IRL: Online Life is Real Life

Privacy or Profit - Why Not Both?

IRL: Online Life is Real Life

Show Notes

Every day, our data hits the market when we sign online. It’s for sale, and we’re left to wonder if tech companies will ever choose to protect our privacy rather than reap large profits with our information. But, is the choice — profit or privacy — a false dilemma? Meet the people who have built profitable tech businesses while also respecting your privacy. Fact check if Facebook and Google have really found religion in privacy. And, imagine a world where you could actually get paid to share your data.

In this episode, Oli Frost recalls what happened when he auctioned his personal data on eBay. Jeremy Tillman from Ghostery reveals the scope of how much ad-tracking is really taking place online. Patrick Jackson at Disconnect.me breaks down Big Tech’s privacy pivot. DuckDuckGo’s Gabriel Weinberg explains why his private search engine has been profitable. And Dana Budzyn walks us through how her company, UBDI, hopes to give consumers the ability to sell their data for cash.

More from IRL: Online Life is Real Life

Dec 18, 2025

Bridget goes to Barcelona to learn more about inverse surveillance, or as some call it, watching the watchers.

Aug 19, 2025

Today, we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Techish, a podcast by two tech founders and investors talking about all things tech, pop culture, and life. It's equal parts ChatGPT, equal parts Cardi B. Starring Michael Berhane and Abadesi Osunsade.

Jul 8, 2025

AI may be able to talk to animals, but at what cost to the planet. Who is making those decisions, and why it matters.

Jul 1, 2025

AI lives in my city, and probably yours too. What does it mean for our neighborhoods, the people in them, and where data lives?

Jun 24, 2025

There are some good reasons to let AI into our brains. But how much do we know about the privacy of brain data?

See all episodes →