TechCrunch Mixtape artwork

TechCrunch Mixtape

58 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 24 ratings

Welcome to TechCrunch Mixtape the TechCrunch podcast that looks at how technology impacts culture. Listen to TechCrunch Senior Reporter Megan Rose Dickey and Editorial Director Henry Pickavet as they discuss diversity and inclusion, and the human power that fuels the tech industry.

Technology Society & Culture technology news tech news culture interviews race diversity gig workers labor inclusion
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Episodes

Behind the curtain of diversity theater

January 02, 2021 19:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MB

It’s fair to say that most people have heard about diversity reports. And it’s probably also fair to say that most of us have watched, sometimes with a metaphorical bucket of buttered popcorn, as companies crisis-comms their ways out of … crises. But most of us do not know what goes on behind the scenes. On this episode of Mixtape, we chat with ex-Facebook, Twitter and Reddit employee Mark Luckie, author of the upcoming book Valley Girls, which details issues of diversity and inclusion throu...

Artificial intelligence and disability

December 19, 2020 19:00 - 51 minutes - 47.3 MB

Mara Mills   Associate professor of Media, Culture and Communication at NYU Co-director of the NYU Center for Disability Studies Author of Testing Hearing: The Making of Modern Aurality Twitter Meredith Whittaker Co-founder of the AI Now Institute Minderoo Research Professor at New York University Founder of Google’s Open Research group Author of the report Disability, Bias and AI Twitter Sara Hendren Professor at Olin College of Engineering Author of What Can A Body Do: How We ...

Making technology accessible for everyone

December 05, 2020 20:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MB

This week, Megan moderated a panel at the first Sight Tech Global, a conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how advances in AI and related technologies will alter the landscape of assistive technology. The panel featured three heavy hitters in the accessibility space: Haben Girma, the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and who is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice; Lainey Feingold, a disability rights lawyer who was o...

DEI work needs a structural response to a systemic issue

November 19, 2020 22:00 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MB

This week we spoke to Y-Vonne Hutchinson, the CEO of ReadySet, a consulting firm that works with companies to create more inclusive and equitable work environments. We discussed what a Biden administration means for DEI practitioners, how companies are now focusing more on structural change to systemic issues of racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, and more.

Wellness in the time of the struggle

November 05, 2020 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MB

This week Marah Lidey, co-founder and co-CEO of Shine, joins us to discuss mental health, portfolio diversity and connecting with other founders trying to make it work.

Proposition 22 and the gig worker labor divide

October 22, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MB

References California Proposition 22, App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative (2020) - Ballotpedia Uber Director of Policy, Cities and Transportation Shin-pei Tsay on Prop 22 Gig Workers Collective

Unpacking the Capital One breach

August 01, 2019 23:09 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

This week we are joined by TechCrunch’s resident bearer-of-bad-news -- security reporter Zack Whittaker. He came on to discuss the Capital One breach that we all found out about earlier this week. Zack spent some time on his vacation writing about how this shouldn't be a surprise given nothing changed after 2017's Equifax breach. Remember that one? But it wasn’t all bad news. Tinder launched new protections for LGBTQ+ people traveling to countries that criminalize homosexuality. Zack also ...

Phenomenally tech with Meena Harris

June 19, 2019 16:21 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

Season 3 kicks off with Meena Harris, founder of the Phenomenal Woman campaign, and head of strategy and leadership at Uber.

Angelica Ross, co-star of FX’s ’Pose,' talks activism, transgender rights and spirituality

March 07, 2019 17:01 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

Angelica Ross, co-star the FX show ‘Pose,’ joined us in the studio this week. Ross, who in addition to being an actress is a transgender activist, CEO and founder, writer, speaker, podcast host and all-around great human being, discussed her company TransTech Social, access for transgender folks who want to gain a foothold in tech, and visibility. Oh and Amazon things because Amazon.

