Techtonic with Mark Hurst | WFMU

Jeremiah Moss, author, "Vanishing New York" from Aug 26, 2019

Jeremiah Moss, author of the book "Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul" - and how smartphones contribute to the problem. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Jeremiah Moss" - "Your comments" Chris Stamey - "Manhattan Melody (That's My New York)" - New Songs for the 20th Century https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87938

Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann on their new book "Super Thinking" (and Duck Duck Go) from Aug 19, 2019

Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann, co-authors and spouses, talk about "Super Thinking," their new book on mental models. Plus: Gabriel talks about his company Duck Duck Go. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann" - "Your comments" Duotronic Synterror - "190 Stunden" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87784

Amy Webb, author of "The Big Nine," talks about AI and our future from Aug 12, 2019

Amy Webb discusses her book "The Big Nine" and how AI will help determine the future of the world. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Amy Webb" Shooby Taylor - "The Theme" - Shooby Taylor, The Human Horn https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87517

The tech-tips episode from Aug 5, 2019

The tips show: Mark Hurst gives his picks for the best & worst tech available today. Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's tech tips" Fine Young Cannibals & GE - "She Drives Me Crazy (Percusapella) GE remix" - No album https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87500

Juliette Kayyem on terrorism; Neuralink's mind-reading device; and Libra from Jul 29, 2019

Juliette Kayyem on terrorism & social media; Facebook's Libra; and Elon Musk and his Neuralink mind-control device. Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Juliette Kayyam" - "Sen. Kennedy vs. Facebook's David Marcus" - "Elon Musk interview from Nov 2018" - "Elon Musk at Neuralink launch, July 16, 2019" The Pink Tiles - "Internet" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87328

Showdown between Big Tech & democracy - who will win? from Jul 22, 2019

A showdown between Big Tech and democracy: who will win? Mark Hurst plays highlights of Big Tech executives getting grilled in Washington last week. Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "David Cicilline vs. Amazon" - "David Cicilline vs. Google" - "Andy Parker vs. YouTube/Google" - "Sen. Hirono vs. YouTube/Google" - "Dr. Robert Epstein vs. Google" - "Sen. Josh Hawley vs. Google" - "Matt Stoller vs. Facebook's Libra" Andy Rehfeldt - "Can't Touc...

Matt Stroud, author, "Thin Blue Lie" from Jul 15, 2019

Matt Stroud, author of "Thin Blue Lie," tells the story of the company that makes Tasers, leading to what he calls "the failure of high-tech policing." Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Matt Stroud" - "Your comments" John Mellencamp - "Authority Song" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/87071

Dr. Chris Gilliard on surveillance and its effects on marginalized communities from Jul 8, 2019

Dr. Chris Gilliard discusses facial recognition and its effects on marginalized communities. Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Chris Gilliard" - "Your calls & comments 201-536-9368" Rockwell - "Somebody's Watching Me" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/86933

Archive show: Shoshana Zuboff, author, "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" from Jul 1, 2019

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Shoshana Zuboff, Part 1" - "Interview with Shoshana Zuboff, Part 2" Red Rockers - "China" - Good as Gold https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/86779

Scott Urban, "privacy eyewear" designer from Jun 24, 2019

Chicago-based artist Scott Urban used to spend his time handcrafting custom-made eyeglass frames. Then a few years ago, he started noticing the spread of surveillance cameras throughout his neighborhood. So he invented what he calls "privacy eyewear": anti-surveillance glasses that defeat facial recognition. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Scott Urban" - "Your comments and calls at 201-209-9368" Corey Hart - "Sunglasses at Night" https://www.wfmu.org/p...

Damon Krukowski, podcaster and author, "Ways of Hearing" from Jun 17, 2019

In his podcast and book "Ways of Hearing," Damon Krukowski explores "the nature of listening in our digital world." Krukowski, formerly the drummer for Galaxie 500, talks with Mark about how the switch from analog to digital has changed the way we listen to music, to radio, and to each other. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Damon Krukowski" - "Your comments" Dan Bodah - "Live at RRRecords" - Massachusetts https://www.wfmu.org/p...

