Best Humyara Mahbub Podcasts (2025)

1
Apple’s Passive Income Era 54:46

Play Pause

3h ago54:46

54:46

Down Round hasn't checked in on Cupertino in a little while. This week, we take stock of Apple’s strange position in the AI boom — not really innovating very much, but quietly raking in billions as everyone else builds data centres. From Siri’s long road to Gemini, to the cult of thinness and the ghost of Johnny Ive, we talk about how Apple keeps w…

1
We Can Tell If You Didn't Get Enough Tummy Time 29:01

10m ago29:01

29:01

This week on Baby Shoes, Alex and Hum discuss a Shark Tank invention that actually looks genius? Plus a toy that seriously gives Hum the creeps. And, we're mad at a man for giving us an infuriating suggestion on how to manage our busy lives. This episode of Baby Shoes is made in partnership with New Beginnings, head to newbeginnings.com.au and use …

1
Data Centres 101 49:38

21h ago49:38

49:38

We realised that we've been talking a lot about data centres but have gotten pretty pointy headed about it, without bringing our beautiful listeners along for the ride. We apologise. This episode is us pumping the brakes, going back to first principles and explaining the current data centre situation — from where they started, all the way to the cu…

1
"Those Are Mother's Crocs" 27:49

3d ago27:49

27:49

Baby Shoes is back for season 2! This week, Alex and Hum discuss the latest innovations in baby shoes, and how babies can be such a pain when it comes to wanting mummy's toys. They also get mad about breast milk ice cream which is, confusingly, not what you might think it is. This episode of Baby Shoes is made in partnership with New Beginnings, he…

1
Baby Shoes Is Back...Tomorrow! 0:43

3d ago0:43

0:43

The (slightly longer than intended) wait is over...Baby Shoes season 2 is back tomorrow! Back sure you're following us to get new episodes as soon as they drop. Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about in this episode! Follow Alex and Hum on Instagram. Theme song by Tom Cardy Partnership Enquiries: Babyshoes…

1
Spotify for Sickos 52:35

7d ago52:35

52:35

Today's episode is on the back of a curious report from The Information that Suno, the AI music generation app, now brings in $150 million in annual recurring revenue. That's not Meta level, but it's not bad either. It opens up a discussion of how the world of AI generated content is progressing, including chat about OpenAI's Sora colonising TikTok…

1
Atlas Shrugged 41:42

14d ago41:42

41:42

As was long predicted, OpenAI has released a browser: ChatGPT Atlas. It's a pretty clear attempt to attack Google's $100B search moat and establish a new surface for all the stuff OpenAI wants to do with agentic AI, personal assistants and all the rest of it. But is it any good? We find out. Also, another conclusion to TIKTOK BANWATCH. See omnystud…

1
Getting Steamy 52:26

21d ago52:26

52:26

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made an interesting little announcement this week: the company has mitigated mental health concerns on its platform... and it's ready to let its users generate erotica. Now that might seem a little strange to you. Most of the internet had a similar response, actually. In this episode, we talk more about one of our favourite pe…

1
Investigating The Mumgorithm (feat. Humyara Mahbub) 52:00

1M ago52:00

52:00

This week, Down Round is diving into the world of parenting and technology — everything from the various devices and gizmos targeted at parents, through to the algorithm that swamps your feed the moment you become a new parent. Joining us to help us understand the deep mysteries of the mumgorithm is Humyara Mahbub of the Baby Shoes podcast, who is …

1
Vibes Off 43:54

1M ago43:54

43:54

Vibes are up this week. Alexandr Wang, the former Scale AI CEO who now runs Meta's new multi-billion dollar Superintelligence unit, has announced one of their first products: What if TikTok but only AI slop? Vibes is a feed full of AI videos. That sounds like an idiotic thing to put the greatest and highest paid minds of our generation onto. Unless…

1
Meta Glasses, Again 37:13

2M ago37:13

37:13

We all know that Meta wants to replace the smartphone with smartglasses, and be the king of the AI device game. Well, they're one step closer to their sci-fi dream with the announcement of the Meta Rayban Display. In this ep, we dive into the announcement, and how things are coming together on the device front for Zuckerberg and Co. See omnystudio.…

1
Consulting the Oracle 38:15

2M ago38:15

38:15

Oracle. Unless you're a big database guy, it's probably not a company you're going to be all that interested in. But it is one of the biggest companies on Earth, and its stock just pumped 40% — not something you often see for an outfit which started in the 1970s. Why? Because it just signed a $300 billion multiyear deal with OpenAI to provide compu…

