This week Maria & Elena talk about Pam, a game developer whose life was turned upside down by a coordinated online harassment campaign. We start from Pam's humble beginnings, the creation of her groundbreaking game about mental health, and then talk about the intense wave of online abuse that followed false accusations from an ex-partner.
While the story in this episode is based on real events to respect the privacy and safety of those directly affected, some names, dates, and other details have been altered. The aim is not to sensationalize or retraumatize those who experienced these events but to shed light on systemic issues.
Στο νέο επεισόδιο συζητούμε για τις τελευταίες εξελίξεις στην τεχνολογία, με επίκεντρο την DeepSeek, την κινεζική AI startup που έχει προκαλέσει πανικό στη Silicon Valley. Από την ξαφνική άνοδο και το εντυπωσιακό open-source μοντέλο της, μέχρι τη χακαρισμένη βάση δεδομένων της, η DeepSeek είναι το καυτό θέμα της εβδομάδας. Αναλύουμε την κατάρρευση της μετοχής της Nvidia, την επένδυση-μαμούθ της SoftBank στην OpenAI, αλλά και τις τελευταίες κινήσεις της Google και της Meta.
Ο Elon Musk έχει χτίσει μια τεχνολογική αυτοκρατορία, από τη SpaceX και την Tesla μέχρι τη Neuralink και την X (πρώην Twitter). Σε κάθε μια από αυτές τις εταιρίες υπάρχουν γυναίκες που έχουν θέσεις κλειδιά και τη δυνατότητα να παίξουν καθοριστικό ρόλο στην επιτυχία του. Αναλύουμε τι σημαίνει να συνεργάζεσαι με τον πιο αμφιλεγόμενο CEO της εποχής μας και αν οι γυναίκες στην τροχιά του είναι πραγματικά ηγέτιδες ή απλά κομμάτια σε ένα παιχνίδι που ελέγχει ο ίδιος.
Στο νέο επεισόδιο του Breakroom, συζητούμε τις τελευταίες εξελίξεις στον κόσμο της τεχνολογίας με τη γνωστή χαλαρή και διασκεδαστική διάθεση ενώ ο κόσμος γύρω μας (κυρίως οι Αμερικάνοι) έχουν πανικοβλήθει για το TikTok που χάνουν και για το DeepSeek που ταράζει τα νερά!
-kill dragon
-WITH WHAT? YOUR BARE HANDS?
-yes
-CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST VANQUISHED A DRAGON WITH YOUR BARE HANDS! (UNBELIEVABLE, ISN'T IT?)
If you know this game, congratulations—you’re an OG! In this episode, we explore the origins of video games through the story of a cave and a computer game created by a man trying to stay connected to the love of his life after she left him. This same cave also inspired the founding of one of the most legendary computer game companies.
Στο πρώτο επεισόδιο του 20% Breakroom για το 2025, κάνουμε μια ανασκόπηση του 2024 και συζητούμε τις σημαντικότερες τάσεις που περιμένουμε να δούμε το 2025. Από τη μαζική ενσωμάτωση της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης σε όλες τις πτυχές της τεχνολογίας, μέχρι τις φουτουριστικές εξελίξεις από τον Elon Musk και τις νομικές πιέσεις που δέχονται οι τεχνολογικοί γίγαντες, αυτό το επεισόδιο τα έχει όλα!
Σε αυτό το επεισόδιο εξερευνούμε την ιστορία πίσω από την πιο απομακρυσμένη ανθρώπινη δημιουργία, τα διαστημόπλοια Voyager 1 και Voyager 2, που εκτοξεύθηκαν το 1977 και συνεχίζουν να ταξιδεύουν στο διαστρικό διάστημα. Εστιάζουμε στον ρόλο μιας ομάδας γυναικών προγραμματιστριών, γνωστών ως “τα κορίτσια της Helen”, που κατάφεραν με μόλις 69,63 KB μνήμης και καινοτόμο προγραμματισμό να κάνουν πραγματικότητα το “Grand Tour” του ηλιακού μας συστήματος.
Αυτό το επεισόδιο αποτίνει φόρο τιμής στις γυναίκες που, μέσα από τον κώδικα που έγραψαν, έστειλαν το μήνυμα της ανθρωπότητας στα βάθη του σύμπαντος.
Μπορείτε να μάθετε περισσότερα για τις γυναίκες του JPL εδώ: https://women.jpl.nasa.gov/
In this special 2024 year-in-review episode, host Elena, CTO of Cocoon Creations, reflects on an incredible year of stories celebrating the intersection of technology, innovation, and trailblazing individuals. From exploring Margaret Hamilton’s Apollo 11 triumph in Burn Baby, Burn, to celebrating fictional tech icons in Digital Divas, and diving into Kara Swisher’s hard-hitting Burn Book, the podcast tackled tech’s past, present, and cultural impact. Season 3 brought new beginnings with The Breakroom, a playful Greek-language segment co-hosted by Michalis, and a dual-language storytelling approach. The biggest highlight? The addition of Maria Stylianou as a permanent co-host, bringing wit, expertise, and advocacy for women in STEM. Together, they kicked off their partnership with Routers and Blue Lipsticks, spotlighting Sandy Lerner’s remarkable story. Thank you for joining us this year—your support means the world. Happy New Year!
