Privacy Policy

This policy explains what information The Scattered Stethoscope collects, how we use it, and the choices you have. We try to collect as little as possible and never sell your information.

Information we collect

• Account information you give us: your email address and optional display name when you create a free account.
• Activity on the Site: episodes you save, bookmarks, comments, likes and ratings, and playback position so you can pick up where you left off.
• Listening and usage data: anonymous or account-linked events like page views, plays, and completions, used to understand what content is helpful.
• Payment information for tips and donations is collected and processed directly by Stripe. We do not see or store your full card details.
• Notifications: if you opt in to browser push notifications, we store the subscription needed to send them. You can turn these off anytime.

How we use it

• To run the Site and provide features like your library, bookmarks, comments, and cross-device playback.
• To email you about new episodes and account matters (you can unsubscribe from updates at any time).
• To understand which episodes and topics resonate so we can make the show better.
• To process voluntary donations and prevent fraud and abuse.

How we share it

We do not sell your personal information. We share limited data only with service providers that help us run the Site, and only as needed:

• Stripe for processing donations and payments.
• Our email provider to send transactional and new-episode emails.
• Privacy-friendly web analytics to measure traffic. We aim to use cookieless analytics that do not track you across other sites.

We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, and security of our users and the Site.

Cookies and sessions

We use a small session cookie to keep you logged in and to operate core features. We use your browser's local storage to remember things like your playback position and theme. We do not use advertising cookies.

Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Site. When you delete your account, we remove your personal account data, though anonymized or aggregated usage statistics may remain.

Your choices and rights

• Access or update your details in your account settings.
• Delete your account at any time from account settings.
• Unsubscribe from new-episode emails using the link in any email, and turn off push notifications in your browser.
• Contact us to request a copy or deletion of your information.

Children

The Site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections and hashed passwords. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date above will reflect any changes.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Email aisha@scatteredstethoscope.com.