The WIRED Podcast

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back. Written by EJ Dickson. Originally published on September 14th, 2026. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop A cat wearing a short tie plays music on a cat-shaped keyboard (“Pancake Meowsic Video,” 185,459 views). A woman performs sun salutations with a cat on her back (“Cat Loves Yoga,” 1,539 views). A man slaps two cats on an ironing board to the beat of “Atmosphere” (“Cat Slap Joy Division,” 357,605 views). Written by Gideon Lewis-Kraus. Originally published on August 31st, 2012. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Right now, there are no rules to keep you from owning a bitchin’ corporate name as your own internet address. Written by Joshua Quittner. Originally published on October 1st, 1994. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost Lives. How Israeli checkpoints suffocate Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank. Written by Lama Rabah, Sabrina Slipchenko, Charles Boutaud, Firas Tawil and Elena DeBre. Originally published on September 30th 2026. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Dispatches from the New American Holiday: Writer Bruce Sterling takes the kids to the Temporary Autonomous Zone, where survival is a personal choice. Written by Bruce Sterling. Originally published in WIRED on November 1st, 1996. For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five family members, murdered. A sixth in prison for life. It’s one of Britain’s most infamous crimes. But did the justice system get it wrong? “Blood Relatives,” a six-part series from In the Dark, is coming on October 28th.New Yorker subscribers get early, ad-free access to “Blood Relatives.” In Apple Podcasts, tap the link at the top of the feed to subscribe or link an existing subscription. Or visit newyorker.com/dark to subscribe and listen in the New Yorker app.In the Dark has merch! Buy specially designed hats, T-shirts, and totes for yourself or a loved one at store.newyorker.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look back at the year in tech, science, business, and culture—through the medium of a quiz. Amit hosts the annual WIRED podcast quiz, with Morgan, Matt R, Grace, and Matt B vying for the prestigious title. Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by Matt Burgess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up today: Morgan finds out what happens when an AI company steals your face, and Matt Burgess explores the most vulnerable place on the internet This is going to be the last episode for a little while. We’re taking a short break to work on some exciting changes to the podcast for 2023, but we’ll be back with a new episode in a few weeks. We’ll see you then! The stories we talked about this week: Clearview Stole My Face and the EU Can’t Do Anything About It https://www.wired.com/story/clearview-face-search-engine-gdpr/ The Most Vulnerable Place on the Internet https://www.wired.com/story/submarine-internet-cables-egypt/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by James Temperton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up today: the deadly viruses lurking in the permafrost, and what the Bruce Willis deepfake means for the future of Hollywood. The stories we talked about this week: The Bruce Willis Deepfake Is Everyone’s Problem https://www.wired.com/story/bruce-willis-deepfake-rights-law/ Thawing Permafrost Exposes Old Pathogens—and New Hosts https://www.wired.com/story/arctic-spillover-risk/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by Matt Burgess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look at how social media platforms have responded to the death of Molly Russell and explain why Elon Musk is wrong about depopulation. How A British Teen's Death Changed Social Media https://www.wired.com/story/how-a-british-teens-death-changed-social-media/ Elon Musk Is Totally Wrong About Population Collapse https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-population-crisis/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by James Temperton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up today: the devastating impact of Iran’s internet shutdown and we find out what happened when a Danish city banned Google from its schools. The stories we talk about this week: A Danish City Built Google Into Its Schools—Then Banned It https://www.wired.com/story/denmark-google-schools-data/ Iran’s Internet Shutdown Hides a Deadly Crackdown https://www.wired.com/story/iran-protests-2022-internet-shutdown-whatsapp/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by Matt Burgess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up today: we talk about the juicy business of plant-based meat and the equally juicy business of Russian censorship. The stories we talk about this week: Plant-Based Burgers Aren’t Denting People’s Beef Addiction Alternative proteins were meant to reduce the carbon footprint of our diets. But it doesn’t look like consumers are switching ... yet. https://www.wired.com/story/plant-based-meat-replacing-animal-meat/ This Clever Anti-Censorship Tool Lets Russians Read Blocked News Samizdat Online syndicates banned news sites by hosting them on uncensored domains—allowing people to access independent reporting. https://www.wired.com/story/russia-internet-censorship-samizdat-online/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by Matt Burgess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming up today: the tech behind a high-school prank, and the hunt for Covid’s origins The stories we walked about this week: The Origins of Covid-19 Are More Complicated Than Once Thought https://www.wired.com/story/tracing-covid-pandemic-origins/ Inside the World’s Biggest Hacker Rickroll https://www.wired.com/story/biggest-hacker-rickroll-high-school-prank/ Music by Filip Hnizdo Produced and edited by Matt Burgess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices