Best The Social Deviants Podcasts (2025)

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The Gaily Show: New Crime Ink Anthology 45:45

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1h ago45:45

45:45

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops on September 9th! In our off weeks we play episodes of The Gaily Show which John hosts. The Gaily Show is the only daily LGBTQ progressive news and talk radio show in the country airing in Minneapolis (AM950-KTNF) and Chicago (WCPT 820). In this episode, Crime Ink: Iconic (An Anthology of Crime F…

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Episode 215: They Targeted His Mom, He Went Full CIA 43:41

3d ago43:41

43:41

A fake Microsoft pop-up cost Ken Westbrook’s mom her life savings. But they scammed the wrong family. Westbrook is former CIA. These days he’s sounding the alarm on how foreign crime rings steal billions from Americans with smishing campaigns, scareware, and gift cards. We talked about solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm…

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The Deviant's War with Tim Jon Semmerling 37:06

7d ago37:06

37:06

I was combating homophobia against one of the most powerful institutions in the world. Today we meet Tim Jon Semmerling and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America by Eric Cervini. Tim Jon Semmerling is an award-winning author, a respected mitigation expert, and an a…

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Episode 214: DEF CON Redux with Rachel Tobac! 34:44

10d ago34:44

34:44

In this second installment of our DEF CON two-parter, we talked to SocialProof Security CEO Rachel Tobac about how and why people are often the weakest link in so many cybersecurity protocols and how making yourself a harder target will cause most threat actors to move on to an easier mark. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho…

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Episode 213: Inside DEF CON’s Social Engineering Village 41:34

17d ago41:34

41:34

At DEF CON’s Social Engineering Village, contestants have 22 minutes to charm real employees at real companies into revealing real details that could lead to a breach. We step inside the booth to see how persuasion, improv, and psychology fuel both ethical hacking and the rise of cybercrime worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho…

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Episode 212: How to Talk to a Cybercriminal 42:39

24d ago42:39

42:39

Kurtis Minder knows the dark web better than most—and he’s not just watching from the sidelines. As a ransomware negotiator, he’s helped victims talk their way out of seemingly impossible situations. This week, we explore how cybercriminals operate, what makes them tick, and what you need to know to avoid becoming their next target. Learn more abou…

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Notes of a Crocodile with Caro De Robertis 50:44

21d ago50:44

50:44

How do we live radiantly when the world seems bent on our erasure? Today we meet Caro De Robertis and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin, translated by Bonnie Huie. Caro’s books best-selling books have Stonewall Book Awards and the Golden Poppy Octavia E. Butler Award; and, they have been f…

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Episode 211: The Coldplay Couple and the End of Anonymity 33:36

1M ago33:36

33:36

A not-entirely innocent moment at a concert set the internet on fire. But what if that was just a symptom of a bigger problem? New York Times journalist Kashmir Hill, author of Your Face Belongs to Us, helps us explore the chilling reality of ambient surveillance, and how facial recognition could be the end privacy as we know it. Learn more about y…

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Episode 210: Cracking the Code of Fraud with AARP's Kathy Stokes 44:39

1M ago44:39

44:39

Online fraud isn't just annoying; it's a national crisis. Last year alone, it may have siphoned $158 billion from the U.S. economy. This episode features AARP's Kathy Stokes, who reveals how fraud has morphed into a sophisticated, global operation and what's being done to fight back against this evolving threat. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi…

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Confessions of the Fox with Ilana Masad and Jordy Rosenberg 43:36

1M ago43:36

43:36

Where are all the queer people in history? Today we meet Ilana Masad and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg. And Jordy joins us! Ilana Masad is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, and criticism. Their work has appeared in The New Yorker, New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, NPR, The …

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Episode 209: Unmasking the North Korean IT Scam 42:29

1M ago42:29

42:29

Fortune Magazine's Amanda Gerut offers a deep dive into the secret army of remote IT workers funding North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Explore the hidden world of laptop farms, the criminal identity theft targeting freelancers, and the shocking human cost. It's a chilling scheme with law enforcement and freelancers trapped in the crossfire. Learn mo…

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Episode 208: Will AI Write Its Own Laws? 45:44

2M ago45:44

45:44

Join Ben Winters, director of AI and Privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, for a front-row seat to the chaotic world of AI regulation where dirty data, aggressive lobbying, and public confusion drive a "winner takes all" vibe. From shady therapy bots to data-fueled discrimination, Ben reveals the urgent need to create guardrails for AI bef…

