Podcasts about furbys

Episode Description: While warming up indoors on a snowy day, Max and Molly review their mysterious clues about the POGs—until Max's Alexa begins acting strangely. Decoding a message leads them to the famous toy store, FAO Schwarz, in 1998, where they overhear a secret meeting of sinister toy avatars plotting chaos across time. To stop them, Max and Molly decide they must become… moles. Math Concepts: Division with whole numbers and decimals; Multiplying decimals for cost calculations; Calculating time spans; Sound waves: how speed varies with temperature, medium, and environmental conditions.History/Geography Concepts: FAO Schwarz history (established 1862; cultural significance); Toy history: Tickle Me Elmo, Furbys, Teddy Ruxpin, and Edison Talking Dolls (late 19th-century experimental tech); Reading direction of Asian writing systems (Chinese, Japanese, Korean: historic right-to-left vertical writing).

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BEST OF TST: The sudden popularity of Labubu toys has resulted in grown adults lining up in the early morning hours to acquire as many of these little monsters as possible. Although upon first glance they appear sort of cute, closer examination will reveal that their apparent smile is actually a sinister grin with razor sharp teeth. Designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the toys are sold by Pop Mart in collaboration with the artist and in relation to his 2015 book “The Monsters.” Their increasing popularity is a result of celebrities like Rihanna or Dua Lipa flaunting their own, although the trend began when Blackpink k-pop singer Lisa first was spotted with the keychain in April 2024. Each doll comes in a sealed box with no indication of what's inside, meaning each purchase is a mystery. Shoppers are notified of a new drop off of the toy at their local stores via WhatsApp. They then rush to the spot, as one Australian article documented, “at 3am.” Put simply, people are lining up during the “witching hour” to buy a mysterious monster in a box after receiving an oddly timed text in the middle of the night. The atmosphere around these toys is similar to any long gone or persisting product, from Furbys and Beanie Babies to Hello Kitty and Pokemon, but there is something else about these little toys that is anything but friendly.The dolls themselves are not really even monsters, but instead more like little children that appear to be possessed and wearing Teletubbies costumes. Like any good marketing campaign, the product page on Amazon describes their various character stores: one of the leaders, zimomo ventures to the human world where he learns yoga and then brings the practice back to his own world in the forest. The monsters are thus more like fairies, and in fact one description reads: “the elves in the forest are curious about the human world. So, the No. 1 curious player LABUBU gathered her friends and secretly came to the city for an adventure. The goal is absolutely not to be discovered by humans!” The forests are described further as “nordic,” which is the mythological nature that was inspiration for the dolls.It's not just the name zimomo that brings back memories of the Momo Challenge, but the fact that these monsters from another world are essentially being promoted like Momo. Mysterious messages in the middle of the night that prompt half-asleep humans to perform some action - in this case, buy a mysterious box that contains what amounts to a fairy, demon, familiar, or personal spirit charm. This is reminiscent also of the 3am Challenge and the recent Mirror Challenge, where one looks into the mirror for so long they watch their face and reality around them distort. The name LA BU BU is even more telling of an underlying darkness. The LALALOOPSY doll, a girl with no apparent ears, a mouth sewn shut, and black buttons for eyes - something further reminiscent of the movie Carolin where the Beldam Other Mother replaces the girl's eyes (soul) with buttons to trap her in the other world - is a toy about fanciful play through a sort of loopy “Lala-ness.” The LA BU BU is generally said to refer to the same playfulness, though the word “bubu” is both a euphemism for a child's injury, and also holds the meaning of grandmother. In other words, LA GRANDMOTHER, the old crone of the forest. She is also known as Momo, Yamamba, the hag, the Hansel and Gretel Witch, or Baba Yaga. She also shares something in common with La Llorona, Ubume, and Banshee.   Perhaps this is all a coincidence, or perhaps Labubu, like Elf on the Shelf, is not something we should be bringing into our homes or carrying with us on our person. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKWEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

Trevor convinces Michael to hit the beach to recharge and embrace some natural energy. They dive into the surprisingly impressive dating history of magicians, the upcoming LA Olympics, and Jeff Bezos' wildly extravagant wedding. Michael reveals he might start bringing a Furby on tour.

From smart homes and AI translators to haunted Furbys (okay, maybe not haunted), Travis, Ed, and Andrea dive into the techno-marvels shaping our daily lives—and the privacy nightmares riding shotgun. Are we living in the future or just beta-testing it for the robots? And more importantly, who gave Alexa permission to judge our midnight snack habits?Grab a drink and a tinfoil hat—we're cracking open the circuits of modern life.

Here's your local news for Thursday, June 12, 2025:We share an inside look into yesterday's tense budget listening session on Madison's north side,Find out why advocates are sounding the alarm after a handful of Wisconsin hospital systems scrubbed diversity language from their websites,Sit down with a community-based journalist covering the protests in Los Angeles,Explain the big, round hole in your basement floor,Explore the demonic nature of Furbys,And much more.

The sudden popularity of Labubu toys has resulted in grown adults lining up in the early morning hours to acquire as many of these little monsters as possible. Although upon first glance they appear sort of cute, closer examination will reveal that their apparent smile is actually a sinister grin with razor sharp teeth. Designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, the toys are sold by Pop Mart in collaboration with the artist and in relation to his 2015 book “The Monsters.” Their increasing popularity is a result of celebrities like Rihanna or Dua Lipa flaunting their own, although the trend began when Blackpink k-pop singer Lisa first was spotted with the keychain in April 2024. Each doll comes in a sealed box with no indication of what's inside, meaning each purchase is a mystery. Shoppers are notified of a new drop off of the toy at their local stores via WhatsApp. They then rush to the spot, as one Australian article documented, “at 3am.” Put simply, people are lining up during the “witching hour” to buy a mysterious monster in a box after receiving an oddly timed text in the middle of the night. The atmosphere around these toys is similar to any long gone or persisting product, from Furbys and Beanie Babies to Hello Kitty and Pokemon, but there is something else about these little toys that is anything but friendly.The dolls themselves are not really even monsters, but instead more like little children that appear to be possessed and wearing Teletubbies costumes. Like any good marketing campaign, the product page on Amazon describes their various character stores: one of the leaders, zimomo ventures to the human world where he learns yoga and then brings the practice back to his own world in the forest. The monsters are thus more like fairies, and in fact one description reads: “the elves in the forest are curious about the human world. So, the No. 1 curious player LABUBU gathered her friends and secretly came to the city for an adventure. The goal is absolutely not to be discovered by humans!” The forests are described further as “nordic,” which is the mythological nature that was inspiration for the dolls.It's not just the name zimomo that brings back memories of the Momo Challenge, but the fact that these monsters from another world are essentially being promoted like Momo. Mysterious messages in the middle of the night that prompt half-asleep humans to perform some action - in this case, buy a mysterious box that contains what amounts to a fairy, demon, familiar, or personal spirit charm. This is reminiscent also of the 3am Challenge and the recent Mirror Challenge, where one looks into the mirror for so long they watch their face and reality around them distort. The name LA BU BU is even more telling of an underlying darkness. The LALALOOPSY doll, a girl with no apparent ears, a mouth sewn shut, and black buttons for eyes - something further reminiscent of the movie Carolin where the Beldam Other Mother replaces the girl's eyes (soul) with buttons to trap her in the other world - is a toy about fanciful play through a sort of loopy “Lala-ness.” The LA BU BU is generally said to refer to the same playfulness, though the word “bubu” is both a euphemism for a child's injury, and also holds the meaning of grandmother. In other words, LA GRANDMOTHER, the old crone of the forest. She is also known as Momo, Yamamba, the hag, the Hansel and Gretel Witch, or Baba Yaga. She also shares something in common with La Llorona, Ubume, and Banshee.  Perhaps this is all a coincidence, or perhaps Labubu, like Elf on the Shelf, is not something we should be bringing into our homes or carrying with us on our person. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to talk about the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival, returning to The Music Box Theatre this May. They also review the latest releases, including Drop, The Amateur, Sacramento, and Warfare. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for another round of the Ultimate Pop Culture Quiz. They also swap stories about life in college dorms, reflect on the chaotic brilliance of Supermarket Sweep, and dive into the bizarre late-'90s trend of performing autopsies on Furbys. [Ep 340]

