The Big Tech Show

Епізоди

• Why Pope Leo is right about AI and tech bros 02.06.2026 33хв

  AI was supposed to replace workers at speed. Instead, some of the world’s biggest companies are finding costly problems, poor results and frustrated customers. Adrian Weckler and JJ Clarke examine why firms such as Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Klarna are scaling back AI projects. They also discuss the warning from Pope Leo, who has criticised AI for threatening human dignity, work and genuine human judgement, as companies race to cut costs and automate jobs before the technology is truly ready. Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI useSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Online features and fighting fraud: should a neobank replace your legacy bank? 28.05.2026 23хв

  Irish consumers are embracing online banks in their droves, but do they trust them with their salaries, savings and investments? Adrian Weckler is joined by Bianca Zwart, chief strategy officer at bunq to discuss the rise of digital banking in Ireland, why younger customers are turning to crypto and investing apps, and whether neobanks can compete with traditional institutions on trust, fraud protection and customer support. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The hidden catch in Ireland’s fibre broadband deals 26.05.2026 28хв

  Why does one fibre broadband package cost nearly twice as much as another using the same line? Are Irish households paying more than they need to for internet access? And do speed guarantees matter when choosing a provider? Adrian Weckler is joined by Irish Independent reporter and journalist Saoirse Hanley to examine the gap in broadband pricing across Ireland, with some fibre packages costing almost twice as much as rivals. They discuss rising prices after introductory offers, minimum guaranteed speeds, long term contracts and what consumers should focus on when choosing a broadband. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI useSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Is Ireland's multinational tech addiction hurting Irish companies and holding us all back? 19.05.2026 28хв

  Ireland has long relied on multinational tech companies to fuel jobs growth and tax revenue but are we becoming dangerously dependent on them? Professor Joe Haslam, executive director of the Owner´s Scaleup Program at IE Business School and Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire and barrister, Barry Ward join Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• How to save a fortune — a beginners' guide to getting home solar in Ireland, from pricing and grants to batteries and selling energy back to the grid 12.05.2026 37хв

  Electricity bills are soaring and more Irish homeowners are wondering if solar panels are finally worth it.  On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Dr Paul Deane, Senior lecturer in clean energy in UCC, about the real cost of installing solar at home, how many panels most households actually need and whether batteries are worth the investment.   We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The EU tries to regulate deepfake porn and AI 05.05.2026 27хв

  Deepfake pornography is emerging as one of the most urgent challenges in artificial intelligence. On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Aoife White at the European Correspondent, who specialises in EU affairs, about how the EU’s AI Act aims to tackle the issue by targeting the apps that make such content to create. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Was Tim Cook good or bad for the world? 30.04.2026 30хв

  On this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler examines the end of an era as Tim Cook prepares to step down as Apple chief executive after fifteen years. With author of “Apple in China: the capture of the world’s greatest company”, Patrick McGee, the discussion explores Cook’s legacy from turning the iPhone into a financial powerhouse to criticism that Apple lost its creative edge. They also examine the timing of his exit, the rise of successor John Ternus, and the challenges ahead including artificial intelligence and dependence on China. As Apple enters a new chapter, the question remains whether history will judge Cook as a cautious operator or a transformative leader. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• AI music, bot farms and fraud — why we can't tell the difference and how one Irish company is fighting it 21.04.2026 26хв

  Can you really hear the difference between AI and human music anymore? and does it even matter? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to John Corley, chief executive of Spanish Point Technologies, about the rapid rise of AI generated music.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Trump, Pope Leo and Peter Thiel's obsession with the Antichrist 16.04.2026 26хв

  Why is Peter Thiel talking about the Antichrist in Rome? and what does it reveal about the intersection of tech and belief? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to ?Dr. Massimo Faggioli, professor in Ecclesiology at the Loyola Institute at Trinity College, Dublin. From Catholic theology to Silicon Valley ideology, he explains how ancient religious ideas are being reshaped by modern tech elites and why some now see technology itself as a path to salvation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• From tech to social media influencer: how @WineListGuy Jonathan Staunton pivoted career at age 50 14.04.2026 36хв

  How do you go from tech to wine influencing? What does it take to build a global following online? And can passion become a real business? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to Jonathan Staunton, also known as Wine List Guy. From Irish pubs in Italy to Microsoft, he shares his unconventional journey and how he turned social media into a career. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Apple at 50: hits, misses and the AI dilemma in journalism 07.04.2026 40хв

  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.
• Richie Sadlier on the manosphere 31.03.2026 35хв

  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.
• Dodgy boxes: a new era begins as end users face legal action 26.03.2026 21хв

  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 a floppy disk gave me ransomware 24.03.2026 31хв

  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.
• From property deals to AI: Oisín Hanrahan’s €60m startup bet on food 17.03.2026 31хв

  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.
• Are Anthropic really AI's good guys? Measuring ethics in a time of chaos 12.03.2026 31хв

  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.
• Hands on with Apple's new MacBook Neo, a competitor-destroying bargain at €699 11.03.2026 25хв

  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? Inside his life and his ChatGPT empire 10.03.2026 32хв

  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.
• Monty Munford: How I lost £25,000 in crypto with one bad security decision 03.03.2026 25хв

  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.
• Dings, pings and WhatsApp voice notes - other people’s tech habits that drive us mad 24.02.2026 37хв

  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.