Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Hello Barbie and Other Tech News

    There’s a new toy called “Hello Barbie.” She talks, and kids are supposed to talk back. Critics say it stifles children’s creativity and threatens their privacy. We discuss that and more in our regular Thursday roundup of web and digital news.

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Dec 10, 2015 • 1 min read

    There’s a new toy called “Hello Barbie.” She talks, and kids are supposed to talk back. Critics say it stifles children’s creativity and threatens their privacy. We discuss that and more in our regular Thursday roundup of web and digital news.

    The full episode

    2 of 4
    The Disappearing Middle Class, Hello Barbie and a K-Cup Takeover
    1. 0:00The Disappearing Middle Class
    2. 16:09Hello Barbie and Other Tech NewsYou’re reading this
    3. 25:52The Ethics of Drones
    4. 41:25The K-Cup Takeover
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Xeni Jardin

      BoingBoing.net

      News

    The full episode

    2 of 4
    The Disappearing Middle Class, Hello Barbie and a K-Cup Takeover
    1. 0:00The Disappearing Middle Class
    2. 16:09Hello Barbie and Other Tech NewsYou’re reading this
    3. 25:52The Ethics of Drones
    4. 41:25The K-Cup Takeover
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand