Routers and Blue Lipsticks: The Many Lives of Sandy Lerner
Joining Elena as the permanent co-host of Breaking the 20% is none other than Maria Stylianou! Maria and Elena start their new partnership by diving into the unapologetically bold life of Sandy Lerner, who co-founded Cisco Systems, invented the multiprotocol router, and revolutionized computer networking—only to be unceremoniously booted from her own company post-IPO by a board that couldn’t handle her outspoken style. Instead of sulking, Lerner went on to punk up the beauty industry with Urban Decay, save historic landmarks, and run a sustainable farm, all while sticking it to anyone who told her she couldn’t.
The Rise and Fall of Silicon Alley's Cyber Rock Stars
In this episode, with the help of Anna, we tell the story of a brief moment in the 1990s when women were at the forefront of the nascent internet and tech scene in New York City, dubbed "Silicon Alley." It follows the journeys of three pioneering women - Stacy Horn, Marisa Bowe, and Jaime Levy - as they built innovative online communities, publications, and agencies. But as the dot-com boom intensified, corporate interests take over, eclipsing these women and transforming the web from a creative, community-driven space into a profit-driven industry. The episode highlights how these early cyber-celebrities were on the verge of defining the culture of the internet, before being pushed aside as the industry became dominated by men. It’s a fascinating look at a pivotal moment in web history when women held center stage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From ENIAC to UNIVAC
I'm back for another visit with my friends Constantinos Psillides and Pavlos Pavlides, hosts of the HistoriCon podcast! This time, I've brought them a fascinating tale that intersects with one of Constantinos' stories. It's the intriguing saga of the Eckert Mauchly Computer Corporation, the company behind the creation of the first commercial computer, yet it's also a tale marked by repeated failures. As the story unfolds, an unexpected figure emerges, one who is a protagonist in one of Constantinos' narratives. Tune into the episode and let's see if you can identify this mystery man.
The Queen of Code
If you want to talk about the origins of computing and programming, the one person you must definitely talk about is Grandma Cobol, the Queen of Code, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. And this is exactly what we do this week with the help of Celia.
Poetical Science and the Countess of Lovelace
Her famous poet father was "mad, bad, and dangerous to know". Her wealthy, aristocratic mother, was a mathematician and the "princess of parallelograms". She, the daughter of her parents, gave us the very first computer program in history.
Pickering's Harem
Before computers were machines, they were women. These women mapped out the universe, invented the modern science of astronomy, decrypted Nazis' messages, and helped airplanes and missiles fly! With the help of Antigoni we delve into their lives.
Η Patricia, η Roberta και ένα Colossal Cave (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με τη Βίκυ και την Έλενα εξερευνούμε την αρχή των video games μέσα από την ιστορία μιας σπηλιάς και ενώς παιχνιδιού που γράφτηκε σε μια προσπάθεια ο δημιουργός του να μείνει συνδεμένος με τη γυναίκα της ζωής του που τον άφησε. Εξερευνούμε επίσης πως η ίδια σπηλιά έγινε η αιτία να γεννηθεί μια από τις πιο θρυλικές εταιρείες δημιουργίας παιχνιδιών για ηλεκτρονικούς υπολογιστές και πως στο 2023 έχουμε επιστρέψει ξανά στην ίδια σπηλιά.
The brilliant asshole (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με τον Αντρέα και το Βαλεντίνο μιλάμε για το πιο ιδιοφυή από τους ιδιοφυείς μαλάκες. Είναι το πρότυπο του προγραμματιστή ροκ σταρ, του μυθικού προγραμματιστή 10x που όλες οι αγγελίες εργασίας αναζητούν. Είναι ό,τι δεν πάει καλά με τον κόσμο της τεχνολογίας και ο κόσμος της τεχνολογίας τον λατρεύει.
Ο μυθος της μοναχικης εφευρετριας (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με την Μέλπω μιλάμε για ένα μύθο αιώνων για το πως συμβαίνει η επιστημονική πρόοδος και τι συμβαίνει όταν βάλεις στο κέντρο του μύθου μια γυναίκα, τη Δρ. Katie Bouman και τη πρώτη φωτογραφία μιας μαύρης τρύπας.
The mother of all demos (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Ένα διαφορετικό επεισόδιο, σε ένα διαφορετικό podcast! Σε αυτό το επεισόδιο επισκέφτηκα τους φίλους μου Κωνσταντίνο Ψυλλίδη και Παύλο Παυλίδη και τους διηγήθηκα την ιστορία του εφευρέτη του graphical user interface.
Απο τον "Interfaith Message Processor" στο "Eternal September" (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με την Μαρία μιλάμε για όταν τελικά το Internet έγινε Internet και άρχισε να μεγαλώνει με ιλιγγιώδης ρυθμούς τη δεκαετία του 1990 οι άντρες θα ξεκινούσαν να τσακώνονται μεταξύ τους για το ποιος ήταν ο πιο σημαντικός στη δημιουργία του internet. Αντίθετα οι δύο γυναίκες που χωρίς τη δουλειά τους το internet δεν θα γινόταν πότε πραγματικότητα παρέμειναν ταπεινές και ο πολιτικός που τελικά παρέδωσε το internet στο λαό θα γινόταν για πάντα ανέκδοτο επειδή το χρησιμοποίησε ως χαρτί για να διεκδικήσει την προεδρία των ΗΠΑ.
Grace was a good man (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με την Γεωργία, μιλάμε για την αρχηγό όλων των προγραμματιστριών, την Αmazing Grace και όλα όσα πέτυχε στις τέσσερις δεκαετίες που ήταν στην πρώτη γραμμή της ανάπτυξης της επιστήμης των υπολογιστών.
Refrigerator Girls (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με την Έλενα μιλάμε για όταν οι άνδρες κατασκευάσαν τον πρώτο ηλεκτρονικό υπολογιστή, ο οποίος έχει 18000 λυχνίες κενού και περισσότερους από 3.000 διακόπτες και καλώδια. Στη συνέχεια στρατολόγησαν έξι κορίτσια, τους έδωσαν μια στοίβα σχεδιαγράμματα, καμία σχετική εκπαίδευση και τους ζήτησαν να τον προγραμματίσουν.
Η προφητης της εποχης των υπολογιστων (Greek/Ελληνικά)
Μαζί με τη Μαριάννα μιλούμε για έναν διάσημο κακό πατέρα και τη συνταγή της γυναίκας του για να σώσει την κόρη τους από το να γίνει ο πατέρας της. Τελικά η Ada Lovelace έμοιαζε πολύ με τον πατέρα της αλλά ταυτόχρονα ήταν εντελώς διαφορετική από αυτόν και έτσι εφηύρε τον προγραμματισμό.