

Keen On America
Andrew Keen
Nobody asks sharper or more impertinent questions than Andrew Keen. In KEEN ON, Andrew cross-examines the world’s smartest people on politics, economics, history, the environment, and tech. If you want to make sense of our complex world, check out the daily questions and the answers on KEEN ON.
Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best-known technology and politics broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running show How To Fix Democracy and the author of four critically acclaimed books about the future, including the international bestselling CULT OF THE AMATEUR.
Keen On is free to listen to and will remain so. If you want to stay up-to-date on new episodes and support the show please subscribe to Andrew Keen’s Substack. Paid subscribers will soon be able to access exclusive content from our new series Keen On America. keenon.substack.com
Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best-known technology and politics broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running show How To Fix Democracy and the author of four critically acclaimed books about the future, including the international bestselling CULT OF THE AMATEUR.
Keen On is free to listen to and will remain so. If you want to stay up-to-date on new episodes and support the show please subscribe to Andrew Keen’s Substack. Paid subscribers will soon be able to access exclusive content from our new series Keen On America. keenon.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 7, 2024 • 30min
Turning writing into a habit that lasts: Bec Evans on how to start and finish books and why binge writing isn't a bad habit
EPISODE 1918: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bec Evans, co-author of WRITTEN, about how to turn writing into a habit that lastsBec Evans is an award-winning writer, speaker and business founder. With a background in innovation she turned her side hustle into a startup and now helps people make their ideas happen. Her book How to Have a Happy Hustle won its category in the Business Book Awards 2020, and has been reviewed by the Financial Times, The Stylist and Red Magazine and featured on The Lean Startup podcast and at The RSA. nFrom her first job in a bookshop, to a career working in publishing and managing a writing centre for Arvon, Bec is fascinated by what helps writer write. She co-founded Prolifiko and works with publishers, businesses, universities and writing communities to better support authors and content creators. She coaches and support writers of all types offering accountability and productivity advice to overcome blocks and find a writing practice that works in the busyness of their lives.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 7, 2024 • 45min
Why all crises of capitalism are caused by moral failures: Colin Mayer on the social responsibility of business in every industry, from oil to tobacco to genetic engineering and AI
EPISODE 1917: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Colin Mayer, author of CAPITALISM AND CRISES, about the social responsibility of business in every industry, from oil to tobacco to AIColin Mayer CBE FBA is Emeritus Professor of Management Studies and Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the European Corporate Governance Institute, an Emeritus Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College and St Anne's College, Oxford, and he has an Honorary Doctorate from Copenhagen Business School. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Oxford Playhouse, and was co-chair of the Scottish Government Business Purpose Commission, a member of the UK Government Natural Capital Committee, and the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 6, 2024 • 38min
That Will Be The Year: Keith Teare predicts the major political, economic and technological developments for 2024
EPISODE 1916: In our weekly KEEN ON wrap of tech news with Keith Teare, author of the THAT WAS THE WEEK newletter, Keith gets out his crystal ball to predict the major political, economic and technological developments for 2024Keith Teare is a Founder and CEO at SignalRank Corporation. Previously he was Executive Chairman at Accelerated Digital Ventures Ltd - A UK-based global investment company focused on startups at all stages. He was also previously the founder at the Palo Alto incubator, Archimedes Labs. Archimedes was the original incubator for TechCrunch and since 2011 has invested, accelerated or incubated many Silicon Valley startups including Around (sold to Miro), Millicast (Sold to Dolby), InFarm, Miles, Quixey; M.dot (sold to GoDaddy); chat.center; Loop Surveys; DownTown and Sunshine. Teare has a track record as a serial entrepreneur with big ideas and has achieved significant returns for investors.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 6, 2024 • 31min
How to learn to tell the truth about ourselves: Dr .Annie Zimmerman explains how therapy can allow us to break free from old patterns and transform our lives
EPISODE 1915: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Dr. Annie Zimmerman, author of YOUR POCKET THERAPIST, about how therapy can allow to break free from old patterns and transform our livesAnnie Zimmerman is a psychotherapist and TikTok personality, working with clients from a psychodynamic approach. She has a PhD in psychology and has completed her studies at the Guild of Psychotherapists. Her expertise centers on teaching clients how their early lives have formed strategies that might be contributing to unhelpful patterns in adulthood. Currently, she lives in London, where she sees clients from her private practice. You can follow her on TikTok and Instagram @your_pocket_therapist. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 5, 2024 • 34min
The Illusion of More: David Newhoff explains why we don't need GenerativeAI to make good art
EPISODE 1914: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to David Newhoff, the author of WHO INVENTED OSCAR WILDE? about why we don't need GenerativeAI to make good artDavid Newhoff is a writer, communications professional, rights advocate, and entrepreneur. Through Adastra Creative, he has provided creative communications and video production services for clients in multiple sectors. Since 2011, he has been a passionate advocate for the rights of creators and artists, primarily through his blog The Illusion of More. He has written over 1,000 articles on IP and cyber policy issues, and his writing has been cited by professional creators, academics, in testimony before the U.S. Congress, and in one brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. In November 2020, David published his first book, Who Invented Oscar Wilde? : The Photograph at the Center of Modern American Copyright. And in 2021, he co-founded RightsClick, Inc. with attorney/expert Steven Tepp to develop tools to help independent creators manage their copyright rights.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 5, 2024 • 41min
Eyeless in Digital Gaza: Eryk Salvaggio sifts through the debris of our AI age in which we can no longer trust anything we see
EPISODE 1913: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to new media artist Eryk Salvaggio who sifts through the debris of an AI age in which we can no longer trust anything we seeEryk Salvaggio is an interdisciplinary design researcher and new media artist. His work explores emerging technologies through a critically engaged lens, testing their mythologies and narratives against their impacts on social and cultural ecosystems. His work, which focuses on generativity and artificial intelligence, often exposes the ideologies embedded into technologies. His work has been curated into film and music festivals, gallery installations, and conferences (such as DEFCON 31 and SXSW). The work interrogates generative AI through a blend of cybernetics, visual culture & media theory, with a critique grounded in resistance and creative misuse, highlighting the gaps that emerge between the analog and digital, such as datasets and the world they claim to represent. Eryk has since worked with partners including AIxDesign’s Story & Code program, the AI Village at DEFCON 31, Space10, the Australian National University, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Wikimedia Foundation, the Internet Archive, and the National Gallery of Australia. His work has been published in academic journals such as Leonardo, Communications of the ACM, IMAGE, Patterns, and by art publishers including DAHJ Gallery, the Furtherfield gallery (London), Turbulence (Boston), Rhizome (New York) and 10th Floor Design Studios (San Francisco). His artwork has been included in pieces with the BBC4, The New York Times, ArtForum, NBC News, Neural, Dirty, and Mute Magazine. His work has been exhibited at Michigan State University Science Museum, the UN Internet Governance Forum, Eyebeam, CalArts, Brown University, Turbulence, The Internet Archive, and in books including Jon Ippolito & Joline Blais’ At the Edge of Art, Alex Galloway's Protocol: How Control Exists After Decentralization, and Peter Langford’s Image & Imagination. He has presented talks, keynotes and works at SXSW, DEFCON 31, the Systems Research & Design Conference (RSD10&11), the Advances in Systems Sciences and Systems Practice Conference (2022), Melbourne Design Week (2021), MIT Press (2021), the University of St. Gallen (2018), California College of the Arts (2018, 2019, 2020), the University of Maine, RightsCon (2020), and Gensler San Francisco (2017). As a Wikipedia Visiting Scholar at Brown University, he created the article on Algorithmic Bias in 2016. Eryk has taught at the Elisava Barcelona School of Design and Engineering, RIT, and Bradley Universities, and has given talks or lectures at NYU, the University of Cambridge, Aarhus, the University of Copenhagen, and Northeastern. He holds a Masters in Media and Communication from the London School of Economics and a Masters in Applied Cybernetics from the Australian National University. He earned two concurrent undergraduate degrees, in New Media and Journalism, from the University of Maine, where he was listed as visiting faculty as an undergraduate based on his early interactive, online net.art work.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 5, 2024 • 43min
What it's like to be a Russian these days: Marzio G. Mian ventures behind the new Iron Curtain to find caviar, counterculture and a reborn cult of Stalin
EPISODE 1912: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Marzio G. Mian, author of the Harper's piece "Behind the New Iron Curtain", about what it's like to be a Russian these daysMarzio G. Mian is an award-winning correspondent and author. For seven years, he was deputy editor-in-chief of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera's weekly magazine. Mian is now a contributor to Corriere della Sera, Reportagen, Revue XXI, GQ Italia, L'Espresso, RAI TV, SKY Italia, and RSI Swiss Public Radio for cultural, social, and geopolitical topics. He has produced print, video, and audio reports from 56 countries, which included the collapse of communism, the Balkan wars, the enlargement of Europe, and four American presidential campaigns. He co-founded The Arctic Times Project, an international nonprofit, multimedia journalistic association based in the United States and Europe. It focuses on the consequences of climate change in the Arctic region. He also founded The River Journal, a collective multimedia project that deals with current problems through the exploration of the largest rivers in the world.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 4, 2024 • 38min
Why Impeachment remains an Indelible Stain on the Presidencies of Nixon, Clinton and Trump: Michael J. Gerhardt's guide for engaged citizens to the the law of Presidential impeachment
EPISODE 1912: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michael J. Gerhardt, author of THE LAW OF PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT, about how the threat of impeachment remain indelible stains on the Presidencies of Nixon, Clinton and TrumpMichael J. Gerhardt is Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina Law School, resident scholar at the National Constitution Center, and the author of six books, including The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy, whichFinancial Times selected as one of the best non-fiction books of 2013. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 4, 2024 • 40min
How to break out of the tyranny of the travel search box: Rafat Ali on the impact of AI on the travel industry
EPISODE 1911: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Rafat Ali, founder & CEO of Skift, about the impact of AI on the travel industry.Rafat Ali is the CEO/Founder of Skift, the largest business intelligence and marketing platform in travel, providing news, information, data, and services to all sectors of the world’s largest industry. Previously, he was the founder/CEO of paidContent and ContentNext, which he sold to UK's Guardian News and Media in 2008, and left in 2010. Prior to that, he was managing editor of Silicon Alley Reporter. Rafat was the Knight Fellow at Indiana University, where he completed his Masters in Journalism, 1999-2000. Prior to that he completed his BSc in Computer Engineering, from AMU in Aligarh, India.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Jan 4, 2024 • 49min
Why OpenAI has an Uber problem
Tim O’Reilly won’t get fooled again. Or maybe he will. While he is fearful of the winner-take-all nature of current AI economics, he still has some faith that the system can be reformed. So what’s the alternative to the vicious cycles of Silicon Valley capitalism? How can we change the script so that history won’t repeat itself once again?This is the first of a two part conversation with Tim. Please let me know if you want the transcript and I’ll try to post. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe