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. Get your fix with Zippix Toothpicks! Save 10% by using code Shane at http://www.ZippixToothpicks.com today. Must be 21+Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://www.zocdoc.com/shane  Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When wildfires, homelessness, and immigration collide, Los Angeles becomes a focal point for America’s biggest debates. In this candid, hourlong sitdown, Shane Smith presses L.A. Mayor  Karen  Bass on everything from her controversial trip to Ghana during the Palisades inferno to the missing billions earmarked for homelessness relief. Bass pulls back the curtain on firedepartment missteps, why she fired the city’s fire chief, and how a thousand unused veteran housing vouchers were finally unlocked. Along the way, volunteer firefighter and Community  Brigade cofounder Keegan Gibbs joins Shane to recount the night Malibu burned and explains why even the bestequipped departments can be powerless against hurricaneforce winds. Bass lays out her plan to rebuild faster—thanks in part to an unexpected assist from the Trump administration’s Army  Corps of  Engineers—and reveals a new public/private partnership with developer Rick  Caruso and NBA vet JJ Redick to restore a devastated rec center. Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: ⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠⁠http://vicenews.com⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rick Caruso, a prominent real estate developer and philanthropist, discusses the devastating impact of LA's wildfires and the political failures that contributed to the crisis. He reveals how empty ideology and lack of preparedness turned a preventable disaster into chaos. Caruso critiques the insurance collapse and the ongoing homelessness crisis, advocating for a balance of private innovation and public responsibility. With a focus on accountability, he shares his vision for resilient cities and the importance of competent leadership in disaster recovery.

Rick Rubin, a legendary record producer known for his minimalist approach, delves into the spiritual roots of creativity. He discusses how art serves as a universal language, connecting us to deeper truths. Rubin shares insights on healing through nature and the significance of intuition, diet, and light on well-being. He highlights AI's limitations in replicating human artistry and emphasizes the importance of embracing complexity in our truths. This conversation weaves together personal experience and profound reflections on the power of artistic expression.

Join clinical psychologist and author Jordan Peterson as he dives deep into the pitfalls of modern academia and the rise of groupthink. He shares his personal journey through a life-threatening health crisis and the importance of family support. The conversation touches on geopolitics, with a frank discussion on China's influence and the West’s identity crisis. Peterson contrasts sacrifice against hedonism, offering insights on meaningful living, and examines the shifting landscape of U.S. politics, challenging conventional conservatism.

John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE under President Obama, explains why both Republican and Democratic leaders have struggled to manage the border, why immigration reform keeps hitting roadblocks, and what real, workable solutions could actually look like. This conversation goes beyond politics — it reveals the human stories and the complex systems behind immigration. Download the DraftKings app and get 350 casino spins with code SHANE  or head to https://casino.draftkings.com/ Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Perkins was once an economic hitman — a chief economist helping powerful corporations and governments entrap resource-rich countries in massive debt. Loans disguised as development aid ended up enriching the elite, while ordinary people paid the price.He shares the moment that made him question everything, the “death economy” fueled by short-term greed, and how China is now leading this global game with a new twist. This isn’t just history — it’s the story of how economic power shapes today’s world and what it means for our planet’s future. Get $10 Off @BRUNT with code SHANE at https://www.bruntworkwear.com/SHANE #BRUNTpod #ad For free shipping and 365-day returns go to https://www.quince.com/questions  Subscribe to VICE News here: ⁠http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News⁠ Check out VICE News for more: ⁠http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shane Smith sits down with three of the brightest minds pushing humanity’s final frontier, space. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, author and space reporter and documentarian Ashlee Vance, and in-orbit manufacturing pioneer Delian Asparouhov pull back the curtain on the new era of private spaceflight, from cutting-edge rocket tech to factories floating above Earth. It’s a riveting look at how commercial actors, visionary entrepreneurs, and global superpowers are reshaping everything we know—and don’t yet know—about life beyond our planet. Get $10 Off at BRUNT with code SHANE at https://www.Bruntworkwear.com/SHANE #Bruntpod #ad Download the PrizePicks app today and get $50 after your play your first $5 lineup with code SHANE at https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SHANE Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices