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Artwork for Understood: Who Broke the Internet?

Understood: Who Broke the Internet?

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

Host Cory Doctorow coined the word "enshittification" to describe the state of the modern internet: a broken down, decaying place, once full of promise, now overrun with intrusive ads, hateful trolls, aggressive algorithms, zero privacy, and AI-generated slop, with every billionaire tech titan in a race to the bottom to bleed their users and their customers alike.

It can feel like it was inevitab... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes31Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for Understood: Who Broke the Internet?

Latest Episodes

In this special bonus conversation, Cory Doctorow sits down with Bookends host Mattea Roach to discuss his latest novel, Picks & Shovels. The book is the third in his series about forensic accountant Martin Hench, who investigates financial crime in ... more

It's 2025. President Trump is back, and the richest men in tech are on stage with him. What started as a dysfunctional internet run by tech giants, and enabled by failed legislation, has morphed into something even more dangerous: what economist Yani... more

American antitrust laws were designed to stop companies from wielding the power of kings. But in the 1970s, a legal scholar named Robert Bork convinced Washington to ignore those laws. Host Cory Doctorow traces how Bork's influence gave digital giant... more

In 1998, the United States Congress tried to tame the wild internet with a new law: the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. But buried in its fine print was a provision that would end up giving tech giants ultimate legal protection and control, and sto... more

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Recent Guests

Lina Khan
Federal Trade Commission Chair known for her aggressive approach to curbing corporate power.
Federal Trade Commission
Episode: 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
Nisar Ahmed
Garment shop owner and survivor of the Delhi riots
Episode: Modi's India Episode 3: The Strongman
Akar Patel
Writer and chair of Amnesty International in India, has followed Narendra Modi's career for years.
Amnesty International
Episode: Modi's India Episode 3: The Strongman
Amandeep Sandhu
Journalist and author of Punjab, A Journey Through Fault Lines, followed the issues facing Punjab for years.
Episode: Modi's India Episode 3: The Strongman

Hosts

Thomas Leblanc
Culture writer and host with a focus on in-depth storytelling in cultural contexts.
Salimah Shivji
Host of Modi's India Understood, brings insights on Indian politics and culture.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 971 ratings
  • Good but a little hypocritical

    Good content and well produced but I find it ironic to complain about copyright and digital locks on a platform that blocks its content to anyone outside of Canada. Even Canadians living abroad.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    gdecaires
    Canadaa month ago
  • Who Broke the Internet

    Excellent. Just enough nostalgia and strong links to today’s challenges.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eole.s
    Canadaa month ago
  • 100% recommend

    Season 5 Review: Cory Doctorow has been screaming about these tech issues for years now, and he’s 100% right. Highly recommend this podcast and his books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jim Brains
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love it

    Podcast Addict
    5
    kokella
    a month ago
  • Phenomenal series in a wonderful anthology

    The explained series is truly one of the most compelling investigative journalist podcast I’ve found. This who broke the internet series is particularly entertaining, but really they all are.

    Highly highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    daveysverige
    Netherlands2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the deep exploration of important societal issues and cultural narratives presented with journalistic integrity.
Some feedback suggests that while the podcast often does a good job at storytelling, certain episodes may feel superficial to some listeners, indicating variations in content depth.
Overall, there are commendations for the production quality, insightful guests, and thorough research, making it a reliable source for understanding complex topics.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
The Naked Emperor BONUS | Guilty: The fall of Sam Bankman-Fried
Q: What does that tell you about the evidence that was presented against him in this trial?
The evidence was very strong, and the prosecution told a convincing story, showing Sam Bankman-Fried was in charge of everything.
The Pornhub Empire Episode 4: Cleanup crew
Q: What significant changes have been made to Pornhub's content moderation practices?
The platform now requires verified identities for uploaders, utilizing automated checks to confirm identity and ensuring that consent is granted for all participants.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Understood: Who Broke the Internet?

What is Understood: Who Broke the Internet? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores significant cultural, political, and personal narratives, centering on themes such as fame, power, and societal issues. Notable stories cover the rise of influences like Sam Bankman-Fried in cryptocurrency, the adult entertainment industry through Pornhub, the political landscape of Modi's India, and the journey of Céline Dion as a global superstar, intertwining elements of personal struggle and broader socio-economic contexts. Each season is crafted to provide in-depth understanding rather than just surface-level news, appealing to listeners interested in detailed storytelling and investigative journalism. This series is distinguished by its diverse subject matter, ensuring that it resonates with a wide array of audien... more

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Understood: Who Broke the Internet? launched 2 years ago and published 31 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 Understood: Who Broke the Internet??

Recent guests on Understood: Who Broke the Internet? include:

1. Lina Khan
2. Walter Elmore
3. Zainab al-Kaisi
4. Bryant Gumbel
5. Sonia Bénizra
6. Barry Garber
7. Nisar Ahmed
8. Akar Patel

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