The Breakroom

Στο τρίτο επεισόδιο του The 20% Breakroom ανακαλύπτουμε τη σχέση της τεχνολογίας με την πολιτική. Ο Elon Musk είναι πλέον υπουργός της Αμερικάνικης κυβέρνησης, ο Peter Thiel έχει το δικό του άνθρωπο δίπλα στο πρόεδρο Trump, η Google πολεμά την Αμερικάνικη κυβέρνηση και στην Κύπρο ακόμα στέλνουμε φαξ στις κυβερνητικές υπηρεσίες. Σε αυτό το επεισόδιο συζητάμε για: 1. Τα νέα προϊόντα της Apple 2. To...

In this episode, with the help of Anna, we tell the story of a brief moment in the 1990s when women were at the forefront of the nascent internet and tech scene in New York City, dubbed "Silicon Alley." It follows the journeys of three pioneering women - Stacy Horn, Marisa Bowe, and Jaime Levy - as they built innovative online communities, publications, and agencies. But as the dot-com b...

In this episode, I am thrilled to host Yulia Tarasova, co-founder of KidIT Cyprus, a groundbreaking program dedicated to transforming young tech users, aged 5–13, into creators through hands-on, creative education. With a background in the gaming industry, Yulia has brought a unique, family-centered approach to tech education in Cyprus with KidIT’s innovative curriculum. Join us as we discuss the...

To δεύτερο επεισόδιο του The 20% Brearoom είναι εδώ και το θέμα μας είναι: "Θα πεθάνουμε όλοι!". Ναι, το AI θα μας σκοτώσει όλους αλλά πριν συμβεί αυτό συντονιστείτε για να μάθετε τα νέα μερικών καθημερινών δισεκατομυριούχων όπως ο Mark Zuckerberg που την είδε Ρωμαίος αυτοκράτορας, ο Bill Gates που αναρωτιέται τι μας επιφυλάσει το μέλλον, και ο Elon Musk, ο οποίος θέλει να μας δώσει αυτο...

Στο νέο επεισόδιο του “Breaking the 20%”, φιλοξενούμε τον Δρ. Τριαντάφυλλο Στυλιανόπουλο, Αναπληρωτή Καθηγητή στο Τμήμα Μηχανικών Μηχανολογίας και Κατασκευαστικής, και τον Θεόδωρο Λουκαΐδη, Γενικό Διευθυντή του ΙδΕΚ. Μαζί συζητάμε για την αποστολή και το όραμα του ΙδΕΚ, την εξέλιξη της έρευνας και της καινοτομίας στην Κύπρο, καθώς και τα σημαντικά χρηματοδοτικά προγράμματα που στηρίζουν το ερευνητ...

Καλωσορίσατε στη νέα ενότητα του Breaking the 20%! Σε αυτή την ενότητα, μαζί με τον Μιχάλη, θα συζητάμε τα τελευταία νέα από τον κόσμο της τεχνολογίας και των startups, αλλά με έναν διαφορετικό τρόπο. Αντί να εξυμνούμε τα πάντα, θα κουτσομπολεύουμε, θα σχολιάζουμε καυστικά τους tech δισεκατομμυριούχους και, γενικά, θα κάνουμε trash talk τις αγαπημένες μας tech υπηρεσίες και προϊόντα. Ετοιμαστείτε...

In this episode of Breaking the 20%, we sit down with Tanya to discuss the inspiring Women in STEM Cyprus Forum . The first Women in STEM Cyprus Forum is a landmark event dedicated to empowering and advocating for women in STEM fields. We explore how this event is driving change in the tech industry and STEM industry in general by fostering a supportive community for women and showcasing their con...

We’re back for another season! In this episode, we explore the story behind Playboy’s most popular issue, which sold 7.16 million copies, and how it’s connected to every digital photo. With the help of the producer of the show, Andreas Phylactou, we get into how the tech industry dehumanizes women like Lenna, Jennifer, and JLo (all featured in this story) and the impact this has on the current rep...

For the last episode of season 2 I am joined by Maria Terzi co-founder and CEO of AI and cybersecurity firm Malloc and we travel back in time to meet ELIZA, the great-grandmother of all chatbots. Then we follow the fascinating path that has led to today's sophisticated AI. Join us for a lighthearted look at the history of Artificial Intelligence, as we explore the milestones, mishaps, and dow...

In this episode we journey from the origins of ARPANET to the perpetual connectivity of Eternal September, highlighting the critical contributions of women in the evolution of the internet. With a comedic flare brought by my hilarious guests, Constantinos and Pavlos, we explore the transformative role these women played, featuring Jake Feinler the woman who gave us the ".com" and the bri...

