Techsploder

Jason Howell chats with Eddy Barker, an electrical engineer who grew up fascinated by science fiction television. That passion led him working with AT&T as he helped create DSL technology in the 1990's, paving the way for high-speed Internet in the homes of millions.

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• How Eddy started his time at AT&T and if developing DSL was his first project
• Eddy's early interest in communications technology like telephones, radio, and TV
• The challenges AT&T faced with dial-up internet and long connection durations
• How the idea of using existing telephone lines for DSL data came about
• Validating the DSL concept and any resistance faced during development
• The rise of companies like eBay, Amazon, and Napster enabled by DSL
• Common challenges between DSL and modern fiber deployments
• Eddy's vision for how technologies like the metaverse, AI, and high bandwidths will converge in the next decade
• A piece of technology from Eddy's youth that shaped his love for the field

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From writing for late-90s dot com boom websites to catching her break on TechTV, to podcasting at TWiT and back to writing, Megan Morrone shares her insights on the promise and peril of AI, navigating social media, and the challenges of parenting in the digital age.

Support the Techsploder Podcast on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/JasonHowell

• Megan Morrone vs Megan Moroney.
• Megan's time in the 90s at LookSmart and CitySearch.
• Why TechTV was different.
• Technology influences as a child.
• Parenting in the digital age: Now vs. Then.
• Megan's experience with social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Megan's thoughts on the promise and peril of AI and its impact on various aspects of life.
• The tech that lets Megan down.
• Megan's approach to tech cleanse and stepping away from technology.

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Join Jason Howell as he delves into the world of design with Liam Spradlin, discussing the subjective nature of design, the impact of generative AI, and Liam's experience creating the "Girasol" typeface.

Please support this podcast on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/jasonhowell

• Design influence in Switzerland
• Material Design and deep personal meaning
• Everything in design is interfacial
• Does AI bypass intentional design?
• Has Material Design achieved its purpose?
• Where Liam's design sense began as a kid
• Liam's Typeface design
• Knowing when a design is done
• Why do we accept bad design in tech?
• Esthetic value of vintage interfaces
• Laim's most cherished technology

Listen to the Design Notes podcast: https://designnotes.fm/

Read Liam's work on Interface Cade: https://interfacecafe.com/

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Christina Warren joins Jason Howell to talk about how nostalgia for the early Internet and failed technology companies has permeated her life in tech. From developer advocacy at Microsoft and Github to working in the tech journalism trenches at Mashable, Christina has stayed passionate about the possibilities of tech and its limitations.

Please support our work on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/JasonHowell

• Christina's experience of accidentally not hitting the "go live" button at the start of the interview, and the importance of redundancy in recording
• Her early memories and passion for technology, sparked by video games, gadgets, and the internet in the 90s
• Building her first website on GeoCities as a 12-year-old unpaid "community leader"
• Her collectibles obsession, including shoes and merchandise from failed/infamous tech companies like Theranos, FTX, Pets.com etc.
• Reminiscing about the spectacular dot-com boom and bust, and companies like Webvan, Pets.com that didn't survive
• Discussing the decline of TiVo and how the DVR experience has arguably gotten worse over time
• Her current role as a developer advocate at GitHub, and how to follow her work

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Alex Kantrowitz, author of "Always Day One," talks about his transition from political journalism to covering the tech industry, and how he applies lessons from tech giants' ability to reinvent themselves to his own business with Big Technology.

Please support our work on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/JasonHowell

Alex's journey from BuzzFeed to starting his own independent media company, Big Technology.

The experience of working at BuzzFeed and the challenges of being a serious news outlet within a site known for listicles and memes.

Writing the book "Always Day One" and the process of researching and interviewing tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft.

Interviewing Mark Zuckerberg and the approach to asking insightful questions.

Applying lessons from tech giants' ability to reinvent themselves to his own business.

Alex's early career in politics and government work, and how it prepared him for covering tech.

Memorable moments from his youth that sparked his interest in journalism and technology.

The importance of taking chances and not waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Check out Big Technology: http://www.bigtechnology.com

Read "Always Day One": https://alexkantrowitz.com/

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