Tech'ed Up with Niki Christoff
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What’s happening right now on the frontlines of tech? Silicon Valley veteran Niki Christoff hosts zippy conversations about trending technology with experts, enthusiasts, regulators, policymakers, CEOs, and reporters. New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
5 days ago
Tech’ed Up Turns 2!
Niki looks back at the last two years of Tech’ed Up and shares some of her favorite moments from the podcast. This episode highlights engaging clips from episodes featuring Bloomberg reporter Ashlee Vance, US presidential candidate and former Congressman Will Hurd, Washingtonian Tech Titan 2023 Amy Gilliland of GDIT, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation, and many more.
Listen in as Niki and guests explore all things tech: covering emerging technology from AI to crypto, speculating about government regulation, and geeking out about the future of tech in general.
* Check out Tech’ed Up on YouTube
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
* Learn more about where we record at Switch & Board
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Sep 7, 2023
Profiles in Tech: From Oxford to Reddit • Jessica Ashooh
Senior Director of Policy at Reddit, Jessica Ashooh, joins Niki remotely to talk about her non-traditional path to Silicon Valley - from earning a Ph.D. in International relations, to working in Abu Dhabi and at think tanks. They take a quick dive into how Reddit works, why its community is so passionate about governance, and, of course, talk cat subreddit threads.
* Follow Jessica on LinkedIn
* Explore just a few of the many subreddit threads about cats:
* https://www.reddit.com/r/blackcats/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/airplaneears/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/CatsStandingUp/
* https://www.reddit.com/r/catsofukraine/
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Aug 24, 2023
Smart Guns 101 • Kai Kloepfer
CEO of Biofire, Kai Kloepfer, joins Niki remotely in the studio to talk smart guns. They explore the technology that helps make these guns a safer option for home protection, the unique challenges of developing deep tech hardware, and some sobering statistics that keep Kai and his team motivated to help with one small part of a major, uniquely American, public health epidemic.
* Follow Kai on Twitter
* Learn more about Biofire
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Aug 10, 2023
Is Crypto Back from the Dead? • John Rizzo
Former U.S. Treasury spokesperson, current SVP of Public Affairs at Clyde Group, and crypto commentator John Rizzo joins Niki in the studio to talk about the state of play of crypto. Is there a future for crypto in America or will unelected bureaucrats successfully push the industry overseas? They discuss the broader regulatory climate and how other emerging technology, such as AI, could find itself in a similar deathmatch in Washington.
* Follow John on Twitter
* John recommends the SlowBoring Substack
* Learn more about Clyde Group
* Read John’s Op-Eds on CoinDesk
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Jul 27, 2023
DC & Tech Hot Topics • Ashley Gold (Axios)
Axios reporter Ashley Gold joins Niki in the studio for a lighthearted conversation about what Big Tech should expect from Congress this year. They talk Federal Trade Commission dynamics, Ticketmaster drama, and foreign investments in the United States. Ashley shares her insights as the lead reporter for Axios’ Pro Tech Policy newsletter: Who’s interested and what’s what? And Niki cracks wise about Taylor Swift, Vrbo, and TikTok (of course).
* Follow Ashley on Twitter
* Learn more about Axios Pro
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Jul 13, 2023
AI, Hacks & Cyber Attacks • Paul Rosenzweig
Former Department of Homeland Security official, Paul Rosenzweig, joins Niki in the studio to share his thoughts on AI, hacking, and national security. They dish some stories from the past and take a look to the future of big tech in China, talk AI hallucinations, and Paul shares his thoughts on what Congress should be doing to respond to the changing - and rapidly evolving - national security landscape.
* Follow Paul on Twitter
* Learn more about Red Branch Consulting
* Listen to Paul on The Federalist Society Podcast
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Jun 29, 2023
Race for Space • Ashlee Vance (Bloomberg)
NY Times best-selling author, reporter, and host of Hello World, Ashlee Vance joins Niki to talk about the wild and wonderful characters driving the new space race. He shares stories from his new book ‘When the Heavens Went on Sale’ and why he believes this new space gold rush will change life as we know it.
* Follow Ashlee on Twitter
* Check out Hello World
* Buy ‘When the Heavens Went on Sale’ here
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Jun 15, 2023
The Deep & Dark Web • Matteo Tomasini
Cyber defense expert, Matteo Tomasini, joins Niki on the podcast to shine a light into the deepest, darkest parts of the web. He explains the differences between the “Clearnet" aka the surface web, deep web, and the dark web. While they dive into the dangerous - and legitimate - motivations for anonymous web browsing, Matteo also provides helpful tips for protecting your own privacy online.
* Follow Matteo on Twitter
* Learn more about Prescient
* Discover District4Labs
* Listen to the ‘Hunting Warhead’ podcast
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Jun 1, 2023
‘Deep Fake Drake’ • Jessica Powell
CEO and co-founder of AudioShake, Jessica Powell, joins Niki remotely to talk AI and music. Her company created tech that has helped artists and fans alike since before we ever heard of a musical “deep fake.” In this episode, they chat karaoke, video game music, and Jessica breaks down what a stem is - as well as the creative impact AI will have on the music industry as we know it.
* Follow Jessica on Twitter
* Learn more about AudioShake
* Listen to this episode's playlist
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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May 18, 2023
Kids & Social Media Addiction • Previn Warren
Washington-based litigator, Previn Warren, joins Niki in the studio to talk about his law firm’s multi-district litigation against social media giants Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. They discuss the growing epidemic of social media addiction among teens and tweens, and its impact on kids’ mental health, their developing brains, and bodies.
**This episode contains some serious subject matter including mentions of suicide, eating disorders, and violent sexual social media content.**
* Dove ad campaign
* Follow Previn on LinkedIn
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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May 4, 2023
Crypto for Good (for real) • Denelle Dixon
Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Foundation, joins Niki in the studio to talk about the real world, right-now positive use cases blockchain technology is having on the underbanked. They explore the work the foundation is doing with the UNHCR and IRC in Ukraine, their partnership with MoneyGram, and why you should care. Denelle shares some sage advice for the industry on how to better communicate with regulators.
* Learn more about the Stellar Foundation
* Follow Denelle on Twitter
* Remittance Research
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Apr 20, 2023
AI Deep Dive • Dorothy Chou
Head of Public Affairs for DeepMind, Dorothy Chou, is in Washington from London and joins Niki in the Tech’ed Up Studio to talk about the massive impact AI is already having on science, work, and the future of our economy. They cover the hard questions we all should be asking as this tech develops at breakneck speed, discuss the role of government in shaping this emerging tech, and highlight the importance of wrangling all kinds of people to shape the data and norms that underpin AI.
* Listen to the DeepMind Podcast
* Read “Chat GPT is a Blurry JPEG of the Web”
* Learn more about The Obsidian Collection
* Follow Dorothy on Twitter
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Apr 6, 2023
Cyber Safety • Debbie Taylor Moore
Cybersecurity veteran and VP of Global Security at IBM Consulting, Debbie Taylor Moore, joins Niki in the studio for an eye-opening discussion on the future of cybersecurity threats, the need for cyber literacy, and practical advice on how to protect yourself, your data, and your home online in the event of a critical breach or outage.
* Follow Debbie on LinkedIn
* Watch Debbie’s CES Panel
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Mar 23, 2023
Bye, Trolls • Tracy Chou
Block Party CEO & Founder, Tracy Chou, joins Niki remotely to talk about what her team is doing to make the internet a safer place and why she’s passionate about their mission. Her app puts control back in the hands of social media users using block lists, lock-out filters, and other tips and tricks to combat trolls. The conversation covers why the social media giants aren’t incentivized to do this work themselves, what action is needed for third-party app innovation to thrive, and what, as users (and people) our options are - and should be.
○ Follow Tracy on LinkedIn
○ Learn more about Block Party
○ Follow Block Party on Twitter
○ Follow Niki on Twitter
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Mar 9, 2023
Online Speech & The Supreme Court • Emily Birnbaum (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg reporter Emily Birnbaum visits Niki in the Tech’ed Up studio for a rollicking conversation about online speech and the U.S. Supreme Court’s forthcoming opinion on Gonzalez v. Google. This conversation covers the Justices’ overall vibes, the limitations of Section 230, Niki’s observations from inside the courtroom, and Emily’s assessment of the stakes for tech companies.
* Follow Emily on Twitter
* Gen Z dating habits? (The Hill)
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Feb 23, 2023
Making Sense of the Metaverse • Denise Zheng
Denise Zheng, Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the CEO at Accenture, joins Niki in the studio to highlight ways the metaverse is already being put to work in business. She goes beyond the jargon of XR, AI, and web3 and explains what the metaverse is and why she thinks right now is a pivotal moment in the development of a tech that is sure to shape our future.
