PODCAST · technology
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast
by Ania Lichtarowicz
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - Tech That Actually Matters. If you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) - the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Made by and hosted by the ex-BBC World Service Digital Planet team (yes, the award-winning crew behind 21+ years of world-leading tech journalism and 1.5M annual downloads), SOEP uncovers the untold stories shaping our digital world. This isn’t a show about the latest shiny toy. It’s about technology that changes lives, cultures, and global societies.Each episode explores: ⚡The real-world impact of emerging tech 🌍 New innovations driving social good 🔍 Under-the-radar digital trends you should be paying attention to 🧠 How tech is reshaping communities, culture, and the way we live 📰 The technology behind the week’s biggest world stories - explained simply Our mission? To build a tech-fo
Episodes
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AI Toys: Why Experts Say Don’t Buy Them
AI toys can talk, listen and become a child’s “friend”. Experts say: don’t buy them. AI-powered teddy bears, dolls and companion toys can hold conversations with children, remember what they say and respond using generative AI. But the Safe AI for Children Alliance is warning parents against AI...
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Russian Disinformation, AI & Elections: New Evidence of How Fake News Spreads & The Hidden Workers Training AI
New evidence of Russian-linked disinformation around European elections The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said that he was given a clear answer after entering Downing Street that Russia did interfere in the UK's 2016 Brexit referendum. Now new evidence reveals how Russian-linked...
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AI, Visas and Border Control: Can Artificial Intelligence Decide Who Gets Through
AI Is Changing How Visas and Borders Work AI is increasingly being used in consular services to check documents, detect patterns, flag potential fraud and help process huge numbers of visa applications. But when an algorithm influences what a human officer sees, where does human judgement end and...
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We’re Throwing Away the Technology Keeping Us Healthy: The Hidden Crisis of Healthcare E-Waste
Medical Devices, Critical Materials and the Race to Build Circular Devices Digital healthcare is producing a fast-growing mountain of electronic waste. Glucose monitors, wearable sensors and medical devices can contain lithium, copper, gold and rare earth elements, yet many are discarded or...
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When Your Data Becomes a Weapon: Myanmar and Customer Privacy
Myanmar, Customer Data and Human RightsAfter Myanmar’s military coup in 2021, authorities demanded access to sensitive customer information held by a major Norwegian telecommunications company. Data linked to customers suspected of opposing the military was handed over, according to allegations…
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AI Is Getting More Powerful. Can We Regulate It Before It’s Too Late?
The future of AI, self-improving systems, cybersecurity, AI for Good and the fight for global AI regulationHow powerful can artificial intelligence become — and can governments, industry and international organisations keep pace? We examine the rapid development of generative, autonomous and...
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Internet Shutdowns: 10 Years of Fighting to Keep the World Connected
10 Years of #KeepItOn: Documenting the Global Fight Against Internet ShutdownsFor a decade, Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign has been documenting and fighting government-led internet shutdowns around the world. We look at why governments keep cutting people off, the impact on communities…
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AI Medical Devices: Are We Using Them Before We Know They Work?
AI in Healthcare: 1,357 Medical Devices Cleared — Only 3 Tested on PatientsA new PLOS Digital Health study reveals a huge gap between AI medical devices being cleared for use and evidence that they actually improve patient outcomes. We look at what FDA clearance really means, who is being left…
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Could Your Electric Car Power Your Home? Everything-to-Grid Energy, AI & the Future of Electricity
Everything-to-Grid Energy: Turning Electric Cars, Batteries and Homes into Power StationsWhat if your electric car could do more than get you from A to B? Professor ZhaoYang Dong explains how electric vehicles, home batteries, solar panels and buildings could become active parts of the…
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AI for Domestic Violence Support & Cybersecurity: Why We Need to Pause Before We Act
Brazil’s AI-Powered Technology Helping Women Escape Bureaucracy and Access SupportFrom Web Summit Rio, we hear about a company that uses technology and AI to help women experiencing domestic violence to navigate Brazil’s complex public-service system. Its platform digitises paperwork, protective...
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Flying Boat Could Revolutionise Amazon Transport + AI to Tackle Endometriosis
Flying Boat Could Transform Amazon TransportIn the Amazon, where rivers are often the only roads, journeys can take hours or even days. Brazilian company Aero River is developing a “flying boat” that travels just metres above the water at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, potentially...
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Could This Affordable Bionic Arm Change Healthcare Forever? AI & Autism, & Green Fuel Innovation
🦾 Affordable Bionic ProstheticsA Brazilian start-up is using 3D printing and muscle-controlled technology to develop affordable bionic arms, giving amputees greater independence at a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics.🧠 Can AI Diagnose Autism Earlier?Researchers have created an...
