Podcast
Internet Changemakers
Hosted by Internet Society · EN
Yes, the Internet shapes every aspect of our lives… But how do we shape the Internet? From the humble days of dial-up to the rise of artificial intelligence and the metaverse, the Internet has fundamentally reshaped our world. In this captivating podcast, we explore the Internet’s origins, its transformative power, and its future potential.
This podcast features the work of the Internet Society—created by the very people who built the Internet—and the Internet Society Alumni Network. Join us as we go behind the curtain to uncover what it takes to grow and secure the Internet.
Meet pioneers, thought leaders, and today’s innovators, we tackle critical topics like online trust safety, online privacy, affordable access, and how the Internet Society’s model of community-centered connectivity is changing the world. Each episode dives into a distinct theme, blending engaging storytelling, expert perspectives, and a celebration of the community that is closing the digital divide and keeping the Internet safe and secure.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a professional, or simply curious about the digital world, Internet Changemakers bridges the Internet’s past, present, and future. Discover stories of discovery, doubt, and inspiration—and learn what you can do to ensure a trustworthy and inclusive digital future.
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The Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.
The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
9episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
What's Next for the Internet?
Jan 3000:42:26Tap to summarizeIn the final episode of season one of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Yug Desai and guests discuss the future of internet governance and digital inclusion. Joined by Amged Shwehdy, a digital transformation specialist and researcher at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and Saba Tiku Beyene, youth advocate and AI policy researcher with roles at ICANN, the Internet Society, and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The conversation centers on the outcomes of the WSIS+20 Review and what comes next in the global effort to keep the internet open, secure, and equitable. Amged is an alumnus of the ISOC Early Career Fellowship. Saba is an alumna of the Youth Ambassador Program and the Community Fellowship.Both guests stress that meaningful youth participation must go beyond tokenism. Amged called for structured pathways that move youth from panels and workshops into decision-making bodies, celebrating programs like the Internet Society's Youth Ambassadors and ICANN NextGen for equipping young participants with tools to intervene—not just observe—at global meetings. Saba adds that sustainable youth engagement requires institutional support, paid opportunities, long-term programs, mentorship, and shared leadership so that passion and volunteerism are matched with real opportunities for growth and influence.Looking ahead, both guests remain optimistic. Amged points to the evolution of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI capacity-building as transformative opportunities for development. Saba emphasizes the power of open-source AI to democratize innovation and ensure that technology serves local communities rather than being imposed from outside. Despite the risks—fragmentation, erosion of openness, symbolic participation—they both believe that the multi-stakeholder model, though imperfect, remains the most sustainable and effective way forward.
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Connected! But at What Cost?
Dec 2300:31:18Tap to summarizeIn the seventh episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky sit down with Alejandra Stolk to unpack one of the most tangible questions people have about the Internet: why is my connection so expensive—and is it worth the cost? Alejandra, an alumna of both the ISOC Mid-Career and Community Fellowships, is president of the Internet Society’s Venezuela Chapter and network connectivity manager at the University of the Andes. She guides listeners through how geography, infrastructure, policy, and market dynamics all shape what appears on the monthly Internet bill. Alejandra explains the Internet using the analogy of a highway built from routers, switches, and devices, where every segment—from global backbones to the “last mile” into homes—has a price tag attached. She outlines how costs vary depending on whether a community is served by fiber optics, wireless links, or satellite. She also explains why areas with only one or two Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often face higher prices and poorer service due to limited competition and difficult terrain. From mountainous regions in the Andes to dense urban centers like London, she illustrates how physical geography and local economics intersect to raise or lower connectivity costs.Looking ahead, she calls for future internet leaders who are more gender-diverse, grounded in both technical and policy awareness, and ready to defend encryption, openness, and resilience against attempts to fragment or weaken the network.
