Technology and Policy (TAP)

In this episode, Alex and Ethan break from the standard format. This episode is focused on how the field of AI and software development is radically changing. In order to explore these changes, Ethan interviews Alex about what draws software engineers to particular places and companies, and how those factors may be shifting in the Trump administration and a post-coronavirus world. Alex and Ethan explore what makes a Silicon Valley,...

In this episode, Alex and Ethan finally turn to the big issues of modern technology debate - data regulation. In particular, they focus on an often ignored subset of data collection: the permissions settings on your phone or tablet that many of us simply accept and move on. Every app provides a function to its user, and allowing apps to use the different services on your phone is vital for the range of incredible applications we no...

In this episode, Alex and Ethan return to where the podcast started - space. Here they deal with one of the most interesting, and potentially the most economically impactful, aspect of space travel. Asteroid mining is propelling a new gold rush of private firms and public capital, all racing to unlock the riches in the sky. However, is asteroid mining perhaps too similar to the gold rush? Will the first trillionaires be asteroid mi...

In this episode, Alex and Ethan deal with the complicated and fascinating world of cryptocurrency - exploring how they work on a basic level, and discussing the economic ramifications of Bitcoin’s meteoric rise. 

The idea for this episode was that Ethan, who had no background in cryptocurrency whatsoever, would be introduced to the ideas live. While that lead to interesting discussions, it also lead to some errors made tha...

This episode was recorded shortly after the beginning of the massive Black Lives Matter protest movement in the United States following the killing of George Floyd. In respect for the political moment, in this episode Alex and Ethan deal with the intersection of the criminal justice system and technology. As algorithmic tools are used more and more in the administration of justice, are they solving systemic problems - or perpetuati...

In this episode, Alex and Ethan discuss the recent launch of a SpaceX crewed mission from US soil. In order to explain why this event is significant, Alex and Ethan retrace the history of the global governance order for space exploration, focusing on a three-phase model for the evolution of space law. With that history explored, Alex and Ethan are situated to explain what this launch means for both the current political moment and ...