The WIRED Podcast
- Episodes
- 154
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Nov 14, 2026
About the podcast
The award-winning WIRED UK Podcast with James Temperton and the rest of the team. Listen every week for the an informed and entertaining rundown of latest technology, science, business and culture news. New episodes every Friday.
Episodes 154
From The Big Story: What 800 Nerds on a Cruise Ship Taught Me About Life
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Here’s what I learned sailing the seas with a boat full of “Sea Monkeys” celebrating geek culture while …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Here’s what I learned sailing the seas with a boat full of “Sea Monkeys” celebrating geek culture while inverting classic rules of social hierarchy.
Written by Adam Rogers. Originally published on December 19th 2014.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: She Got a Great Deal on Egg Freezing. Then She Spiraled
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop A new startup called Cofertility lets young women freeze their eggs—for free. But is anything ever truly …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
A new startup called Cofertility lets young women freeze their eggs—for free. But is anything ever truly free?
Written by Maia Hibbett. Originally published on September 9th 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: The Genesis Engine
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop We now have the power to quickly and easily alter DNA. It could eliminate disease. It could solve world …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
We now have the power to quickly and easily alter DNA. It could eliminate disease. It could solve world hunger. It could provide unlimited clean energy. It could get really out of hand.
Written by Amy Maxmen. Originally published in August 2015.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: You Finally Got a Wikipedia Page. Then It Vanished
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Every day, Wikipedia biographies of living people are flagged for deletion because the subjects are not …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Every day, Wikipedia biographies of living people are flagged for deletion because the subjects are not “notable” enough. How do these poor souls take the news?
Written by Duncan Fyfe. Originally published on October 26th 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Big Fight Over 403 Very Small Wasps
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Earth is teeming with unknown species, and they’re dying off faster than ever. Now biologists are …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Earth is teeming with unknown species, and they’re dying off faster than ever. Now biologists are battling over an old question: how to catalog life?
Written by Brooke Jarvis. Originally published on November 10th 2022.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From Tehran
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Sneaking six Americans out of Iran in 1979 would take an audacious plan, false identities, and an epic …
Show notes
To hear stories three days earlier, listen on The Big Story: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Sneaking six Americans out of Iran in 1979 would take an audacious plan, false identities, and an epic Hollywood cover story.
Written by Joshuah Bearman. Originally published on April 24th, 2007.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-storyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: She Was the DEA’s Premier Crypto Detective. The Clues Led Straight to Her Own Family
To listen to episodes a day early, follow The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop To escape the chaos of her Russian childhood, Lili Infante became an American law enforcement prodigy …
Show notes
To listen to episodes a day early, follow The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
To escape the chaos of her Russian childhood, Lili Infante became an American law enforcement prodigy. She pioneered the DEA’s investigations of the dark web—never suspecting who she’d find hiding there.
Written by Joshuah Bearman and Owen Long. Originally published on October 21st, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Inside the Bitcoin Bust That Took Down the Web's Biggest Child Abuse Site
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop They thought their payments were untraceable. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The untold story of the case that shredded …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
They thought their payments were untraceable. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The untold story of the case that shredded the myth of Bitcoin’s anonymity.
Written by Andy Greenberg. Originally published on April 7th, 2022.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Evan Ratliff Tried to Vanish: Here's What Happened
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop He shed his identity with the goal of disappearing for one month. Then the manhunt began. Written by Evan Ratliff. Originally …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
He shed his identity with the goal of disappearing for one month. Then the manhunt began.
Written by Evan Ratliff. Originally published on November 20th, 2009.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Including what Elizabeth Holmes said to him last week. A WIRED exclusive interview with the comic auteur, as his first feature film hits theaters. The conversation between Katie Drummond and Nathan Fielder is …
Show notes
Including what Elizabeth Holmes said to him last week. A WIRED exclusive interview with the comic auteur, as his first feature film hits theaters.
The conversation between Katie Drummond and Nathan Fielder is performed by voice actors. These are not their actual voices.
Written by Katie Drummond. Originally published on October 19th, 2026.
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back.
Written by EJ Dickson. Originally published on September 14th, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: The Accidental Zillionaire
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Microsoft spawned two billionaires. Paul Allen is the other one. Written by Paulina Borsook. Originally published on August …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Microsoft spawned two billionaires. Paul Allen is the other one.
Written by Paulina Borsook. Originally published on August 1st, 1994.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: In Search of the Heart of the Online-Cat Industrial Complex
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop A cat wearing a short tie plays music on a cat-shaped keyboard (“Pancake Meowsic Video,” 185,459 views). A woman performs sun …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
A cat wearing a short tie plays music on a cat-shaped keyboard (“Pancake Meowsic Video,” 185,459 views). A woman performs sun salutations with a cat on her back (“Cat Loves Yoga,” 1,539 views). A man slaps two cats on an ironing board to the beat of “Atmosphere” (“Cat Slap Joy Division,” 357,605 views).
Written by Gideon Lewis-Kraus. Originally published on August 31st, 2012.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: The Internet Runs on Cats and Porn. It’s About to Get Cattier and Pornier
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Soon, hundreds of new top-level domains, including .meow and .fart, could be added to the internet. WIRED goes inside the …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Soon, hundreds of new top-level domains, including .meow and .fart, could be added to the internet. WIRED goes inside the backroom shenanigans of ICANN, the organization at the helm.
Written by Pete Millspaugh. Originally published on October 6th, 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Billions Registered
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Right now, there are no rules to keep you from owning a bitchin’ corporate name as your own internet address. Written by Joshua …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Right now, there are no rules to keep you from owning a bitchin’ corporate name as your own internet address.
Written by Joshua Quittner. Originally published on October 1st, 1994.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Why the Future Doesn't Need Us
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Our most powerful 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech—are threatening to make humans an …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Our most powerful 21st-century technologies—robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech—are threatening to make humans an endangered species.
Written by Bill Joy. Originally published on April 1st, 2000.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Choke Points
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family. Lost Lives. How Israeli checkpoints suffocate Palestinian life in the occupied …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Lost time. Lost jobs. Lost friends. Lost family.
Lost Lives.
How Israeli checkpoints suffocate Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank.
Written by Lama Rabah, Sabrina Slipchenko, Charles Boutaud, Firas Tawil and Elena DeBre. Originally published on September 30th 2026.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: How a Research Blog Took on Big Surveillance in China—and Won
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Digging through manuals for security cameras, a group of gearheads found sinister details and ignited a new battle in the …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Digging through manuals for security cameras, a group of gearheads found sinister details and ignited a new battle in the US-China tech war.
Written by Amos Zeeberg. Originally published on April 4th, 2023.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: Greetings From Burning Man!
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop Dispatches from the New American Holiday: Writer Bruce Sterling takes the kids to the Temporary Autonomous Zone, where survival …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
Dispatches from the New American Holiday: Writer Bruce Sterling takes the kids to the Temporary Autonomous Zone, where survival is a personal choice.
Written by Bruce Sterling. Originally published in WIRED on November 1st, 1996.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The Big Story: She's 28, Loves God and Her Family, and Might Be the Reason You Can't Have Kids
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop No IVF. No surrogacy. No polygenic tests. Emma Waters is leading a national fight against fertility tech—with her hot husband’s …
Show notes
Listen to more of The Big Story here: http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop
No IVF. No surrogacy. No polygenic tests. Emma Waters is leading a national fight against fertility tech—with her hot husband’s permission, of course.
For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-storyLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From In The Dark: Blood Relatives Trailer
Five family members, murdered. A sixth in prison for life. It’s one of Britain’s most infamous crimes. But did the justice system get it wrong? “Blood Relatives,” a six-part series from In the Dark, is coming …
Show notes
Five family members, murdered. A sixth in prison for life. It’s one of Britain’s most infamous crimes. But did the justice system get it wrong? “Blood Relatives,” a six-part series from In the Dark, is coming on October 28th.
New Yorker subscribers get early, ad-free access to “Blood Relatives.” In Apple Podcasts, tap the link at the top of the feed to subscribe or link an existing subscription. Or visit newyorker.com/dark to subscribe and listen in the New Yorker app.
In the Dark has merch! Buy specially designed hats, T-shirts, and totes for yourself or a loved one at store.newyorker.com.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From WIRED Politics Lab: How Election Deniers Are Weaponizing Tech To Disrupt November
Election deniers are mobilizing their supporters and rolling out new tech to disrupt the November election. These groups are already organizing on hyperlocal levels, and learning to monitor polling places …
Show notes
Election deniers are mobilizing their supporters and rolling out new tech to disrupt the November election. These groups are already organizing on hyperlocal levels, and learning to monitor polling places, target election officials, and challenge voter rolls. And though their work was once fringe, its become mainstreamed in the Republican Party. Today on WIRED Politics Lab, we focus on what these groups are doing, and what this means for voters and the election workers already facing threats and harassment.
Listen to and follow WIRED Politics Lab here.
Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Great WIRED Quiz of 2022
We look back at the year in tech, science, business, and culture—through the medium of a quiz.Amit hosts the annual WIRED podcast quiz, with Morgan, Matt R, Grace, and Matt B vying for the prestigious …
Show notes
We look back at the year in tech, science, business, and culture—through the medium of a quiz.
Amit hosts the annual WIRED podcast quiz, with Morgan, Matt R, Grace, and Matt B vying for the prestigious title.
