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Close All Tabs

KQED
Social Media
Tiktok
Misinformation
Elon Musk
Disinformation
Donald Trump
Silicon Valley
Spotify
Waymo
Charlie Kirk
Meme Culture
Family Vlogging
Chatgpt
Hyperpop
Data Centers
Dating Apps
Luigi Mangione
Micro-Genres
Generative AI
JD Vance

Ever wonder where the internet stops and IRL begins? Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. From internet trends to AI slop to the politics of memes, Close All Tabs covers it all. How will AI change our jobs and lives? Is the government watching what I post? Is there life beyond TikTok? Host Morgan Sung pulls from experts, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTechnology

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Artwork for Close All Tabs

Latest Episodes

What happens when your therapist is… a chatbot?

For KQED health reporter Lesley McClurg, it started with a late-night spiral over dating. Instead of texting a friend, she opened ChatGPT and got the kind of calm, reassuring advice she needed. It work... more

In 2018, researcher Eva Galperin made a discovery about a colleague. He had been sexually abusing women for decades, and threatening to expose their private information using “stalkerware” — hidden applications that allow people to spy on another per... more

Life on an H-1B visa — a visa that lets U.S. companies hire foreign-born workers for specialized jobs — is difficult, unpredictable, and has gotten even harder under the Trump administration. A new gaming studio, Reality Reload, is trying to capture ... more

In a spring installment of Save or Scroll, Morgan teams up with culture journalist Steffi Cao to dig into the stories they can’t stop thinking about. From looksmaxxing to AI Fruit Love Island, BTS’ new album, and Meta losing a landmark series of laws... more

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Recent Guests

Eva Galperin
Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: Somebody’s Watching Me: The Crackdown on Stalkerware
Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman
Reporter at KQED who covers immigrant experiences and the H1B Life project
KQED
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game
Danduk (Don Duk Dovedon)
Immigrant who shared his H-1B journey and family history
Individual interviewee
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game
Sophie Alcorn
Immigration lawyer based in Silicon Valley
Lawyer
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game
Alison Young
Founder of Reality Reload, game studio behind H1B Life
Reality Reload
Episode: The H-1B Visa Process But Make It a Video Game
Steffi Cao
Culture journalist and Slate's Unhinged dating columnist
Slate
Episode: Save or Scroll: Looksmaxxing, AI Fruit Love Island, BTS Arirang, and Meta Lawsuits
Spike Feresten
Screenwriter and comedian who co-wrote Bee Movie
Bee Movie team
Episode: Bee Movie, "We Are Charlie Kirk," and the Enduring Bait-and-Switch Meme
Anna Iovine
Associate Features Editor at Mashable, covering dating, relationships, sex, and sex work
Mashable
Episode: Sex Workers Tried to Warn Us About Age Verification Laws
Olivia Snow
Researcher at UCLA's Center for Resilience and Data Justice, sex worker
UCLA
Episode: Sex Workers Tried to Warn Us About Age Verification Laws

Host

Morgan Sung
Tech journalist and host of Close All Tabs

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 233 ratings
  • Love love love

    Every episode is fantastic - great in-depth engaging stories that are relevant to the state of the tech world

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ajhqt
    United States14 days ago
  • So helpful!

    Im a nature girl a bit overwhelmed and frustrated by the current digital world. This podcast is very engaging. My curiosity is being nourished here which is helpful for my wellbeing and navigation of what is unfolding.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oak🌱seedlings🌈
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great show

    Super current and always locked in

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mitchyblueeyes
    United Statesa month ago
  • O M G

    In 23andme the guest on the episode is my auntie

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lemontree415
    United States3 months ago
  • Well-researched, well-explained

    I really appreciate how informative and timely this show is. I get a new episode covering tech while it’s topical, with content that anticipates my questions and concerns (plus a lot I don’t expect). Tysm Morgan, Chris, Chris, Maya, Brendan, and the others at KQED.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tagd
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are described as engaging, well-produced, and thought-provoking.
Listeners praise how the show explains complex tech topics and anticipates questions.
Fans appreciate diverse perspectives and the blend of storytelling with reporting.
Well-researched and timely, with informative and accessible episodes.
Some listeners note strong storytelling and high-quality guests while a few criticisms mention occasional ethical debates.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#108
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#117
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#77
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#98
Singapore/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#217
Philippines/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#236
Poland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Save or Scroll: Looksmaxxing, AI Fruit Love Island, BTS Arirang, and Meta Lawsuits
Q: What is looks maxing and why has it become controversial?
Looks maxing is a community focus on gamifying physical appearance to be more attractive, often with male-dominated culture and a mix of self-improvement rhetoric that intersects with performative masculinity and, in some cases, fascist aesthetics, leading to controversy about gender, power, and ideology.
Lessons for U.S. Netizens from Behind China’s Great Firewall
Q: What can American Internet users learn from their Chinese counterparts?
American users should recognize that their Internet may also be curated, understand other ecosystems outside their bubble, and embrace creative expressions such as memes to resist authority.
Lessons for U.S. Netizens from Behind China’s Great Firewall
Q: What similarities can be drawn between the censorship practices in China and those emerging in the U.S.?
There are increasing similarities in the tactics of control and surveillance, such as border control measures scrutinizing social media accounts, reflecting a troubling trend toward censorship in the U.S. that mirrors practices in China.
Love In The Time Of Doom Scrolling
Q: What do you think of integrating AI features into dating applications?
Maria Avgitidis expresses skepticism about AI in matchmaking, emphasizing the importance of community and the human aspect of connections.
How the AI Data Center Boom Impacts Black Communities
Q: Are those jobs permanent?
A majority of the jobs at data centers are not permanent, with only a small number of highly skilled positions created.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Close All Tabs

What is Close All Tabs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful blend of technology and culture, this show unpacks how online platforms, policies, and digital behavior shape real-world life. Episodes frequently explore AI, privacy, online safety, and the societal costs and opportunities of our connected world, often featuring reporters, researchers, and practitioners who bring data-driven context and human stories to timely topics. A standout is its ability to translate complex tech and policy issues into engaging narratives, with a clear preference for nuance, accessible explanations, and diverse perspectives.

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Which podcasts are similar to Close All Tabs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Close All Tabs:

1. The Bay
2. Throughline
3. Code Switch
4. Search Engine
5. Bay Curious

How many episodes of Close All Tabs are there?

Close All Tabs launched 19 years ago and published 65 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 Close All Tabs?

Recent guests on Close All Tabs include:

1. Eva Galperin
2. Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman
3. Danduk (Don Duk Dovedon)
4. Sophie Alcorn
5. Alison Young
6. Steffi Cao
7. Spike Feresten
8. Anna Iovine

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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