Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

Somewhere on Earth
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast — Tech That Actually Matters   If you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) — the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Hosted by the ex-BBC World Service Digital Planet team (yes, the award-winning crew behind 21+ years of world-leading tech journalism and 1.5M annual downloads), SOEP uncovers the untold stories shaping our digital world.This isn’t a show about the latest shiny toy. It’s about technology that changes lives, cultures, and global societies.   Each episode explores: •⚡ The real-world impact of emerging tech •🌍 New innovations driving social good •🔍 Under-the-radar digital trends you should be paying attention to •🧠 How tech is reshaping communities, culture, and the way we live •📰 The technology behind the week’s biggest world stories — explained simply   Our mission?To build a tech-for-good ecosystem where new ideas, powerful insights, and meaningful innovation can grow.If you want smart, globally minded tech storytelling from journalists who’ve been doing this longer (and better) than almost anyone else — SOEP is your new must-listen podcast.   Somewhere on Earth: Where tech meets humanity.

  1. Great Tech Idea. Now What? Inside a Deep-Tech Pitch Night

    3D AGO

    Great Tech Idea. Now What? Inside a Deep-Tech Pitch Night

    From breakthrough tech to startup reality   Great ideas are only the beginning.   This episode explores what happens next - how deeptech founders try to turn scientific breakthroughs into real companies.   We attended a pitch night at London Business School where startups were presenting their ideas to investors. Among them were Nanoloom, developing sustainable graphene-based fibres for textiles, and Auralytica, building chemical sensors that can detect food spoilage.   But raising money isn’t easy. Research shows female founders still receive only around 2% of venture capital funding - despite strong evidence that women led businesses often perform as well as or better than male-led ones.So how do you get investors to believe in your idea?   The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz   Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do:  ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/  📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co  ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co   📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)    ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)    If you like our show please rate and review us.

    23 min
  2. AI’s Hidden E-Waste Crisis and the Rise of CyberParent: The Growing Cost of Our Digital Lives

    MAR 3

    AI’s Hidden E-Waste Crisis and the Rise of CyberParent: The Growing Cost of Our Digital Lives

    The AI Boom Is Fuelling a New Wave of E-Waste Artificial intelligence may feel invisible, but the hardware powering it is very real - and short-lived. As companies race to deploy powerful AI servers, turnover of specialised chips and equipment is accelerating. Yet major tech firms rarely disclose AI-specific hardware figures, making it difficult to track where outdated machines end up. With less than a quarter of global e-waste recycled, the expansion of AI infrastructure could quietly add to a growing waste crisis - an angle we’re reporting on for the first time. The Digiconomist, Alex de Vries-Gao, explains his latest research. Can AI Also Be Part of the Solution? Tackling Cyberbullying in Real Time While AI raises environmental concerns, it’s also being deployed to solve urgent social challenges. With more than one in three young people globally reporting experiences of online bullying, according to UNICEF, the need for early intervention is clear. Serbian startup CyberParent says its AI-powered app can detect signs of cyberbullying on a child’s phone and alert parents in real time - aiming to stop harm before it escalates. Nemanja Stojmenovic, founder of Cyberparent is on the show. The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/ Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing. 🎥 Learn more about what we do: ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co 📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast) ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769) ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb) If you like our show please rate and review us.

    20 min
  3. 🚀 AI Deepfakes From Space & The African Language Tech Revolution | Web Summit Qatar 2026

    FEB 24

    🚀 AI Deepfakes From Space & The African Language Tech Revolution | Web Summit Qatar 2026

    🌍 When Satellite Images Lie: The Rise of Space Deepfakes Deepfakes are no longer just fake celebrity videos - they’re moving into orbit. AI can now generate or manipulate satellite images, potentially fabricating disasters, military sites, or climate events. In a world that relies on satellite data for journalism, science, and security, that’s a serious threat. Shoaib Burq, AI Researcher Project Lead at Verisat AI explains how they can detect hidden “fingerprints” left by generative models. Backed by the European Space Agency, the project is building tools to help governments and media separate real imagery from artificial deception - before misinformation spreads.   🗣️ African Languages Go Digital: The App Reclaiming Identity Through Tech Esther Imogu, Founder CEO, NaijaTeach Technology, is preserving and teaching African languages using an app. NaijaTeach helps users learn African languages like Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Pidgin with accurate pronunciation, cultural context, and interactive lessons designed for both children and adults. Built with native educators rather than automated translations, the platform supports tonal learning and real-life usage. With plans to expand into Arabic, NaijaTeach is part of a growing movement using tech to strengthen identity, heritage, and connection.   The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz   Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do: ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co   📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)   ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)   ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)   If you like our show please rate and review us.

