Long Shadow
Long Lead & PRX
Through a series of riveting, complex narratives, LONG SHADOW makes sense of what people know — and what they thought they knew — about the most pivotal moments in U.S. history, including Waco, Columbine, Y2K, 9/11, COVID-19, January 6, and beyond. Hosted by Pulitzer-finalist historian, author, and journalist Garrett Graff, this Peabody-nominated podcast has been called “rigorous, authoritative, and an electrifying listen” by the Financial Times and honored as one of the year's best podcasts by The Atlantic, Audible, Mashable, and The Week. A winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and the RFK Human Rights Journalism Award, it has also been honored with five Signal Awards, including for Best History, Best Documentary, and Best Activism, Public Service, & Social Impact Podcast.The second season of LONG SHADOW has been added to the history program at the University of Houston and the third season has been integrated into Harvard Law School's curriculum on the Second Amendment.Season 4LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNETWhen was the last time you felt good about the internet? Today’s online landscape is a harrowing one. People screaming at each other on social media. Violent videos going viral. Cyberbullying, racism, misogyny. Back in the day, the web gave power to the people, and going online could actually be fun.LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET retraces 30 years of web history — a tangle of GIFs, blogs, apps, and hashtags — to answer the bewildering question many ask when they go online today: “How did we get here?”It’s the story of mankind’s greatest invention, a tool that gave everyone access to all the world’s information and unlocked democracy across the globe. But LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET is also about the biggest crisis facing society today: how the web's unlimited feed of data morphed into a firehose of hoaxes, conspiracy theories, and lies that divided Americans over things we once agreed on, like science, diversity, and even democracy itself.Chronicling innovations, revolutions, cyber attacks, and meltdowns across seven episodes, this limited series podcast untangles the web in a way you’ve never considered before. Featuring memes and moments you know — like when the world became transfixed by the color of a dress — and others you don’t, but should — like how people sent death threats to the woman who posted that meme online — LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET both scales the heights of internet virality and plumbs the depths of social media's depravity.Within weeks of its launch in 2021, LONG SHADOW became a No. 1 history show on Apple Podcasts, and its first season, 9/11’s LINGERING QUESTIONS, won Best History Podcast at the inaugural Signal Awards. Its second season, RISE OF THE AMERICAN FAR RIGHT, was named Best Podcast at the 2024 Edward R. Murrow Awards. IN GUNS WE TRUST, the show’s third season produced in collaboration with The Trace, was nominated for a Peabody Award and awarded the RFK Human Rights Journalism Award for its coverage of America’s gun violence epidemic.LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET premiered June 24, 2025 and will release new episodes the following six Tuesdays, wherever you get your podcasts.LONG SHADOW is produced by the award-winning journalism studio Long Lead and distributed by PRX.For more visit www.longlead.com and www.longshadowpodcast.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
15 snips
Aug 5, 2025 • 1h 4min
The Red Pill
Donna Zuckerberg, an academic and author of 'Not All Dead White Men', discusses the disturbing rise of misogyny in online communities, particularly within the manosphere. She shares her eye-opening experiences with toxic ideologies while navigating motherhood. The conversation dives into how these movements contribute to societal and political unrest, notably during the pandemic. Zuckerberg also examines social media's role in amplifying extremist narratives and the ongoing struggle for truth in an era dominated by misinformation.
22 snips
Jul 29, 2025 • 55min
Going Viral
Pam Hemphill, a former substance abuse counselor and participant in the Capitol riot, shares her firsthand experience of the chaotic events. Joan Donovan, an academic specializing in misinformation, discusses the role of social media in amplifying false narratives during crises. They explore how social media algorithms contributed to the spread of misinformation during the pandemic, shaping public perception. The conversation delves into the personal and political ramifications of misinformation, highlighting its threat to democracy.
24 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 44min
Weapons of Mass Distraction
Discover the chaotic fallout from a controversial comedy that enraged North Korea and sparked a major cyberattack on a Hollywood studio. Dive into the surprising consequences of misinformation, illustrated by a fabricated explosion in Colombia. Explore the racial tensions in 2016 America and how social media amplified divisions and manipulated public opinion during a fraught election year. Analyzing the cybersecurity breach of the Democratic National Committee reveals the disturbing impact of foreign influence on democracy. Buckle up for a wild ride through modern geopolitics!
14 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 37min
Enragement Equals Engagement
Join vaccine advocate Renee DiResta, author of 'Invisible Rulers,' and New York Times reporter Shira Frankel, co-author of 'An Ugly Truth,' as they dive into the alarming impact of social media on public health and misinformation. They discuss the vaccine debate escalating online and how algorithms create echo chambers that amplify division. The conversation highlights the mechanisms of Facebook's early engagement strategies and the real-world consequences of misinformation, especially concerning the Rohingya community in Myanmar. This insightful dialogue examines our digital age's challenges and responsibilities.
13 snips
Jul 8, 2025 • 41min
The Facebook Revolution
David Woolman, a journalist and author known for covering the April 6 Youth Movement, teams up with Ahmed Mayer, a key leader of that movement, to discuss the revolutionary power of social media in Egypt. They emphasize Facebook's role in rallying young activists to overthrow a dictator, while also addressing the irony of the platform later contributing to societal division. Their insights paint a vivid picture of courage, struggle, and the complex reality of navigating democracy's dual nature through digital means.
14 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 49min
Establishing Connection
Alex Horton, a national security reporter for The Washington Post and a former soldier, shares insights from his unique journey. He discusses the stark transformation of communication post-9/11 and how the internet sparked anti-war activism. Horton reflects on the intersection of technology and military life, highlighting his blog's authentic portrayal of soldiers. The conversation also examines grassroots political movements and the role of social media in mobilizing public support, revealing how these digital tools empower citizens in times of crisis.
Jun 24, 2025 • 42min
The End of the World as We Know It
The internet as we know it today is a harrowing landscape. But in its quirky infancy, the web changed everything about how we lived, shared, shopped, and communicated. Then a computer bug threatened to shut it all down forever.
Jun 17, 2025 • 3min
Trailer: Long Shadow: Breaking the Internet
Explore the internet's dramatic evolution from a source of empowerment to a breeding ground for division and misinformation. Reflect on how a platform that once united us has transformed into a space filled with cyberbullying and conspiracy theories. Discover the tangled history of online culture, from GIFs to hashtags, and ponder the pressing question: how did we end up here? Delve into the societal challenges posed by the digital age and its impact on democracy, science, and diversity.
May 22, 2024 • 1h 8min
Generation Lockdown
Raised on active shooter and lockdown drills, Gen Z has endured an onslaught of violence — and emerged inspiring a wave of activism, a powerful gun safety movement, and hope.
May 14, 2024 • 49min
A Good Guy with a Gun
Easy to handle and easy to conceal, handguns went boom in the 2000s, the same moment when many Americans — falsely and tragically — began to equate guns with safety.
