40 episodes
Breaking the 20% Black Lemon Podcasts
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- Technology
Before computers were machines, they were women! For a span of two centuries the term "computer" was effectively interchangeable with a woman tasked with the role of a human calculator, adept at solving intricate mathematical problems. Then World War II started and men decided to build computers. Despite their zeal to build the machines, they had no interest in programming them, so they left the job to the women. Women, under the leadership of figures like Grace Hopper, played a pivotal role in shaping the burgeoning industry. And then, in 1984, everything changed. Women exited and the men became the programmers, the software engineers, and the "rock stars" of the digital epoch. Today merely 20% of IT degrees are being awarded to women. In this podcast with the help of my wonderful guests, we delve into the chronicles of these forgotten women, the trailblazers who guided us into the digital era.
This podcast explores the amazing lives of women who pioneered the early years, and why the women left. We also talk about the women who are proving today that we can still make it, we can still lead the industry. And finally, we try to find the magic formula to break the 20% and bring back the women.
Let's break the 20%!
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The Alan Turing Story with Jas Powell
In this episode, I am joined by Jas Powell to delve into the remarkable legacy of Alan Turing, often hailed as the father of computer science. Recorded during Pride Month, this episode explores Turing's early life, groundbreaking contributions to the field of computing, and his pivotal role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. The discussion touches on Turing's personal struggles, including his tragic prosecution for homosexuality, and his lasting impact, culminating in the...
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How Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia went from Zero to One (Part 2) with Andrea Solomonides
For a second week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. We explore their rise from PayPal pioneers to tech titans, dissecting how their libertarian ideals and strategies have sculpted today’s tech culture, often at the expense of diversity and inclusion. With Andrea we explore Thiel's controversial actions and ideologies—from his involvement...
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How Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia went from Zero to One (Part 1) with Andrea Solomonides
This week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. In the opening segment of this two-part series, we introduce you to the legendary Paypal Mafia. Coined in a 2007 article, they are depicted as a "hyperintelligent, superconnected pack of serial entrepreneurs" who emerged from the ranks of the pioneering payment service, PayPal, and after l...
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Jia Tan, XZ Utils and the perils of trust with Andreas Constantinides
This week Andreas Constantinides, a renowned cybersecurity expert, joins me to help me uncover the alarming case of Jia Tan—a fabricated identity at the center of a sophisticated cyber espionage operation. Andreas lends his extensive expertise as we analyze how Jia Tan, seemingly a diligent contributor to open-source projects like XZ Utils, was a cover for a collective executing a long-term backdoor placement in critical software infrastructure. This episode not only explores the broader impl...
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Xenia Miscouridou on Statistics, AI, Public Health, and Women in Tech
This week I am joined by Xenia Miscouridou, a pioneer in the realm of artificial intelligence and a beacon for women in science. Celebrated on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Xenia stands at the forefront of machine learning research. Her academic journey has taken her from Imperial College London, Cambridge, and Oxford University, to New York and Switzerland, to her current lectureship at the University of Cyprus, intertwining research with a dedication to teaching. We explore her academic vent...
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Discussing Kara Swisher's 'Burn Book' with Alexander Davidian
In this episode, I am joined by Alexander Davidian, an insightful observer of the Cypriot startup scene. Together, we unpack the no-holds-barred narrative of Kara Swisher in her latest book, "Burn Book". We dive into Kara's fearless world, discussing her unique style that combines tough questioning with biting humor. From an aspiring CIA operative to tech journalism’s most potent force, they explore Kara’s evolution and her revelations about Silicon Valley's tech bros. This episode is m...