Dystopia Now

To hear the rest of the episode and become a supporter visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow We are entirely listener supported and we appreciate your contributions so much! This week, we were joined by Rachel Adjogah, of the brilliant Polemics.md blog. discussed The Argument, a new publication funded in part by Open Philanthropy. We also discussed Vox's Future Perfect, and the general problems of having EA/Rationalist aligned reporters cover...themselves. 

Delve into the cult-like aspects of the Zizians within the rationalist community. Explore their alarming ideologies tied to Effective Altruism and AI safety. Discover the psychological impact of the unsettling thought experiment, Roko's Basilisk, and its ethical dilemmas. Learn how doom circles echo manipulative cult techniques, culminating in tensions among rationalists living life on sailboats. The discussion warns of the dangerous convictions held by apocalyptic movements, shedding light on the consequences of their extreme beliefs.

This week we answered questions from our Patreon supporters about the Bay Area cyberdelic scene, Church of the Subgenius, the persistence of eugenics, anarcho-primitivism, TESCREAL boardgames and what our personal tech (or tech free?) utopias would be.  To hear the rest of the episode become a sponsor at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow. We use your $ to edit the podcast.    Further reading:   https://www.thetonearm.com/rhymes-against-reality-with-r-u-sirius-and-his-musical-mindfuckery-2/   https://www.wired.com/2015/07/tech-time-warp-week-wired-eccentric-mondo-2000/   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_SubGenius   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/opinion/genetics-children-noor-siddiqui.html   https://www.vice.com/en/article/john-zerzan-wants-us-to-give-up-all-of-our-technology/   Organizations Mentioned:   https://www.stopai.info/   https://www.stopspying.org/   https://www.eff.org/   https://www.dsausa.org/   https://dair.ai/   Board game:   https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/257732/pax-transhumanity

In this discussion, Adam Becker, an astrophysicist and science journalist behind 'More Everything Forever,' challenges the grand narratives pushed by Silicon Valley. He critiques the fantasies of Mars colonization, AI sentience, and digital immortality as veils for control rather than science. With humor, Becker dismantles the elitist ideologies of tech billionaires, urging us to confront earthly realities over distant dreams. His insights on artificial intelligence and the human condition remind us of the limits imposed by nature and the folly of our technological arrogance.

To hear the full ep sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow In the 1990s, at the height of the Grunge Era, a small but ambitious group calling themselves the Extropians dreamed of transcending the limits of the human body and mind, through technology, radical life extension, and an unapologetically libertarian vision of the future. In this episode, we trace their journey from obscure online mailing lists to their outsized influence on today’s transhumanist movement, Silicon Valley techno-utopianism, and AI ideology. We’ll unpack their proactionary principle, ties to effective altruism and longtermism, and the Network State movement.  

Dive into the unconventional world of pro-natalist parenting with Simone and Malcolm Collins, who raise their kids on an AI diet. They discuss controversial topics like AI resurrection ethics, including an AI version of Parkland victim Joaquin Oliver. The couple shares insights on declining birth rates and the push for larger families, while also critiquing tech's influence on parenting. Expect thought-provoking debates on AI's role, dystopian ideologies, and the necessity of human interaction alongside cutting-edge technology.

Dive into the disturbing world of the Zizians, a fringe group that spiraled into violence from the rationalist community. Discover how a blend of utilitarianism and accelerationist ideology led them to justify brutal acts in pursuit of a supposed greater good. Hear about their unsettling fixation on AI doom and the bizarre tactics employed to evade justice, including one individual's attempt to feign unconsciousness. This chilling tale unveils how a cult within a cult turned into a national news sensation.

Dive into the curious world of Mark Zuckerberg and the bizarre phenomenon of billionaire bunkers. Explore the ethical quandaries of AI in healthcare and its impact on vulnerable communities. Discover the shifting dynamics between Silicon Valley elites and urban planning, alongside Zuckerberg's controversial past. Delve into the tech titans' ideologies, revealing a fascination with transhumanism and their preparation for societal breakdown. It's a wild ride through tech ethics, philanthropy as PR, and the echoes of history in modern governance.

Kiera Havens, the executive director of Citizens' Impeachment and a writer focused on race science, joins Nicholas Rodelo, a senior researcher at Dropsite News, to discuss the intersection of tech and propaganda. They explore how technological advancements have fueled narratives in the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the ethical dilemmas involved. The duo debates the implications of misinformation in shaping public perception and critiques media's role in accountability issues surrounding alleged genocide. Their insights challenge listeners to reflect on the deeper ramifications of technology in global conflicts.

This discussion dives into the obsession of tech billionaires with cryonics and mind uploading. The hosts critique moral dilemmas, like the emotional fallout of seeking immortality. They also explore the absurdities of life extension practices, including an olive oil craze that raises eyebrows. Alongside critiques of the tech industry's environmental impacts, they tackle the intersection of AI and our longing for longevity. Expect humor and deep questions about existence as they navigate the complexities of life, death, and everything in between.