We chat with Natalie Ponte from Libro.fm about generative AI abolitionism, the cult of early big tech, and why book people are so obsessed with Libro.fm, the audiobook platform that supports independent bookstores. In Falcon Mode, we chat about a crowdsourcing tool where people vote on whether or not something includes AI-generated content. Links:<a href="http://libro.fm">Libro.fm</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieponte/">Natalie’s LinkedIn</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/business/ai-claude-romance-books.html">NYT article about woman who “wrote” 200 romance novels using generative AI</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/isthisAI/">Is This AI? subreddit</a> <a href="https://twinflamesstudios.com/the-state-of-ai-audiobooks-in-2025/">Voice narration studio’s example</a> of professional narration vs. AI (at about the 40% scroll mark) We’d love to hear from you. Email us at <a href="mailto:heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com">heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com</a> or find us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/actuallyusefulpod">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@actuallyusefulpod">TikTok</a> (reluctantly).

Sports Betting, Predictive Markets, and Financializing Everything

Why do so many once-beloved internet platforms end up toxic, predatory, and unusable? In an age where tech giants have monopolized our attention, privacy, and livelihoods, how can individuals claw back some agency? 

Every other Thursday, Actually Useful co-hosts Ariel and Josh talk with creators of radically useful consumer tech to explore what it takes to build and protect the loveliest parts of the internet. If you’re exhausted by parasitic products and feel trapped in an ecosystem of unethical, undelightful tech, this one’s for you.