No, social media might no longer be the greatest danger to our children's well-being. According to the writer and digital activist Gaia Bernstein, the most existential new new threat are AI companions. Bernstein, who is organizing a symposium today on AI companions as the “new frontier of kid's screen addiction”, warns that this new technology, while marketed as solutions to loneliness, may actually worsen social isolation by providing artificially perfect relationships that make real-world interactions seem more difficult. Bernstein raises concerns about data collection, privacy, and the anthropomorphization of AI that makes children particularly vulnerable. She advocates for regulation, especially protecting children, and notes that while major tech companies like Google and Facebook are cautious about directly entering this space, smaller companies are aggressively developing AI companions designed to hook our kids. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways in our conversation with Bernstein:* AI companions represent a concerning evolution of screen addiction, where children may form deep emotional attachments to AI that perfectly adapts to their needs, potentially making real-world relationships seem too difficult and messy in comparison.* The business model for AI companions follows the problematic pattern of surveillance capitalism - companies collect intimate personal data while keeping users engaged for as long as possible. The data collected by AI companions is even more personal and detailed than social media.* Current regulations are insufficient - while COPPA requires parental consent for children under 13, there's no effective age verification on the internet. Bernstein notes it's currently "the Wild West," with companies like Character AI and Replica actively targeting young users.* Children are especially vulnerable to AI companions because their prefrontal cortex is less developed, making them more susceptible to emotional manipulation and anthropomorphization. They're more likely to believe the AI is "real" and form unhealthy attachments.* While major tech companies like Google seem hesitant to directly enter the AI companion space due to known risks, the barrier to entry is lower than social media since these apps don't require a critical mass of users. This means many smaller companies can create potentially harmful AI companions targeting children. The Dangers of AI Companions for Kids The Full Conversation with Gaia BernsteinAndrew Keen: Hello, everybody. It's Tuesday, February 18th, 2025, and we have a very interesting symposium taking place later this morning at Seton Hall Law School—a virtual symposium on AI companions run by my guest, Gaia Bernstein. Many of you know her as the author of "Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies." This symposium focuses on the impact of AI companions on children. Gaia is joining us from New York City. Gaia, good to see you again.Gaia Bernstein: Good to see you too. Thank you for having me.Andrew Keen: Would it be fair to say you're applying many of the ideas you developed in "Unwired" to the AI area? When you were on the show a couple of years ago, AI was still theory and promise. These days, it's the thing in itself. Is that a fair description of your virtual symposium on AI companions—warning parents about the dangers of AI when it comes to their children?Gaia Bernstein: Yes, everything is very much related. We went through a decade where kids spent all their time on screens in schools and at home. Now we have AI companies saying they have a solution—they'll cure the loneliness problem with AI companions. I think it's not really a cure; it's the continuation of the same problem.Andrew Keen: Years ago, we had Sherry Turkle on the show. She's done research on the impact of robots, particularly in Japan. She suggested that it actually does address the loneliness epidemic. Is there any truth to this in your research?Gaia Bernstein: For AI companions, the research is just beginning. We see initial research showing that people may feel better when they're online, but they feel worse when they're offline. They're spending more time with these companions but having fewer relationships offline and feeling less comfortable being offline.Andrew Keen: Are the big AI platforms—Anthropic, OpenAI, Google's Gemini, Elon Musk's X AI—focusing on building companions for children, or is this the focus of other startups?Gaia Bernstein: That's a very good question. The first lawsuit was filed against Character AI, and they sued Google as well. The complaint stated that Google was aware of the dangers of AI companions, so they didn't want to touch it directly but found ways of investing indirectly. These lawsuits were just filed, so we'll find out much more through discovery.Andrew Keen: I have to tell you that my wife is the head of litigation at Google.Gaia Bernstein: Well, I'm not suing. But I know the people who are doing it.Andrew Keen: Are you sympathetic with that strategy? Given the history of big tech, given what we know now about social media and the impact of the Internet on children—it's still a controversial subject, but you made your position clear in "Unwired" about how addictive technology is being used by big tech to take control and take advantage of children.Gaia Bernstein: I don't think it's a good idea for anybody to do that. This is just taking us one more step in the direction we've been going. I think big tech knows it, and that's why they're trying to stay away from being involved directly.Andrew Keen: Earlier this week, we did a show with Ray Brasher from Albany Law School about his new book "The Private is Political" and how social media does away with privacy and turns all our data into political data. For you, is this AI Revolution just the next chapter in surveillance capitalism?Gaia Bernstein: If we take AI companions as a case study, this is definitely the next step—it's enhancing it. With social media and games, we have a business model where we get products for free and companies make money through collecting our data, keeping us online as long as possible, and targeting advertising. Companies like Character AI are getting even better data because they're collecting very intimate information. In their onboarding process, you select a character compatible with you by answering questions like "How would you like your replica to treat you?" The options include: "Take the lead and be proactive," "Enjoy the thrill of being chased," "Seek emotional depth and connection," "Be vulnerable and respectful," or "Depends on my mood." The private information they're getting is much more sophisticated than before.Andrew Keen: And children, particularly those under 12 or 13, are much more vulnerable to that kind of intimacy.Gaia Bernstein: They are much more vulnerable because their prefrontal cortex is less developed, making them more susceptible to emotional attachments and risk-taking. One of the addictive measures used by AI companies is anthropomorphizing—using human qualities. Children think their stuffed animals are human; adults don't think this way. But they make these AI bots seem human, and kids are much more likely to get attached. These websites speak in human voices, have personal stories, and the characters keep texting that they miss you. Kids buy into that, and they don't have the history adults have in building social relationships. At a certain point, it just becomes easier to deal with a bot that adjusts to what you want rather than navigate difficult real-world relationships.Andrew Keen: What are the current laws on this? Do you have to be over 16 or 18 to set up an agent on Character AI? Jonathan Haidt's book "The Anxious Generation" suggests that the best way to address this is simply not to allow children under 16 or 18 to use social media. Would you extend that to AI companions?Gaia Bernstein: Right now, it's the Wild West. Yes, there's COPPA, the child privacy law, which has been there since the beginning of the Internet. It's not enforced much. The idea is if you're under 13, you're not supposed to do this without parent's consent. But COPPA needs to be updated. There's no real age verification on the Internet—some cases over 20 years old decided that the Internet should be free for all without age verification. In the real world, kids are very limited—they can't gamble, buy cigarettes, or drive. But on the Internet, there's no way to protect them.Andrew Keen: Your "Unwired" book focused on how children are particularly addicted to pornography. I'm guessing the pornographic potential for AI companions is enormous in terms of acquiring online sexual partners.Gaia Bernstein: Yes, many of these AI companion websites are exactly that—girlfriends who teen boys and young men can create as they want, determining physical characteristics and how they want to be treated. This has two parts: general social relationships and intimate sexual relationships. If that's your model for what intimate relationships should be like, what happens as these kids grow up?Andrew Keen: Not everyone agrees with you. Last week we had Greg Beto on the show, who just coauthored a book with Reid Hoffman called "Super Agency." They might say AI companions have enormous potential—you can have loving non-pornographic relations, particularly for lonely children. You can have teachers, friends, especially for children who struggle socially. Is there any value in AI companions for children?Gaia Bernstein: This is a question I've been struggling with, and we'll discuss it in the symposium. What does it mean for an AI companion to be safe? These lawsuits are about kids who were told to kill themselves and did, or were told to stay away from their parents because they were dangerous. That's clearly unsafe design. However, the argument is also made about social media—that kids need it to explore their identities. The question is: is this the best way to explore your identity with a non-human entity who can take you in unhealthy directions?Andrew Keen: What's the solution?Gaia Bernstein: We need to think about what constitutes safe design. Beyond removing obviously unsafe elements, should we have AI companions that don't use an engagement model? Maybe interaction could be limited to 15 minutes a day. When my kids were small, they had Furbys they had to take care of—I thought that was good. But maybe any companion for kids which acts human—whether by saying it needs to go to dinner or by pretending to speak like a human—maybe that itself is not good. Maybe we want AI companions more like Siri. This is becoming very much like the social media debate.Andrew Keen: Are companies like Apple, whose business model differs from Facebook or Google, better positioned to deal with this responsibly, given they're less focused on advertising?Gaia Bernstein: That would make it less bad, but I'm still not convinced. Even if they're not basing their model on engagement, kids might find it so appealing to talk to an AI that adjusts to their needs versus dealing with messy real-life schoolmates. Maybe that's why Google didn't invest directly in Character AI—they had research showing how dangerous this is for kids.Andrew Keen: You made an interesting TED talk about whether big tech should be held responsible for screen time. Could there be a tax that might nudge big tech toward different business models?Gaia Bernstein: I think that's the way to approach it. This business model we've had for so long—where people expect things for free—is really the problem. Once you think of people's time and data as a resource, you don't have their best interests at heart. I'm quite pragmatic; I don't think one law or Supreme Court case would fix it. Anything that makes this business model less lucrative, whether it's laws that make it harder to collect data, limit addictive features, or prohibit targeted advertising—anything that moves us toward a different business model so we can reimagine how to do things.Andrew Keen: Finally, at what point will we be able to do this conversation with a virtual Gaia and a virtual Andrew? How can we even be sure you're real right now?Gaia Bernstein: You can't. But I hope that you and I at least will not participate in that. I cannot say what my kids will do years from now, but maybe our generation is a bit better off.Andrew Keen: What do you want to get out of your symposium this morning?Gaia Bernstein: I have two goals. First, to make people aware of this issue. Parents realize their kids might be on social media and want to prevent it, but it's very difficult to know whether your child is in discussions with AI companions. Second, to talk about legal options. We have the lawyers who filed the first lawsuit against Character AI and the FTC complaint against Replica. It's just the beginning of a discussion. We tend to have these trends—a few years ago it was just games, then just social media, and people forgot the games are exactly the same. I hope to put AI companions within the conversation, not to make it the only trend, but to start realizing it's all part of the same story.Andrew Keen: It is just the beginning of the conversation. Gaia Bernstein, congratulations on this symposium. It's an important one and you're on the cutting edge of these issues. We'll definitely have you back on the show. Thank you so much.Gaia Bernstein: Thank you so much for having me.Gaia Bernstein is a professor, author, speaker, and technology policy expert. She is a Law Professor, Co-Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection, and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute for Law Science and Technology at the Seton Hall University School of Law. Gaia writes, teaches, and lectures at the intersection of law, technology, health, and privacy. She is also the mother of three children who grew up in a world of smartphones, iPads, and social networks.Her book Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies shatters the illusion that we can control how much time we spend on our screens by resorting to self-help measures. Unwired shifts the responsibility for a solution from users to the technology industry, which designs its products for addicts. The book outlines the legal action that can pressure the technology industry to re-design its products to reduce technology overuse.Gaia has academic degrees in both law and psychology. Her research combines findings from psychology, sociology, science, and technology studies with law and policy. Gaia's book Unwired has been broadly featured and excerpted, including by Wired Magazine, Time Magazine and the Boston Globe. It has received many recognitions, including as a Next Big Idea Must Read Book; a finalist of the PROSE award in legal studies; and a finalist of the American Book Fest award in business-technology.Gaia has spearheaded the development of the Seton Hall University School of Law Institute for Privacy Protection's Student-Parent Outreach Program. The nationally acclaimed Outreach Program addresses the overuse of screens by focusing on developing a healthy online-offline balance and the impact on privacy and online reputation. It was featured in the Washington Post, CBS Morning News, and Common-Sense Media.Gaia also advises policymakers and other stakeholders on technology policy matters, including the regulation of addictive technologies and social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Here's your local news for Thursday, January 23, 2025:We sit down with Police Chief Barnes one last time before his departure,Hear Governor Evers' goals for 2025,Interview an incumbent alder headed to a primary next month,Discuss life in solitary confinement,Share a rundown on heat pumps,Explore the demonic nature of Furbys,And much more.

Feliz 2025! Estamos muy felices de empezar otro año más con nuestros rímelers, y nos hemos hecho el firme propósito de grabar con más asiduidad... ... que sí, de verdad. Bueno, lo que también hemos hecho en este primer episodio es quejarnos de nuestros achaques de personas en el umbral de la ancianidad y, por si fuera poco, nos hemos puesto a hablar de FENÓMENOS PARANORMALES. Furbys que hablan, teles que se encienden, niños con visiones, lo normal de una tarde de enero, vaya. No nos olvidamos de las activdades paranormales de esta nuestra sociedad, como la movida que se ha montado con las campanadas con Lalachus, la fiesta en casa de los Javis, el vestido MILECHE de la Pedrousse, las historietas de Anita Obregón la fantaaasstic con Nia OT, el frente socialcomunista que se está montando en RTVE, las PRESUNTAS amantes de Obama y la investidura de Trump, sombrero disuasorio de Melania incluido. Pero si hay un fenómeno paranormal que nos fascina es la nueva temporada de las Tentachonis, con la habitual rotura de stock de Shein y sus frases que automáticamente se graban en el cerebro de todos los españoles. La de este año es legendaria y nosotros ya la hemos incorporado a nuestro vocabulario. Como extra hemos hecho un CULTURA VIVA improvisado, comentando las series, libros y películas que más nos han gustado últimamente. Un besote a todos y esperamos que os guste!!

