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Artwork for Ruined By The Internet?

Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world

Gareth King
Internet
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
The Internet
Video Games
Ayahuasca
Games As a Service
Video Game Journalism
Society
Culture
Social Interaction
Trust In Information
Digital Communication
Social Media Influencers
Climate Science
Media Trust Crisis
AI and Misinformation
Journalism
Monetization
Multiplayer Experience

Is the internet really ruining everything, or are we just looking at it wrong? Ruined By The Internet? uses technology as a lens to investigate its effects on society, culture, and modern life. Not products. Not industry news. The human costs of the digital world we all inhabit - whether we wanted them or not. Through conversations with psychologists, musicians, political scientists, FBI investiga... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes33Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureTechnology

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Artwork for Ruined By The Internet?

Latest Episodes

We used to rely on biological cues to verify a stranger in need. But in a faceless digital world full of scams and deception, has our empathy become a liability - and left us in a state of permanent suspicion?

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? – th... more

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The internet promised to be a vast global network of human thought and connection. But as the digital ecosystem is increasingly choked by synthetic content and non-human users, is the internet’s true premium – the certainty of human thought – being d... more

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The internet gave us a way for conspiracy theories to find their audiences, connecting people and building communities around often-fringe ideas. But has it also supercharged them, turning once-fringe ideas into powerful forces of polarisation, divis... more

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It promised to make us more productive, more employable, and more economically secure. But as AI begins replacing not just tasks but entire professional roles - including ones that took many years to reach - is technology making job security itself a... more

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Recent Guests

Travis Simcox
Cyber threat hunter and former cognitive science researcher
Risk management firm (cyber threat hunting lead)
Episode: Helping People: Has Empathy Turned Us into Targets? | Online Scams, Digital Deception, Cyber Safety & the Psychology of Trust
David Schmudde
Chief Technology Officer at Yorba
Yorba
Episode: Digital Humanity: From Real Minds to Synthetic Hallucination? | AI, LLMs, Identity, Consciousness & Authenticity
Dani Mercy
Host of Rabbit Hole Conspiracy Theories podcast
Rabbit Hole Conspiracy Theories
Episode: Conspiracy Theories: Weaponised From the Fringe to Your Feed? | Misinformation, Radicalisation & the Attention Economy
Nick Jain
Harvard-trained former private equity investor and co-founder of Eagle Rock CFO
Eagle Rock CFO
Episode: Job Security: Optimised for Our Own Obsolescence? | AI, Automation, Future of Work & Job Displacement
Joe Zahaitis
Payments industry strategist with over 30 years in the high-velocity digital marketplace
Independent / Zahaitis (zahaitis.com)
Episode: Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything? | E-Commerce, Consumer Behaviour & the Future of Retail
Chelsea Reynolds
Sleep researcher and clinical psychologist
Sleep research clinic/academic affiliation referenced in show
Episode: Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? | Screen Time, Sleep Science & Digital Wellbeing
Courtney Kocak
Writer, comedian, memoir author (Girl Gone Wild)
Author, Writer, Comedian
Episode: Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? | Digital Monetisation & the Attention Economy
Thomas Sigler
Deputy Head of the School of the Environment and Associate Professor of Human Geography, University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? | Airbnb, PropTech & the Housing Crisis
Justin Leff
Behavioral coach focusing on discipline, wellness and self-understanding
Episode: Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? | Social Media, Algorithms & Personal Growth

Host

Gareth King
Host of Ruined By The Internet,"Ruined By The Internet" project lead, with a focus on the human costs of digital life and governance of online platforms.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Fascinating!

    These discussions are brilliant. They voice the concerns within myself that I constantly try to ignore. I appreciate that solutions are brought up, it keeps a heavy subject lighter. Great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessi Hartnett
    United States8 months ago
  • Bad and oogly

    Propaganda to justify government’s assault on the internet. Internet is too free and the people at the top don’t like that freedom. They want to be able to censor and control information, unmask everyone, and monitor everyone’s activity.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    barbadenis
    United States8 months ago
  • Great concept!

    Love this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1980ed1980
    Australiaa year ago
  • Thoughtful and thought-provoking

    I love the topic of this podcast and the gentle way it goes about examining how the internet has changed our world so rapidly. It asks the right questions and provides us with concrete steps for how to move forward. The guests are consistently interesting and Gareth King guides the interview in such a way that I assume he’s been doing this professionally for years. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Canadian Townie
    Canadaa year ago
  • A really interesting and informative listen

    A huge subject to explore and the first episodes have been fascinating. I look forward to hearing more from Gareth and his subject matter experts over coming episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    R_J*23
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The host guides discussions with clarity and nuance, making complex topics accessible.
Guests are consistently interesting and grounded in real-world relevance.
Thoughtful, well-structured conversations that connect tech trends to human impact.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Helping People: Has Empathy Turned Us into Targets? | Online Scams, Digital Deception, Cyber Safety & the Psychology of Trust
Q: How has the internet changed the scale and nature of scams compared to traditional era scams?
The internet amplifies reach and multiplies identities; one malicious actor can appear as many people, making it harder for victims to assess trust and opening up global opportunities for fraud, with tactics evolving from simple phishing to AI-assisted manipulations.
Helping People: Has Empathy Turned Us into Targets? | Online Scams, Digital Deception, Cyber Safety & the Psychology of Trust
Q: What is your background and what do you do now in the field of cyber security?
I'm a cyber threat hunter leading a team at a risk management firm, with past work in cognitive science research. This combination helps me understand both the technical attacks and the psychology behind why people fall for them.
Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? | Screen Time, Sleep Science & Digital Wellbeing
Q: Chelsea, thank you so much for joining us, and welcome to the show. Before we get into it today, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to this area of expertise?
I'm a clinical psychologist with a focus on sleep; I've done a lot of clinical work treating insomnia and have been researching sleep and technology use to understand how screens intersect with sleep, both as potential disruptors and as tools.
Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? | Digital Monetisation & the Attention Economy
Q: Before we get into it, can you tell us a little about yourself and the journey that led you here?
Courtney describes her path from acting to writing and podcasting, her memoir, and how those experiences shaped her views on empowerment and self-expression in the online era.
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
Q: What does the future look like for coexistence between traditional taxis and gig platforms, and what reforms could help workers?
He expresses cautious optimism about potential wage protections and arm's-length inquiries, stressing the need to protect essential workers while evaluating regulations and industry structure.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ruined By The Internet?

What is Ruined By The Internet? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show investigates how digital life is changing people, communities, and institutions by talking with researchers, policymakers, technologists, and creatives about social media, AI, and online culture. Episodes explore the human costs and societal shifts driven by online platforms, data, and automated systems, often weighing productivity and innovation against concerns like mis/disinformation, polarization, and the erosion of trust. Each conversation tends to blend rigorous analysis with concrete examples, making complex tech dynamics accessible for listeners who want to understand how the internet shapes behavior, work, and democracy. A notable strength is the willingness to connect academic insights with real-world implications, from ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ruined By The Internet??

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1. Dreaming Against the Machine
2. Understood: Artificial Intimacy
3. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
4. The Daily
5. Philosophize This!

How many episodes of Ruined By The Internet? are there?

Ruined By The Internet? launched a year ago and published 33 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 Ruined By The Internet??

Recent guests on Ruined By The Internet? include:

1. Travis Simcox
2. David Schmudde
3. Dani Mercy
4. Nick Jain
5. Joe Zahaitis
6. Chelsea Reynolds
7. Courtney Kocak
8. Thomas Sigler

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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