Angelica Ross, co-star of FX’s ’Pose,' talks activism, transgender rights and spirituality

March 07, 2019 17:01 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

Angelica Ross, co-star the FX show ‘Pose,’ joined us in the studio this week. Ross, who in addition to being an actress is a transgender activist, CEO and founder, writer, speaker, podcast host and all-around great human being, discussed her company TransTech Social, access for transgender folks who want to gain a foothold in tech, and visibility. Oh and Amazon things because Amazon.

Can tech help those experiencing homelessness?

February 22, 2019 00:51 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

This week we sit down with Neil Shah, CEO of Concrn, a compassionate care app that allows people to request help for homeless people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Instacart's apologetic week

February 08, 2019 01:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MB

It’s that time of the week again when Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet talk about the good and could-be-better tech companies. This week, we talked about Instacart getting caught shorting its shoppers out of dough they rightfully deserved. Of course the company apologized for its “misguided” approach. Which at least sounds better than apologizing for getting caught — and getting caught, the company did. And wouldn’t you know it, scooter drama persists in San Francisco. The city this wee...

Oracle's alleged $400M issue with underrepresented groups

February 01, 2019 00:16 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

Screen time for kids, corporations not paying people from underrepresented groups and IBM offers some hope for the future of facial recognition technology: These are the topics that Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet dive into on this week’s episode of Mixtape.  According to research by psychologists from the University of Calgary, spending too much time in front of screens can stung the development of toddlers. The study found that kids 2-5 years old who engage in more screen time receiv...

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and that meme life

January 24, 2019 16:00 - 41 minutes - 38.7 MB

This week Megan Rose Dickey and I welcome Tiana Kara, the head of partnerships and growth at #builtbygirls (which, like TechCrunch, is owned by Verizon Media Group). The organization connects girls and women between the ages of 15 and 22 with mentors of all stripes in the tech industry based on their interests. The idea here is that not all tech jobs include coding, and #builtbygirls wants all young girls who want in the industry to know that. We also take a look at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez...

CES and its sex tech fail

January 17, 2019 16:00 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MB

We’re coming to you with another episode of Mixtape, the TechCrunch podcast that takes a peek behind the headlines that go beyond tech.  This week, Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet get into a discussion about women’s sexuality, because the world’s biggest "consumer electronics show” revoked an innovation award from Lora DiCarlo, a company that created a sex toy for women. In its initial objection, the CTA cited a clause that entries they believed “in their sole discretion to be immoral,...

That Super Mario Party life and enough with digital home assistants already

October 24, 2018 22:11 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB

This time Megan and Henry talk about all of those hubs in your abodes — you know, your Google Homes, your Amazon Echo Shows, your Facebook Portals …. There really are a lot. Stripe is doing a little something different when it comes to reporting diversity: It’s looking within. AR might finally have a use that we can all get behind and Super Mario Party is apparently fun to play. Square details compensation and promotion practices Super Mario Party is Nintendo Switch's best game Spatial ra...

Wait, what's a 'culture fund'?

September 15, 2018 21:55 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MB

The housing struggle, ancestry and not 'hurting men's feelings'

August 25, 2018 19:47 - 41 minutes - 38.5 MB

This week, Megan and Henry talk about a startup called Bungalow that is trying to make the housing search a little easier. Also on tap this week was a conversation about 23andMe and its efforts to provide more specific regional data about the origins of people of color. And Sarah Cooper, comedian and author of “How to Succeed Without Hurting Men’s Feelings” joined us in the studio to talk about the book and her experience working in tech. She also performs a dramatic reading of a piece of h...

Yes, dogs, mac and cheese, and working out are tech-related

August 18, 2018 18:21 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

It's dogs, mac and cheese and working out this week! Megan and Henry talk about Bark and Co., the company that sends dog treats in boxes. It’s now opened a dog park in Nashville where dogs are the members and humans are the guests. A mac and cheese joint got some funding because why not? And there is a workout machine for your home in the market that Henry really wants. The company behind BarkBox is opening an ‘outdoor clubhouse’ for Nashville’s dogs Y Combinator invests in a build-your-ow...

