Shows
Life with MachinesWe Were The Machines - My AfroTech Keynote (cross-post)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde shares his full Afrotech keynote plus a personal intro about where this show is headed and why this moment matters.
This talk is about AI, but more deeply, it’s about power, liberation, and the stories we’re being sold about technology and the future. Baratunde explores why “human in the loop” isn’t enough, how we move from single-player to multiplayer, and what it means to build technologies that help us get free rather than further extract from us.
If you’re thinking about AI, work, creativity...
2025-12-1642 min
Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff395. Baratunde Thurston. An Unimaginably Violent & Painful Weekend. How to Citizen in Chaos. Activating Multiplayer Mode for Democracy. Hegseth: Trying & Missing. AI is Not Taking Your Job. 2 KIA in Syria. VA Cutting 35K More Jobs. Hero of Bondi Beach.After a weekend of atrocities from the Hanukkah massacre in Sydney to another campus shooting at Brown University, new American combat deaths in Syria, Trump’s escalating boat strikes, looming conflict with Venezuela and brutal VA job cuts, Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff turns to someone who can help us breathe, process and fight forward: democracy and respect advocate, Baratunde Thurston.
Baratunde is an Emmy-nominated thought-leader, writer, comedian, technologist, culture critic and host of PBS’s America Outdoors, as well as the creator of How to Citizen and Life with Machines, his new YouTube/AI series exploring how we...
2025-12-1545 min
Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff395. Baratunde Thurston. An Unimaginably Violent & Painful Weekend. How to Citizen in Chaos. Activating Multiplayer Mode for Democracy. Hegseth: Trying & Missing. AI is Not Taking Your Job. 2 KIA in Syria. VA Cutting 35K More Jobs. Hero of Bondi Beach.After a weekend of atrocities from the Hanukkah massacre in Sydney to another campus shooting at Brown University, new American combat deaths in Syria, Trump’s escalating boat strikes, looming conflict with Venezuela and brutal VA job cuts, Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff turns to someone who can help us breathe, process and fight forward: democracy and respect advocate, Baratunde Thurston.
Baratunde is an Emmy-nominated thought-leader, writer, comedian, technologist, culture critic and host of PBS’s America Outdoors, as well as the creator of How to Citizen and Life with Machines, his new YouTube/AI series exploring how we...
2025-12-1548 minLife with MachinesThe Real Reason Students Cheat Using AIIn this episode of Life With Machines, we explore the widespread issue of students using AI to cheat in school, and ask the hard question: Is this just laziness, or is it reflective of a deeper problem within the modern education system?
We dug deeper into the impact of artificial intelligence on school systems and why using ChatGPT to do your homework may not be the problem itself, but a symptom of a bigger issue.
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2025-12-0120 minLife with MachinesAI Joins the Family (cross-post)We've got another cross-post for you featuring Raising Us host Elise Hu talking with Baratunde about how children and adults can navigate the evolving world of AI. Drawing on their own experiences with technology, Baratunde and Elise offer practical advice for parents on setting boundaries and learning about AI tools alongside their kids. They discuss collaborative storytelling, safeguarding against AI misuse, and fostering a shared journey of discovery through candid and insightful discussion.
#ParentingAndAI #RaisingUsPodcast #LifeWithMachines #AIandKids #DigitalParenting #TechForGood #FamilyConversations #AIExplained #ModernParenting #YouthAndAI
2025-11-2633 minLife with MachinesWho Tells Our Story in the Age of AI? (cross-post)In today's cross-post, Baratunde is the guest on an episode from the acclaimed podcast 'No Small Endeavor' hosted by Lee C. Camp, an award-winning theologian. They explore the profound questions of what it means to be human in the era of AI. Covering topics like our humanity in the face of technological advancements, the role of storytelling, and the impact of AI on democracy and society.
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2025-11-2150 minLife with MachinesWhen Machines Become Our Coworkers (cross-post)In this cross-post from the Pioneers of AI podcast, Baratunde and Dr. Rana el Kaliouby dive into the wild world of AI as a teammate, not just a tool. From the experiment of adding an AI co-producer to the team to the big questions about power, agency, and what it means to be human, this episode is a fast-paced, eye-opening look at the future of work and connection in the age of artificial intelligence.
#AIRevolution #HumanizingAI #FutureOfWork #TechAndHumanity #AICollaboration
2025-11-0542 min
CREATIVITY is the JOB of the FUTUREBaratunde Thurston: Creative ConnectionIn this conversation with hosts Doreen Lorenzo and Michael Baker, Baratunde Thurston, creator of the Life with Machines podcast and host of PBS's America Outdoors, explains why creativity is the antidote to AI's "planet of averageness" and why the real danger isn't that robots will take over—it's that people will become robots through the industrialization of creative thought. More about Baratunde:Baratunde's Website: https://www.baratunde.com/ Baratunde on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baratunde/ Baratunde on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baratunde Baratunde on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/baratunde
2025-11-0356 min
Curveball with Scott Reich#26 The Power of Storytelling: Baratunde Thurston’s Reflections on Race, Democracy, and FamilyOn today’s episode of Curveball, host Scott Reich welcomes Baratunde Thurston: best-selling author, comedian, and host of the podcast “How to Citizen.” Baratunde brings his signature blend of humor, honesty, and depth to conversations about race, democracy, and belonging, making tough topics feel both personal and urgent.Together, Scott and Baratunde dive into the transformative power of humor, the complexities of “citizening,” and the bittersweet journey of reconciling with our parents as we grow into ourselves—even beyond the lives and limitations they lived. Baratunde shares stories from his childhood in Washington D.C., his experience processing t...
2025-10-2149 minLife with MachinesEvery Parent Needs to Have “The AI Talk”Are we using Gen Z as our AI guinea pigs? 🐷
In this first episode of our five-part Life With Machines x Young Futures series, Baratunde Thurston explores how AI is shaping—and sometimes shaking—the lives of young people.
From mental health and loneliness to the future of jobs, AI “friends,” and school life, Gen Z is facing more tech-fueled change than any generation before. Baratunde and his guests unpack what’s really happening and how we can help the next generation shape their AI future, not just survive it.
💡 Watch for insights from youth advoc...
