Rephonic
Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Dreaming Against the Machine

Multitude
Artificial Intelligence
Star Trek
Algorithmic Bias
Cosmology
Technology
AI Bubble
United States Politics
Transhumanism
Occupy Wall Street
Space Exploration
Religion
Science Fiction
Space Colonization
Futurism
George Orwell
Ursula K. Le Guin
Mythology
Office Of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
US Government Science Policy
Weapons Of Math Destruction

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes29Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Latest Episodes

This week it's just Adam! Following up on the space colonization episode from a few weeks back, Adam talks about exactly how horrifying and difficult it would be to live permanently in deep space. He also answers a couple of listener questions, talks... more

YouTube

This week, Adam talks with author and essayist Meghan O'Gieblyn. They discuss her remarkable book, God Human Animal Machine, which is one of Adam's favorites. They also talk about what it means to be in the world, and the awareness it takes to write ... more

YouTube

This week, Adam talks with computer scientist and author Cal Newport about the resurgent claims of AI doom in the news, where these ideas come from, and what we can do to shift the narrative around AI. (Also, they meant to talk about Cal's book Deep ... more

YouTube

This week, Adam talks with linguist and AI critic Emily M. Bender. They talk about large language models, Emily's origin story, and the importance of parrot emojis. Read Emily's book The AI Con and listen to her podcast Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000. 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.

Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
Better Offline
Better OfflineCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Blood in the Machine
Blood in the MachineBrian Merchant
This Machine Kills
This Machine KillsThis Machine Kills

Recent Guests

Meghan O'Gieblyn
Writer, essayist, author of God Human Animal Machine
Episode: Episode 25: Transhumanism and Faith, with Meghan O'Gieblyn
Cal Newport
Professor of computer science at Georgetown University; author
Georgetown University
Episode: Episode 24: The Myth of AI Doom, with Cal Newport
Emily Bender
Linguistics professor at the University of Washington; critic of AI/Large Language Models
University of Washington
Episode: Episode 23: Language Models, with Emily M. Bender
Nalini Stamp
Young New Yorker; activist in Occupy movement; former Working Families Party worker
Working Families Party
Episode: Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising.
Sandy Nurse
Activist born in Panama; humanitarian aid worker turned Occupy participant
Activist/Community Organizer
Episode: Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising.
Marissa Holmes
Planner of the occupation; involved with the New York City General Assembly
New York City General Assembly
Episode: Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising.
Astra Taylor
Author and documentary filmmaker; activist
Author/Filmmaker
Episode: Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising.
Nathan Schneider
Journalist covering activism in the city
Journalist
Episode: Sharing a new series from Future Hindsight, Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising.
Matt Scherer
Fellow at the Open Markets Institute; focuses on the AI Bubble and policy issues around AI regulation
Open Markets Institute
Episode: Episode 21: The AI Bubble, with Matt Scherer

Host

Adam Becker
Host of the show

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 121 ratings
  • Electric sheep?

    Adam Becker manages to go beyond the superficial in this rioting podcast which explores the morality and economy of the whims of Silicon Valley.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NorthIsUp
    United States2 months ago
  • Host is the problem

    Host loves to hear himself talk, and will cut off guests as they get rolling to give his opinion on everything. Only listened to a handful of episodes and already heard the same points over and over. Has potential but needs more structure and a bit of hosting improvement.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MaxFH7768
    United States3 months ago
  • Podcast Addict
    NoethersTheorem
    3 months ago
  • Episodes won’t download

    Episodes won’t download

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cjbalive
    United States4 months 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 States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate accessible storytelling and historical context, though some want deeper interview structure.
Host pushes for constructive critique of tech power and billionaire narratives.
Thoughtful guests and rigorous discussion offer real perspectives on futures and tech policy.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 23: Language Models, with Emily M. Bender
Q: Tell us your origin story, Emily.
Emily describes a two-phase path: first discovering linguistics as the field she was born to pursue, then expanding into public critique of AI as she realized linguistic insights could illuminate why large language models behave the way they do. She highlights a formative curiosity about consonants and vowels, and how linguistics became a bridge to understanding language technology and its societal implications.
Episode 19: Space Colonization, with Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold
Q: What alternatives or visions did the guests propose for a future involving space?
They advocate for visions that center equity, sustainability, and the well-being of both humans and non-human life on Earth, while pursuing science and exploration in ways that avoid colonial frameworks, and amplifying diverse voices who imagine positive futures.
Episode 19: Space Colonization, with Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold
Q: What are the core problems with space colonization as currently discussed by industry leaders?
The core problems include repeating colonial patterns, prioritizing resource extraction, labor exploitation, environmental damage, and political/economic structures that privilege a few while harming local communities on Earth and ecosystems near launch sites.
Episode 19: Space Colonization, with Lucian Walkowicz and Erika Nesvold
Q: Why Mars in particular has captured the imagination of space advocates, despite its harsh conditions?
Mars became a focal point partly because it offers evocative imagery and a perceived middle ground between the Moon and Earth, allowed by its relative resemblance to Earth and the ability to imagine human presence there, but the guests argue this is a narrative lure rather than a practical, ethical long-term goal.
Episode 18: Science Policy, with Alondra Nelson
Q: What gives you hope for the future of science and policy?
Hope comes from enduring communities and allies who have faced oppression and continue to push for better outcomes, coupled with ongoing collaborations across disciplines to imagine and implement a more just use of technology.

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?

Thoughtful conversations examine plausible, humane futures through the lens of science, technology, culture, and policy. Across episodes, guests—from scientists and historians to tech critics and science fiction writers—offer rigorous analysis of AI, algorithmic bias, space policy, and the societal impacts of innovation, often challenging techno-optimism with practical reforms and ethical considerations. The show leans into accessible storytelling, historical context, and critical viewpoints to empower readers and listeners to imagine and advocate for more equitable futures. A notable strength is its willingness to blend rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling and pop-culture references, making complex ideas engaging for a broad a... 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 four 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. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
2. Better Offline
3. Tech Won't Save Us
4. Blood in the Machine
5. This Machine Kills

How many episodes of Dreaming Against the Machine are there?

Dreaming Against the Machine launched 6 months ago and published 29 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. Meghan O'Gieblyn
2. Cal Newport
3. Emily Bender
4. Nalini Stamp
5. Sandy Nurse
6. Marissa Holmes
7. Astra Taylor
8. Nathan Schneider

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