The Eavesdropper Economy: How Surveillance Built AI (E186)
A lively tour from Cold War “The Thing” to today’s surveillance capitalism—showing how audio capture, too much data, and automation pressures helped turn listening into AI.Guest bios:Dr. Toby Heys — P...
18 Feb 1h
Managerial Class Ruined Tech (E185) - Darryl Campbell
A former Silicon Valley insider explains how MBA-style “spreadsheet management” is breaking software—and why it’s making tech, AI, and everyday products worse.Guest bio:Darryl Campbell is a former tec...
10 Feb 1h 13min
55% of MIT Faculty Self-Censor — Here’s Why (E184)
MIT Free Speech Alliance president Wayne Stargardt explains how a few high-profile cancellations can drive widespread faculty self-censorship—even at a STEM powerhouse like MIT.Guest bio:Wayne Stargar...
5 Feb 52min
E183: Why Corporate America Will Never De-Woke | Law Prof Explains
In this episode, Jesse talks with Fordham University School of Law corporate-law professor Sean J. Griffith about why “go woke, go broke” hasn’t really played out—and why big, publicly traded firms ca...
3 Feb 59min
E181: Politics Is the Best Predictor of Academic Research — Prof Mark Horowitz
Political beliefs often matter more than data or methods in shaping how social scientists think about controversial issues. In this episode, sociologist Dr. Mark Horowitz explains why many professors ...
27 Jan 1h 8min
E180: Attraction & Disgust: Evolutionary Psychology Explained (Dr. Deb Lieberman)
Evolutionary psychologist Debra Lieberman explains how “disgust” and other built-in mental programs shape attraction, kinship, morality, and even law—while modern technology and social media scramble ...
20 Jan 1h 3min
E179: Breaking the Gerontocracy: How Amanda Litman Is Getting Young People into Office
Amanda Litman argues U.S. leadership is too old, local races are dangerously uncontested, and the fastest fix is getting more young people to run—backed by better pay and campaign-finance reform.Guest...
16 Jan 50min
E178: Social Media Isn’t Toxic: Here’s What the Data Says - Dr. Jeff Hall
Social media isn’t “crack for your brain” for most people—Jeffrey Hall argues the best evidence shows tiny average effects on wellbeing, lots of measurement mess, and a bigger story about relationship...
13 Jan 59min
