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Dystopia NowPATREON PREVIEW: The ExtropiansTo hear the full ep sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow In the 1990s, at the height of the Grunge Era, a small but ambitious group calling themselves the Extropians dreamed of transcending the limits of the human body and mind, through technology, radical life extension, and an unapologetically libertarian vision of the future. In this episode, we trace their journey from obscure online mailing lists to their outsized influence on today’s transhumanist movement, Silicon Valley techno-utopianism, and AI ideology. We’ll unpack their proactionary principle, ties to effective altruism and longtermism, and the N...2025-08-1105 minDystopia NowSimone and Malcolm Collins: TESCREAL ParentsTo become a Patreon subscriber go here: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we go on a dark journey of TESCREAL parenting with Simone and Malcolm Collins, the rationalist pro-natalism advocates who are raising their kids on an all AI diet. Strap in as we explore their secular religion, their runs for office, and "Future Day." By the end of this episode you may never want to have 10 kids. We also covered Jim Acosta's interview with an AI Parkland survivor, Elon's sex chatbot, and Èmile's new newsletter, Real Time Techpocalypse. Furt...2025-08-081h 09Dystopia NowPATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians Part 3: The Murder SpreeThis is the final installment of our series on the Rationalist Death Cult, the Zizians. This three part series unpacks the twisted story of the Zizians, a fringe group born out of the Bay Area rationalist and effective altruism subcultures that descended into violence and murder. Blending a belief in utilitarianism with extreme accelerationist ideology, the Zizians started with an AI Doom fixation and ended up justifying a string of brutal killings in the name of a supposed greater good. To hear the series, become a member here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow In Pa...2025-08-0100 minDystopia NowMark Zuckerberg: Bunker BoyTo become a supporter, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we explore the weird world of Mark Zuckerberg and billionaire bunkers. FURTHER READING: Meta, Zuckerberg, and AI Meta Q2 earnings beat forecasts, pushes toward AI “personal superintelligence” deadline.com/2025/07/meta-q2-earnings-beat-forecasts-ai-personal-superintelligence-1236474506/ Inside Meta’s plans for a new AI lab focused on superintelligence nytimes.com/2025/06/10/technology/meta-new-ai-lab-superintelligence.html Meta’s growing dominance in AI bbc.com/news/technology-64075067 Zuckerberg responds to Cambridge Analytica scandal theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/21/mark-zuck...2025-07-3159 minDystopia NowTech and HasbaraTo become a supporter and keep the show going, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by Keira Havens of Citizen’s Impeachment and Nicholas Rodelo, a staff researcher at Dropsite News to discuss how tech has assisted propaganda campaigns to further the genocide in Gaza. Articles and Media Mentioned: https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/google-acquisition-tech-wiz-israel-gaza-8200 https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/18/politics/cnn-poll-israel-support https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/opinion/no-israel-is-not-committing-genocide-in-gaza.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/opinion/israel-gaza-genocide-scholar-response.html https://www...2025-07-2554 minDystopia NowMind Uploading and Life ExtensionBecome a subscriber and join our listener chat: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we explored the tech billionaire fixation with cryonics, mind uploading and life extension. We’re just a couple of decel deathists! (You’ll see what we mean) In the intro this week, we talked about Superman’s critique of tech billionaires, Mountainhead, and we read a very special poem. Plus, a Meta AI data center in Georgia leads to rationing of water for local residents. Who needs a shower when you can have a bad search engine? FU...2025-07-181h 04Dystopia NowEcomodernism and Nuclear EnergyTo join us on Patreon, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we talked to professors Kyle Keeler and Nathaniel Otjen about the Breakthrough Institute, ecomodernism nuclear energy and AI. Does nuclear come with some downsides? (Yes) Futher Reading: Links between AI, tech, nuclear energy “Continued Propaganda About AI and Nuclear Power” “Nuclear Power Is Hard. A Climate-Minded Billionaire Wants to Make It Easier” “Here are the Nuclear Fission Startups Backed by Big Tech” “Meta signs 20-year deal with nuclear plant, signals AI’s growing e...2025-07-111h 47Dystopia NowThiel is the Antichrist with Will MenakerTo become a supporter and help keep our show going: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow (An earlier version of this show was posted, we fixed a sound problem with the file and reposted) Back from our short break. This week we analyzed Peter Thiel's interview with Ross Douthat and then sat down with Will Menaker from Chapo Trap House to talk about Zohran and fighting the tech billionaires. Further Reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/us/politics/democrats-project-2029.html https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/28/europe/jeff-bezos-wedding-protest-venice-latam-intl https://www...2025-07-061h 16
