Aug. 19, 2026
Criminal Investigations: Has Crime’s Digital Trail Gone Dark? | FBI, Cybercrime, Encryption & Digital Privacy
Criminal investigations have always had a fundamental asymmetry - one where investigators had more tools, more resources, and more power than the people they pursued. But in a world where the most dangerous criminals can communicate, coordinate, and disappear without detection, has technology handed crime the ultimate advantage? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? – the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life – whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never m...
Guest: Eric Robinson
Aug. 5, 2026
Science: Has Rigour Been Sacrificed for Reach? | Predatory Publishing, AI-Generated Research, Scientific Fraud & Public Trust
The internet promised a new era of science – one of open collaboration, democratised access, and knowledge freed from institutional gatekeepers. But has it instead created an ecosystem where fraudulent papers and AI-generated junk research are often indistinguishable from the real thing? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? – the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life – whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ru...
Guests: Kent Anderson , Joy Moore
July 19, 2026
Helping People: Has Empathy Turned Us into Targets? | Online Scams, Digital Deception, Cyber Safety & the Psychology of Trust
We used to rely on biological cues to verify a stranger in need. But in a faceless digital world full of scams and deception, has our empathy become a liability - and left us in a state of permanent suspicion? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? – the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life – whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We’re joined by Travis Simcox, a cyber threat hunter and for...
Guest: Travis Simcox
July 6, 2026
Digital Humanity: From Real Minds to Synthetic Hallucination? | AI, LLMs, Identity, Consciousness & Authenticity
The internet promised to be a vast global network of human thought and connection. But as the digital ecosystem is increasingly choked by synthetic content and non-human users, is the internet’s true premium – the certainty of human thought – being destroyed? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? – the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life – whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We’re join...
Guest: David Schmudde
June 21, 2026
Conspiracy Theories: Weaponised From the Fringe to Your Feed? | Misinformation, Radicalisation & the Attention Economy
The internet gave us a way for conspiracy theories to find their audiences, connecting people and building communities around often-fringe ideas. But has it also supercharged them, turning once-fringe ideas into powerful forces of polarisation, division and radicalisation that reach far beyond the screen? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. ...
Guest: Dani Mercy
June 3, 2026
Job Security: Optimised for Our Own Obsolescence? | AI, Automation, Future of Work & Job Displacement
It promised to make us more productive, more employable, and more economically secure. But as AI begins replacing not just tasks but entire professional roles - including ones that took many years to reach - is technology making job security itself an obsolete concept? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ ...
Guest: Nick Jain
May 21, 2026
Retail: Convenience That Costs Everything? | E-Commerce, Consumer Behaviour & the Future of Retail
The internet promised to bring the world's stores directly to us. But in chasing convenience over everything, has it killed the high street, gutted retailers, and replaced the experience of shopping with a transaction? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Joe Zahaitis, a payments industry s...
Guest: Joseph Zahaitis
May 7, 2026
Sleep: Screens Stealing Our Slumber? | Screen Time, Sleep Science & Digital Wellbeing
The internet promised us connection that never sleeps. But has it also been sabotaging our rest - leaving us locked in a nightly battle with a digital world that refuses to turn off? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Chelsea Reynolds - sleep researcher and clinical psychologist - who is ...
Guest: Chelsea Reynolds
April 26, 2026
Empowerment: Objectification Rebranded as Agency? | Digital Monetisation & the Attention Economy
When it comes to empowering ourselves, we were told the internet would give us back control. But instead, has it simply delivered a more efficient way for us to become products, and successfully rebranded objectification as agency? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We’re joined by Courtney Kocak - write...
Guest: Courtney Kocak
April 14, 2026
Rental Markets: A Frantic Fight for Shelter as a Service? | Airbnb, PropTech & the Housing Crisis
The internet was supposed to make the rental market more efficient and transparent. But has it instead turned the basic human need for shelter into a frantic, dehumanising battle with technology - where algorithms, platforms, and data have more power than the people looking for a home? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedby...
Guest: Thomas Sigler
April 1, 2026
Self Improvement: Progress Replaced with Performance? | Social Media, Algorithms & Personal Growth
The internet promised to make self-improvement accessible to everyone. But has it instead turned it into a spectator sport - replacing process with performance, and pushing us to consume playbooks rather than actually build habits? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Justin Leff - behaviou...
Guest: Justin Leff
March 21, 2026
The Taxi Industry: A Data-Driven Destruction of Dignified Work? | Uber, The Gig Economy & Worker Rights
The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around - delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable alternative to the old ways. But did the revolution simply replace one system with an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the illusion of flexibility with almost zero protections? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www....
