

Serious Privacy
Dr. K Royal, Paul Breitbarth & Ralph O'Brien
The PICCASO award winning Podcast, for those who are interested in the hottest field of human rights and laws on the digital frontier. Whether you are a professional who wants to learn more about privacy and privacy laws, data protection, GDPR or cyber law or someone who just finds this fascinating, we have topics for you from data management to cybersecurity, from social justice to data ethics and AI and digital identity protection. In-depth information on serious privacy topics including interviews with privacy leadership, privacy culture, serious discussions, and more. This podcast, hosted by Dr. K Royal, Paul Breitbarth and Ralph O'Brien, features open, unscripted discussions with global privacy professionals (those kitchen table or back porch conversations) where you hear the opinions and thoughts of those who are on the front lines working on the newest issues in handling personal data. Real information on your schedule - because the world needs serious privacy. Follow us on BlueSky (@seriousprivacy.eu) or LinkedIn
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 4, 2026 • 38min
The Kemp Effect: From Silicon Valley to Privacy Regulator
Send us Fan MailWelcome to the Serious Privacy podcast, where Paul Breitbarth, Dr. K Royal, and Ralph O'Brien meet with Tom Kemp of the California Privacy Protection Agency. We talk about the new DROP system, priorities, history, and coordination with other agencies and lawmakers. Tom was previously on Serious Privacy, before his CPPA days. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Jan 28, 2026 • 35min
Happy Data Protection/Privacy Day!
Send us Fan MailWe are back! Welcome to season 7 of the Serious Privacy podcast, with dr. K Royal, Ralph O'Brien and Paul Breitbarth. Also this season, we will keep you up to date of developments in the data protection and privacy community, artificial intelligence and some cybersecurity. And of course we'll bring you interviews with great guests! If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Dec 31, 2025 • 32min
2025 - oh how we loved thee!
Send us Fan MailJoin your hosts on this week of Serious Privacy, Paul Breitbarth, Ralph O’Brien, and Dr. K Royal as they close out 2025 with favorite moments and episodes, state law review, and predictions. And of course, a little bit about EU data protection. We'll be back January 28, global privacy / data protection day! If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Dec 26, 2025 • 41min
Optimism and AI in the same sentence?!
Send us Fan MailOn this week of Serious Privacy, Ralph O’Brien, and Dr. K Royal connect with Charlie Silver of permission.io to discuss data ownership and trackable permission for online data. Of course, while Paul Breitbarth is out, Raph and K cannot help but challenge some of the positions - revoking #consent, #democracy, and #optimism. Somehow, we also wound up discussing #cryptocurrency. Join us.Please subscribe in your favorite podcast app - sharing is caring! If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Dec 17, 2025 • 42min
Arc-ing into the New Year!
Send us Fan MailOn this week of Serious Privacy, Paul Breitbarth, Ralph O’Brien, and Dr. K Royal connect with Val Ilchenko, Eric Sendelbach, and Ian Runyon of TrustArc to discuss the launch of the Arc. Join us as we discuss the factors that went into developing the Arc, challenges for privacy and data protection professionals, and how AI is baked in to give professionals the tools they need at their fingertips. Please subscribe in your favorite podcast app - sharing is caring! If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Dec 10, 2025 • 34min
A rip roaring week in privacy with Paul and K
Send us Fan MailJoin us for a rip-roaring week in privacy on this episode of Serious Privacy, where co-hosts Paul Breitbarth and Dr. K Royal (Ralph O'Brien is off this week) cover quality, not quantity - although there is no shortage of current events. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Dec 4, 2025 • 35min
An Open Letter from Open Rights Group
Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Serious Privacy, Ralph O'Brien and Dr. K Royal (while Paul Breitbarth is out) connect with Mariano delli Santi of Open Rights Group - a civil society pressure group - regarding an open letter to the UK department of Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), signed by over 70 organisations and individuals, regarding the industry perceived lack of enforcement action by the UK's Information Commissioner and calling for an enquiry.You can find the letter here, and further information here. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Nov 26, 2025 • 34min
Tea Time with Teresa - what do do if you are CPO?
Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Serious Privacy, Paul Breitbarth and Dr. K Royal (while Ralph O'Brien is out) connect with a long-time friend and colleague Teresa Troester-Falk. The topics are broad, but mainly center around her new book "So you got the Privacy Officer Title - Now what?" (amazon link) which has gained quite the popularity among privacy professionals and those who want to enter / grow in the field. Join us as we discuss the big topics and nuances around the CPO title and responsibilities - and visibility. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Nov 19, 2025 • 34min
We do Redo - what's happening with GDPR? [Live from Privacy Space]
Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the award-winning Serious Privacy, Paul Breitbarth, Ralph O'Brien, and Dr. K Royal bring you an analysis of the leaked GDPR revisions recorded live at the award-winning Privacy Space in the UK. Tune in to hear what might be happening. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.

Nov 10, 2025 • 39min
If it ain't California, it's Texas
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Serious Privacy, Ralph O'Brien and Dr. K Royal discuss the weekly news, including the Google settlement in Texas, ClearviewAI and much more. If you have comments or questions, find us on LinkedIn and Instagram @seriousprivacy, and on BlueSky under @seriousprivacy.eu, @europaulb.seriousprivacy.eu, @heartofprivacy.bsky.app and @igrobrien.seriousprivacy.eu, and email podcast@seriousprivacy.eu. Rate and Review us! From Season 6, our episodes are edited by Fey O'Brien. Our intro and exit music is Channel Intro 24 by Sascha Ende, licensed under CC BY 4.0. with the voiceover by Tim Foley.


