Privacy is the New Celebrity

In this episode, Lucy Kind interviews Connie Yang for the 2nd installment in our "Women in Tech" mini series. Connie served as  head of payments and crypto design at Stripe, and was also  head of design at Coinbase. Lucy and Connie talk about best practices in product design and debate the difference between privacy and anonymity. Lucy asks Connie how we can bring more women into tech and Connie gives a deceptively simple answer: promote more women! Connie shares the importance of empathy in design and how that mindset could help promote inclusivity. Lucy offers some sound wisdom: "We can't help our cultural conditioning, we can only help what we do about it going forward."  And Connie leaves us with an important affirmation: "Don't undervalue yourself!"

In this episode, host Lucy Kind kicks off our "Women in Tech" mini-series with Elle Black, author and founder of Cobalt, a platform that empowers users to design, source, and manufacture their own custom products from high quality suppliers. Elle discusses  her work decentralizing manufacturing and fixing broken supply chains. Lucy asks Elle about the challenges facing women in tech.  Elle talks about how to break the archetype of the successful tech founder as male and the importance of sharing success stories about non-male founders. Lucy and Elle dig into the problem of women in tech being judged by appearances, and Elle expounds on the concept of inclusive prosperity and the importance of giving underrepresented groups the resources they need to thrive. 

In this episode, Sara Drakeley interviews Bunnie Huang, security researcher, hacker, and entrepreneur. Bunnie wrote the book, Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering. He also helped create Chumby, a consumer electronics product designed to be modified by users and provide hackable widgets. Bunnie and Sara dive into trust models and Bunnie outlines the challenges of developing evidence-based trust. Sara asks Bunnie for his take on secure enclaves and Bunnie explains why "you  shouldn't eat out of your toilet bowl." Sara and Bunnie puzzle the biggest security flaw of all - humans.

In this episode, the host becomes the guest. Sara Drakeley interviews Henry Holtzman, Chief Innovation Officer at MobileCoin. Sara probes Henry's career at the MIT Media Lab during the halcyon days of computing, and Henry shares insider tips on how to design successful tech products and bring them to market. Sara and Henry also dive into stablecoins, which Henry divulges is MobileCoin's next big venture. Get ready for MobileUSD! They discuss the challenges of building out this technology, the difference between algorithmic and asset-backed stablecoins, and what can go wrong with each. Henry gives an expert breakdown of the TerraUSD collapse and what it could mean for the future of stablecoins.

In this episode Josh interviews Cory Doctorow, science fiction author, activist and journalist. Cory has written dozens of books including the bestselling Little Brother and the critically acclaimed How To Destroy Surveillance Capitalism. Josh and Cory have a wide-ranging conversation diving into everything from anti-trust law to secure hardware in computing to Cory's years-long activism fighting for transparency and accountability in tech. Cory also shares what it was like working at the Electronic Frontier Foundation during the thick of the battle to legalize encryption, a technology that many of us now take for granted.

In this episode, Lucy Kind interviews Zander Rose, an industrial designer and the Executive Director of the Long Now Foundation, a non profit organization that fosters long term thinking and planning on the timescale of civilization. Zander tells Lucy about  the Long Now's efforts to build an immense mechanical clock that will keep time for 10,000 years. Lucy asks Zander about the benefits of "better, slower thinking," and Zander expands on his vision to set aside short term gains and prioritize decisions that benefit future generations, so our far distant ancestors can inherit a richer, more abundant planet. 

In this episode Brady Forrest interviews MobileCoin's latest addition to the team, Chief Product Officer Bob Lee. Bob is the mastermind behind some of the most  essential FinTech innovations in recent memory. He was on the original Google team that built the core library for Android, and was the CTO of Square, now known as Block, which expanded access to credit card transactions for untold millions of businesses around the world. He also built Cash App, and is now applying that same skill set to MobileCoin. Bob talks about the importance of creating access to mobile finance for unbanked people around the world, and dives into the core technology behind those innovations. Brady asks Bob about his vision for the future of digital payments. Bob shares a story about one of his first claims to fame: authoring a computer program to take down the Code Red Worm, one of the earliest and most prolific computer viruses on the internet.

In this episode, Lucy Kind interviews Frances Haugen, a data scientist and privacy advocate who in 2021 famously disclosed internal Facebook documents exposing the company's prioritization of profit over the well being of its users. Frances' disclosures to the SEC and Congress led to multiple investigations in major newspapers as well as congressional hearings aimed at holding the tech giant accountable for elevating divisive content, spreading disinformation, and causing other forms of harm. Lucy asks Frances how she made the difficult choice to go public as a whistleblower, and how that choice transformed her career. Frances gives an insider perspective on how Facebook ignored its own internal findings that it was causing harm, choosing instead to manipulate public opinion and swerve accountability.  Lucy asks Frances to share her perspective on privacy, and Frances tells us about exciting new projects she's working on, including grassroots organizing at colleges and universities and creating more resources for whistleblowers.

In this episode, Josh invites MobileCoin CTO Sara Drakeley to co-host an interview with Joe Grand, prominent hardware hacker, electrical engineer, and inventor. Joe recently made waves with a YouTube video showcasing a successful hack of a Trezor hardware crypto wallet in which he retrieved $2 million of cryptocurrency for a client who lost his pin. Sara asks Joe about his youth as a "technological juvenile delinquent" and getting arrested for hacking. Joe reminisces about joining the legendary hacker collective L0pht Heavy Industries as a teenager. Josh asks for the inside scoop on some of Joe's most difficult hacks, and Joe offers tips and tricks for those interested in getting into the hacking game.

In this episode, Josh interviews Chris Martin, a multidisciplinary artist based in Oakland, California, who explores the African Diaspora through subjects like religion, captivity, and freedom. Chris recently celebrated his  inaugural solo exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Francisco, which is on view from January 22 to May 1, 2022. Chris describes the inspiration for his art practice and Josh asks how privacy plays a role in his creative process. Chris is also a tattoo artist whose style blends traditional African American iconography with American traditional tattooing, an art practice with roots in San Francisco. Chris  describes the powerful intimacy generated by the one-on-one dynamic shared between tattoo artist and subject, and how this experience influences his views on personal privacy.

In this episode, Lucy Kind interviews Andrew Berardini, one of the leading art critics in Los Angeles. Andrew is a long-time contributor to Artforum and author of the book Danh Vo: Relics, as well as the forthcoming book Colors. He is also a curator with MobileCoin Art, an  initiative to support contemporary artists via activations such as the Private Practice Art Residency, MobileCoin Art Prize, and more. Lucy asks Andrew about the role privacy plays in the creation and consumption of art. Andrew and Lucy speculate about how technology is transforming the art world, and Andrew gives us a history lesson on how museums were created. Finally, Andrew encourages us to conceptualize privacy outside of technology, and contemplate how it impacts all aspects of our lives.

Surprise it's a bonus episode! On the eve of his first Olympic ski run, Jamaica's first-ever alpine skier, Benjamin Alexander, joins Josh Goldbard from the Olympic Village in Beijing. He gives us a firsthand perspective of what it's like to compete during a pandemic, how it feels to be the first Jamaican to compete in the sport at the Olympic level, and how he went from professional DJ (with Robot Heart) to alpine skier in just a few years. Josh also asks Benjamin how his experience as both a DJ and now as an Olympian has shaped his views on privacy.

In episode 17, Henry Holtzman interviews Kavya Pearlman, award-winning cyber security professional and founder of the XR Safety Initiative, a non-profit organization that promotes privacy, security, and ethics in virtual and augmented reality. Henry asks Kavya to break down why there is so much buzz around the metaverse right now, and why we should be concerned for our privacy. Kavya explains how body-worn sensors like VR headsets vastly increase the amount of data companies can collect from users, and the difficulty of developing regulations for technology that doesn't quite exist yet.  Kavya shares her experience serving as the head of security for the oldest existing virtual world, “Second Life” by Linden Lab, and what this taught her about the need for adequate user protections. To learn more about the risks of virtual reality, Kavya suggests this recent report by her organization. To get involved with XRSI, visit https://xrsi.org/volunteer.

In episode 16, Lucy Kind interviews Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international non-profit digital rights group that promotes online civil liberties. Eva leads EFF's Threat Lab, where one of her focuses includes eradicating "stalkerware" - spyware used for domestic abuse. Eva explains how private companies are profiting by selling malware that allows abusers to track everything a victim does on their device.  She breaks down how these virtual risks lead to real-world harms, and why it's so important to design technology for the most marginalized members of society.

