Cargo Cult cover art

Cargo Cult

Cargo Cult

Written by: Cargo Cult
Listen for free

About this listen

Cargo Cult is a podcast hosted by Naomi Karavani and Michele Greenstein that pulls back the curtain on these often forgotten forces shaping our digital world.

A cargo cult is what happens when people copy the visible parts of something they think is successful — without understanding the deeper systems that actually make it work.

The term comes from World War II. Allied forces landed on remote Pacific islands, bringing with them cargo: food, medicine, equipment, and more. To the islanders, this sudden arrival of wealth and technology seemed magical. They noticed planes landing on runways, soldiers in uniforms, and people waving flags. After the war ended and the soldiers left, some islanders built fake airstrips and wooden control towers, hoping the cargo would return. They copied the form, not the function.

Today, “cargo cult” is used as a metaphor — especially in science, business, and tech — to describe similar behavior: loving the surface level symbols of surface of success but missing what actually made it happen.

So what does this have to do with Big Tech?

A lot.

In the tech world, there’s a tendency to imitate what successful companies look like on the outside — without really understanding what made them powerful in the first place. Teams copy Google’s culture, Amazon’s strategies, or Facebook’s experiments — but often miss the context that made those things effective.

We believe the real engines of Big Tech’s rise are rarely talked about: deep partnerships with the state, access to elite networks, and the invisible support of powerful institutions. Our podcast, Cargo Cult, is about exposing this reality — and pushing back on the myth that tech’s biggest winners got there through merit, hustle, or pure technical innovation alone.

The truth is, many of these companies were shaped from the beginning by their relationships with the U.S. government and intelligence community. Google got early funding connected to DARPA. Amazon’s cloud arm, AWS, landed massive contracts with the CIA and Department of Defense. Palantir was funded by In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture fund. Microsoft has long been a major federal contractor and now runs one of the largest government cloud platforms on the planet.

These companies weren’t just building better software. They were aligning with the long-term agendas of state power — especially around surveillance, data collection, and behavior control. And yet, all over the world, tech founders and governments keep chasing and advertising the aesthetic of Big Tech: innovation labs, AI initiatives, moonshot pitches, and “disruption” — without understanding the political and financial structures that actually enabled these companies to dominate.

This is the heart of cargo cult thinking.

It’s not that Big Tech didn’t have talented engineers or good products. And we have nothing against open-plan offices or slick pitch decks. But the story we’re often told — of scrappy underdogs changing the world with nothing but brains and code — leaves out everything that made that kind of success possible in the first place. Regulatory capture, government funding, military contracts, surveillance programs, the workings of capitalism, and aligning with long-term elite agendas — these are the real foundations of Big Tech, and it's the stuff we like to talk about on the show. We also talk about pop culture sometimes.

____

Complain at cargocultpod@gmail.com

All rights reserved. Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Requiem for a Friend

    Requiem for a Friend
    Sep 3 2024

    Friendship is so important. Photo: Avi Schiffman
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • STOP SPYING!!!!! (ft. Albert Fox Cahn)

    STOP SPYING!!!!! (ft. Albert Fox Cahn)
    Aug 27 2024

    We ask Albert Fox Cahn, founder and Executive Director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), about how local policing has turned into local surveillance, the campaign to ban facial recognition in New York State, personalized "AI" pricing, opting out at airport security, and more.


    • Cahn's Business Insider piece on home insurance spying: https://www.businessinsider.com/homeowners-insurance-nightmare-cancellation-surveillance-drone-ai-future-2024-8


    • Cahn's Business Insider piece on AI pickpocketing: https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-quietly-picking-your-pocket-with-personalized-pricing-2024-7


    • Cahn's WIRED piece on expanding surveillance after January 6: https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-the-capitol-attack-doesnt-justify-expanding-surveillance/


    • STOP's Pregnancy Panopticon Report: https://www.stopspying.org/pregnancy-panopticon


    • Ban the Scan NY: https://www.banthescan.org/


    • Cahn on X: https://x.com/FoxCahn?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Storyliving & Dying by Disney

    Storyliving & Dying by Disney
    Aug 20 2024

    Disclaimer of Liability:

    The "Cargo Cult" podcast (hereinafter referred to as "the Podcast") is produced and distributed by Naomi Karavani, Michele Greenstein, their affiliates, partners, agents, and any of their representatives (collectively referred to as "the Producer"). By accessing and listening to the Podcast, you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions in this disclaimer.

    No Professional Advice:

    The Podcast is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be construed as, professional advice of any kind, including but not limited to legal, medical, financial, psychological, or other professional advice. The Producer makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information or content provided on the Podcast. You should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the content of the Podcast.

    No Warranty of Content:

    The Podcast and all content provided therein are presented "as is" and "as available" without any warranty, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. The Producer does not warrant that the Podcast will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or other harmful components.

    Limitation of Liability:

    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Producer, including its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, and licensors, shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or other intangible losses, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Podcast, whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory, even if the Producer has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

    Third-Party Content and Links:

    The Podcast may contain references or links to third-party websites, services, or content. The inclusion of any link or reference does not imply endorsement or approval by the Producer of such third-party sites or content. The Producer is not responsible for the availability, content, or accuracy of any third-party websites or services, and any interactions with third parties are solely between you and the third party. You agree that the Producer shall not be liable for any damages or losses arising from your use of or reliance on any third-party content.

    Intellectual Property:

    The Podcast and all related content, including but not limited to audio recordings, scripts, trademarks, logos, and other intellectual property, are the Producer's or its licensors' exclusive property. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or modification of any content from the Podcast is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Producer.

    Changes to Disclaimer:

    The Producer reserves the right to modify, amend, or update this disclaimer at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of the Podcast following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised disclaimer. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer periodically for any changes.

    Governing Law and Jurisdiction:

    This disclaimer shall be governed by and construed by the laws of Amerikkka, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising out of or related to this disclaimer or your use of the Podcast shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Amerikkka.

    Severability:

    If any provision of this disclaimer is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable while maintaining the original intent of the provision to the maximum extent possible.

    Acknowledgment:

    By accessing and listening to the Podcast, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this disclaimer. If you do not agree with any part of this disclaimer, you should not access or listen to the Podcast.

    For any questions or concerns regarding this disclaimer, please contact your mom at 1-666-420-6969.
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
No reviews yet