Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

This week, Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast heads to Web Summit 2025 — where over 70,000 innovators gather to define what’s next in tech. Forget the headlines about private jets and billion-dollar startups. We’re looking for the hidden heroes of innovation — founders from the world’s remotest corners bringing tech for good ideas to life. From breakthroughs in AI and quantum computing to grassroots movements using technology for social impact, discover the real stories powering the future. 🎙️ Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast New episodes every Tuesday at 21:00 GMT, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After last week’s AI takeover, Somewhere on Earth returns to real voices and real data. This week, we dive into a groundbreaking new study analysing more than 10 million social media posts, confirming what many suspected — fake news really does spread faster than the truth. Joining Ania is Professor Mohsen Mosleh from the Oxford Internet Institute, who unpacks how political bias, algorithmic design, and social sharing habits shape what we believe online — and what, if anything, we can do about it. 🌐 VPNs, Verification & the New Internet Divide New age-verification laws across Europe are reshaping access to adult content and sparking a boom in VPN usage. Are these online safety acts truly protecting minors, or just driving users underground? Sam Woodhams, VPN Managing Editor at TechRadar, joins us to reveal surprising data behind the sudden 77% drop in site traffic - and why governments might be eyeing your encrypted browsing next. 💬 Listener reactions are in — and the verdict on last week’s AI hosts might surprise you. 📩 Send your thoughts to [email protected] or find us on social media @SOEPTECH. 🎧 Subscribe to Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen — and unlock Podcast Extra for exclusive interviews and deeper dives each week. Supported by Roost, Sazience, and part of the Evergreen Podcast Network.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is social media designed to reward misinformation? The answer might not be what you think. New research analyzing over 10 million posts reveals a startling paradox that holds true across every major platform, from X and BlueSky to LinkedIn: lower-quality news consistently attracts more engagement than higher-quality content. And the most surprising part? It’s not just the algorithms—it’s us. This week, we dive into the digital realities fracturing our online world. We explore why user preferences, not just code, are driving us into echo chambers and enabling the spread of misinformation. The implications for our political discourse and society are enormous. Don't just scroll - understand the forces shaping your feed. Listen to get the insights you need. Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast. New episodes every Tuesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast, we’re letting AI take the lead. Using Google Notebook LM, we’ve built a full episode from some of our favourite past shows - letting algorithms choose what to play and how to tell the story. The result is a bold experiment in AI-generated podcasting, exploring how technology is reshaping work, food, and education around the world. We dive into the fight for gig workers’ rights with Gigu, a Brazilian startup that took on Uber to promote fair pay and transparency, and Vos Futura, a platform redefining journalism with positive, solution-driven stories. We also head to Uzbekistan, where AgriTech innovator Grows is using AI tools to empower millions of smallholder farmers and build a more sustainable future. Finally, we explore how artificial intelligence is transforming education, from remote learning and language inclusion to mental health and online safety. Can machines tell meaningful human stories - and should they? The programme is presented by AI generated hosts.   Production Manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/ Follow us on the socials: Join our Facebook group Instagram BlueSky   If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify   Contact us by email: [email protected] Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484   Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - we’re handing the mic to AI. For the first time ever, we’ve created a full episode using Google Notebook LM - built from some of our favourite past shows. The algorithms are choosing what to play… and even what to say. Will it work? Or will the machines miss the mark? Find out in this special AI-generated edition - dropping Tuesday, October 28th, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices