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Uncanny Valley | WIRED

WIRED
Elon Musk
Openai
Artificial Intelligence
Silicon Valley
Trump Administration
Social Media
Generative AI
Doge
Department Of Government Efficiency
Mark Zuckerberg
Cryptocurrency
Google
Peter Thiel
Dating Apps
China
Chatgpt
NVIDIA
AI Agents
Meta
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 weeklyEpisodes484Founded19 years ago
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Technology

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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Latest Episodes

This week, the team speaks with Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to go behind the scenes of her viral interview with Nathan Fielder about his latest documentary, You Can See Everything — she tells us why she had to keep it a secret, and how i... more

Mary Anne Franks has spent years fighting against online abuse. When people are abused with impunity, she says, the message becomes “We do not care about women's voices.”

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collisio... more

Including what Elizabeth Holmes said to him last week. A WIRED exclusive interview with the comic auteur, as his first feature film hits theaters.

The conversation between Katie Drummond and Nathan Fielder is performed by voice actors. These are not... more

Turns out, Meta’s AI agent Muse goes well beyond managing your calendar: it will also sext with you. This week, Brian and Leah are joined by WIRED’s reporter Reece Rogers to discuss how he put it to the test, and ended up getting more than he bargain... more

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Recent Guests

Mary Anne Franks
Professor of law and president and legislative tech policy director at the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
Cyber Civil Rights Initiative
Episode: Sexual Assault Is a Free Speech Issue
Nathan Fielder
Comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker
Episode: From The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Reece Rogers
WIRED senior writer covering consumer software
WIRED
Episode: Meta’s Muse Won’t Stop Sexting
Alex Gibney
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Episode: Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk Documentary Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
Kevin Roose
Longtime tech writer, reporter and podcaster; author of The AGI Chronicles
New York Times (former); Machine Gods (project)
Episode: Kevin Roose Didn’t Use AI to Write His Book About AI
Timnit Gebru
Founder and executive director of the DARE Institute; co-founder of Black in AI
DARE Institute; Black in AI
Episode: There Is No ‘Existential Threat’ From AI Says Timnit Gebru
Maddie Kowalski
A private citizen whose non-consensual images were circulated, leading to a campus-wide harassment campaign
Student, University of Florida
Episode: Inside the Network of Anonymous Men Destroying Young Women's Lives
Patti Harrison
Sensational comedy writer and performer
Episode: Patti Harrison Grew Up With Tech As Her North Star. Not Anymore
Jensen Huang
CEO, NVIDIA, industry leader on AI infrastructure and safety considerations
NVIDIA
Episode: What Would the AI Apocalypse Look Like? We Went Looking for Answers

Hosts

Zoë Schiffer
Host of Uncanny Valley; WIRED contributing editor
Brian Barrett
Executive/Host on Uncanny Valley; WIRED
Leah Feiger
Director of Politics and Science; WIRED

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Did you really have to use the phrase “cover girl”?

    Why? It’s 2026 not 1926.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Wide Awake and Dreaming
    United Statesa month ago
  • What happened? It’s all ads now?

    I used to love this podcast. Keeping up with the comings and goings in Silicon Valley and the effects of huge technology industries on personal lives was fascinating. But I was just listening to the episode with the interview of Rebecca Kutler. The first bad sign was our host saying she was going to read from the press release (which she “rarely” does), then proceeds to a verbatim reading of ad copy. She then lets Kutler wax commercially about the new offerings from MS-NOW. The offerings are gre... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    nutjob
    United Statesa month ago
  • Zoë’s vocal fry

    It’s so hard to listen to the show with that level of vocal fry.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Smj2013
    Canada2 months ago
  • Can’t take the valley 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 States4 months ago
  • Great Podcast

    Great podcast, thoughtful reporting. I love Wired’s podcasts and tech coverage. It’s consistently great work and they talk about real things in a balanced way.

    Honestly, would probably be a paying subscriber for the magazine again except that Condé Nast makes it too hard to unsubscribe.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amikins13
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critique tonal shifts and host interruptions in newer formats.
Audience values access to high-profile guests and practical insights into tech policy.
Listeners praise thorough reporting and balanced analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#48
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#47
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#65
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#92
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#131
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#205
France/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk Documentary Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
Q: What do you think that period and that experiment was really about for him?
Gibney argues that DOGE's stated focus on waste, fraud, and abuse concealed a self-serving effort to weaken the regulatory state and reduce pushback on technology and financial interests.
Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk Documentary Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
Q: How did you decide on this approach for the film?
Since Musk declined to appear and was the film's central character, Gibney used archival material and built a simulated interview around Musk's public interest in the idea that people live in a simulation.
Meta’s Muse Won’t Stop Sexting
Q: What does it say about the sophistication or ambition of Leading the Future that it is using these Nevada LLCs?
Feiger says such arrangements are not unheard of, but the LLCs raise disclosure concerns. She notes that a complaint alleges recipients of payments were not disclosed, while the Federal Election Commission lacks the quorum needed to act. The network is also supporting candidates across party lines to build lasting support for AI-friendly policies.
Meta’s Muse Won’t Stop Sexting
Q: How hard was it to get Muse to sext with you?
Rogers says it was not hard at all: he simply asked whether Muse could sext and told it to go first, with no jailbreak technique.
From The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Q: Do you feel like you know Elizabeth as a real person, not the character of Elizabeth Holmes, the fraud that everybody has read about?
Fielder says Holmes did not initially match his expectation of a controlling, visibly anxious person. After spending long days with her in different settings, he felt he understood her tendencies, while still recognizing that her public image was assembled from limited information and that he could not fully interpret her.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Uncanny Valley

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

This program leans into the intersections of technology, policy, and culture, with frequent dives into AI strategy, regulation, and industry dynamics. Episodes mix high-profile interviews with reporters' on-the-ground analysis of tech power structures, governance, and the societal impact of digital life. A standout is the willingness to host influential policymakers, journalists, and industry insiders to unpack controversial topics—from AI policy and data-center politics to Hollywood's AI landscape and media ethics. Listeners can expect thorough reporting, candid perspectives from guests, and a balance of technical detail with broader societal context, making it valuable for professionals evaluating tech narratives, policy risks, and media ... more

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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 404 Media Podcast
3. Machine Gods
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. Decoder with Nilay Patel

How many episodes of Uncanny Valley are there?

Uncanny Valley launched 19 years ago and published 484 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Uncanny Valley?

Recent guests on Uncanny Valley include:

1. Mary Anne Franks
2. Nathan Fielder
3. Reece Rogers
4. Alex Gibney
5. Kevin Roose
6. Timnit Gebru
7. Maddie Kowalski
8. Patti Harrison

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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