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Artwork for Understood

Understood

CBC
Narendra Modi
Pornhub
India
Cryptocurrency
Sam Bankman-Fried
Hindu Nationalism
FTX
Alameda Research
Fraud
Consent Issues
Adult Entertainment Industry
Ayodhya
Ram Mandir
Development Policies
Céline Dion
Money Laundering
Coindesk
Adult Industry
Child Sexual Abuse Material
Gujarat Riots

Deepfake porn is a billion-click industry built on stolen faces, while the people making it hide theirs behind screens. Hosted by journalist Sam Cole, Understood: Deepfake Porn Empire traces the decades-long rise of synthetic porn, the targets who are fighting back, and the global investigation that led to its Canadian kingpin.

Understood takes you deep inside the seismic shifts reshaping our worl... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes37Founded3 years ago
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Technology

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Artwork for Understood

Latest Episodes

When a streamer who goes by QTCinderella starts trending on Twitter, she isn’t expecting to see her face on a porn site — her face, doing things she never did.

Because the videos weren’t of her. They were deepfakes. Instead of staying silent, QTCind... more

Non-consensual deepfake porn is becoming increasingly pervasive, and it didn’t just come out of nowhere. These deepfakes were created and curated by people, on platforms, inside online subcultures. And they were allowed to spread, while governments d... more

Finally, we launch into Musk’s ultimate quest — his desire to colonize Mars — and how he went from wanting to save earth to wanting to escape it. We hear the origin story of SpaceX, including why one astrophysicist calls Musk’s Earth-exiting plan “de... more

What does Musk, father of 14, expect from his “legion” of children? We unravel his quest for genetic optimization, including alleged embryo screening, and his pronatalist views. And we hear from his estranged daughter, Vivian. 

Voices in this episod... more

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Recent Guests

Shivon Zilis
Executive at Neuralink and mother of Musk's twins
Neuralink
Episode: The Making of Elon Musk | E3: The Legion
Nolan Arbaugh
Participant in Neuralink's first human trial post-paralysis
Episode: The Making of Elon Musk | E3: The Legion
Vivian Wilson
Musk's daughter who legally changed her name
Episode: The Making of Elon Musk | E3: The Legion
Lina Khan
Federal Trade Commission Chair known for her aggressive approach to curbing corporate power.
Federal Trade Commission
Episode: Who Broke the Internet? | E3: In God We Antitrust
Walter Elmore
Producer of the Jamaican Jazz and Blues Festival
Episode: Céline Episode 3: The Globalization of Céline
Zainab al-Kaisi
Teenage from Baghdad during the American invasion of Iraq.
Episode: Céline Episode 3: The Globalization of Céline
Bryant Gumbel
Journalist who interviewed Céline Dion about her critics.
Episode: Céline Episode 3: The Globalization of Céline
Sonia Bénizra
Music Journalist and Talk Show Host from Quebec
Episode: Céline Episode 2: The U.S. Gamble
Barry Garber
Celine's Touring Agent in the 90s
Episode: Céline Episode 2: The U.S. Gamble

Hosts

Jacob Silverman
Host of Understood, focusing on technology and culture. He brings insights as a writer and journalist, contributing to discussions around the evolution of digital media.
Cory Doctorow
Host of Understood and Who Broke the Internet?, Cory is a renowned author and activist known for his insights on technology, copyright, and digital rights.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Time to Open your eyes

    The level of misinformation in this podcast is staggering. You guys need to start looking at facts before going on your race shaming tirade. This level of suicidal empathy is beyond harmful to all of western civilization.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Time to get based
    Canadaa month ago
  • Terrible show filled with ideology

    The show is all about the political views of the host. At every possible point the host inserts their own opinion. This was simply made because the host has an intense dislike of Elon Musk. Very little seems to be based on fact and most is supposition.

    This show will certainly not tell you what makes Elon Musk

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Average Joe Soap
    United Arab Emiratesa month ago
  • Best

    Best podcast ever

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    never going up singer
    Singaporea month ago
  • Well done technically, but one sided.

    Very one sided and paints a devious picture in order to outrage and hook you. Not responsible journalism IMO.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nickname1959$
    Canada2 months ago
  • The later seasons are good but the first is a bit off

    I’ve enjoyed the later seasons but i couldn’t finish the season on Sam bankman fried. The host spent a lot of time discussing his behavioural “oddities” and less on the actual crimes. As a lot of the so called oddity or “awkwardness” seemed to be standard neurodivergent traits not particular to SBF it started to feel like he was kind of preaching that we shouldn’t trust any neurodivergent people in power. It felt very uncomfortable. I’m sad I’ve listened to that season now because I’m less comfo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    emmyemmemm
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast offers a captivating examination of pressing digital issues, blending investigative journalism with compelling narratives.
Some find the content occasionally biased or politically charged, reflecting a broader discourse on the ethics of technology and its societal impact.
Listeners appreciate the thorough research and depth of analysis, often mentioning the relevance to today's tech landscape.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#63
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#10
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#92
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#44
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#155
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#234
Italy/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Making of Elon Musk | E3: The Legion
Q: How did Julia feel about publishing the story?
She grappled with moral deliberation, weighing the public interest against the potential privacy violations involved.
The Making of Elon Musk | E3: The Legion
Q: What was the initial tip that led Julia to investigate Elon Musk's personal life?
Julia heard a rumor about Musk having numerous children, which was suggested to be part of a personal project beyond mere parenting.
The Naked Emperor BONUS | Guilty: The fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Q: How do you see it playing out for him after the trials?
I would be surprised if he gets less than 20 years given the massive fraud and the harm caused to many people, including everyday crypto investors.
The Naked Emperor BONUS | Guilty: The fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Q: How significant is it that his inner circle testified against him?
It was very significant as these individuals, who were close to him, admitted to committing crimes under his direction, providing clear testimony in court.
The Naked Emperor BONUS | Guilty: The fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Q: Did anything surprising come out of the trial regarding mismanagement of funds?
Yes, it was revealed that there were incidents where fake balance sheets were sent to lenders to mask the true financial state of Alameda.

Audience Metrics

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

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Interests
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Understood

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

Exploring urgent and relevant topics in the digital age, this podcast uncovers the intersections between technology, culture, and ethics. It delves into the rise of synthetic pornography, the financial turmoil surrounding crypto, and the influence of powerful tech oligarchs, pinning down the stories that define modern society. The series spans a diverse range of themes—from the notorious rise and fall of bitcoin mogul Sam Bankman-Fried to the scrutiny of internet giants and the controversies surrounding personalities like Elon Musk. The episodes often feature investigative journalism, storytelling, and expert analysis, ensuring a rich understanding of the complex dynamics shaping today's world.

Where can I find podcast stats for Understood?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Understood. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Understood and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Understood get?

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What are the audience demographics for Understood?

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How many subscribers and views does Understood have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Understood 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 Understood?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Understood:

1. Front Burner
2. Ideas
3. The Current
4. Cost of Living
5. CANADALAND

How many episodes of Understood are there?

Understood launched 3 years ago and published 37 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Understood?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Understood?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Understood from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Understood. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Understood?

Recent guests on Understood include:

1. Shivon Zilis
2. Nolan Arbaugh
3. Vivian Wilson
4. Lina Khan
5. Walter Elmore
6. Zainab al-Kaisi
7. Bryant Gumbel
8. Sonia Bénizra

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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