The Big Tech Show

Fifty years on from its creation, what were Apple’s hits? Misses? And is AI use a no-go for journalists? Adrian Weckler is joined by Darragh Nolan on The Big Tech Show to mark 50 years of Apple, from the Macintosh to the iPod and iPhone, and what still drives its success today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are teenage boys still drawn to online influencers? and what are they really looking for? Psychologist, broadcaster and former professional footballer, Richie Sadlier joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to explore the appeal of figures like Andrew Tate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could you be next to face legal action? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss dodgy boxes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did the world’s first ransomware attack begin? and why are we still falling for the same tricks today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did an Irish student end up building one of the biggest home-services startups in the US? Irish entrepreneur Oisín Hanrahan joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to discuss his path from buying property in Budapest as a student to dropping out of Harvard Business School to launch Handy. He also talks about startup co-founder dynamics and his latest venture, Keychain, which connects food brands with manufacturers. Listen on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Anthropic emerging as the “good guy” of artificial intelligence? And do ethics in AI actually matter to users? Veteran tech journalist Rupert Goodwins joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to discuss the rivalry between Anthropic, OpenAI and Google, and whether AI companies should decide how their technology is used. They also look at the shifting social media landscape, from Bluesky to X. Listen on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Apple’s MacBook Neo the best value laptop ever? Can it match a MacBook Air? And is €699 all you need for the Mac experience? Darragh Nolan, multimedia reporter at the Irish Independent, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is Sam Altman and why does he matter so much to artificial intelligence? What do we really know about his views on risk, control and power in the AI race? Ellen Huet, features writer with Bloomberg News and host of the Foundering podcast, joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show this week. Altman, CEO of OpenAI, runs the company behind ChatGPT. The episode explores his rise, his warnings about AI dangers and the controversies surrounding OpenAI. Listen on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How safe is your crypto really? And what happens when your private keys fall into the wrong hands? Journalist and crypto commentator Monty Munford joins Adrian on this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show. Adrian and Monty talk about how he first got into cryptocurrency, why he chose Ethereum over Bitcoin, and the moment he discovered £25,000 worth of crypto had vanished from his wallet. Monty explains the mistakes he made storing his private keys, how hackers may have accessed them, and what the loss taught him about online security. They also discuss how that stolen crypto would be worth far more today — and why his story is a cautionary tale for anyone dabbling in digital assets. You can listen to the full episode here, on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What tech habits drive us absolutely bonkers? Is it a generation gap? And how do we combat it? Saoirse Hanley, journalist at the Irish Independent, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your electric car breaks down away from home? Do they have technicians to deal with them? And if you're in a very rural area, can you rely on breakdown services or might you be stranded? Darragh Nolan, multimedia reporter at the Irish Independent, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the future of AI in Ireland? Do we have digital sovereignty? And should social media be banned for under sixteens? James Lawless, Minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a recommender algorithm? Should they be switched off? And how do they create toxic narrative bubbles? Johnny Ryan, digital rights campaigner and director of Enforce at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the world of espionage now online? Are the Irish the cyber weak link in Europe? And how is digital sabotage being used today? Richard Aldrich, professor of International Security at the University of Warwick and leading expert on intelligence, espionage and cybersecurity. The security expert explained how bad-acters can hack into the back of the internet connected fridges and get them to overheat on a windy day. Getting fridges to catch fire simultaneously is a contingency that the UK government is just starting to consider as a threat. You can listen to the full episode here, on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online polarisation, Trump, Elon Musk, AI, media, Ireland and startups — Mark Little is thinking about a lot of things right now. In this extended episode, he lays out some bare truths about the state of the world and what his own plans are at present.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is rising and falling in the US tech world? What events will shape 2026? And will Elon weather the Grok scandal? Blake Montgomery, the Guardian’s US Tech editor, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. The conversation began by Adrian asking the Guardian’s US tech editor about the reaction in America to the Grok AI scandal. The US-based journalist explained that the reaction to X’s Grok AI tool in the US has been muted and heated than Europe. According to Montgomery, a couple of US lawmakers have voiced their concerns and called for a Grok ban but because the reaction to the AI tool globally, Musk has begun to dial back the AIs capabilities. You can listen to the full episode here, on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes Jeff Bezos tick? Is he a generational talent who will take us to the stars? Or billionaire tech bro living the high life? Christian Davenport, journalist who spent twenty-five years at the Washington Post and the author of the recently published book, Rocket Dreams: Musk, Bezos, and the Inside Story of the New, Trillion-Dollar Space Race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Grok AI now being used to undress people online, what do we do? Should government ministers stay off X? And is Ireland about to require digital ID? TJ McIntyre, associate Professor of the Sutherland School of Law in UCD and Head of Digital Rights Ireland joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. You can listen to the full episode here, on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Cluskey was about to enter his leaving cert year in Belvedere College when something happened that changed his life forever. On a camping trip with friends, Stephen fell off a hay bale and was paralyzed from the neck down. Stephen Cluskey, CEO of Mobility Mojo, accessibility advocate and social entrepreneur joins Adrian on this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will tech affect your life in 2026? Will AI win you over with convenience? Could dodgy-box users be fined? And what about a mid-Atlantic rift when it comes to tech regulation? ­ In this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by Dee Reddy to share his 10 predictions on what to expect next year, as well as rating how our predictions for the last year turned out. ­ The Big Tech Show available is on all podcast platforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.