Best Byte Federal Podcasts (2025)

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ICE uses insurance fraud database to search for deportation targets 7:09

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6h ago7:09

7:09

Marketplace's Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Joseph Cox, a reporter at the tech news site 404 Media, about his recent reporting on how ICE is uses ISO ClaimSearch, among other databases, to find deportation targets.By Marketplace

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Right to repair hits the battlefield 10:28

1d ago10:28

10:28

Know how some companies intentionally make it hard for customers to fix their own gadgets? In the armed forces, as military contractors consolidate and equipment becomes increasingly software-driven, it's become a problem. Now, some Pentagon leaders are talking about adding right to repair provisions into procurement contracts. Marketplace’s Nova S…

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Holding Space for Change: How Ketamine Therapy Unlocks the Body-Mind Dialogue with Christi Myers – Episode 388 1:00:08

1d ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Ketamine creates the space to see your truth, but its integration that transforms that truth into lasting change. In this episode, host Peter Fenger is joined by Christi Myers, Founder and CEO of Flow Integrative®, a pioneering Ketamine Infusion center focused on expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapy. With nearly 20 years of experience a…

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From 'rizz' to 'unalive': How social media algorithms are changing the way we talk 9:11

2d ago9:11

9:11

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Adam Aleksic, author of the new book “Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language." He’s a trained linguist and also an influencer who goes by the handle "Etymology Nerd" online. True to his name, he told us what he means when he uses the term “algospeak.”…

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Federal tax incentives could mean more tech research and innovation 6:54

3d ago6:54

6:54

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Rebecca Lester, a professor of accounting at Stanford, about a tax provision within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that could further tech R&D and innovation.By Marketplace

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Bytes: Week in Review — X CEO steps down, SCOTUS greenlights age verification law, and tariffs on copper 10:55

6d ago10:55

10:55

X CEO Linda Yaccarino leaves the social media giant on the heels of antisemitic posts from AI chatbot Grok. SCOTUS rejects a challenge to a Texas law for age verification online. President Trump this week said he’ll impose a 50% tariff on copper. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is joined by Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios, to discuss …

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The Weightless Cure: Reimagining Mental Health Through Float Therapy with Dr. Katelyn Lehman– Episode 387 42:04

7d ago42:04

42:04

Float therapy isn’t an escape—it’s a return: to your body, your breath, and your baseline. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon speaks with Dr. Katelyn Lehman, a pioneering psychologist and founder of Quantum Clinic, a Los Angeles-based wellness center at the forefront of heart-brain coherence and nervous system healing. Recognized by Goop, the LA Times,…

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Pay-per-crawl model would make AI firms pay for the content they scrape 8:14

7d ago8:14

8:14

For years, AI crawlers have scraped data and content from the internet for free. But last week, Cloudflare attempted to change that. With an update to its web services, the tech company keeps AI crawlers out by default. The hope? To create a new economic model that makes AI companies finally pay for the content they collect. In this episode, Market…

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Are we “flying blind” into peak hurricane season? 4:17

8d ago4:17

4:17

The National Weather Service lost some 600 positions early in the second Trump administration, through early retirements and layoffs. Now the agency says it’s working to fill some “mission-critical” roles. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has also proposed cutting the greater NOAA budget by more than 25% next year. A rising chorus of meteorologi…

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Beyond Naloxone: Rethinking Overdose Prevention Through Harm Reduction with Dr. Jorge Petit & Leah Harris – Episode 386 44:17

9d ago44:17

44:17

Overdose prevention starts before the crisis, with compassion, planning, and real-world tools that save lives upstream. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Jorge Petit and Leah Harris from Zero Overdose, a national nonprofit dedicated to preventing overdose deaths through education, empowerment, and harm reduction. Dr. Jorge Petit, St…

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Could AI be a peacekeeper of the future? 6:10

9d ago6:10

6:10

As technology has advanced, the ways countries fight wars has changed drastically. Now, AI companies are hoping technology can also play peacekeeper and prevent the next global conflict. Anadyr Horizon, one of the AI startups, developing what many are calling “peace tech,” is doing so through simulating future conflicts and the world leaders they m…

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One in five consumers are using AI daily 7:51

10d ago7:51

7:51

More than half of all Americans have used artificial intelligence tools recently, according to a study published by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures. And one in five people use it daily. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Amy Wu Martin, a partner at Menlo Ventures, to learn how they’re using it in their day-to-day lives.…

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Bytes: Week in Review - AI regulation ban dies, renewable energy credits hit and Amazon’s millionth robot 10:16

13d ago10:16

10:16

On this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” Marketplace’s Nova Safo and Paresh Dave, senior writer at WIRED, discuss Amazon releasing its 1 millionth robot at one of its warehouses. Plus, lawmakers contended with provisions dealing with artificial intelligence and renewable energy in that big tax and spending bill, recently passed by C…

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How AI "ghost students" are stealing financial aid 8:12

14d ago8:12

8:12

In today’s episode, Marketplace’s Nova Safo speaks with Sharon Lurye, a data reporter at the Associated Press, about her recent investigation into “ghost students” — scammers who use AI to pretend to be college students in order to steal financial aid and loan money.By Marketplace

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News on social media is now mainstream 8:44

15d ago8:44

8:44

What once was taboo has now gone mainstream. As television and print audiences have dwindled over recent years, social media is now the No. 1 place for Americans to get their news updates. Detailed in the report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, Americans across the political spectrum are using soci…

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The Heart of the Work: Reflecting on the Journey with Dr. Graham Taylor – Episode 385 53:13

16d ago53:13

53:13

The legacy of these 300+ episodes isn’t just insight, it’s connection, courage, and a trail of conversations that mattered. In this special episode, Producer Peter Fenger turns the spotlight toward our very own host of Behavioral Health Today, Dr. Graham Taylor. Over the past five years, Graham has guided listeners through more than 300 episodes, c…

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Some states shared private health information with Big Tech 5:44

16d ago5:44

5:44

An investigation from Tomas Apodaca, at CalMatters and The Markup, found several states were accidentally sharing private health information with tech companies. The tech companies receiving the information never even wanted it. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Apodaca to learn more about the accidental leak.…

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The case for the FTC to rein in Big Tech for online safety 8:07

17d ago8:07

8:07

Haley Hinkle, policy counsel at the advocacy group Fairplay, recently formulated a case brought to the FTC, saying there are powers afforded to the Commission to impose new children's safety regulations on internet companies. She specifically points to Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting …

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Bytes: Week in Review - AI's fair use case win, at-home camera surveillance tech, and iPhone's 'F1' ad annoys users 8:29

20d ago8:29

8:29

On this week’s Bytes: Week in Review: Apple irked customers with movie ads, the Mideast conflict reminded us of the lack of security in smart surveillance cameras, and a federal judge handed down a landmark ruling on AI’s use of copyrighted works, citing a legal doctrine known as fair use.By Marketplace

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Data centers in space 10:32

21d ago10:32

10:32

Demand for data centers continues to grow everywhere, but their environmental impacts are causing some to consider a different option: build them in space, where there's lots of room, solar power and a cold environment. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Evan Robinson-Johnson, business reporter at The Information, to learn more.…

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How commercial satellites are defining modern warfare 7:37

22d ago7:37

7:37

Over the last several days, you may have seen the latest examples of a growing phenomenon: satellite images of a conflict zone. This time, they were of Iranian nuclear sites, before and after American bombs struck. Images like these come from commercial satellite companies, a change from our past reliance on government-provided photographs. The shi…

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BHT Bytes – The Cost of the Climb: What Student Loans Are Really Costing Us – Episode 384 29:52

23d ago29:52

29:52

College was once promised as a path to security, but for millions, it became the gateway to lifelong debt. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Sharlee Dixon and Peter Fenger unpack the heavy toll of student loan debt, an issue that now affects nearly 1 in 5 American adults and fuels ongoing political debate. For decades, higher education has been h…

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Iranians are left without internet access amid Middle East conflict 6:49

23d ago6:49

6:49

Iran's government knocked out internet and mobile networks after Israel began bombing the country. That’s left the population with little to no access to critical information. One person who watched this played out is Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director at Holistic Resilience, an organization that helps Iranians circumvent government censorship. He …

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California seeks new guardrails on automated AI systems 7:51

24d ago7:51

7:51

In California, the state Senate has voted in favor of a so-called AI Bill of Rights, which would establish new guardrails around automated decision systems. To learn more about them, Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Kate Brennan, associate director of the think tank AI Now Institute.By Marketplace

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Bytes: Week in Review – Trump's mobile venture, online data brokers used to target MN victims, and an OpenAI-Microsoft breakup 12:22

27d ago12:22

12:22

OpenAI and Microsoft are reportedly caught up in protracted behind-the-scenes negotiations that are in danger of boiling over into public conflict. Prosecutors say the man accused of assassinating a Minnesota Democratic lawmaker used online data brokers to help target his victims. And, the Trump Organization unveiled a new venture this week: a mobi…