* Follow Denise Zheng on LinkedIn
* Learn more about WebMe
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Feb 9, 2023
“Facts Favor the Optimist” • Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
Former Congressman and presidential candidate, John Delaney, joins Niki in the studio to discuss bipartisanship, practical policymaking, and answering the call to serve. From investing in de-carbonization projects to crafting AI policy, from banning gas stoves to TikTok, they cover it all in this wide-ranging conversation.
* Follow former Rep. Delaney on Twitter
* Learn more about Forbright Bank
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jan 26, 2023
Chips, China & TikTok • Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) joins Niki from Capitol Hill to take a deep dive into tech issues facing the 118th Congress. Specifically, Sen. Warner lays out the national security risks the United States faces from the Chinese Communist Party’s involvement in one of America’s favorite apps: TikTok. This conversation includes a look back at last year’s passage of the CHIPs Act and a look forward to his potential bipartisan social media legislation.
* Follow Senator Warner on Twitter
* Learn more about the CHIPS Act
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jan 12, 2023
Crypto Aftershocks: Live from CES • Sheila Warren
Taped live from the main stage at the CES conference in Las Vegas, CEO of Crypto Council for Innovation Sheila Warren and Niki chat about all things crypto. After the crypto earthquake of FTX and the beginning of another crypto winter, what aftershocks does the industry face? Sheila shares why she’s still a true believer in the blockchain.
* Follow Sheila Warren on LinkedIn
* Learn more about CCI
* Check out CES
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 29, 2022
The Business of Cyber • Stefanie Drysdale
Security start-up Prescient's VP of Cyber, Stefanie Drysdale, joins Niki in the studio to talk insider threats, whistleblowers, and bug bounties. She gives a pulse check on developments inside and outside the security business, including her fears for the future of the cyber industry if we lose focus on who the bad guys are.
* Follow Stefanie on LinkedIn
* Watch Prescient’s weekly cyber update on YouTube
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 15, 2022
Tech Tales & Workplace Mental Health • Malcom Glenn
CEO of MG Equity Consulting and New America Fellow, Malcom Glenn, joins Niki in the studio to talk about the role businesses can play in promoting mental health and equity for employees. They touch on some popular misconceptions about Gen Z, why “quiet-quitting” is a misnomer, and the business case for doing right by people.Malcom shares some insights from his days at Uber and Niki explains why she’ll always be a Googler at heart.
* Follow Malcom on LinkedIn
* Check out MG Equity Consulting
* Listen to Malcom’s speeches
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 1, 2022
Is Tech Policy Passé? • Karen Kornbluh
Former Ambassador and Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, Karen Kornbluh, joins Niki in the Tech’ed Up studio for a rollicking conversation about whether tech policy is passé, the ongoing Twitter implosion, and misinformation being a loser. This conversation covers the erosion of trust in institutions, cynicism as a by product of social media, and the power of storytelling to combat both.
○ Read Karen’s New York Times profile
○ Donate to Wikipedia
○ Follow Niki on Twitter
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Nov 17, 2022
Crypto Shockwaves • Dante Disparte
Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy at Circle joins Niki in the studio hot on the heels of the FTX meltdown in this episode of Tech’ed Up. They discuss the need for regulation, the role of stablecoins, and the argument for optimism about the future of crypto.
* Learn more about Circle
* Check out Dante’s Website
* Follow Niki on Twitter
* Watch "Inside Job"
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Nov 3, 2022
Is AI Becoming Sentient? • Nitasha Tiku (Washington Post)
Washington Post reporter Nitasha Tiku joins Niki remotely to discuss the latest innovations in AI. We get to know LaMDA, the AI a Google engineer believes is conscious, and discuss the brand new text-to-image generator, DALL-E. We also wax philosophical about the impact of sci-fi on our understanding of AI technology. Nitasha dives beneath the fun and viral consumer developments in AI to explore what’s lurking beneath.