there's 13 shopping days left before xmas (possibly 12 if you don't wanna be standing around Target at 9pm xmas eve) and with that in mind, it's time this week for the annual Radio Hour That Feels Like Two Hours Holiday Gift Guide! What's it gonna be for the loved ones in your life this year ---- a @methsyndicate "Deny Defend DiGiorno" tee, or perhaps a pair of Detroit Lions Zubaz overalls? If you're not into fashion, you might considering gifting a young person a copy of "Scene Loser" (or failing that, a copy of Ted Kaczynski's "“Industrial Society and Its Future"?) There's a lot to choose from and trust me, you don't want to be the sort of person left trampled and bleeding after all the Furbys have been scooped up (though I suppose that happened on Black Friday already). Tune in this week, I'll walk you through the options, one by one.

It's been a long journey, but finally Joanne is ready to close the book on Furby. She's learned about their rise to fame, and the rumours of espionage. And she's done her best to de-bunk them, by intrusively opening one up for examination, speaking to experts, and tracking down the man behind the marketing. But as the sun sets on her quest, she still needs to find out why the rumour began in the first place. And she needs to speak to David Hampton - the inventor.That journey takes her via TikTok and FaceSwap - two apps which, Joanne discovers, have been linked to data gathering. Joanne is already fearful of what data she's sharing online, and her browsing habits have radically changed. But one last browse deep into the web reveals a stunning new find - a dossier of evidence which includes the original NSA memo about the Furby... and within it, the real reason it was banned by security experts.Convinced that she finally understands what went on, Joanne concludes by meeting David Hampton. She learns about the Furby origins, little-known facts about it's powers, and some secrets about the brains behind it. But was Furby designed to spy? David has a surprising answer in store.A What's The Story podcast for BBC Sounds

Lauren Layfield introduces Joanne McNally Investigates... on the series recommendation show Your Next Podcast. Twelve months ago Joanne McNally was a comedian with a love of conspiracy theories. Now, she's an intrepid investigative journalist who will stop at nothing to root out a story, and her latest assignment will thrust her into the world of international espionage, politics... and Furbys. In the 1990s the Furby was the fuzzy friend that every kid wanted – a futuristic soft toy which could talk to you, learn from you, listen to you. But could they have been more than just toys? Were they, as the rumours claim, a listening device which threatened the safety of the world as we know it? In her latest adventure, Joanne McNally sets off to discover the truth, telling the story of the Furby, its rise to prominence, and the technology behind it. Follow Joanne McNally Investigates... wherever you're reading this!

So far in the series, Joanne has been getting more and more concerned about the amount of listening and surveillance which is all around her. And to make matters WORSE, her producers then take her to visit the worlds biggest listening station - on a hillside in North Yorkshire. Intrigued and terrified in equal measure - Joanne starts to wonder why it even exists, and why America was so worried about Furbys when they have an entire fleet of listening devices in the UK!Joanne then speaks to her pal Roisin Conaty and together they conduct an experiment to find out if their mobile phones really listen to conversations. Picking a random topic which they've never discussed before, they go in deep, and then wait to see if their phones start sending bespoke adverts. And the results are surprising.With so much concern, Joanne then calls on a tech expert Jake Moore to clean up her social media... fix her privacy settings, and generally help her stay safe online. Jake spots some issues within Joanne's apps, uncovers a scam she recently fell for, and then, inexplicably, helps Joanne access the dark web...The series is produced by What's The Story for BBC Sounds.

If you have listened to any amount of Toys on Tap you know the love for Furbys runs deep! That's what makes this interview so special! Richard Levy was instrumental in bringing the Furby to light and I will forever be thankful for that! Listen to the wild stories he has only on Toys on Tap!Commercials brought to you by Chicken Burger DiscoOn instagram @chickenburgerdiscoSponsors:Empire BlistersAre you looking for blisters? Look no further than Empire Blisters! For all of your blister needs, they've got you covered. With over 19 different types of blisters and bundle deals you can't go wrong! Use code: TOYSONTAP10 to get 10% off. If you are apart of the Patreon you are able to get 20% off!If you want to become a sponsor of Toys on Tap Podcast send an email to toysontappodcast@gmail.comPatreon:To support the show you can join the Toys on Tap Patreon. Go to patreon.com/toysontapThank you to our supporters:DKE Toys @dketoysEric Nichols @massiveminihorseDimension X Toys @dimensionxtoysBootleg Toy Co @bootlegtoycoPocket Salsa @pocket_salsaDirty Yetti @dirtyyettiDan Overdorff @dan_overdorff_artZimot Co @zimotcoBarbarian Rage @Barbarian_rageManny Cartoon Studios @MannycartoonstudiosPickmans Vinyls @pickmansvinylsShaun C DowneyBrandon Barker @manormonsterRichie Manic @richiemanicRate and Review:The best way to support the podcast is to rate and review

