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The 404 Media Podcast

404 Media
Artificial Intelligence
ICE
Privacy
Generative AI
Cybersecurity
Surveillance
Data Privacy
Flock
Reddit
Social Media
Encryption
Microsoft
Google
Surveillance Technology
Openai
Ai-Generated Content
4chan
Elon Musk
Meta
AI Technology

Welcome to the podcast from 404 Media where Joseph, Sam, Emanuel, and Jason catch you up on the stories we published this week. 404 Media is a journalist-owned digital media company exploring the way technology is shaping–and is shaped by–our world. We bring you unparalleled access to hidden worlds both online and IRL through investigative reporting, smart blogging, and breaking news. At 404 Media... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes181Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTechnologyTech News

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Artwork for The 404 Media Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week we start with Jason's story about Flock accessing cameras in a children's gymnastics room as a sale pitch demo. After the break, Emanuel tells us why Nature retracted a paper about the alleged benefits of ChatGPT in education. In the subsci... more

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This week, we talk to Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine, about a rash of people physically destroying AI and surveillance infrastructure. Brian puts this wave of attacks in the historical context of the Luddites, who are notoriously misu... more

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This week, Jason explains the conspiracy theory circulating behind a trippy stock image that went viral after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner—was it sent here by a time traveler? (Spoiler: It was not.) Then Sam unpacks what’s happening at Ariz... more

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This week Joseph talks to Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, a journalist at TechCrunch. Lorenzo has possibly the deepest understanding of one of the wildest cybersecurity stories in years: how an employee of Trenchant, a government malware vendor that i... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
Writer from TechCrunch; interviewed about zero-day markets and government spyware
TechCrunch
Episode: Government Hacking Tools Are Now in Criminals' Hands (with Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai)
Maddy Myers
Editor in Chief of Mothership; co-host of Triple Click
Mothership
Episode: Why Journalists Are Leaving Big Media (with Maddy Myers)
Whitney Phillips
Author and professor of information politics and media ethics at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
Episode: How the Internet Became Hell (with Whitney Phillips)
Cindy Cohn
Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Episode: The Lawyer Fighting Government Surveillance for 30 Years (With EFF's Cindy Cohn)
Matthew Gault
Regular contributor to 404 Media who contributed the piece discussed
404 Media
Episode: Inside the AI Slop Propaganda Wars
Dhruv Mehrotra
Data journalist and investigator at Bloomberg, former Wired contributor and Gizmodo writer
Bloomberg
Episode: The Journalist Who Tracked Epstein Island Visitors’ Phones
Alex Hanna
Writer and sociologist of technology, labor, and politics
Distributed AI Research Institute (DARE)
Episode: The Marketing Tricks of "Artificial Intelligence"
Emily M. Bender
Professor of Linguistics, University of Washington
University of Washington
Episode: The Marketing Tricks of "Artificial Intelligence"
Chris Parr
Documentary filmmaker, known for the video I Mapped Google's Only Secret City
Independent filmmaker
Episode: Google Street View's Unmappable City

Host

Joseph
Host of the show; leads editorial direction and interviewing on tech, policy, and investigative reporting.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Excellent program 🤩

    Thanks to the Aussie podcast Download This Show for mentioning 404 Media in their latest podcast. My first listen today and I’m hooked, what a great find!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    B⭐️B
    Australia20 days ago
  • One of my few "always listen" podcasts. Episodes always have a great range but at their heart they are always well researched, accessible, and relevant about how we can live in this tech enmeshed world.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    honor
    24 days ago
  • 🎵Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for🎶(🌈)

    I’ve enjoyed this podcast a while now (love y’all), but the episode How the Internet Became Hell (with Whitney Phillips) just blew the roof off the sucka, and I appreciate how you just let her cook. Post-COVID American delulu politics have a rational explanation?! (And I was right to disengage?) I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. [If anyone, Whitney Phillips should be the pro-democratic Joe Rogan]. It's gonna be... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rosa Schlupfer
    Canada25 days ago
  • Everyone needs to follow

