The Data Fix

Mél Hogan

Hi everyone, my name is Mél Hogan and I’m a critical media studies scholar based in Canada. I’m working on a project called The Data Fix through a series of conversations with scholars, thinkers, and feelers. Together we explore the significance of living in a world of data, and especially the growing trend of “digital humans” in the form of chatbots, holograms, deepfakes, ai images and videos, and even tech that revives the dead. The conversations are minimally edited, and serve as an archive of the collective thinking and feeling that is going into the Data Fix project. Please see thedatafix.net for more details and show notes. Thank you so much for listening.  Cover art by Oona Ode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 2d ago

    Care, with (Jennifer) Jill Fellows

    This episode is about care, attentiveness and the skill of being in relationship(s). (Jennifer) Jill Fellows and I discuss the rise of AI intimacy and the programmed sycophancy of generativeAI today, and what it reveals is that our emotional attachments to chatbots might be more about how easily we can convince ourselves of its significance than about any sophisticated technology. That said, when you talk to these chatbots, you enter into a relationship with a corporation that always already has money as a bottom line, not your wellbeing. This serves as an analysis and a warning. Recorded Sept 4, 2026. Released Sept 14, 2026. Trigger warning -- we discuss self-harm and harm to others. Joseph Weizenbaum on ELIZA: https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/365153.365168 Sherry Turkle: https://sherryturkle.mit.edu/ Hilde Lindemann's book on identity work: https://academic.oup.com/book/4499?login=false Joan Tronto: https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/jctronto Shannon Vallor on Moral Deskilling: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-014-0156-9 Helen DeCruz on Believing to Belong: https://helendecruz.net/docs/DeCruz_belongbelief.pdf Simone Natale et. al. on chatbot relationships: https://doi.org/10.1177/01634437221119021 Rosanne Ramos on her relationship with Eren: https://www.newsweek.com/ai-artificial-intelligence-chatbot-romance-1820752 Michael Geoffrey Asia on his life as a chatbot: https://data-workers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Emotional-Labor-Behind-AI-Intimacy-1.pdf Ruo-Ning, Li, et. al. “Is a random human peer better than a highly supportive chatbot in reducing loneliness over time?” Journal of Expermental Sociology, Vol. 125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2026.104911 CBC Understood Artificial Intimacy: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1353-the-naked-emperor Pullback Podcast Episode on Relationships with Chatbots: https://pullback.podbean.com/e/computer-love/ Paranormal Programming: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16133623-we-believe-artificial-intelligence-believe-ghosts CBC Front Burner on Relationships with Chatbots: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/can-you-have-a-real-relationship-with-an-ai-1.7206945 CBC Spark on Relationships with AI: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/spark/bots-like-chatgpt-aren-t-sentient-why-do-we-insist-on-making-them-seem-like-they-are-1.6761709 A Harem of Computers: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/9.6564912 (Jennifer) Jill Fellows website: https://jenniferjillfellowsphd.opened.ca/ Cyborg Goddess Podcast: https://cyborggoddess.opened.ca/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Aug 31

    Rogue, with Eryk Salvaggio

    When is AI 'going rogue' and when is it just sloppy oversight by the companies designing the models? The answer won't surprise you -- probably -- but in this episode we discuss why we can both not believe the doom-hype marketing hype of AI companies and still be a bit worried about where this is all taking us. Erik Salvaggio unpacks and explains all of this better than anyone I know. Recorded Aug 27, 2026. Released Aug 31, 2026. Eryk Salvaggio’s website cyberneticforests.com Linked In: Eryk Salvaggio’s Post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eryk-salvaggio_when-you-see-a-headline-claiming-that-ai-activity-7485551550107656192-d-tq  The System From Nowhere https://mail.cyberneticforests.com/the-system-from-nowhere/ On Stochastic Flocks & The Critical Problem of Useful AI https://www.techpolicy.press/stochastic-flocks-and-the-critical-problem-of-useful-ai/  On RLVR (the verifiable rewards bit) - "It's Not X, It's Y" https://mail.cyberneticforests.com/its-not-just-data-its-post-training/  The Data Fix: Soulless, with Eryk Salvaggio https://shows.acast.com/the-data-fix/episodes/639d6648b0a821001040e0e2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Aug 10

    Plausible, with Tracy Valcourt

    Tracy Valcourt and I discuss this strange new AI phenomenon of using ads to sell both conservative veering on fascist ideology and AI production in itself, as a package. We meander through the strange worlds of advertising and AI and (re)consider the plausible. Recorded July 30, 2026. Released August 10, 2026. That white guy who can’t get a job at Tim Hortons? He’s AI | Visual investigations -- CBC 2025 No Camera. No Crew. Just AI | Toyota Tundra Commercial Being a Luddite Is Fun Again -- Janus Rose,Jul 27, 2026, 404 New Yorkers Are Defacing This AI Startup’s Million-Dollar Ad Campaign -- Rae Witte, Sep 30, 2025, Futurism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 27

    Coalition, with Kris Akin and Matthew Shaw

    The Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development co-released the Data Center Opposition Report in April 2026, which we discuss in this episode with Kris Akin and Matthew Shaw. Recorded June 23, 2026. Released July 27, 2026. Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development Our Research — Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development Data Center Opposition Report — Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development Map of Community Organizations Focusing on Data Centers — Coalition for Responsible Data Center Development Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 13

    Whispers, with Nicole Sugarman, Shawmar Pitts, Steph Jordan, Livia Garofalo, Cella Sum, and Linda Huber

    This episode was a recap of an event called How to Stop a Data Center that took place at Swathmore College in April 2026. I was able to listen via Zoom and then later asked available panelists to come on the podcast to discuss community-based activism against AI data centers. Recorded June 17, 2026. Released July 13, 2026. Fight Data Centers https://www.kairosfellows.org/fightdatacenters For more info on Stop the Data Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan: Stop the Data Center Campaign link tree https://linktr.ee/stopthedata  Stop the Data Center substack for major updates and calls to action https://stopthedatacenter.substack.com/  How to Stop a Data Center https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/04/10/how-to-stop-a-data-center/  For more info on Steph Jordan https://stephaniebethjordan.com/  'PENNSYLVANIA IS PERFECT' https://newint.org/science-and-technology/2026/pennsylvania-perfect PENNSYLVANIA’S POWER Why Local Authority Is the Key to AI Infrastructure Decisions  https://datasociety.net/library/pennsylvanias-power/ DATA AS DESTINY IN THE STEEL CITY How Pittsburgh’s Industrial Past Is Being Leveraged for an AI Future https://datasociety.net/points/data-as-destiny-in-the-steel-city/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jun 29

    Monstrosities, with Rania Masri, Simon Enoch, Adam Wilkins, Lauren Stephens Smith, Sophie Toupin, Vijay Kolinjivadi, and Christiane Bailey

    This episode is a recording of an event that took place at Concordia University: So an AI Data Centre is coming to your community? Don't panic! A roundtable on strategies for building community power. We discuss tactics and strategies for pushing back against Big Tech and their AI data centers -- seen as monstrosities by those who know how much humanity stands to lose by and through AI logics and their instantiations in infrastructure. Recorded June 12, 2026. Released June 29, 2026. Featuring: Adam Wilkins and Lauren Stephens Smith (Save Lorneville), Rania Masri (NC Environmental Justice Center), Simon Enoch (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives). Hosted by the Social Justice Centre. So you’re getting a data centre! Here’s what to know https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/so-youre-getting-a-data-centre-heres-what-to-know/ In New Brunswick, residents battle the government over a planned AI data centre https://thenarwhal.ca/lorneville-ai-data-centre/ Dr. Rania Masri https://ncejn.org/staff/dr-rania-masri/ Event Sponsors: Social Justice Centre (Concordia), SCPA Student Association (SCPSA), School for Community and Public Affairs (Concordia), Climate Justice Montreal, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Time, Technology, and Capitalism (Concordia), Confronting Emergent Dystopia Working Group (Concordia). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jun 15

    Fiction, with Teresa Heffernan

    This episode covers the role of fiction -- literal readings and total misreadings of sci-fi -- in how they shape tech CEOs ideas about the future. Teresa Hefffernan is incredible at communicating the problems with AI today. Please listen to the podcast/lecture linked below, too, for more. Recorded June 10, 2026. Released June 15, 2026. CBC Ideas Literature Versus the AI Industry https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16208906-literature-versus-ai-industry The 2026 Wiegand Lecture featuring Teresa Heffernan — Literature Versus the AI Industry https://youtu.be/hPV-Ql_KGzM?si=XperXIzFO5ydcStU Teresa Hefffernan website https://www.socialrobotfutures.com/publicationsmedia/publications/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. May 25

    Rage, with Valerie Veatch

    This episode is with the amazing Valerie Veatch, director of Ghost in the Machine -- a documentary that serves as a critical takedown of "AI". It's the best argument against "AI" that I've seen, highlighting the voices of scholars across various academic disciplines. You can watch the film via the link below and listen to the director explain her process and ideas for continuing the conversation... as a trilogy. Recorded May 12, 2026. Released May 25, 2026. Ghost in the Machine 2026 • 1h 30m • Documentary • Valerie Veatch (dir) https://kinema.com/films/ghost-in-the-machine-pvxg4p Not AI https://notaidoc.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Hi everyone, my name is Mél Hogan and I’m a critical media studies scholar based in Canada. I’m working on a project called The Data Fix through a series of conversations with scholars, thinkers, and feelers. Together we explore the significance of living in a world of data, and especially the growing trend of “digital humans” in the form of chatbots, holograms, deepfakes, ai images and videos, and even tech that revives the dead. The conversations are minimally edited, and serve as an archive of the collective thinking and feeling that is going into the Data Fix project. Please see thedatafix.net for more details and show notes. Thank you so much for listening.  Cover art by Oona Ode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Mél Hogan
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Mél Hogan
  • Show Website
    The Data Fix