* LaMDA "The Google engineer who thinks its AI has come alive"
* DALL-E "AI can now create any image in seconds, bringing wonder and danger"
* Follow Nitasha on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Oct 20, 2022
YouTube’s "Rise to World Domination” • Mark Bergen (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg reporter Mark Bergen joins Niki remotely to discuss his new book “Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube’s Chaotic Rise to World Domination.” We dive into the behind-the-scenes impact Google has had on shaping YouTube into the search juggernaut it is today. Mark details the outsized influence YouTube has on the social media landscape while remaining a “sleeping giant” largely ignored by regulators and protected from much of the “techlash” its competitors have faced.
Links:
* Buy Mark’s Book ”Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube’s Chaotic Rise to World Domnation”
* New Yorker review
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Oct 6, 2022
SEC v. Ripple • Stu Alderoty
General Counsel of Ripple Labs, Stu Alderoty, joins Niki in the studio to discuss the need for Washington to establish regulatory clarity for digital assets. He takes listeners on a deep dive into how blockchain can simplify cross-border payments, the crypto industry’s appetite for clear regulations, and Ripple’s engagement in D.C. – including litigation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Links:
* Follow Stuart on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Sep 22, 2022
The Story of Grindr • Patrick Lenihan
VP and Head of Global Communications at Grindr and long-time tech veteran, Patrick Lenihan, joins Niki remotely to talk about the iconic dating app. The company is both a “start-up” and one of the first-ever geospatial social networking applications…and now it’s preparing to go public. The conversation ranges from Grindr itself to the company’s business, mission, and current work to bring public health information to the LGBTQ+ community.
* Learn more about Grindr
* Follow Patrick on Twitter
Follow Niki on Twitter
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Sep 8, 2022
The Crypto Cavalry Has Arrived • Tory Newmyer (Washington Post)
Washington Post reporter Tory Newmyer joins Niki in the studio to discuss his coverage of the crypto lobby’s full-court press in Washington. Tory’s watched and reported as the crypto lobby exploded within the last year. In this episode, he joins Niki to discuss what’s working, what’s not, and what’s coming next for the industry’s expanding influence campaign.
* Read “Crypto finds a bright spot in stormy summer”
* Follow Tory on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Aug 25, 2022
TikTok: China’s Trojan Horse • FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr
Commissioner Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) joins Niki in the studio to discuss his concerns about the viral video app TikTok. Do TikTok’s data practices pose a threat to our national security by collecting and sharing information with the Chinese Community Party? In this episode, Commissioner Carr gives his take on the situation and the stakes.
* Follow Commissioner Carr on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
* Read Buzzfeed's report: "The TikTok Tapes"
* "TikTok Browser Can Track Users' Keystrokes" (NYT)
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Aug 11, 2022
AI: "China Could Win a War in 72 Hours" • Sean Gourley
Physicist and Rhodes Scholar, Sean Gourley, founded Primer, a start-up building mission-critical AI capabilities for the United States and its closest allies. He joins Niki in the studio to discuss Silicon Valley’s ambivalence about building and selling defense capabilities necessary to protect democracies. He explains how artificial intelligence is a “third offset” – following nuclear weapons and precision munitions – that could end a war in just 72 hours. And China is hyper-focused on overtaking the United States in this arms race.
* Learn more about Primer and AI in Warfare
* Follow Sean on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jul 28, 2022
Start-Up: Untangling the Supply Chain • Santosh Sankar
Co-founder of venture capital firm Dynamo, Santosh Sankar, joins Niki from Chattanooga to explain how the supply chain became everyone’s business during the pandemic - and the solutions his portfolio companies are building to fix it.
* Listen to The Future of Supply Chain podcast
* Follow Santosh on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jul 14, 2022
Blockchain Growing Pains • Kathleen Breitman
Co-founder of Tezos, one of the first blockchains, Kathleen Breitman joins Niki from London to tell the story of the network she founded and her commitment to democratic governance in crypto. She also shares her thoughts on the risks of building a business dependent on a charismatic leader.
* Learn more about Tezos
* Follow Kathleen on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jun 30, 2022
Building AI that Doesn't Scale Harm • Miriam Vogel
CEO of Equal AI and White House technology advisor, Miriam Vogel, joins Niki in the studio to discuss her work to reduce algorithmic bias in the deployment of artificial intelligence. In this episode, Miriam explains why this is a critical moment to make sure we are using AI as a solution to increase fairness and build trust, and not as a scaling function for harms that already exist.
