Rephonic
Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Dreaming Against the Machine

Multitude
Star Trek
Technology
Space Exploration
Science Fiction
George Orwell
Ursula K. Le Guin
Futurism
Mythology
Artificial Intelligence
Almanacs
Great Man Theory Of History
Celebrity Culture

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes10Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dreaming Against the Machine

Latest Episodes

This week is a ✨Very Special Episode✨, a crossover with the hosts of our fellow Multitude show Wow if True! Isabel J. Kim is an award-winning science fiction author, Amanda Silberling is a journalist at TechCrunch, and this week they're talking with ... more

This week, Adam talks with historian Susannah Glickman about the recent history of how we think about the future of technology, and why we have more power over that future than we might think. Along the way, they talk about AI, Moore's Law, quantum c... more

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

Mes... more

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

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.

Better Offline
Better OfflineCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
This Machine Kills
This Machine KillsThis Machine Kills
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
Are We Doomed?
Are We Doomed?NPR Network

Recent Guests

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
Kim Stanley Robinson
Author of The Mars Trilogy, The Ministry for the Future, etc.
Author
Episode: Episode 3: Science Fiction, with Kim Stanley Robinson
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Professor of physics at the University of New Hampshire, author
University of New Hampshire
Episode: Episode 2: Star Trek, with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Reo Eveleth
Journalist who has worked on shows about the future
Independent journalist, co-creator of future-focused podcasting
Episode: Episode 1: Futurists, with Reo Eveleth

Host

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Great guests, meh interviews

    A few good moments. Often self indulgent.

    EVERY episode includes a joke about the host not knowing the purpose of his own podcast.

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    ctperson
    United States3 days ago
  • Giggles

    A bit too giggly but otherwise pretty good.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mizage
    United States18 days ago
  • I needed this

    Listening to KSR talking about doomerism was (somehow?!) the first time it occurred to me that “late stage capitalism” strongly invites the possibility of “post capitalism,” and that the world doesn’t have to end when capitalism implodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    McCrackin'
    United States24 days ago
  • Am I a Monster?

    I wanted to listen. I kind of still want to listen. A brilliant host who had time to prepare, confuses an atlas with an almanac?! I can’t even.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Alysener
    United States25 days ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts

    Entertaining, educational, funny, thoughtful, thought provoking. Great way to get out of the slump of accepting the future that billionaires want us to believe is inevitable

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Who knows? 1234
    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
#229
Spain/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. Better Offline
2. This Machine Kills
3. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
4. Are We Doomed?
5. The 404 Media Podcast

How many episodes of Dreaming Against the Machine are there?

Dreaming Against the Machine launched 2 months ago and published 10 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. Moiya McTier
2. Shannon Vallor
3. Dave Karpf
4. Kim Stanley Robinson
5. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
6. Reo Eveleth

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