No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp 223: Unabridged Interview: Baratunde Thurston
11 snips
Aug 22, 2025 
Baratunde Thurston, an Emmy-nominated writer and host, dives into the human experience in the age of AI. He discusses the intricate relationship between technology and humanity, emphasizing storytelling as a bridge to interdependence. Baratunde reflects on his journey through satire and how it shapes social commentary, while examining the impact of AI on our identities and creativity. The conversation also highlights the need for community engagement and reassessing power dynamics in technology, urging listeners to explore meaningful connections in this evolving landscape.
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Interdependence And Storytelling
- Baratunde frames his work around 'interdependence' with planet, people, and machines.
- He sees storytelling as the primary tool to shape shared self-understanding and future choices.
Training In Satire At The Onion
- Baratunde describes learning comedy through The Onion, Daily Show classes, and stand-up training.
- Those experiences taught him to mimic form in order to challenge substance and sharpen satirical voice.
Why He Made Life With Machines
- Life With Machines grew from his tech upbringing, democracy work, and nature immersion meeting the shock of ChatGPT.
- The show uses research, producers, and AI as tools for a collective inquiry into our AI future.