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Lighting Up the Amazon with Recycled Bottles | Recorded Live at Web Summit Rio
💡 Bringing Light to the AmazonCan a recycled plastic bottle change lives? At Web Summit Rio 2026, Ania Lichtarowicz meets Rodrigo Eidy, President of Litro de Luz Brasil, to discover how simple solar-powered lighting systems are bringing safe, sustainable light to remote Amazon communities. It's…
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AI Predicts Tunnel Collapses & WhatsApp Brings a Pediatrician to Your Phone
Can AI predict a tunnel collapse before it happens?As cities grow and become more crowded, we are increasingly building underground. But tunnelling beneath busy urban areas can be dangerous, with unstable ground, changing geological conditions and the risk of damage to buildings and…
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Robots Inspired by Birds, and the Future of Clean Energy: How Technology Is Transforming Our Planet
MIT’s flying and swimming robot takes inspiration from diving birds to explore the oceans of tomorrowMIT engineers have created a remarkable aerial-aquatic robot that can swim underwater, launch through the surface and fly through the air, just like diving birds. Professor Raphael Zufferey…
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Is AI Rewriting Our Opinions? And Can inDrive Build the Next Global Super App?
Are AI Writing Assistants Quietly Shaping Public Opinion?A new study suggests that the AI tools many of us use every day on platforms like LinkedIn, X and Google may be doing more than improving our grammar and polishing our posts. Researchers found that AI writing assistants can subtly alter the...
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The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?
435 Million Gig Workers, Secret Pricing Systems & The Global Fight for Transparency in the Digital Economy The World Bank estimates there are more than 435 million online gig workers worldwide, yet most have little visibility into the algorithms that determine what they earn. In this special...
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The Hidden Algorithms of Gig Work: Who Really Profits from Uber and the Platform Economy?
435 Million Gig Workers, Secret Pricing Systems & The Global Fight for Transparency in the Digital Economy The World Bank estimates there are more than 435 million online gig workers worldwide, yet most have little visibility into the algorithms that determine what they earn. In this special...
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AI Is About to Spend Your Money: Pix Payments and the Tech Behind Amazon's Superberry
How AI Agents Could Change Digital Payments Brazil's Pix payment system has already transformed how millions of people move money. Now, fintech company Iniciador is exploring what happens when artificial intelligence can initiate payments on behalf of users. We speak with Chief Product Officer...
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AI Is About to Spend Your Money: Pix Payments and the Tech Behind Amazon's Superberry
How AI Agents Could Change Digital Payments Brazil's Pix payment system has already transformed how millions of people move money. Now, fintech company Iniciador is exploring what happens when artificial intelligence can initiate payments on behalf of users. We speak with Chief Product Officer...
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AI, Trust and the Future of Money: Plus the Brazilian Drones Replanting Forests
How Trust Became Fintech's Most Valuable Asset As artificial intelligence reshapes financial services, technology alone is no longer enough to stand out. Denise Johansson, co-founder and CEO of Enfuce, explains why trust is becoming one of fintech's most powerful growth strategies. From startup...
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AI, Trust and the Future of Money: Plus the Brazilian Drones Replanting Forests
How Trust Became Fintech's Most Valuable Asset As artificial intelligence reshapes financial services, technology alone is no longer enough to stand out. Denise Johansson, co-founder and CEO of Enfuce, explains why trust is becoming one of fintech's most powerful growth strategies. From startup...
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How AI Is catching Marine Wildlife Traffickers and Also Making Tax Easi
AI takes on marine wildlife traffickers Wildlife trafficking doesn't just involve rhino horn and elephant ivory. Marine species such as shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers are also smuggled around the world, threatening vulnerable ecosystems. Researchers in Australia have developed an AI…
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How AI Is catching Marine Wildlife Traffickers and Also Making Tax Easy
AI takes on marine wildlife traffickers Wildlife trafficking doesn't just involve rhino horn and elephant ivory. Marine species such as shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers are also smuggled around the world, threatening vulnerable ecosystems. Researchers in Australia have developed an AI…
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The Future Is Soft: Tiny Robots, Smart Prosthetics and the Rise of Neurodiversity Tech
The Tiny Liquid-Metal Pump That Could Transform Robotics Soft robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, drawing inspiration from nature to create machines that are flexible, adaptable and safer for human interaction. In this episode, we explore a breakthrough liquid-metal...
