In this episode of Dead Code, journalist Joan Westenberg joins host Jared to explore the political and ethical consequences of our tech choices, advocating for decentralized, open-source platforms over corporate-controlled ecosystems like Google and Meta. Joan shares her path from tech journalism to founding The Index, a reader-supported publication free from ads and investor influence, driven by a DIY punk ethos inspired by bands like Fugazi. She critiques the monopolization of the internet, the erosion of data privacy (especially for EU users), and the complicity of tech giants in supporting authoritarian politics. Emphasizing the power of small, intentional decisions, Joan urges listeners to resist cynicism, adopt “pragmatic meliorism,” and choose tools and platforms that align with their values—even if it’s harder—because incremental change still matters.

Links:

The Index

Joan Westenberg’s Website

Ghost

Mastodon

Pixelfed

Lemmy

Fairphone

Murena / /e/OS

Vivaldi

Qwant

Ecosia

Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet

Dead Code Podcast Links:

Mastodon

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Jared’s Links:

Mastodon

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twitch.tv/jardonamron

Jared’s Newsletter & Website

Episode Transcript

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