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About This Podcast
What does it take to make the Internet a safer place? More importantly, who does it take? Safe Space explores the human side of trust & safety—featuring the leaders, thinkers, and builders working to protect online communities. Hosted by John Starr, VP of Operations and Strategic Impact at Thorn, this podcast dives into the personal journeys of those shaping the future of the digital world—one policy, one decision, and one conversation at a time.
Presented by Safer by Thorn.
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Recent Episodes
S3E2 Alice Hunsberger: The need for checks and balances
In this episode of Safe Space, hosts Cassie Coccaro and Pailes Halai talk with Alice Hunsberger, Head of Trust & Safety at Musubi. Alice has spent years working in trust and safety, with…
S3E1 Dr. Rachel Kowert: Why gaming moderation is different
In this episode of Safe Space, hosts Cassie Coccaro and Pailes Halai sit down with Dr. Rachel Kowert, research psychologist and one of the leading voices connecting gaming, mental health, and trust…
S2E6 Lauren Jonas: Prioritizing teen well-being in AI safety
In this episode of Safe Space, hosts John Starr and Pailes Halai sit down with Lauren Jonas, Head of Youth Wellbeing at OpenAI, to talk about what it takes to design technology that truly supports…
S2E5 Ryn Linthicum: Applying data, research, and psychology to AI safety
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Ryn Linthicum, who brings a unique perspective to AI safety at Anthropic. Ryn shares insights from time spent at TikTok and their current work on…
S2E4 David Polgar: Building Community Around Responsible Technology
David Polgar, founder of All Tech is Human, shares how he built a 55,000-member community focused on responsible technology without a tech background. Polgar reveals the motivations driving trust and…
S2 Safe Space welcomes a new co-host, Pailes Halai
John Starr sits down with our new host, Pailes Halai, Thorn's Sr. Manager of Key Accounts & Partnerships, to hear how he got here and his interest in uncovering the stories of trust and safety…
S2E3 Del Harvey: Optimism and Collaboration in Trust & Safety
Del Harvey, a legend in the field, built Twitter's trust and safety organization from the ground up, leading it for over a decade as the platform became a global phenomenon. In this Safe Space…
S2E2 John Buckley: The Human Element in Trust & Safety
After a pivotal university lecture digging into the history of child abuse in Ireland, John Buckley found his calling. His career path led him to tech giants Facebook and Google, driven by first-hand…
S2E1 Aaron Rodericks: Scaling Safety During Rapid Growth
In this revealing conversation, John Starr speaks with Aaron Rodericks, Head of Trust and Safety at Bluesky, about his unexpected journey to become the trust and safety leader at one of today's…
S1E3 Safe Space - Talking Trust & Safety: Patricia Cartes | EP 3
From aspiring United Nations interpreter to Trust & Safety leader, Patricia Cartes, Head of Trust & Safety at Cantina AI, takes us on her global journey into online safety. Thorn's VP of…
S1E2 Safe Space - Talking Trust & Safety: Jerrel Peterson | EP 2
From social work to social networks online, Jerrel Peterson, Director of Content Policy at Spotify and former Twitter alum, takes us on his unexpected journey into Trust & Safety. Thorn's VP of…
S1E1 Safe Space - Talking Trust & Safety: Yoel Roth | EP 1
In this candid conversation, Yoel Roth, VP at Match Group and Twitter alum, shares his personal and professional evolution in Trust & Safety. Host John Starr, Thorn’s VP of Strategic Impact, asks…
Frequently Asked Questions
Safe Space - Talking Trust and Safety has published 12 episodes since February 2025, covering topics in Technology.
Safe Space - Talking Trust and Safety is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 34m.
