Podcast artwork thumbnail for Actually Useful

Actually Useful

Ariel Butters, Josh Stretten-Carlson

Booking Overview

This technology interview show examines consumer technology, privacy, platform accountability, and the forces that make products less useful; its external guests are typically independent creators, advocates, and specialist professionals. Credible pitches include consumer-tech builders and critics, digital-rights or privacy experts, child online-safety advocates, and other practitioners with firsthand insight into exploitative product design; booking difficulty is likely low.

Metrics

Episodes: 31

Frequency: Every two weeks

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: 100 - 1,000

Listener location: USA

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Host

Ariel Butters - Co-host focused on examining consumer technology, platform practices, privacy, and digital agency.

Josh Stretten-Carlson - Co-host focused on examining consumer technology, platform practices, privacy, and digital agency.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

low
Typical Credentials:  
Firsthand expertise as a consumer-technology creator, product critic, child-safety advocate, privacy specialist, or other professional focused on harmful product or platform practices.
Required Achievements:  
Created a consumer-facing product, publication, or media project, Demonstrated professional expertise in consumer protection, technology, privacy, or online safety

Recent Guest Discussions

Charlie Becker - AI Purchasing Used Books, Evaluating Book Rarity, And Stewardship Of Books Before Destruction

Keyana Sapp - The Decline Of Physical Consumer Goods, Legacy Brands, And Helping Consumers Identify Useful Products

Aaron Ping - Snapchat Product Mechanics, Law-enforcement Access, And Social-media Regulation

Recent Topics

Technology, Consumer Technology, Privacy, Consumer Protection, Online Safety

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Actually Useful
:

Innocent Until Flocked

September 24, 2026

We chat about the rise of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), how they’re being used by law enforcement, and the effects of anti-Flock activism.Say hi on:⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Substack⁠ | ⁠Email⁠Episode links:Deflock.orgHaveIBeenFlocked.com 404 Media’s article on Darth Vader & FlockAll of 404 Media’s Flock coverage

The Books We’re Losing to AI

September 10, 2026

We chat with Charlie Becker, a second-generation used and rare bookseller, about AI buying up used books, the challenge of knowing how rare a book is, and what kind of stewardship should be required before a book can be destroyed. In Falcon Mode, we discuss the enshittification of printers. Say hi on:Instagram | TikTok | Substack | EmailEpisode links:charliedbecker.com valib.app 404 Media’s article tracking the books Amazon bought

Everything is Worse on Purpose

August 27, 2026

We chat with Keyana Sapp, creator of Worse on Purpose, about the enshittification of physical consumer goods, brands that are riding on nothing but legacy reputation, and how his work can help consumers find products that are actually useful. In Falcon Mode, we open up a real can of worms by trying to avoid shady monetization mechanics in mobile games.Say hi on:Instagram | ⁠https://tinyurl.com/2ezu9vb8⁠TikTok | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/2fjpfuv2⁠Email | ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/9d5pvpcc⁠Episode ...

Similar Podcasts

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Actually Useful
:

The CyberGuy Report · Medium booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

Tech Talk with Jess Kelly · Medium booking difficulty · 1,000 - 10,000 listeners

Download This Show · Medium booking difficulty · 10,000 - 100,000 listeners

Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
Actually Useful
:

How do I get in touch with Actually Useful?

Actually Useful is hosted by Ariel Butters and Josh Stretten-Carlson. Its publicly listed email is heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for Actually Useful?

The publicly listed email for Actually Useful: heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com.

How many listeners does Actually Useful have?

Podseeker estimates Actually Useful reaches 100 to 1,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for Actually Useful?

Actually Useful typically books working professionals with real expertise. Typical guest background: Firsthand expertise as a consumer-technology creator, product critic, child-safety advocate, privacy specialist, or other professional focused on harmful product or platform practices. Common among recent guests: Created a consumer-facing product, publication, or media project; Demonstrated professional expertise in consumer protection, technology, privacy, or online safety. Recent guests include Charlie Becker, Keyana Sapp, and Aaron Ping.

How hard is it to get booked on Actually Useful?

Low. A guest with relevant expertise and a clear angle for its audience has a realistic chance.

What topics does Actually Useful cover?

Recent episodes cover Technology, Consumer Technology, Privacy, Consumer Protection, and Online Safety. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

heyactuallyuseful@gmail.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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