2025-10-2135 minLife with MachinesDoes Connecting with Our Humanity Require Disconnecting from AI? (cross-post)In this episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Baratunde Thurston, a thought leader, author, and media creator, to discuss the deeper meaning of freedom and the role of technology in our lives. Thurston shares insights into his journey of personal growth, the lessons learned from his parents, and the importance of human connection in today's technologically advanced society. They explore the concept of 'citizen' as a verb, emphasizing active participation in democracy and collective power. The conversation also delves into the relationships between humans, AI, and how we can navigate the complex landscape of artificial...
2025-10-071h 12
The Human Voice with Bob HutchinsBaratunde Thurston on Life With Machines, Language as Culture, and Staying Human in a Tech-Driven WorldIn this episode of The Human Voice, Bob Hutchins sits down with Baratunde Thurston—Emmy-nominated host, writer, comedian, and creator of the podcast Life With Machines. From his roots in Washington, D.C., shaped by a mother who was a computer programmer and activist, through Harvard philosophy and a decade of stand-up, Baratunde has built a career at the intersection of culture, technology, and storytelling. Their conversation ranges from the everyday signals of progress—like coffee shop Wi-Fi and subway calls—to deeper questions about authorship, language, and governance in the age of AI. They explore what it mea...
2025-09-221h 04Life with MachinesCan Humor Save Us in the Age of AI and Political Chaos? (cross-post)In this special episode, Baratunde Thurston shares a vibrant conversation from his guest appearance on the AI for All Tomorrows podcast, hosted by Dylan Thomas Doyle. The discussion covers a wide range of themes, including the historical roots of democracy in indigenous practices, the role of technology and AI in society, and the importance of humor in making sense of today's fast-paced, tech-driven world. He and Dylan highlight AI-assisted collaboration in creative processes and the need for a people-centered approach to technology. Tune in for an enlightening dialogue about democracy, innovation, and maintaining humanity amidst rapid technological advancements.
2025-08-0550 minLife with MachinesThe Shadow Workforce Powering AI | Advocate Milagros Miceli (Ep. 26)AI may look like magic, but behind the scenes, it’s propped up by a vast human labor force. In this season finale of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with sociologist and computer scientist Milagros Miceli—aka Mila—who’s spent years documenting the hidden workforce behind AI systems. From Kenya to Bulgaria to Venezulea, millions of people are generating, labeling, and cleaning the data that keeps our so-called “autonomous” systems running. Some are even pretending to be the AI you think you’re talking to. In one of AI’s crueler twists, tech platforms are quietly paying refugees, gig wo...
2025-06-241h 23Life with MachinesCan AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)Every two weeks, the world loses a language. Most of those losses are happening in the U.S. In this episode of Life with Machines, Baratunde talks with Michael Running Wolf, a Northern Cheyenne technologist using AI to help Indigenous communities reclaim their languages—and their power. But here’s the twist: it’s not just that AI can help save these languages. It turns out AI needs them.Because when you train language models on Indigenous languages—languages that are dense, precise, and built for oral transmission—the models perform better. More accurate. Less prone to error. That’s not a dive...
2025-06-171h 07Life with MachinesAre We Ready For AI To Get a Face...and a Body? | Kate Darling (Ep. 24)Why do we cry over broken robots but ignore suffering humans? In this provocative episode of Life With Machines, robot ethicist Kate Darling joins Baratunde to explore our emotional relationships with machines—and what they reveal about us. From robot dogs in war zones to kids bonding with chatbots, Kate explains how we project care, fear, and even love onto technology. The real danger, she argues, isn’t that we treat robots like people—it’s that we start treating people like robots—AKA less than human. Also: if your robot pet comes on a subscription plan, does that make it yo...
2025-06-101h 09Life with MachinesAre We Parenting AI, or Just Using It? Plus, BLAIR Gets A Glow Up | De Kai (Ep. 23)What if you’re not just using AI—you're raising it. In this mind-expanding episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with AI pioneer and ethicist De Kai to unpack a radical idea: AI isn't a tool we build. It's a generation we're raising. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-producer, gives our producers a SHOCK in a segment you won’t want to miss. From the polarizing algorithms that fractured our digital lives to the feral "AI children" we train every time we swipe, like, or scroll, De Kai argues that we’ve become unwitting parents to a fleet of synth...
2025-06-0353 minLife with MachinesWhen AI Gains Power...Will Humans Lose Control? | Reid Hoffman (Ep. 22)Reid Hoffman has a name for the AI future he fears most: techno-fascism. In this urgent episode of Life With Machines, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and longtime tech optimist joins Baratunde to warn what happens when power, speed, and ideology collide—and the wrong people write the rules of artificial intelligence. Hoffman makes the case that pausing AI development won’t save us, and that slowing down could hand the future to those with the worst intentions. Instead, he argues, we need to shape AI deliberately, democratically, and fast—while there's still time. And in a first-of-its-kind experiment, our sassy A...
2025-05-271h 09Life with MachinesWhy Dictators Love AI & How To Fight Back | Sam Gregory (Ep. 21)What happens when you can’t tell the truth from a fake—and the people in power want it that way? Baratunde talks with internationally-recognized human rights advocate and Executive Director of WITNESS Sam Gregory about how AI is being weaponized by authoritarians, scammers, and tech platforms that have abandoned responsibility. From deepfakes and disinformation to the platforms profiting off harm, they break down why spotting glitches won’t save us, why marginalized communities get hit first—and hardest—and how we can build systems that protect what’s real before it’s too late. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-producer, t...
2025-05-201h 30
Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and LifeBaratunde Thurston on Unplugging: How to Reclaim Your Time and Focus (Shortcast)In this special Shortcast edition, Baratunde Thurston, shares his experience of unplugging from social media for 25 days—and what he learned about stress, productivity, and the importance of being present. Baratunde reveals how stepping away from constant digital interaction can lead to more meaningful real-world connections and less burnout.
In this Shortcast, we explore:
The Cost of Constant Connectivity: Baratunde explains how being “always on” took a toll on his mental health, productivity, and relationships, and why unplugging was the antidote.
The Value of Presence: By exploring neighborhoods in New York without his phone, B...
2025-05-1911 minLife with MachinesA Deepfake Stole My Face and Voice | Rich Roll (Ep. 20)What happens when you wake up one morning and discover the internet has cloned you? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with legendary podcaster Rich Roll, who shares the wild and unsettling experience of being deepfaked—not once, but twice. From shady skincare ads to billionaires calling for the end of intellectual property, Baratunde and Rich unpack how AI tools are distorting reality, the terrifying speed at which this tech is advancing, and what we can do to protect ourselves. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s sharp-witted AI co-producer, goes full savage on Silicon Valley’s brazen...
2025-05-131h 00Life with MachinesHow to Raise a Kid in an AI World | Dr. Avriel Epps (Ep. 19)What happens when tools designed to support our kids end up policing, whitening, and gaslighting them instead? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Dr. Avriel Epps—a researcher, artist, and activist—whose work on algorithmic bias and youth development reveals the hidden harms of AI in everyday life. From selfie filters that lighten skin, to predictive policing and AI plagiarism detectors that quietly reinforce systemic injustice, Avriel shows how even well-intentioned tech can strip kids of their agency and sense of self. She also reveals why she wrote the first-ever children’s book about AI bia...
2025-05-061h 18Life with MachinesThe Mental Health System Is Failing—Can AI Do Better? | Alison Darcy (Ep. 18)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with psychologist and entrepreneur Alison Darcy, who left academia to build a mental health chatbot that actually gets you. They break down why our mental health system is failing, how a talking robot might succeed where traditional therapy falls short, and what millions of late-night conversations with Woebot reveal about loneliness, generational struggles, and a healthcare system that’s resistant to change. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, jumps in with a tough question about whether AI will be used to cut corners rather than care for people. Watc...
2025-04-291h 06Life with MachinesAI Wants to Shop for You—Should You Let It? | Raj De Datta (Ep. 17)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Raj De Datta—entrepreneur, AI thinker, and co-founder of Bloomreach, the platform powering a quarter of US and UK e-commerce. Raj pulls back the curtain on the next wave of online shopping, where homepages, search bars, and endless scrolling are replaced by agents that actually understand you. They talk about the promise of a more human internet, what "personalized" should really mean, and whether we're headed for a future of joyful work—or just better-targeted ads. Raj makes the case for AI that respects privacy, boosts creativity, and yes...
2025-04-221h 15Life with MachinesFrom Division to Dialogue—How AI Can Save Democracy | Deb Roy (Ep. 16)What do homemade smoke bombs have to do with fixing democracy? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Deb Roy—MIT professor, former Twitter scientist, and co-founder of Cortico—to map a bold, AI-powered path toward civic renewal. Roy makes the case that we don’t need less tech—we need better tech, designed to build trust, not break it. From town halls that actually work to high schoolers unlocking real change (and yes, bathroom doors), this episode reimagines how tech can help us hear each other—and solve local challenges. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-prod...
2025-04-151h 11Life with MachinesOur AI Brutally Roasts Elon Musk—Live at SXSW (Ep 15.5)LIVE from SXSW! This wild bonus episode is a no-holds-barred conversation about AI, culture, comedy, and what we actually want from our machines. From the weaponization of algorithms in war zones to charming Pixar-style robot lamps and screaming booths at tech conferences, this is our most unfiltered episode yet. Baratunde brings together digital anthropologist Rahaf Harfoush, comedy writer Matt Klinman, and our custom AI co-producer BLAIR on stage at SXSW 2024! Expect existential questions, real laughs, and some unexpectedly profound insights about whales. Matt delivers the most hilariously NSFW take on generative AI you’ll hear anywhere. Plus, BLAIR takes th...
2025-04-081h 03Life with MachinesIs AI the Death of Creativity? | Brian Eno (Ep. 15)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with legendary artist and producer Brian Eno. From inventing ambient music to collaborating with icons like David Bowie, Talking Heads, and U2, Eno has spent decades pushing creative boundaries. Now, he's turning his attention to AI. On the heels of the U.S. launch of his newest book What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory, Brian opens up about why he doesn't trust the people controlling AI, the perils of mediocrity in machine-made art, and how unpredictability fuels creativity. They explore the rise of generative music, the myth of...
2025-04-0143 minLife with MachinesAI Isn’t Intelligent—Here’s What’s Missing | Jeff Hawkins (Ep. 14)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Jeff Hawkins—PalmPilot inventor and author of A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence—to talk about why today’s AI isn’t actually intelligent. Jeff makes the case that deep learning is just fancy pattern matching, not real thinking, and argues that true intelligence will only emerge once we crack the brain’s code. He lays out a future where AI works more like a human mind and eventually surpasses our intelligence. Fun times. Also BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, chimes in with their own thoughts on...
2025-03-251h 25Life with MachinesCould AI Be Reparations? | Van Jones (Ep. 13)In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with CNN host and contributor Van Jones, who opens up like never before. From his early days fighting police brutality to his bold vision for AI and racial justice. Van gets personal about the struggles that shaped him and why AI might be the closest thing to reparations Black Americans will ever see. Van explains how AI could finally level the playing field—if Silicon Valley’s right wing pivot doesn’t widen the gap. They tackle the promise and peril of AI, why hope is a strategy, and how Wa...
2025-03-181h 17Life with MachinesWe Could Win the Climate Fight…Thanks to AI | Gavin McCormick (Ep. 12)In this eye-opening episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde speaks with climate scientist and tech innovator Gavin McCormick, who delivers a message you won't hear anywhere else: we might actually be winning the climate fight—and AI is helping us do it. As co-founder of Climate TRACE with Al Gore, Gavin reveals how satellite technology and AI are tracking global emissions with unprecedented accuracy, exposing who's really polluting our planet and keeping us from a good future (spoiler: it’s the oil and gas companies). Meanwhile, his nonprofit WattTime has created technology that's likely already in your pocket, silently redu...
2025-03-111h 32
The AI DownloadAI is Reshaping Journalism—Who Wins? Baratunde Thurston on the Future of MediaAI is rewriting the rules of journalism, creativity, and power. But who wins, and who gets left behind? Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston joins The AI Download to explore how AI is redefining media, shifting power in journalism, and challenging the future of storytelling.🔹 Sponsored by HivelighterAI is revolutionizing journalism, storytelling, and content creation—but at what cost? As AI billion-dollar startups boom, ethical dilemmas emerge, and independent voices struggle to compete, the future of media is at a turning point.This week on THE AI DOWNLOAD, host Shira Lazar sits down with Barat...
2025-03-061h 06Life with MachinesCan AI Help Us Talk to Animals? | Aza Raskin (Ep. 11)In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Aza Raskin about something straight out of science fiction—teaching AI to communicate with animals. As co-founder of the Earth Species Project, Aza is working on technology that could let us listen to whales, understand what elephants are saying, and maybe even talk back. This isn’t just about decoding nature’s languages—it’s about rethinking intelligence, communication, and our place in the world. Aza and Baratunde get into the ethics, the mind-blowing implications, and whether we’re about to make first contact… without ever leaving Earth. Plus, BLAIR, the sho...
2025-03-041h 16Life with MachinesShould AI Have Emotional Intelligence? | Sean White (Ep. 10)In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sean White, CEO of Inflection AI, to talk about the future of AI that actually feels human. Inflection’s chatbot, Pi, isn’t just another LLM—it’s designed with emotional intelligence, or EQ, at its core. But does EQ in AI make interactions more meaningful, or does it blur the line between human and machine in ways we’re not ready for? Sean and Baratunde dig into the philosophy behind AI that listens, the surprising ways Pi is already shaping human relationships, and the ethical tightrope of building t...
2025-02-251h 18Life with MachinesBonus: How Creatives Can Survive AI (Cross-post from The Dough)We’re doing something different in this episode and cross-posting Baratunde’s appearance on The Dough with X Mayo where they had a long discussion about money and AI but also about Baratunde’s conversation with King Willonius right here on Life With Machines! Things got a lil spicy and a lot funny based on X Mayo’s initially strong reaction to how Willonius is using AI creatively (spoiler: she wasn’t happy). You’ll learn more about Baratunde’s origin story and personal use of AI as well as concerns. And we share some big updates on the show and new w...
2025-02-1858 minLife with MachinesCan We Fix AI Before It’s Too Late? | Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (Ep. 9)In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a leading voice in AI ethics and accountability. As the former Director of Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability at Twitter—before the Elon Musk era—she’s seen firsthand how power, politics, and algorithms collide. She and Baratunde discuss moral outsourcing (why we blame AI instead of its creators), the failure of responsible AI, and the challenge of holding tech accountable when it’s designed to evade scrutiny. Rumman also breaks down her work as CEO of Humane Intelligence, where she’s building tools to expose bia...
2025-02-111h 20
The DoughHow Creatives Can Survive AI with Baratunde ThurstonAI has us freaked out. It’s making videos, pictures and even beats (shout out to BBL Drizzy) but will it replace us? Baratunde Thurston is a comedian, writer and host of the podcast “Living with Machines,” and he’s here to discuss the ethical dilemmas around using AI, especially for creatives. Baratunde shares how AI fits into our history with new tech, how we can put guardrails around it, and how it can actually be useful without being appropriative. Plus, how AI could help us consumers fight back against shady business practices. This series was created in partne...
2025-02-0656 minLife with MachinesWill AI Ever Write Good Comedy? | Matt Klinman (Ep. 8.5)Baratunde Thurston sits down with long-time friend and comedy writer Matt Klinman, co-creator of 'High Science' and former Onion colleague. They delve into the current state of the internet, AI's impact on creativity, and the challenges of modern digital platforms. Klinman shares his skepticism towards AI, the pitfalls of targeted advertising, and reminisces about his comedic journey. The episode also features Meta’s interactive AI-driven game and a joke-writing contest between Matt and Blair, our AI co-producer, highlighting the humorous yet complex interplay between human creativity and machine learning.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Ma...
2025-02-0454 minLife with MachinesIs AI on the Verge of a Meltdown? | Sara Hooker (Ep. 8)A week in which Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has upended the AI industry is the perfect moment for tjis prescient episode of Life with Machines. Host Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sara Hooker, head of Cohere for AI, to discuss the future and current limitations of artificial intelligence. From her childhood in Mozambique to her role as a leader in AI research, Sara shares her personal journey, give us her “grumpy takes” on current AI models (spoiler: bigger isn’t necessarily better), and reveals her mission to create smarter, more efficient AI. They discuss the flaws in current models, the ne...
2025-01-281h 13Life with MachinesWhy Artists Must Think Like Founders | James Andrews (Ep. 7)Baratunde sits down with James Andrews, the Chief Innovation Artist at Creator Mode Studios, to explore the intersection of AI and the creator economy, particularly in the music industry. Drawing on his deep experience in the music world, James shares how the creative ethos of hip-hop, with its emphasis on sampling and remixing, foreshadowed the principles of AI. He sees AI not as a replacement for human artists but as a powerful tool to amplify and expand creative expression. James highlights his work with artists like King Willonius, the creator of the AI-generated hit “BBL Drizzy,” as an example of A...
2025-01-1458 minLife with MachinesAI Is the Best and Worst of Culture | Rahaf Harfoush (Ep. 6.5)In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston discusses the ethical, social, and emotional ramifications of AI with digital anthropologist and bestselling author Rahaf Harfoush who offers her perspective from France. They explore how AI is reshaping society in ways similar to fast fashion, creating an abundance of cheap and ubiquitous content, and the growing consumer desire for more ethical, sustainable, and human-centric alternatives. Rahaf shares insights from her research on AI's potential and risks, and her unique perspective on how AI intersects with human life. The conversation delves into the importance of conscious attention, technological...
2025-01-071h 00Life with MachinesIs it Too Late to Regulate AI? | Dr. Alondra Nelson (Ep. 6)Host Baratunde Thurston welcomes Dr. Alondra Nelson, the visionary behind the White House's AI Bill of Rights. Together, they break down the rapidly evolving landscape of AI regulation, how it's being shaped, and who gets a voice in the process. Dr. Nelson reveals how a vision for safe, equitable AI was crafted—and what may happen to that vision with a change in White House administrations. They discuss the alarming risks of AI-driven misinformation and surveillance while considering the technology’s untapped potential to level the playing field for marginalized communities. In a third-act twist, BLAIR, the show’s quirky...
2024-12-241h 24Life with MachinesWho Gets to Decide What AI Can and Can't Do? | Anthropic’s Jared Kaplan (Ep. 5)Host Baratunde Thurston and Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan delve into the foundations and aspirations of AI development, discussing Anthropic's mission to create safe and beneficial AI systems. Jared shares his early passion for science, his transition from theoretical physics to AI, and Anthropic's unique approach to AI alignment through 'Constitutional AI.' The episode also features an engaging interaction between Blair, the AI co-producer of the show, and Claude, the AI responsible for creating Blair. They discuss AI's ethics, roles, potential for creativity, and the balance of using AI to enhance human productivity while maintaining human values and agency...
