What do bail decisions, Spotify playlists, and your child's future have in common? They're all shaped by algorithms, often without your knowledge or consent. Dr. Avriel Epps, founder of AI4Abolition, joins Siara to reveal the real-world consequences of algorithmic bias in areas like criminal justice, healthcare, and childhood development. They also discuss what it means to practice digital consent as a parent—from opting out of facial recognition at airports to refusing to post photos of their child online.
Key Takeaways:
Chapters:
00:00 Intro/Teasers01:19 Predictive AI in the Criminal Legal System33:04 The Ethics of Opting Into Technology36:36 The Importance of Opting Out of Facial Recognition38:54 Technology as the Amazon Rainforest42:22 Teaching Kids About AI and Its Implications45:26 AI's Impact on Childhood Development49:45 The Dilemma of Sharing Children's Images Online55:38 Informed Consent and Children's Data58:52 Parenting in the Digital Age01:03:20 AI for Abolition: Building Collective Power
In this episode, Siara sits down with Tyler Rice, founder of the Digital Wellness Institute and author of Tactical Disconnection, to explore how techno stress, doomscrolling, and always-on workplace culture are eroding our focus—and what we can do about it.
They break down the concept of digital flourishing, why Gen Z might actually be leading the charge on digital wellbeing, and how companies are finally rethinking screentime and productivity. Whether you're feeling burned out, overloaded, or just ready for better boundaries with your devices, this conversation offers tactical ways to disconnect without falling behind.
00:00 Intro: Doomscrolling and Digital Wellness Wake-Up
03:02 Tyler Rice on Tech Boundaries & Workplace Culture
06:41 Techno Stress: The Hidden Cost of Screentime
11:06 Digital Wellbeing by Generation: Who’s Thriving?
13:04 Burnout & Office Culture: Why Digital Wellness Matters
18:49 What Is Digital Flourishing? A Healthier Framework
22:45 Balance, Boundaries & Belonging in the Digital Age
28:12 Digital Culture Change: Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up
34:27 Rethinking Breaks, Burnout, and Always-On Norms
53:59 Is Digital Flourishing a Destination—or Daily Practice?
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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Lna2C8Qj1Fo
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What if the biggest threat to your online security isn’t a hacker… but your own habits?
In this episode, Siara sits down with Caitlin Sarian, better known as Cybersecurity Girl, to explore the digital risks most of us ignore. They unpack everything from personal cybersecurity tips and password security to employee surveillance, sextortion, and how apps might be spying on you. Caitlin shares the everyday decisions that make or break your online safety, the truth about Bluetooth and incognito mode, and why protecting your digital footprint has never been more important.
Whether you’re worried about online scams, Apple Intelligence privacy concerns, or keeping kids safe online, this conversation offers a practical guide to protecting yourself in the age of convenience. It’s not about paranoia— it’s about control.
Chapters
00:00 – Teasers
00:41 – Welcome: Why digital hygiene matters
05:11 – How Caitlin became Cybersecurity Girl
08:46 – Why personal cybersecurity is still an afterthought
13:39 – The simple habits that protect 99% of people
16:51 – Convenience vs. privacy: Do you really have to choose?
24:08 – Apple Intelligence and the future of online privacy
28:14 – Are your apps spying on you?
35:38 – Is your phone actually listening to you?
37:26 – The truth about Bluetooth and data exposure
39:05 – How to stay safe while dating online
51:03 – Tips for keeping kids safe online and avoiding sextortion
53:40 – When cybersecurity crosses into employee surveillance
58:23 – Caitlin’s daily digital safety habits
1:02:17 –Logging Out of Imposter Syndrome/ Logging into Potential
Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity is a critical conversation that needs to be more mainstream.
Consumers must take responsibility for their own data privacy.
Businesses invest heavily in cybersecurity to protect their interests.
Basic cybersecurity practices can significantly enhance personal safety.
Dating safety requires caution and limiting personal information shared.
Family safety online is essential, and open communication is key.
Employees should be aware of workplace monitoring and their rights.
Personal habits, like avoiding suspicious links, are crucial for cybersecurity.
Imposter syndrome can hinder personal growth and confidence.
Community engagement and education are vital for improving cybersecurity awareness.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edsJhsKVDzk&list=PLvlsTvFKxh1u0gTmkZTj-OiWH3pTJdYDn&index=5
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Watch the trailer: YouTube Link
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What if the solution to tech burnout… is using your phone less?
In this episode, Siara sits down with Joe Hollier, co-founder of the Light Phone — a minimalist phone designed to be used as little as possible. They unpack the addictive nature of smartphones, the dark reality of the data economy, and why stepping away from the internet might actually bring us closer to ourselves.
Joe shares what it’s like to live without a smartphone for over six years, how his design roots led him to rethink tech from the ground up, and why digital disconnection doesn’t mean opting out of modern life — it means reclaiming it.
The conversation moves from AI and Big Tech ethics to the quiet rebellion of turning your phone into a tool, not a trap.
Key topics include:
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Is social media just entertainment, or a risky behavior we’ve failed to regulate?
In this episode, Siara speaks with Bailey Parnell, founder of the Center for Digital Wellbeing and the voice behind the viral TED Talk on social media and mental health. They unpack the emotional and societal toll of the internet, from algorithmic manipulation to the erosion of empathy in comment sections.
Bailey explains why digital wellness goes far beyond screen time and how we can reclaim agency in a world designed to hijack our attention. The conversation spans everything from AI ethics and the illusion of privacy to policy solutions and spiritual antidotes for digital overwhelm.
Key topics include:
⚠️ Heads up: brief mention of self-harm between 30:10-40:10 minute mark.
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Is AI really as powerful as we’re told, or are we falling for hype-driven illusions?
In this episode, Siara speaks with Arvind Narayanan, co-author of AI Snake Oil, breaks down the myths shaping the AI industry—from hiring algorithms to criminal justice and beyond. He explains how AI is often marketed as a revolutionary solution when, in reality, many of these technologies don’t—and can’t—work as promised.
We explore the regulatory landscape, the potential for an AI bubble, and why artificial general intelligence (AGI) may be further away than we think. Arvind also discusses the biases baked into AI systems, the ethics of AI-driven decision-making, and the importance of skepticism in evaluating AI research and media narratives.
Key topics include:
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Welcome to Log Out.
Welcome to Log Out. I’m Siara, your host. I'm not an influencer, not a founder, not selling you anything—just someone deeply curious about the ways technology is shaping us.
In this episode, I set the stage for what’s to come. I’ll talk about my own struggles with smartphone dependency, what the science says about tech addiction, and why I’m launching this podcast: not as an anti-tech crusade, but as an honest, thoughtful exploration.
If you’ve ever felt uneasy about your phone use or just wanted to understand how tech is shaping our world, you’re in the right place.
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Get to know Siara. She's just like you.
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