Behind the scenes at Amazon

EARS TO THE GROUND-

? An exploration of Amazon’s complexities and controversies. The third season of Foundering, produced by Bloomberg Technology, takes a deep dive into Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos.

The season kicks off with a focus on the billionaire founder himself, as the podcast seeks to understand the man behind the massive corporation. But it quickly becomes a bit challenging to separate his polished public persona from the narrative, with host Brad Stone — a seasoned journalist with extensive knowledge of Amazon — presenting Bezos as slick and calculated, a portrayal that might rub skeptical listeners the wrong way. However, as the season progresses, Stone begins to reveal the darker side of Amazon, shifting from admiration to a more critical evaluation of the man behind the globe-spanning company.

One area of focus is Amazon’s approach to consumer privacy. The contrast between the company's commitment to secrecy around new projects and its treatment of customer data is striking. An interview with a former Amazon transcriber highlights unsettling truths about how conversations with Alexa were monitored without users’ knowledge, shattering the illusion of privacy many consumers assume they have.

We also hear about Amazon's corporate culture. Stone amplifies the voices of exploited workers and frustrated Amazon marketplace sellers, sharing narratives that are at times infuriating and at other times darkly humorous.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can listen to Foundering on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart.