Technocracy for Dummies Podcast By Radio Free Rhinecliff cover art

Technocracy for Dummies

Technocracy for Dummies

By: Radio Free Rhinecliff
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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 Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Critical Scrolling with Renée DiResta

    Critical Scrolling with Renée DiResta
    Jan 27 2026

    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
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    49 mins
  • Track or Treat: Spooky Surveillance with Andrew Couts

    Track or Treat: Spooky Surveillance with Andrew Couts
    Oct 31 2025

    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
    Show more Show less
    39 mins
  • With vs Versus with Baratunde Thurston

    With vs Versus with Baratunde Thurston
    Oct 9 2025

    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.
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    Inquiries: technocracy4dummies@gmail.com
    Leave us a message: (845) 307-7446‬
    Show more Show less
    51 mins
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