14 episodes

The Digital Insider with Sinan Aral, is dedicated to getting to the hard science behind the digital economy. MIT Professor, IDE Director, and author of “The Hype Machine," Sinan Aral, sits down with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet, including Nobel laureate, Maria Ressa, Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, NYU Professor and business guru, Scott Galloway, and broadcast news journalist and MSNBC host, Ali Velshi, to explore the latest trends in digital business and society. Each episode takes a deep dive under the hood of how the digital economy actually works. From AI bias to NFTs; fake news to two-sided markets; cryptocurrencies to quantum computing, Sinan and guests make sense of the lightning-fast changes taking place in the tech driven world —from a scientific perspective. Got a question for Sinan? Call and leave us a voicemail for a chance to have your question answered live on air during our "Ask me Anything" episodes: (617) 468-8423‬. Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more. Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @mit_ide on Instagram.

The Digital Insider with Sinan Aral MIT IDE

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 23 Ratings

The Digital Insider with Sinan Aral, is dedicated to getting to the hard science behind the digital economy. MIT Professor, IDE Director, and author of “The Hype Machine," Sinan Aral, sits down with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet, including Nobel laureate, Maria Ressa, Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, NYU Professor and business guru, Scott Galloway, and broadcast news journalist and MSNBC host, Ali Velshi, to explore the latest trends in digital business and society. Each episode takes a deep dive under the hood of how the digital economy actually works. From AI bias to NFTs; fake news to two-sided markets; cryptocurrencies to quantum computing, Sinan and guests make sense of the lightning-fast changes taking place in the tech driven world —from a scientific perspective. Got a question for Sinan? Call and leave us a voicemail for a chance to have your question answered live on air during our "Ask me Anything" episodes: (617) 468-8423‬. Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more. Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @mit_ide on Instagram.

    Paul Daugherty: The Intersection of People and Technology

    Paul Daugherty: The Intersection of People and Technology

    For our final episode of season one, we're bringing you a fantastic interview with Group Chief Executive - Technology & Chief Technology Officer of Accenture, Paul Daugherty. 
    Not only does Paul Oversee Accenture's technology business globally and lead their technology and innovation strategy, technology R&D, ventures, and ecosystem groups, he is also a speaker, media-commentator and author. 
    His latest book, Radically Human: How New Technology is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future, received critical acclaim which Paul and Sinan discussed amongst many other topics including: 
    Path to CTO, Lessons Learned, Technology Trends + Disruptions (2:28-11:51)The Metaverse and the Transformation of Organizations (11:59-18:31)Unlocking the Potential of AI and Human Work in Business (18:39-27:36)5 Key Ideas for Managers to Radically Rethink Technology (27:44-39:43)How Web3 is Transforming Business and The Importance of Creating Trust with Customers (39:52-52:41)Live, Learn and Teach: 3 Words to Drive Success (52:49-55:50)If you have enjoyed listening to the podcast, please share it with your friends, family and colleagues so they can catch up over the break and we'll catch you in early 2023 for season 2!

    Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 56 min
    Hanna Halaburda, Neha Narula, Catherine Tucker and Glen Weyl: The Promise and Peril of Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Web3

    Hanna Halaburda, Neha Narula, Catherine Tucker and Glen Weyl: The Promise and Peril of Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Web3

    Today we’re giving you access to the fireside chat Sinan moderated live at the MIT Conference on Digital Experimentation (CODE@MIT). Joined by Prominent Researchers, Hanna Halaburda (NYU Stern), Neha Narula (MIT Digital Currency Initiative), Catherine Tucker (MIT Sloan) and E. Glen Weyl (Microsoft), to discuss the promise and peril of Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies and Web3. 
    Remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with a friend. Enjoy the show!

    Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Hot Takes: Election Manipulation

    Hot Takes: Election Manipulation

    Today is a very important day across the United States – Election Day! While there is much hope in the hands of our democracy, there is also a looming threat and a vulnerability to election interference by foreign actors.  


    In today’s special “Hot Takes” episode of the podcast, Sinan Aral talks about the steps we—as individuals, policymakers, business owners, etc. —must take to prevent election influencers and prevent the spread of fake news. What social media companies can do to stop fake news on their platforms and whether breaking up Facebook and others will help or make the problem worse. And, what science tells us about why we are so susceptible to fake news and how we can break the cycle. 


