Dreaming Against the Machine

What might a good future look like? Explore ideas about how to envision better, realistic, equitable futures with astrophysicist and journalist Dr. Adam Becker. Each week, Adam and a new guest will try to find hope in the darkness of the current political moment through earnest (and entertaining!) conversations about what such a future might look like. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the public conversation about what our world can and should be.

Dreaming Against the Machine is a society podcast hosted by Multitude, with 21 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Multitude hosts Dreaming Against the Machine, a society show with 21 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #19

  Episode 19: Space Colonization, with Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold

  Aug 18, 20261 hour

  It's a triple astrophysicist episode! This week, Adam talks with Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold about why space colonization is a terrible idea, and what would be a better idea for the future. They also talk about science fiction (of course) and the danger of miscalibrated bummer meters. Messages:   • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine   • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram   • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!   • Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like Tiny Matters About the show: Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #18

  Episode 18: Science Policy, with Alondra Nelson

  Aug 11, 202654 min

  This week, Adam talks with Alondra Nelson, sociologist and former head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under Joe Biden. They talk about the destruction of scientific research in the US under Trump 2.0, what we can be hopeful about for the future, and Star Trek. Messages:   • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine   • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram   • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!   • Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like This Guy Sucked About the show: Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #17

  Episode 17: Weapons of Math Destruction, with Cathy O’Neil

  Aug 4, 202654 min

  This week, Adam’s guest is mathematician, algorithmic auditor, and author Cathy O’Neil. They talk about the uses and misuses of math and computer science, and what led both of them away from academic STEM into the wilds of tech ethics. More about Cathy and her books here . Cathy’s podcast is AI Skeptics , her consulting firm is ORCAA , and her nonprofit is OCEAN . The Multitude listener survey is here , please fill it out before August 17th! Messages:   • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine   • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram   • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!   • Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like American Medieval About the show: Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #16

  Episode 16: What is Elon Musk? With Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff

  Jul 28, 202657 min

  This week's guests are historian Quinn Slobodian and writer Ben Tarnoff, authors of the new book Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed . Adam talks with them about what Musk is, how he gained so much power, and what we can do to stop him. Messages:   • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine   • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram   • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!   • Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like Simple and Clean About the show: Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #15

  Episode 15: Hopeful Science Fiction, with Becky Chambers

  Jul 21, 202651 min

  This week, Adam fanboys at Becky Chambers , author of the Wayfarers series and one of his favorite science fiction writers. They talk about imagining cozy futures, hopepunk, why space ain't the place, and big trees. Pre-order As You Wake, Break the Shell here . Messages:   • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine   • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram   • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!   • Check out other great podcasts from Multitude like American Medieval About the show: Dreaming Against the Machine is a podcast about envisioning a realistic and hopeful future. Each week, the show’s host, journalist and astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker, will have an earnest (and entertaining!) conversation with a guest about possible futures, seen through the lenses of history, science, and culture. In a world where tech oligarchs and their power fantasies are driving visions of the future, Dreaming Against the Machine aims to take back the terms of the public conversation about what our world can and should be. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Dreaming Against the Machine. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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