No deepfake here. This week, Al Franken does his own impersonations of Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Grassley, Sherrod Brown and Susan Collins in this mock Senate Hearing featuring Siri (played by the actual voice-over talent Susan Bennett) and Al’s fellow SNL alum Laraine Newman playing the part of Alexa.
Plus Beau tells us about the time in the late 80s (he’s that old) someone at the phone company hacked into Winona Ryder’s phone which he answered wearing Johnny Depp’s scissor hands. True story!
The Tin Foil this week, duh, is all about privacy settings on your home digital assistants. Like being ogled by an algorithm? Leave them on the default setting. For all the rest of you, we have a digital fig leaf for ya (that’s about all anyone can offer).
“What the Hack with Adam Levin” is available wherever you get your podcasts. If you like it, consider rating us on your favorite podcast service or writing a review. It really helps people find the show.
About the Hosts
Adam Levin is the former Director of Consumer Affairs for the State of New Jersey, serial entrepreneur and author of Swiped, which he wrote with his sidekick, writer and cyber mensch, Beau Friedlander. With expert commentary from Travis “Here’s What Actually Happened” Taylor, the show gets everything sorted out—or not—but either way you’re going to have a great time. Something weird happen to you? We’ve got your back.
Credits
This episode’s sketch was written by Al Franken with Beau Friedlander. Senators Bernie Sanders, Susan Collins, Chuck Grassley, and Mitch McConnell were voiced by Al Franken. Laraine Newman is the voice of Alexa and Siri was performed by Susan Bennett (the actual voice of Siri).
The illustrations for this episode are by Travis Millard. The animation was directed by Toddy Stewart and created by Ben Smith and Nicholas Manolagas of Stephen Bones Productions.
What the Hack with Adam Levin is a production of Loud Tree Media. It is produced by Andrew Steven and Beau Friedlander.
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