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Dreaming Against the Machine

Dreaming Against the Machine

By: Multitude
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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.

© Adam Becker
Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 6: Mythology, with Moiya McTier
    May 19 2026

    This week, Adam talks with Moiya McTier about the power of myth in shaping our sense of the past and the future. They also talk about the nature of genius and inspiration, and why Dreaming Against the Machine itself is (partially) Moiya's fault.

    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 Pale Blue Pod

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • Episode 5: Metaphors for AI, with Shannon Vallor
    May 12 2026

    This week, Adam talks with Shannon Vallor, a philosopher of AI, about the metaphors we use to talk about AI and ourselves. They also dunk on libertarians and San Francisco billboards, and consider what kind of hope we can have for the future of technology.

    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 Wow if True

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 4: Reactionary Futurism, with Dave Karpf
    May 5 2026

    This week, Adam talks with political scientist and internet curmudgeon Dave Karpf about some really bad ideas about the future in two really bad books, why those books are bad, why Ezra Klein is too credulous about one of them, and whether Adam should organize an intervention for Dave to stop him from reading so many bad books in the first place.

    Messages:

    • Support the show at patreon.com/DreamingAgainstTheMachine

    • Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram

    • Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts!

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
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