matters, but we all have this vague sense like it’s slowly being taken away from us. So, the irresistible question is, what might the future look like if our privacy is gone completely? National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Hotline: 212-714-1141 Visit TechSafety.org for information on technology in the context of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
We know privacy means life or death to some people. We know that corporations and congress have sat back and done next to nothing to address privacy. So, what can be done now that we’re here?  Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
People have been worrying about privacy for decades, even before the Internet. So...where did we go wrong? Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Privacy isn’t a luxury. For some a threat to privacy can be a matter of life or death. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs Hotline: 212-714-1141 Visit TechSafety.org for information on technology in the context of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and violence against women. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
What are the implications of going cashless? Is this a good thing or a bad thing, or a little bit of both? Bob and Alia talk to Gartner research analyst Avivah Litan to find some answers. Curious to learn more about a cashless future? Go to https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ for more info. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Do VPNs protect our security and privacy like they all claim? What are they anyway? Bob answers this question in our final minisode of the season! Thanks to David in Quebec for asking today's question. Curious to learn more about VPNs? Visit https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ for more info. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Is the renaissance of tabletop games in part thanks to tech? Can Dungeons and Dragons actually teach me how to be a better human? Join Alia as she joins a band of thieves in her very first D&D campaign.  This week’s guests are journalist and author Mary Pilon and Dungeon Master Victoria Rogers of The Broadswords. Dying to know more about today's ep? Head to https://bobsullivan.net/sobob/ So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Should I go all-in on one tech company, knowing that it has all of my data? Or is it more wise to diversify the companies I give my information to? Bob tackles this confusing question on today's minisode. Thanks to Tyler in Shawnee, Kansas for sending in today's question. Want to learn more about this topic? Check out https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Does texting actually have the ability to make us closer? Has the dating landscape changed now that we are introducing tech into the mix? Bob and Alia find out with the help of Love Letters host Meredith Goldstein and therapist Aida Manduley. Curious about today's episode? Check out more info at https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Smart Homes: Good or Bad? Will we be able to settle the debate once and for all? A listener is concerned about whether or not Amazon Echo is actually listening to all of her private conversations. Thanks to Alison in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania for this week's question!  Curious about today's topic? Check out more info at https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
How does tech affect our happiness? Can it help us achieve it? In a special interview episode, join Alia, Bob, and author Gretchen Rubin on a journey about happiness, the four tendencies, and how you can use tech to your advantage.  Curious about today's topic? Check out more info at https://bobsullivan.net/topics/sobob/ So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
So Bob...We're Back!

So Bob...We're Back!

2019-09-2301:47

When we left off with Bob and Alia in season 1, they were wondering about the seemingly bleak state of technology. Is tech really all bad? Are there any answers to our burning questions? In Season 2, they set off to find some reasonable hope in the world of tech (even if it’s just a little). Join us for season 2 of So, Bob, where Alia and Bob find some of the brighter corners of technology, alongside the dim ones. Coming October 7. Also, stay tuned for a special miniseries sponsored by Intel on the state of privacy today. What have we gotten right? What have we gotten wrong? And what can we do to change it? Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
What happens when our personal photos and videos are used without our consent? When are our photos no longer ours? Our guests this episode are Eva Galperin and Mary Pilon. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Is Targeting Creepy?

Is Targeting Creepy?

2019-06-2448:004

At what point does targeting cross the line from useful to creepy? Isn’t it weird that ads nowadays seem to know you better than you know you? Our guest this episode is Jules Polonetsky. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Why does Google Maps ask me to have my WiFi enabled to improve location accuracy? Thanks to Maggie in D.C. for today’s question. Go here and see a map of where you've been and when -- on Google. Feel weird about what Google knows about your location? Go to this page and manage your location history. Want to see all the WiFi networks near you? Visit WiGLE.netWe mentioned that Google has gotten in hot water in the past over the way Wi-Fi and the Street View part of its mapping product. Here's one story about it.  So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Has technology ruined our ability to focus? Will we ever be able to get that back? Our guest this episode is journalist and author Annie Murphy Paul. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
Password managers are a great solution to remembering 100+ passwords, but are they actually safe? What makes a good password anyway? This week’s question comes from a listener on Twitter. Here are the new definitive NIST guidelines on passwords. Bruce Schneier explains this here. Ok, so just how secure are password managers? Pretty secure, but not perfect. So, Bob is a Spoke Media original. Texas Tax rate at 80% of 8.25%
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Comments (16)

Chelsea

I appreciate the TW 🙌

Feb 5th
Reply

Chelsea

I want to take Gretchen's quiz now! I wonder which tendency I am?

Jan 10th
Reply

Alex Timofeev

Just started with this podcast. While the info is great, sound, mixing is bad. Beeps are way too loud, sharp sound comes after breaks and pauses, etc. Host's diction and voice don't help either. If you need to listen to this bit louder because of your surroundings it'll be a bad experience. Very interesting podcast but my ears begged for salvation.

Dec 24th
Reply (1)

Chelsea

Everyone should listen to this -- especially managers and c-suites. I'm going to share it with my team on Monday.

Dec 15th
Reply (1)

Nancy Loomis

First time I was wowed by the internet was when I was taking a writing course in college and there were lots of computers in the classroom. This was early 90s. We were told to think about a place we might want to travel to and look up info on it. I can't remember what place I chose, but I recall thinking that it was as if the world was at our fingertips. Kind of surreal.

Dec 4th
Reply

Nancy Loomis

I do try to change my passwords regularly esp on critical acct.#passw But I do have lots with my dogs' names. Yes. Guilty as charged. And with so many, I do have to write them down, but I wouldn't keep any of them, even one, in my wallet.

Dec 4th
Reply (2)

Rick Kovac

podcast dead?

Sep 10th
Reply

Jason B

...now the algorithm is making that choice for mE? **with upward inflection** 🙄

Jun 25th
Reply

Salvador Barahona

I am enjoying the content of this show. I used to be one of these overwork individuals that you speak of but I now have a motto I live by "I work to live, I don't live to work" which helps me remember that I do need to take time for the reasons behind why I work.

May 27th
Reply (1)

Praveen Shetty

lxl

May 18th
Reply

Jerin Poliskey

I am loving this conversation!

May 16th
Reply
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