RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4 -- Rendered At Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:01:29 +0000 First Byte with Avni Kotharkar https://redcircle.com/shows/first-byte-with-avni-kotharkar en-US All rights reserved. itsavniiii Hey, I'm Avni and welcome to First Byte. First Byte is where I talk about technology the way I actually experience it. Not as an expert and definitely not as someone who’s been building apps forever, but as someone who’s curious about how tech shows up in everyday life. This podcast is about internet culture, algorithms, trends, and those moments that make you pause and think wait… that’s kind of weird. No tutorials. No explaining how to code. Just real thoughts about the digital world and how it shapes us :) cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4 Hey, I'm Avni and welcome to First Byte.

First Byte is where I talk about technology the way I actually experience it. Not as an expert and definitely not as someone who’s been building apps forever, but as someone who’s curious about how tech shows up in everyday life. This podcast is about internet culture, algorithms, trends, and those moments that make you pause and think wait… that’s kind of weird.

No tutorials. No explaining how to code. Just real thoughts about the digital world and how it shapes us :)

]]> episodic no itsavniiii itsavnik@gmail.com no full Multi-Genre Research Project - Artifact 2: If We Know the Algorithm is Watching…Why Do We Keep Scrolling? Multi-Genre Research Project - Artifact 2: If We Know the Algorithm is Watching…Why Do We Keep Scrolling? itsavniiii In this episode, I explore the gap between awareness and action in our daily social media habits. Even when we know platforms are designed to nudge us through recommendations, notifications, and endless feeds, we continue to scroll. Through relatable examples and conversations with a digital wellbeing researcher and a youth psychologist, this episode examines how habit loops, dopamine rewards, and convenience keep users engaged. More importantly, it considers whether awareness alone is enough and what small, intentional strategies can help regain control.


**DISCLAIMER: The interviews in this episode are fictionalized for storytelling purposes, but all information and research presented are accurate and based on real studies. **

]]> <p>In this episode, I explore the gap between awareness and action in our daily social media habits. Even when we know platforms are designed to nudge us through recommendations, notifications, and endless feeds, we continue to scroll. Through relatable examples and conversations with a digital wellbeing researcher and a youth psychologist, this episode examines how habit loops, dopamine rewards, and convenience keep users engaged. More importantly, it considers whether awareness alone is enough and what small, intentional strategies can help regain control.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>**DISCLAIMER: The interviews in this episode are fictionalized for storytelling purposes, but all information and research presented are accurate and based on real studies. **</strong></p> bf2e3ba9-0e3f-4e7d-ad23-92e9a9e790fe https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/c67455a5-60a5-45a1-8065-e103a77599f4 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00:44 +0000 170 no full Episode 7: "Chronically Online" Episode 7: "Chronically Online" itsavniiii Not everyone online 24/7 actually is. This episode looks at why being “chronically online” feels louder than it is.

]]> <p>Not everyone online 24/7 actually is. This episode looks at why being “chronically online” feels louder than it is.</p> b45c4d7d-c985-4a5d-bc4d-7b603f60b45b https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/232216a2-16f1-4eec-9c60-b7a4e917bbef Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:58 +0000 145 no full Episode 6: Why All My Apps Assume I'm Someone Else Episode 6: Why All My Apps Assume I'm Someone Else itsavniiii Technology builds versions of us from patterns and guesses. This episode looks at what gets lost when we’re reduced to data.

]]> <p>Technology builds versions of us from patterns and guesses. This episode looks at what gets lost when we’re reduced to data.</p> fc4daa1c-574b-4b11-af6f-9989669d667a https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/e197a166-a2f6-4455-ae4b-095375db5ca0 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:00:10 +0000 249 no full Episode 5: Am I The Algorithm's Main Character Episode 5: Am I The Algorithm's Main Character itsavniiii Am I the algorithm’s main character? Explore how apps predict your behavior and why you should take the lead in your own story.

]]> <p>Am I the algorithm’s main character? Explore how apps predict your behavior and why you should take the lead in your own story.</p> b97670e7-e9c8-4d0d-a863-915b36475d95 https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/e3a409c2-54be-41f3-be64-6235baf8cd80 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:00:24 +0000 162 no full Episode 4: My Phone Knows Me Better Than My Parents Episode 4: My Phone Knows Me Better Than My Parents itsavniiii Our phones learn us through patterns we barely notice. This episode explores what happens when technology understands us a little too well.

]]> <p>Our phones learn us through patterns we barely notice. This episode explores what happens when technology understands us a little too well.</p> bdf47f9c-9a48-42bc-83fe-7c6b654a3cfe https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/986f6bba-6447-4af9-98ea-98583ad64272 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:00:56 +0000 230 no full Episode 3: What Tech Says About Who You Are Episode 3: What Tech Says About Who You Are itsavniiii The way we use technology quietly reflects who we are. This episode explores the patterns, habits, and choices that make tech more human than we think.

]]> <p>The way we use technology quietly reflects who we are. This episode explores the patterns, habits, and choices that make tech more human than we think.</p> 57c3716a-0c51-49c7-be23-7d9f6224a968 https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/89524598-ad25-4a45-8ef5-2c9dfd3ddbb5 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:24 +0000 218 no full Episode 2: Can You Love Tech Without Loving STEM? Episode 2: Can You Love Tech Without Loving STEM? itsavniiii What if your interest in tech comes from observation, not equations? This episode is about finding your place without forcing a mold.

]]> <p>What if your interest in tech comes from observation, not equations? This episode is about finding your place without forcing a mold.</p> ca28ce3d-ac0c-4d78-88cc-8c8815da41f1 https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/2194644a-49d8-4210-9281-d861821fb7e1 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:00:57 +0000 228 no full Episode 1: I Don't Code (much). Am I Still Allowed in Tech? Episode 1: I Don't Code (much). Am I Still Allowed in Tech? itsavniiii I used to think being good at coding was the only way into tech. This episode is about curiosity, culture, and finding your place anyway.

]]> <p>I used to think being good at coding was the only way into tech. This episode is about curiosity, culture, and finding your place anyway.</p> cac0828d-26a8-4b81-94ea-2ab01448a684 https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/f28c2f27-f335-49fe-9f35-12e9a616f4df Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:00:47 +0000 312 no full Pilot Episode Pilot Episode itsavniiii Welcome to First Byte: a podcast about tech, culture, and figuring it all out in real time.

]]> <p>Welcome to First Byte: a podcast about tech, culture, and figuring it all out in real time.</p> d2a4026a-94f8-42c5-96c4-e9b1f3634556 https://redcircle.com/shows/cb4c103d-6b28-42d4-a1b3-c672efac31a4/episodes/612c543b-5186-4bc7-befa-465d611735a3 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:35 +0000 69 no