

Shane Smith Has Questions
VICE News & Studio71
Shane Smith Has Questions is a dynamic, apolitical podcast hosted by Shane Smith dedicated to getting to the bottom of prominent instances of misinformation and disinformation while revealing the fascinating fundamental truths (if there are any?) of the most interesting and convoluted social and political issues of our time.For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We want to make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 45min
The Rage Economy Is Destroying Us ft. Scott Galloway | Shane Smith Has Questions
Scott Galloway and Shane Smith dive into the growing tension in today’s society, exploring how economic instability, digital culture, and political unrest are shaping people’s frustrations and anger.
They analyze the rise of digital platforms, the deepening wealth divide, and the decline of traditional work structures, which have fueled a wave of anxiety and frustration. Galloway breaks down how capitalism’s evolution and the collapse of old economic systems are leaving many feeling powerless and left behind.
The conversation delves into the cultural forces that amplify anger, and how these shifts are not only affecting individuals but also reshaping businesses and politics in ways that could have long-lasting consequences.
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Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 47min
The Hidden Side of Psychedelic Research ft. Hamilton Morris | Shane Smith Has Questions
Psychedelics are reshaping medicine and culture. Ayahuasca ceremonies, ibogaine treatments, and ketamine clinics promise breakthroughs but raise hard questions about safety, tradition, and control.
Hamilton Morris joins Shane Smith to unpack the science, myths, and politics behind today’s psychedelic movement. He breaks down the promises of ibogaine clinics, the rise of ketamine in psychiatry, and the battles over MDMA research, showing how curiosity and controversy continue to shape the future of psychedelics.
The conversation highlights how political and economic forces influence the direction of psychedelic research.
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Sep 18, 2025 • 58min
Are We Headed for Global Chaos? ft. Ian Bremmer | Shane Smith Has Questions
Ian Bremmer, the President and founder of Eurasia Group, dives deep into the rapidly changing global landscape. He highlights the impact of drone warfare, noting how cheap swarms can reshape security threats. As tensions rise between global powers like the U.S., China, and Russia, Bremmer discusses the challenges of diplomacy and the fractured state of globalization. He also touches on the tech race, emphasizing the U.S. lead in AI while warning about China's advancements in clean energy. Climate risks loom, yet a cleaner future is within reach if politics align.

Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 26min
Addiction, Injuries & the Cost of Comedy ft. Johnny Knoxville | Shane Smith Has Questions
Johnny Knoxville sits down with Shane Smith to discuss the physical and emotional costs of his career. He reflects on the chaotic start of Jackass, the pressures of sudden fame, and serious injuries like concussions and an eye fracture that nearly ended his life.
The conversation covers his collaborations with Spike Jonze and Jeff Tremaine, the shift from MTV to feature films, and the political backlash that ultimately forced the show off the air. Knoxville speaks openly about his mental health struggles after repeated head trauma and how he found stability through therapy.
Beyond the stunts, Knoxville highlights projects he’s proud of, including The Ringer, his outlaw country radio show, and documentaries like The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. This honest talk reveals a rarely seen side of Knoxville—the man behind the daredevil persona who lived through the consequences.
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Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 34min
What the U.S. Military Knows About UFOs ft. Jeremy Corbell
Investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, renowned for his documentaries on military UFOs, dives into the mysterious world of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. He reveals astonishing military footage and firsthand accounts of encounters with strange craft, including the infamous ‘Mosul Orb.’ The conversation shifts from UFOs to UAPs, exploring the implications of potential non-human intelligence and government secrecy. Corbell also discusses the push for transparency and the philosophical questions arising from these revelations, leaving listeners intrigued and questioning reality.

32 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 48min
How Psychiatry Lost Its Way ft. Phil Stutz | Shane Smith Has Questions
Phil Stutz, a renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author known for 'The Tools,' discusses the shortcomings of conventional psychiatry. He emphasizes action over endless analysis for genuine healing. Stutz shares insights on dealing with anxiety and depression, highlighting gratitude as a powerful tool against despair. The conversation touches on 'Part X,' the psychological barrier hindering growth, and the importance of human connection in wellness. They also explore how confronting mortality can ignite creativity and give life deeper meaning.

Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 17min
Why Playing It Safe Kills Brands ft. Mike Cessario | Shane Smith Has Questions
Mike Cessario, Founder and CEO of Liquid Death, shares his insights on branding and the art of provocation. He reveals how his company harnessed Internet hate into a billion-dollar brand and emphasizes that execution is paramount in marketing. Cessario compares brand-building to political strategy, discussing the power of authenticity in messaging and the dangers of playing it safe. He also explores the impact of controversy on consumer engagement and the evolving landscape of advertising, where creativity must thrive amid censorship and digital innovation.

Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 41min
The Dark Side of Deterrence & Nuclear Science ft. Taylor Wilson | Shane Smith Has Questions
Shane and nuclear-physics prodigy Taylor Wilson on the past, present, and future of atomic science, how Cold-War close calls, and today’s aging launch warning systems, make accidental nuclear war scarier than a deliberate attack, why Russia’s hypersonic torpedoes and cheap Ukrainian drones both reveal the same uneasy truth: deterrence math is being rewritten in real time.
They dive into Wilson’s quest for radiation-proof bacteria, his optimism about compact fusion reactors and geothermal grids that could outcompete fossil fuels, and the data-driven breakthroughs quantum computing may unlock in medicine and materials.
They dismantle moon-landing conspiracies with hard evidence, reveal natural fission reactors buried in Gabon two billion years ago, track the search for dark matter and alien microbes on Europa and
Mars, and argue that the 21st-century energy race could end in abundance—if humanity can keep its trigger finger off aging warheads long enough for science to deliver.
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Jul 31, 2025 • 59min
The Quantum Chip That Might Change Everything ft. Julian Kelly | Shane Smith Has Questions
Shane Smith sits down with Julian Kelly, Senior Director of Hardware at Google Quantum AI and architect of the groundbreaking Willow chip, to map out the next frontier of computing. Kelly explains how Google’s 100 plus qubit processors now complete benchmark tasks in minutes that would outlive the universe on today’s fastest supercomputers, why error corrected “logical” qubits are the last hurdle to practical machines, and which real world problems will fall first once quantum power comes online. Along the way they tackle encryption panic, AI synergy, the global quantum race, and the mind bending philosophy behind many worlds.
Conversation Highlights:
Willow & “beyond classical” benchmarks: 10²⁵year speedup over conventional supercomputers
Roadmap milestones → quantum supremacy → scalable error correction →“Milestone 3” logical qubit
Drug discovery, battery chemistry, fertilizer synthesis, fusion research & other early killer apps
Post-quantum cryptography and the myth vs. reality of “QDay” data breach fears
Cooling to 10 milliKelvin, chip design shifts from DWave annealers to gate based processors
How AI can train on quantum generated data—and how quantum can turbocharge AI research
Global landscape: Google’s lead, government labs, and the rise of private startups
Philosophical detours: superposition, entanglement, many worlds interpretations
Five-year horizon for the first commercially useful quantum workload
Kelly’s personal journey—from UCSB lab tinkerer to Google’s quantum hardware chief
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Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 48min
Inside the WILD World of Independent Journalism ft. Andrew Callaghan | Shane Smith Has Questions
Shane Smith sits down with Channel 5 and All Gas No Brakes founder Andrew Callaghan. They discuss Andrew’s hitchhiking origins, his first full-length interview with Hunter Biden and they unpack the rise and fall of All Gas No Brakes, the birth of Channel 5’s “global newsroom,” and why a single bad real-estate deal turned a Louisiana lawyer into the Q-pilled protagonist of Callaghan’s documentary This Place Rules.
Smith and Callaghan swap war stories about embedding with warlords, avoiding stomach parasites, and learning to read a room when everyone is armed. They riff on Hunter Thompson, Louis Theroux, depersonalization, and the perils of becoming “industry approved.” The conversation veers from South African politics and resource curses to the revelation that Democratic Party powerbrokers pressured President Biden to bow out of 2024—straight from Hunter Biden, according to Callaghan.
Part origin story, part media-critique, part travelogue, the episode is a masterclass in modern gonzo journalism and a candid look at what relentless public scrutiny does to artists and politicians alike.
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