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Pioneering Digital Trust with craigslist Founder, Craig Newmark
Nov 2700:38:04Tap to summarizeIn the sixth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Yug Desai sit down with Craig Newmark, the quietly influential founder of craigslist, a global classified advertisements website, and a major advocate for cybersecurity, journalism, and digital resilience. Known for his values-driven approach, Craig shares the story behind one of the Internet’s most enduring classified platforms, revealing how his vision was shaped by trust, community, and a commitment to the common good.Craig traces his journey from his first encounter with the ARPANET in the 1970s to the launch of craigslist as a simple, community-focused mailing list in the 1990s. He explains how the platform grew organically, rooted in the philosophy of treating people the way he wanted to be treated—a principle inspired by his early life and Sunday school values. Craigslist’s intentionally simple design, low barriers to access, and focus on user service over profit set it apart in an age increasingly dominated by dark patterns and aggressive monetization. Craig discusses his transition from running craigslist to leading major philanthropic efforts, including funding cybersecurity initiatives, supporting military families, and helping create the Cyber Resilience Corps. He also talks about the importance of building networks of networks—coalitions of goodwill that can fight back against cyber threats and strengthen the Internet’s social fabric.CONSIDER A DONATIONThe Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
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The Digital Age Divide
Oct 2300:44:56Tap to summarizeIn the fifth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky and Claire van Zwieten sit down with Kim Ochs, PhD., an educator and researcher specializing in lifelong learning and education technology, and Isaac Carrasco Ortiz, a sociologist and digital literacy advocate, to explore how the Internet connects—and often divides—different generations. This episode, The Digital Age Divide, underscores that the nternet is a shared space across ages—one that thrives when everyone feels empowered to participate with curiosity, confidence, and care.Isaac shares how his journey into digital literacy work began unexpectedly through community teaching with older adults in Massachusetts. It’s one thing to work with older adults. It’s another thing to teach technology. But it’s a third thing entirely to teach olderadults about technology. Through that work, he discovered the importance of confidence, empathy, and cross-generational understanding in shaping how people connect online.Kim offers a framework for understanding digital literacy and draws on her experience teaching multigenerational classrooms to challenge the idea that digital literacy is tied to age. We often assume young people are skilled and older adults are not, but bothgroups are incredibly diverse. It has more to do with context, confidence, and motivationthan chronology.The conversation also takes on the urgent issue of trust and safety online, especially for older generations navigating scams, misinformation, and privacy threats. Both guests emphasize that security skills are an essential dimension of digital literacy and agreethat building digital confidence—through mentorship, community programs, and intergenerational collaboration—is key to a safer, more inclusive Internet. The guests call for stakeholders to engage together and work towards a new digital human synchronicity, where learning and adaptation are seen as lifelong processes, not bound by generational stereotypes. LINKS /RESOURCESAmeriCorpsBridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults (UNESCO)Digitally Empowering Older Adults in Mexico (ISOC Mexico Chapter)Generation definitionsGeragogyLaura Breeden, Internet Hall of Fame Inductee 2023Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and IndependenceNational Digital Inclusion AllianceWeb Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)CONSIDER A DONATIONThe Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
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The Metrics Behind the Magic
Sep 2500:49:01Tap to summarizeIn the fourth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Yug Desai explore the science and strategy behind Internet measurement—how we track outages, latency, and even hidden surveillance across the global Internet ecosystem. Joined by leading researchers Dr. Alexander Gamero-Garrido (Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Davis) and Anand Raje (Co-Founder and CTO, India Internet Foundation (IIFON)), the conversation uncovers how data and measurement are shaping a more open, resilient, and secure Internet for everyone. Both guests emphasize that data-driven storytelling is essential for the Internet’s future. Whether highlighting unstable local connections, revealing how certain regions are left digitally dependent on faraway servers, or equipping policymakers with evidence to craft and enforce regulations, measurement is the key to transparency and resilience. In summary, Episode 4 makes clear: the Internet’s true state is hidden in vast streams of data. Measurement is how we find the truth, tell the stories, and build a digital world fit for the future. CONSIDER A DONATIONThe Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
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The Road to the Router
Aug 2500:43:28Tap to summarizeIn the third episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky explore the human stories and technical realities of Internet connectivity with guests Cedrick Mbeyet and Lito Ibarra, often called the “father of the Internet in El Salvador.” Together, they unpack what it really means to be connected—not just as a technological achievement, but as a social and cultural milestone. The discussion spotlights the persistent global challenge of unequal access. For millions, getting online remains a daily struggle—one shaped by geography, economics, and policy. Yet, as Cedrick reminds us, connectivity is more than infrastructure: “Moving from the source to the destination includes so many things that we don’t take into consideration.”This episode clearly shows how innovation, collaboration, and resilience are helping bridge the digital divide and why connectivity must be seen not only as a technical resource but also as a driver of inclusion, opportunity, and community empowerment.CONSIDER A DONATIONThe Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
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The Internet Ecosystem
Jul 2200:34:53Tap to summarizeIn the second episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Yug Desai and Claire van Zwieten are joined by Alan Ramírez García and Everton Teles Rodrigues, prominent representatives of the Latin American Internet community and alumni of the Internet Society Mid-career Fellowship (2023). Alan and Everton share their earliest memories of discovering the Internet in the 1990s, reflecting on how their initial curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge defined their online journeys.The conversation delves into the complexities of the Internet ecosystem, exploring who “runs” the Internetand the vital roles played by a range of stakeholders—from governments and the private sector to civil society and the technical community. Both guests emphasize the importance of the multi-stakeholder model in creating a dynamic and resilient Internet that serves users worldwide.The episode highlights the essential work required to preserve a trustworthy and globally connected Internet in the face of new challenges. Key topics include the emergence and significance of national and regional Internet Governance Forums (IGFs), particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as ongoing efforts to address local challenges, such as rural connectivity. Everton explains the historical and evolving role of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in managing Internet resources. At the same time, Alan shares insights into the IGF’s multi-stakeholder Advisory Group and its consensus-driven processes.This episode also examines the Internet Society’s impact, providing technical leadership, advocating for an open and secure Internet, supporting community networks, and empowering professionals through educational programs, such as the Mid-Career Fellowship. To support us, see: https://donate.internetsociety.org/?form=essentialAnd for learning, visit https://www.internetsociety.org/learning/References:ICANNInternet Engineering Task ForceISOC Mid-career Fellowship ProgramUnited Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF)World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
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History of the Internet
Jun 2300:51:31Tap to summarizeIn the first episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky and Claire van Zwieten welcome Dr. Vinton Cerf, often referred to as one of the fathers of the Internet, to discuss his groundbreaking contributions to the creation of the TCP/IP protocol and the early days of Internet development. Dr. Cerf shares his favorite uses of the internet, recalling the first email he sent and the origins of networked email. He also delves into the design choices behind TCP/IP and the vision for the Internet as a tool for command and control, collaboration, and connecting powerful systems. The conversation explores the evolution of the Internet, challenges it faces today, including security and accountability, and the promising growth of AI and the interplanetary Internet. Dr. Cerf emphasizes the importance of openness, interoperability, and teamwork in the Internet's development, while reflecting on the Internet Society's role in fostering a global community around Internet governance. This episode serves as a foundation for understanding the Internet's history and its transformative impact on society.To Support us see: https://donate.internetsociety.org/?form=essentialAnd for learning, visit https://www.internetsociety.org/learning/
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Introducing Internet Changemakers
Jun 400:01:31Tap to summarizeWelcome to Internet Changemakers, a podcast by the Internet Society Alumni Network.From the days of dial-up to the rise of AI, the Internet has transformed how we live, work, and connect — but who’s driving that change? And what challenges lie ahead?Meet your hosts: Claire van Zwieten, Alumni Specialist at the Internet Society; Yug Desai, a PhD candidate, and Internet Society alumnus; and Noha Ashraf Abdel Baky, an IT professional and Internet Society alumna.Together, they introduce a new podcast exploring the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the Internet — past, present, and future.In each episode, you'll hear from pioneers, innovators, and leaders tackling key issues like online privacy, the digital divide, and how to make the Internet safer, more inclusive, and accessible to all.The first episode features none other than Dr. Vint Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the Internet.Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a professional in the field, or just curious about how the Internet impacts your life, this podcast is for you.Subscribe now to Internet Changemakers and join the conversation about shaping the future of the Internet.
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