What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
Slate Podcasts
Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 1, 2022 • 29min
TikTok’s Mental Health Influencers
Social media makes mental health information accessible. But it's not a perfect solution.Guest: Lindsay Lee WallaceHost: Mary C. Curtis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2022 • 21min
Does Crypto Investment Need to Be Regulated?
Fidelity made headlines when they announced you could invest your retirement savings in Bitcoin. Then the crypto market crashed.Guest: Anthony Lee ZhangHost: Sonari Glinton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2022 • 24min
Can the Law Keep Up With the Internet?
The openness of the internet is its greatest strength. Or a glaring weakness, depending on who you ask. Does something need to change?Guest: Jared SchroederHost: Sonari Glinton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2022 • 23min
From the Vault: It's Hot. It's Flooding. Is This the New Normal?
This episode originally aired in July 2021.Last year, North Americans saw record-breaking heat, droughts, wildfires, and floods. The science is clear: we are living through the effects of climate change. Now scientists are trying to answer: is this the new normal?Guest: Daniel Swain, climate scientist at UCLA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2022 • 23min
The Culture War Over Electric Cars
One state wants to stop people from buying one. But can electric vehicles be stopped? Guest: Ryan CornellHost: Sonari Glinton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2022 • 29min
Sheryl Sandberg’s Complicated Legacy
She wanted to be an icon for working women. What went wrong?Guest: Sheera FrenkelHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2022 • 25min
Bots! What Are They Good For?
Elon Musk isn't wrong that Twitter has a bot problem. But he's kind of missing the point.Guest: Samuel WoolleyHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2022 • 27min
Is Elon Musk Any Good at Business?
Some call him revolutionary. Others call him a hack. Is his success warranted?Guest: Ashlee VanceHost: Lizzie O'LearyThanks Avast.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2022 • 24min
Can an Algorithm Spot a Shooter?
Arijit Sen, an expert in threat detection online, discusses the limitations of algorithmic software in identifying potential threats on social media. The podcast explores the challenges of monitoring linguistic variations and biases in text identification, highlighting concerns about privacy invasion and the potential misuse of social media monitoring services in schools.
May 29, 2022 • 21min
Online Privacy in a Post-Roe World
What can current surveillance infrastructure tell us about online privacy after the fall of Roe? Guest: Lily Hay NewmanHost: Lizzie O'Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
