Rephonic
Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Dreaming Against the Machine

Multitude
Star Trek
Artificial Intelligence
Technology
Algorithmic Bias
Space Exploration
Science Fiction
George Orwell
Ursula K. Le Guin
Futurism
Mythology
Generative AI
Almanacs
Great Man Theory Of History
Celebrity Culture
Public Interest Tech
Surveillance Technology
Civil Rights

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 po... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes15Founded3 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Latest Episodes

This week is a reversal: Adam is interviewed by Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology studies at University College London. Jack and his colleagues ask Adam about how he came to write his most recent book, what the process of writing it w... more

This week, Adam talks with Katie Mack, physicist and author, about feeling some type of way about the end of the universe. Along the way we also discuss illusions of control, entropy, and why it can be good to feel insignificant.

Messages:

• Supp... more

YouTube

This week, Adam talks with Cory Doctorow, author, blogger, and tech policy advocate. Cory explains why your boss wants to replace you with an AI, why that won't work, and why they're trying to do it anyhow -- and what you can do about it. Cory and Ad... more

YouTube

This week's guest is tech critic, podcaster, and professionally angry dude Ed Zitron. Adam asks Ed what things would have to happen for him to be less angry (mostly, regulating the tech industry). Along the way they also discuss the SpaceX IPO and wh... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Are We Doomed?
Are We Doomed?NPR Network
Better Offline
Better OfflineCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Galaxy Brain
Galaxy BrainThe Atlantic

Recent Guests

Cory Doctorow
Science fiction author, activist for electronic rights, journalist and blogger
Electronic Frontier Foundation (historically) and various writing platforms
Episode: Episode 11: Reverse Centaurs and AI, with Cory Doctorow
Ed Zitron
Prominent AI industry critic, host of Better Offline
Episode: Episode 10: Better Off Regulated, with Ed Zitron
Safiya Noble
Professor at UCLA, author of Algorithms of Oppression
University of California, Los Angeles
Episode: Episode 9: Algorithmic Bias, with Safiya Noble
Isabel Kim
Writer, science fiction novelist, co-host of Wow if True
Wow if True / independent author
Episode: Episode 8: Horrible Little Guys, with Isabel J. Kim and Amanda Silberling
Amanda Silberling
Tech journalist, co-host of Wow if True
Tech journalism / Wow if True
Episode: Episode 8: Horrible Little Guys, with Isabel J. Kim and Amanda Silberling
Susannah Glickman
Historian at Stony Brook University with a focus on the history of science in the US, mid-20th century
Stony Brook University
Episode: Episode 7: The History (and Future) of Technology, with Susannah Glickman
Moiya McTier
Astrophysicist and science communicator, author, host of Pale Blue Pod
Multitude / Pale Blue Pod
Episode: Episode 6: Mythology, with Moiya McTier
Shannon Vallor
Bailey Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence, University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Episode 5: Metaphors for AI, with Shannon Vallor
Dave Karpf
Professor of political science, School of Media and Public Affairs, George Washington University
George Washington University
Episode: Episode 4: Reactionary Futurism, with Dave Karpf

Host

Adam Becker
Host of the show, introduces topics and guides conversations; science communicator and commentator on technology, power, and the future.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Podcast Addict
    NoethersTheorem
    16 days ago
  • Episodes won’t download

    Episodes won’t download

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cjbalive
    United States23 days ago
  • Great guests, spotty interviews

    A few good moments. Often gets stuck revisiting complaints about tech bros, VC, and Silicon Valley culture.

    Really love all the people here. Love the stated mission. So much potential. Needs a co-host that can structure the conversation better and draw out deeper insights from really interesting people.

    I learned a lot from

    Episode 3. More like that, please, where the conversation explores a topic in depth.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ctperson
    United Statesa month ago
  • Algorithmic bias

    I think what they’re calling. Algorithmic bias is a much more extensive problem related to the way AI is trained. My background is in evolutionary psychology and neuroscience my undergraduate degree is in psychology and learning. I want to look at everything through the lens of statistics. In that regard, I think that this excellent episode, which talks about more of the dangers in a real way than most things are read or hear online that’s for sure, Misses a very, very big one. Censorship of cr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    spiralsun1
    United Statesa month ago
  • Too self referential

    Please less name dropping, more ideas that matter, less talking about yourselves

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Burned By Adobe
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Likely to appreciate rigorous critique of billionaire tech narratives
Draws connections between science fiction, policy, and real-world innovation

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#248
Denmark/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 4: Reactionary Futurism, with Dave Karpf
Q: What would a more grounded, equitable approach to science funding look like, in contrast to the abundance narrative?
Adam and Dave discuss channeling funding toward public goods and pragmatic governance, with selective, well-justified investments in key areas like renewable energy and infrastructure, while avoiding overpromising on transformative tech like universal nanotech or quick-fix solutions.
Episode 4: Reactionary Futurism, with Dave Karpf
Q: In your view, what makes these 'techno-utopian' books so appealing despite the evidence?
Dave explains that the appeal lies in a frontier mindset and the belief that science and tech can solve grand-scale problems if given enough freedom and funding, though he notes the rhetoric often ignores real-world complexity and risks.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Dreaming Against the Machine

What is Dreaming Against the Machine about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A forward-looking, reality-grounded conversation show that explores what a better, more equitable future could look like. Across episodes, the dialog centers on science, technology, policy, and society, with guests ranging from science fiction authors to futurists and scholars. The host steers discussions toward practical optimism, critiquing tech power and billionaire narratives while seeking constructive actions at community and policy levels. Noteworthy elements include a steady emphasis on real-world constraints, ethical tech critique, and a passion for making visionary ideas feel achievable rather than merely aspirational. Listeners who enjoy rigorous yet accessible conversations about how to shape technology, governance, and culture f... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Dreaming Against the Machine?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Dreaming Against the Machine. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Dreaming Against the Machine and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Dreaming Against the Machine get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Dreaming Against the Machine, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Dreaming Against the Machine?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Dreaming Against the Machine, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Dreaming Against the Machine have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Dreaming Against the Machine has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Dreaming Against the Machine?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Dreaming Against the Machine:

1. Are We Doomed?
2. Better Offline
3. Factually! with Adam Conover
4. Galaxy Brain
5. Tech Won't Save Us

How many episodes of Dreaming Against the Machine are there?

Dreaming Against the Machine launched 3 months ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Dreaming Against the Machine?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Dreaming Against the Machine?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Dreaming Against the Machine from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Dreaming Against the Machine?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Dreaming Against the Machine. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Dreaming Against the Machine?

Recent guests on Dreaming Against the Machine include:

1. Cory Doctorow
2. Ed Zitron
3. Safiya Noble
4. Isabel Kim
5. Amanda Silberling
6. Susannah Glickman
7. Moiya McTier
8. Shannon Vallor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days