* Learn more about EqualAI
* Listen to "In AI We Trust?" podcast
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jun 16, 2022
Start-Up: AgTech can Fix Farms • Connie Bowen
Venture capitalist and AgTech (aka agriculture technology) investor, Connie Bowen, is raising capital to help fix some of the toughest challenges facing food systems and farming. She has some straight talk for Silicon Valley investors who are pouring money into agri-farm tech that just isn’t going to work.
* Learn more about The Yield Lab
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jun 2, 2022
Bumble's Making Cyberflashing a Crime • Payton Iheme
Bumble's Americas public policy lead Payton Iheme joins Niki Christoff in the studio to discuss the company campaign to criminalize cyberflashing. More than half of women between 18-24 years old have received an unwanted, unsolicited lewd digital image, but that behavior is only illegal in two states. In-person flashing is a crime in all 50 states and it's time for laws to update to protect the digital world too.
* Take action to make cyber flashing illegal in your state
* Follow Payton on LinkedIn
* Follow Niki on Twitter
* Learn more about Niki
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May 19, 2022
Elon Musk's Twitter Deal • Kate Conger (New York Times)
New York Times technology reporter, Kate Conger, covers social media and the gig economy based in Silicon Valley. She joins Niki in the studio in D.C. at the height of the Twitter drama to discuss what’s going on with Elon Musk, his bid to buy the social media platform, and what it’s like to report on tech during high-stakes moments.
* Follow Kate Conger on Twitter
* Feel-good bots: Pomology Watercolors, Emoji Aquarium, Imaginary New Planets
* Follow Niki Christoff on Twitter
* Find Niki Christoff on LinkedIn
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May 12, 2022
Solving Crimes on the Blockchain • Jennifer Vander Veer
Former FBI agent, Jennifer Vander Veer, now runs product strategy at TRM Labs. She joins Niki to discuss what it was like to be one of the first cops on the digital currency beat, how criminals think about emerging technology, and separating fact from fiction when it comes to information retained on distributed ledgers. She believes that blockchain technology could ultimately lead to a safer financial system.
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Apr 28, 2022
Building U.S. Mission-Focused Tech • Amy Gilliland
President of General Dynamics Information Technology, Amy Gilliland, is now the president of General Dynamics Information Technology. Having served for a decade as a U.S. Navy officer, Amy joins Niki in the studio to discuss her passion for mission-oriented tech. Her leadership is focused on hiring veterans, building cool tools with AI and high-performance computing, and focusing on employee mental health. She always asks, “How are you...really?”
* Niki talking crypto on Money Reimagined
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Apr 7, 2022
Battling Big Tech Backlash • Nirit Weiss-Blatt
Author and academic, Dr. Nirit Weiss-Blatt, Ph.D, applies AI modeling to analyze large data sets of tech coverage to answer the question: Why is there a backlash gainst Big Tech and is their comms strategy working? Her first book, The Techlash and Tech Crisis Communication, chronicles how mainstream coverage of the tech industry shifted from a long period of utopianism to our current state of dystopianism.
* Find Nirit's book
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Mar 31, 2022
AI: "No, Your Computer Isn't Listening to You" • Austin Carson
AI enthusiast and founder of SeedAI, Austin Carson, started a non-profit to get artificial intelligence projects launched in new and diverse communities across America. We talk about “machines thinking for themselves,” bias in code (and in the world), and Austin finally answers the burning question: Are our computers eavesdropping?
* Learn more about SeedAI
* Subscribe to Jack Clark’s newsletter
* Watch “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World”
* Follow Niki on LinkedIn
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Mar 17, 2022
Crypto 101: Understanding Stablecoins • Chris Grieco
Attorney Chris Grieco is General Counsel for a crypto startup that has created a stablecoin protocol. An alumnus of the Department of Justice, White House Counsel's office, and a former federal prosecutor, Chris knows his way around the corridors of Washington. In this episode, he joins Niki at the Tech'ed Up studio to explore the concepts of stablecoins, a digital dollar, and "decentralized finance" AKA DeFi.
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Mar 10, 2022
Crypto 101: Ethereum Explained • Laura Shin
Crypto journalist, podcaster, and author Laura Shin joins Niki from New York to talk about her new book, “The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze.” She recounts the origins of Ethereum, the second most important blockchain, and the second largest cryptocurrency by market cap after Bitcoin, and sheds light on the unlikely founder, a teenager named Vitalik Buterin.
* Listen to Laura’s podcast
* Buy The Cryptopians from an independent bookstore
* And find her at laurashin.com and on Crypto Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Mar 3, 2022
Start-Up: Telehealth for Women • Chelsea Kohler
Digital health start-up, Favor, is on a mission to make reproductive care more accessible and convenient, especially to members of Gen Z. Chief Marketing Officer, Chelsea Kohler, joins Niki Christoff from San Francisco to break down the latest trends in digital health and to discuss how the pandemic has shifted attitudes - and regulations - around telehealth.
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Feb 24, 2022
Start-Up: Refinancing Auto Loans Online • Kevin Bennett
CEO of fintech startup Caribou Kevin Bennett joins Niki in the studio to lament the ‘double marginalizing experience’ of buying a car – being treated like crap and paying for the privilege.. Luckily, his D.C-based company is here to help.
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Feb 17, 2022
Parenting in the Algorithm Age • Kat Mauler
Tech industry veteran Kat Mauler joins Niki in the studio to talk about the challenges–and opportunities–of parenting in the age of smartphones and what it’s like trying to raise ‘full-stack humans’ whose personalities aren't driven by what the algorithms reward.
Ideas of great parenting apps or tools or tips or tricks?
Email us at techeduppodcast@gmail.com
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Feb 10, 2022
When Self-Driving Trucks Hit the Highway • Lia Theodosiou-Pisanelli
Vice President of Partner Products, Programs & Operations of autonomous vehicle startup Aurora Lia Theodosiou-Pisanelli joins Niki in the studio. They discuss how self-driving technology could transform our highways, help with our long-haul trucker shortage, and shore up America’s supply chain.
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Jan 27, 2022
Antitrust: Breaking Up Big Tech • Ashley Gold (Axios)
Technology policy reporter Ashley Gold covers antitrust news for Axios based in Washington, D.C. She joins Niki in the studio to discuss the U.S. federal government’s crusade against the dominance of Big Tech', and to answer the question: Do voters really want these regulations, or has Congress lost the plot?
* Follow Ashley on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Jan 20, 2022
Lessons from Silicon Valley's C-Suite • Ann Hiatt
Former right-hand to legendary tech CEOs Jeff Bezos and Eric Schmidt Ann Hiatt joins Niki remotely to tease out the lessons she learned from her high-powered, high-stakes career spent at some of the world’s most prominent tech companies. Ann is also the author of Bet on Yourself: Recognize, Own, and Implement Breakthrough Opportunities and works as a leadership strategy consultant for entrepreneurs around the world.
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Jan 13, 2022
Crypto: The Case for Digital Currency • Deana Burke
Deana Burke is a communications partner at Celo, a mobile-first blockchain enabling peer-to-peer payments. She joins Niki Christoff and makes the case for Bitcoin: Why should we care about it at all? Deana is passionate about making sure people who don’t work in finance or technology can participate in this “revolution in money.” She also explains what the heck are DAOs.
* Learn more about Boys Club
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 23, 2021
Start-Up: Satellites & Space Junk • Charles Miller
Co-founder and CEO of Lynk Charles Miller joins Niki Christoff in the studio to talk about billionaires traveling to space (unpopular opinion: we're for it), space junk, and how 5G is not a solution to 0G. His start-up is launching a network of satellites that will connect every smartphone on the planet to broadband coverage, filling in the dead zones.
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Dec 16, 2021
AI: What do people think? • Leo Rees
British tech advocacy consultancy, Milltown Partners, recently completed a first-of-its-kind study on international attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Director of Technology Policy, Leo Rees, says where you live - U.S., UK, France, or Germany - has a lot to do with how you feel about AI. Bonus: Stay tuned until the end of the episode, when Leo tells Niki about his adventure buying his first NFT.
* Read the study "Our Relationship with AI: Friend or Foe"
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 9, 2021
Crypto 101: WTF is Web3? • Sheila Warren
Founder of the blockchain and digital assets team at the World Economic Forum Sheila Warren joins Niki Christoff for a conversation about web3. What is it, what does it have to do with the metaverse, and why is it all over the news? Sheila, who is the inaugural CEO of the Crypto Council on Innovation, makes the case that the potential of decentralization lies in individual empowerment and connection.
* Learn more about the Crypto Council
* Follow Sheila on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Dec 2, 2021
Making Sense of the Metaverse • Emily Birnbaum (POLITICO)
Tech lobbying and "influence" reporter Emily Birnbaum joins Niki Christoff in the studio for a quick conversation about what the metaverse is, why Facebook changed its name to Meta, and how close we are to this virtual 3D future. Do we really have to go there?
