Morgan Sung is a chronically online tech journalist, culture writer, and host of Close All Tabs, a new show from KQED all about the internet. Her reporting — which has been published in TechCrunch, NBCNews, Mashable, and more — covers the creator economy, digital sex work, disinformation memes, tech policy, and all the ways that digital culture manifests in the real world. She also writes the very, very intermittent newsletter rat.house whenever she has a hot take that can’t be contained to a tweet. Morgan lives in Los Angeles with her two cats and many unfinished knitting projects.
The internet, in all its vast, infernal glory, moves quickly. Sometimes, it feels like if you look away from the screen for just a minute, you’re already out of the loop. So what’s the alternative? Never logging off? Are we all doomed to doomscroll forever?
Even I, as a tech journalist and internet culture reporter, am overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information to keep up with every day. To stay in the know — and preserve my sanity — I keep a rotation of podcasts that break down all things online. My screen time is still staggering, but I do feel better equipped to navigate this ever-changing digital existence. Also, it sounds infinitely cooler to say “I heard it on this podcast” than “I saw a post about that.”
Here’s my guide to surviving the internet!
Close All Tabs!
Ok, yes, promoting my own show here, but hear me out! Have you ever Googled a seemingly uncomplicated topic, only to get lost in new tab after new tab of more questions? KQED’s Close All Tabs is the show for you. Each week, we take listeners on a guided internet deep dive, opening (and closing) new tabs so you don’t have to. From the politics of memes, to the wild west of the influencer economy, to trying to figure out if our phones are listening to us, we explore how the online world shapes the physical one. And while you’re here, follow us on Instagram!
Power User with Taylor Lorenz
Taylor Lorenz is one of the trailblazers of the internet culture beat, and amid this increasingly chaotic time, breaks down what the biggest tech stories actually mean for everyday social media users. No spiraling here — just thoughtful explainers. You’ll definitely want to listen!
Never Post
A worker-owned podcast “about and for the internet.” Host Mike Rugnetta and his talented team take a stance that feels like our show — not just what is happening, but looking at the why, and with attention to the sonic experience.
Boys Like Me
A fascinating narrative series from the CBC that delves into the ease with which some young men fall into the incel world, sometimes leading to horrific violence. It’s not just a zoomed-out treatise on the topic but with the main subject having a personal connection to an infamous Toronto van attack, it’s really engaging personal storytelling as well.
ICYMI
Don’t let the brainrot get you! Hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay break down internet drama and explain the online zeitgeist twice a week. From digging into influencer feuds to debunking smear campaigns, ICYMI has it all.
Wow If True
Tech journalist Amanda Silberling and science fiction author/actual attorney Isabel J. Kim are IRL besties who break down the actual implications of silly internet trends — like how omegaverse fanfiction lawsuits might just set the precedent for publishing. Come for the smoothiemaxxing, stay for the thoughtful explanation of what the phrase “horizontal merger” even means.
QAA Podcast
This show started as a project to debunk the QAnon conspiracy cinematic universe, but has since expanded to encompass conspiracy theories from all over. For such a heavy subject, the hosts actually make it a fun (if horrifying at times) listen.
Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)
Host Jamie Loftus dives into the internet’s “main characters” – where they come from, how they became main characters, and what happens to them after their proverbial 15 minutes. The episode on “the wicked witch of the east, bro” guy scratched an itch I didn’t even know I still had!
Endless Thread
Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the site’s vast and curious ecosystem of online communities, collaborating with Reddit’s 330 million users and over 140 thousand communities to find all kinds of jaw-dropping narratives.
There Are No Girls On The Internet
You heard it here first, folks — girls do exist online! At least according to host Bridget Todd. Internet culture as we know it was built by marginalized communities that don’t usually get credit or coverage, so this show is a refreshing reminder that the internet exists outside of just white tech bros.
Western Kabuki
Hosted by three friends from Twitter — @Birdrespecter, @AGoldmund, and @JUNIPER — Western Kabuki is for the real chronically online listeners. The show has a knack for making me pause and genuinely consider whether I’m spending too much time on my phone, but I feel more informed with every episode nonetheless. Plus, there’s banter!
Pocket Casts Blog 