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Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality with Paul Cram 44:19

2M ago44:19

44:19

Is there any theology in the religion that I grew up in that is meaningful? Or is it just hate with a halo? Today we meet Paul Cram and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality by John Boswell. Described as “Honest, a little quirky,” Paul is a Twin Cities-based character actor, book l…

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Episode 207: Kristen and the Phantom Puppy 34:17

2M ago34:17

34:17

Kristin got scammed because she didn't want to give a puppy mill her business. This classic digital scam has it all: fake breeders, phony shipping agents, and a non-existent air-conditioned crate. Kristen reveals how her scammers used trust, urgency and emotion, to close the deal. Listen to her story and what you can do to avoid getting duped yours…

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Episode 206: Chris Hutchins’s Travel Hacking Gets Hacked 42:55

2M ago42:55

42:55

If you have never listened to Chris Hutchins explain how to get free travel, you’ve probably been paying too much for your vacations. Turns out, a threat actor was listening to him and stole his miles. Download this week’s episode to hear how he hacked the situation to score even more points. (This episode originally airdropped September 26, 2022.)…

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Uncle Bobby's Wedding with Brendan Gillett and Sarah S. Brannen 47:48

2M ago47:48

47:48

The book that showed you what a positive queer future could be. And then literally came true. Today we meet Brendan Gillett and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. And Sarah joins us for the conversation! Brendan is a high school English teacher in Brooklyn, New York. He works with Engl…

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Episode 205: Cybersecurity Girl Caitlin Sarian Tries to Delete Herself Online 32:42

2M ago32:42

32:42

Every part of life that comes in contact with the Internet is tracked, packed and sold to a a seemingly infinite network of data brokers. Caitlin Sarian AKA Cybersecurity Girl joined us this week to discuss why scrubbing your information is trickier than it sounds and what you can do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad…

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Episode 204: Nicole Perlroth Says All the Things that Keep Adam Up at Night 47:04

3M ago47:04

47:04

Nicole Perlroth’s book This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends is a masterpiece on the topic of cyberwar and the zero-day hacks that make it deadly. Join us as we explore with Perlroth a cyberscape where mistakes are weaponized, backdoors abound and we all have zero degrees of separation from spies and the people they spy on. Learn more about your …

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Episode 203: Jack Rhysider Exposes Our Digital Secrets 42:30

3M ago42:30

42:30

What if your digital footprint made you a target? Jack Rhysider, host of "Darknet Diaries," shares how a fan turned his online presence into a personal puzzle—revealing just how easily your privacy can be pieced together and exploited. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy DeleteMe

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The Priory of the Orange Tree with Arden Harris, Emily Autenrieth, and Samantha Shannon 49:26

3M ago49:26

49:26

This book sparked a five-year long career and life journey. In a first for us, we have two guests today! They are Arden Harris and Emily Autenrieth. We’re talking about the queer book that saved their lives: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon and she joins us for the conversation! Arden Harris is the buyer and lead bookseller for A S…

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Diving Into The Wreck with Kris Kleindienst 32:05

3M ago32:05

32:05

I was hungry for language. And stories. And how to tell our stories. That's what this book gave me. But let's not make a Bible out of it. Today we meet Kris Kleindienst and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Diving Into The Wreck by Adrienne Rich. Kris is a 72-year old queer lesbian writer, bookseller, and activist. She owns Le…

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Episode 202: Shannon Edwards Reveals the Student Data Free-for-All 40:26

3M ago40:26

40:26

As technology is integrated deeper into classrooms, the lines between education and data privacy have been destroyed by for-profit data miners. This week, privacy advocate Shannon Edwards reveals how educational apps harvest sensitive information from children, commodify their data, and what parents can do to fight it. Learn more about your ad choi…

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Episode 201: Keren Elazari Decrypts the Ransomeware Nightmare 39:41

4M ago39:41

39:41

Ransomware is a type of malware that allows hackers to commandeer data on a device or an entire network. Increasingly, the threat actors behind these crimes set their sites on mission critical targets. We talked about it with renowned cybersecurity expert Keren Elazari this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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The Murderbot Diaries with Esmé and Martha Wells 56:32

4M ago56:32

56:32

What would it feel like for other people to love me if they were to truly see me and truly know me as I am right now? Today we meet Esmé and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. And Martha joins us for the conversation! Esmé has been slinging radical books at Firestorm since 2019. They wea…

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Episode 200: The Wild West of the Loophole Economy 48:13