    20 min
  4. 🚀 AI Is Rewriting Marketing - And Nigerian Women Are Rewriting the Job Market - Live from Web Summit Qatar 2026

    FEB 17

    🚀 AI Is Rewriting Marketing - And Nigerian Women Are Rewriting the Job Market - Live from Web Summit Qatar 2026

    🎙️ Agentic AI, Audio Ads the Future of Creativity At Web Summit Qatar in Doha, the marketing world asked a bold question: when AI starts planning, creating, and deciding - what’s left for humans? Wilfrid Obeng, Co-Founder of AudioMob talks about how AI is transforming advertising in real time. From hyper-personalised audio ads generated on the fly to emotion-powered voice cloning inspired by tools like ElevenLabs, Wilfred explains how brands are reaching audiences faster, cheaper, and more creatively than ever before - without losing the human spark.   💼 Fighting Job Scams in Nigeria: Mission to Empower Women in the Job Market We head to Nigeria, where Adeife Adeoye, Founder and CEO of “Remote WorkHer”, is tackling one of the country’s biggest challenges: employment fraud and job insecurity. With over 23 million Nigerians unemployed or underemployed, Remote WorkHers is building a verified, all-in-one career platform designed specifically for women. By manually vetting both employers and candidates - and refusing to rely solely on AI – tech is creating a safer, smarter pathway to meaningful work in one of Africa’s toughest job markets.   The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz   Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do: ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co   📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)   ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769) ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)   If you like our show please rate and review us.

    22 min
  5. From Regional Power to Global Impact: AI Business Strategy & Women Led Health Tech in Africa

    FEB 10

    From Regional Power to Global Impact: AI Business Strategy & Women Led Health Tech in Africa

    🌍 Scaling Local Innovation Into Global Influence Recorded at Web Summit Qatar in Doha, we explore how organisations build global relevance without losing their local roots. As markets become more interconnected, AI and strategic leadership are essential to scaling beyond borders. Yasmin Kayali, Chief Marketing Officer and Societal Impact Leader at Deloitte Middle East, and Marko Čadež, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, unpack how global brands localise strategy, why Serbia is emerging as a tech hotspot, and how teaching coding and AI early is fuelling next-gen innovation.   💡 Nigerian Women Using AI Health Tech to Save Lives Africa has some of the world’s highest rates of delayed diagnosis for conditions like breast and cervical cancer. Now a new app uses AI triage, virtual consultations, and hybrid services to shrink the gender health gap - helping millions of women access care earlier and with confidence. Victoria Okundaye, Operations Lead at Débbo Africa, shares how her team is building a new health platform - designed to connect women with the right care as quickly and as safely as possible.   The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/ Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing. 🎥 Learn more about what we do: ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/ 📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co   📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)   ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769) ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)   If you like our show please rate and review us.

    25 min
  6. Banking the Unbanked & Electrifying Ethiopia: How Tech Is Leapfrogging the Future

    FEB 3

    Banking the Unbanked & Electrifying Ethiopia: How Tech Is Leapfrogging the Future

    How Mobile Money and Open Tech Are Bringing 1.3 Billion People Into the Financial System Technology isn’t just evolving - it’s rewriting the rules of entire economies. In this episode of Somewhere on Earth, we explore how mobile technology, open-source payments, and digital finance are helping to “bank the unbanked.” With around 1.3 billion adults still without access to a bank account, we look at how mobile money and open systems are leapfrogging traditional infrastructure and giving millions their first real access to savings, payments, and opportunity.   Why Ethiopia’s Bold Ban on Petrol Cars Could Redefine Transport Across AfricaEthiopia has become the first nation to ban the import of petrol and diesel vehicles, pushing full speed into an electric future. From battery-swapping motorcycles to renewable-powered transport, Ethiopia is betting on clean tech to transform its economy and environment. We connect the dots between financial inclusion and electrification — and ask how emerging tech ecosystems are reshaping lives, cities, and nations.   The programme was presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz   Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus.We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do:  ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/  📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co  ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co    📱 Follow us on socials:  ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)  ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769) ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb) If you like our show please rate and review us.

