The Next Next Thing

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), a group of environmental extremists, burned down meat-packing plants and ski resorts, and were eventually dubbed "ecoterrorists" before being dismantled by the FBI. Author Matthew Wolfe recently wrote a book about the group, "Fires In the Night: The Earth Liberation Front, The FBI, and a Secret History of Eco-Sabotage," that tells the whole story. Host Sam Becker speaks with Wolfe about the ELF, its legacy, whether they weren't exactly "wrong," and why the federal government cracked down so hard on them, relative to other groups.

Matthew Wolfe: https://matthewwolfe.net/

The book: Bookshop.org

Sam Becker: www.sam-becker.com

Do you know your indigenous history? Or how about the current state of Native America? If not, Joey Clift is here to teach us! Host Sam Becker speaks with his old classmate and Emmy and Peabody-nominated comedian and writer Joey Clift about his new book, "We've Been Here the Whole Time! A Not So Sacred Guide to All Things Native America," as well as how he's built a career in Hollywood as a Native person.

Joey Clift: https://www.joeyclift.com

Joey's book: bookshop.org

Sam Becker: www.sam-becker.com

Big companies often become so big that they can become ineffective. Sure, they make tons of money, but they lose the agility they had when they were smaller and scrappier. Matthew Watkins, the founder and CEO of Tape Trade -- a platform that helps musicians share their work -- left a big-tech job and is now building something simpler, sleeker, and customer-focused. Those types of businesses may be the next big thing. Host Sam Becker discusses Tape Trade, startups, and big tech with Matthew Watkins.

Tape Trade: https://tapetrade.io/

Sam Becker: www.sam-becker.com

Aditi Shrikant writes the Dollar Signs advice column for MarketWatch, where she is also a personal finance reporter. She sees a range of questions: How to handle remote job interviews, how to have uncomfortable money conversations with friends, and more. Aditi joins host Sam Becker to discuss young workers' habits that older people consider disrespectful, the types of questions she loves answering, and more!

Send her questions: [email protected]

Aditi Shrikant on MarketWatch: https://www.marketwatch.com/author/aditi-shrikant

Sam Becker: www.sam-becker.com

If you've ever clicked through the terms of service on a product or service, you've likely agreed to some form of forced arbitration in the event of a legal dispute. Effectively, consumers can barely sue companies anymore, and it's a growing issue. Host Sam Becker speaks with Brendan Ballou, the founder of the Public Integrity Project, a former federal prosecutor, and author of the recent book "When Companies Run the Courts" to learn more.

When Companies Run the Courts: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brendan-ballou/when-companies-run-the-courts/9781541705715

The Public Integrity Project: https://publicintegrityproject.org/

Sam Becker: www.sam-becker.com

Will companies going all-in on AI and thinning out their ranks regret it? Will there be a backlash (it seems so!), and will we soon see a large-scale, corporate about-face with companies claiming to be "human-first"? And when corporations line up, literally, behind controversial political figures, do they consider the long-term brand damage being done? Host Sam Becker speaks with Amanda Zantal-Wiener, an expert in branding, content, and strategy, and founder and managing partner of Butcher, Baker, Beatmaker, about it all!

Butcher, Baker, Beatmaker

Amanda Zantal-Wiener's website

Sam Becker's website

Sports betting, gambling, and prediction markets are everywhere. If something is happening in the world, you can probably place a wager on it. You know the apps: DraftKings, FanDuel, Kalshi, Polymarket—and others. These platforms are opening up a whole new stream of revenue and driving profits, but there are costs. Costs to society, to young people, and to those who may be vulnerable to addiction or impulse control issues. In order to learn more, host Sam Becker speaks with Dustin Gouker, a gambling sector analyst, journalist, and consultant, who writes and reports on both gambling and prediction markets.

Dustin Gouker’s The Closing Line newsletter

The Event Horizon newsletter

Sam Becker’s website

"Work" means different things to different people. Some people dread it, other people revel in it. Overall, though, it's a necessity for most of us. But it can feel...pointless, at times. In a more philosophical episode, Sam speaks with Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza, a writer and essayist, about an essay she wrote on this very topic. Emily writes about work, our relationship to it, and also hosts a podcast about work as well.

If you've ever felt like you were wasting your life at your desk, this episode is for you.

Host: Sam Becker

Guest: Emily McCrary-Ruiz-Esparza

Links:

Emily's website

Emily's podcast: How to Be Anything

Emily's Fast Company essay

The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus

The Trump administration has used the heft of the federal government to bully, intimidate, and silence its critics in a way no other administration has before. In perhaps the most public display of policing speech, the FCC has tried (and succeeded) to "cancel" late-night comedians and talk show hosts.

The United States was, previously, a country where things like this were not tolerated. But now, it seems, we are. What does that mean for free speech in the U.S. going forward? Will future presidents use the same approach? Will Americans stand for it?

Host Sam Becker speaks with Lee Rowland, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship, on the topic.

Host: Sam Becker

Guest: Lee Rowland

Links:

The National Coalition Against Censorship

Sam Becker

The "FCC" story Sam mentioned writing

Discovering extraterrestrial life would be massive, and telling the world about it would be challenging as well. Our ability to communicate important scientific information has broken down, and that's a big problem. The pandemic played a role, and there are reasons that people may be skeptical or untrusting of authority.

Host Sam Becker speaks with Dr. Brianne Suldovsky, a professor at Portland State University who specializes in science communication and public engagement, on the topic. Dr. Suldovsky published a white paper exploring how the government and scientists would communicate the discovery of extraterrestrial life, and how the approach could differ depending on what, exactly, we find.

Host: Sam Becker

Guest: Dr. Brianne Suldovsky