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The 404 Media Podcast

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes236Founded3 years ago
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Tech NewsNewsTechnology

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Artwork for The 404 Media Podcast

Latest Episodes

Today I’m joined by Lindsay Goldwert. Lindsay is a writer and soon to be certified sex educator who has written for the New York Times, New York Magazine, Fast Company, Marketwatch and more. Her newsletter DearStar69 is “for passionate people with cu... more

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code 404MEDIA at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/404media

We start this week with Joseph’s investigation into Proton’s culture of fear and the company’s massive push towards A... more

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Big tech didn’t expect the community pushback around data centers. Developers accustomed to building whatever they want with minimal oversight are facing hard questions about land use, water rights, electricity bills, and noise. To push back on local... more

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Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code 404MEDIA at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: incogni.com/404media

We start this week with Jason and Joseph’s article about leaked audio from a private police conference. In that audio... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Mike Isaac
Technology reporter and author of Super Pumped, a book about Uber
The New York Times
Episode: Is the AI Boom a Bubble?
Paris Marx
Tech critic, host of Tech Won't Save Us, and author of Hyperscale
Tech Won't Save Us
Episode: Data Centers Are Worse Than You Thought
Frances Haugen
Meta whistleblower, journalist and advocate
Facebook/Meta (former); whistleblower advocate
Episode: The Social Reckoning’s Real-Life Whistleblower
Becky Ferreira
Writer for The Abstract; author of First Encounters
The Abstract / Forklift Media
Episode: 404 Media Live! The Three Year Anniversary Show
Jason Kint
CEO of Digital Content Next
Digital Content Next
Episode: AI Companies Scraped the Web and Are Destroying the Human Internet
Nadim Khan
CEO of Vedismo Intelligence Hub
Vedismo
Episode: The FBI Was Hacked. We’ve Seen the Data
Kashmir Hill
Reporter at The New York Times, author of Your Face Belongs to Us, A Tale of AI, A Secret of Startup, and The End of Privacy
The New York Times
Episode: The End of Privacy Is Here (with Kashmir Hill)
Sherry Turkle
Licensed clinical psychologist, MIT professor, author
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Episode: Is AI Making Us Less Human?
Sam Biddle
Intercept reporter focusing on surveillance, privacy, and corporate power
The Intercept
Episode: 404 Media x The Intercept LIVE: How AI Is Used to Surveil and Kill

Hosts

Joseph Cox
Host of 404 Media Podcast; long-running lead host known for investigative tech reporting and coverage of surveillance, privacy, and platform governance.
Sam Cole
Co-host and journalist with a focus on investigative reporting and tech policy.
Emanuel Maiberg
Co-host and co-founder contributing reporting on technology, AI, and media.
Jason Koebler
Co-host and co-founder; leads investigative tech coverage and panel discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • 14 minute ad reads

    14 minute ad reads are a bridge too far. 404 is using the Google/Covid subscription model. Bombarding listeners with so many ads in hopes that they will pay for premium. I don’t imagine they will see this review but worth mentioning… Continuing to take money from irresponsible sponsors does not make you look any better

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ThisIs My RealName
    Canada22 days ago
  • High quality journalism

    High quality journalism brought to podcasting. Every time I tune, 404 Media does the deep dive into tech and socio-political issues that’s utterly insightful, unique, and essential to understanding. The podcasts appeal to lay interests as much as tech insiders. I’ve never been disappointed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DJ in San Jose
    United Statesa month ago
  • Hope you guys know in Philly area, they’re tacking a pro-data center ad to the end of this week’s ep

    Love 404. Data center ads = not so much. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dirk Lerxst-Pratt
    United Statesa month ago
  • Anthropic Sponsorship?

    The Anthropic sponsorship really compromises the journalistic integrity of this podcast and organization. Super disappointed in that.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MargotAtha
    United Statesa month ago
  • a such

    informative channel i already tell from the first episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    givememyalias
    South Korea2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Appreciation for timely coverage of underreported tech and policy stories.
Listeners praise rigorous, independent reporting and insightful interviews with expert guests.
Praise for linking issues to broader societal impacts beyond tech headlines.
Some critique cadence and repetitive phrasing, calling for tighter editing and production polish.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#4
United States/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#9
United Kingdom/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#10
Italy/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#10
Germany/News/Tech News
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/News/Tech News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is the AI Boom a Bubble?
Q: Why would OpenAI want to go public next year, and what is the ideal time for these companies to IPO?
Isaac says OpenAI needs time to improve its financial position and present a credible growth story. Companies seek IPOs to raise capital for computing costs and let shareholders cash out, while weighing market timing and the scrutiny that comes with public reporting.
Is the AI Boom a Bubble?
Q: Is the AI boom a bubble, and what is OpenAI's version of the future that avoids the subsidized-use collapse?
Isaac is skeptical of sweeping promises and uncertain that scaling will keep improving models, but says AI can still have profound effects even when its output is flawed. He argues that people retain agency over whether these systems are adopted.
Data Centers Are Worse Than You Thought
Q: If you're looking for the ideal place to build a data center, a hyperscale data center, where would you build one?
Marx says a suitable site would have adequate water, a cooler climate, enough electricity without straining the grid, and thoughtful distance from residential areas and population centers.
Data Centers Are Worse Than You Thought
Q: Can you define Hyperscale for me? What is a Hyperscaler?
Marx says there is no fixed industry definition. Older definitions used facility size and server counts, while a more current measure is electricity consumption, with many facilities using 100 to 150 megawatts and some planned clusters reaching multiple gigawatts.
404 Media Live! The Three Year Anniversary Show
Q: How do you balance reporting on local issues versus national or global issues?
The group discussed that very specific, local stories can reveal universal themes and inform broader debates, while maintaining a pipeline to broader coverage by connecting local findings to national conversations and using iterative storytelling to keep topics fresh.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

The show features in-depth, often investigative tech journalism that tackles topics like AI, surveillance, privacy, and how digital ecosystems shape everyday life. Across episodes, the hosts routinely dissect powerful tech players, evolving security and policy issues, and the societal implications of rapid technical change. A standout element is the mix of tech-for-good rigor with candid on-the-record reporting, guest experts, and on-the-ground storytelling that pulls back the curtain on hidden systems and data practices. The format is sharp, script-free interview and panel-style conversations that frequently surface underreported stories with practical takeaways for policymakers, industry, and everyday users. Potential listeners who want c... more

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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. Kill The Computer

How many episodes of The 404 Media Podcast are there?

The 404 Media Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 236 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 The 404 Media Podcast?

Recent guests on The 404 Media Podcast include:

1. Mike Isaac
2. Paris Marx
3. Frances Haugen
4. Becky Ferreira
5. Jason Kint
6. Nadim Khan
7. Kashmir Hill
8. Sherry Turkle

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