Operation Pineapple Express Used Signal to Evacuate Afghan Allies
The Brave Technologist
Scott Mann, Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret and Founder of Task Force Pineapple, shares his journey from a Special Forces soldier to a storyteller and actor. He detailed his time as a Green Beret who helped form Task Force Pineapple, a group of veterans who used technology to coordinate the evacuation of Afghan allies during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Key Takeaways: The role of biometric data collection in US Army missions and the Global War on Terror How their unprecedented use of the consumer app, Signal, became a go-to resource for natural disaster...
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The Cost of Whistleblowing, and Balancing Privacy with National Security
The Brave Technologist
John Kiriakou, former CIA officer and whistleblower against the agency’s torture program, discusses his extensive background in intelligence, the evolving role of technology and AI in intelligence operations, and the balance between privacy and national security. John details his experience with the CIA’s torture program post-9/11, and the consequences he’s faced for exposing these practices. Key Takeaways: How targeted intelligence can succeed without mass surveillance, and how national security doesn’t need to mean sacrificing individual privacy The evolution of drone...
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Decentralizing Your Digital Identity With Unstoppable Domains
The Brave Technologist
Sandy Carter, COO and Head of GTM at Unstoppable Domains, discusses the potential of on-chain and digitized identities, including real-world examples that highlight shortcomings of current systems. She also reveals details of the new .BRAVE domain and its significance for the Brave community. Key Takeaways: How Unstoppable domains allows users to store verified digital identity information securely The convergence of AI and blockchain technology, including the potential of AI agents within crypto wallets The launch of the new.BRAVE domain and why this is such an exciting...
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Privacy & Parenting: Your Child’s Digital Footprint
The Brave Technologist
Debbie Reynolds, Chief Data Privacy Officer and host of “The Data Diva Talks Privacy” podcast, discusses the challenges parents face in protecting their children online, and simple habits users can adopt to take back control of their privacy. She also discusses the growing recognition among companies that excessive data collection poses significant risks. Key Takeaways: How consumer expectations for data are privacy changing The asymmetrical relationship between consumers and companies regarding data privacy How companies can scale a human‑centric approach to privacy The...
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Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Their Impact on Digital Identity and Privacy
The Brave Technologist
Rob Viglione, Co-Founder and CEO of Horizen Labs and zkVerify, shares his transition from military intelligence in Afghanistan to co-founding a blockchain company. He discusses the role of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology in enabling private transactions, the need for integration of crypto with traditional finance, and the vision to bring off-chain information on chain. Key Takeaways: Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs): what they are, and why they’re so important in today’s digital landscape The utility of cryptocurrencies for individuals in poorly governed jurisdictions The convergence of...
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Building Mobile Games for Legacy Brands like the NBA, The New York Times, and Wordle
The Brave Technologist
Shafik Quoraishee, Senior Mobile/AI Game Developer at the New York Times, discusses the development process behind popular New York Times games such as Crosswords and Connections, along with what they learned about consumer behavior from the highly addictive and viral success of Wordle. Key Takeaways: How to balance innovation with the legacy of traditional games The importance of user engagement and testing in game development The future potential of AI in creating immersive gaming experiences Guest Bio: who is a Senior Mobile/AI Game Developer at the New York Times. He works...
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The Rise of Brave and User Privacy + Navigating the 2025 Tech Landscape
The Brave Technologist
Luke Mulks, Vice President of Business Operations at Brave Software, discusses how AI and crypto regulations have evolved in 2025, including new opportunities and regulatory reversals. He also shares updates about Brave's achievements and the movement towards a private world. Key Takeaways: Brave's growth in user privacy and engagement The impact of user feedback and community involvement for Brave Ongoing developments with the Basic Attention Token (BAT), and new initiatives like the Rewards Partner Program How shifting to a “user first” podcast theme has impacted the...
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Gamifying Sleep: How Sleepagotchi Leverages Web3 to Incentivize Health Habits
The Brave Technologist
Anton Kraminkin, Founder of Sleepagotchi, shares insights on the importance of sleep, the cultural shifts towards valuing sleep, and how Sleepagotchi rewards users for maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Key Takeaways: The surprising sleep habits Sleepagotchi has learned about their users The ethics of gamifying health habits and working with sensitive data Combating bots and bad actors attracted to the financial incentives Sleepagotchi provides The use of Telegram as a tool for marketing and low-friction user acquisition Monetization and ways to generate revenue in the...
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Building Community in Virtual Social Worlds
The Brave Technologist
Yemel Jardi, Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation, discusses the evolution of Decentraland from an experimental project to a thriving virtual social world. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities within the metaverse, and the importance of community and human connection. Key Takeaways: How Decentraland is providing more opportunity for human connection through socially rooted, virtual worlds Unique use cases for creators and businesses to leverage online worlds Balancing decentralization with the need for governance and moderation Ethical...
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Community-Owned Media: How Coinage Is Reshaping the Creator Economy
The Brave Technologist
Zack Guzman, founder of Trustless Media and host of Coinage, shares how he’s using Web3 technology to transform the relationship between creators and their audiences through a community ownership model. He shares the inner workings of the Trustless Media model, and explains how their NFT holders aren't just subscribers, but rather co-owners with voting rights on content direction and the ability to receive patronage dividends from the outlet's success. Key Takeaways: How Coinage helps audiences co-own the media they can consume Ways NFT holders can vote on content direction,...
info_outlineKyle Den Hartog, Security Engineer at Brave Software, discusses emerging use cases for crypto, and their respective privacy implications. He emphasizes the urgency for innovative solutions to safeguard personal information in our digital financial systems given current privacy gaps on blockchains.
Key Takeaways:
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The delicate balance between transparency and privacy in the blockchain era
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The importance of community engagement in driving technological advancements and shaping the future of decentralized commerce
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The role of the browser in powering the evolving standards of Web3
Guest Bio:
Kyle Den Hartog, Security Engineer at Brave Software, is helping to promote a world where the Web can be more private and secure for everyone. This vision led him to be an eager contributor to the design and development of standards in W3C and IETF. With a background in security and cryptography, he has worked in domain verticals such as digital identity, Web3, and now work on browsers here at Brave. His long term focus remains on improving our symbiotic relationship with technology, and he’s active in communities related to these topics.
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About this Show:
The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!
Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.
The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.
Music by: Ari Dvorin
Produced by: Sam Laliberte