Nintendo is making sure it’s still a thing

August 02, 2018 23:30 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mixtape. This week, Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet talk about mental health apps, Nintendo (did Megan buy a Switch or not?!) and a suit-making company that uses your musical tastes to find you looks to choose from. That’s right. It’s pretty cool and Henry went through the process. Watch and read about suit-making AI-style Nintendo blowing up with the Switch Megan on Twitter Henry on Twitter

Nintendo is making sure it’s still a thing

August 02, 2018 23:30 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mixtape. This week, Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet talk about mental health apps, Nintendo (did Megan buy a Switch or not?!) and a suit-making company that uses your musical tastes to find you looks to choose from. That’s right. It’s pretty cool and Henry went through the process. Watch and read about suit-making AI-style Nintendo blowing up with the Switch Megan on Twitter Henry on Twitter

What it's like riding in a self-driving car

July 24, 2018 15:30 - 39 minutes - 36.7 MB

Welcome to another episode of TC Mixtape, where Senior Reporter Megan Rose Dickey and Editorial Director Henry Pickavet talk about some tech news of the week and sometimes go on field trips. This week they took a ride in a self-driving car -- and survived. Henry was terrified; Megan was excited. Also this week, Blavity raised a big Series A and Shonda Rhimes announced her Netflix plans.

Finding purpose at San Quentin State Prison

July 17, 2018 17:05 - 31 minutes - 29 MB

Welcome to the first episode of TechCrunch Mixtape (formerly CTRL+T). In this episode, join Senior Reporter Megan Rose Dickey and Editorial Director Henry Pickavet at San Quentin State Prison for The Last Mile’s demo day and graduation. The Last Mile is a program that provides business and technology training to incarcerated individuals, preparing them for reentry into society. The Last Mile Butterscotch Clinton What it's like at San Quentin's coding school The Last Mile is launching it...

The issue with Apple's Memoji

June 27, 2018 18:30 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MB

Apple released the public beta of iOS 12 this week and Megan and Henry downloaded it so they could play with the new Memoji feature. Their feelings are mixed. Also this week Microsoft improved its facial recognition technology to better detect darker skin tones. Some improvement. And finally, they spoke to Karla Monterroso, CEO of Code2040, an organization dedicated to ensuring equal representation of black and Latinx people in tech. Want to go to Disrupt SF 2018? Yeah, you do. Visit the Di...

'Gaming disorder' is barely a real thing

June 20, 2018 11:30 - 34 minutes - 32 MB

Welcome back to CTRL+T. This week, Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet talk about the World Health Organization identifying 'gaming disorder' as a mental health issue. We disagree. Gamers gonna game. Also this week we were joined by Adina Tecklu, VC at Canaan Partners. She was here to talk about Canaan Beta, which is essentially a fund within the larger Canaan fund designed to seek out "category-defining and category-creating companies."

Uber's unrelenting desire to be everything

June 13, 2018 17:54 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MB

Between electric scooter permit applications and drunk passenger patents, Uber was doing too much this week.

That time we talked about Apple, Kanye West and slavery

June 06, 2018 15:13 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB

This week is Apple's big developer conference, creatively called Worldwide Developers Conference (or WWDC), and TechCrunch was there. Each year the company showcases the things developers will be able to do in upcoming versions of their various operating systems (iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS). While there were a bunch of features that didn't really elicit much excitement from either of us, there was one in particular that we are quite looking forward to: Memoji. We talk about it all and wha...

That time we talked about Apple, Kanye West and slavery

June 06, 2018 15:13 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MB

This week is Apple's big developer conference, creatively called Worldwide Developers Conference (or WWDC), and TechCrunch was there. Each year the company showcases the things developers will be able to do in upcoming versions of their various operating systems (iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS). While there were a bunch of features that didn't really elicit much excitement from either of us, there was one in particular that we are quite looking forward to: Memoji. We talk about it al...