Jenny Odell, author, "How to Do Nothing" from Jun 10, 2019

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Interview with Jenny Odell" - "Mark's comments" Billy Preston - "Nothing From Nothing" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/86382

Joseph Menn, author, "Cult of the Dead Cow" from Jun 3, 2019

Joseph Menn talks about his new book "Cult of the Dead Cow," which tells the story of a group of hackers, founded in Texas in 1984, that's still active today in resisting oppressive surveillance and control from Big Tech. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Joseph Menn" - "Your comments" Pink Tiles - "Internet" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/86237

Justin E. H. Smith, author, "Irrationality: A History of the Dark Side of Reason" from May 27, 2019

Justin E. H. Smith, author, "Irrationality: A History of the Dark Side of Reason." Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Justin E. H. Smith" - "Your comments" Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers - "Tomorrow People" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/86103

Daniel J. Clark, director of "Behind the Curve," on Flat Earthers from May 20, 2019

Daniel J. Clark, director of "Behind the Curve," on making a movie about Flat Earthers (without making fun of them) - a small but devoted community, brought together by YouTube conspiracy videos. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Daniel J. Clark" - "Your comments" Don Muro - "Squash" - It's Time https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/85975

Shoshana Zuboff, author, "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" from May 13, 2019

Shoshana Zuboff's new book "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" describes why Google, Facebook, and other Big Tech companies are so obsessed with spying on every moment of your life. Surveillance is only part of the agenda: what they're really building is a system of predicting and controlling your behavior. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Shoshana Zuboff, Part 1" - "Interview with Shoshana Zuboff, Part 2" Red Rockers - "China"...

Roger McNamee, author, "Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe" from May 6, 2019

Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee was an early advisor to Mark Zuckerberg in the early days of Facebook. McNamee's new book "Zucked" tells the story of his disillusionment, then horror, as Facebook created a "catastrophe" for users, and democracies, around the world. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Roger McNamee, Part 1" - "Interview with Roger McNamee, Part 2" Moonalice - "Live A Little (That's Right)" - No album https://w...

Emerging voices diagnosing the risks of tech today from Apr 29, 2019

Mark plays clips of people who are raising the alarm on tech: Katie Porter, John Borthwick, Tristan Harris, and Carole Cadwalladr. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/85583

Paul Mozur, New York Times journalist, on surveillance in China from Apr 22, 2019

Paul Mozur, New York Times journalist, talks about what's happening in China: surveillance, control, and the fate of Uighurs in the Xinjiang region. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Paul Mozur" Abdurehim Heyit - "Karşılaşınca" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/85392

Clive Thompson, author, "Coders" from Apr 15, 2019

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Clive Thompson" - "Your calls & comments 201-536-9368" The Delorean Sisters - "One Thing Leads to Another" - The Delorean Sisters https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/85306

Sam Schwartz, aka "Gridlock Sam," on autonomous vehicles and "No One at the Wheel" from Apr 1, 2019

Sam Schwartz, aka Gridlock Sam, on autonomous vehicles and his book "No One at the Wheel." Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Sam Schwartz" Gudrun Gut - "Baby I Can Drive My Car" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84959

Kevin Dugan, New York Post reporter, on Earnin app from Mar 25, 2019

Kevin Dugan discusses his New York Post story on "Earnin," a startup with over $100 million in Silicon Valley venture capital, which allows users to get an advance payment on their paycheck. But the startup claims that they're not engaging in payday loans - which happen to be highly regulated. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Kevin Dugan" - "Your calls and comments" Baltimora - "Tarzan Boy" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/8...

Nis Frome on losing weight in the digital age from Mar 18, 2019

Nis Frome talks about getting fit, and losing weight, with digital technology... which he says is addictive. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Nis Frome" - "Your calls and comments" Eduard Khil - "Trololo song" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84789

"Staysh" Ken Freedman cohosts for marathon 2019 from Mar 11, 2019

Station Manager Ken Freedman cohosts with Mark the second of two Techtonic 2019 marathon shows. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack WFMU.org - "Pledge! Pledge! Pledge!" - 800-989-9368 or pledge online at wfmu.org Andy Rehfeldt - "Can't Touch This / Tiny Dancer (Andy Rehfeldt mashup)" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84658

A message about WFMU's fundraising marathon 2019 from Mar 5, 2019

Pseu Braun cohosts for marathon 2019 from Mar 4, 2019

Pseu Braun (from Pseu's Thing With A Hook) cohosts with Mark the first of two Techtonic 2019 marathon shows. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark and Pseu talk tech" WFMU.org - "Pledge! Pledge! Pledge!" [800-989-9368] WFMU.org - "Pledge! Pledge! Pledge!" [800-989-9368] Crazy Gang - "Telephone Computer" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84534

