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Uncanny Valley | WIRED

WIRED
Elon Musk
Artificial Intelligence
Openai
Silicon Valley
Generative AI
Social Media
Trump Administration
Doge
Tiktok
Google
Department Of Government Efficiency
Nvidia
Mark Zuckerberg
Cryptocurrency
Chatgpt
Donald Trump
Peter Thiel
Dating Apps
China
Tesla

Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech.

On Tuesdays, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and be... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes450Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Latest Episodes

Anna Gomez, the only Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote a shocking letter to Disney last month, warning that the company is the target of “a sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control.” Commissioner... more

Brian and Zoë discuss the inside meltdown that has recently been unfolding at Meta and what it says about the company's relentless ambitions in the AI race. They also dive into the leaked messages and names of an invite-only group co-founded by billi... more

The satirical news publication The Onion is trying to take over Infowars, formerly owned by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and planning to put comedian Tim Heidecker in charge. Their vision is to turn Infowars into ‘Adult Swim’ for the int... more

Over the weekend, the Trump administration placed export controls on Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 — their most advanced AI models — citing national security concerns. This effectively leading the company to shut them down for all users wor... more

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Recent Guests

Noah Shockman
Contributing editor at WIRED; national security journalist
WIRED
Episode: Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Zak Brown
CEO of McLaren Racing
McLaren
Episode: The Tech Behind McLaren Racing’s F1 Dominance
Jason Rezaian
Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: How the Internet Could Help the Iranian People
Alessandra Ram
Wired contributor
WIRED
Episode: Why Is Meta In Crisis?; Google Search Is Over; AI Gets Booed by Graduates
Tom Steyer
Billionaire climate activist and gubernatorial candidate in California
Campaign for California Governor
Episode: Tom Steyer Makes His Case for Billionaires
Paul Downs
Co-creator and showrunner of Hacks
Hacks (co-creator)
Episode: The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Lucia Aniello
Co-creator and showrunner of Hacks
Hacks (co-creator)
Episode: The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Emily Mullen
WIRED staff writer
WIRED
Episode: Trump Pivots On AI Regulation; What Is Hantavirus?; Worker Ousted by DOGE Runs for Office
Amelia Dimoldenberg
Creator of Chicken Shop Date, founder of Dim's Inc.
Dim's Inc.
Episode: What’s the ‘Chicken Shop Date’ Creator’s Secret? Creative Control

Hosts

Zoë Schiffer
Host; WIRED; Director of Business and Industry (per various listings)
Brian Barrett
Executive Editor; hosts Uncanny Valley interview segments
Leah Feiger
Director of Politics and Science; WIRED
Katie Drummond
Host of The Big Interview; WIRED Global Editorial Director

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Can’t take the valley girl up-speak

    The ads (ads on other podcasts) for Uncanny Valley have better elocution than that of Uncanny Valley itself. So sophomoric. Too many “likes” every half sentence. I stopped using fillers like “like” in high school. How about some public speaking lessons?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Refined Taster
    United States10 days ago
  • Now with scoldy mom vibes

    This used to be one of my favorite podcasts, but try as they might, the current news episode hosts cannot capture any semblance of Lauren and Michael’s magic. The new hosts sound like the lunch table of obnoxious high-strung school newspaper kids, but who are also trying to also mimic the way a millennial cool kids table talks. It’s hard to sit through. And Katie Drummond is not a good verbal interviewer. Her tone is hard and she’s not skilled in collaborative interruptions- they don’t flow. The... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    L Helen Yow
    United States18 days ago
  • Too much general news

    I unfollowed because I don’t need wireds take on national news. I was listening for tech focused analysis. Too bad

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    asftny
    United Statesa month ago
  • Like the lunchroom gossip table

    Catty idiots who have never ever said anything insightful about technology or even its impact on culture. They do nothing but gossip.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bill Poleman
    United Statesa month ago
  • It’s good

    Great show, great journalism, and entertaining - I wonder what happened to the previous team, Lauren and Mike. Chemistry there was just incredible.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oze daserra
    Germany2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates accessible WIRED-brand journalism with insider access.
Listeners praise the show's strong reporting and nuanced tech coverage.
Format changes divide audiences; some crave traditional interview depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#37
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#36
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#58
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#84
Italy/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Q: What does the space around the SpaceX IPO mean for everyday investors and the tech stock landscape?
The IPO could elevate Elon Musk's wealth and validate SpaceX as a public company, while the high retail allocation suggests broader participation and a potential structural shift that could influence meme-stock dynamics alongside traditional fundamentals.
Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Q: Can you summarize how MSG's surveillance program operates today and who is affected?
The system combines facial recognition at entry points with a broader video management system to track individuals across the venue, often targeting lawyers or others who have sued MSG, as well as a specific case involving a trans woman, illustrating pervasive dossiers and tracking across spaces.
The Tech Behind McLaren Racing’s F1 Dominance
Q: What is the balance between live race attendance and viewing via screens for new fans?
Seeing a race live is unparalleled, but the sport thrives when fans engage with strategy and telemetry on second screens, pairing in-race data with TV viewing to deepen understanding and excitement.
The Tech Behind McLaren Racing’s F1 Dominance
Q: How do you think about the deal with Apple and paywalls in terms of growing a fan base?
Behind paywalls can still grow audiences; the numbers have shown subscribers, higher production quality, and a broader reach, especially as content is accessible on devices people already use, making it a net positive for fan growth and engagement.
The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Q: What concerns do you have about contracts, rights, and control in the industry?
They discuss non-compete constraints, exclusivity, and the risk of work being removed due to corporate practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding contracts and negotiating terms to protect creative work.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Uncanny Valley

What is Uncanny Valley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Uncanny Valley pulls back the curtain on Silicon Valley power, influence, and the people shaping tech policy, media, and culture. Episodes typically fuse sharp reporting with thoughtful commentary on AI, governance, and the societal impact of technology, often weaving in on-the-ground reporting, expert explainers, and candid creator and industry interviews. Notably, the show blends rapid-fire tech policy debates with in-depth creator stories, space, and science topics, offering listeners a mix of hard analysis and insider access. Potential sponsors and guests can expect a rigorous, WIRED-flavored look at how tech intersects with politics, culture, and everyday life, delivered with lively banter and accessible storytelling.

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Which podcasts are similar to Uncanny Valley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Uncanny Valley:

1. Hard Fork
2. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
3. Decoder with Nilay Patel
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. The Vergecast

How many episodes of Uncanny Valley are there?

Uncanny Valley launched 19 years ago and published 450 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 Uncanny Valley?

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 Uncanny Valley?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Uncanny Valley from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Uncanny Valley?

Recent guests on Uncanny Valley include:

1. Noah Shockman
2. Zak Brown
3. Jason Rezaian
4. Alessandra Ram
5. Tom Steyer
6. Paul Downs
7. Lucia Aniello
8. Emily Mullen

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.

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