Modern humans have a Stockholm Syndrome relationship to technology, which has kidnapped us while convincing us it has our best interests in mind. But when one looks back at the history of plastics or the current frenzy around AI, it isn't hard to see the insanity of doubling down on new technology to save us from previous technology. Find out what a person or society can actually do to develop a healthy, non-abusive relationship with technology, aside from joining an Amish community or going "full Kaczynski." Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.Sources/Links/Notes:<ul><li>Moriah McDonald reports on the <a href='https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15022024/new-study-revealed-big-underestimates-of-greenland-ice-loss/'>big underestimates of Greenland ice loss</a> in Inside Climate News.</li><li>Typical <a href='https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/ai-combat-climate-change/'>article</a> about how AI can solve climate change</li><li>Another such <a href='https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/ai-can-help-meet-esg-goals-and-climate-change/'>article</a> about the "magic" of AI</li><li>And <a href='https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/using-ai-to-fight-climate-change/'>another</a> -- sheesh (no wonder Jason was so upset)!</li><li>Report on the <a href='https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals'>future of petrochemicals</a> from the International Energy Agency</li><li>Kelly Oakes of the BBC asks, "<a href='https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220526-what-would-happen-if-we-stopped-using-plastic'>What would happen if we stopped using plastic?</a>"</li><li><a href='https://theoceancleanup.com/'>Website</a> of The Ocean Cleanup</li><li><a href='https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/'>Low Tech Magazine</a></li><li>Low Technology Institute's <a href='https://lowtechinstitute.org/tmbc/'>10-Mile Building Challenge</a></li><li>Sulan Chen writes for UNDP, "<a href='https://www.undp.org/blog/global-treaty-end-plastic-pollution-sight'>A global treaty to end plastic pollution is in sight.</a>"</li><li>BBC reporting on the <a href='https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67668469'>EU's efforts to regulate AI</a></li></ul><a rel="payment" href="https://www.postcarbon.org/supportcrazytown/">Support the show</a>

Modern humans have a Stockholm Syndrome relationship to technology, which has kidnapped us while convincing us it has our best interests in mind. But when one looks back at the history of plastics or the current frenzy around AI, it isn't hard to see the insanity of doubling down on new technology to save us from previous technology. Find out what a person or society can actually do to develop a healthy, non-abusive relationship with technology, aside from joining an Amish community or going "full Kaczynski." Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language. Sources/Links/Notes:Moriah McDonald reports on the big underestimates of Greenland ice loss in Inside Climate News.Typical article about how AI can solve climate changeAnother such article about the "magic" of AIAnd another -- sheesh (no wonder Jason was so upset)!Report on the future of petrochemicals from the International Energy AgencyKelly Oakes of the BBC asks, "What would happen if we stopped using plastic?"Website of The Ocean CleanupLow Tech MagazineLow Technology Institute's 10-Mile Building ChallengeSulan Chen writes for UNDP, "A global treaty to end plastic pollution is in sight."BBC reporting on the EU's efforts to regulate AISupport the show

Modern humans have a Stockholm Syndrome relationship to technology, which has kidnapped us while convincing us it has our best interests in mind. But when one looks back at the history of plastics or the current frenzy around AI, it isn't hard to see the insanity of doubling down on new technology to save us from previous technology. Find out what a person or society can actually do to develop a healthy, non-abusive relationship with technology, aside from joining an Amish community or going "full Kaczynski." Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.Sources/Links/Notes:<ul><li>Moriah McDonald reports on the <a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15022024/new-study-revealed-big-underestimates-of-greenland-ice-loss/" rel="noopener noreferrer">big underestimates of Greenland ice loss</a> in Inside Climate News.</li><li>Typical <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/ai-combat-climate-change/" rel="noopener noreferrer">article</a> about how AI can solve climate change</li><li>Another such <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/ai-can-help-meet-esg-goals-and-climate-change/" rel="noopener noreferrer">article</a> about the "magic" of AI</li><li>And <a href="https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/using-ai-to-fight-climate-change/" rel="noopener noreferrer">another</a> -- sheesh (no wonder Jason was so upset)!</li><li>Report on the <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-petrochemicals" rel="noopener noreferrer">future of petrochemicals</a> from the International Energy Agency</li><li>Kelly Oakes of the BBC asks, "<a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220526-what-would-happen-if-we-stopped-using-plastic" rel="noopener noreferrer">What would happen if we stopped using plastic?</a>"</li><li><a href="https://theoceancleanup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Website</a> of The Ocean Cleanup</li><li><a href="https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Low Tech Magazine</a></li><li>Low Technology Institute's <a href="https://lowtechinstitute.org/tmbc/" rel="noopener noreferrer">10-Mile Building Challenge</a></li><li>Sulan Chen writes for UNDP, "<a href="https://www.undp.org/blog/global-treaty-end-plastic-pollution-sight" rel="noopener noreferrer">A global treaty to end plastic pollution is in sight.</a>"</li><li>BBC reporting on the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67668469" rel="noopener noreferrer">EU's efforts to regulate AI</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.postcarbon.org/supportcrazytown/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Support the show</a>

Escaping Technologyism: Dreams of AI Sheep and the Deadliest Word in Film History

With equal parts humor and in-depth analysis, Asher, Rob, and Jason safeguard their sanity while probing crazy-making topics like climate change, overshoot, runaway capitalism, and why we’re all deluding ourselves. Each fortnightly episode helps you understand the “Great Unraveling” of our environmental and social systems and describes how we can make the transition to a sustainable and equitable world. If you’re someone who questions the trajectory of society and struggles to understand why most people would rather eat nachos on the deck of the “SS Denial” than face reality, you’ll find community and plenty of laughs in Crazy Town. Brought to you by https://www.resilience.org/ and the unconventional minds at Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit think tank that builds awareness of the polycrisis and prescribes community resilience-building as the most appropriate response. Your hosts:Asher Miller - Nonprofit executive director by day, apocalypse comedian by night. Feels most at home exploring insanity-inducing topics while trying not to spill coffee on his keyboard as he convulses over the latest ecomodernist fantasy. In danger of losing his mind every time he encounters someone using a gas-powered blower to move leaves from one spot to another. Rob Dietz - Jack-of-all-trades environmental scientist, conservation biologist, and ecological economist with a penchant for relating planetary overshoot to the catalog of movie scenes that play on a continuous loop in his colonized brain. Known for inserting random ecological facts into casual conversation, often in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice. His friends call him “pessimistically hilarious.” Jason Bradford - Activist farmer and former encyclopedia salesman with a PhD in plant ecology who gets genuinely excited discussing soil microbes and societal collapse in the same breath. Morally opposed to doomsday prepping, but predisposed toward sharing everything he keeps in his bunker, er root cellar, including potatoes, wine, and a 47-month supply of scientific esoterica and embarrassing anecdotes. These guys are the Three Stooges of sustainability podcasting, although they tend toward scientific analysis, righteous outrage, and self-deprecation rather than beating each other up with hand tools. How can they have this much fun while contemplating collapse and navigating the Great Unraveling? Heartfelt thanks to the team at Post Carbon Institute, our volunteers, and all our fellow Crazy Townies out there who help bring this podcast to life.

Science

Natural Sciences

Nature

Earth Sciences

With equal parts humor and in-depth analysis, Asher, Rob, and Jason safeguard their sanity while probing crazy-making topics like climate change, overshoot, runaway capitalism, and why we’re all deluding ourselves. Each fortnightly episode helps you understand the “Great Unraveling” of our environmental and social systems and describes how we can make the transition to a sustainable and equitable world. If you’re someone who questions the trajectory of society and struggles to understand why most people would rather eat nachos on the deck of the “SS Denial” than face reality, you’ll find community and plenty of laughs in Crazy Town. Brought to you by https://www.resilience.org/ and the unconventional minds at Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit think tank that builds awareness of the polycrisis and prescribes community resilience-building as the most appropriate response. Your hosts: Asher Miller - Nonprofit executive director by day, apocalypse comedian by night. Feels most at home exploring insanity-inducing topics while trying not to spill coffee on his keyboard as he convulses over the latest ecomodernist fantasy. In danger of losing his mind every time he encounters someone using a gas-powered blower to move leaves from one spot to another. Rob Dietz - Jack-of-all-trades environmental scientist, conservation biologist, and ecological economist with a penchant for relating planetary overshoot to the catalog of movie scenes that play on a continuous loop in his colonized brain. Known for inserting random ecological facts into casual conversation, often in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice. His friends call him “pessimistically hilarious.” Jason Bradford - Activist farmer and former encyclopedia salesman with a PhD in plant ecology who gets genuinely excited discussing soil microbes and societal collapse in the same breath. Morally opposed to doomsday prepping, but predisposed toward sharing everything he keeps in his bunker, er root cellar, including potatoes, wine, and a 47-month supply of scientific esoterica and embarrassing anecdotes. These guys are the Three Stooges of sustainability podcasting, although they tend toward scientific analysis, righteous outrage, and self-deprecation rather than beating each other up with hand tools. How can they have this much fun while contemplating collapse and navigating the Great Unraveling? Heartfelt thanks to the team at Post Carbon Institute, our volunteers, and all our fellow Crazy Townies out there who help bring this podcast to life.

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Escaping Technologyism: Dreams of AI Sheep and the Deadliest Word in Film History

Escaping Technologyism: Dreams of AI Sheep and the Deadliest Word in Film History

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