Τα Χριστούγεννα είναι σχεδόν εδώ, αλλά εμείς ακόμα προσπαθούμε να καταλάβουμε τι πάει σωστά και τι λάθος στον κόσμο της τεχνολογίας. Μια AI γιαγιά πολεμά τους scammers, το ChatGPT μας λέει ξεκάθαρα ψέματα, οι θεωρίες συνωμοσίας για τους Rothschild μπλέκονται στην κουβέντα μας, και η πυρηνική ενέργεια παρουσιάζεται ως λύση στα προβλήματα των μεγάλων εταιρειών τεχνολογίας.
Feb. 19, 2025
Οι φίλοι μας στο Μουσείο Υπολογιστών Κύπρου διοργανώνουν την Παρασκευή 7 Μαρτίου 2025, στις 18:30 μια εκδήλωση για την Παγκόσμια Ημέρα της Γυναίκας. Στην εκδήλωση θα παρουσιάσουν και θα απαντήσουν ερωτήσεις από το κοινό οι θρυλικές Roberta Williams και Lori Ann Cole. Εγγραφές στο https://tinyurl.com/storytellers25
Feb. 11, 2025
On February 11, 1942, Mike Markkula was born. He was the first investor in Apple and the second CEO. In episode 25 of season 2, he contacts the interview when Steve Jobs walks in to terrorize the interviewed man. You can watch this clip here.
Jan. 3, 2025
January 3, 1983: Time Magazine named the computer its first-ever “Machine of the Year”, declaring that “none symbolized the past year more richly, or will be viewed by history as more significant, than a machine: the computer.”
While the computer was celebrated, the role of women in programming—pioneers of early computing—was already being diminished. The shift began years earlier, with societal narratives and marketing positioning computers as “toys for boys.” By 1984, the percentage of women earning computer science degrees peaked at 37%, but it marked the beginning of a sharp decline as the industry grew more male-dominated.
Jan. 2, 2025
Dec. 30, 2024
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Brussels along with 19 other women entrepreneurs, at the invitation of the Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus. During our visit, we explored EU initiatives, funding opportunities, and the various ways the EU supports gender equality, women in tech, and women entrepreneurs. While all the knowledge we gained was invaluable, I want to share some fascinating statistics I learned on this trip. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of ICT specialists in the EU increased by 59.3%—nearly six times the overall employment growth rate of 10.7%. However, in 2023, men still dominated the field, with 80.6% of ICT roles in the EU held by men, compared to just 19.4% held by women. Cyprus stands out as one of the leaders, with women making up 24% of ICT specialists in 2023—a significant increase from 16.4% in 2013.
Dec. 20, 2024
On December 20th, 1996 Apple purchased NeXT for $429 million bringing Steve Jobs, Apple's cofounder, as a consultant. That was the beginning of the 2nd coming of Apple. But that wouldn't have been possible if NeXT hadn't survived the ridiculous spending habits of Steve Jobs. And the person that ensured that NeXT didn't go bankrupt was none other than Susan Barnes. Susan Barnes, a co-founder and CFO of NeXT, played a critical role in the company’s development, providing financial leadership and strategic guidance during its formative years.
Dec. 12, 2024
I’m thrilled to announce that joining me as the permanent co-host of Breaking the 20% is none other than Maria Stylianou! Maria is a force to be reckoned with—a trailblazer in the tech world, a passionate advocate for women in STEM, and an all-around badass. With a background in software engineering and years of experience leading teams and projects that make a difference, Maria brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table. She’s deeply committed to amplifying the voices of women in tech and challenging the norms that hold them back. Plus, she’s got the kind of wit and insight that guarantees every conversation will be as engaging as it is enlightening. Welcome to the podcast, Maria! Let’s break that 20% ceiling together.
Oct. 18, 2024
Lillian Schwartz, a pioneering digital artist and animator, passed away on October 12, 2024, at the age of 97 in New York City. She was renowned for her groundbreaking work in computer-generated art and animation, especially during her time at AT&T’s Bell Labs in the late 1960s and 1970s. Schwartz created some of the earliest experimental computer-animated films, such as Pixillation and UFOs. Her work revolutionized the use of computers in art and earned her numerous accolades throughout her career.
Oct. 8, 2024
On this Ada Lovelace Day, we honor not only the world’s first computer programmer but also a woman who imagined the impossible. Her pioneering work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine made her the world’s first computer programmer, long before the modern computer existed. But she was so much more than just a mathematician. She foresaw a future where machines could do more than calculate — they could even create music. Her story is a reminder that the future of tech can and must also belong to women.
