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
Sep 22, 2023 • 29min
The 10 books that have most shaped America: Peter Slen on Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE
Andrew Keen talks to Peter Slen about Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE and its influence on America's breakaway from the English monarchy. They discuss the process of creating a list of influential books in America and reflections on national identity. The chapter also explores limitations of book lists and encourages audience participation.
Sep 22, 2023 • 31min
The White Man's version of Democracy in America? Brook Manville on the "Civic Bargain" that defines the history of democracy in western civilization
Andrew talks to Brook Manville, Principal of Philip Brook Manville, about the history and future of democracy in the West. They discuss democracy as an ongoing experiment, understanding its history and civic bargain, analyzing the endurance of democracies, exploring identity politics, and renewing the civic bargain to adapt democracy.
Sep 22, 2023 • 33min
How to think faster and talk smarter: Matt Abrahams on speaking successfully when you're put on the spot
Matt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication, discusses how to think faster and talk smarter when put on the spot. Topics include managing anxiety, crafting impactful speeches, TED Talks format, and using methodology for spontaneous speaking.
Sep 21, 2023 • 32min
"I want you to be more selfish": Millennial therapist Sara Kuburic on how to discover your true self and change your life
Psychotherapist Sara Kuburic discusses discovering your true self and changing your life. Topics include millennial identity, generational anxiety, self-loss and authenticity, impact of therapeutic culture, exile, finding truth and self-discovery.
Sep 21, 2023 • 34min
The case against forgiveness: Myisha Cherry questions a forgiving God, Christian forgiveness and happy Hollywood moral endings
Myisha Cherry, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, discusses the misconceptions and alternatives to forgiveness. They explore the relationship between rage and forgiveness, the complexities of forgiveness in various contexts, and forgiveness in the face of racial injustice.
Sep 21, 2023 • 46min
The Buried History of Jerusalem: Andrew Lawler digs up the political archeology of the world's most contested city
Andrew Lawler, author of Under Jerusalem: The Buried History of the World’s Most Contested City, discusses the political archeology of Jerusalem. Topics include the city's transformation over a thousand years, the history of religious conversions, divisions within the Holy Sepulchre, the impact of archaeological digs on Jerusalem's identity, and the use of history and archaeology for understanding multiple cultures.
Sep 21, 2023 • 34min
Untangling the twin three-way relationships shaping the contemporary Middle East: Ilan Eyatar on Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States
Ilan Eyatar, co-author of TARGET TEHRAN, discusses the complex relationships between Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States in shaping the Middle East. Topics include covert operations, the Middle East dynamics, factors driving fear, and the potential effects of a peace agreement on Israel-Iran relationship.
Sep 21, 2023 • 45min
Nothing will ever be the same again: Hugh Eakin remembers the year when the United States bumped into Pablo Picasso and modern art arrived in America
Hugh Eakin, author of PICASSO'S WAR, discusses the arrival of modern art in America in 1939. They explore the intersection of modern art and geopolitics, the history and reception of Picasso's famous artwork Gernica, the radical nature of Picasso's art, Alfred Barr's challenges in establishing the Museum of Modern Art, and the relationship between business and modern art in the 1920s and 1930s.
Sep 20, 2023 • 41min
How to ensure the survival of democracy: Josiah Ober on ancient Greece and Rome as models of self government by their citizens
Josiah Ober, an American historian of ancient Greece and classical political theorist, discusses how ancient Greece and Rome serve as models of self-government. They explore the evolution of democracy in classical Greece, the concept of self-interest in democracy, the role of Rome in the development of self-government, and the exclusion of women from politics in ancient Rome and Greece.
Sep 20, 2023 • 33min
There's No Them There, Only Us: Kerri Maher on the Jane Collective in the early 1970s and how to write fiction about an issue as divisive as abortion
Kerri Maher, USA Today bestselling author, discusses writing a novel about the Jane Collective and abortion in the late 60s and early 70s. The podcast highlights the political landscape and challenges women faced obtaining abortions. It explores parallels between past and present issues, including the ongoing abortion debate. The guest shares insights on previous novels and the influence of social realism and 'Big Little Lies' on her writing.