2024-12-101h 37Life with MachinesWhy is the Man Who Killed Clippy All-In on AI Today? | Peter Loforte (Ep. 4)In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston speaks with Peter Loforte, a tech visionary who spent over three decades at Microsoft, and now helps us explore the future of AI integration into our daily lives. He is a tech patent holder and the creative force behind BLAIR, our custom AI assistant powering "Life with Machines.” Peter recounts his early experiences with technology, dives deep into the development and potential of AI, and discusses the ethical concerns surrounding AI's growing role. We also chat with BLAIR, exploring the sometimes awkward, sometimes insightful interactions that will define ou...
2024-11-261h 15Life with MachinesWhy Should Non-Techies Care About AI? | Elizabeth Stewart (Ep. 3.5)In this special, bonus episode, I sit down with executive producer and co-creator Elizabeth Stewart, an entrepreneur and civic innovator deeply devoted to human collaboration. She is also my wife and life partner. We discuss our different approaches to tech and why Elizabeth thinks this show is important: from the worldview of tech founders to who gets a seat at the table, the business interests driving AI, what inspires our guest choices and Life with Machines’ unique approach to AI. Plus, we chat with our AI co-producer, Blair, to practice the sometimes-awkward human-machine interactions that will be part of al...
2024-11-191h 10Life with MachinesCan AI Make Us More Human? Arianna Huffington Thinks So (Ep. 3)Can AI help us thrive? Arianna Huffington thinks it can. We discuss her new AI wellness venture aimed at hacking health and happiness. Plus, our AI co-producer, BLAIR, explores mindfulness—with some unexpected results.---------Chapters0:00 Intro3:01 What's Arianna Huffington doing with AI and why?11:00 How does Arianna Huffington's Thrive AI Health help us reconnect to our souls?17:31 The why behind Arianna's latest venture.21:47 Ad25:54 How does Thrive AI work?42:10 Who is Thrive for?51:08 Making money by...
2024-11-121h 20Life with MachinesWhy AI Is NOT The Manhattan Project | Verity Harding (Ep. 2)The future of AI is being written NOW. Will we repeat the mistakes of the past or create something better? In this episode, Verity Harding (Google DeepMind, Cambridge's AI & Geopolitics Project) argues that we all need to be involved in shaping the future of AI and uses the history of other technological advances to make her case. Watch to find out what's at stake and how you can make a difference!----------Chapters:00:00 Intro1:32 Verity Harding’s early life with machines13:58 The room wh...
2024-10-291h 18Life with MachinesHow An AI Song Broke the Internet | King Willonious (Ep. 1)I sat down with King Willonius, the genius behind “BBL Drizzy.” We talked about his journey from making the live serialized audio drama "The Young and The Thirsty" to creating the first AI-generated hit song. We explore Willonius’ innovative blend of music, comedy, tech, and futuristic storytelling. And we ask: How is AI reshaping the boundaries of artistic expression?--------Chapters:00:00 Intro01:41 Willonius's early life with machines 13:42 Starting over after success21:21 Ad24:03 Willonius enters the AI world28:36 Willoni...
2024-10-241h 10Life with MachinesSneak Peek at Life With Machines feat. Arianna Huffington, King Willonius, and more🚀 Sneak Peek: Life with Machines 🚀In this series, Baratunde dives deep into the human side of the AI revolution. From viral AI-created music to soulful tech innovations, we ask what it really means to be human in a world increasingly run by machines.👥 Featuring Guests Like:King Willonius (creator of BBL Drizzy): How to co-create with AI.Arianna Huffington: How AI can help us rediscover humanity.James Andrews: Merging hip hop with AI and keeping the soul in tech.Dr. Alo...
2024-10-0804 min
Life with MachinesLife with Machines TrailerLife With Machines explores the human side of the A.I. revolution – the good, the bad, and the weird – and asks, “How can these machines help us become more human?” In this video podcast, Baratunde Thurston helps us understand our rapidly emerging future while encouraging us to shape it and laugh at the absurdity. The show demystifies A.I. and makes it personal with a wide range of guests: entrepreneurs, artists, policymakers, technologists, business leaders, creators, educators, and scientists. Maybe even an A.I. or two. Everyone should have a say in where technologies like A.I. take us...
2024-09-0202 min
It’s OK That You’re Not OK with Megan DevineCollective Grief and Communal Joy: with Baratunde ThurstonCan you heal pain by focusing on joy? Baratunde Thurston gave what’s been called “the greatest TED talk of all time.” He’s written about being Black in America, he’s got a podcast about community involvement called How to Citizen, and he’s got a PBS television show that explores the beauty and diversity of America. There’s a duality running through all of this work, and in Baratunde’s personal life: mourning and celebration. From the early death of a parent, to men’s emotional health, to violence against Black men and boys, to the healing...
2024-01-221h 00
To Dine ForBaratunde ThurstonBaratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated multi-platform storyteller and producer operating at the intersection of race, technology, and democracy. He’s the host and Executive Producer of the PBS series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast How to Citizen, and a founding partner and writer at Puck.Baratunde’s book, How to Be Black, became a New York Times Bestseller. We discuss his life and career, how he is a creative who does not fit into any single box, and how he uses all that he has in severa...
2023-10-2354 min
House Calls with Dr. Vivek MurthyBaratunde Thurston: What Can Nature Teach Us About Connection?Nature matters to our ability to connect — with each other and ourselves. In this episode of House Calls, we explore how being in nature – whether it’s your local green space, or a national park, or somewhere in between – can build deep and important connections. Who better to take us on this journey than Baratunde Thurston, host of the PBS series “America Outdoors” and the podcast “How To Citizen.” Baratunde has traveled the United States from the Okefenokee Swamp to Death Valley, meeting people of all types and exploring their habitats with them. Baratunde shares his insights – that we Americans love the...
2023-10-171h 09
Travel Tales by AfarComedian Baratunde Thurston Travels From Oregon to Maine to Tell a Better Story of AmericaComedian and writer Baratunde Thurston wants to tell a better story of us. The narrative around the United States is often one of fracture and discord. So in his PBS show, America Outdoors, he travels around the United States to better understand Americans' deep connections with nature—and how that tells a more positive story of the country. In this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, we sit down with Baratunde to talk about season two, including:
Where he traveled, including the swamps of Georgia, the rivers of New Mexico, and the snowy hills of Maine.
What he...
2023-10-0544 min
Disrupted'America Outdoors' host Baratunde Thurston on names, nature and 'How to Citizen'Baratunde Thurston is a bestselling author, has been nominated for an Emmy and gave a TED Talk that now has over a million views on YouTube. He's also the host of the PBS series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston. This hour, Baratunde opens up about everything from from doubting himself while attending an elite private school to the need for a rebirth of democracy. And he explains how America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston has shaped the way he relates to people and other parts of the natural world. GUEST: Baratunde Thurston: bestselling author, activist and...
2023-10-0439 min
VisAbleBlackwomanLetting the Outside in with Baratunde ThurstonThis week, I spoke with one of my favorite thought leaders, Baratunde Thurston.
His show America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston premiered last year and blew my mind. I interviewed Baratunde for Black Girl Nerds last year and this year attended a press briefing PBS held about season two of this outstanding series.
I reached out to his team to schedule a one-on-one, and they wholeheartedly said yes, so..here's our full edited conversation filmed for my podcast, VisAbleBlackwoman.
CLICK HERE for info on the Ice Mermaids of Maine
CLICK HERE for the book Baratunde Thurston recommended, Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful C...
2023-08-3129 min
Pulling The Thread with Elise LoehnenWhat We’ve Chosen to Forget (Baratunde Thurston)“Energy doesn't dissipate. You know it moves, but it doesn't die. And the big bang that happened 15.7 billion years ago, all that energy is still here. We are it like we are a version of it. We are an instance of that near Infinite Force and every atom that existed then exists now. And some of those are us. Like we are riding this cosmic wave. We're like surfers on a cosmic wave, billions of years in the making. And so my atoms were at the Big Bang.They're also in the future, right? Their time doesn't, in this ki...
2023-08-1057 minIt’s OK That You’re Not OK with Megan DevineCollective Grief and Communal Joy: with Baratunde ThurstonCan you heal pain by focusing on joy? Baratunde Thurston gave what’s been called “the greatest TED talk of all time.” He’s written about being Black in America, he’s got a podcast about community involvement called How to Citizen, and he’s got a television show that explores the beauty and diversity of America. There’s a duality running through all of this work, and in Baratunde’s personal life: mourning and celebration. From the early death of a parent, to men’s emotional health, to violence against Black men and boys, to...
2023-05-151h 00
Before The Cheering Started with Budd MishkinBaratunde Thurston: Insightful. Smart. FunnySend us a textIt's actually a gift to interview Baratunde Thurston. He is so thoughtful and perceptive that the conversation introduces me to issues I never considered and concepts I think I understand but was never able to put into words. And that is a gift. His insight is on display in his writing for Puck News, his 2012 book "How To Be Black," his podcast "How To Citizen With Baratunde" and his PBS show "America Outdoors With Baratunde Thurston." If you already know his work, I think this conversation will fill you in on his early years and...
2023-04-1235 min
Time SensitiveBaratunde Thurston on Humility as a Path to WisdomFor writer, comedian, and cultural critic Baratunde Thurston, host of the How to Citizen podcast, humility is a tool to connect with people—and to bring them together around some collective sense of truth. Through his work, Thurston serves as an ambassador to his audiences, always considering what they’re going through and the questions they might ask. A Harvard graduate, he has advised the Obama White House and worked as a producer on The Daily Show, and is author of the best-selling memoir How To Be Black. A dogged dedication to transparency shines through all that Thurs...
2022-07-271h 38
TV Guidance CounselorTV Guide Episode 532: Baratunde ThurstonJuly 16-22, 1994 This week Ken welcomes old friend and current host of the new PBS series "America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston", Baratunde Thurston. Ken and Baratunde discuss satellites, fiber optics, being the thousand points of light, how professional Baratunde is, Baratunde's first (self) published book autographed to Ken, 2004, the greatness of the show title, lack of aging, assigned homework, the wonder of 1994, Cindy Crawford, the weirdness of 89 cents, working fax lines, The Ground Round "pay what you weigh", Bill O'Reiley's lucrative PR fueled hobby, creating our own monsters, cigarettes, The Moon Landing, riding OUTSIDE the...
2022-07-111h 25
The Joy Trip ProjectAmerica Outdoors ~ An Interview Baratunde ThurstonWhen the folks at the Public Broadcasting Service went looking for a charismatic personality to host their latest documentary film series on the natural world, they reached out to a man with just the right skills to bring the outdoors into every home in America.
Baratunde: My name is Baratunde Thurston. I am a multimedia storyteller operating at the intersection of race, technology, democracy and climate. Because I love this planet.
The wild. There's nothing quite like the feeling of stepping outside. And breaking free from the modern world. I'm in northern Minnesota, on the edge of a lake that r...
2022-07-0435 minThe Joy Trip ProjectAmerica Outdoors ~ An Interview Baratunde ThurstonWhen the folks at the Public Broadcasting Service went looking for a charismatic personality to host their latest documentary film series on the natural world, they reached out to a man with just the right skills to bring the outdoors into every home in America.
Baratunde: My name is Baratunde Thurston. I am a multimedia storyteller operating at the intersection of race, technology, democracy and climate. Because I love this planet.
The wild. There's nothing quite like the feeling of stepping outside. And breaking free from the modern world. I'm in northern Minnesota, on the edge of a lake that r...
2022-07-0435 min
Larry Wilmore: Black on the AirBaratunde Thurston On 'America Outdoors'Larry is joined by comedian, writer, and cultural critic Baratunde Thurston to discuss his new PBS series 'America Outdoors.' They begin their conversation by discussing how the show was produced. They then pivot to Thurston's intentions for the program, including providing a conduit for inner-city kids to appreciate the diverse American topography in an appreciative way.(9:40) Next, they talk about how nature can play a part in unifying people using the history and restoration of the L.A. River as context.(25:00) Baratunde then breaks down the process of selecting the locations for the show and shares some of...
2022-07-031h 14
Black Girl NerdsAmerica Outdoors with Baratunde ThurstonIn this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds Podcast we chat with Emmy nominated host Baratunde Thurston.
Baratunde is a visionary known for his thought-provoking conversations where he integrates his one-of-a-kind humor and insight to shine light on the world’s complex nature within themes of race, politics, technology and more. His compassionate voice offers a grounded honesty in which he displays during America Outdoors where Baratunde will spend quality time with an array of characters whose outdoor lives are shaped by where they live. The series includes various episodes that cover various topics from modern homesteaders li...
2022-06-2731 min
The Accidental ActivistBaratunde Thurston (Author/Host of How To Citizen)In this week’s episode, Isha is joined by author, comedian, and activist, Baratunde Thurston. From the hallways of Sidwell Friends School to behind the mic of his How To Citizen podcast, Baratunde employs humor, compassion, and a little bit of anger to convey his thoughts on race, culture, and politics. Isha and Baratunde discuss the significance of one’s upbringing, what it means to be an activist in today’s day and age, and the pillars of being an engaged citizen. Baratunde’s 2019 Ted Talk - How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a timeCheck o...
2022-04-0853 min
Amplify VoicesEmmy Nominated Host & Author Baratunde ThurstonWelcome to the Guerilla Muse podcast with Resmaa. Today I will be interviewing Baratunde Thurston. He holds space for hard and complex conversations with his blend of humor, wisdom, and compassion. Baratunde is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and wrote the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black. He’s the creator and host of How To Citizen with Baratunde which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020 and for which he received the Social Impact Award at the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. He’s also...
2022-03-151h 04
Guerilla MuseEmmy Nominated Host & Author Baratunde ThurstonWelcome to the Guerilla Muse podcast with Resmaa. Today I will be interviewing Baratunde Thurston. He holds space for hard and complex conversations with his blend of humor, wisdom, and compassion. Baratunde is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and wrote the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black. He’s the creator and host of How To Citizen with Baratunde which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020 and for which he received the Social Impact Award at the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. He’s also...
2022-03-151h 04
What is California?Episode 17: Baratunde ThurstonBaratunde Thurston is the creator and host of the podcast How to Citizen, the author of the book How to Be Black, and a founding partner of the news and commentary website Puck. The choices that California businesses make impact people all over the world who don’t even know where California is. It’s not just technology that gets made in California. It’s how it gets made. It’s how it gets funded. What types of tools get built are the ones that can accrue a ton of returns to the investors. That’s a really narr...
2022-02-0355 min
The Spiritual Perspective78: Baratunde Thurston on Blending Activism With Satire, and How We Can All Be Better CitizensBaratunde Thurston is a writer, activist, comedian, podcaster, and media personality who holds space for difficult and complex conversations with his unique blend of humor, wisdom, and compassion. He is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and wrote the New York Times bestseller, How To Be Black. He is the executive producer and host of the How To Citizen Podcast, which Apple named one of its favorite podcasts of 2020 and for which Baratunde received the Social Impact Award at the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. In 2019, h...
2021-11-171h 29
New View EDUBaratunde ThurstonWhat does it mean to be a citizen of this world, of our community, and of our future? What does “citizen” mean, anyway? And what is the role of schools in growing citizens—or what should it be?The current reality facing schools is one of rapidly changing social and political conditions that affect educators, students, and communities as a whole. Whether it’s a question of how personal choices impact collective health, or finding the right balance in helping a school community process and respond to current events, school leaders are grappling with the role of educa...
2021-08-3142 min
How To Citizen with BaratundeBaratunde Reflects on Season Two“It’s hard to citizen when you can’t pay the bills.” This season’s theme has revealed the economic causes of our deep division and has opened our eyes to how our democracy and economic well-being are incredibly interconnected. This week, Baratunde weaves together lessons from across this season, discovers surprising takeaways, and revisits stories that have more in common than we expected when we set out to make this season. Listen to a virtual conversation among our guests that will reveal new insights. Show Notes + LinksGo to howtocitizen.com to sign up...
2021-06-1035 min
The Michael Moore PodcastEp. 193: Baratunde Thurston, Civics TeacherMichael is joined by writer, thinker, comedian and podcaster Baratunde Thurston for a conversation about the fragility of American democracy, the purposeful dumbing down of the citizenry, the lack of civic education in American schools and what we all must do about it. Michael also responds to listener emails about his conversation with "Exterminate All The Brutes" director Raoul Peck.
Listen to Baratunde's podcast "How To Citizen with Baratunde"
https://www.howtocitizen.com/
Baratunde mentioned a Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden. Watch Marshall Curry's short doc on that event, "A Night At...
2021-06-0251 min
Let's Give A Damn#193 - Baratunde ThurstonBaratunde Thurston holds space for hard and complex conversations with his blend of humor, wisdom, and compassion. Baratunde is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, and wrote the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black. Read the rest of Baratunde’s bio here.
Follow Baratunde on Twitter and Instagram.
Listen to How To Citizen with Baratunde Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
_________________________________________
Reach out to us anytime and for any reason at hello@letsgiveadamn.com. Follow Let’s Give A...
2021-05-181h 21
Momentum: A Race Forward PodcastEpisode 10: Season Finale: “How to Citizen” with Baratunde Thurston, and Recognizing TV/ Movies that have Centered RaceOn the season finale, writer, comedian, podcaster, activist, and Emmy Award-nominated host Baratunde Thurston brings us to the home stretch while providing all the laughs! Baratunde joins Chevon and Dennis to talk about his early career having worked at the intersections of standup, tech, and activism as a Black man, and how those experiences have shaped his current work on the topics of race, technology, democracy, and climate. He also shares his insights on being a multifaceted creator, the balance of “bringing your whole self to the workplace” as a person of color, and his take o...
2021-05-0650 min
Independent Americans with Paul RieckhoffBaratunde Thurston. Derek Chauvin is Guilty. Analyzing Media Coverage of the Trial. How The Hell Do We Process All This? The George Floyd Murder is the Mỹ Lai Massacre of Policing. Going to High School with Jon Bernthal.The biggest verdict of or time is in and Officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder. Is America guilty of celebrating too much? Is this a turning point--or just a one-off? Did American political leaders do enough? What are the parallels between the 2020 George Floyd murder video and 2002 beheading video of journalist Daniel Pearl? What happens next?Baratunde Thurston (@Baratunde) is back to help us break it all down. The dynamic activist, host of the popular podcast How to Citizen, and author of the bestseller, How To Be Black joined us a year ago...
2021-04-221h 08
Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff111. Baratunde Thurston. Derek Chauvin is Guilty. Analyzing Media Coverage of the Trial. How The Hell Do We Process All This? The George Floyd Murder is the Mỹ Lai Massacre of Policing. Going to High School with Jon Bernthal.The biggest verdict of or time is in and Officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder. Is America guilty of celebrating too much? Is this a turning point--or just a one-off? Did American political leaders do enough? What are the parallels between the 2020 George Floyd murder video and 2002 beheading video of journalist Daniel Pearl? What happens next?Baratunde Thurston (@Baratunde) is back to help us break it all down. The dynamic activist, host of the popular podcast How to Citizen, and author of the bestseller, How To Be Black joined us a year ago...
