HeyJaredActually Useful
Why do so many once-beloved internet platforms end up toxic, predatory, and unusable? In an age where tech giants have monopolized our attention, privacy, and livelihoods, how can individuals claw back some agency?
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 4
- Latest publication
- Sep 10, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 16, 2026
Latest episodes
The Books We’re Losing to AI (opens the original)
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We chat with Charlie Becker, a second-generation used and rare bookseller, about AI buying up used books, the challenge of knowing how rare a book is, and what kind of stewardship should be required before a book can be destroyed. In Falcon Mode, we discuss the enshittification of printers. Say hi on: Instagram | TikTok | Substack | Email Episode links: charliedbecker.com valib.app 404 Media’s article tracking the books Amazon bought
Everything is Worse on Purpose (opens the original)
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We chat with Keyana Sapp, creator of Worse on Purpose, about the enshittification of physical consumer goods, brands that are riding on nothing but legacy reputation, and how his work can help consumers find products that are actually useful. In Falcon Mode, we open up a real can of worms by trying to avoid shady monetization mechanics in mobile games. Say hi on: Instagram | https://tinyurl.com/2ezu9vb8 TikTok | https://tinyurl.com/2fjpfuv2 Email | https://tinyurl.com/9d5pvpcc Epis
When Privacy Protects Predators on Snapchat (opens the original)
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We chat with child safety advocate Aaron Ping about Snapchat’s shady product mechanics, their obstructive approach to law enforcement, and why there’s been so little regulation in social media. In Falcon Mode, we discuss owning music in a world that wants us to stream it. Say hi on: Instagram | https://tinyurl.com/2ezu9vb8 TikTok | https://tinyurl.com/2fjpfuv2 Email | https://tinyurl.com/9d5pvpcc Episode Links: - Aaron’s podcast, Superhuman - From Engineered Desire to Engineered Consent http
Public Money, Private Profit (Private Equity Pt. 2) (opens the original)
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We conclude our deep dive into private equity by unpacking how the industry monetizes both financial hardship and financial discipline, and how it extracts profit from taxpayer-funded programs by keeping open a revolving door between government and private equity. In Falcon Mode, we chat about a crop-identifying app for curious minds on road trips. Check us out on: Instagram | TikTok | YouTube Links: Plunder by Brendan Ballou Bad Company by Megan Greenwell More Perfect Unio
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