Decoder with Nilay Patel

Writer Joe Menn talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about his most recent book, "Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World."

In this episode:

How Menn started writing about cybercrime; the rise and fall of Napster; his first book about hacking, “Fatal System Error”; the origins of Cult of the Dead Cow; “they’re basically good guys”; its invite-only membership and how it works; how it forced Microsoft to take security seriously; how future presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke got involved; what other CDC alumni are doing today; the state of cybercrime in 2019; the complexity of protecting yourself online; the government’s attempts to undermine encryption; the 2020 election; and what the US should do to protect its citizens.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Joe Menn (@josephmenn), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Volpi and Danny Rimer, the co-founders of the San Francisco office of Index Ventures, talk with Recode's Kara Swisher.

In this episode:

Volpi and Rimer's backgrounds and the early days of the internet; applying a global perspective to venture capital; being a smaller firm when capital is abundant; why the rise of other regions does not mean Silicon Valley is "over"; open-source culture in Europe; Latin America, Israel, and China; scooters, autonomous driving, and the future of urban mobility; disrupting the beauty and fashion industries; disrupting venture capital itself; over-empowered founders and the WeWork CEO's $700 million cash-out; diversity in tech; techlash and antitrust regulation; and the most overhyped and most underhyped categories in tech.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Mike Volpi (@mavolpi), guest

Danny Rimer (@dannyrimer), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Watch Kara's 2008 interview with Volpi about his video startup, Joost

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents California's 17th district, joins Recode's Kara Swisher live onstage at Manny's in San Francisco to talk about the state of tech policy and the next elections.

In this episode:

Khanna's internet bill of rights; will we ever have a national privacy bill?; the problem with "break them up"; the FTC’s Facebook fine; President Trump's racist attacks on the “squad” and Democrats’ reactions; the current mood in Washington; is Silicon Valley "over?”; Trump’s continued popularity; working on the Bernie Sanders campaign; Khanna’s second choice, Elizabeth Warren; Medicare for All; Russian attacks on elections; ensuring the health of tech; the problems with facial recognition; and government regulation of speech online.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Kupor, the managing partner of Andreessen Horowitz, talks with Recode’s Kara Swisher and Teddy Schleifer about his new book, Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It.

In this episode:

How Kupor became a venture capitalist; his role at Andreessen Horowitz; what makes AH different from other venture firms; how other firms have copied it; why Kupor wrote his book; the “secrets” of how VCs think; stories that founders tell employees and investors; working with limited partners; why firms have to give founders so much control; the friction of removing CEOs; diversity in VC; what’s next for venture capital; how Andreessen Horowitz is looking at opportunity zones; and is Silicon Valley “over?”

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer), co-host

Scott Kupor (@skupor), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inspired by the trendiness of intermittent fasting in the tech community, Kara Swisher's executive producer, Erica Anderson, talks with three eating habit experts — a biohacker, an academic, and an eating disorder specialist.

In this episode:

HVMN CEO Geoff Woo on the culture of body optimization, the mainstreaming of biohacking, and how humans are "approaching God"; aging and nutrition expert Dr. Valter Longo on the origins of biohacking, the science behind intermittent fasting, and the problem with Silicon Valley's interpretations of the practice; and the executive director of the National Easting Disorder Association, Claire Mysko, on the line between eccentric diets and disorders, the wellness industry, and what to do if someone you know needs help.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Geoff Woo (@geoffreywoo), guest

Claire Mysko (@clairemysko), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Larry Diamond, a professor at Stanford University and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about his new book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency.

In this episode:

Diamond’s background studying the development and failure of democracies; authoritarian regimes and the internet; why the book is called “Ill Winds”; the right-wing populist backlash across Europe; the deeper frustrations underneath anti-immigration sentiment; why Hillary Clinton lost the electoral college; how Russia, the "fallen superpower," is intervening in elections around the world; Mitch McConnell's obstinacy; "pretty close to treason"; the "risk of sliding into a new Cold War"; why China is the bigger threat in the long term; its tight control of Chinese citizens and companies; how will its rise affect US policy?; how China's people will react when the prosperity stops; declining American investment in R&D; "sleepwalking into the future"; how two-party politics have paralyzed the US; Diamond's proposed solution, ranked-choice voting; the danger of online voting; and the fight against gerrymandering, voter suppression, and polarization.

Came here from The Bill Simmons Podcast?

We rounded up a few favorite episodes we think fans of The Ringer will enjoy. Take a look!

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Larry Diamond (@LarryDiamond), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lauren Underwood, the US Congresswoman who represents Illinois' 14th district, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher in this live interview recorded on July 29, 2019 at Manny's in San Francisco.