In episode 15, we're featuring two more talks from MobileCoin's Crypto Renaissance Conference. Up first is Alexander Rose, the executive director of The Long Now Foundation, an organization devoted to long-term thinking that is best known for building the ten-thousand-year clock.  Alexander explains the roots of cryptography and how ledger systems have evolved over the last 5,000 years. Then we feature a talk from isis agora lovecruft, cryptographer and research consultant at MobileCoin. isis agora lovecruft joins to speak about Ristretto, the cryptographic technology that MobileCoin uses to preserve the privacy of its users.

In this episode, Josh interviews Todd Huffman, co-founder and CEO of the biomedical imaging company E11 Bio, which is a neuroscience research foundation building new tools for brain mapping. Todd discusses his fascination with the nexus between neuroscience and imaging technology. Josh asks Todd about his experience volunteering in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in 2008, where Todd ran a bar that became a central hub for non-Afghans in the region. Todd tells us about the "beer for data program," where folks who uploaded useful data to a hard drive chained to the bar could earn a free beer. Todd raises the question, "how do you do communications where trust is low and conflict is high?"

On this episode, we're doing things a little differently. MobileCoin presents: The Crypto Rennaissance! On December 10th, 2021, MobileCoin hosted a conference at a repurposed masonic lodge in San Francisco, featuring a lineup of talks and panels exploring the cryptographic revolution. Today on the podcast, we're featuring a talk by Josh Rosenthal, a medieval history professor turned venture capitalist. Josh explores the dramatic changes the world experienced during the 14th-century renaissance, how Martin Luther's printing press created a memetic revolution, and why historians will look back at our current time as the next major historical renaissance. Josh Rosenthal's talk is followed by a short interview with MobileCoin CEO Josh Goldbard.

Have you ever thought about whether the world is a good place or a bad place? In episode 12, Brady Forrest interviews Hugh Howey, acclaimed author of the science fiction story Wool and the Silo Series of novels, which wrestle with this central question.  Hugh explains how processing his darkest emotions led to his most successful story. He also shares what it's like to sail around the world using nothing but the stars and signs of nature, which he wrote about for his Wayfinding series. Brady compares solo-sailing on long voyages to silent meditation retreats (Hugh recommends Craig Mod's write-up on the subject). Hugh also tells us how his privacy was violated on a global scale.  Scammers used his photos to create thousands of fake online dating profiles, and this violation still follows him around today (he recently got a call from the FBI). What would you do if your face became famous without your consent?

In this episode, Lucy Kind interviews Aza Raskin, the co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, and the co-founder and executive director of the Earth Species Project.  Aza grew up in Silicon Valley (his father started the Macintosh project at Apple) and began his career at Mozilla where he was the inventor of the infinite scroll. Lucy asks him if he regrets this innovation.  Aza expands on his vision for cultivating a world where human attention is not just decommodified but valued as our most treasured resource. He also explains the tech behind the Earth Species Project's efforts to decode animal communication and the implications of a universal translator on deep human listening. Aza is a multitude of metaphors and his vision creates hope for a new era of humane technology.

In Episode 10, Dr. David Bray brings us on a journey into the future of privacy, from ransomware to sith lords. David is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council as well as the Stimson Center, and principal at LeadDoAdapt Ventures. David began working for the government at age 15 and has an impressive range of expertise including cybersecurity, disinformation, military and humanitarian issues, civil rights, energy, biotechnology, and more. David and Josh discuss ransomware as one of the most significant threats of the 21st century and David explains why it's never worth paying the ransom. David ponders the last 150 years of technological innovation and explains how we're currently witnessing four technological revolutions simultaneously. He also shares his fears that our desire for certainty in an ever-changing world could lead us towards autocracy. Josh reminds us that only a sith deals in absolutes.

In episode 9, Henry Holtzman interviews Alex Feerst, who served as head of trust and safety at Medium and general counsel at Neuralink.  Currently, he  is the  CEO of Murmuration Labs and also sits on the board of the MobileCoin Foundation.  Alex shares why the backstage should be front and center, explaining Erving Goffman's fantastic "backstage" metaphor for privacy.  Henry asks what it's like to work in the evolving field of trust and safety, and Alex tells us about the human experience behind content moderation.  Alex also explains the distributed web and weighs in on Facebook's latest scandal over harm caused by Instagram, pondering whether it's even possible for companies to act "ethically" in a late capitalist world. 