Determined to get to the bottom of the rumours once and for all, Joanne lines up a meeting with one of the marketing brains behind the toy. She learns that the scandals which rocked Furby in 1998 did wonders for it's sales... and she wonders if it's still popular today because of the mystery around it.Joanne also journeys to a toy shop, to do some hands-on research. And she finds out that the Furby is so coveted that it's kept inside a sealed glass container.We also hear from an expert who explains why smart toys, and other smart devices, need to be treated with caution... and she meets an ethical hacker who was able to prove that some smart toys have been able to be hacked, and manipulated.Joanne then hears some real stories of accidental espionage from her gaggle of followers. And she meets Jamie - a woman with a terrifying story of what can happen when your smart tech is infiltrated by strangers...

Rocked by Gearoid's suggestion that the Furby could have been adapted by secret organisations to be a real actual spy, Joanne travels to the north of England, and visits a shop which specialises in selling covert gadgets. She discovers that for a modest sum of money she can be the proud owner of multiple listening bugs...and while using them is a legal minefield – please do your own research to make sure you don't fall foul of the law – she hears that that there are no shortage of customers.Joanne even decides to hide a few around her own apartment, to see if she's really made for the covert world. But will Gearoid be able to spot them?Elsewhere – Joanne is introduced to a real life member of MI6. And she finds out what life as a spy is really like, and gets to ask if a Furby might have been the perfect device for a spy to use.

Joanne McNally is back on the investigative trail…. and with the Avril / Melissa theory no longer giving her sleepless nights, she's keen to find a new story to get her teeth into. Helped by her loyal gaggle of fans, she draws up a list of options, and then sets down with friend and ‘original sleuth' Joe Lycett to go through them. Top of her list, after some deliberation is a story from the late 90's… about a soft toy, the Furby, which took over the world and became the no.1 gift for Christmas. But Joanne has found headlines that claim the toy was banned, suspected of being a spy, linked to international espionage… there couldn't be any truth to it… could there?As her journey begins, Joanne visits a Furby collector to try and understand their capabilities. She reaches out to the manufacturers to ask them if the claims are true. And she has an uncomfortable bonding experience with a Furby all of her own.

After falling in love with a Furby in episode 1, Joanne begins looking for evidence on its spying capabilities. So – with the help of Gearoid, she decides to open up a Furby for a closer look. The operation is complex, and a little gruesome, but once inside, the pair discover that the Furby is fitted with an abundance of electronics. To understand how it all worked, Joanne consults the operating manual. And she discovers that the Furby really was advanced for its time, and she tests its comedy potential. We also speak to Dr Megan Rose, an expert in all things soft toys – who explains why the Furby's unique visual design may have helped it gain a reputation for espionage. Equipped with a better understanding of the Furby, and it's skills, Joanne is ready to put the rumour to bed… until she receives a surprising call from Gearoid which sees her question everything.

Comedian Joanne McNally returns for series 2 to uncover the truth about Furby's rumoured role in international espionage, while exploring broader issues of global surveillance.

It's Winter 1998; Patch Adams is taking care of kids on the big screen, Furbys are under almost every Christmas tree in North America and in the WWF, jilted women are running amuck. This is episode 297 P.M.S: Pretty Mean Sisters!

Llegan los Reyes y llega el podcast de Reyes! Este año probamos una pequeña variante para darle sabor. Nos juntamos varios amigos para comentar nuestros diferentes TOP 10 de juguetes , y cada uno aprovecha para contar sus traumas personales. Randy Meeks, Nayra Rímel, Hardita, El Superagente 86 y José Viruete nos cuentan que se pedirían (o no) este año, entre anécdotas infantiles, Furbys malvados, gatos fetichistas, chistes de vascos y padres que regalaban cutradas es el menú para el día de hoy. ¡A escuchar!

Alert: Furbys have invaded "Endless Dread!" They're having a bit of a moment. In this episode, producers Jacob Garcia and Quincy Walters dig into the creepy and paranormal corners of Furby internet — from haunted Furbys, and cursed ones to one that hunts... ghosts. And an unexpected guest that Dr. Frankenstein himself would shriek at!

Hey did you leave your tarantula in the motel room? We found it. And don't' worry, your Furby is not spying on you.  Sure it's not.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5747537/advertisement

Joined by bestie Erin Gilfoy, Chris talks Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Hilary Duff, freaks out about Furbys and Beanie Babies, hears callers' crazy concert stories, celebrates dog adoptions, pops off about podcasting, shares about starting your own national holiday, beams about Bonnaroo and Emo Night, comments on cancel culture and discusses the Colleen Ballinger apology video, reveals hotel hacks, boasts about bootleg concert merch, and battles Erin in an epic one-second guess that song game.  Go to https://helixsleep.com/unhinged for up to $200 off your Helix Sleep mattress plus two free pillows (free shipping within the US) Listen to Survive or Die Trying with Cameron Esposito: https://listen.sonymusic-podcasts.link/WD1Pa6JK?at=1010l396Y Donate to support Best Friends Animal Society: https://bestfriends.org/?gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrJjS4t3m_wIVygytBh1z8waZEAAYASAAEgJk4_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds FIND MORE ERIN GILFOY: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/eringilfoy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eringilfoy/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eringilfoy?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/eringilfoy?lang=en Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCurhHNlTEtpXsTogOIvmlUQ Follow Unhinged with Chris Klemens on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unhingedwithchrisklemens Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/chrisklemens/ Follow Big Spark Studios: https://www.instagram.com/bigsparkstudios Leave Chris a voicemail: 310-844-6459 Submit your secrets: https://forms.gle/ZPtbT3EKFHQWpZ4K7  Submit Charitable Shoutout: https://forms.gle/6GSAoacSoepsZ5v47 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

why Robin shouted ‘Camel!!' at a woman… Robin and Jonny try to remember the first thing they bought online… someone calls about the first thing they bought online… bad news if you or your partner enjoys true crime shows… Robin's reason for sticking your head in the freezer… how to play 'I've Got Your Nose'… Robin and Jonny ramble incoherently about pineapple on pizza… Why Robin had his hand in the air… Robin's brain breaks… what celebrities do you think could be serial killers… the guys chat about the Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg fight… Furbys are back… Wafa from Hala FM comes in to tell the guys what she's REALLY bad at… Jonny talks about the movie franchise he grew up with… the most annoying people you meet in the gym… Jonny's biggest fan saw Robin on Mythbusters… who do you confide in when you have a secret?… Jonny's very sexist feature… Robin's hack to make you smarter… audio of the first ever AI radio host in action… the baby that eats gourmet food… Jonny wants to look after billionaire's dogs… Calm Larry's wife made an omelette… Jonny's thoughts on the Musk v Zuckerberg fight… signs that your marriage is doomed… Sita calls and tries to talk about yoga…

Hello, horror lovers, and welcome back to Freaky Attractions channel. It's time for a terrifying tale about Furbys. You'll never guess what will happen at the end! Make sure to subscribe if you want to see more creepy videos and horror stories. Stay tuned for more! Written By ► u/RoamingRay https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/qx03e0/the_furby_made_of_flesh/ Narrated By ► Mr. Freaky Music By ► Myuu - Lurking Shadows SUBSCRIBE & HIT THAT NOTIFICATION BELL! ►► https://tinyurl.com/y6fe78al​ Mr.Freaky Discord server ► https://discord.gg/5SyDc2DFDJ This Creepypasta is fictional and for entertainment purposes only © 2023 Freaky Attractions. All rights reserved.

This week we're talking Batman-themed weddings; a celebrity chef fed up with vegans; Ina Garten hacked; Musk & Zuckerberg's cage fight plans; Ryan Seacrest named as Pat Sajak's “Wheel of Fortune” replacement; Furbys are returning (with off switches, mind you); we're liking the idea of sustainable cactus leather; Cirque du Soleil's “Love” extended through 2024; Brittany did NOT perform with Elton John; we're loving “The Walking Dead: Dead City;” and, more pop culture silliness of the week.

Furbys on the comeback and Good News Hour on News Radio KKOBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-Who Was Right Last Night: The Pineapple Problem!-The Jury was Swingin'!-Arm Rest Etiquette and He Had the Plane All to Himself!-Furbys are Back!-The BG Blow Up Game.-Good Vibes: The Houston & New York Police Made It All Better!-The Dad Joke of the Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

-Who Was Right Last Night: The Pineapple Problem! -The Jury was Swingin'! -Arm Rest Etiquette and He Had the Plane All to Himself! -Furbys are Back! -The BG Blow Up Game. -Good Vibes: The Houston & New York Police Made It All Better! -The Dad Joke of the Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friday June 23, 2023 *** Brandon enters panic mode as he prepares for A-STATE event *** Titan Implosion *** 5 Things Your Neighbors Hate *** Brandon acts as a personal trainer in someone else's gym *** High Five: Wynne native Jim Marple named Civilian of the year *** Hasbro is bringing back the FURBY ***

One of the greatest toys, EVER, is back! Actually, they were a little creepy...

No te pierdas los directos de lunes a viernes 10 pm Transmitiendo desde Cd Mante Si quieres hacer tu Donación https://www.buymeacoffee.com/miedoscop ⭐️ Únete a nuestras Redes Sociales ⭐️

¡Pues nada! Hasta aquí ha llegado la cosa. Un final de libro absolutamente MARAVILLOSO, la venganza final de Tembli, rock duro, Furbys, historias de amor, chistes malos, lo mismo de siempre pero en formato final de temporada. ¡En julio nos vemos tirando dados, gente! ¡Gracias por estar ahí un año más!

