Episode Summary

Thanks to the open web, it’s more viable than ever for creators to take back ownership and control of their work, their audience, and their livelihood. No one knows this better than Molly White, a researcher, writer and software engineer. This episode was recorded live at SXSW 2025.

Episode Notes

Thanks to the rise of the open social web, it’s more viable than ever for creators to take back ownership and control of the distribution of their work, their connection to their audiences, and their livelihoods overall. Real alternatives to walled-garden platforms aren’t just theoretical ideas — they’re here, and getting stronger every day.

No one knows this better than Molly White, the researcher, writer and software engineer behind the Citation Needed newsletter and the project Web3 Is Going Just Great. Molly’s not only an outspoken advocate for an open, ethical web, she’s also cracked the code on being a successful, autonomous creator herself. During this conversation with Flipboard CEO Mike McCue, recorded live at SXSW 2025 on March 9, 2025, White explains her setup, philosophy, and learnings, and takes smart questions from the audience at the end.

Highlights include discussions of:

• Importance of owning your online identity
• Strategies for digital ownership
• Moving content freely without platform constraints
• Monetization and sustainable models
• Video content, e-commerce, surveillance capitalism

Is the overconsumption of "trivial or unchallenging" content online or on social media platforms causing our brains to deteriorate?

A state-run social media network could become an alternative to Twitter or Facebook, but it could also pose a risk to our privacy and freedom

The existence of orange cats dates back to at least the 12th century, but scientists have only had theories that a sex-linked genetic mutation is behind it. Now, new research has pinpointed the exact variant, and it involves a gene that has previously been unknown to impact pigmentation in animals. So while there are other orange-colored mammals, the ginger cat is one of a kind.

In the 1970s, the USSR used nuclear devices to try to send water from Siberia's rivers flowing south, instead of its natural route north.

Stumbled across this, thought others might find the trip bacxk in time interesting.

The advent of the personal computer brought computers closer to us -- from distant computer rooms of the mainframe era right to our desks. However, computing still remains accessible only when we're sitting at our desks, and is thus not really part of our personal day-to-day living.

And this image:

"The safety net: a network of individuals, three with WearCams"

(using a better color version I found elsewhere)

oop: https://mastodon.social/@publicdomainrev/114563827006405018

ooop: https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/music-of-the-squares-david-ramsay-hay-and-the-reinvention-of-pythagorean-aesthetics

Scientists have uncovered a seismic signature beneath Mars’ surface that hints at something astonishing—liquid water may still exist in the planet’s upper crust.

The sight of a large, carnivorous New Zealand snail laying an egg from its neck has been captured on camera for the first time.

Meet the "puffleg” birds of the Latin American tropics, covered in feathers all the way down.

This is an old article I stumbled upon when browsing archives of this site. But it's quite in depth and covers the history of this somewhat politically charged topic.

Why do our numbers look the way they look? Why do we count the way we count? These questions answered and many more in this video looking at where English got its numbering system.

Our Arabic numerals are actually Hind-Arabic numeral, and were borrowed from India by mathematicians in the Arab world. Through trade with Europe, they eventually overtook Roman numerals as the continent's dominant numerical system.

In this video we also look at the counting systems used by the ancient Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Maya and the Inca.

Valerie, a miniature dachshund, survived an astonishing 529 days in the Australian wilderness after disappearing during a camping trip. Rescuers from Kangala Wildlife Rescue used her owner's T-shirt to create a scent trail, leading to her capture. Against intense heat and dangers like venomous snakes, Valeries survival is a moving testament to resilience, hope, and the bond between pets and owners.

Alternate sources:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1p1lezdgo
• https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/26/australia/australia-valerie-lost-dog-captured-intl-hnk/index.html
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dog-valerie-missing-529-days-captured-kangaroo-island-australia/
• https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/escaped-dog-australia-rescued-529-days-alone-wilderness-rcna203246
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-26/valerie-the-dachshund-found-safe-after-529-days-lost/105176940

Adults could one day grow their own replacement teeth instead of having fillings – as scientists make a key discovery.

"How a single phone call from a student helped uncover a flaw that nearly toppled Citicorp."

The video tells the story of how the structural engineer fixes a design flaw that has been overlooked by himself, after the building has been completed.

The long read: Online dissent is a serious crime in China. So why did a Weibo censor help me publish posts critical of the Communist party?

Filled with some images as well, I wasn't expecting Verge to do a deep dive on Vietnam of all things

One of the greatest mountain guides will attempt to scale the world’s highest peak for the 31st time — and possibly the 32nd time as well — and break his own record

Interactive article explaining how a mechanical watch works.