4M ago48:13

48:13

We’ve all been there. You see something perfect online, you do all the clicks and then think, “Wait, was that legit?” Scam-lite transactions are the way of the web these days, whether it’s direct-from-manufacturer or super-sticky subscriptions, we have your back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Episode 199: CISA Director Jen Easterly Stands Watch in the Cyberwars 43:11

4M ago43:11

43:11

From elections to ransomware, CISA Director Jen Easterly breaks down the threats to America’s critical infrastructure and what’s being done to stop them, sharing along the way her journey from the real-life battlefield to the frontlines of cybersecurity. This is a rare glimpse into the most pressing threats America faces—and a compelling story abou…

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Episode 198: Cory Doctorow Makes Us Wonder if Everything’s a Scam 42:19

4M ago42:19

42:19

Think you’re too savvy to get scammed? Author and activist Cory Doctorow explains how we’re all one muffaletta and a malfunctioning jet door away from falling prey to the most basic of cons. He joins us this week to talk about that and to fill us in about his new book, “The Bezzle.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Something That May Shock and Discredit You with Christina Neuwirth and Daniel M. Lavery 43:21

4M ago43:21

43:21

What would it happen if I allowed my thoughts about my gender become known to me? Today we meet Dr. Christina Neuwirth and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery. And Daniel joins us for the conversation! Dr. Christina Neuwirth is a writer, researcher and bookseller b…

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Episode 197: FBI Operative Eric O’Neill: Cybercriminals Are Spies—Not Hackers 48:00

5M ago48:00

48:00

What if the biggest threat to your privacy wasn’t some hacker in a hoodie—but a spy trained to infiltrate your life? Former FBI operative Eric O’Neill, the man who took down spy Robert Hanssen, explains how digital spies target us, offering along the way real-world tips to protect ourselves in a world where everyone’s a potential target. Learn more…

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Episode 196: Max Lebow Battles a Cyber PsyOps Nightmare 47:43

5M ago47:43

47:43

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy DeleteMe

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Dare Truth or Promise with Stephanie Beardslee and Paula Boock 47:22

5M ago47:22

47:22

I was 8,000 miles from home asking is it ok to be gay? That's when I wandered into a shop found this book. Today we meet Stephanie Beardslee and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock. And Paula joins us for the conversation! Stephanie Beardslee is the owner of Wolf & Wyld’s Queer Bookstore, an …

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Episode 195: Can AI Commit the Perfect Crime? 45:05

5M ago45:05

45:05

AI is everywhere – in the news, on our devices, assisting us, making life easier for us, and for criminals, too, harnessing AI to swindle people more efficiently. What’s next? We dive into the dark side of AI and ask two experts: Could AI commit the perfect crime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Episode 194: Karen Johnson’s Scam Project Is a Teachable Moment for AI 35:00

5M ago35:00

35:00

Karen Johnson is a catfisher-turned-scam avoidance coach turned–you guessed it–catfishing victim. The scam that got her is a classic, opening the door to a Pandora’s Box of the usual advice about avoiding the most common scams out there. But the thing that really got us thinking is the role AI played in almost every aspect of this week’s show. Lear…

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Mostly Dead Things with Casey Holland and Kristen Arnett 45:26

5M ago45:26

45:26

How was I going to reshape my life into something new after this fundamental part of me had been buried? Today we meet Casey Holland and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett. And Kristen joins us for the conversation! Casey is one of the owners of Wayfaring Booksellers, a queer bookstore in MI…

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Episode 193: Roy Wood, Jr. Exposes the Loch Ness Monster Gun Lobby Conspiracy 37:23

6M ago37:23

37:23

As a Daily Show correspondent, comedian Roy Wood, Jr. knows a thing or two about fake news and truthiness as well as the truth-and-a-half that is comedy. By skewering the media and the people in the news, he has special insight into how misinformation affects the way we think about the world and what we know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

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The Once and Future King with Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus 53:01

6M ago53:01

53:01

How do you get out of a spiral of shame and guilt and try to make the world a better place? Today we meet Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus and we’re talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Once and Future King by T.H. White. Max studied classics and theatre at Beloit College, received their MA in Theology and the Arts from United Theologi…

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Episode 192: Max McCoy Investigates $47 Million That Isn’t in Kansas Anymore 48:54

6M ago48:54

48:54

Max McCoy stumbled on a $47 million swindle that starts just north of the Oklahoma panhandle and bounces to Australia before things get really confusing in a haze of small town corruption, secretive law enforcement and competing theories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Episode 191: Erin West Puts the Bad Guys to Shame 41:18

