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

    How big tech creeps into nearly every moment of our lives

    Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple are the ‘Big Five’ tech giants. It’s tough to consider life without them. But with that dependence, we pay a price: our privacy.

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    Download MP3
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Feb 5, 2019 • 48m Listen

    Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple are the ‘Big Five’ tech giants. It’s tough to consider life without them. But with that dependence, we pay a price: our privacy. So a tech reporter conducted an experiment -- she tried to cut out the big five from her life one at a time.

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:00

      LA venture capitalist named in subpoena for documents relating to Trump’s inauguration

      Federal prosecutors in Manhattan issued sweeping subpoenas for a trove documents from Trump’s inaugural committee late Monday.

      Read the story
      10 min
    2. 10:26

      Best TV shows of 2019 so far: Why ‘Sex Education’ isn’t just a raunchy teen comedy

      We’re just a month into 2019, but it’s already shaping up to be a great year for TV. There are new shows like “Sex Education” on Netflix and old favorites like “Broad City.” We ask our TV critics what their favorites are so far.

      Read the story
      11 min
    3. 21:48

      Tech reporter struggles to wean herself off Apple, Amazon and other big tech

      Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple are the ‘Big Five’ tech giants. It’s tough to consider life without them. But with that dependence, we pay a price: our privacy.

      Read the story
      17 min
    4. 39:11

      Chinese New Year with LA Chef Shirley Chung: Pork means getting money, chicken means saving money

      Happy year of the pig! Chinese New Year begins today, February 5, 2019.

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

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

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

      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

      News

    In this episode

    4 stories
    1. 0:0010 min

      LA venture capitalist named in subpoena for documents relating to Trump’s inauguration

    2. 10:2611 min

      Best TV shows of 2019 so far: Why ‘Sex Education’ isn’t just a raunchy teen comedy

    3. 21:4817 min

      Tech reporter struggles to wean herself off Apple, Amazon and other big tech

    4. 39:117 min

      Chinese New Year with LA Chef Shirley Chung: Pork means getting money, chicken means saving money

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand