Search Engine

A group of teenagers agrees to allow a filmmaker to record the things they do on their phones for a year-long experiment. To see the world they see through their phones, to encounter their algorithms. The results are honest, at times pretty upsetting, and tell us a lot about the internet that Gen-Z finds itself on. In the middle of our big, confusing, national argument about teenagers and their phones, a few answers. Lauren Greenfield's documentary series, Social Studies [https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/social-studies] Search Engine merch [https://searchengine.bigcartel.com/] Support the show at searchengine.show [https://www.searchengine.show/] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

A beloved American rock band’s Spotify page appears to have been taken over by Russian rappers. Is this a scam? A mistake? A strange third act from some beloved alt-rockers? Kelefa Sanneh investigates. Bye-Bye - Cake, PulyaNaVetru [https://open.spotify.com/track/428758y1cq5E8wHL5V4fYC?si=abed325a86dc41fc] Support the show! [https://searchengine.supercast.com/#subscribe] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Reporter Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi has the story of an unusual website you’ve likely never heard of. A website that has been responsible for rapidly making the world of Dogecoin and other memecoins become even more unhinged, all while generating small fortunes for foul-mouthed children. The Parable of Peanut the Memecoin [https://www.npr.org/2025/03/05/1235939360/pnut-memecoin-peanut-squirrel-attention-economy] Support Search Engine [https://www.searchengine.show/join] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

In the 1930s, two scientists made a very important discovery, but their breakthrough idea failed to spread. In large part because the two were considered so deeply annoying. Reporter Carl Zimmer brings us a story of the scientific process and its very human constraints. Airborne by Carl Zimmer [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724793/air-borne-by-carl-zimmer/] Apply to work with Search Engine [https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4189647662/] Support the show [https://www.searchengine.show/join] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Why it’s so difficult to manufacture something entirely in America, and what happens if you try anyway. The Smarter Scrubber Grill Brush [https://www.jjgeorgestore.com/the-smarter-scrubber/?srsltid=AfmBOooCCtK0ckpJRDMYOvIZ_Xc4IYtkVEoMlwYL_Ooj35zKr_7P0qnF] Destin Sandlin’s YouTube Channel: Smarter Every Day [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6107grRI4m0o2-emgoDnAA] Support Search Engine [https://www.searchengine.show/join] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]