Tim Harford, author and economist, on kicking his smartphone addiction (plus, a cameo by Catherine Price!) from Feb 25, 2019

Tim Harford, economist and author, describes how he kicked his smartphone addiction. Also, a quick chat with Catherine Price, author of "How to Break Up With Your Phone." Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - "Mark's intro" - "Call with Catherine Price" - "Interview with Tim Harford" - "Your calls and comments" Anders Enger Jensen - "Rainbow Dreams (Instrumental)" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84406

Maxim Pozdorovkin, director, "The Truth About Killer Robots" from Feb 18, 2019

Maxim Pozdorovkin, director of the documentary "The Truth About Killer Robots," talks about robots that have been involved in human fatalities. Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Maxim Pozdorovkin" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" Sheldon Allman - "Univac and the Humanoid" - Folks Songs for the 21st Century https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84265

Matt Novak, editor of Paleofuture, on past visions of the future from Feb 11, 2019

Matt Novak, editor of Paleofuture, talks about past visions of the future. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Matt Novak" - "Your calls 201-536-9368 (201-KEN-WFMU)" ElectroSound - "Back To The 80's" - No album https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84133

Prof. Susan Crawford, author, "Fiber" from Feb 4, 2019

Harvard Law School professor Susan Crawford, author of the new book "Fiber," speaks with Mark Hurst about why Internet access is so awful in the US, and how places like Norway, South Korea, and Singapore enjoy low-cost, super-high-speed Internet access via fiber optic cables. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Susan Crawford" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/84002

Douglas Rushkoff, author, "Team Human" from Jan 28, 2019

Douglas Rushkoff, author of "Team Human," a manifesto arguing for genuine human connection in a society full of isolating, addictive technology. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Douglas Rushkoff" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" Shooby Taylor - "The Theme" - Shooby Taylor, the Human Horn - Side 1 https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83873

Prof. Safiya Noble, author, "Algorithms of Oppression" from Jan 21, 2019

Professor Safiya Noble joins Mark to talk about her book "Algorithms of Oppression," which explains how search engines like Google reinforce and amplify the racism in American society. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Safiya Noble" - "Your comments" The O'Jays - "Love Train" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83738

David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven & Cracker) on music in the digital age from Jan 14, 2019

David Lowery on how tech is changing the music business, causing musicians to make less and less money, and how things might improve in the future. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with David Lowery" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" - "Uncanny Valley" Camper Van Beethoven - "Take The Skinheads Bowling" - Telephone Free Landslide Victory https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83614

Station Manager Ken Freedman on tech in 2019 from Jan 7, 2019

Mark and Station Manager Ken Freedman discusses the year ahead in tech. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Ken Freedman" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" Cult Fantastic - "Screens" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83478

Matt Haughey on getting scammed, and the Internet in 2018 from Dec 31, 2018

Matt Haughey, founder of Metafilter, explains how he got scammed. Also: Mark & Matt review the Internet in 2018. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Matt Haughey" - "Your comments" The Raffeys - "Big Brother" - Eep Snörpsh Now https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83345

Special holiday 2018 episode from Dec 24, 2018

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" Dee Yan-Key - "Jazzy Bells" - My Christmas Music Paul Slocum - "Up On the Housetop" - The 8bits of Christmas an0va - "The First Noel / O Come All Ye Faithful" - XMAS Compilation 2010 Mystery Mammal - "The First Noel" - Xmas in Space fluidvolt - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - XMAS Compilation 2010 Music behind DJ: Dee Yan-Key - "Jazzy Bells" - My Christmas Music Xerox - "Take It From Here" Victor Herbert Orchest...

Dava Whisenant, director, "Bathtubs Over Broadway" from Dec 17, 2018

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Don't Let A Be-Back Get Away" - 1959 Oldsmobile show “Good News About Olds” - "Interview with Dava Whisenant" - "Your calls and comments 201-536-9368" - "He's A Penney Man" - 1966 JC Penney show “Spirit of 66” - "My Bathroom" - 1969 American-Standard show “The Bathrooms Are Coming” https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/83051

Rex Sorgatz, author, "The Encyclopedia of Misinformation" from Dec 10, 2018

Tomas Dvorak - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Rex Sorgatz" The Raffeys - "Big Brother" - Eep Snörpsh Now https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82932

Letting go of the iPhone: Mark's friend Brian tells his story from Dec 3, 2018

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Brian" - "Your comments" The Raffeys - "Big Brother" - Eep Snörpsh Now https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82797

Jonathan Tepper, author, "The Myth of Capitalism" from Nov 26, 2018

Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Jonathan Tepper" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" The Pink Tiles - "Internet" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82666

Frank Pasquale, author of "The Black Box Society," on secret algorithms from Nov 19, 2018

Algorithms are rating you in ways you have no knowledge of, or control over. Big Tech and Wall Street are joining forces for just this reason. On this Techtonic, Mark interviews Frank Pasquale, law professor at University of Maryland, about his book "The Black Box Society: The Secret Algorithms That Control Money and Information." Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Frank Pasquale" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" Color Kin...

M.T. Anderson predicted the future in his novel "Feed" from Nov 12, 2018

M.T. Anderson novel "Feed" describes a dystopian future where Americans walk around constantly distracted by digital advertising and social-media messages. Sound familiar? Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with M.T. Anderson" Mudboy - "Swamp Things" - Hungry Ghosts! These Songs Are Doors (Volume: V) - "Uncanny Valley" - "Your comments" Happy Prescriptions - "Feed" - Lights EP https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82368

Ava Kofman, from The Intercept, on LinkNYC kiosks from Nov 5, 2018

Mark interviews Ava Kofman, journalist at The Intercept, on LinkNYC kiosks. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Ava Kofman from The Intercept" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" The Pink Tiles - "Internet" - #1 Fan (LP) https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82248

WFMU's Jesse Jarnow on his book "Heads" and the early Internet's psychedelic history from Oct 29, 2018

Mark interviews Jesse Jarnow, author of "Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America" and host of WFMU's The Frow Show. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Jesse Jarnow, author of "Heads" and host of WFMU's The Frow Show" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" The Grateful Dead - "Touch of Grey" - In the Dark https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/82032

Yasha Levine, author, "Surveillance Valley" from Oct 22, 2018

On surveillance: Mark interviews Yasha Levine, author of "Surveillance Valley" and a Baffler piece on the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation). Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Yasha Levine" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/81998

Station Manager Ken Freedman on algorithms - and a new Scam Roundup from Oct 15, 2018

Station Manager Ken Freedman talks with Mark about new tech scams. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Conversation with Station Manager Ken" - "Scam Roundup from Station Manager Ken" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/81879

AI-inspired music with Jamie Brew, Botnik cofounder from Oct 8, 2018

Jamie Brew, cofounder of Botnik, talks about AI-inspired pop songs. Then we listen to a few. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Jamie Brew, Botnik" Botnik - "I Have to Get My Car" Botnik - "You Can't Take My Door" Botnik - "Bored With This Desire To Get Ripped" Botnik - "Soviet Nights" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" Webhamster Henry - "I Ain't the Dust" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/81765

Douglas Durst and the National Debt Clock from Oct 1, 2018

One of the most striking data visualizations in the world sits half a block from Times Square: the National Debt Clock, which displays the current U.S. national debt, and your family's share of it. In this episode, Mark Hurst interviews Douglas Durst, who manages the National Debt Clock - using technology to raise awareness about a pressing issue. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Interview with Douglas Durst about the National Debt Clock" - "Recent tech news" -...

M.A. Taylor, director, "The Creepy Line" - and Dr. Robert Epstein from Sep 24, 2018

M.A. Taylor, director of the new documentary "Creepy Line," and Dr. Robert Epstein (featured in the film) talk about manipulations worldwide that Google and Facebook have the ability to carry out. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with M.A. Taylor and Dr. Robert Epstein" - "Uncanny Valley" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" Youngsta - "Wes Kaap (2-minute shower version)" [from South Africa's Two Minute Shower Songs] https://www...

What happened when Jessamyn West sued Equifax from Sep 17, 2018

Jessamyn West sued Equifax - and won. A hopeful case study in taking action against Big Tech. Tomaš Dvořák - "Game Boy Tune" - Machinarium Soundtrack - "Mark's intro" - "Interview with Jessamyn West" - "Uncanny Valley" - "Your calls and comments 201-209-9368" Cult Fantastic - "Screens" https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/81392