Technocracy for Dummies ZenCast (https://zencast.fm) Technocracy For Dummies brings together experts across the fields of technology, politics, media, and culture in clarifying conversations for the rest of us. Unanimously elected Gen Z representative Sam Simon hosts Technocracy for Dummies, where she can be dum so you don’t have to. Many Americans and global citizens know the democratic American dream is built on disempowerment. Technology codifies and protects the existing power structures, yet has the potential to change them. With guests helping to demystify the technological frontier, Technocracy for Dummies connects with visionaries about what works and what doesn’t, so that we have greater agency over our futures. Sam Simon is highly opinionated, partially educated, and has talked from a very young age. Critical reviewers say “people should pay to hear [her] talk” (Sam’s therapist, 2021). Because she believes in educational equity, Technocracy for Dummies is a free podcast, despite its availability on platforms which disseminate at the price of freedom and human lives. There are many things she does not know but looks forward to kind of understanding. TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. © 2025 en Sat, 16 May 2026 13:01:48 +0000 https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org https://podcdn.zencast.fm/download/Podcast%2Fartworks%2F15989%2Flarge%2F90e1956c442d4a555ea5fcac8df4bee61db6718d419f8b4189b076a4b268d12b%2Fc795529e2f45351e.jpg Technocracy for Dummies https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org Radio Free Rhinecliff Radio Free Rhinecliff Technocracy for Dummies Technocracy For Dummies brings together experts across the fields of technology, politics, media, and culture in clarifying conversations for the rest of us. Unanimously elected Gen Z representative Sam Simon hosts Technocracy for Dummies, where she can be dum so you don’t have to. Many Americans and global citizens know the democratic American dream is built on disempowerment. Technology codifies and protects the existing power structures, yet has the potential to change them. With guests helping to demystify the technological frontier, Technocracy for Dummies connects with visionaries about what works and what doesn’t, so that we have greater agency over our futures. Sam Simon is highly opinionated, partially educated, and has talked from a very young age. Critical reviewers say “people should pay to hear [her] talk” (Sam’s therapist, 2021). Because she believes in educational equity, Technocracy for Dummies is a free podcast, despite its availability on platforms which disseminate at the price of freedom and human lives. There are many things she does not know but looks forward to kind of understanding. TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. Technocracy For Dummies brings together experts across the fields of technology, politics, media, and culture in clarifying conversations for the rest of us. Unanimously elected Gen Z representative Sam Simon hosts Technocracy for Dummies, where she can be dum so you don’t have to. Many Americans and global citizens know the democratic American dream is built on disempowerment. Technology codifies and protects the existing power structures, yet has the potential to change them. With guests helping to demystify the technological frontier, Technocracy for Dummies connects with visionaries about what works and what doesn’t, so that we have greater agency over our futures. Sam Simon is highly opinionated, partially educated, and has talked from a very young age. Critical reviewers say “people should pay to hear [her] talk” (Sam’s therapist, 2021). Because she believes in educational equity, Technocracy for Dummies is a free podcast, despite its availability on platforms which disseminate at the price of freedom and human lives. There are many things she does not know but looks forward to kind of understanding. TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff. episodic Technocracy,Technology,Culture,Politics,AI Radio Free Rhinecliff matt@radiofreerhinecliff.org No false No yes full Critical Scrolling with Renée DiResta Critical Scrolling with Renée DiResta Sam talks with researcher Renée DiResta about how online content works to shape our worldviews. No No acaa1888-7bd7-434f-9137-82ecd29a886a Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:51:00 +0000 Radio Free Rhinecliff https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org/episodes/critical-scrolling-with-renee-diresta How do we identify trustworthy information? What does the modern-day propaganda machine look like? In this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam talks with Renée DiResta, a researcher and professor at Georgetown University, about the information sphere. We cover topics like identifying trustworthy images and videos, mob movement online, and how liberal institutions have failed in gaining the trust of the American people. We also think about ways to engage more thoughtfully with the content that affects us. Slowly but surely, we're going to turn Technocracy into a tool for Smartypants.

More on Ampliganda

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> How do we identify trustworthy information? What does the modern-day propaganda machine look like? In this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam talks with Renée DiResta, a researcher and professor at Georgetown University, about the information sphere. We cover topics like identifying trustworthy images and videos, mob movement online, and how liberal institutions have failed in gaining the trust of the American people. We also think about ways to engage more thoughtfully with the content that affects us. Slowly but surely, we're going to turn Technocracy into a tool for Smartypants.

More on Ampliganda

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> Radio Free Rhinecliff true yes 2926 full Track or Treat: Spooky Surveillance with Andrew Couts Track or Treat: Spooky Surveillance with Andrew Couts Sam talks with Andrew Couts, senior editor of cybersecurity and surveillance at Wired Magazine, about what being a tech journalist in an increasingly technocratic world is like No No 53288152-836b-409f-aa5a-4b918af54c6c Fri, 31 Oct 2025 19:28:09 +0000 Radio Free Rhinecliff https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org/episodes/track-or-treat-spooky-surveillance-with-andrew-couts Host Sam Simon talks with Andrew Couts, senior editor of cybersecurity and surveillance at bastion-of-sanity tech mag Wired. While not conceived as a Halloween episode, boy is it relevant! From Andrew, we learn about the extent to which anyone with a phone and internet access is being surveilled - by actors from the social media industry to hackers to international governments. It’s pretty spooky. We also talk about what it’s like to be a tech journalist with integrity in technologically-accelerated end times. At least we still have freedom of the press!

Mike Masnick article mentioned briefly at the beginning.
TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> Host Sam Simon talks with Andrew Couts, senior editor of cybersecurity and surveillance at bastion-of-sanity tech mag Wired. While not conceived as a Halloween episode, boy is it relevant! From Andrew, we learn about the extent to which anyone with a phone and internet access is being surveilled - by actors from the social media industry to hackers to international governments. It’s pretty spooky. We also talk about what it’s like to be a tech journalist with integrity in technologically-accelerated end times. At least we still have freedom of the press!

Mike Masnick article mentioned briefly at the beginning.
TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> Radio Free Rhinecliff false no 2349 full With vs Versus with Baratunde Thurston With vs Versus with Baratunde Thurston Sam has fun talking with Baratunde Thurston about ethical uses of technology in an age of digital feudalism No No d65c3d65-19f3-4ba2-85cc-c30d1aadf2ba Thu, 09 Oct 2025 09:51:39 +0000 Radio Free Rhinecliff https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org/episodes/with-vs-versus-with-baratunde-thurston How can we find accountability without shame for our dependence on Big Tech? Where can we take action in our communities on- and offline? On this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam is joined by host, writer, speaker, and exemplary lifer Baratunde Thurston. We have lots of fun chatting about ethical and functional use of technology in an (impending? or are we already there?) age of digital feudalism.

Conversational links!

Dr. Joy Buolamwini on AI bias

What’s Gamergate?

How To Look at Social Media:

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Instagram
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> How can we find accountability without shame for our dependence on Big Tech? Where can we take action in our communities on- and offline? On this episode of Technocracy for Dummies, Sam is joined by host, writer, speaker, and exemplary lifer Baratunde Thurston. We have lots of fun chatting about ethical and functional use of technology in an (impending? or are we already there?) age of digital feudalism.

Conversational links!

Dr. Joy Buolamwini on AI bias

What’s Gamergate?

How To Look at Social Media:

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Instagram
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> Radio Free Rhinecliff false no 3089 full Technocracy How? with Jennifer Pahlka Technocracy How? with Jennifer Pahlka Sam interviews Jennifer Pahlka, former Deputy CTO and founder of Code for America, about the government's dysfunctional relationship to technology No No 62686919-c1ba-4101-adf7-de0c20df3d4c Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:19:42 +0000 Radio Free Rhinecliff https://technocracy-for-dummies.podcast.radiofreerhinecliff.org/episodes/technocracy-how-with-jennifer-pahlka What is technocracy? Are we in one? If so, how did we get here? In the first episode of Technology for Dummies, host Sam Simon talks with Jennifer Pahlka, former Deputy CTO and founder of Code for America. We chat about the US government's dysfunctional relationship to technology, past accumulating into the present. It's hard to move fast and break things when the systems already move slowly and are broken.

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> What is technocracy? Are we in one? If so, how did we get here? In the first episode of Technology for Dummies, host Sam Simon talks with Jennifer Pahlka, former Deputy CTO and founder of Code for America. We chat about the US government's dysfunctional relationship to technology, past accumulating into the present. It's hard to move fast and break things when the systems already move slowly and are broken.

TFD is produced and edited by Sam Simon and Matty Rosenberg at Radio Free Rhinecliff.
Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬

]]> Radio Free Rhinecliff false no 2650