    24 min
  7. Why the US Is Withdrawing From Internet Freedom Groups and What It Means for Your Digital Rights.

    JAN 27

    Why the US Is Withdrawing From Internet Freedom Groups and What It Means for Your Digital Rights.

    Trump and our Internet Freedoms – it’s not looking good The United States has pulled out of key international internet freedom organizations, calling them wasteful and ineffective — but digital rights experts say Americans should be concerned. In this episode, we break down why the US made the decision, what it means for online privacy and free expression, and how the shift could impact everyday internet users around the world. From surveillance to censorship, we explore what’s really at stake for the future of digital freedom. 🤖 AI Swarms and the Future of Democracy A new political threat is emerging online: AI swarms - vast networks of human-like artificial agents that can infiltrate social media, mimic real people, and influence opinion without detection. These aren’t simple bots. They use slang, join communities, post irregularly, and slowly persuade at scale.Researchers warn they could be used to destabilise elections, spread confusion, and push citizens toward disengagement rather than direct propaganda. We examine how real this danger is, how easy AI armies are to build, and what governments, platforms, and users can do to defend democracy in a world of synthetic voices.    The programme was presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.   SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy   Editor: Ania LichtarowiczSomewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd.    We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus.We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do:  ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/  📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co    📱 Follow us on socials: ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co)  ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)  ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)    If you like our show please rate and review us.

    22 min
  8. AI’s Hidden Environmental Cost and the Rise of the Smart Pill That Knows When You Take It

    JAN 20

    AI’s Hidden Environmental Cost and the Rise of the Smart Pill That Knows When You Take It

    🌍 AI’s Carbon and Water Footprint Artificial intelligence feels invisible, but its infrastructure is massive. From data centres and specialist servers to cooling systems and power grids, AI is driving a surge in energy and water use around the world. Now research suggests global AI systems may already produce carbon emissions comparable to a city like New York, while the water required to run and cool them could exceed total global bottled water consumption. In this segment, we explore why big tech companies disclose so little about AI’s true footprint — and what that means for users, sustainability, and the future of digital growth. The Digiconomist Alex de Vries-Gao joins us on the show.   💊 The Smart Pill Revolution One of the biggest problems in healthcare isn’t new drugs - it’s getting people to take the ones they already have. In the US alone, around 50% of patients don’t follow prescriptions properly, costing the system more than $100 billion every year and contributing to tens of thousands of premature deaths. Now researchers have created a dissolvable electronic “smart pill” that can confirm when medication has actually been taken. It’s safe and biodegradable. We look at how ingestible technology could transform treatment, accountability, and patient care worldwide. Professor Giovanni Traverso, who led the team at MIT explains the tech. The programme was presented by Ania Lichtarowicz. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/   Production manager: Liz Tuohy Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz   Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus.We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.   🎥 Learn more about what we do:  ➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/  📩 Contact us or book a project: hello@somewhereonearth.co  ➡️ Email: hello@somewhereonearth.co    📱 Follow us on socials:  ➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en) ➡️ Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/httpssomewhereonearth.co) ➡️ LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast)    ➡️ Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast/id1713408769)  ➡️ Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/65YZwVfA03MSdZ3198yLdb)   If you like our show please rate and review us.

    24 min
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About

Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast — Tech That Actually Matters   If you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) — the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Hosted by the ex-BBC World Service Digital Planet team (yes, the award-winning crew behind 21+ years of world-leading tech journalism and 1.5M annual downloads), SOEP uncovers the untold stories shaping our digital world.This isn’t a show about the latest shiny toy. It’s about technology that changes lives, cultures, and global societies.   Each episode explores: •⚡ The real-world impact of emerging tech •🌍 New innovations driving social good •🔍 Under-the-radar digital trends you should be paying attention to •🧠 How tech is reshaping communities, culture, and the way we live •📰 The technology behind the week’s biggest world stories — explained simply   Our mission?To build a tech-for-good ecosystem where new ideas, powerful insights, and meaningful innovation can grow.If you want smart, globally minded tech storytelling from journalists who’ve been doing this longer (and better) than almost anyone else — SOEP is your new must-listen podcast.   Somewhere on Earth: Where tech meets humanity.

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