About that new Tinder feature

May 26, 2018 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MB

Tinder released a new feature that helps people connect based on places both have visited, but is it as sketchy as people say it is? Amazon's Alexa recorded a couple's conversation and then sent it to someone else, which is undoubtedly sketchy. All that and more on CTRL+T.

About that new Tinder feature

May 26, 2018 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MB

Tinder released a new feature that helps people connect based on places both have visited, but is it as sketchy as people say it is? Amazon's Alexa recorded a couple's conversation and then sent it to someone else, which is undoubtedly sketchy. All that and more on CTRL+T.

Flying taxis are coming

May 15, 2018 21:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

Yes uberAIR is a thing and one day the company wants to make taxis fly you around your congested cities. But first, regular readers of TechCrunch might already know about the root canal Megan was told to get by a startup. Click play so you can hear the story first-hand. Till next week, y'all. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet

Flying taxis are coming

May 15, 2018 21:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

Yes uberAIR is a thing and one day the company wants to make taxis fly you around your congested cities. But first, regular readers of TechCrunch might already know about the root canal Megan was told to get by a startup. Click play so you can hear the story first-hand. Till next week, y'all. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet

Facebook's dating play

May 07, 2018 15:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MB

Megan and Henry are coming to you on a Monday this week because why not? On the show: Facebook's dating play, Hulu passes 20 million subscribers, Handmaid's Tale decompression and MoviePass competitor Sinemia launches $4.99 per month subscriptions.

When scooters attack

May 01, 2018 14:45 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MB

Henry's back this week and tells a harrowing tale about his appendix. Then he and Megan get into the fight to deliver your groceries, Amazon's desire to put packages in all kinds of places, and the overabundance of scooters that have taken over SF's streets. San Francisco's scooter saga You can now give Amazon the keys to your car Whole Foods grocery delivery expands BONUS LINK!! Black Panther mixtape Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet

When scooters attack

May 01, 2018 14:45 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MB

Henry's back this week and tells a harrowing tale about his appendix. Then he and Megan get into the fight to deliver your groceries, Amazon's desire to put packages in all kinds of places, and the overabundance of scooters that have taken over SF's streets. San Francisco's scooter saga You can now give Amazon the keys to your car Whole Foods grocery delivery expands BONUS LINK!! Black Panther mixtape Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet

Our homeless neighbors

April 17, 2018 15:41 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MB

On this week's episode, Megan Rose Dickey chats with Kevin Adler of Miracle Messages, a non-profit organization that aims to connect homeless people with their loved ones.

Here come the zebras

April 10, 2018 15:52 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MB

On this week’s episode, I chat with Aniyia Williams, the person behind Tinsel Wear, Black and Brown Founders and the Zebra Movement. We talk all-things tech, making it rain cash money in black and brown communities and white savior complex .

Here come the zebras

April 10, 2018 15:52 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MB

On this week’s episode, I chat with Aniyia Williams, the person behind Tinsel Wear, Black and Brown Founders and the Zebra Movement. We talk all-things tech, making it rain cash money in black and brown communities and white savior complex .

Bail reform is coming

April 03, 2018 15:03 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MB

Cash bail systems are unjust and disproportionately affect low-income people. On this week's episode of CTRL+ T, Megan Rose Dickey chats with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins of Promise, a startup that looks to provide an alternative to cash bail systems. Ellis-Lamkins discusses the issues with cash bail systems, what led her to start Promise and what it was like participating in Silicon Valley's Y Combinator accelerator.

My house, my car, my rules

March 27, 2018 15:20 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MB

On this week's episode of CTRL+T, Henry Pickavet and Megan Rose Dickey chat about Facebook's privacy drama involving Cambridge Analytica, an Airbnb experience gone wrong and a new camera for your car. Links: Airbnb hosts can kick you out after you've check in What it's like using the Owl car security camera Facebook-Cambridge Analytica

Your brain on ice and the alleged inaccessibility of Lyft

March 20, 2018 22:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB

There is a company out of startup accelerator Y Combinator that says it's "committed to the goal of archiving your mind." Okay. We also talk software developer ethics and the alleged inaccessibility of Lyft. Links: Here are some real things people said about brain preservation startup Nectome A startup is pitching a mind-uploading service that is “100 percent fatal” (MIT Technology Review) Chelsea Manning says software developers need a code of ethics Lyft faces discrimination lawsuit...