In the latest episode, Michalis Strouthos returns to the studio as we dive into the fascinating story behind the rise of personal computing giants Microsoft and Apple, and their founders, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Through the lens of the 1999 TV movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley," we explore iconic moments and pivotal deals. Discover how these tech titans really made their mark—not throu...

In this episode, I am joined by Jas Powell to delve into the remarkable legacy of Alan Turing, often hailed as the father of computer science. Recorded during Pride Month, this episode explores Turing's early life, groundbreaking contributions to the field of computing, and his pivotal role in breaking the German Enigma code during World War II. The discussion touches on Turing's persona...

For a second week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley. We explore their rise from PayPal pioneers to tech titans, dissecting how their libertarian ideals and strategies have sculpted today’s tech culture, often at the expense of diversity and in...

This week, with the help of Andrea Solomonides, co-founder of Black Lemon TV and partner at Giraffes in the Kitchen, we unravel the complex legacy of Peter Thiel and the PayPal Mafia in Silicon Valley.  In the opening segment of this two-part series, we introduce you to the legendary Paypal Mafia. Coined in a 2007 article, they are depicted as a "hyperintelligent, superconnected pack of seria...

This week Andreas Constantinides, a renowned cybersecurity expert, joins me to help me uncover the alarming case of Jia Tan—a fabricated identity at the center of a sophisticated cyber espionage operation. Andreas lends his extensive expertise as we analyze how Jia Tan, seemingly a diligent contributor to open-source projects like XZ Utils, was a cover for a collective executing a long-term backdo...

This week I am joined by Xenia Miscouridou, a pioneer in the realm of artificial intelligence and a beacon for women in science. Celebrated on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Xenia stands at the forefront of machine learning research. Her academic journey has taken her from Imperial College London, Cambridge, and Oxford University, to New York and Switzerland, to her current lectureship at the Univer...

In this episode, I am joined by Alexander Davidian, an insightful observer of the Cypriot startup scene. Together, we unpack the no-holds-barred narrative of Kara Swisher in her latest book, " Burn Book ".  We dive into Kara's fearless world, discussing her unique style that combines tough questioning with biting humor. From an aspiring CIA operative to tech journalism’s most potent...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Neofytos about the Future Start-Up Founders Programme, an initiative organized by the CCS and co-funded by the Erasmus+ EU project, Femme Forward. This online school is designed to empower women to turn their tech start-up aspirations into reality, mirroring our podcast's mission to illuminate and support the pivotal role of women in the t...

This week we leave reality at the door and dive into the world of fiction! Today, we're logging into the mainframe of our imaginations to celebrate the digital divas who've hacked, coded, and innovated their way through some of our favorite stories. 🎮💻👩‍💻 Joining me to decode the stories of these iconic characters are digital storytellers, Andreas and Christina. As directors, they kn...

Mr. Demetris Skourides is the Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation, and Technology appointed by President Nikos Christodoulides. Since his appointment in September 2023, Mr. Skourides has been entrusted with the pivotal role of leading Cyprus towards becoming a dynamic and competitive economy, propelled by research, scientific excellence, innovation, technological development, and entrepreneur...

This week we explore the world of maternity and AI with Natalia, the founder and CEO of Soula. As a seasoned expert in maternity wellbeing and care, Natalia brings over 15 years of experience collaborating with global organizations to bridge the gap in maternal care. We explore her journey from leading social impact projects to founding Soula, an innovative AI-powered compassion care solution supp...

In this episode, I'm joined by Josie Christodoulou, the Commissioner for Gender Equality, for a deep dive into the shifting role of women in the technology sector. We journey from a time when women were the programmers, through a pivotal moment when two men's profiling methods pushed women aside, to a contemporary debate sparked by an engineer's claim about the biological unsuitabil...

In this episode, we're joined by Gala and Tanya, leaders of Women in Tech Cyprus, as they share their experiences and insights on advancing women in the tech industry. From their personal journeys that led them to tech and prompted their move to Cyprus, to the joys and challenges of building a community with nearly 350 members, they offer an inspiring look at what it means to lead and empower...

In this week's episode, I am joined by Mr. Charalampos Theopemptou to explore a key moment in space history where Margaret Hamilton's pioneering software engineering prevented potential disaster during the Apollo 11 mission. We also touch on the dawn of computing in Cyprus, weaving the past with our present endeavors to inspire more women to join and lead in technology.  Join us at our T...

This week's episode celebrates the recent successes of young Cypriot girls in global tech competitions. First I talked with a team of primary school students who represented Cyprus in the international Robotex Robotics competition in Talin, Estonia, and won second place in the Water Rally. Then I discussed with Mariza Paspalli who at just 13 years old won the bronze medal at the Junior Balkan...