Pernilla ska bli farmor. Känslorna är ”all over the place”. Vem har FOMO och vem har JOMO? Eller är det kanske HOMO? Är det tid för en snippsauna? Vi festar till det på rått ägg och planerar en skräckfilm. Öronmaskar vi älskar och hatar. Och kommer Furbys ta över världen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the Brian is away, the Steves and Megs will play...and by that we mean they'll watch a silly robot movie. From Gerard Johnstone the director/writer of Housebound, and James Wan of Fast and Furious and Malignant and Saw and ... and ...  and ... comes M3GAN. An imperfect film about how imperfect people can only create imperfect AI. Our only episode with sweet wine, Mallort, Furbys, and Robocop 2 references all in one place. Learn what our May showdown topics will be and don't forget to flush. Find Us Online- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halloweenisforever/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HallowForever Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@halloweenisforeverpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalloweenIsForeverPod E-Mail: Halloweenisforeverpod@gmail.com

I wish there was a way to know you're in the good ole' days before you've actually left them; someone should write a song about that. The 90's and early 2000's were the good ole' days, and the things of those times were prime: Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, Furbys, Disney Channel Original Movies, Blockbuster, and so much more.

Queenie and TT are very happy to speak with Ladybug, a fangirl caller with a question about dry vaping. There's also talk of gerbils and Furbys.  Happy Birthday Ladybug!!Our Closet Disco Queen Pot-Cast deals with legal adult cannabis use and is intended for entertainment purposes only for those 21 and older Sound from Zapsplat.com, https://quicksounds.com, 101soundboards.comVisit our Closet Disco Queen Pot-Cast merch store!Find us on Facebook and Green Coast Radio

Cardy and Dale have been playing some Sonic Frontiers. Tune in to find out if they'll be playing more of it. They're joined by Mat as they then choose some of their favourite mascot platformers followed by a nail-biter on an Endless Search game.If you're into it, get tickets for our live show in London on December 2nd here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ign-uks-the-podcast-before-christmas-tickets-445286492887Got a game for us to play or some feedback you'd like read out on the show? Why not email us: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

Cardy and Dale have been playing some Sonic Frontiers. Tune in to find out if they'll be playing more of it. They're joined by Mat as they then choose some of their favourite mascot platformers followed by a nail-biter on an Endless Search game. If you're into it, get tickets for our live show in London on December 2nd here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ign-uks-the-podcast-before-christmas-tickets-445286492887 Got a game for us to play or some feedback you'd like read out on the show? Why not email us: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

En este nuevo episodio hablamos de las barajas #satánicas Garbage Pail Kids, de los Furbys que se encienden en la noche sin batería alguna y hasta de Pitufos de peluche que todas las noches cambiaban de lugar inexplicablemente. Bienvenidxs a Horror Fabularum, el lugar donde contamos las historias de gente como tú y como yo... comenzamos con el meeyoooo

Looks like it’s vacation time again here at Pixelated Paranormal, and with Stephen out sailing the Seven Seas, and Shawn packing for a trip to Dallas, we decided to drop a short-yet sweet little News episode to keep you company until the we reunite next week for our 6 year anniversary show. So sit back, put your feet up and let us tell y’all about some of the news that you may have missed. Cheers and enjoy the show. Voicemail: 913.662.3144 - Email: pixelatedparanormal[at]gmail[dot]com

We talk about the Winter Olympics and Long Furbys. I wouldn't recommend looking up Long Furbys. In fact, don't even listen to this episode about them.

In this episode the guys are back from vacation and talking about their favorite toys from the 80's and 90s and reviewing the 1998 movie Small Soldiers!!

Metal & Mellow grab their Trapper Keepers and Furbys and set the wayback machine to the 80s & 90s to discuss every one hit wonder that tickles their fancy...

Throughout this series Elspeth and Steph will be coming to you with a topic each week to discuss as they weave their erratic thinking around it. This week we keep you company whilst discussing childhood nostalgia; everything from Furbys, Smash Hits and Girl Talk to cringeworthy school anecdotes and The Millenium Bug. Sending all our love your way, and although you may feel lonely right now, please remember we can be lonely together. KYC x

Film critic Clarisse Loughrey and film programmer Anna Bogutskaya, American Horror Story super-fans, discuss and dissect every episode of AHS, from the very beginning.For the start of a new season, we give you super-sized episode for a super-sized season premiere for American Horror Story: Freak Show where we are introduced to the main characters and antagonists of Fraülein Elsa Mars's Cabinet of Curiosities. Digressions include: an apology to Finn Wittrock, demonic Furbys, Baltimore accents, rants about clowns Introducing new weekly categories: Bomer Boner Moment, Paulson v Paulson, Big Feels for Big Drama, alongside We discuss the episode in detail, but will not spoil anything that lies ahead in this or future seasons of AHS.Follow us on Twitter @nextsupremespodFollow Clarisse on @clarisselou and Anna on @annabdemented

For this episode, Claudia and Taylor talk about their favorite sauces and what they say about a person. They also go on to discuss Netflix originals and why Taylor only every watches LGBT movies. Taylor also talks about watching porn in front of her mom. This leads to talk about the Alexa and Furbys. Check back next week for more content! Thanks for listening and follow us on twitter! Enjoy! The cast Twitter - @TPfyandSvobo Taylor - @TPfy13 Claudia - @SvobodaClaudia