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Download This Show

ABC Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Australia
Tiktok
Meta
Social Media
Openai
Chatgpt
Generative AI
Cybersecurity
Elon Musk
Google
Facebook
Privacy
Apple Vision Pro
Apple
Virtual Reality
Instagram
Misinformation
Social Media Ban
Mental Health

Download This Show is your weekly guide to the world of media, culture, and technology. From social media to gadgets, streaming services to privacy issues. Each week Rae Johnston and guests take a fun, deep dive into how technology is reshaping our lives.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes358Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTechnology

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Artwork for Download This Show

Latest Episodes

Tech is being marketed as the solution to taking care of our aging parents and our young children: AI companions, improved surveillance tools, and wearables. How much are robots truly able to replace genuine human care, and ethically should we let th... more

While Meta and Google are fighting lawsuits about their technology being intentionally addictive, Microsoft’s strategy deck for their new AI assistant Scout has been leaked. It lays out three phases of launch, and phase one is simply "make people add... more

Meta has officially launched premium subscription tiers across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. Does this mean we'll finally be able to rid ourselves of ads on social media?

Plus, it's been a rough few weeks for the 'clankers'. During Vivid, nearly... more

The Catholic Church has entered the AI debate, with Pope Leo XIV warning against "digital slaveries" while seated beside the co-founder of Anthropic. We ask whether the Vatican is positioning itself as a moral counterweight to Silicon Valley — and wh... more

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
AAP reporter and freelance technology journalist
AAP News / freelance
Episode: Is your podcast host... human?
Phoebe Toups-Dougas
Trans Gamer Professor
Trans Gamer Professor
Episode: Are we nostalgic for a 90s that didn't exist?
Leigh Stark
Editor of picker.com.au, tech journalist
picker.com.au
Episode: Can we force data centres to clean up their act?
Alice Clarke
Freelance technology and games journalist, writer of Press Any Button
Press Any Button (Substack)
Episode: Why Elon Musk is taking OpenAI to court
David Braue
Technology journalist at Information Age
Information Age
Episode: Why Elon Musk is taking OpenAI to court
Andy Koronios
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at the Australasian Space Innovation Institute
Australasian Space Innovation Institute
Episode: Artemis II isn't the only cool thing happening in space tech at the moment
Lauren Fell
Outreach and Marketing Specialist at Lunar Outpost Oceania; co-leading the ELO2 Consortium building RUVA
Lunar Outpost Oceania; Lunaria One
Episode: Artemis II isn't the only cool thing happening in space tech at the moment
Petra Stock
Climate reporter at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: Does Australia have the energy and water to power the AI data centre boom?
Bronwyn Cumbo
Researcher and lecturer at the UTS Transdisciplinary School
UTS
Episode: Does Australia have the energy and water to power the AI data centre boom?

Host

Rae Johnston
Host of Download This Show

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Love this show! Quite informative!

    Three things I love about this show:

    1. Hosted by women;

    2. It's intelligent;

    3. It's is very good in selecting its subject matter.

    This is a highly informative, well-hosted, (practically educational) show, regarding all things A.I., or cyber security, etc. it is also well-balanced, with various guests, and the hosts sound very knowledgeable (or at least make excellent use of their critical thinking abilities) on how they address each topic.

    I like that it's not fear-mongering, nor inflammatory,... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Music_Lv'r
    United States5 months ago
  • Opt Out podcast

    This is an excellent podcast to listen to if you're interested in your security and privacy online. I've had my personal information released in numerous data breeches in the past few years and this podcast gives you step by step instructions about how to take back control of your personal information. The podcast is also very interesting - it's better to be informed rather than ignorant!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Victoria Dawson99
    Australia6 months ago
  • Stick to tech

    I’m a little disappointed with the turn the show has taken away from tech. It seems that since Marc left, it’s really lost something.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nicko24842
    Australia8 months ago
  • So Glad I Started Tuning in

    I’ve only recently started getting into podcasts and listed in after a friend recommended this one… so glad I did and will be looking forward to this each week!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J-Dawg#23
    Australiaa year ago
  • For the low key techheads like me that love learning!

    I’ll be honest — I haven’t always been a regular listener of Download This Show. I’d catch an episode here and there, but it wasn’t something I was following closely. Since Rae has taken over full-time though, I have to say I’m making much more of an effort to listen to the podcast.

    I already follow Rae on a few of her other platforms, and I love her perspective on tech. She brings such a wealth of knowledge to the show, especially when it comes to science and the way First Nations perspective... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mssabrinagxxxxxxx
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate hosts' expertise and clear, non-sensational presentation of tech topics.
Some feedback notes a shift toward broader sociopolitical topics and questions whether tech focus remains central.
Audience praise for thoughtful, well-researched coverage and balanced guest mix.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#182
Canada/Technology
Spotify
#25
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#8
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#128
Argentina/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#143
South Korea/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#175
New Zealand/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Would you pay to use Instagram?
Q: Seamus, take me through the paid tier features.
Seamus explains the different 'Plus' offerings across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, focusing on features like extended story expiries, audience targeting for stories, and premium extras such as stickers and app icons, while noting that these are incremental additions rather than ad reductions.
Can the Pope influence the future of AI?
Q: Gianni, would you wear these? Is there anything they could do that would make you want to put them on?
Only if they could meaningfully reduce everyday frictions (like calendar integration) without introducing invasive surveillance, and even then there would be hesitation given privacy concerns and potential social implications.
Can the Pope influence the future of AI?
Q: Gianni, what problem are smart contact lenses actually solving?
They could aid accessibility and medical monitoring, such as glaucoma detection and health tracking, but raise serious concerns about surveillance and privacy if not properly regulated.
Can the Pope influence the future of AI?
Q: But now, the Pope is weighing in. Gianni, what has the Pope said about AI exactly?
He released a papal encyclical urging robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, and informed users, serving as a guiding social and spiritual stance on how to approach AI and governance.
Why Elon Musk is taking OpenAI to court
Q: Imagining Musk wins this case, what happens?
David outlines that a Musk victory could force a restructuring of OpenAI's governance and finances, potentially shifting control away from current leaders and impacting OpenAI's trajectory and IPO plans.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Download This Show

What is Download This Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly tech, media, and culture briefing that explores how technology reshapes everyday life, with a focus on privacy, AI, data, and digital culture. The show features a rotating mix of journalists, researchers, and industry experts who unpack complex topics—from AI governance and data centers to online safety and the social implications of technology—through accessible, thoughtful conversations. Notable strengths include a diverse lineup of expert voices, a clear stance on practical tech realities, and a tendency to balance analysis with accessible storytelling, making it a solid fit for listeners who want informed coverage without hype. Episodes often center on current tech policy, digital ethics, and the intersection of technology with... more

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How many listeners does Download This Show get?

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How many subscribers and views does Download This Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Download This Show has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Download This Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Download This Show:

1. No One Saw It Coming
2. If You're Listening
3. The Science Show
4. What's That Rash?
5. The Economy, Stupid

How many episodes of Download This Show are there?

Download This Show launched 14 years ago and published 358 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Download This Show?

Recent guests on Download This Show include:

1. Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson
2. Phoebe Toups-Dougas
3. Leigh Stark
4. Alice Clarke
5. David Braue
6. Andy Koronios
7. Lauren Fell
8. Petra Stock

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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