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Download This Show

ABC Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Australia
Tiktok
Meta
Social Media
Openai
Chatgpt
Generative AI
Cybersecurity
Elon Musk
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

It's not just phones. How much do our TVs, streaming boxes, and browsers know?

This week, we look at research that suggests some LG TVs may be gathering more information about our viewing habits than we realised. Plus, there's a streaming box promis... more

The eSafety Commissioner has accepted a court-enforceable plan from Roblox to address child safety concerns after questions were raised about whether the platform was meeting its obligations under Australia's Online Safety Act. We'll unpack what pare... more

Australia's proposed Privacy Act reforms are some of the boldest changes to privacy law we've seen in years. How could it change the tech we use every day? And does this mean Australia is setting a new global privacy standard, or catching up to the r... more

Drones went from being flying cameras to autonomous weapons within a handful of years. Our guest, Cory Alpert, explains what he's seen on the front lines of Ukraine's drone war, and why drone warfare is changing international conflict forever.

Also ... more

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Recent Guests

Karin Verspoor
Dean of the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University
RMIT University
Episode: What Australia's Privacy Act reforms mean for the tech you use
Cory Alpert
Researcher at the University of Melbourne; former Biden White House staffer
University of Melbourne
Episode: How Ukraine's military drones are changing warfare forever
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
Charles Gretton
Associate Professor at ANU, Director of Attention and Innovation at the Integrated AI Network
Australian National University
Episode: Have AI models truly "gone rogue"?
Justin Hendry
Editor at innovationoz.com
innovationoz.com
Episode: What is Q-Day and how scared should we all be?

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 States8 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
    Australia9 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
    Australiaa year 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 praise balanced, informative tech coverage and diverse guests.
Listeners appreciate Rae Johnston's perspective as a First Nations woman and the accessibility of tough topics.
Guests are seen as knowledgeable and able to explain complex topics clearly.
The show is considered well-produced with high-quality guests and thoughtful discussion.
Some critique a shift away from strictly tech topics toward social issues, viewed by some as misalignment with expectations.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#24
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#20
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#19
South Korea/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#211
China/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Ukraine's military drones are changing warfare forever
Q: Cory, what has changed on the battlefield because of drones?
Autonomous software now allows drones to operate in swarms with limited or no human control, enabling rapid targeting, coordinated movement, and the ability to adapt to signal jamming and battlefield conditions, which is redefining how wars are fought.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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 tech-leaning show with a steady rotation of guests that explore how media, culture, and technology intersect—covering privacy, AI, surveillance, policy, and the business side of platforms. Episodes often pair industry voices with researchers and journalists to unpack complex topics in an accessible way, offering practical takeaways for consumers and a clear view of how tech shapes everyday life. Notable traits include a strong emphasis on ethics and governance in tech, a focus on Australian regulatory context, and a propensity to feature voices from academia, journalism, and industry advocacy. This mix tends to attract listeners who want thoughtful analysis without fear-mongering, and who appreciate nuanced discussions around data, privac... 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. The Economy, Stupid
2. If You're Listening
3. Big Ideas
4. No One Saw It Coming
5. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

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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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Download This Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Download This Show?

Recent guests on Download This Show include:

1. Karin Verspoor
2. Cory Alpert
3. Jordan van den Lamb
4. Samantha Floreani
5. Kylie Davis
6. John Gilmovich
7. Lina Pržhedetsky
8. Charles Gretton

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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