In 2005, Myspace pages were flooded with the saying “Samy is my hero” and then suddenly, the platform went dark. Dexter talks with Jack Rhysider, host of the podcast Darknet Diaries, about Samy Kamkar, how he accidentally took down the biggest social media platform at the time, and how it changed the modern Internet. 

Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.

Listen: 
Jack’s Darknet Diaries episode with Samy: https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/61/

In 2005, Myspace pages were flooded with the saying &ldquo;Samy is my hero&rdquo; and then suddenly, the platform went dark. Dexter talks with Jack Rhysider, host of the podcast Darknet Diaries, about Samy Kamkar, how he accidentally took down the biggest social media platform at the time, and how it changed the modern Internet.&nbsp;
Got something you&rsquo;re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.
Listen:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Jack&rsquo;s Darknet Diaries episode with Samy: https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/61/</li>
</ul>

Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On killswitch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host Dexter Thomas answers questions big and small – like who’s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer?

kill switch also brings the DIY back to tech – “How to Now” on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more “user-friendly” our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We’re here to help you take back control. And if we can’t… Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.

 

Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On kill switch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dexdigi/?hl=en">Dexter Thomas</a> answers questions big and small &ndash; like who&rsquo;s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer?
kill switch also brings the DIY back to tech &ndash; &ldquo;How to Now&rdquo; on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more &ldquo;user-friendly&rdquo; our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We&rsquo;re here to help you take back control. And if we can&rsquo;t&hellip; Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.
&nbsp;

kill switch

Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On killswitch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host Dexter Thomas answers questions big and small – like who’s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer?

kill switch also brings the DIY back to tech – “How to Now” on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more “user-friendly” our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We’re here to help you take back control. And if we can’t… Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.

Were we sleeping when everything changed? Seems like the technologically driven future is already here. On kill switch, we explain the right NOW of our super charged technological lives. New host <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dexdigi/?hl=en">Dexter Thomas</a> answers questions big and small &ndash; like who&rsquo;s behind Shrimp Jesus, and could you get arrested by a computer?
kill switch also brings the DIY back to tech &ndash; &ldquo;How to Now&rdquo; on everything from how to run your own LLM to tips to keep your data safe. Because the more &ldquo;user-friendly&rdquo; our devices get, the less we understand how they work, and the less control we have. We&rsquo;re here to help you take back control. And if we can&rsquo;t&hellip; Well, maybe we need to look for the kill switch.

the hack that broke myspace

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6343a59b-5383-48a6-b283-b3d8015fb958/transcript

Do you know what Palantir does? Don’t feel bad: neither do a lot of their employees. In fact, WIRED senior writer Makena Kelly recently uncovered company chat logs showing how angry and confused Palantir workers are about the company’s involvement with ICE. Dexter talks to Makena about this new reporting, what exactly the company is providing ICE, and how the company creates mystery behind everything from Partiful rumors to skyrocketing stock price.

Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.

Read + Watch: 
Makena’s reporting about Palantir employees: https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-ice-dhs-alex-pretti-killing-workers-slack-minneapolis/
404 Media’s zine on ICE: https://www.404media.co/icezine/
kill switch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod

Do you know what Palantir does? Don&rsquo;t feel bad: neither do a lot of their employees. In fact, WIRED senior writer Makena Kelly recently uncovered company chat logs showing how angry and confused Palantir workers are about the company&rsquo;s involvement with ICE. Dexter talks to Makena about this new reporting, what exactly the company is providing ICE, and how the company creates mystery behind everything from Partiful rumors to skyrocketing stock price.
Got something you&rsquo;re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.
Read + Watch:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Makena&rsquo;s reporting about Palantir employees: <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-ice-dhs-alex-pretti-killing-workers-slack-minneapolis/">https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-ice-dhs-alex-pretti-killing-workers-slack-minneapolis/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">404 Media&rsquo;s zine on ICE: <a href="https://www.404media.co/icezine/">https://www.404media.co/icezine/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li>
</ul>

who is palantir, and why are they involved with ICE?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c901ec27-e84b-43a2-a382-b40401540a4e/transcript

kill switch went live on March 4th to cover one of the newsier topics of the week: the fight between the US government and Anthropic, the company behind Claude. Dexter talked to WIRED senior writer, Will Knight, to discuss what exactly is happening, why, and the stakes for all of us.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch our next live episode: https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod

Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.

Read + Watch: 
Will’s articles on WIRED:
https://www.wired.com/story/trump-moves-to-ban-anthropic-from-the-us-government/
https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-shockwaves-silicon-valley/
Will’s AI Lab newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/ai-lab

kill switch went live on March 4th to cover one of the newsier topics of the week: the fight between the US government and Anthropic, the company behind Claude. Dexter talked to WIRED senior writer, Will Knight, to discuss what exactly is happening, why, and the stakes for all of us.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch our next live episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a>
Got something you&rsquo;re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.
Read + Watch:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Will&rsquo;s articles on WIRED:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trump-moves-to-ban-anthropic-from-the-us-government/">https://www.wired.com/story/trump-moves-to-ban-anthropic-from-the-us-government/</a></li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-shockwaves-silicon-valley/">https://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-shockwaves-silicon-valley/</a></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">Will&rsquo;s AI Lab newsletter: <a href="https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/ai-lab">https://www.wired.com/newsletter/exclusive/ai-lab</a></li>
</ul>

why is the government fighting with claude?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3b154382-7e29-4d14-b17b-b404001f8400/transcript

The 1997 science fiction film Gattaca depicts a dystopian future where genetic technology creates a two-tier society: people who were born with the “best” genes selected vs. people who were conceived naturally. This was a cautionary tale, showing us a future we don’t want. But now, Silicon Valley is heavily investing in making this technology real. Dexter talks to Amanda Gerut, West Coast editor at Fortune, about the rise of polygenic screening companies, the investment in gene editing of embryos, and how close we are to creating designer babies.

Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.

Read + Watch: 
Amanda’s article, “Silicon Valley sets its sights on building the perfect baby” - https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/ivf-silicon-valley-billionaire-baby/
WSJ's reporting, “Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.” - https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/genetically-engineered-babies-tech-billionaires-6779efc8
kill switch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod

The 1997 science fiction film Gattaca depicts a dystopian future where genetic technology creates a two-tier society: people who were born with the &ldquo;best&rdquo; genes selected vs. people who were conceived naturally. This was a cautionary tale, showing us a future we don&rsquo;t want. But now, Silicon Valley is heavily investing in making this technology real. Dexter talks to Amanda Gerut, West Coast editor at Fortune, about the rise of polygenic screening companies, the investment in gene editing of embryos, and how close we are to creating designer babies.
Got something you&rsquo;re curious about? Hit us up <a href="mailto:killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc">killswitch@kaleidoscope.nyc</a>, or @killswitchpod, or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.
Read + Watch:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Amanda&rsquo;s article, &ldquo;Silicon Valley sets its sights on building the perfect baby&rdquo; - <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/ivf-silicon-valley-billionaire-baby/">https://fortune.com/2025/11/29/ivf-silicon-valley-billionaire-baby/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">WSJ's reporting, &ldquo;Genetically Engineered Babies Are Banned. Tech Titans Are Trying to Make One Anyway.&rdquo; - https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/genetically-engineered-babies-tech-billionaires-6779efc8</li>
<li aria-level="1">kill switch on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod">https://www.youtube.com/@killswitch_pod</a></li>
</ul>

silicon valley’s plan to make the “perfect baby”

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/47e687fe-a8be-4bb7-9ebb-b3fb0149b4e4/transcript

the hack that broke myspace

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