About Cybershow

Cybershow is an English language podcast and blog, but it has an international audience. The show appeals to a wide range of ages and cultures/identities and speaks to issues experienced around the globe.

The show is an extraordinary new, growing force on the technology media scene. Since March 2023 we've produced over 50 episodes and as many long-form analytical blog articles.

… humane, witty, literate, prescient, on the money, poetic, knowledgeable, courageous, lyrical, irreverent, inspiring hope …

Diverse in their world views and politics, Helen and Andy unite in a passionate, deeply critical quest to understand our technological society - it's potential for peace and humanity, and it's tragic failings.

Helen Plews: Author, researcher, journalist, performing artist MSc Cyber Security Engineering, BA hons. Creative & Performing Arts IT support engineer in the creative industry (security speciality Vendor Malware Expert Thesis 2021: "Is Vendor Malware Present in Solid State Storage Devices Available Through E-commerce?"

Andy Farnell: Computer scientist, professor, writer, hacker, philosopher. Creator of Procedural Audio. Author of Designing Sound and Digital Vegan. Regular writer for Times Higher.

The show is "multi-media" and so is produced in audio format as a radio/podcast, a blog with written content, a TV/video chat and interview form, and as a live stage event where we do public speaking events that invites audience participation and questions.

A central tag-line is "Cybersecurity for everyone". We promote ideas in 'Civic Cyber Security', 'Digital Self-Defence' and 'Digital Rights'. Amongst our perennial themes are:

• Protection of Children Online
• Technology dependency and addiction
• Privacy and Digital Dignity
• Civic Resilience</li>
• Technology in Education
• Snooping CCTV and Surveillance State
• Women in Tech
• Workplace Conditions
• Tech in Entertainments
• Tech and the Environment
• Development of "Artificial Intelligence"

The Cybershow values digital literacy and common rights. We support full digital choice and civic participation within the technological society through free open source software and intelligence for all citizens. We champion womens' and minority rights in tech, and oppose digital privilege, division and inequity in the age of Big Tech and surveillance capitalism.

We value education, so try to make very complex ideas accessible to a wide audience, to provoke thoughtful and challenging reactions while avoiding doom and pessimism.

We value humane technology, intelligence amplification "IA" in place of artificial intelligence "AI", and peaceful innovation that empowers the varied and many, not just the incumbent few.

We use humane and sustainable technology. The Cybershow is made using Free Open Source Software. We do not use products by Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta. No "AI" is used in any part of our production.

In the pipeline are "In the Chair" interviews with prominent tech thinkers, analysis of parliamentary political bills, a "parents and kids" series that gives voice to the family, a "Cyber-Nanas" feature for issues affecting older generations, "Cybershow on the go" episodes which combine travel and health with technology talk, and deeper academic/philosophical shows that delve into computer science papers and hacker culture.

The show relies on diverse talent with a team of writer-presenters who are practising developers, ethical hackers, teachers and cyber security professionals. The crew are multi-skilled, equally at home on stage, in the studio, behind the camera, mixing-desk, microphone, writing code or hacking in the server room. Regular guest presenters, writers and advisors are from accomplished media and professional backgrounds. We've RAP and Sony award-winning production skills for BBC Radio 1, film composers and music production on the Bristol hip-hop scene for bands like Massive Attack, plus the odd Nobel prize-winner.

We are from the South of England, in the counties of Dorset and Hampshire. We and our families live, work and play in the area around Southampton, Winchester, Bournemouth and Salisbury. We like to get out, so many of our shows are filmed against the beaches and forests of this beautiful part of the world.