A podcast about the women who programmed the path to our digital present but also about the ones leading us to an inclusive tech future

Latest Episodes

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S2 - Ep. 27 - July 14, 2024

Alexa, tell me about the Siri-ously fascinating history of AI

For the last episode of season 2 I am joined by Maria Terzi co-founder and CEO of AI and cybersecurity firm Malloc and we travel back in time to meet ELIZA, the great-grandmother of all chatbots. Then we follow the fascinating path that has led to today's sophisticated AI. Join us for a lighthearted look at the history of Artificial Intelligence, as we explore the milestones, mishaps, and downright funny moments that have shaped the development of artificial intelligence.

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S2 - Ep. 26 - June 30, 2024

From ARPANET to Eternal September—Women’s .com legacy

In this episode we journey from the origins of ARPANET to the perpetual connectivity of Eternal September, highlighting the critical contributions of women in the evolution of the internet.  With a comedic flare brought by my hilarious guests, Constantinos and Pavlos, we explore the transformative role these women played, featuring Jake Feinler the woman who gave us the ".com" and the brilliant Radia Perlman, whose poem encapsulates the essence of her groundbreaking work. Join us for a blend of laughter and learning as we delve into the stories of these digital pioneers.

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S2 - Ep. 25 - June 16, 2024

Self-Made Billionaires

In the latest episode, Michalis Strouthos returns to the studio as we dive into the fascinating story behind the rise of personal computing giants Microsoft and Apple, and their founders, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Through the lens of the 1999 TV movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley," we explore iconic moments and pivotal deals. Discover how these tech titans really made their mark—not through sheer genius alone, but with a hefty dose of luck, privilege, and some truly funny moments. Don't miss this entertaining deep dive into tech history.

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S2 - Ep. 24 - June 2, 2024

The Alan Turing Story

In this episode, I am joined by Jas Powell to delve into the remarkable legacy of Alan Turing, often hailed as the father of computer science. Recorded during Pride Month, this episode explores Turing's early life, groundbreaking contributions to the field of computing, and his pivotal role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. The discussion touches on Turing's personal struggles, including his tragic prosecution for homosexuality, and his lasting impact, culminating in the posthumous apology and pardon from the UK government. Join us as we celebrate Turing's genius and his enduring influence on both technology and LGBTQ+ rights.

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S2 - Ep. 23 - May 19, 2024

How Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia went from Zero to One (Part 2)

For a second week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. We explore their rise from PayPal pioneers to tech titans, dissecting how their libertarian ideals and strategies have sculpted today’s tech culture, often at the expense of diversity and inclusion. With Andrea we explore Thiel's controversial actions and ideologies—from his involvement in the Gawker lawsuit to his political machinations—offering a compelling narrative on the power dynamics that shape the digital age.

In the concluding installment of this dual-part series, we delve deep into the narrative surrounding PayPal, tracing its inception, the tumultuous internal conflicts among its founders, and the ensuing cultural impact the company had throughout Silicon Valley. Furthermore, we scrutinize the notorious Gawker lawsuit and the intricate political maneuvers orchestrated by Peter Thiel.

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S2 - Ep. 22 - May 12, 2024

How Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia went from Zero to One (Part 1)

This week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. 

In the opening segment of this two-part series, we introduce you to the legendary Paypal Mafia. Coined in a 2007 article, they are depicted as a "hyperintelligent, superconnected pack of serial entrepreneurs" who emerged from the ranks of the pioneering payment service, PayPal, and after leaving Paypal they founded, funded, and led some of the most influential tech companies of our time, cementing their status as icons of entrepreneurial prowess. In the process, they reshaped the landscape of Silicon Valley forever. We then focus on the "Don" of this group, Peter Thiel, tracing his upbringing and his early years as a conservative libertarian student at the liberal Stanford University.

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S2 - Ep. Bonus - May 12, 2024

Terra Nullius Cyprus

In the 11th episode of Terra Nullius Cyprus, I was hosted by Costa Constanti. We talked about Cocoon Creations, this podcast and a whole lot more.

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S2 - Ep. 21 - April 28, 2024

Jia Tan, XZ Utils and the perils of trust

This week Andreas Constantinides, a renowned cybersecurity expert, joins me to help me uncover the alarming case of Jia Tan—a fabricated identity at the center of a sophisticated cyber espionage operation. Andreas lends his extensive expertise as we analyze how Jia Tan, seemingly a diligent contributor to open-source projects like XZ Utils, was a cover for a collective executing a long-term backdoor placement in critical software infrastructure. This episode not only explores the broader implications of trust and security in the open-source community but also discusses the fact that female personas are commonly used by hackers in long-sting operations. Join us as we piece together the digital puzzle that nearly compromised millions of servers worldwide.

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S2 - Ep. 20 - April 14, 2024

Xenia Miscouridou on Statistics, AI, Public Health, and Women in Tech

This week I am joined by Xenia Miscouridou, a pioneer in the realm of artificial intelligence and a beacon for women in science. Celebrated on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Xenia stands at the forefront of machine learning research. Her academic journey has taken her from Imperial College London, Cambridge, and Oxford University, to New York and Switzerland, to her current lectureship at the University of Cyprus, intertwining research with a dedication to teaching. We explore her academic ventures, her influence on global health through AI, and explainability in machine learning. We also illuminate her dedication to fostering female representation in the science and tech world.

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Blog & News

April 4, 2024

Goodbye, Lenna. It was about time for you to retire!

Terry Benzel, the Vice-President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society’s technical and conference sector, announced in a notice, “Starting 1 April, new manuscript submissions will no longer be allowed to include the Lena image.” 

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March 8, 2024

Breaking the 20% Partners with Future Start-Up Founders Programme

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Future Start-Up Founders Programme, an empowering initiative organized by the CCS under the auspices of the Erasmus+ EU co-funded project, Femme Forward.

 

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March 8, 2024

Howard Aiken

Howard Aiken was born on March 8, 1900. His groundbreaking work centered around the development of the Harvard Mark I, an electromechanical computer completed in 1944. This is the same machine that Grace Hopper will get to meet later in the same year that set her on the path to becoming The Queen of Code.

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March 8, 2024

Honoring Our Heroines: A Special International Women's Day Tribute by "Breaking the 20%"

This International Women's Day, "Breaking the 20%" proudly celebrates the indomitable spirit and groundbreaking contributions of women in technology and computing. 

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March 2, 2024

Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler

On March 2, 1931, "Jake" Feinler was born. She was the Network Information Systems Center director at the Stanford Research Institute. Her group operated the Network Information Center for the ARPANET as it evolved into the Defense Data Network and the Internet. Her group also created the naming registry for World Wide Web domains designation behind web addresses “.edu,” “.gov,” “.org,” “.mil” and of course dot com (.com)

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Dec. 27, 2023

Jean Jennings Bartik

Betty Jean Jennings (later Bartik) was born on December 27, 1924 and was one of six human computers chosen to work on ENIAC. She and the team taught themselves ENIAC's operation and became its (and, arguably, the world's) first programmers.

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Nov. 18, 2023

Voyager's Mission Status

Has this week's episode left you wanting to learn more about the Voyager mission? Good news, then because NASA is providing. Links to mission status and all kinds of information about the mission are in this article

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Oct. 15, 2023

JA Cyprus

In ep. 2 of Season 2 I had the pleasure of having as my guest Antigoni Komodiki, CEO of JA Cyprus. JA Cyprus is dedicated to educating students on entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy skills through experiential, hands-on programs.

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