KQED's Forum

When Your Devices Fritz And Your Digital Life Is Lost. What Next?

April 29, 2026·54 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What happens when your hard drive gets fried and every photo documenting your kid’s life, or that novel you didn’t back up, or that cache of old emails documenting your first love affair is lost? After the scream of agony, who do you call? That’s what New Yorker staff writer Julian Lucas wanted to know. The answer, it turns out, is right in our backyard. We talk to Lucas and the folks from Drive Savers, a company in Novato that works to resurrect your digital life from the dead. What digital history have you lost? Guests: Julian Lucas, staff writer, The New Yorker; his latest article is "Resurrection Hardware" Sarah Farrell, director of business development, DriveSavers Data Recovery Kelly Chessen, hypnotherapist; former data crisis counselor, DriveSavers Data Recovery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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