* Follow Emily on Twitter
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Nov 18, 2021
Battling Disinformation • Camille François
Disinformation expert Camille François sits down in the studio with Niki to explain what a troll farm is, how they operate, and the business of building fake online influencers. Plus, what's the difference between misinformation and disinformation? It's a game of cat and mouse between bad actors and teams trying to make social media safer.
* Learn more about Graphika
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Nov 11, 2021
Cleaning Up Cyberspace • Niloo Razi Howe
Cybersecurity expert and tech investor Niloo Razi Howe visits the studio to talk with Niki Christoff about all things cyberspace -- from cyberbullying and ransomware to disinformation and surveillance. It's important to our national security mission that smart people engineer solutions to these problems.
* Watch Niloo's TED Talk
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Nov 4, 2021
Surviving a North Korean Cyber Attack • Stevan Bernard
Retired head of global security for Sony Pictures Stevan Bernard wrangled a targeted North Korean cyber attack. In this episode, he walks host Niki Christoff through the hours, days, and weeks after state-sponsored hackers infiltrated the corporate computer network. The conversation covers cybercrime, gunslingers on the Dark Web, the Lazarus Group, multi-factor authentication, password managers, and the importance of having a survival mentality.
* Learn more about Stevan Bernard
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Oct 28, 2021
Regulating Digital Currency • SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce
Commissioner Hester Peirce of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) joins Niki Christoff in the studio to chat cryptocurrency and regulators: the players and the stakes. Affectionately known as "CryptoMom," Commissioner Peirce outlines her vision of protecting investors and consumers while fostering new crypto projects.
* Read Commissioner Peirce's speeches & statements
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Oct 21, 2021
Crypto 101: What are NFTs? • Macey Smith
In the second episode of our Crypto 101 series, blockchain expert Macey Smith, joins host Niki Christoff in the studio to break down non-fungible tokens (aka NFTs) for those of us who aren’t billionaire art collectors, expert gamers, or Mark Cuban. Niki and Macey chat about the Ethereum blockchain, OpenSea marketplace, CryptoPunk NFTs...and a vision for how smart contracts can create a vibrant marketplace for creators and collectors in the not-too-distant future.
* Follow Niki on Twitter
* See Niki's NFTs here
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Oct 14, 2021
Crypto 101: The Basics of Blockchain • Jamie Smith
White House deputy press secretary and former Bitfury exec Jamie Smith joins Niki Christoff in the studio to explain the basics of blockchain technology. She says it’s time for all of us to start paying attention to this space. And it's totally okay if you don’t understand it yet.
* Learn more about Jamie Smith
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Oct 7, 2021
AI: Winning the New Cold War • Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX)
Former Congressman and ex-CIA operative, Will Hurd, joins Niki Christoff in the studio to talk about the power and potential of artificial intelligence. The conversation covers the basics of AI and 5G, the Chinese government's global ambitions, why Rep. Hurd believes we're in the midst of a new Cold War, and how he thinks the United States can catch up. His new book, American Reboot, expands on this vision for U.S. competitiveness.
* Buy "American Reboot"
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Sep 30, 2021
Facebook: "An Ugly Truth" • Cecilia Kang (New York Times)
New York Times technology reporter and Pulitzer finalist, Cecilia Kang, joins host Niki Christoff in the studio to talk all things Facebook. Taped the same day Congress grilled company executives over Instagram's effect on kids, this conversation covers Facebook's unusual corporate structure and how its apps are used around the world. Bonus: hot takes on Mark Zuckerberg’s tweenage ambition to be a modern-day Roman emperor.
* Watch video content on YouTube
* Buy "An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination"
* Follow Niki on Twitter
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Sep 16, 2021
Welcome to Tech’ed Up
What’s happening right now on the frontlines of tech? Join host Niki Christoff for a zippy conversation about trending technology. From the C-Suite and Capitol Hill, to crypto and Gen Z TikTok, Niki breaks it all down. Guests include experts and enthusiasts, regulators and policymakers, CEOs and reporters. This show is for anyone who wants to get smarter about technology. New episodes come out on Thursdays.
You can watch video content on YouTube and follow Niki on Twitter @nikichristoff.
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