In this episode, Eleanor Drage speaks with Michele Friedner, Professor in the Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago, about the politics of cochlear implant infrastructures, medical anthropology, and disability justice.

Is social media helping or harming society—or does the answer depend on who holds the power? In this episode, Eleanor Drage speaks with Crystal Abidin, Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University, about the politics of social media platforms, influencer culture, and digital communities. The conversation explores TikTok’s origins, the impact of platform governance and state bans, and how online spaces are shaped by competing interests and power structures. Abidin also examines how...

What happens when technology is built with communities instead of just for them? In this episode, Eleanor Drage speaks with David Griffiths, founding director of the nonprofit Then Try This, about participatory design, accessible tech, and the hidden histories shaping modern computing. The conversation explores how textiles and programming are deeply connected, and why innovation is often rooted in grassroots, community-led creativity rather than top-down systems. Griffiths shares projects...