1
iPhone, But Orange 40:24

2M ago40:24

40:24

Apple have announced their new iPhones — and they sort of stink of desperation. But one of them is orange, which may or may not appeal to you. Plus, a notable absence of Apple Intelligence chat. The boys are back in the same room after a prolonged interregnum and break it all down for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
K-Pop Demon Hunters 29:38

2M ago29:38

29:38

We're dipping into the world of streaming and East Asian cultural dominance today, talking about Netflix's smash hit movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. We talk about the pandemic era deal struck between Sony and Netflix, what this means for the streaming landscape, and whether it would have been as much of a cultural phenomenon if it was a traditional cine…

1
Copy Fight (UNLOCKED) 51:00

3M ago51:00

51:00

A big topic of conversation Down Under over the past couple of weeks has been copyright — namely, whether we should loosen the rules to make it easier for AI companies to operate in Australia, and for data centre companies to build here. The Productivity Commission and Tech Council boss Scott Farquhar think we should. Creatives are less enthused. W…

1
GPT-5: Here We Go Again 45:52

3M ago45:52

45:52

After many months of hype and news stories, OpenAI has released GPT-5, the next major numbered iteration of its large language model. There have been all sorts of models since it released GPT-4 in 2023, but this is supposed to be the big dog. In this ep, we talk about the rocky launch — starting with the fact that most people aren't that impressed …

1
What Are They Planning? (ft. Cam Wilson) 56:48

3M ago56:48

56:48

Today James is joined by previous Down Round guest Cam Wilson, who has written a new book with (another former Down Round guest) Ariel Bogle, Conspiracy Nation, which is about the Australian conspiracy community. While Raph is living it up on the coastline of Croatia, James and Cam had a freewheeling chat about online conspiracy culture, how it has…

1
Big Kiwi Is Buying Our Listeners 37:48

3M ago37:48

37:48

It's the season finale of Baby Shoes! And this week, we are handing it over to you, the listeners, and breaking down all the insane products you've sent us. From a sh*tting turtle to more corn play, you have delivered the goods. And don't worry, we'll be back with season 2 in a few weeks! Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of eve…

1
Knock On (ft. Tim Stewart) 52:56

4M ago52:56

52:56

Several years ago, Down Round listener Tim Stewart submitted a question to one of our Q&A mailbag episodes: when is the new rugby league video game for PlayStation 5 coming out? We couldn't answer him, because we didn't know what the hell he was talking about. But now, years later, it has come out, and everyone seems to agree it's really not very g…

1
That's Tea 48:19

4M ago48:19

48:19

Tea, the app which offers what it describes as "dating safety tools which protect women", has been hacked. It follows a couple of weeks where it went viral and led the app charts in the US. For those not familiar, it is basically an app version of those 'are we dating the same guy' Facebook groups, where women share pics, tips and intel on bad date…

1
The Toilet That Fits In Your Bag 25:58

4M ago25:58

25:58

This week on Baby Shoes, Hum and Alex discuss a portable potty that means your child can poop anywhere, and all you have to do is literally haul around a toilet everywhere you go. Plus, we are mad at a baby spa...or are we? Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about in this episode! Follow Alex and Hum on Inst…

1
Microsoft's Xbox Conundrum 46:25

4M ago46:25

46:25

Microsoft slashed 9,000 jobs a few weeks ago, with the Xbox division taking a hit including some studio closures. What about that $70 BILLION Activision Blizzard acquisition just a couple of years ago? It sounds like fertile ground for of Raph's largest victory laps to date, after he suggested Microsoft should have ditched Xbox years ago. But first…

1
The Back To Work Episode 23:35

4M ago23:35

23:35

This week on Baby Shoes, Hum and Alex have a frank conversation about the highs and lows of returning to work, from breastfeeding in the office to solo wee's. Plus, we are mad at an influencer who is trying to tell us that bad thoughts might be making our kids sick. Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about i…

1
Grok: Elon's $28 Billion Slur Machine 52:24

4M ago52:24

52:24

Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, went "Kanye Mode" — becoming openly Nazi, seemingly out of nowhere. The boys get to the bottom of the root cause, and muse on the big question: what is the point of Grok anyway? Out: Platforms spending millions on content moderation to root our hate speech. In: Spending billions to have your platform literally spew hat…

1
Do Not Asphyxiate The Goose 24:44

4M ago24:44

24:44

This week on Baby Shoes, Hum and Alex have come across the most disturbing toy they've ever seen, and are bewildered by some foam mats. Plus, is toothpaste evil now?? Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about in this episode! Follow Alex and Hum on Instagram. Theme song by Tom Cardy Partnership Enquiries: Bab…

