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Download This Show

ABC Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Australia
Tiktok
Meta
Social Media
Openai
Chatgpt
Elon Musk
Cybersecurity
Generative AI
Google
Privacy
Facebook
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes358Founded15 years ago
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Artwork for Download This Show

Latest Episodes

Facial recognition cameras are being rolled out in Western Australia by the police force. Whilst its a new policing tactic in Australia, major retailers including Bunnings, Woolworths and Coles have tested it. How does police use of the technology di... more

Dark patterns. They're the manipulative practices that are part of the foundations of our online life... and apparently our rental lives.

Confirm shaming, biased framing, and bundled consent are all examples of dark patterns. What are they? What are... more

The Privacy Commissioner has put the RentTech industry on notice over 'unfair and excessive personal information collection'.

If you've rented a home recently, you've probably used one of the online platforms that promise to make applying easier. Su... more

Anthropic's Claude Cowork and an OpenAI model have reportedly "gone rogue", but is that really what happened? And what does it mean to escape a 'sandbox'?

Plus, this week, Apple, Meta and a growing list of secretly filmed strangers all had something... more

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Recent Guests

Jordan van den Lamb
Creator of Shit Rentals
Shit Rentals
Episode: The Renter Algorithm: Dark patterns and the illusion of choice
Samantha Floreani
PhD candidate at Monash University researching rental technologies
Monash University
Episode: The Renter Algorithm: The invisible system judging tenants
Kylie Davis
Founder and president of Proptech Australia
Proptech Australia
Episode: The Renter Algorithm: The invisible system judging tenants
John Gilmovich
President of the Property Owners Association and licensed real estate agent
Property Owners Association
Episode: The Renter Algorithm: The invisible system judging tenants
Lina Pržhedetsky
Research fellow at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Episode: The Renter Algorithm: The invisible system judging tenants
Jacinta Bowler
Science reporter and host of the new science friction series, Dead or Alive
ABC
Episode: What is Q-Day and how scared should we all be?
David Braue
Tech journalist at Information Age
Information Age
Episode: (Nearly) everything that happened in AI this week
Vanessa Teague
Professor, CEO of Thinking Cybersecurity
Thinking Cybersecurity / UNSW
Episode: How do you stop being addicted to your phone?
Alice Clarke
Freelance technology journalist
Press Any Button (substack)
Episode: Is it wrong to have robots take care of our parents?

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 States7 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
    Australia8 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
    Australia10 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.

Spotify
#19
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#6
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#101
Taiwan/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#101
New Zealand/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#110
China/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#130
Sweden/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The UN calls for a ban on 'killer robots'
Q: Kai, what exactly is a killer robot?
A killer robot is a weapon that autonomously makes target choices without human input, using algorithms to guide actions, which raises concerns about whether machines can or should have that power.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
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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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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. What's That Rash?
2. If You're Listening
3. The Economy, Stupid
4. Big Ideas
5. Health Report

How many episodes of Download This Show are there?

Download This Show launched 15 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. Jordan van den Lamb
2. Samantha Floreani
3. Kylie Davis
4. John Gilmovich
5. Lina Pržhedetsky
6. Jacinta Bowler
7. David Braue
8. Vanessa Teague

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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