In this episode:

Underwood’s background in healthcare and the Obama administration; why she decided to run for Congress at age 30; gerrymandering in Illinois; how Underwood won the Democratic primary; why she beat the incumbent Tea Party Republican, Randy Hultgren; "Pat, Barb, Sue and Marge"; being a congresswoman in a swing district; the Russia investigation and why Underwood has not called for Trump’s impeachment; how will Underwood keep her seat?; “toxic” 2020 presidential candidates; why Democrats need to stop chasing hashtag-friendly labels for their policies; the many interpretations of "Medicare For All”; how to work within a divided Democratic Party; meeting a Twitter troll in real life; can the Democrats keep the House and win the White House?; what should 2020 candidates be talking about?; and racial politics in 2018 and 2020.

Came here from Lovett or Leave It?

We rounded up a few favorite episodes we think Crooked Media fans will enjoy. Take a look!

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Lauren Underwood (@LaurenUnderwood), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pearson CEO John Fallon talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about why the company is pivoting from print to digital textbooks.

In this episode:

Fallon’s background; the publishing industry’s slow-motion embrace of the internet; “the $300 textbook is dead”; how Pearson will make money from a cheaper digital textbook; competing with well-funded education startups; how Pearson’s Aida will grade calculus problems and, one day, essays; why teachers won’t be made obsolete; how the school of the future will be informed by the skills needed in the job market; why do students still need to physically go somewhere to learn?; how Pearson thinks about its competition; working with tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft; and the state of democracy in Boris Johnson's UK.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

John Fallon (@johnfallon), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this live interview, Recode's Kara Swisher talks with former Cambridge Analytica COO Julian Wheatland, early Facebook investor Roger McNamee, and the director and writer of the new Netflix documentary The Great Hack — Karim Amer and Pedro Kos. Then, later in the show, Recode’s Jason Del Rey explores the origins of Amazon Prime, why it’s so effective at keeping us locked into their ecosystem, and how it became the source of the company’s power.

In this episode:

How Wheatland looks back on the Cambridge Analytica scandal and what went wrong; how Amer and Kos approached the subject to turn it into a documentary; Facebook’s evasion of responsibility; what the filmmakers want to happen as a result of their work; why Wheatland decided to be in the documentary; the “fix it” mentality vs. assigning blame; the fragility of western democracy; Brittany Kaiser, the key character of The Great Hack; how Facebook and Google are like chemical companies in the 1950s; and what's next for the people involved in the film.

More information about Land of the Giants:

Land of the Giants is a new podcast from Recode and the Vox Media Podcast Network about the five major technology companies (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google – or “FAANG”) that have reshaped our world. Each season focuses on one of the giants and explores the ways that it’s changed our lives – for better and for worse. The first season is about The Rise of Amazon and is hosted by Recode’s Jason Del Rey. Enjoy this special preview of the first episode, Why You’ll Never Quit Amazon Prime, and subscribe to Land of the Giants for free in your favorite podcast app to hear the rest of the episode and to get new episodes automatically.

Vote for us:

Recode Decode has been nominated for best technology podcast in this year’s People’s Choice Podcast Awards! Cast your vote for Recode Decode at https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup before July 31st. One vote per category.

Follow us

Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), host

Karim Amer (@Karim_Amer33), guest

Julian Wheatland (@JulianWheatland), guest

Roger McNamee (@Moonalice), guest

Erica Anderson (@EricaAmerica), executive producer

Eric Johnson (@HeyHeyESJ), producer

More to explore

If you haven't already, subscribe to Recode Decode

Subscribe to Recode's other podcasts: Recode Media, Pivot, and Land of the Giants

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the 400th episode of Recode Decode, Megan Rapinoe, the co-captain of the US Women's National Soccer Team, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher. This live conversation was recorded at the Mobile Marketing Association CEO & CMO Summit in Sonoma, CA.

In this episode:

Where Rapinoe's confidence comes from; her famous “victory” pose; the marginalization of women’s soccer; her favorite moments from the 2019 Women’s World Cup; how she focuses on the game; did Trump actually help her?; the fight for equal pay; what Rapinoe is going to do next; her clothing company, Re-inc and gender expression in fashion; will she run for political office?; her brother’s incarceration; what inspires her?; her advice for kids; resilience in the face of bullies and online critics; how to support women’s soccer; and her leadership style.

Vote for us:

Recode Decode has been nominated for best technology podcast in this year’s People’s Choice Podcast Awards! Cast your vote for Recode Decode at https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup before July 31st. One vote per category.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices