South by Southwest 2025 just wrapped, and this year wasn’t just about what’s next in tech—it was about how much of it we’re actually okay with. AI chatbots are getting really personal. Deepfake fraud is up 2137%. Social media is broken (again). And even the people building the future are freaking out.

In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan unpack:
🤖 AI’s existential crisis—Is it a tool for human flourishing or the beginning of the end?
📱 Social media’s identity crisis—BlueSky, the Fediverse, and why no one trusts anything anymore.
🎭 Deepfake scams are here—Why you need a family password, like, yesterday.
😰 Tech anxiety is real—Even the nerds at SXSW are feeling it.

The big question: If we expect the future to be a disaster, do we make it one? Or can we actually shape what’s next?

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The future isn’t neutral. Let’s figure it out together. 🚀

This week, Jenny and Greg Swan put their living room (and their personal data) on the line in the name of science. Meet Telly—a free 55-inch TV that comes with a mandatory second screen running ads 24/7. The catch? If you unplug it, move it, or refuse to connect it to WiFi, you get charged $1,000. Welcome to the future, where even your TV is tracking you.

🤝 Free Isn’t Free

Social media already monetizes our every move, but what happens when your television starts doing the same? Jenny and Greg break down the trade-offs of a free device that doubles as a consumer behavior experiment.

📢 The Ads Are… Not Great

From gas station job postings to medical scooters, the Telly’s ad targeting is chaotic at best. If you’re going to force ads into our home, at least make them relevant, right?

👀 The Bigger Question: Is This Our Future?

What happens when this model expands? A free fridge that won’t open until you watch an oat milk ad? A free Tesla that plays insurance commercials at red lights? Where’s the line between an acceptable value exchange and full-on surveillance capitalism?

Jenny’s biggest complaint? The TV is too small for football. Greg’s biggest takeaway? This is just the beginning. Would you take a free TV in exchange for your data?

Hit play to hear the full breakdown, and if you’re going to SXSW next month, let’s meet up! We’ve got stickers (which, we promise, do not serve you ads).

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This episode, we’re tackling three big themes—tech, gifts, and the state of our brains in 2024. Buckle up (or turn on adaptive cruise control)!

🚙 Buy a Car via Text in 2020 vs. Buying a Car with AI in 2025

Remember when buying a car via text felt revolutionary? Fast forward to now: AI tools like ChatGPT are helping us decode trim levels, compare window stickers, and even predict insurance costs. The process might be smarter, but somehow we’re still waiting hours at the dealership. Progress? Kind of.

🎁 Holiday Gift Guides: More Joy, Less Junk

From robot chargers to smart hair tools, our holiday gift guide is packed with fun, tech-forward ideas for everyone on your list. Whether you’re spoiling someone or treating yourself, we’ve got recs to make your holidays feel a little more Jetsons, a little less Flintstones. LINK IS HERE.

🧠 Brain Rot: The Word of the Year That Hits Close to Home

Naming “brain rot” as the Word of the Year is a perfect mix of self-awareness and cultural critique. Whether it’s doomscrolling or meme overload, we’re all guilty of it—but maybe that’s okay? Jenny and Greg unpack why some “brain rot” might actually be necessary for mental health. 

Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (⁠⁠@the.cave.project⁠⁠), and sign up for updates at ⁠⁠thecaveproject.substack.com⁠⁠.

In this episode of The Cave Project, Jenny and Greg Swan dig into the AI dilemma in education: is it a powerful learning tool or just an easy way to cheat? As schools struggle with this digital shake-up, they explore how generative AI is rewriting the rules—from boosting homework help to sparking plagiarism concerns that could impact college dreams. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (⁠@the.cave.project⁠), and sign up for updates at ⁠thecaveproject.substack.com⁠.

From TikTok bans to school cell phone policies, Jenny and Greg Swan break down the chaos and contradictions of raising kids in a tech-driven world—minus the overwrought reactions. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.

In this episode of The Cave Project, we sit down with stand-up comedian and creative director Matt Keck to chat about the human side behind viral social media phenomena. Known for his witty contributions to the Wendy's Twitter persona and his viral "I'm a Snake" video, Keck shares insights on leveraging humor and social media for global engagement from his home base in Kansas City. Join Jenny and Greg Swan as they explore how Keck's early adoption of platforms like Myspace shaped his career, the psychological impacts of social media fame, and the transition from viral moments to sustainable creative work. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.

Social media can both connect us and also push us apart. In this live recording of The Cave Project podcast, hosts Jenny and Greg Swan discuss the social media dilemma, its impact on our daily lives, and how we can reclaim our digital spaces with a human-centric approach. Special thanks to Social Media Breakfast for hosting and Skelly Video Productions for capturing audio and photos. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com

We're sorry for your loss. This episode of The Cave Project explores the management of digital legacies, the role of AI in recreating memories of the deceased, and how these advances affect our mourning practices. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a thought-provoking discussion on the ethical dilemmas and emotional impacts of living and dying in a digital age. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.

As the first generation to be fully born into the 21st century, Generation Alpha is the most technologically integrated group of humans ever — growing up in a world of advanced digital technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. And they are already getting a bad rap about their digital and social media habits. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about who Gen A is, what makes them unique, and some ways we can all make room for them in our crowded digital lifestyle. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com

If 85% of the population uses the internet (and are online an average of 7 hours per day), how is it that we’re still having conversations about whether being online is good for us or not? Instead, let’s talk about how to be extremely online in a healthy way. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about 6 filters to consider for your online lifestyle: safety, heart, the space between them and us, reality versus smoke and mirrors, time IRL and (gasp) time spent in the outdoors. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com