The Last Archive

Only seven people in the world knew the secret behind the soft, delicious goodness of Thomas' English Muffins. When one of them tried to leave the company...all hell broke loose. Revisionist History senior producer Ben looks at how the breakfast treat came to be at the center of one of the most important legal cases you’ve likely never heard of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An exploration of how this one thing – facial recognition – colors so many of our perceptions about ourselves and each other. For better or worse. Revisionist History producer Lucie Sullivan, a board-certified super recognizer, explores what’s really going on in our brains when we see someone we know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may be familiar with the phrase “lab rat.” Much of what we know about human beings and the way they behave are based upon the things we know about rats and the way they behave. But what if we picked the wrong animal to study? Revisionist History senior producer Ben wonders if we should have been putting another creature under the microscope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Beyer, former EMT and now medical director for Berrien County Health Department, shares his insights on the unexpected downsides of loud ambulance sirens. He discusses how these sounds can impact health and learning, challenging traditional emergency protocols. Beyer highlights a significant shift in Berrien County's response strategies, sparking both public backlash and new perceptions of urgency. The conversation weaves in fascinating historical context and examines how we’ve adapted our understanding of emergencies, inviting listeners to rethink what we really need from emergency services.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, delves into the paradox of his relationship with AI, declaring it humanity’s greatest existential threat while simultaneously pioneering its development. Jill Lepore explores a century of AI fears, linking Musk's visions to science fiction cautionary tales. They discuss the duality of innovation and fear in technology, examining the implications of Musk’s pursuits on society. Through analyzing cultural influences, they highlight the urgent need for caution in the face of advanced AI developments and the concentration of technological power.

Rebecca Lamov, a Harvard historian specializing in brainwashing and mind control, joins Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioral scientist, to delve into the intriguing idea of the 'woke mind virus.' They explore its origins linked to Cold War anxieties and Musk's controversial bid for Twitter. The conversation touches on the psychological effects of historical fears of mind control, the Sharpeville massacre's aftermath, and how social media impacts public discourse. Their insights reveal how the past informs today's struggles with freedom of speech and societal manipulation.

Explore the world of gender reveal parties and their extreme consequences. Delve into Elon Musk's and Grimes' unique approach to parenting X, challenging traditional gender norms. Analyze how science fiction often neglects women’s narratives while celebrating Ursula Le Guin’s inclusive storytelling. Discover the ethical dilemmas of AI amidst Silicon Valley's biases. Finally, appreciate a fresh perspective on AI through Indigenous frameworks, emphasizing kinship and respect for technology's societal impact.

In 2021, Elon Musk started calling himself The Dogefather to signal his support for Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency based on a joke meme about a dog. That dog is now wagging the tail of the world’s economy. In this episode, Jill Lepore looks at Silicon Valley's cryptocurrency craze through the lens of some very old science fiction. Like everything else about Muskism that purports to be futuristic, this idea is a relic, whose history serves as a warning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2008 Tesla Motors launched its first car, the completely electric Roadster. Tesla was a great story — something genuinely new, an engineering marvel. Musk became a media darling, on the cover of countless magazines under headlines like ‘Elon Musk, AKA Tony Stark, Wants to Save the World’. Within the logic of Muskism, talking about saving the world was a business strategy, a way to sell cars without ads. Why did so many people buy what Musk was selling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk is a rocket man. He wants humans to become ‘a multi-planetary species’ and talks about establishing human settlements on Mars. As President Trump talks up the Mars program while dismantling aid initiatives around the globe, Jill Lepore traces how Silicon Valley's existential catastrophism led to Musk’s extraterrestrial vision of capitalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.