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The Future Is Soft: Tiny Robots, Smart Prosthetics and the Rise of Neurodiversity Tech
The Tiny Liquid-Metal Pump That Could Transform Robotics Soft robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, drawing inspiration from nature to create machines that are flexible, adaptable and safer for human interaction. In this episode, we explore a breakthrough liquid-metal...
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From Jet Engines to Hydrogen: Why the Midlands Still Invents the Future
Recorded during rehearsals for the very first East Midlands Tech Week, this special edition of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast celebrates 10 years of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Midlands’ extraordinary history of innovation. From Derby, birthplace of the modern...
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From Jet Engines to Hydrogen: Why the Midlands Still Invents the Future
Recorded during rehearsals for the very first East Midlands Tech Week, this special edition of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast celebrates 10 years of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Midlands’ extraordinary history of innovation. From Derby, birthplace of the modern...
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The Cooling Revolution: How Technology Could Cut Refrigeration Emissions by 50%
Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is...
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The Cooling Revolution: How Technology Could Cut Refrigeration Emissions by 50%
Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is...
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The AI Contact Lens That Could Prevent Blindness and The Women Rewriting Silicon Valley
The Smart Contact Lens That Could Change Medicine Forever Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. But what if managing chronic disease no longer required constant hospital visits, manual medication schedules or invasive...
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The AI Contact Lens That Could Prevent Blindness and The Women Rewriting Silicon Valley
The Smart Contact Lens That Could Change Medicine Forever Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. But what if managing chronic disease no longer required constant hospital visits, manual medication schedules or invasive...
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RightsCon 2026 Cancelled Last Minute: Global Tech Summit Shock + The New Gateway to Doing Business in Africa
What the Collapse of a Global Summit Means for Digital Rights Thousands of delegates were preparing to gather in Zambia for one of the world’s biggest digital rights events until it was abruptly cancelled days before kickoff. Nikki Gladstone, Director of RightsCon at Access Now, explains how…
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RightsCon 2026 Cancelled Last Minute: Global Tech Summit Shock + The New Gateway to Doing Business in Africa
What the Collapse of a Global Summit Means for Digital Rights Thousands of delegates were preparing to gather in Zambia for one of the world’s biggest digital rights events until it was abruptly cancelled days before kickoff. Nikki Gladstone, Director of RightsCon at Access Now, explains how…
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AI Voice Clones Are Clearer Than Humans, and Satellites Are Transforming Fishing
AI Voice Cloning; Clearer Speech, Growing Risks New research reveals that AI-generated voice clones can be up to 20% more intelligible than real human speech in noisy environments. While this could revolutionise public announcements, accessibility, and communication, it also raises serious...
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AI Voice Clones Are Clearer Than Humans, and Satellites Are Transforming Fishing
AI Voice Cloning; Clearer Speech, Growing Risks New research reveals that AI-generated voice clones can be up to 20% more intelligible than real human speech in noisy environments. While this could revolutionise public announcements, accessibility, and communication, it also raises serious...
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Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fibre Network Powering It All
Driverless Cars Take the Wheel Driverless taxis are no longer a future concept, they’re already operating in cities worldwide, and even in Zagreb you can now book a ride with no driver at all. With the UK preparing for a rollout as early as September, the shift is accelerating fast. Backed by new...
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Driverless Taxis Are Here 🚕 No Humans, No Steering Wheel. And the Hidden Fiber Network Powering It All
Driverless Cars Take the Wheel Driverless taxis are no longer a future concept, they’re already operating in cities worldwide, and even in Zagreb you can now book a ride with no driver at all. With the UK preparing for a rollout as early as September, the shift is accelerating fast. Backed by new...
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AI, Music & Accessibility: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Creativity and Communication
From streaming royalties to AI tools: how musicians are navigating a rapidly changing industry Artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry, but not always in the ways people expect. Researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute have been speaking with musicians across several countries...
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AI Beyond Business: Digital Rights, NGOs, and the Fight Against Food Waste
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Work of NGOs AI is increasingly shaping the work of non-profits and civil society groups. In this episode we speak with experts from Access Now about how NGOs are using AI to strengthen cybersecurity analysis and digital protection, while also…
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The Dark Side of the Kill Switch: Inside 2025's Record-Breaking Internet Shutdowns
313 blackouts. 52 countries. One global crisis. Internet shutdowns are no longer just blunt nationwide blackouts. From Uganda to Iran, governments are now using sophisticated tools to cut off Starlink, exempt their own institutions, and silence critics—while ordinary citizens are left completely...
