Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

@soeptech.bsky.social

The world’s untold tech stories - told by the former BBC Digital Planet team. Future tech, digital culture & innovation shaping our planet. 🎧 Somewhere on Earth Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb

As AI reshapes financial services, trust may become fintech's most valuable asset. We speak with Denise Johansson, co-founder of Enfuce, about scaling a global payments company and why trust is becoming a growth strategy. 🎧 www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0cb... #Fintech #AI #Podcast

AI, Trust and the Future of Money: Plus the Brazilian Drones Replanting Forests

YouTube video by Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast ex BBC

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📣 New Podcast! "The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?" on @Spreaker #economy #gig #platform #uber #work

The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?

435 Million Gig Workers, Secret Pricing Systems & The Global Fight for Transparency in the Digital Economy The World Bank estimates there are more than 435 million online gig workers worldwide, yet most have little visibility into the algorithms that determine what they earn. In this special episode of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast, recorded live at Web Summit Rio, we explore who really benefits from the platform economy and why transparency, worker rights and data ownership have become global issues. Joining host Ania Lichtarowicz are Len Sherman, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School and researcher on platform economics; Luiz Neves, CEO and founder of GigU, the app helping drivers understand the true profitability of ride and delivery offers; and Angelica Mari, award-winning journalist and CEO covering technology, innovation and the future of work in Brazil and beyond. Together, they discuss Uber's take rates, algorithmic pricing, the battle over driver data, platform regulation, and why governments in 187 countries are debating the future of digital labour. This is an essential conversation on the future of work, the gig economy, AI-driven platforms and the rights of millions of workers worldwide. If you'd like, I can also write a more punchy, viral Spotify title that is optimised for clicks while still being highly searchable. The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

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Can bio-nanotechnology cut refrigeration energy use by 50%? 🌍❄️ NanoFreeze CEO Isabel Pulido joins Somewhere on Earth on how they're reinventing cooling tech & tackling emissions. Plus, her Cartier Women’s Initiative selection! 🎧 Listen: www.spreaker.com/episode/the-... #ClimateTech #TechPodcast

The Cooling Revolution: How Technology Could Cut Refrigeration Emissions by 50%

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian star

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A VC firm published an article about founder archetypes. None of them were women. New episode of Somewhere on Earth exploring women in tech, startup culture, AI and who gets to shape the future of innovation. 🎧 www.spreaker.com/episode/the-... #WomenInTech #Startup #AI #Podcast

The AI Contact Lens That Could Prevent Blindness and The Women Rewriting Silicon Valley - Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

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An AI-powered contact lens that could monitor disease, release medication automatically & help prevent blindness 👁️ No batteries. No electronics. Just smart biotech and real-time healthcare monitoring. 🎧 www.spreaker.com/episode/the-... #AI #HealthTech #Biotech #Podcast

The AI Contact Lens That Could Prevent Blindness and The Women Rewriting Silicon Valley - Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

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📣 New Podcast! "The Cooling Revolution: How Technology Could Cut Refrigeration Emissions by 50%" on @Spreaker #business #carbon #cartier #climate #climatechange #disability #emissions #entrepreneurship #inclusion #refrigeration #tech #technology #venezuala

The Cooling Revolution: How Technology Could Cut Refrigeration Emissions by 50%

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is designed to dramatically reduce energy use in cooling systems, improve cold-chain access and lower costs for industries from food transport to pharmaceuticals. We also discuss why she’s been selected for the Cartier Women’s Initiative, one of the world’s leading programmes for female entrepreneurs.  Why Is Tech Still Failing People with Disabilities? From inaccessible apps to AI systems that overlook disabled users, inclusive design is still missing from much of today’s technology. Inclusive design expert and author Reginé Gilbert joins us to discuss why accessibility continues to be treated as an afterthought — and how emerging technologies like AI, virtual reality and spatial computing risk deepening exclusion if companies don’t build inclusivity in from the beginning. She’s co-author of a new book: “https://www.routledge.com/Digital-Accessibility-Ethics-Disability-Inclusion-in-All-Things-Tech/Feingold-Gilbert-Fleet/p/book/9781041018681: Disability Inclusion in all Things Tech.” The proramme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

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RightsCon 2026 - the world’s biggest digital rights event - was cancelled just days before it began. Thousands affected. Big questions unanswered. We spoke to Nikki Gladstone, Director of RightsCon from Access Now. 🎧 Listen: www.spreaker.com/episode/righ...

RightsCon 2026 Cancelled Last Minute: Global Tech Summit Shock + The New Gateway to Doing Business in Africa - Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

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Most internet traffic doesn’t rely on satellites - it travels through fibre optic cables carrying light across continents & it’s becoming faster than ever. 🎧https://www.spreaker.com/episode/driverless-taxis-are-here-no-humans-no-steering-wheel-and-the-hidden-fibre-network-powering-it-all--71521015

Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fibre Network Powering It All

Driverless Cars Take the Wheel Driverless taxis are no longer a future concept, they’re already operating in cities worldwide, and even in Zagreb you can now

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Driverless taxis are already operating in cities like Zagreb and heading to London soon. On this episode we hear if the UK (and the rest of the world) is ready. The tech is here. The question is: are we? 🎧 Somewhere on Earth podcast: www.spreaker.com/episode/driv...

Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fibre Network Powering It All - Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

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📣 New Podcast! "Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fiber Network Powering It All" on @Spreaker #blackcab #business #cable #cars #connectivity #data #driverless #entrepreneurship #london #opticfibre #safety #taxi #transport #zagreb

Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fiber Network Powering It All

Driverless Cars Take the Wheel Driverless taxis are no longer a future concept, they’re already operating in cities worldwide, and even in Zagreb you can now book a ride with no driver at all. With the UK preparing for a rollout as early as September, the shift is accelerating fast. Backed by new laws and regulatory frameworks, the technology is moving from trials to real-world adoption. But safety remains the key question, as comparing autonomous systems to human drivers isn’t straightforward. The big issue now isn’t just capability it’s public trust. We were at the launch of the Institute for Driverless Transport to find out more. The Invisible Network Behind It All Behind the rise of autonomous vehicles is a reality most people overlook: the internet doesn’t run on satellites, but on fibre optic cables carrying light across the globe. This physical infrastructure powers the real-time data needed for navigation, communication, and control. And it’s not being replaced, it’s evolving, with innovations like hollow-core fibre pushing speeds even further. As driverless tech scales, it’s this hidden network that will define performance. The future of mobility depends as much on glass as it does on code. The podcast is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

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AI is reshaping the music industry, but many musicians say they’re not afraid of it. In Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast, Robert Prey @oii.ox.ac.uk explains the “streaming paradox” & why artists still struggle to earn from platforms like Spotify. 🎧 www.spreaker.com/episode/ai-m...

AI, Music & Accessibility: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Creativity and Communication - Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

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The Strait of Hormuz closed and the food supply chain to Qatar was under pressure as the country imports 98% of its food. I spoke with Asaad Al-Hashmi from Wadi AI. He gave free access to its platform to help suppliers track orders and demand in real time. 🎧 www.spreaker.com/episode/ai-b...

AI Beyond Business: Digital Rights, NGOs, and the Fight Against Food Waste

How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Work of NGOs AI is increasingly shaping the work of non-profits and civil society groups. In this episode we speak w

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📣 New Podcast! "AI, Music & Accessibility: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Creativity and Communication" on @Spreaker #accessibility #ai #business #creativity #deaf #entreprenuership #music #musicians #signlanguage #startup #streaming #websummit

AI, Music & Accessibility: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Creativity and Communication

From streaming royalties to AI tools: how musicians are navigating a rapidly changing industry Artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry, but not always in the ways people expect. Researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute have been speaking with musicians across several countries about life in the streaming era and how AI fits into their creative work. Many artists say they are using AI as a practical tool, for example to overcome writer’s block or experiment with new ideas, while still believing that human emotion and authenticity remain central to music.  Using artificial intelligence to break communication barriers for deaf communities AI is also being used to tackle accessibility challenges. At Web Summit Qatar, the Polish company Migam showcased technology designed to translate spoken language into sign language in real time. The aim is to make digital platforms - from streaming services to video calls - more accessible for millions of deaf users around the world, demonstrating how AI could expand communication as well as creativity. The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

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AI is transforming business & education, but it's also reshaping the NGO sector. We spoke with experts from Access Now about how AI is affecting digital rights work, cybersecurity & the challenges of protecting sensitive data. 🎧Listen to the podcast: www.spreaker.com/episode/ai-b...

AI Beyond Business: Digital Rights, NGOs, and the Fight Against Food Waste

How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Work of NGOs AI is increasingly shaping the work of non-profits and civil society groups. In this episode we speak w

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