The 10 Best Spark from CBC Radio Podcast Episodes
1) Spark 442: AI and comedy, pairing beauty tutorials with cybersecurity, and North Face turns Wikipedia images into ads
Teaching AI about human comedy. Pairing online security tips with beauty tutorials. Photo swapping marketing stunt crosses Wikipedia line.
cfcmedialab recommended:
This episode covers a lot of interesting stories: In particular, the first story looks at how different researchers are training AI to be ...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.2) 503: The psychology and economics of 'Niftymania'
NFTs could significantly shift the economics of being an artist by creating equitable structures so artists can participate in art markets they've traditionally been excluded from. And, how the psycho...Show More
mijustin recommended:
An excellent analysis on NFTs, and what’s driving demand.
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.3) For teens, everything old is cool again
From coveting Walkmans to using point-and-shoot cameras, there's been a growing trend over the past few years of teens wanting multiple, single-purpose, un-connected devices. It's not all about the pa...Show More
4) Success, optimization, and the relentless drive toward productivity
Digital tech allows us to track the stats of our daily activity and optimize our lives in the name of self-improvement. But it's also changed how we evaluate success and what success even means. In a ...Show More
5) A Spark Pandemic Retrospective - Touch, Trust, The Alchemy of Us
Over the past year, we've had to reimagine our relationship with our technologies—and each other. This week, a look back at stories from early on in the pandemic that examine what we've learned about ...Show More
jodym recommended:
I usually don't like retrospectives of the past year but something about the description made me tune in. Lots of insight here into social m...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.6) 451: The Impersistence of Memory
From following GPS directions to not having to memorize anyone's phone number, it's been ages since we've had to remember things! But is that bad for our brains? This week, a look at how the internet ...Show More
aliceko recommended:
Listen if you’re interested in learning about memory. Great snippets and conversations with different experts. Loved how they walked us thro...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.7) Spark 437: Mental-health stigma in tech, therapy games in Nunavut, here comes WiFi6, and reclaiming boredom from our devices
Ryerson's DMZ breaks the stigma around mental health in startup culture. Kids in Nunavut use role-playing computer games to manage depression. What we can expect from "Wifi 6." And philosopher Mark Ki...Show More
aliceko recommended:
In tribute of Canadian Mental Health Week: Extremely important episode on the high percentage of mental-health issues in the tech and start-...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.8) BONUS - A Farewell
Nora Young and Michelle Parise chat about 17 years of making Spark and listen to some messages from very special guests.
9) Repeat: Time
(This episode first aired in November 2020, and has been updated to reflect that.) For all the good they give us, our personal tech has also become a major time suck. Between work from home and doom-s...Show More
ansleynoelle recommended:
An interesting discussion of how we spend our time in the age of social media doom scrolling
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.10) Repeat: Truth decay
(This episode first aired in February 2020, and has been updated to reflect all that's happened in the world since.) How do we know what we know? In a digital landscape where social media dominates, a...Show More
mijustin recommended:
“Social psychologist Arie Kruglanski says that humans need a shared concept of "truth" in order to have societal cohesion.” Exactly what I ...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.