6M ago41:18

41:18

Erin West is the Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California, and the founder of Project Shamrock. Whether she’s prosecuting eye-popping SIM-swap money grabs or putting large-scale pig butchering operations out of business, her stories and experience can help you stay safer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

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The Persian Boy with Blair Fell 40:08

6M ago40:08

40:08

When a queer book elevates our own expectations of ourselves and moves us to honor ourselves by saying: we deserve something more. Today we meet Blair Fell and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. Blair Fell’s television work includes Queer as Folk, and the Emmy Award–winning California Connected.…

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The Gaily Show: Queer Poetry for Valentines Day 45:43

6M ago45:43

45:43

A new episode of This Queer Book Saved My Life drops next week on March 5! In our off weeks, we air a recent episode of The Gaily Show which J.P. hosts for AM950 Radio. The Gaily Show is one of the only daily LGBTQ news and talk shows in the country. In this episode, author and teacher Belo Miguel Cipriani brings students from his writing courses a…

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Episode 190: Dick Gephardt Wants a Safer Internet 41:35

6M ago41:35

41:35

Former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt is on a mission to kill Section 230, the legal shield that lets social media giants profit from chaos. If engagement-driven algorithms are fueling harmful content for the sake of profit, is it time for the U.S. to take bold action to rein in the Internet? (You know the answer, but this is a must listen!)…

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Episode 189: Kara Swisher Calls Out the Man Babies of Big Tech 39:46

7M ago39:46

39:46

Kara Swisher has been covering Silicon Valley since the early days, and she’s made a ton of enemies the old fashioned way (by telling the truth about the new robber barons of our digital lives). In a new memoir called Burn Book, she pulls the curtain back on a world run by powerful babies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

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The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You with Seth Anderson-Matz and S. Bear Bergman 50:35

7M ago50:35

50:35

Ok, I've started to embody my transness. Now what? Today we meet Seth Anderson-Matz and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman. And Bear joins us for the conversation! Seth Anderson-Matz is a queer & trans community organizer and minister. He has lived and worked in the Twin Cit…

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Episode 188: Jen Caltrider Unwraps Hidden Privacy Nightmares 44:18

7M ago44:18

44:18

Privacy expert Jen Caltrider reveals how those shiny new AI gadgets with their mind-bending tech—not to mention the social media apps capturing every moment—are a privacy nightmare. Is going analog the only safe option? Learn how to protect your data from the prying eyes of Big Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Ruby Fruit Jungle with Louisa Hext 46:33

7M ago46:33

46:33

When you find the book that gives you the resilience, strength, and willingness to be yourself. Today we meet Louisa Hext and we’re talking about the queer book that saved her life: Ruby Fruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. Louisa is a transformational coach, speaker, and mediator with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families navigat…

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Episode 187: Al Franken Holds a Mock Senate Hearing on Privacy with Siri and Alexa 26:44

7M ago26:44

26:44

No deep fake 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. Learn more about your ad choices…

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Episode 186: Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark Hates Scammers More than We Do 39:38

7M ago39:38

39:38

Ever wonder why facial recognition is so accurate? Well, one reason is the shocking amount of personal data it needs (think: all the world’s snapshots), and that’s why Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark is taking aim at the industry behind that technology. We also review Charity’s top scams to watch for this year, and other topics near and dear…

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Episode 185: Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal Join Us to Discuss the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) 41:37

8M ago41:37

41:37

From cyberbullying to harmful algorithms, the risks are real. This week, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal join us to discuss their bipartisan bill—the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Together, they’re taking on Big Tech to ensure the safety of children online. Tune in to hear how KOSA could change the digital world for the better. Le…

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History Is All You Left Me with Edwin Santos Lepiz and Adam Silvera 46:38

7M ago46:38

46:38

How do I keep going when my one support person isn't there for me anymore? Today we meet Edwin Santos Lepiz and we’re talking about the queer book that saved his life: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera. And Adam joins us for the conversation! Edwin is a gay first-generation Mexican-American graduate student at the University of Utah Colleg…

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Episode 184: Kristin Bride Lost Her Son and Now She’s on a Mission 53:38

8M ago53:38

53:38

Kristen Bride’s 16-year-old son died by suicide after being cyberbullied on Snapchat. Setting her sites on anonymous messaging apps that intentionally traumatize children, Bride heads to Washington DC to fight for change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy DeleteMe