Disintegrator33. After Us (w/ Émile P. Torres)We're back to our regularly-scheduled Disintegrator programming! We've been hard at work on our book (buy it, wtf!) but have a number of killer episodes queued up for release.Émile P. Torres is a philosopher of the end times. You'll most likely associate their name (and that of collaborator Timnit Gebru) with developing the acronym TESCREAL, a grab-bag of ideologies that undergird the romance between venture capital and Silicon Valley. We strongly recommend their podcast Dystopia Now! (w/ Kate Willett) and their newest book Human Extinction: A History of the Science and Ethics of Annihilation.The T...2025-06-3050 min
The MachinistThe Tech Bro Zone with Quinn Slobodian Podcast: Dystopia Now (LS 42 · TOP 1.5% what is this?)Episode: The Tech Bro Zone with Quinn SlobodianPub date: 2025-05-28Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationTo join our group chat or become a subscriber, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we chatted with historian Quinn Slobodian, a professor of international history at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. His books, which have been translated into ten languages, include, most recently, Hayek’s Bast...2025-06-221h 08Dystopia NowPro-Natalism, Anti-Natalism and Efilism with Briahna Joy GrayTo join us on Patreon go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by Briahna Joy Gray to talk about natalism and Efilism. We also had a great discussion about the philosophy of human extinction. Bad Faith Podcast / Briahna Joy Gray Bad Faith Podcast: “Episode 479: Promo — Truth in Fiction w/ Cory Doctorow” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-479-promo-truth-in-fiction-w-cory-doctorow/id1531192509?i=1000710888262 Bad Faith Podcast: “Episode 445: Promo — From Merit to Eugenics: Elon Musk’s…” https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/episode-445-promo-from-merit-to-eugenics-elon-musks/id1531192509?i=1000688606822 Pronatalism / Natalism Discourse Mother...2025-06-201h 30Dystopia NowThe Crapture: Transhumanism and ChristianityPlease support our show at patreon.com/dystopianow This week, we explore the growing relationship between Christianity and transhumanism and how they may be merging in the MAGA movement into an end-times fantasy that can satisfy everyone! Surveillance, Policing, and Immigration Tech Waymo Faces Data Privacy Protests in Los Angeles https://www.wired.com/story/waymo-data-privacy-protests-los-angeles/ Waymo's Driverless Cars Revealed to Be Narcs as Cops Use Them to Probe Crimes https://gizmodo.com/waymos-driverless-cars-revealed-to-be-narcs-as-cops-use-them-to-probe-crimes-2000590426 Los Angeles ICE Raids Spark Concerns Over Immigration Conditions https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/11/la-ice-raids-immigration-conditions 2025-06-1340 minDystopia NowTranshumanism and Capitalism with Dr. Alexander ThomasTo become a supporter and join our group chat, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we chatted with Dr. Alexander Thomas, author of The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism: Techno-Human Evolution and Advanced Capitalism. Dr Alexander Thomas is a multi-award-winning film director and screenwriter. His academic research questions what it means to be human when cultural, cybernetic and biotechnological developments undermine the notion of the human as a cogent and eternal category. This episode is a great pairing to last week's episode with Quinn Slobodian. We mentioned a lo...2025-06-051h 35Dystopia NowThe Tech Bro Zone with Quinn SlobodianTo join our group chat or become a subscriber, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we chatted with historian Quinn Slobodian, a professor of international history at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. His books, which have been translated into ten languages, include, most recently, Hayek’s Bastards: Race, Gold, IQ and the Capitalism of the Far Right and Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World without Democracy. Intro Anthropic: AI deception risk Patreon: Join Community Chats Quinn Slobodian...2025-05-281h 08Dystopia NowPATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians, A Cult Within A CultThis week is Part 1 of our Patreon supporter only series on the Zizians. We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Doom Circles. To become a subscriber, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow2025-05-2502 minDystopia NowPATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians, A Cult Within A CultThis week is Part 1 of our Patreon supporter only series on the Zizians. We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Doom Circles. To hear the rest of the episode, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow We really appreciate your consideration! We're an entirely independent show with no advertisers only possible because of listeners like you. 2025-05-2448 minDystopia NowDragging Matt Yglesias with Nathan RobinsonTo become a Patreon supporter go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow With guest Nathan Robinson, Editor of Current Affairs, we dive into the career and ideology of Matt Yglesias and his confidently wrong opinions about everything. Yglesias has helped shift mainstream liberalism toward a colder, more cynical worldview that prioritizes elite consensus and data-driven “pragmatism” over solidarity and human dignity. From Sam Bankman-Fried and crypto, to housing, to Palestine, he’s the voice of technocratic centrism beloved by Silicon Valley elites. His views reflect a shallow utilitarianism that strips politics of moral urgency and empathy, and we...2025-05-231h 13Dystopia NowTESCREAL Overview with Kath Barbadoro and Alex PtakTo join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we welcomed comedians Kath Barbadoro (What a Time to Be Alive podcast) and Alex Ptak (Quorators podcast) to go through each letter in the bundle of ideologies. Who invented them, who believes in them, and the impact they are having on our world today. Transhumanism Extropianism Singularitarianism Cosmism Rationalism Effective Altruism Longtermism Extra reading/watching: Intro clip: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.free.press/v...2025-05-151h 04Dystopia NowThe Dark Enlightenment (Nick Land and Curtis Yarvin)Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we discussed Nick Land's series of essays "The Dark Enlightenment," considered a foundational document for right accelerationists (r/acc) and neoreactionary ideologies (NrX). Plus the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit, Mark Zuckerberg's AI friends, Bryan Johnson's penis de-aging, and AI spirituality. Additional Resources: Segment 1: Bryan Johnson Vanity Fair: The bizarre journey of Bryan Johnson, his anti-aging endeavors, and his controversial experiment in penile rejuvenation. Don't Die, Tech Mogul: Bryan Johnson's Quest Bryan Johnson’s Blog on Penis De-Aging...2025-05-081h 01Dystopia NowUNLOCKED: Nuke Mars (Bezos vs. Musk) If you'd like to become a subscriber to hear more bonus episodes you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow his Patreon bonus episode with Kenice Mobley about Bezos vs. Musk on space was so fun we decided to unlock it. Bezos wants us to live in cylinders, Musk wants us to nuke Mars, but both of them want a future where we're all digital beings maximizing value. Some of the wildest information we've talked about so far. Thanks for being one of our patreon subscribers! F...2025-05-0449 min
Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron MatéDystopia Now: Why Tech Bros Want a Master RaceThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.usefulidiotspodcast.comSubscribe for the full episode at the bottom of the page. Watch a free preview here:The new podcast Dystopia Now, hosted by comedian Kate Willett and philosopher Émile Torres, has been unveiling a disturbing new story from the tech world that comes straight out of The Matrix. It involves transhumanism, a tech-bro update to eugenics, in which billionaires can digitize their minds with AI, transcending humanity and achieving immortality.If this sounds disturbing, just wait until y...2025-05-0259 min
Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron MatéDystopia Now: Why Tech Bros Want a Master RaceGo to groundnews.com/useful for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off unlimited access to world-wide coverage through our link.Visit ProlonLife.com/USEFUL to claim your 15% discount and your $40 bonus gift.Go to our sponsor https://venice.ai/useful and use code useful to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using our code will get you 20% off a pro plan.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at http://betterhelp.com/USEFUL and get on your way to being your best self.Check out Delet...2025-05-0259 min
Reply GuysReply Guys The Nerd ReichWhy is Elon trying so hard to dismantle the administrative state? This may be an answer you haven't heard yet.
This week, Emile and Kate host journalist Gil Duran (New Republic, The Nerd Reich) for a discussion about Network States, aka libertarian post democracy colonies that have become a popular idea among tech billionaires.
From seasteading to the California Forever tech utopia, from Mars to maybe... the entire US, these guys have their sites set on a feudal structure that makes an Ayn Rand novel look quaint.
If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe on the new feed:
Listen to...2025-05-0140 minReply GuysReply Guys Dystopia Now Ep 1Listen to Dystopia Now with Kate Willett & Émile P. Torres:
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RSS Feed: https://feeds.libsyn.com/566555/rss2025-05-0154 minDystopia NowCOPAGANDA with Alec KarakatsanisPlease join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow For the first half of the episode, we talked about the Semafor reveal of Silicon Valley groupchats and Marc Andreessen’s posting addiction + Èmile’s article on End Times Eschatology. We covered Yudkowsky’s “Fun Theory,” cryogenically freezing your head, and the connection between transhumanists and Christianity. Then, we talked to author and former public defender Alec Karakatsanis about his new book Copanganda and the way we are all propagandized about policing and crime. Alec is the founder of the Civil Rights Corps, an organizatio...2025-05-011h 18Dystopia NowQ & A Part 1 -- Harry Potter and the Methods of RationalityThis week we answered some questions from our Patreon supporters. It's like a mini episode on a bunch of different topics, including the worst book I've ever heard of. We covered Èmile's journey out of longtermism, Yudkowsky's Harry Potter fan fic, end-times narratives, and how we will one day beat the tech bros by withholding our labor. If you'd like to hear part 2 become a subscriber here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow Articles Mentioned in This Episode and Further Reading AI Ethics Louisiana is using a myst...2025-04-2440 minDystopia NowSam Altman Part 2: Doomsday Prepping and Simulation HypothesisPlease consider becoming a subscriber on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/dystopianow/membership This episode we began with a discussion of Peter Singer and eugenics ideas in the Effective Altruism community. And more Sam Altman-- his firing at Open AI, his doomsday prepping and his version of utopia. Sam Altman & OpenAI Moore’s Law for Everything – Sam Altman’s Blog OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Is a Survivalist Prepper – Futurism Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny – The New Yorker The Most Powerful Man in AI – New York Magazine OpenAI Controversy...2025-04-171h 15Dystopia NowSam Altman Part 1: Building God, Scanning EyeballsBecome a member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we begin to explore the mystery that is Sam Altman of Open AI. We cover the AI Doomer coup, Sam's Worldcoin metal orb that scans your retinas, his friendship with Peter Thiel, and his views on restructuring our government with AItopia. We also talked about the weirdo tech billionaire plot to do a Mars colonization trial run on Greenland. An hour in, we had barely scratched the surface of Sam, so we'll be back with a Part 2. Further Reading on Sam Altman: ...2025-04-1052 minDystopia NowCurtis YarvinTo become a Patreon subscriber and hear our bonus eps: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we talked about Curtis Yarvin and his vision of CEO/Monarchies, Network States for Tech Bros-- in the US. And Ezra Klein's more minor tech backed reforms. How much democracy should we have? 2025-04-041h 03Dystopia NowThe Effective Altruists and the "Abundance" MovementThis week we talked about the "Abundance Agenda" and it's roots in the Effective Altruism movement. A network of think tanks, Silicon Valley billionaires, and centrist pundits are getting all riled up about zoning ordinances, and possibly trying to take over the Democratic Party? Oh boy. We explore the dark side of Effective Altruism, men's rights activists, IQ Realists, "race science," eugenicists and more lurking in a movement where the biggest scoundrels in society are mixing with Vox writers- EA! This episode was a wild ride, let us know what you think. We'll be...2025-03-271h 08Dystopia NowPeter Thiel Part 1In this episode, we explore Peter Thiel's villain origin story. From his budding commitment to being an edgelord at Stanford to developing the theory that girls ruined everything by voting. Seasteading, blood transfusions, the weird incel parties he throws with Curtis Yarvin. We've got it all. Next week we'll cover the NeoReactionary movement in detail. Futher reading: https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/education-libertarian/ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/owned-book-peter-thiel-trump-tech-silicon-valley-1235276868/ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-peter-thiel-apartheid-south-africa