In the seventh episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky sit down with Alejandra Stolk to unpack one of the most tangible questions people have about the Internet: why is my connection so expensive—and is it worth the cost? Alejandra, an alumna of both the ISOC Mid-Career and Community Fellowships, is president of the Internet Society’s Venezuela Chapter and network connectivity manager at the University of the Andes. She guides listeners through how geography, infrastructure, policy, and market dynamics all shape what appears on the monthly Internet bill.
Alejandra explains the Internet using the analogy of a highway built from routers, switches, and devices, where every segment—from global backbones to the “last mile” into homes—has a price tag attached. She outlines how costs vary depending on whether a community is served by fiber optics, wireless links, or satellite. She also explains why areas with only one or two Internet Service Providers (ISPs) often face higher prices and poorer service due to limited competition and difficult terrain. From mountainous regions in the Andes to dense urban centers like London, she illustrates how physical geography and local economics intersect to raise or lower connectivity costs.Looking ahead, she calls for future internet leaders who are more gender-diverse, grounded in both technical and policy awareness, and ready to defend encryption, openness, and resilience against attempts to fragment or weaken the network.
In the sixth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Yug Desai sit down with Craig Newmark, the quietly influential founder of craigslist, a global classified advertisements website, and a major advocate for cybersecurity, journalism, and digital resilience. Known for his values-driven approach, Craig shares the story behind one of the Internet’s most enduring classified platforms, revealing how his vision was shaped by trust, community, and a commitment to the common good.
Craig traces his journey from his first encounter with the ARPANET in the 1970s to the launch of craigslist as a simple, community-focused mailing list in the 1990s. He explains how the platform grew organically, rooted in the philosophy of treating people the way he wanted to be treated—a principle inspired by his early life and Sunday school values. Craigslist’s intentionally simple design, low barriers to access, and focus on user service over profit set it apart in an age increasingly dominated by dark patterns and aggressive monetization. Craig discusses his transition from running craigslist to leading major philanthropic efforts, including funding cybersecurity initiatives, supporting military families, and helping create the Cyber Resilience Corps. He also talks about the importance of building networks of networks—coalitions of goodwill that can fight back against cyber threats and strengthen the Internet’s social fabric.
CONSIDER A DONATION
The Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.
The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
In the fifth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky and Claire van Zwieten sit down with Kim Ochs, PhD., an educator and researcher specializing in lifelong learning and education technology, and Isaac Carrasco Ortiz, a sociologist and digital literacy advocate, to explore how the Internet connects—and often divides—different generations. This episode, The Digital Age Divide, underscores that the nternet is a shared space across ages—one that thrives when everyone feels empowered to participate with curiosity, confidence, and care.
Isaac shares how his journey into digital literacy work began unexpectedly through community teaching with older adults in Massachusetts. It’s one thing to work with older adults. It’s another thing to teach technology. But it’s a third thing entirely to teach older
adults about technology. Through that work, he discovered the importance of confidence, empathy, and cross-generational understanding in shaping how people connect online.
Kim offers a framework for understanding digital literacy and draws on her experience teaching multigenerational classrooms to challenge the idea that digital literacy is tied to age. We often assume young people are skilled and older adults are not, but both
groups are incredibly diverse. It has more to do with context, confidence, and motivation
than chronology.
The conversation also takes on the urgent issue of trust and safety online, especially for older generations navigating scams, misinformation, and privacy threats. Both guests emphasize that security skills are an essential dimension of digital literacy and agree
that building digital confidence—through mentorship, community programs, and intergenerational collaboration—is key to a safer, more inclusive Internet. The guests call for stakeholders to engage together and work towards a new digital human synchronicity, where learning and adaptation are seen as lifelong processes, not bound by generational stereotypes.
LINKS /RESOURCES
AmeriCorps
Bridging the Grey Digital Divide: Enhancing ICT Learning for Older Adults (UNESCO)
Digitally Empowering Older Adults in Mexico (ISOC Mexico Chapter)
Generation definitions
Geragogy
Laura Breeden, Internet Hall of Fame Inductee 2023
Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging and Independence
National Digital Inclusion Alliance
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
CONSIDER A DONATION
The Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.
The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
In the fourth episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Yug Desai explore the science and strategy behind Internet measurement—how we track outages, latency, and even hidden surveillance across the global Internet ecosystem. Joined by leading researchers Dr. Alexander Gamero-Garrido (Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Davis) and Anand Raje (Co-Founder and CTO, India Internet Foundation (IIFON)), the conversation uncovers how data and measurement are shaping a more open, resilient, and secure Internet for everyone. Both guests emphasize that data-driven storytelling is essential for the Internet’s future. Whether highlighting unstable local connections, revealing how certain regions are left digitally dependent on faraway servers, or equipping policymakers with evidence to craft and enforce regulations, measurement is the key to transparency and resilience. In summary, Episode 4 makes clear: the Internet’s true state is hidden in vast streams of data. Measurement is how we find the truth, tell the stories, and build a digital world fit for the future.
CONSIDER A DONATION
The Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.
The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
In the third episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Claire van Zwieten and Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky explore the human stories and technical realities of Internet connectivity with guests Cedrick Mbeyet and Lito Ibarra, often called the “father of the Internet in El Salvador.” Together, they unpack what it really means to be connected—not just as a technological achievement, but as a social and cultural milestone. The discussion spotlights the persistent global challenge of unequal access. For millions, getting online remains a daily struggle—one shaped by geography, economics, and policy. Yet, as Cedrick reminds us, connectivity is more than infrastructure: “Moving from the source to the destination includes so many things that we don’t take into consideration.”
This episode clearly shows how innovation, collaboration, and resilience are helping bridge the digital divide and why connectivity must be seen not only as a technical resource but also as a driver of inclusion, opportunity, and community empowerment.
CONSIDER A DONATION
The Internet is no longer optional — it’s vital to lives and livelihoods. Yet 2.6 billion people remain unconnected, and it’s being fragmented along national borders, threatening innovation and global progress. Online security fears are rising fast.
The stakes are high. Help bridge the digital divide and defend a global, open Internet for everyone by donating today: https://donorportal.internetsociety.org/page/2025EOY
In the second episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Yug Desai and Claire van Zwieten are joined by Alan Ramírez García and Everton Teles Rodrigues, prominent representatives of the Latin American Internet community and alumni of the Internet Society Mid-career Fellowship (2023). Alan and Everton share their earliest memories of discovering the Internet in the 1990s, reflecting on how their initial curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge defined their online journeys.
The conversation delves into the complexities of the Internet ecosystem, exploring who “runs” the Internetand the vital roles played by a range of stakeholders—from governments and the private sector to civil society and the technical community. Both guests emphasize the importance of the multi-stakeholder model in creating a dynamic and resilient Internet that serves users worldwide.
The episode highlights the essential work required to preserve a trustworthy and globally connected Internet in the face of new challenges. Key topics include the emergence and significance of national and regional Internet Governance Forums (IGFs), particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as ongoing efforts to address local challenges, such as rural connectivity. Everton explains the historical and evolving role of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in managing Internet resources. At the same time, Alan shares insights into the IGF’s multi-stakeholder Advisory Group and its consensus-driven processes.
This episode also examines the Internet Society’s impact, providing technical leadership, advocating for an open and secure Internet, supporting community networks, and empowering professionals through educational programs, such as the Mid-Career Fellowship.
To support us, see: https://donate.internetsociety.org/?form=essential
And for learning, visit https://www.internetsociety.org/learning/
References:
ICANN
Internet Engineering Task Force
ISOC Mid-career Fellowship Program
United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF)
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
In the first episode of Internet Changemakers, hosts Noha Ashraf AbdelBaky and Claire van Zwieten welcome Dr. Vinton Cerf, often referred to as one of the fathers of the Internet, to discuss his groundbreaking contributions to the creation of the TCP/IP protocol and the early days of Internet development. Dr. Cerf shares his favorite uses of the internet, recalling the first email he sent and the origins of networked email. He also delves into the design choices behind TCP/IP and the vision for the Internet as a tool for command and control, collaboration, and connecting powerful systems.
The conversation explores the evolution of the Internet, challenges it faces today, including security and accountability, and the promising growth of AI and the interplanetary Internet. Dr. Cerf emphasizes the importance of openness, interoperability, and teamwork in the Internet's development, while reflecting on the Internet Society's role in fostering a global community around Internet governance. This episode serves as a foundation for understanding the Internet's history and its transformative impact on society.
To Support us see: https://donate.internetsociety.org/?form=essential
And for learning, visit https://www.internetsociety.org/learning/
Welcome to Internet Changemakers, a podcast by the Internet Society Alumni Network.
From the days of dial-up to the rise of AI, the Internet has transformed how we live, work, and connect — but who’s driving that change? And what challenges lie ahead?
Meet your hosts: Claire van Zwieten, Alumni Specialist at the Internet Society; Yug Desai, a PhD candidate, and Internet Society alumnus; and Noha Ashraf Abdel Baky, an IT professional and Internet Society alumna.
Together, they introduce a new podcast exploring the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the Internet — past, present, and future.
In each episode, you'll hear from pioneers, innovators, and leaders tackling key issues like online privacy, the digital divide, and how to make the Internet safer, more inclusive, and accessible to all.
The first episode features none other than Dr. Vint Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the Internet.
Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a professional in the field, or just curious about how the Internet impacts your life, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe now to Internet Changemakers and join the conversation about shaping the future of the Internet.