Guest: Rod Barton
March 11, 2026
Decentralisation: Freedom or Fragmented Control? | Blockchain, Crypto, Web3 & Digital Freedom
The internet promised to be an escape from centralised power - a user-controlled, peer-to-peer network that would democratise access and dismantle the gatekeepers. But thanks to the domination of Big Tech and Venture Capital, has that dream been systematically stolen and replaced by a new set of gatekeepers wearing different clothes? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never ...
Guest: Joseph Kennedy
March 1, 2026
Deeper Connection: An Algorithmic Illusion of Intimacy? | Relationships, Social Media & the Psychology of Connection
The internet brought connectivity unlike anything we'd ever experienced. But by making so much of our communication instant and effortless, has it actually eroded everything we need to truly connect with each other? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides - clinical psy...
Guest: Maria-Elena Lukeides
Feb. 16, 2026
Ayahuasca: From Ancient Ritual to Instagram Aesthetic? | Psychedelics, Cultural Appropriation & Spiritual Tourism
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever - bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, fuelling a rise in unqualified facilitators and a dangerous disregard for the cultural traditions it came from? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation...
Guest: Bia Labate
Feb. 4, 2026
Common Ground: From Dialogue to Digital Battlefield? | Polarisation, Echo Chambers, Algorithms & Social Media
The internet promised a place where people from diverse backgrounds could find connection and understanding. But has it instead become a deeply polarised medium where echo chambers and ideological extremism make meaningful common ground harder to find than ever? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're j...
Guest: Andres Reiljan
Jan. 25, 2026
Brand Trust: The Era of Algorithmic Enshittification? | Marketing, Surveillance Capitalism & Digital Advertising
The internet was supposed to empower brands to build relationships based on authenticity and shared values. But has it instead become a surveillance capitalism machine - exploiting and manipulating our attention until we stopped trusting brands, marketing, and the platforms behind them entirely? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://ww...
Guest: Nick Richtsmeier
Jan. 14, 2026
Reputation Management: A New World of Digital Life Sentences? | Crisis Communications, Online Reputation & Digital PR
By creating an environment of radically decentralised authority, has the internet shattered the slow, controlled process of reputation management - turning it into a fast, volatile, and potentially permanent crisis cycle where your worst moment follows you forever? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We'r...
Guest: Dr Stuart Thomson
Jan. 4, 2026
Trust in Information: The End of Believing Our Own Eyes? | Misinformation, Media Trust, AI & Digital Literacy
The internet promised a more informed society where anyone could share knowledge freely. But has it instead created a crisis of trust - where expertise is constantly challenged, and huge numbers of us struggle to discern fact from fiction? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Terry Flew - P...
Guest: Terry Flew
Dec. 21, 2025
The Internet: A Corporate Hijacking of Digital Freedom? | Big Tech, Digital Censorship & Online Freedom
The internet was supposed to be where the free exchange of knowledge and ideas happened. But has it instead become a place increasingly controlled by a handful of companies - where inconvenient ideas are suppressed, and the original promise of an open web has been quietly hijacked? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbythei...
Guest: Wouter Constant
Dec. 11, 2025
Truly Disappearing: Powering Our Own Perpetual Surveillance? | Digital Footprints, Online Privacy & Data Retention
The internet has given us unprecedented connection. But thanks to relentless data retention and the constant tracking of our every digital move, is it now virtually impossible to shed our old identity and start a new life undetected? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Lachlan Jarvis - pri...
Guest: Lachlan Jarvis
Nov. 30, 2025
Social Interaction: The Digital Erasure of Presence? | Digital Distraction, Phone Addiction & Mental Health
With its constant presence and insatiable demand for attention, has the internet invaded our offline spaces - diminishing our ability to be truly present and eroding the quality of our in-person experiences? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're joined by Emily Toner - clinical psychologist and intern...
Guest: Emily Toner
Nov. 16, 2025
Music: An Algorithmic Burial of Human Artists? | Spotify, TikTok & The Music Industry
The internet promised to empower artists and give listeners infinite choice. But has it instead turned music into a disposable commodity - replacing human curation with algorithms, and making it virtually impossible for most artists to earn a sustainable living? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ We're j...
Guest: Charlie Hooper-Williams
Nov. 2, 2025
Gambling: Optimised for Frictionless Financial Mayhem? | Online Gambling Addiction, Betting Apps & Regulation
The internet promised to modernise an age-old activity, bringing new convenience to a quick thrill. But has it instead delivered a predatory, 24/7 addiction machine - one that exploits our psychology with algorithms and has created what many now consider a serious public health crisis? Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation. https://www.ruinedby...
Guest: Mark Kempster