Tech Won't Save Us

Nora Kenworthy, author and associate professor, discusses the reliance on GoFundMe for healthcare costs, exposing inequalities. They dissect societal reliance on crowdfunding, stigma around public support, and the need for systemic change in healthcare financing.

Gil Duran discusses Balaji Srinivasan's 'tech Zionism' plan in SF and Silicon Valley's threat to democracy. They explore tech billionaires' political influence, media manipulation, and the push towards post-democratic sovereign mini-nations. The podcast delves into false crime perceptions, funding imbalances, and the controversial tech city project proposal in California.

Paolo Gerbaudo discusses BYD's rise in the EV market, challenging Tesla, potential in North America. Focus on vertical integration, global market dynamics, and threat to Tesla. Analysis of Chinese automakers' impact on Western markets, advantages of EVs, and charging infrastructure challenges.

Edward Niedermeyer discusses Tesla's stagnation as competitors cut into market share, Elon Musk's mass layoffs, cancellation of low-cost car for robotaxis, challenges in battery supply chain. Show explores hype dynamics, Cybertruck issues, strategic shifts towards more affordable models, concerns over prioritizing hype over core values in auto industry, doubts around Tesla's future.

Nicole Lipman, writer and assistant editor at n+1, discusses SHEIN's dominance in fast fashion and its environmental, labor concerns. Topics include SHEIN's business model, impact on the industry, social media influence, gamification tactics, and controversy surrounding its operations.

Meghan O’Gieblyn discusses parallels between transhumanism and Christian narratives, exploring themes of resurrection and immortality. The podcast delves into the religious roots of transhumanism, contrasting techno-optimism with existential risks posed by AI. It reflects on the shift of new atheism figures to right-wing tech ideologies and critiques faith-based rhetoric in tech circles, questioning the implications of prioritizing future advancements over current societal issues.

Alex Shephard from The New Republic discusses the impact of sports betting on fan engagement, game integrity, and athletes. They dive into the rapid growth of sports betting post-2018, the rise of prop bets, and the erosion of communal sports spirit. The podcast sheds light on scandals, societal repercussions, and the unchecked influence of sports betting on society.

Edward Ongweso Jr., finance editor at Logics Magazine, joins to critique tech journalist Kara Swisher's industry narratives and flaws in access journalism. They discuss Swisher's rebranding attempts, NFT promotion, and biases in tech reporting. The podcast delves into the power dynamics in tech journalism, challenges of critiquing tech giants, and the importance of transparency in industry relationships.

Tech and culture writer Kat Tenbarge discusses the crisis of non-consensual deepfake images, including underage celebrities, the role of tech companies like Visa and Mastercard, and the documentary 'Another Body.' The podcast sheds light on the alarming impact of AI-generated explicit images on victims, the lack of regulation in the deepfake space, and the disparity in tech companies' responses to diversity and deepfake issues.

Zach Weinersmith discusses the impracticalities of space colonies and the challenges of settling on Mars. They explore human reproduction in space, the ethical considerations of space exploration, and the importance of addressing existential risks on Earth.