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Originally released in April 2020

We open with JFK’s 1963 case for smart federal spending and use it to frame a wide-ranging talk on coping, creativity, and community. We riff on insomnia, media literacy, nostalgia, DIY content, and the joy of small kindness as an antidote to stress.

• JFK’s economic argument on spending, jobs, and growth
• coping with news fatigue and misinformation
• finding joy in music, magic, and DIY creativity
• sleep struggles, melatonin, and routines that help
• nostalgia for Globetrotters, Evel Knievel, and Zappa
• documentaries, archaeology, and the habit of discovery
• building a Roku channel and sustainable community
• gratitude for new patrons and listener participation

Smile more. It’s contagious too!
Let’s hear how you’re coping, how you’re helping, what you want to hear more of from us, essentially, how we can help.

Drop your thoughts in three minutes or less at 541-314-4271

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Originally released December 2019

Two truths power this episode: creativity can be a lifeline, and strong encryption protects everyone. We kick off with author and podcaster Peter Serafine, who breaks down the real work behind a first book—from early morning writing sprints to paying for editing and learning the hard math of self‑publishing. That honest look at process and patience sets the stage for why a mic can be therapy, not theater: a place to ask better questions and invite smarter answers.

Then we sit down with Josh Brunty, a tenured professor of digital forensics at Marshall University’s highly regarded Forensic Science Graduate Program, to dig into the encryption backdoor debate. He frames the issue simply: the same cryptography that frustrates single investigations secures banking, journalism, dissidents abroad, and everyday privacy at home. Backdoors don’t stay with “the good guys.” They weaken the system for everyone. We explore narrow warrants that target exactly what’s needed, not the entire device; why overbroad searches erode trust; and how today’s global tech ecosystem turns U.S. policy choices into worldwide consequences.

We also get practical about the lab: triage and AI that help analysts find relevant frames in hours of video; the stubborn complexity of codecs and rendering; the value of disciplined documentation and consent‑based collection; and why “more data” isn’t the same as “better evidence.” Expect frank stories, a dash of humor, and clear takeaways any curious listener can use to think more critically about digital rights, public safety, and the future of forensic work.

If the tradeoffs around privacy, security, and justice matter to you, hit play. Then tell us where you land: call 541‑314‑4271

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Originally release in November 2019.

A single recliner ad jumped from a late‑night browse to a Facebook feed in minutes—and that one moment cracked open a bigger story about how our choices are tracked, merged, and sold. We follow that thread from living‑room shopping to the mechanics of cross‑device identity, data brokers, and real‑time ad auctions. No scare tactics, just clear language and firsthand moments that show why “they must be listening” feels true even when algorithms are doing most of the work.

We rewind to the early days of RSS, clunky banner ads, and the fight to bring Wi‑Fi to public spaces to explain how we landed here. The past reveals a pattern: tech outpaces institutions, and leaders often don’t speak the language needed to set guardrails. That gap fuels modern privacy risks and shapes public debates on encryption, law enforcement access, and the role private companies play in gathering more behavioral data than any government office ever could. You’ll hear how gaming sessions can silently drive ad shifts, why Cambridge Analytica still matters, and how probability—not microphones—can make platforms feel psychic.

We keep it practical and human. You’ll get doable steps to reduce tracking—reset IDs, limit ACR on TVs, separate browsers for shopping, rein in app permissions—without turning your life upside down. And we share a moment of choosing family over platforms, because attention is the scarcest resource we have. If you’ve ever wondered why the internet seems to know what you want before you do, this conversation connects the dots and hands you the tools to push back.

Enjoyed the show? Follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more privacy‑curious listeners find us. Got a story about an ad that followed you a little too closely? Tell us—we might feature it next time.

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