1
Meta's Highway Robbery 46:37

5M ago46:37

46:37

For a few weeks, we've been talking about Meta's revenge tour in Silicon Valley, throwing massive bonuses at AI talent at rival companies in order to tempt them over to Zuck's domain. Well, it seems to have paid off now — and the company has announced its Superintelligence team, packed with talent they managed to poach. Then, we go into a Bloomberg…

1
The $650 Baby Carrier That Has Us Fuming 31:07

5M ago31:07

31:07

Would you spend $12,000 on a baby carrier? What about a much more reasonable $650? All the celebrities are doing it and Hum is convinced. Plus, we're mad at hypocritical lunchbox influencers. Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about in this episode! Follow Alex and Hum on Instagram. Theme song by Tom Cardy P…

1
Reading Out Confidential Emails Live On The Air 37:11

5M ago37:11

37:11

After the fanfare of the OpenAI/Jony Ive multibillion-dollar device partnership, io, all references were scrubbed from the internet as if it never happened. After rampant speculation, it was revealed that it was over a claim the whole thing was stolen. From some guy named Jason, no less. Seems like OpenAI is a real drama magnet. We discuss the case…

1
So We're Just Strapping Vomit Buckets To Our Kids Now 37:10

5M ago37:10

37:10

On today's episode of Baby Shoes, Alex is torn on a product called the 'Chundee' and can you guess what it is? While Hum is confident that 45 different teethers is important for a baby to have. Plus, they're mad at 'gentle parenting'....for dogs. Follow Baby Shoes on Instagram where we post pictures of everything we talk about in this episode! Foll…

1
They Do Ads On Computers Now 32:43

5M ago32:43

32:43

Canva has made another acquisition: MagicBrief, the advertising command centre founded by a dear friend of the pod. In this ep, we talk about the acquisition, where it fits in Canva's strategy, and wind off into a bigger chat about the ad market. Then, for some reason, we talk about Apple Music and Spotify. Real smorgasbord here folks. See omnystud…

1
Could This Magnesium Oil Really Change Our Life? 35:15

5M ago35:15

35:15

On today's episode of Baby Shoes, Hum definitely doesn't want to buy some baby knee pads to further wrap your child in cotton wool, but Alex is tempted by some magnesium oil that promises to fix almost every single one of her problems. Plus, we are very mad at someone of TikTok and their reasoning for dressing 'old money'. Follow Baby Shoes on Inst…

1
WWDC 2025: Extreme Liquidity 46:49

5M ago46:49

46:49

Apple had its software development conference this week. It announced a whole new design language filled with organic movements and over-the-top animations, serving as the perfect distraction from the company's very public missteps in AI. We go through everything you need to know. Well, at least 60% of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in…

1
We Need To Talk About Cereal Baths Immediately 32:13

5M ago32:13

32:13

Welcome back to Baby Shoes, the podcast about all the crazy shit the internet tells mums to buy for their precious babies, hosted by Alex Lee and Humyara Mahbub. On today's episode, Alex and Hum want to buy a kid's towel that promises to change their life, and a $100 silk pillow case for a baby. Plus, we delve into the distressing world a cereal ba…

1
Grammarly's Second Wind 50:39

5M ago50:39

50:39

Remember Grammarly? Of course you do. The briefly ubiquitous piece of software that made sure you were using your possessive apostrophes correctly. Well, guess what? They just received $1 billion in nondilutive investment from General Catalyst to become an all-in-one AI platform? Sounds like bullshit? Well, probably. But it's a business model we'll…

1
The Siren Song of the Stapelstein 26:18

6M ago26:18

26:18

Welcome back to Baby Shoes, the podcast about all the crazy shit the internet tells mums to buy for their precious babies, hosted by Alex Lee and Humyara Mahbub. On today's episode, Alex and Hum discuss colourful German domes of plastic that cost more than our rent (but we still kinda want??) and an alternative way to get your kid to brush their te…

1
It's Q&A Time Pt. 1 45:33

6M ago45:33

45:33

It's been a while since we've done of these. We answer your burning questions on topics including but not limited to: Jony Ive's partnership with OpenAI Apple after Tim Cook Atlassian and Immutable, two Australian unicorns Ranking the Magnificent 7 tech stocks by aura/swag See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Would You Treat Your Baby Like A Hamster? 23:37

6M ago23:37

23:37

This is Baby Shoes, the podcast about all the crazy shit the internet tells mums to buy for their precious babies, hosted by Alex Lee and Humyara Mahbub. On today's episode, Hum is freaked out by a camera that literally follows your baby around, and Alex wants to buy a very stupid piece of luggage for her kids. Plus, we can't decide whether setting…

1
Google's Little Victory Lap 44:31

6M ago44:31

44:31

We've been saying for a little while that Google has caught up in AI, and is now trying to deploy the full force of its product range and scale to the problem of achieving domination. Dunno if they're there yet, but the I/O conference shows that they're still got a few tricks up their sleeve. In this ep, we go into what they announced, including so…

1
Why Does My Baby Have More Expensive Shoes Than Me 32:13

6M ago32:13

32:13

Welcome to Baby Shoes! The podcast about all the crazy shit the internet tells mums to buy for their precious babies, hosted by Alex Lee and Humyara Mahbub. On episode one, Alex and Hum dissect a product called Windi The Gasspasser, which is a cult product which is shocking to say the least. Plus, Hum's baby needs shoes and wants to know, why is bu…

1
Airbnb for Everything 49:28

6M ago49:28

49:28

Airbnb is in a mid-life crisis. Founder Brian Chesky is undergoing one of his routine meltdowns where he suddenly decides that the short-stay rental platform should actually be a ticket-clipping mediator of literally all human experience. The platform has been redesigned and relaunched, with both 'services' and 'experiences' living in separate tabs…

1
Peak Search 49:04

6M ago49:04

49:04

Last week we gave some cursory attention to Apple's legal troubles in its battle with Epic Games and every other developer who chafes at paying the 30% Apple tax on everything. This time, we give it a little more attention and thought. Plus, the company's services boss Eddy Cue popped up in another trial, and gave us some intriguing insight into Ap…

1
Canva Conundrum [PREVIEW] 2:32

6M ago2:32

2:32

Australia's graphic design unicorn is yet to go public, and find themselves in an intersting position. As we all know infinite growth means you can't just be a really nice graphic design platform, you have to be Microsoft. The boys ask the question, are Canva an enterprise company or for SMEs? Are they for pros or amateurs? What the hell is AI? And…

1
Computer Says I Love You 44:49

7M ago44:49

44:49

Stacked deck today folks. First we return briefly to Tesla to talk about a Wall Street Journal story which reported the company opened a CEO search to replace Elon Musk. Then we move on to the big tech news story of the week: OpenAI rolling out a ChatGPT update that made it too sycophantic. It was funny, but also shows how these big AI firms are th…

1
The President's Friend Premium 30:54

7M ago30:54

30:54

Tesla turned in an absolute shocker of an earnings result, which may be related to why Elon Musk announced he would be turning more of his attention to the electric carmaker and less on being Trump's friend. In this ep, we go into the earnings, give a little update on what the EV market is looking like and what Tesla says it wants to do — and a lit…

1
Nvidia's Latest Problem 42:42

7M ago42:42

42:42

Raph has returned from the land of the free, and we're back in the regular studio for some more Down Round. Nvidia has just been slapped with a new restriction on exporting its slightly less than cutting edge H20 chip, which cost it a $5.5 billion charge. We talk about chips and continue our chat from last week's premium episode about how Trump's t…

1
Trailer 1:07

7M ago1:07

1:07

Baby Shoes Coming Soon! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Alex Lee and Humyara Mahbub

1
Studio Ghibli, But Make It Slop Pt. 1 44:30

8M ago44:30

44:30

We talked about the new OpenAI image generation platform last week briefly, but we recorded on the day it released and therefore missed the massive amounts of discourse it generated. We're sorry. We'll never miss the discourse again. But it was a great opportunity to take stock of the AI art conversation, which has only become more heated and baroq…

1
Spitting In A Tube And Selling It To Private Equity 42:15

8M ago42:15

42:15

The chickens have come home to roost for 23andme, the consumer genetic testing company which has gone from making people feel nice about being 4% Italian to languishing in bankruptcy. With the vultures circling the carcass, we reflect on its very weird business model and why it should never have gone public. Then we talk about Google, which has bee…

1
Rippling vs Deel 31:33

8M ago31:33

31:33

HR SaaS is probably the least sexy topic in the world, but fortunately two of the bigger players have made it interesting through bizarre corporate warfare. Rippling has launched a lawsuit against competitor Deel alleging that they placed a spy deep within. The saga contains a honey-pot Slack channel, a mole in the top ranks, and trying to flush a …

1
One Weird Trick That Payments Processors HATE! 54:21

8M ago54:21

54:21

We're back with podcast content after a regrettable interruption last week. This ep we've got a stacked deck. First, we are forced by fate to talk about Trump, Elon and Tesla briefly. Then we get into the lawsuit against creator economy platform and OnlyFans lite platform Passes. This gives us an excuse to go on a whirlwind tour of a few things: Sc…