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Malawi looks to tech to solve teacher shortage 4:54

28d ago4:54

4:54

Despite having free primary schools, children in Malawi are lagging behind. According to UNESCO, almost 90% of them cant read a simple sentence at the age of 10, due in part to a shortage of teachers and basic resources. But the government has gone for a high-tech solution — digital tablets.By Marketplace

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Online coverage of anti-ICE protest split by political lenses 11:06

29d ago11:06

11:06

Protests in Southern California and around the country over raids targeting undocumented immigrants played out differently on social media depending on the person or the platform. They’re peaceful - look at the carnival atmosphere. They’re violent - Los Angeles is in flames. These competing narratives underline the hyper-siloed nature of online dis…

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Reclaiming Career Confidence: Clarity, Fit, & Fulfillment for the Neurodivergent Mind with Shell Mendelson – Episode 383 41:18

1M ago41:18

41:18

The right career isn’t just about what you can do—it’s about what truly fits. It’s about alignment, energy, and authenticity. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon welcomes career coach and entrepreneur Shell Mendelson, whose mission is to help neurodivergent individuals—especially those with ADHD—find work that sparks joy, plays to their strengths, and s…

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The various contracts Palantir has with the federal government 8:53

1M ago8:53

8:53

Data analytics company Palantir has many contracts with federal government, just as the Trump administration is reportedly trying to construct a centralized database combining information from various agencies. That's brought Palantir renewed scrutiny. Joseph Cox has been following all of this at the tech news site 404 Media.…

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Crypto crime gets physical 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

On today’s episode of Marketplace Tech, Nova Safo speaks with Ari Redbord, global head of policy with the blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, about the recent wave of cryptocurrency “wrench attacks” and why more bad actors are going after high-profile crypto investors with threats of physical violence.…

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Is Apple out of ideas? 12:14

1M ago12:14

12:14

Today on “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” we're looking at Apple's latest software and operating system updates. Also, there's a tentative labor deal between video game actors and studios. And we'll remember legendary Apple software engineer Bill Atkinson, who died at the age of 74. We begin with Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Confere…

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Can Finland take Europe’s startup crown? 4:46

1M ago4:46

4:46

Building work has started in the Finnish capital Helsinki on what’s expected to become the biggest startup campus in Europe. Finland’s government says it wants the small Nordic nation to offer the best startup ecosystem in Europe. The BBC’s Maddy Savage has this story.By Marketplace

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Brazil wants its consumers to control their digital data — by monetizing it 6:34

1M ago6:34

6:34

There's a trial run taking place over a type of digital wallet for data. Consumers are in control, and they can sell their data to the highest bidder. This trial run is taking place in Brazil, the first country to try something like this on a national scale. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Sao Paolo-based journalist Gabriel Daros. He's been cove…

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Autism Fitness: Where Strength Meets Support, and Movement Builds Meaning with Eric Chessen – Episode 382 43:24

1M ago43:24

43:24

This episode goes beyond fitness, it’s about cultivating flexibility, enhancing communication, and showing up fully in life when the world hasn’t always made room for you to succeed. Dr. Graham Taylor sits down with Eric Chessen, founder of Autism Fitness and a trailblazer in adaptive fitness programming for individuals on the autism spectrum. With…

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Companies are betting on deep sea mining for critical minerals 6:06

1M ago6:06

6:06

The International Energy Agency projects the global market value of critical minerals could reach almost $800 billion by 2040. That's because we must have them for the electrified future. And right now, China is a dominant supplier. The Trump administration wants to find other sources, and it's looking to U.S. and international waters to mine miner…

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Federal judge rules AI chatbots don't have free speech protections — for now 7:38

1M ago7:38

7:38

There’s a lawsuit right now that’s testing the question of whether AI chatbots are protected by the First Amendment. And before we get into it, a warning that our story today includes discussion of suicide. Marketplace’s Nova Safo spoke with Jane Bambauer, law professor at the University of Florida, who’s been following this case.…

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Bytes: Week in Review: A bet to make AI less human, and more 12:12

1M ago12:12

12:12

Yoshua Bengio, one of the so-called godfathers of AI, wants it to be less human. Plus, a federal judge temporarily blocked a law in Florida that would ban kids under 14 from getting social media accounts. But first, Meta announced an energy deal with one of the country's biggest operators of nuclear reactors. Marketplace’s Nova Safo is joined by Je…

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How a high-tech farm in Canada is winning in the trade war 5:03

1M ago5:03

5:03

We've been looking at how technology is changing agriculture. Last month, we visited Central California where there's new investment in everything from electric tractors and leaf sensors to upskilling farmworkers. Today, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams visits our neighbor to the north. Specifically, Canada's first fully-automated greenhouse. It's cost…

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A test to weed out AI-generated deepfake images 6:58

1M ago6:58

6:58

AI-generated deepfakes are everywhere on social media. Now, you can take a test developed by Northwestern University to see how well you spot them. Marketplace’s Nova Safo took the test, sifting through a bunch of real and fake images. He got five out of six right, which is the average in a study Northwestern conducted. Lead researcher Matt Groh al…

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BHT Bytes – Cutting Care: How Federal Cuts Threaten Mental Health Across America – Episode 381 24:14

1M ago24:14

24:14

Federal funding cuts aren’t just trimming budgets, they’re dismantling the lifelines millions depend on. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon unpack the sweeping rollback of public health funding led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration. With a proposed $12 billion in cuts, i…

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The startups bringing brain-computer interfaces to market 11:17

1M ago11:17

11:17

On this episode of “Marketplace Tech,” host Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Christopher Mims, a tech journalist at The Wall Street Journal, about the recent evolution of brain computer interfaces — technology that has enabled people with paralysis to move prosthetic limbs or type out communication using computer implants in their brains — and the …

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Police use new AI tool that can identify someone without facial features 10:18

2M ago10:18

10:18

Facial recognition systems use artificial intelligence to analyze patterns in faces, and they've come under increasing scrutiny, particularly in policing. There have been multiple instances of false positives leading to the arrest and detainment of innocent people. There's no federal regulation of this technology, but at least a dozen states have l…

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Bytes: Week in Review — Texas’ age verification law, a potential moratorium on local AI laws, and Meta splits its AI team 11:33

2M ago11:33

11:33

There's a provision tucked into the Big Beautiful Bill, among the tax cuts and Medicaid cuts, that would bar states from passing laws to regulate artificial intelligence for a decade. Plus, Meta is reshuffling its AI team again in an apparent attempt to catch up to the competition. But first, this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law requi…

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NYC's child welfare agency uses AI to scrutinize marginalized families, recent investigation finds 10:20

2M ago10:20

10:20

The New York City Administration for Children's Services, or ACS, has been using predictive artificial intelligence to flag some families for greater scrutiny, according to a recent investigation by The Markup. Colin Lecher reported the story and tells Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino, like all AI systems, it can encode historical biases.…

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Controversial Reddit AI study raises wider ethical concerns 10:43

2M ago10:43

10:43

In late April, details came to light about a covert experiment conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich on unsuspecting Reddit users on the debate forum known as r/changemyview. They used AI chatbots posing as real humans on the forum to test their powers of persuasion and invented backstories like a rape survivor or a Black man oppos…

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Brushstrokes of Resilience: How Free Arts Heals Through Creativity & Connection with Matt Sandoval – Episode 380 40:38

2M ago40:38

40:38

Art is the doorway, mentorship is the key, and together, they unlock resilience. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon is joined by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona, an organization transforming trauma into resilience through the healing power of art and mentoring relationships. With more than 15 years of experience in nonpro…

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Big Tech pivots from the carrot to the stick 11:31

2M ago11:31

11:31

Big Tech firms like Microsoft, Meta and Google are using stricter performance reviews to bring up productivity and weed out low performing workers. It’s a noticeable pivot away from the perks that defined Silicon Valley work culture a decade ago. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Alistair Barr, author of the Business Insider Tech Memo …

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Are digital banking outages on the rise? 6:03

2M ago6:03

6:03

Digital banking is often seen as a smoother, less costly way to deliver financial services. But where there’s tech, there are sometimes outages. Bank customers in the U.K. and other countries have seen an increasing number of banking interruptions, often with costly impacts.By Marketplace

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Bytes: Week in Review – AI dominates Google I/O and more 10:38

2M ago10:38

10:38

On this week’s episode of Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week In Review, President Donald Trump signed the "Take It Down" Act, which requires internet publishers to take down intimate images like revenge porn or deepfakes within 48 hours of a complaint. Google unveiled a suite of new AI products, upgrades and projects at its annual I/O developers conferen…

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Farm workers head back to school to upskill in agtech 4:45

2M ago4:45

4:45

This week, we hit the road to check out California’s Central Valley, where the future of agricultural innovation is taking shape. We visited a farm that’s piloting next-gen tools and a university research center that’s helping develop that tech. Today, we’re at an AgTEC Workforce graduation, a community college program in this region that helps ups…