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Artwork for Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

Ania Lichtarowicz
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Technology
Myanmar
Web Summit
Electric Vehicles
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Data Centers
Brazil
Censorship
Human Rights
Cybersecurity
Access Now
Rare Earth Elements
Kenya
Chile
Equatorial Guinea
Drought
Ukraine
Misinformation

Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - Tech That Actually MattersIf you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) - the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Made by and hosted by the ex-BBC World Service Digital Planet team (yes, the award-winning crew behind 21+ years of world-leading tech journalism a... more

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Artwork for Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

Latest Episodes

Flying Boat Could Transform Amazon Transport

In the Amazon, where rivers are often the only roads, journeys can take hours or even days. Brazilian company Aero River is developing a “flying boat” that travels just metres above the water at speeds of... more

YouTube

🦾 Affordable Bionic Prosthetics

A Brazilian start-up is using 3D printing and muscle-controlled technology to develop affordable bionic arms, giving amputees greater independence at a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics.

🧠 Can AI Diag... more

YouTube

💡 Bringing Light to the Amazon

Can a recycled plastic bottle change lives? At Web Summit Rio 2026, Ania Lichtarowicz meets Rodrigo Eidy, President of Litro de Luz Brasil, to discover how simple solar-powered lighting systems are bringing safe, sust... more

YouTube

Can AI predict a tunnel collapse before it happens?

As cities grow and become more crowded, we are increasingly building underground. But tunnelling beneath busy urban areas can be dangerous, with unstable ground, changing geological conditions and ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Natan Eduardo Aurívez de Vargas
CEO and founder of Limbex
Limbex
Episode: Could This Affordable Bionic Arm Change Healthcare Forever? AI & Autism, & Green Fuel Innovation
José Carlos Salomão Jr.
Partner and medical director of Limbex
Limbex
Episode: Could This Affordable Bionic Arm Change Healthcare Forever? AI & Autism, & Green Fuel Innovation
Luiz Felipe Salles
Medical doctor, founder of Auri
Auri
Episode: Could This Affordable Bionic Arm Change Healthcare Forever? AI & Autism, & Green Fuel Innovation
Kelly Lopes de Souza Ribeiro
Researcher, co-founder of NES Green Fuels
NES Green Fuels
Episode: Could This Affordable Bionic Arm Change Healthcare Forever? AI & Autism, & Green Fuel Innovation
Rodrigo Eidy
President of Litro de Luz Brasil
Litro de Luz Brasil
Episode: Lighting Up the Amazon with Recycled Bottles | Recorded Live at Web Summit Rio
Maria Wecker
Founder and CEO of Scale Rehabilitation
Scale Rehabilitation
Episode: Lighting Up the Amazon with Recycled Bottles | Recorded Live at Web Summit Rio
David Mendy
Founder, Geoprode; builder of GeoRisco
Geoprode
Episode: AI Predicts Tunnel Collapses & WhatsApp Brings a Pediatrician to Your Phone
Dr. Natalie Cano
Founder and CEO of DocoKids; pediatric healthcare entrepreneur
DocoKids
Episode: AI Predicts Tunnel Collapses & WhatsApp Brings a Pediatrician to Your Phone
Raphael Zufferey
Professor at MIT, lead researcher on the flapping wing aquatic aerial vehicle
MIT
Episode: Robots Inspired by Birds, and the Future of Clean Energy: How Technology Is Transforming Our Planet

Host

Ania Lichtarowicz
Lead host with a track record covering global tech policy, digital rights, and technology's societal impact. Associated with international tech journalism and governance discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 48 ratings
  • Top Notch Tech Show

    If you are looking to keep current with tech as it’s applied across the world this is a great show to listen to. You’ll hear stories here you won’t find anywhere else. Have been listening for years (under the multiple iterations of the show) and always find the time invested to listen is well worth it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John T O'Farrell
    United States3 months ago
  • Good tech info

    Podcast Addict
    4
    LankyG
    3 months ago
  • Awesome info!!!

    This is such a great information. I am so glad I found this podcast. Please keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MichelleW328
    United States4 months ago
  • Love this show. Tells you how tech really impacts your life. Also tells stories from all over the world. Love the presenters, knowledgeable and friendly. This is my favourite tech podcast. Highly recommended.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Techgirl123
    a year ago
  • Audio on one side

    Great podcast but last week and this week the audio is only on the left hand side. Julian from Holmfirth West Yorkshire

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Juli-Juan
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for deep, globally informed tech stories.
Production quality and thoughtful questioning are frequently highlighted.
Guests consistently provide practical, real-world insights beyond hype.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fibre Network Powering It All
Q: What are the safety comparisons between autonomous vehicles and human-driven cars?
While autonomous fleets have accumulated millions of miles with no human fatalities in many trials, there is still a need for careful, apples-to-apples comparisons and understanding of the data versus traditional driver risk.
Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fibre Network Powering It All
Q: How ready is London to adopt driverless taxis, and what regulatory steps are in place?
London is portrayed as one of the first waves of adoption in a broader global rollout, with regulatory groundwork in the Automated Vehicles Act and ongoing discussions around liability, insurance, and safety frameworks.
How AI Is catching Marine Wildlife Traffickers and Also Making Tax Easi
Q: What about deployment and data challenges for wide adoption of the AI system?
There is an emphasis on open architecture, data availability, and the need for diverse data samples; the team notes current limitations in data volume and the importance of validating AI decisions with humans and international collaboration.
How AI Is catching Marine Wildlife Traffickers and Also Making Tax Easi
Q: How does the AI system identify trafficked marine wildlife at borders?
The guest explains that AI acts as a complementary tool to human inspections and detection dogs; the system is trained to recognize shark fins, seahorses, and sea cucumbers in luggage or parcels using CT and 3D imaging, with ongoing adaptation to trafficking methods.
How AI Is catching Marine Wildlife Traffickers and Also Making Tax Easi
Q: How big is the problem of marine wildlife trafficking, and why is it not as visible as land-based trafficking?
Dr. Vanessa Pirotta explains that while land-based trafficking is well-known, marine wildlife trafficking involves species like sharks, seahorses, and sea cucumbers, and often receives less attention. The discussion emphasizes the broad scope and ecosystem impacts of this hidden trade and the need to highlight marine cases to the public.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Global tech storytelling that goes beyond hype to explore tech's real-world impact across cultures and societies. Episodes mix policy, privacy, sustainability, and innovation through interviews with policymakers, researchers, and founders tackling issues like border tech, AI sustainability, open financial inclusion, and gender-focused enterprise. Notable strengths include long-form, data-driven analysis, international perspectives, and a willingness to surface underreported tech stories, from digital rights to climate-aware computing. The show often features practitioners and researchers who bring pragmatic insights for readers seeking to understand how technology changes people's lives around the world. Potential listeners will likely find... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Tech Life
2. Unexpected Elements
3. BBC Inside Science
4. CrowdScience
5. More or Less

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 3 years ago and published 179 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Natan Eduardo Aurívez de Vargas
2. José Carlos Salomão Jr.
3. Luiz Felipe Salles
4. Kelly Lopes de Souza Ribeiro
5. Rodrigo Eidy
6. Maria Wecker
7. David Mendy
8. Dr. Natalie Cano

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