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Dreaming Against the Machine
Dreaming Against the Machine episodes
- Episode 31: Seeing Through Tech Hype, with Molly White
This week, Adam talks with cryptocurrency expert and tech critic Molly White about how tech hype inflated the crypto bubble, and how to see through the recurring hype cycles sold by the tech industry to get at the truth underneath. They also talk about the influence crypto money has had on politics, and what we can do about it.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 2 min - Episode 30: Fighting Technofascism (AND GO VOTE!), with Nathalie Maréchal
It's Election Day in the US! Go vote against Trump's authoritarian stooges! And while you're waiting in line (stay in line!), listen to Adam talk with Nathalie Maréchal, expert on technofascism, about how we can build a better future for ourselves.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
49 min - Episode 29: The Nerd Reich, with Gil Duran
This week, Adam talks with journalist, author, and erstwhile political operative Gil Duran about the fascist dreams of the tech oligarchs, and what we can do to fight them. Adam also points out a particularly vile tweet from JD Vance's political mentor, and asks why other journalists aren't confronting Vance about it. This one will make you angry. Go out and make some good trouble.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 2 min - Episode 28: The AI Doom Sex Cult (Solo Episode)
We have to talk about it, so let's talk about it. Adam lays out exactly where the AI doom narrative is coming from and why you shouldn't take it seriously.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
47 min - Episode 27: Eugenics, with Brandon Ogbunu
This week, Adam talks with biologist Brandon Ogbunu about the horrifying history of genetics, what it means for working geneticists and evolutionary biologists, and how culture shapes science (and vice versa).
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
52 min - Episode 26: Space Ain't the Place (solo episode)
This week it's just Adam! Following up on the space colonization episode from a few weeks back, Adam talks about exactly how horrifying and difficult it would be to live permanently in deep space. He also answers a couple of listener questions, talks a bit about the show itself, and reveals a special surprise for our Patreon supporters.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
54 min - Episode 25: Transhumanism and Faith, with Meghan O'Gieblyn
This week, Adam talks with author and essayist Meghan O'Gieblyn. They discuss her remarkable book, God Human Animal Machine, which is one of Adam's favorites. They also talk about what it means to be in the world, and the awareness it takes to write good sentences.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
• Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like This Guy Sucked.
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 2 min - Episode 24: The Myth of AI Doom, with Cal Newport
This week, Adam talks with computer scientist and author Cal Newport about the resurgent claims of AI doom in the news, where these ideas come from, and what we can do to shift the narrative around AI. (Also, they meant to talk about Cal's book Deep Work, but ran out of time.)
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
• Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like Simple and Clean.
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 8 min - Episode 23: Language Models, with Emily M. Bender
This week, Adam talks with linguist and AI critic Emily M. Bender. They talk about large language models, Emily's origin story, and the importance of parrot emojis. Read Emily's book The AI Con and listen to her podcast Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
• Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like American Medieval
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
59 min - Episode 22: Balancing on the Abyss, with Dave Karpf
This week, Adam and returning guest Dave Karpf talk about what it's like to gaze into the abyss of politics and tech as part of their jobs, and how to find balance and maintain their sanity while doing that work. Dave also talks about his work with the Sierra Club, and reveals his obsession with sandwiches. Read Dave's newsletter and preorder his new book now.
Messages:
• Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine
• Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram
• Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!
• Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like Spirits
About the show:
Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 5 min
About Dreaming Against the Machine
From the publisher's feed
What might a good future look like?
Explore ideas about how to envision better, realistic, equitable futures with astrophysicist and journalist Dr. Adam Becker. Each week,…
Adam and a new guest will try to find hope in the darkness of the current political moment through earnest (and entertaining!) conversations about what such a future might look like. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the public conversation about what our world can and should be.