    This is the era of independent journalism and 404 Media is at the forefront. This podcast is one of several that I recommend to anyone who will listen. The hosts take on timely, often under-reported topics that have real-world implications on a national and global scale. Thanks, 404 gang!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Littleworldcunningly
    United States2 months ago
  • Important, relevant reporting

    I’m basically the opposite of a tech enthusiast, but this is one of my favorite podcasts. The reporters make it really clear why tech stories matter, & how tech (& tech billionaires) are impacting our lives. They cover topics I DO care about (politics, government, surveillance, parenting) and I learn SO much. I don’t see these stories being covered much by other media outlets either. And even though they’re always saying they don’t know how to do a podcast (lol) I really enjoy listening to them.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    allmartt
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Receives praise for breaking into under-covered issues with thoughtful analysis.
Independent, unbought journalism with deep dives into tech and policy.
Consistently high-quality reporting with credible guests and clear storytelling.
Strong on-context delivery and practical relevance, though some critique on editorial pacing.
Widely regarded as rigorous and essential for staying informed on tech impact.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#5
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#15
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#224
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#12
Australia/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#15
Germany/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Algorithms Make Us Feel Bad and Weird
Q: What is a styled shoot and why does it matter to real weddings?
A styled shoot is a curated, photographer-driven mock wedding at a venue with professional models and vendors, designed to showcase products; it leaks into real wedding planning as couples try to replicate the look, creating tension between aspiration and practicality.
How Algorithms Make Us Feel Bad and Weird
Q: How did the bridal algorithm start influencing Sam's planning?
Sam describes how engagement content triggered a cascade of wedding-focused content—engagements, rings, dresses, and budgeting advice—leading to a heightened sense of what a wedding should look like and how much it should cost.
How the Internet Became Hell (with Whitney Phillips)
Q: How has the ecological view helped frame the current state of the internet?
It highlights how platform design, ownership, and political rhetoric interact with human nervous systems, leading to heightened aggression, polarization, and information overload, while offering a path to calmer, more ethical engagement through education and systemic changes.
How the Internet Became Hell (with Whitney Phillips)
Q: What does it mean to think ecologically about social media?
It means recognizing that online life is shaped by interconnected systems—technological platforms, material infrastructure, regulatory regimes, and social interactions—along with a historical context, and using this lens to understand risks and opportunities of posting, responding, and consuming information.
Google Street View's Unmappable City
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about North Oaks, Minnesota, and why it is not on Street View?
North Oaks is a private, gated municipality where residents own the roads and property; there is no public easement, so Google treated it as private and stopped showing Street View imagery there, making it the only unmapped city in the country.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About The 404 Media Podcast

What is The 404 Media Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, investigative tech-news show that dissects how digital systems shape society, from surveillance, privacy, and security to AI ethics and online misinformation. Episodes center on in-depth reporting, original investigations, and interviews with researchers, journalists, and practitioners who illuminate hidden corners of the internet and technology's real-world impact. Notable strengths include rigorous, independent journalism, a track record of bringing underreported topics to light, and a willingness to critique powerful tech players and policies. Potential listeners who want sharp analysis, actionable context, and thoughtful guests across security, AI, and digital rights will likely find this engaging and authoritative.

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How many listeners does The 404 Media Podcast get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers The 404 Media Podcast 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 The 404 Media Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The 404 Media Podcast:

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. Better Offline
3. This Machine Kills
4. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
5. Panic World

How many episodes of The 404 Media Podcast are there?

The 404 Media Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 181 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The 404 Media Podcast?

Recent guests on The 404 Media Podcast include:

1. Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
2. Maddy Myers
3. Whitney Phillips
4. Cindy Cohn
5. Matthew Gault
6. Dhruv Mehrotra
7. Alex Hanna
8. Emily M. Bender

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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