https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/inside-the-new-right-where-peter-thiel-is-placing-his-biggest-bets?srsltid=AfmBOop8TkGouVZ72xamuuLVjtZjqQ8rz2G_SBCykFPkOpQGDtS77-j42025-03-2059 minDystopia NowPessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the WillThis week we are joined by Paris Marx, host of the podcast Tech Won't Save Us and a tech critic, journalist, author, and international speaker. We talked about Silicon Valley's changing influence in politics, climate policy, and about reasons for optimism as we think about how to confront Musk and Co. in the political arena. This is somewhat of a sister episode to our conversation last week with Jacob Silverman about the tech right that explores the political ideologies of the tech billionaires shaping our country, including within the Democratic Party. To support...2025-03-131h 09Dystopia NowPatreon Preview: Nuke Mars (Bezos vs. Musk)To hear the rest of this episode, become one of our Patreon supporters at https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow For this bonus episode we were joined by comedian Kenice Mobley to talk about the different space futures Bezos and Musk have in mind. Bezos wants us to live in cylinders, Musk wants us to nuke Mars, but both of them want a future where we're all digital beings maximizing value. Some of the wildest information we've talked about so far.2025-03-1105 minDystopia NowThe Tech Right with Jacob SilvermanThis week our guest is Jacob Silverman, and independent journalist who has written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Slate, The New Yorker & The New Republic. He's the co-author of "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud." We talked about the growing right wing movement in the tech industry. From the PayPal mafia to President Sh*tcoin today, we dive deep into how a few billionaires are influencing policy from DOGE to how cities treat our unhoused neighbors. Sorry for slight reduction in audio quality this...2025-03-0537 minDystopia NowSurveillance Capitalism with Albert Fox CahnThis week we welcomed special guest Albert Fox Cahn who is the Executive Director of S.T.O.P. (the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project). We talked about how AI is impacting policing and pricing. We also returned to the subject of Elon's ketamine addiction. Special thanks to Deon Wolf who has been helping with our short videos on instagram and youtube. 2025-02-2647 minDystopia NowElon Part 2: Doomers vs. AccelerationistsThis week, Kate and Emile dive deeper into Elon Musk's ideology and explore the debate between two Silicon Valley camps, the AI Doomers and the AI Accelerationists. We explore the effective accelerationism or e/acc movement, a guy named Beff Jezos? Marc Andreessen's Techno Optimist Manifesto, and what Google founder Larry Page really believes. We also talked about what motivated Emile to do Ph.D research on human extinction. 2025-02-1937 minDystopia NowThe Nerd Reich with Gil DuranWhy is Elon trying so hard to dismantle the administrative state? This may be an answer you haven't heard yet. This week, Emile and Kate host journalist Gil Duran (New Republic, The Nerd Reich) for a discussion about Network States, aka libertarian post democracy colonies that have become a popular idea among tech billionaires. From seasteading to the California Forever tech utopia, from Mars to maybe... the entire US, these guys have their sites set on a feudal structure that makes an Ayn Rand novel look quaint. If you enjoy the episode, please sub...2025-02-1238 minDystopia NowElon Musk Part 1In our first episode we explore the question on everyone's mind: what the hell is Elon Musk doing? Well, the answer may be, trying (or pretending to try), winning a robot battle 10 billion years in the future when humanity is replaced with digital beings. Tune in to learn about the ideologies of longtermism and transhumanism and how they may be influencing Elon's actions in the Trump administration.2025-02-0453 min
Reply GuysLeaving Longtermism/Hot Labor Summer with Émile TorresKate and Mohanad have been busy touring this summer, and are back to talk about the hottest labor strikes of Summer '23. Then, Kate talks with philosophy professor Émile Torres, a philosopher and historian whose work focuses on existential threats to civilization and humanity, about Longtermism, what it is and Émile being a former member of the "fringe philosophical theory" aka cult.
Show notes:
- https://www.newsweek.com/if-your-packages-get-delayed-dont-blame-exploited-workers-opinion-1813106
- https://www.xriskology.com/
- Follow Émile on Twitter: https://twitter.com/xriskology
Kate and Mohanad can be found on Twitter at @KateWillett and @MohanadElshieky
Subscribe to the Patreon her...2023-07-201h 01