    Remember to rate, review, subscribe and share with a friend. Enjoy the show!

    Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 21 min
    Albert Wenger: Investing Mindfully

    Albert Wenger: Investing Mindfully

    Sinan and fellow MIT alumnus, Albert Wenger, partner at Union Square Ventures, a New York-based early stage VC firm focused on investing in disruptive networks, whose portfolio companies include: Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, Etsy, Kickstarter and Shapeways. 
    Albert shares some excellent business advice and the lessons he’s learned along the way. 
    The Winding Road from MIT PhD to Venture Capitalist (2:07-15:34)What Makes an Investment-Worthy Entrepreneur (15:42-21:51)Technology Trends and Transformations and AI Automation (21:59-41:22Web3, Blockchain, NFTs, Crypto + Decentralization (41:30-1:06:04)The State of the Global Political Economy and Solving the Climate Crisis (1:06:12-1:15:56)The Future of Social Media and Network Regulations (1:16:04-1:25:18)The Worst Investment Mistake You Can Make and How Mindfulness is Key to Success (1:25:26-1:30:13)The Biggest Fear + Hope for Our Kids (1:30:21-1:34:30)Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    Renée DiResta: The Influence of Misinformation

    Renée DiResta: The Influence of Misinformation

    Sinan welcomes guest, Renée DiResta, author, analyst, speaker and the technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory.
    Renee investigates the spread of narratives across social and media networks, with an interest in understanding how platform algorithms and affordances intersect with user behavior and factional crowd dynamics. She led an investigation into the Russian Internet Research Agency’s multi-year effort to manipulate American society, and presented public testimony. Her work on influence operations and computational propaganda has led her to advising roles for US Congress and The State Department.

    Topics Include:
    Parenting, Vaccine Requirements for Kids and Activism (2:18-12:41)Misinformation, Disinformation, Political Opinion and Social Media Polarization (12:49-21:24)International Operations and Governmental Influence in Social and Broadcast Media (21:32-34:24)Election Interference, Russia and Propaganda (34:32-38:28)The Rise of Influencers (38:36-50:10)Web3 and its Promise and Peril (50:18-58:19)Solutions and Pros + Cons of Platform Transparency, Regulations and Policy (58:26-1:10:47)How do we Prepare our Kids for The New Information Age - The Good, The Bad and Everything in Between (1:10:55-1:20:48)Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 1 hr 21 min
    Gary Vaynerchuk: Self-Made Success Story

    Gary Vaynerchuk: Self-Made Success Story

    This week's guest, Gary Vaynerchuk, is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture,  relevance and the internet. Gary is a serial entrepreneur, and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX,  the CEO of VaynerMedia and the Creator & CEO of VeeFriends.

    Sinan and Gary discuss everything from web3, TikTok, consumer blockchain, entrepreneurship and what it takes to be successful, as well as AI algorithms, and how positivity can take you a long way -- not just online, but in everyday life.

    Visit ide.mit.edu/podcast for more.

    Follow @sinanaral and @mit_ide on Twitter and @professorsinan and @digitalinsiderpod on Instagram and TikTok.

    Please remember to rate us and leave a review - the best way to support the podcast.

    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
23 Ratings

23 Ratings

APM2022 ,

The Mind and Voice We Need Now

Sinan Aral is super smart and relentlessly curious. He explores the big issues brought up by today’s world-changing technologies, and does it with rigor, wit, flair, and great guests.

daveholtz ,

Great podcast

Sinan is a great thinker when it comes to business and the digital economy, and it’s awesome to be able to hear him have interesting and prescient conversations with other thought leaders.

dlvdigital ,

Founder/Managing Director

What a great launch podcast with Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa. If this is a sample of what is to come, then I am truly excited about the following episodes. With science as the underlying "true north", I am sure this podcast will cut through all the hype, mis-use, and mis-information about the digital economy while setting us on a path for the best use of technology for business, the economy, and society. Thanks for the effort Sinan!

Top Podcasts In Business

Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
Money News Network
REAL AF with Andy Frisella
Andy Frisella #100to0
The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
Vox Media Podcast Network
The Ramsey Show
Ramsey Network
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha
Hala Taha | YAP Media Network
The Money Mondays
Dan Fleyshman

You Might Also Like