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South by Southwest 2025 just wrapped, and this year wasnât just about whatâs next in techâit was about how much of it weâre actually okay with. AI chatbots are getting really personal. Deepfake fraud is up 2137%. Social media is broken (again). And even the people building the future are freaking out.
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan unpack:
đ€ AIâs existential crisisâIs it a tool for human flourishing or the beginning of the end?
đ± Social mediaâs identity crisisâBlueSky, the Fediverse, and why no one trusts anything anymore.
đ Deepfake scams are hereâWhy you need a family password, like, yesterday.
đ° Tech anxiety is realâEven the nerds at SXSW are feeling it.The big question: If we expect the future to be a disaster, do we make it one? Or can we actually shape whatâs next?
đ„ Follow & Subscribe for More Tech, Culture & Chaos:
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đž Follow on InstagramThe future isnât neutral. Letâs figure it out together. đ
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This week, Jenny and Greg Swan put their living room (and their personal data) on the line in the name of science. Meet Tellyâa free 55-inch TV that comes with a mandatory second screen running ads 24/7. The catch? If you unplug it, move it, or refuse to connect it to WiFi, you get charged $1,000. Welcome to the future, where even your TV is tracking you.
đ€ Free Isnât Free
Social media already monetizes our every move, but what happens when your television starts doing the same? Jenny and Greg break down the trade-offs of a free device that doubles as a consumer behavior experiment.
đą The Ads Are⊠Not Great
From gas station job postings to medical scooters, the Tellyâs ad targeting is chaotic at best. If youâre going to force ads into our home, at least make them relevant, right?
đ The Bigger Question: Is This Our Future?
What happens when this model expands? A free fridge that wonât open until you watch an oat milk ad? A free Tesla that plays insurance commercials at red lights? Whereâs the line between an acceptable value exchange and full-on surveillance capitalism?
Jennyâs biggest complaint? The TV is too small for football. Gregâs biggest takeaway? This is just the beginning. Would you take a free TV in exchange for your data?
Hit play to hear the full breakdown, and if youâre going to SXSW next month, letâs meet up! Weâve got stickers (which, we promise, do not serve you ads).
đ© Subscribe for more tech, culture, and existential dilemmas â thecaveproject.substack.com -
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This episode, weâre tackling three big themesâtech, gifts, and the state of our brains in 2024. Buckle up (or turn on adaptive cruise control)!
đ Buy a Car via Text in 2020 vs. Buying a Car with AI in 2025
Remember when buying a car via text felt revolutionary? Fast forward to now: AI tools like ChatGPT are helping us decode trim levels, compare window stickers, and even predict insurance costs. The process might be smarter, but somehow weâre still waiting hours at the dealership. Progress? Kind of.
đ Holiday Gift Guides: More Joy, Less Junk
From robot chargers to smart hair tools, our holiday gift guide is packed with fun, tech-forward ideas for everyone on your list. Whether youâre spoiling someone or treating yourself, weâve got recs to make your holidays feel a little more Jetsons, a little less Flintstones. LINK IS HERE.
đ§ Brain Rot: The Word of the Year That Hits Close to Home
Naming âbrain rotâ as the Word of the Year is a perfect mix of self-awareness and cultural critique. Whether itâs doomscrolling or meme overload, weâre all guilty of itâbut maybe thatâs okay? Jenny and Greg unpack why some âbrain rotâ might actually be necessary for mental health.
Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (â â @the.cave.projectâ â ), and sign up for updates at â â thecaveproject.substack.comâ â .
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In this episode of The Cave Project, Jenny and Greg Swan dig into the AI dilemma in education: is it a powerful learning tool or just an easy way to cheat? As schools struggle with this digital shake-up, they explore how generative AI is rewriting the rulesâfrom boosting homework help to sparking plagiarism concerns that could impact college dreams. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (â @the.cave.projectâ ), and sign up for updates at â thecaveproject.substack.comâ .
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From TikTok bans to school cell phone policies, Jenny and Greg Swan break down the chaos and contradictions of raising kids in a tech-driven worldâminus the overwrought reactions. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
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In this episode of The Cave Project, we sit down with stand-up comedian and creative director Matt Keck to chat about the human side behind viral social media phenomena. Known for his witty contributions to the Wendy's Twitter persona and his viral "I'm a Snake" video, Keck shares insights on leveraging humor and social media for global engagement from his home base in Kansas City. Join Jenny and Greg Swan as they explore how Keck's early adoption of platforms like Myspace shaped his career, the psychological impacts of social media fame, and the transition from viral moments to sustainable creative work. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
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Social media can both connect us and also push us apart. In this live recording of The Cave Project podcast, hosts Jenny and Greg Swan discuss the social media dilemma, its impact on our daily lives, and how we can reclaim our digital spaces with a human-centric approach. Special thanks to Social Media Breakfast for hosting and Skelly Video Productions for capturing audio and photos. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
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We're sorry for your loss. This episode of The Cave Project explores the management of digital legacies, the role of AI in recreating memories of the deceased, and how these advances affect our mourning practices. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a thought-provoking discussion on the ethical dilemmas and emotional impacts of living and dying in a digital age. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
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As the first generation to be fully born into the 21st century, Generation Alpha is the most technologically integrated group of humans ever â growing up in a world of advanced digital technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. And they are already getting a bad rap about their digital and social media habits. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about who Gen A is, what makes them unique, and some ways we can all make room for them in our crowded digital lifestyle. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
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If 85% of the population uses the internet (and are online an average of 7 hours per day), how is it that weâre still having conversations about whether being online is good for us or not? Instead, letâs talk about how to be extremely online in a healthy way. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about 6 filters to consider for your online lifestyle: safety, heart, the space between them and us, reality versus smoke and mirrors, time IRL and (gasp) time spent in the outdoors. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
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Social media marketers can be a paradox. Evangelizing the marketing power of social media during the day and then decrying its negative effects at night. Or even further, restricting their own kids from social media when itâs paying the bills at home. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about the social dilemma, how Greg changed his mind about social for kids after having kids, and the need for social media marketers to âwalk the talkâ when it comes to changing the future of social for the better. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
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Our dumb homes can be smart homes with a few tech purchases, but which are the right ones? Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about the technology that fuels their home, how Greg âbrickedâ their smart fridge, how Jennyâs robot vacuum army led to a dog poop fiasco, and how to reconcile surveillance culture with safety when it comes to cameras and microphones in your home. Show notes can be found at gregswan.substack.com, and be sure to subscribe for future episodes!
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The holidays are a catalyst for increased screen time. And like It or not, the competition for your family's attention are those screens. But what if you flip the script and look for ways to incorporate screens into your together time instead of vilifying them? Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a discussion about the tensions around screens and holidays, ideas for digital connectedness, and why Greg calls the TV a "screamy box." Be sure to subscribe for future episodes!
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âAmerican kids would much rather be YouTubers than astronauts!â was the click-bait headline in the hype cycle of 2019 as parents like Jenny and Greg Swan tried to grapple with the reality that maybe all that iPad time was warping their kidsâ career prospects. But today, the tech-forward couple has a more refined POV to share: Kids want to be influencers, and we should help them figure out how to do it. Listen in and be sure to subscribe for future episodes!