Moving to Tuesday

March 17, 2018 15:00 - 40 seconds - 670 KB

We are moving our release date to Tuesday. See you then!

Moving to Tuesday

March 17, 2018 15:00 - 40 seconds - 670 KB

We are moving our release date to Tuesday. See you then!

Data on a street corner

March 10, 2018 18:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MB

This week we talk MoviePass's tracking drama and the way the local world works - media-style. We're joined in the studio by Eric Eldon, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Hoodline (and former co-editor of TechCrunch), a local news site that covers hoods in San Francisco and Oakland "near you." As in down the street from where you are. He talks the local news media landscape and a new data wire service Hoodline just launched to make your hood even more your hood. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey...

Incubating tech in the shadow of the civil rights movement

March 03, 2018 16:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MB

When Birmingham led the charge in the civil rights movement in the sixties, the city inadvertently created big shoes for itself to later fill. Just how Birmingham was the birthplace of many civil rights actions in the sixties, the city wants to be the birthplace of true diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Megan found that out and more when she visited Birmingham and explored its tech scene a couple of weeks ago. On this week's episode of CTRL+T, Megan and Henry explore a bit of th...

A Black Panther Moment

February 24, 2018 14:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

You might have heard that a film called “Black Panther” came out last week and saw near-record crowds descend on theaters all over the world. The CTRL+T podcast team was among them. We headed to Oakland on an unseasonably cold-for-California evening to wait in line for about 90 minutes. While in that line, we talked to a few people to see how they felt about this moment in time. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet Producer: Christopher Gates Executive producer: Yashad Kulkar...

A Black Panther Moment

February 24, 2018 14:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MB

You might have heard that a film called “Black Panther” came out last week and saw near-record crowds descend on theaters all over the world. The CTRL+T podcast team was among them. We headed to Oakland on an unseasonably cold-for-California evening to wait in line for about 90 minutes. While in that line, we talked to a few people to see how they felt about this moment in time. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet Producer: Christopher Gates Executive producer: Yash...

Robot assistants and a marijuana incubator

February 17, 2018 16:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MB

We’ve had plenty of time to get used to our robot overlords and Boston Dynamics is helping us get there. This week we talk about the company’s addition of a door-opening arm to its SpotMini robot. It’s not spooky at all. We then switch gears and discuss Facebook’s Messenger for Kids. Is it good, bad or the company’s master plan to get every last human being with a smartphone on the platform. Your hosts: Megan Rose Dickey and Henry Pickavet Producer: Christopher Gates Executive producer: ...

The future is flying cars, rockets and diabetes-detecting Apple Watches

February 10, 2018 14:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MB

This week's episode is all about the future. Thanks to technology, the highest capacity rocket platform ever, the Falcon Heavy, blasted into space.
 Meanwhile, down here on Earth, Uber is working to make urban air travel a thing, and companies are developing products and conducting studies that can detect diabetes, just by wearing the Apple Watch. This is the world we live in.
 On this week's episode, we also chat with Uber Head of Policy of Autonomous Vehicles and Urban Aviation Justin Er...

Teeth, flamethrowers and DeRay Mckesson on the racial wealth gap and mass incarceration

February 03, 2018 14:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MB

On this week's episode of CTRL+T, it's all about flamethrowers (yes, the devices that throw flames), startups trying to get inside your mouth and education in the prison system. Later on, I chat with the one and only DeRay Mckesson, who is known for his social justice activism via #BlackLivesMatter protests in Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland. He's also the host of Crooked Media's Pod Save the People and co-founder of policy platform Campaign Zero. This year, McKesson and his tea...

Twitter Mentions

@pickavet 31 Episodes
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