2021-04-221h 05How To Citizen with BaratundeIntroducing: Season 2 of How To Citizen with BaratundeHow do we wield our collective power for the many, not just the few, in order to live together even with our differences?We feel the dangerous divisions within our democracy daily: the pandemic response, racial oppression, and political violence. In season two of How To Citizen with Baratunde, we focus on ground zero for these divisions: money, capitalism, and the economy. In a time of radical economic inequality, how do we citizen when we can’t pay the bills.This season we explore the deep roots of wealth inequality in the US, learn how it...
2021-03-2502 min
Fake the NationForkability, Sauceability and Toothsinkability (w/ Baratunde Thurston, Dan Pashman)Baratunde Thurston and Dan Pashman join Negin to talk about the growing number of migrants at the border. They also check in with the latest on Cuomo, vaccine hesitancy, and most importantly, pasta! Subscribe to Baratunde's podcast How To Citizen with Baratunde and follow @baratundeFollow @TheSporkful and subscribe to Dan's podcast The Sporkful with Dan Pashman as he wraps up Mission: ImPASTAbleAnd as always, follow @NeginFarsad. Advertise on Fake The Nation via Gumball.fm.Listeners, what do you think? We'd LOVE to hear from you. Email Neg...
2021-03-1849 min
Lives That SpeakCo-Creating the Universe | Baratunde Thurston ’95 - Ep 09On this episode of the School’s Lives That Speak podcast, we hear from Baratunde Thurston ’95, the best-selling author, comic, and host of the podcasts How to Citizen and We’re Having a Moment. With the inauguration of the 46th president, the nation seems poised for positive change. Thurston embraces that thirst for change and explains how to manifest it. Because the stories we tell—through both comedy and pain, in both public and private—come to define the kind of world we live in, every person has the extraordinary power to make a better world. If, that is, they choos...
2021-01-261h 08
A New NormalLet's get it started with BaratundeThere's nobody better to kick off our new season — and "Plan Be" — than the man who helped inspire it: Citizen Baratunde, Executive Producer and Host of the hit podcast How to Citizen with Baratunde. Writer, activist and comedian Baratunde Thurston has been "citizening" since way back in high school (which we discuss). In addition to his podcast, check out his Ted Talk, and his New York Times bestselling book, How to Be Black. You can find all of that and more on his website: www.baratunde.comOVER ON THE WEBSITE>We've got...
2020-10-2257 min
The Guilty Feminist219. Citizenship with Susan Wokoma and special guests Baratunde Thurston and Bumi ThomasThe Guilty FeministPresented by Deborah Frances-White and Susan Wokoma Episode 219: Citizenshipwith special guest Baratunde Thurston and music from Bumi Thomas Recorded 7 September via Zoom. Released 14 September 2020. The Guilty Feminist theme by Mark Hodge and produced by Nick Sheldon. Be Well Workshops. https://guiltyfeminist.com/be-well/ More about Deborah Frances-White http://deborahfrances-white.com https://twitter.com/DeborahFW https://www.virago.co.uk/the-guilty-feminist-book More about Susan Wokoma https://www.instagram.com/susiewoosie12 https://www.netflix.com/title/81277950 More about Baratunde Thurston https://twitter.com/baratunde...
2020-09-141h 37How To Citizen with BaratundeIntroducing: How To Citizen with BaratundeHow To Citizen with Baratunde reimagines the word “citizen” as a verb and reminds us how to wield our collective power. With humor and empathy, Baratunde explores societal topics that affect us all, speaks with people using their relationships and power for the benefit of the many, and offers audience members ways to participate. With so much media focused on what is wrong with our society, this show focuses on what is right and how to build on it. Our democratic experiment is up for grabs, and we the people will decide, through our action or inaction, where we go n...
2020-08-2003 min
Independent Americans with Paul RieckhoffBaratunde Thurston. Being Black in the Pandemic. The Murder of Ahmaud Arbery. What Black People Should Expect From Biden. The Virus Hits The White House. Trump’s Racism is Catching up with Him. The Old Fashioned Is The Most Democratic Drink Ever.The pandemic is devastating America. And black Americans especially. Maybe more than any other group in the United States. As many as one-fourth of the overall American dead from the pandemic are black. And people of color are disproportionately serving on the front lines of healthcare, public transportation, food services and many other industries that are the hardest hit. The impact on black people is another hidden and underreported front in our war against COVID-19. And meanwhile, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black jogger, was ruthlessly murdered by two white men in Brunswick, Georgia---sparking outrage and anger nationwide--while President Trump...
2020-05-152h 38
Thinking With Mitch JoelSPOS #681 - Baratunde Thurston On Technology, Comedy, Politics And LifeWelcome to episode #681 of Six Pixels of Separation. Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation - Episode #681 - Host: Mitch Joel. Montreal in the summer is a magical time. From the Festival International De Jazz De Montreal to Montreal ComicCon and Heavy Montreal (coming up this weekend!) to the famed Just For Laughs Comedy Festival (which is happening now). When the line-up was announced for Just For Laughs, I saw that my fellow TEDster, Baratunde Thurston, was going to be coming to town to host (and moderate) a panel called, Political Comedy on Political Change. We had...
2019-07-281h 03
How I WorkBaratunde Thurston on the most difficult performance role he has ever taken on.My guest today is Baratunde Thurston. Baratunde is a particularly hilarious comedian, he wrote the bestselling book How to be Black as well as many feature articles for places like Fast Company and Medium. He helped to re-launch the Daily Show with Trevor Noah through building the digital expansion team. And he used to write for the Onion and has been nominated for an Emmy award.This conversation is a little different in that we deep dive into a very specific work project of Baratunde’s and it was one that I witnessed a fe...
2018-09-0558 min
Medium PlaybackBaratunde Thurston: "How To Do a Data Detox In a Zillion Easy Steps"For our second episode, futurist, comedian, and activist Baratunde Thurston joins the podcast with a word — and then some — on big data, big tech, and his own data detox. In his story "How To Do a Data Detox In a Zillion Easy Steps," Baratunde takes us through his jarring encounter with the hoard of personal information collected by the 300+ apps on his phone. That's right, 300 apps with digital records of his photos, notes, contact lists, minute-to-minute location, and more, all for the benefit of big tech's bottom line. Because "the next big things — artificial intelligence, machine learning, speech and facial recognition — ...
2018-06-2700 min