In a recent Escape Bite, the ladies of The Escape Pod got a little freaked out by the use of AI deepfakes to con an employee at an international company out of millions of dollars. (Turns out, the “people” on the video conference call were not people at all.) In this mini-sode, the co-hosts take a turn toward the positive, offering up real examples of the use of artificial intelligence to actually fight crimes – not just commit them.

Resources & Links

• CNN article on deepfake scam in Hong Kong
• A&E TV blog on AI’s use in investigations
• DHS info
• Police Chief Magazine on AI’s use in investigations

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The Escape Pod travels back in time to delve into the fascinating and often perilous history of arsenic – not in the committing of crimes, but in the creation of artwork. This episode is a classic case of the human race “living and learning” from past mistakes, so tune in as we unravel the stories of beauty intertwined with toxicity, where the allure of brilliant colors comes at a dire price.

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers:

Topic #1 3:58 Learning the hard way

Topic #2 9:51 Bradford Suite poisoning

Topic #3 14:55 If the walls could talk

Topic #4 21:31 Escapism, co-host-style

Resources & Links

• Drop Dead Gorgeous: A Tale of Arsenic in Victorian Life
• Arsenic: A Domestic Poison
• Arsenic: A Murderous History
• Green Death | The Art History of Arsenic
• Bradford Sweets Poisoning
• English Beer Poisoning
• Was Napoleon Killed by Wallpaper?
• Arsenic-Containing Foods

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Artificial intelligence, like any technology, has its pros and cons. It can predict words before this writer even thinks of them. Helpful? Sometimes yes. But in this Escape Bite mini-sode, the co-hosts get down-right freaked out by a case of true crime in which AI deepfakes caused an international company to lose millions.

Resources & Links

• DHS report on AI
• CNN article on deepfake scam in Hong Kong
• Guardian article on scam
• Arup video on deepfake fraud

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He is proof that a person’s past does not have to define their future. Mayor Jason Salamun’s mother struggled with addiction. His parents divorced when he was young, and after that, the family’s housing ranged from none at all to crack houses and trailer parks. But his grandparents’ home was safe and loving, and with their encouragement he escaped his challenging childhood, moved to South Dakota to live with his father, and – eventually – entered local politics. We conclude our conversation with the mayor in this edition of The Escape Pod.

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers:

Topic #1 :54 Goals (including a world championship!)

Topic #2 7:42 Navigating challenging issues

Topic #3 21:00 Respecting resilience

Topic #4 38:12 Escapism, co-host-style!

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No “silver spoon” to speak of in this politician’s background. No – Jason Salamun, now Mayor Salamun, was born in West Texas to teen parents, including a mother who struggled with addiction. His childhood was fraught with instability. But his grandparents were a “lifeline,” and a combination of their love and a new life with his father in South Dakota changed everything. Mayor Salamun escaped a challenging childhood and eventually reached city hall. We hear more about his tumultuous youth and the move that made all the difference in the first of a two-part conversation with the mayor on The Escape Pod.

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers:

Topic #1 :25 Meet the mayor

Topic #2 6:20 A challenging childhood

Topic #3 18:42 Moving to South Dakota, while brother stays behind

Topic #4 31:52 Military service

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Pie-scape (Escaping financial abuse)

Summary of Episode

Inspired by the fictional movie/musical “Waitress,” the co-hosts explore the very non-fictional issue of financial abuse and – more importantly – how to escape it.

Resources & Links

• ‘Waitress’ IMDb page
• Women’s Law webpage on ‘financial abuse’
• org
• blackhillsplayhouse.com/

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He says “med school Stephen” had no interest in addiction and recovery services, but several years after earning his M.D., this doctor with a heart for humanity saw a need for expanded treatment options in Rapid City, SD, and he took action. The co-hosts welcome Dr. Stephen Tamang of Monument Health into The Escape Pod to discuss hard drugs, how they hijack the brain, and why escaping these addictions is so challenging.

Bullet Points of Key Topics and Markers:

Topic #1 :30 Introducing Stephen Tamang, M.D.

Topic #2 18:06 Treating addictions at Project Recovery

Topic #3 29:18 Can an addict’s brain be re-rewired for the better?

Topic #4 38:05 Dr. Tamang talks community/societal challenges

Topic #5 57:43 Escapism, co-host-style!

Resources & Links

• The Least of Us (by Sam Quinones)

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Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts?

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