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EPISODE · Jul 28, 2026 · 27 MIN

The Hidden History of Data

from The Next Big Idea Daily · host Next Big Idea Club

We tend to think of data as something modern—born with smartphones, spreadsheets, and AI. But in Data Empire: The Power of Information to Organize, Control, and Dominate, Roopika Risam argues that data has always been a tool of power: used to count grain, map land, classify people, and decide who gets seen. Then legal scholar Jacqueline Lipton brings the story into the present with Our Data, Ourselves: A Personal Guide to Digital Privacy, a practical look at what we can—and can’t—do to protect our personal information. 🎁 Save 20% on a Next Big Idea Club membership when you used code PODCAST at⁠ ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠ ✉️ Get big ideas in your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe at⁠ ⁠bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠ Sponsored By: Shopify — Nothing stands between your idea and a real business. So go make it one. Start your free trial at shopify.com/daily FODZYME — Finally, you can enjoy your favorite foods without the pain. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠icaneatagain.com/daily ⁠for 30% off your first order. Quince — Make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to quince.com/nbid for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 28, 2026

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The Hidden History of Data

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