In this episode, Craig and Olivia sit down with science fiction author, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow to talk about creative freedom, tech monopolies, and how authors and readers alike can divest from Amazon.
Cory shares the motivation behind keeping his audiobooks off Audible—even if it means sacrificing a paycheck—and explains how DRM laws allow Amazon to exert control over books they didn’t even create. The conversation covers everything from how monopoly power has shaped the digital marketplace, to the rise of “enshittification,” a term Cory coined to describe the lifecycle of once-useful tech platforms. They also discuss the importance of decentralized social media, the future of authorship in a platform-dominated world, and why it’s time to stop trying to shop your way out of broken systems and start organizing for real change.
Listen to the full episode
Don’t try and shop your way out of monopoly capitalism, or recycle your way out of the climate emergency, or be personally nice out of the rising tide of fascism. Get involved in movements. That’s the only thing that’s going to fix it.
— Cory Doctorow on the Libro.fm Podcast
Use the promo code SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you’ll have three from the start.
About our guest
Cory Doctorow is a bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction, a longtime advocate for digital rights, and co-editor of the blog Boing Boing. His recent works include The Bezzle, Picks and Shovels, and the upcoming nonfiction book Enshittification. He also runs the daily newsletter Pluralistic.net.
Get Cory’s Books
The Bezzle
By Cory Doctorow • Narrated by Wil Wheaton
Picks and Shovels
By Cory Doctorow • Narrated by Wil Wheaton
Enshittification
By Cory Doctorow • Narrated by Cory Doctorow
Audiobooks discussed on today’s episode
Little Bosses Everywhere
By Bridget Read • Narrated by Nikki Massoud
Original Sin
By Jake Tapper • Narrated by Jake Tapper, Alex Thompson
I’ll Tell You When I’m Home
By Hala Alyan • Narrated by Hala Alyan