BBC Studios Audio has announced the return of its visualized technology podcast, The Interface, on September 30 with a new co-host and refreshed editorial focus exploring the tech, trends and online experiences shaping modern life.
This season, Jessica Maddox joins returning co-host and BBC technology columnist, Thomas Germain. Dr. Maddox is an Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Georgia and a leading expert in social media, content creators and the evolution of pop culture and labor, bringing a new perspective to the show’s exploration of digital culture. She is the author of The Internet Is For Cats: How Animal Images Shape Our Digital Lives and Anatomy of an Internet Scandal: How Content Creators and Audiences Feed the Outrage Machine. The new season builds on the work of former co-hosts Nicky Woolf and Karen Hao, whose voices helped shape The Interface and who remain friends of the show.
The Interface is evolving into a sharp and witty guide to how technology is shaping the way we live, work, think, and connect. Every Wednesday, the hosts dissect the stories that matter to you – or soon will: consumer technology, internet culture, Silicon Valley power plays, digital controversies and, of course, the fallout from AI. Under every story lies a bigger question about human behavior, identity, and connection in a world where technology influences everything.
“Most tech podcasts are for people obsessed with business and hype. The Interface is for everyone else: people who want to understand the hidden motives of social media algorithms, what memes reveal about political movements, and how to feel when the world says ‘panic’ about AI,” said Thomas Germain, the BBC’s technology columnist and co-host of The Interface. “Jessica understands the internet better than anyone I know. We’re here to cut through the noise to find tech stories that actually matter in your daily life. It’s a perspective the world desperately needs.”
“I’ve spent my career studying internet culture and social media, so getting to join Thomas and dig into the weird, messy and fascinating world of the internet every week is really exciting”, said Jessica Maddox, associate professor of media studies at the University of Georgia and co-host of The Interface. “The team has already created a really special show with The Interface, and I’m looking forward to bringing my own perspective to the conversation in this new season.”
Since its debut, The Interface has built a strong international audience, with nearly 50% of downloads coming from the U.S. and Canada. The show has also consistently ranked among the top 10 tech podcasts in the US on Apple Podcasts, resonating with listeners around the world.
The Interface returns on September 30, with new episodes every Wednesday on BBC Sounds in the UK, BBC.com in the US and wherever you listen to podcasts globally. The show will also be available to audiences outside the UK as a video series on the BBC Global YouTube channel.
ENDS
About BBC Studios
BBC Studios is the main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd and generated revenues of £2.1 billion in the last year and profits of over £200 million for a fifth consecutive year. The business made almost 3,500 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide range of UK and global broadcasters and platforms.
BBC Studios Audio produces and distributes an expansive portfolio including hit podcasts, video podcasts and iconic radio including Desert Island Discs, You’re Dead to Me, The Global Story, Things Fell Apart, The History of the United States in 100 Objects and In Our Time. With drama, factual and comedy and entertainment teams delivering world-class audio and digital content to audiences around the world, BBC Studios Audio produced over 600 hours of content in the last year, winning 33 awards internationally.