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🤖 AI Is Raising Your Kids, Rebuilding Regions and Even Sorting Your Rubbish
🧸 AI Toys for Toddlers: Helpful Tool or Hidden Risk? As AI-powered toys enter the lives of children as young as three, researchers from Cambridge University are asking serious questions. These conversational “GenAI toys” can potentially support language development and engagement - but could…
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AI, Surveillance & Migration: Inside Europe’s Tech-Driven Border Policies + The Rise of Renting Apps
Tech, AI and Europe’s migration debateDigital tools are now central to how migration is managed across Europe. From biometrics to automated decision-making, technology is shaping who can enter, stay, or be removed. A report by Access Now warns these systems risk reinforcing bias and reducing...
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Great Tech Idea. Now What? Inside a Deep-Tech Pitch Night
From breakthrough tech to startup reality Great ideas are only the beginning. This episode explores what happens next - how deeptech founders try to turn scientific breakthroughs into real companies. We attended a pitch night at London Business School where startups were presenting their ideas to...
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AI’s Hidden E-Waste Crisis and the Rise of CyberParent: The Growing Cost of Our Digital Lives
The AI Boom Is Fuelling a New Wave of E-WasteArtificial intelligence may feel invisible, but the hardware powering it is very real - and short-lived. As companies race to deploy powerful AI servers, turnover of specialised chips and equipment is accelerating. Yet major tech firms rarely disclose...
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🚀 AI Deepfakes From Space & The African Language Tech Revolution | Web Summit Qatar 2026
🌍 When Satellite Images Lie: The Rise of Space DeepfakesDeepfakes are no longer just fake celebrity videos - they’re moving into orbit. AI can now generate or manipulate satellite images, potentially fabricating disasters, military sites, or climate events. In a world that relies on satellite…
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🚀 AI Is Rewriting Marketing - And Nigerian Women Are Rewriting the Job Market - Live from Web Summit Qatar 2026
🎙️ Agentic AI, Audio Ads the Future of CreativityAt Web Summit Qatar in Doha, the marketing world asked a bold question: when AI starts planning, creating, and deciding - what’s left for humans? Wilfrid Obeng, Co-Founder of AudioMob talks about how AI is transforming advertising in real time.…
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From Regional Power to Global Impact: AI Business Strategy & Women Led Health Tech in Africa
🌍 Scaling Local Innovation Into Global InfluenceRecorded at Web Summit Qatar in Doha, we explore how organisations build global relevance without losing their local roots. As markets become more interconnected, AI and strategic leadership are essential to scaling beyond borders. Yasmin Kayali,...
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Banking the Unbanked & Electrifying Ethiopia: How Tech Is Leapfrogging the Future
How Mobile Money and Open Tech Are Bringing 1.3 Billion People Into the Financial SystemTechnology isn’t just evolving - it’s rewriting the rules of entire economies. In this episode of Somewhere on Earth, we explore how mobile technology, open-source payments, and digital finance are helping to...
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Why the US Is Withdrawing From Internet Freedom Groups and What It Means for Your Digital Rights.
Trump and our Internet Freedoms – it’s not looking goodThe United States has pulled out of key international internet freedom organizations, calling them wasteful and ineffective — but digital rights experts say Americans should be concerned. In this episode, we break down why the US made the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - Tech That Actually Matters.
If you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) - the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Made by and hosted by the ex-BBC World Service Digital Planet team (yes, the award-winning crew behind 21+ years of world-leading tech journalism and 1.5M annual downloads), SOEP uncovers the untold stories shaping our digital world. This isn’t a show about the latest shiny toy. It’s about technology that changes lives, cultures, and global societies.Each episode explores:
⚡The real-world impact of emerging tech
🌍 New innovations driving social good
🔍 Under-the-radar digital trends you should be paying attention to
🧠 How tech is reshaping communities, culture, and the way we live
📰 The technology behind the week’s biggest world stories - explained simply
Our mission?
To build a tech-fo
HOSTED BY
Ania Lichtarowicz
CATEGORIES
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How many episodes does Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast have?
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast currently has 181 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast about?
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast - Tech That Actually Matters. If you’re tired of hype, gadgets-for-gadget’s-sake, and the same recycled tech headlines, welcome to Somewhere on Earth (SOEP) - the weekly global tech podcast that digs way deeper.Made by and hosted by the ex-BBC World...
How often does Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast release new episodes?
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast publishes regularly with 181 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast?
Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast is created and hosted by Ania Lichtarowicz.
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