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by Matt Burgess
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We Want Your Questions About the Future
Hello, WIRED podcast listeners. We’re on a short break from producing new episodes at the moment, with some big plans for next year. In the meantime, we need your help. Tell us: What are your burning questions …
Show notes
Hello, WIRED podcast listeners. We’re on a short break from producing new episodes at the moment, with some big plans for next year. In the meantime, we need your help.
Tell us: What are your burning questions about the future.
The future of what? Anything. Big or small, strange or serious. We want to hear your questions.
And they may even make it into a future episode of the show.
Email us at the normal address: [email protected]
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Most Vulnerable Place on the Internet
Coming up today: Morgan finds out what happens when an AI company steals your face, and Matt Burgess explores the most vulnerable place on the internetThis is going to be the last episode for a little while …
Show notes
Coming up today: Morgan finds out what happens when an AI company steals your face, and Matt Burgess explores the most vulnerable place on the internet
This is going to be the last episode for a little while. We’re taking a short break to work on some exciting changes to the podcast for 2023, but we’ll be back with a new episode in a few weeks. We’ll see you then!
The stories we talked about this week:
Clearview Stole My Face and the EU Can’t Do Anything About It
https://www.wired.com/story/clearview-face-search-engine-gdpr/
The Most Vulnerable Place on the Internet
https://www.wired.com/story/submarine-internet-cables-egypt/
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by James Temperton
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Should You Ditch Twitter?
Coming up today: the WIRED podcast team weighs in on Elon Musk’s dramatic Twitter takeover.The stories we talked about this week:Unverify Me, Daddyhttps://www.wired.com/story/twitter-elon-musk-verification/Elon …
Show notes
Coming up today: the WIRED podcast team weighs in on Elon Musk’s dramatic Twitter takeover.
The stories we talked about this week:
Unverify Me, Daddy
https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-elon-musk-verification/
Elon Musk Has Fired Twitter’s ‘Ethical AI’ Team
https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-ethical-ai-team/
Twitter Had a Plan to Fix Social Media. Will Elon Musk Follow It?
https://www.wired.com/story/twitter-had-a-plan-to-fix-social-media-bluesky-will-elon-musk-follow-it/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Bruce Willis Deepfake Is Everyone’s Problem
Coming up today: the deadly viruses lurking in the permafrost, and what the Bruce Willis deepfake means for the future of Hollywood.The stories we talked about this week:The Bruce Willis Deepfake Is Everyone’s …
Show notes
Coming up today: the deadly viruses lurking in the permafrost, and what the Bruce Willis deepfake means for the future of Hollywood.
The stories we talked about this week:
The Bruce Willis Deepfake Is Everyone’s Problem
https://www.wired.com/story/bruce-willis-deepfake-rights-law/
Thawing Permafrost Exposes Old Pathogens—and New Hosts
https://www.wired.com/story/arctic-spillover-risk/
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by Matt Burgess
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Likely Are You To Die in a Nuclear War?
Coming up today: how gig economy laws caused strip club chaos, and we assess your risk of dying in a nuclear war.The stories we talked about this week:The Gig Law Causing Chaos in California Strip …
Show notes
Coming up today: how gig economy laws caused strip club chaos, and we assess your risk of dying in a nuclear war.
The stories we talked about this week:
The Gig Law Causing Chaos in California Strip Clubs
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/gig-economy-strip-clubs
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by Matt Burgess
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Truth About Population Collapse
We look at how social media platforms have responded to the death of Molly Russell and explain why Elon Musk is wrong about depopulation.How A British Teen's Death Changed Social …
Show notes
We look at how social media platforms have responded to the death of Molly Russell and explain why Elon Musk is wrong about depopulation.
How A British Teen's Death Changed Social Media
https://www.wired.com/story/how-a-british-teens-death-changed-social-media/
Elon Musk Is Totally Wrong About Population Collapse
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-population-crisis/
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by James Temperton
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Elon Musk and The Bots
Coming up today: as Elon Musk and Twitter (maybe) close in on a deal, we delve deep into the glorious, curious world of bots.(This show was recorded before Elon Musk said he would, in fact, buy Twitter.)The …
Show notes
Coming up today: as Elon Musk and Twitter (maybe) close in on a deal, we delve deep into the glorious, curious world of bots.
(This show was recorded before Elon Musk said he would, in fact, buy Twitter.)
The stories we talk about this week...
The Quest to Find Twitter’s Elusive Bot Team
https://www.wired.com/story/the-quest-to-find-twitters-elusive-bot-team/
The Problem With Mental Health Bots
https://www.wired.com/story/mental-health-chatbots/
Read all our bot coverage
https://www.wired.com/tag/series-bots-run-the-internet/
Music by Filip Hnizdo
Produced and edited by James Temperton
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
These are the latest 40 of 154 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More Technology podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.