In episode 8, MobileCoin's head of business development Brady Forrest interviews Jillian York.  Jillian is the Director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and she just wrote a new book called Silicon Values: The Future of Free Speech Under Surveillance Capitalism.  Brady and Jillian discuss why companies like Facebook and Twitter have had such major problems with content moderation, and debate the boundaries between necessary de-platforming and unintended consequences on free speech. Jillian explains the hypocrisy behind companies over-focusing on content like nudity and women's bodies while frequently ignoring hate speech and incitement of violence. Brady and Jillian talk about the differences between content moderation in Germany and the US, and whether it's possible for the internet to become both freer and safer at the same time.

In episode 7, Lucy Kind interviews Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, a refugee of the Iraq Civil War, whose life's work is facilitating the freedom of information and knowledge in authoritarian nations in the Middle East. Faisal shares his experience growing up under the regime of Saddam Hussein without free access to information. He explains how he created Ideas Beyond Borders to translate and disseminate thousands of articles, books, and websites into Arabic and other languages, with the goal of stopping radical extremism. Faisal also gives an insider view into the chaotic removal of US troops from Afghanistan and explains how Taliban rule will impact access to secular ideas.  Lucy and Faisal discuss why there is hope for progress in the region.

On episode 6, Joshua Goldbard interviews Tony Nguyen, the founder of the American Young Leader Exchange (AYLX), an organization that provides free cultural exchange experiences for high school students. Through his work with AYLX, Tony thinks deeply about how information silos are created and how they can be deconstructed through cultural exchange. Tony is also a US Army veteran, and Josh picks his brain about what privacy looks like in the Army. Tony also shares a deeply personal story about how his family escaped from Saigon on a boat, and ruminates on the similarities between that experience and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In this episode, MobileCoin's Chief Product Officer Henry Holtzman interviews Jon Swartz, senior reporter at Marketwatch covering the biggest players in tech. Jon lays out the incoming wave of anti-tech legislation that is currently winding its way through the government... buckle up, there are some big changes ahead! Henry and Jon discuss how Apple, Google, and Facebook are particularly vulnerable and Jon explains why Microsoft has been able to avoid some of the scrutiny impacting its competitors. Who is going to win this fight for the clouds!? (Hint: developers and consumers stand to gain some real ground.)

In this episode, Josh Goldbard interviews Isis Agora Lovecruft.  Isis is a non-binary cryptographer known for developing Tor and the dalek cryptography library.  They share their experience growing up with hacker parents and using math as a tool to cope with mental health challenges. Isis describes the unique sensation of feeling like their body changes shape when thinking about certain equations. Josh and Isis discuss the flaws in facial and voice recognition and debate whether identity should be tied to a concept of physical self. Isis tells us about the time they escaped to Berlin wearing a disguise to avoid the FBI.

In episode 3, MobileCoin Director of Marketing Lucy Kind interviews Michal Kosinski, a professor of psychology researching artificial intelligence and the risks it poses to privacy. Michal tells us about what action he took against Cambridge Analytica when it became synonymous with the destruction of privacy. He also explains how facial recognition software can detect sexual and political orientation, threatening the consensuality of personal data and our ability to control our identities in a digital age. Michal and Lucy debate who should ultimately be responsible for regulating Big Tech.

In episode 2, MobileCoin's Chief Product Officer Henry Holtzman interviews Peter Eckersley, a leading thinker on AI ethics. Peter and Henry discuss the challenges in shifting from machine learning algorithms that purely serve the interests of capitalism to AI and tech that benefits the user and society at large. Peter explains why he's optimistic about the future of AI but a bit of a grump on cryptocurrency. He also thinks that if privacy is a celebrity, it's a dead one.

In the premiere episode of Privacy is the New Celebrity, MobileCoin founder Josh Goldbard interviews author and technologist Ramez Naam. Ramez is best known as the author of The Nexus Trilogy, but his current focus is clean energy technology with an emphasis on solar energy. Josh and Ramez discuss drones, AI, the 4th amendment, and the relationship between privacy and creativity. They also share stories from the first time they each realized privacy was important, and that one time Ramez got a cult for his birthday.