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Artwork for Panic World

Panic World

Garbage Media
Social Media
Donald Trump
Tiktok
Youtube
Mental Health
Pornography
Internet Culture
Conspiracy Theories
Misinformation
Silicon Valley
Charlie Kirk
Moral Panic
4chan
Covid-19
Transhumanism
Peter Thiel
Spotify
Elon Musk
Gen Z
AI Music

A weekly podcast, hosted by Ryan Broderick, about how the internet warps our minds, our culture — and reality.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes114Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyNews

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Artwork for Panic World

Latest Episodes

Why are food videos so popular online? And why are the most viral ones also the grossest?

Today we’re looking back at the history of food videos, from Food Wishes to the hands-only top-down video style pioneered by Tasty to making cereal in a toilet... more

YouTube

Sit down and take a seat with Ryan & Grant. They discuss the recent release of Primetime as a follow-up to this week’s episode.

Want to hear the rest of this conversation? Or ad-free episodes, bonuses & exclusives, and access to our members-only Di... more

To Catch A Predator launched in 2004 and was immediately a massive hit, but despite its long-lasting cultural impact — highlighted by last week’s release of Primetime — it only ran for one season and twenty episodes. The show ended after an assistant... more

YouTube

Who created the strongman hellscape that we’re currently living in?

Today, we’re talking about the original looksmaxxer, Zyzz. He got his start online in 2006 with a popular World of Warcraft streaming account, whose earnings he used to join a gym, ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Max Ng
Creator of the YouTube channel Crimes New Roman
Crimes New Roman
Episode: The original looksmaxxer who created our hell world
Noah K
Noted guest referenced as part of the discussion on the looks maxing culture
Crimes New Roman
Episode: The original looksmaxxer who created our hell world
Connor Musarra
Musician, content creator, Internet person
Independent artist
Episode: BONUS PREVIEW: Is social media actually "dead" now?
Charlie Warzel
Guest, journalist and commentator on tech and media
Open accessible within episode
Episode: The sicko who invented prediction markets
Wyatt Cenac
Comedian and media commentator
Episode: Bad things happen when we let robots decide what’s good
Rob Flaherty
Former deputy campaign manager on Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign; digital strategist to Biden
Kamala Harris 2024 campaign / Biden administration projects
Episode: Our autopsy of the DNC autopsy
Sam Eagan
Reporter, producer; writes about sports and politics and masculinity
Kaleidoscope Media (Superhuman)
Episode: BONUS PREVIEW: Enhanced masculinity crisis
Ben Collins
CEO of The Onion
The Onion
Episode: The Onion's big plans for InfoWars
Mikey Smith
Deputy Political Editor for The Mirror (UK)
The Mirror
Episode: We went to the UFC fight at the White House lol

Hosts

Ryan Broderick
Host of Panic World
Grant Irving
Co-host and producer with deep involvement in Panic World content

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Yay indies!

    Omg yay indies! Please make more meme and trend content and fun internet niche backed with impeccable journalism. Actually, just whatever yall want. Maybe less democrats tho, thats been the least interesting, but still fine

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HeyFootballhead!
    Australia23 days ago
  • Meaty Discussions, Keeps it Fresh

    Found the pod after Claire Parker guested and have been loving it. Thorough discussions that feel like they get to the interesting heart of the matter, and enough variation on themes to keep each episode feeling fresh. Many insightful takes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    game_theory14
    United States2 months ago
  • fix your audio

    Amazing show, but PLEASE. Your podcast is so quiet compared to the ads. It is only your show, no other podcast I listen to is like this.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Olallieberry
    United States2 months ago
  • Interesting cultural examination with a side of unintentional reputation destruction

    This is an often-interesting podcast that goes to some fascinating places (culturally). They do a good job of explaining niche internet dynamics that either reflect broader "real life" dynamics or actually presage/become broader "real life" dynamics.

    I have to specifically call out the most valuable service they have provided for me personally, though; the Casey Newton episode. Before then, I was vaguely aware of him, and had the impression that he was a pretty smart guy who writes about techno... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DerBard
    United States4 months ago
  • Great Podcast, but…

    After a Reddit suggestion about this show a year ago, I decided to check it out on Spotify, and ended up binging the entire podcast on audio. Fast forward to today, where I’m currently listening to the “AI cats” episode, where Chelsey Weber-Smith’s description of the videos were so on point I had to drag up the video version on Spotify just to see the chaos for myself. Chelsey’s narrative was 10/10, no notes.

    Great show to listen to during work.

    However, I do have one complaint. In my 2025 Spo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AuntBandaid
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the rigorous, culturally sharp conversations and strong guest lineups.
Some episodes are noted as intense or controversial, with polarizing reactions.
Fans value the depth of analysis on online culture and tech platforms, and the frequent use of insider perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The original looksmaxxer who created our hell world
Q: What sparked the Zyzz phenomenon and how did it evolve?
Zyzz started as a real person who became a myth online, with communities on bodybuilding sites and 4chan turning his image and quotes into an aspirational, problematic blueprint for male improvement and online identity, which then morphed into a broader, monetizable culture.
BONUS PREVIEW: Is social media actually "dead" now?
Q: Question for you, Connor. What was the last time you saw something on the Internet that was inspiring or interesting?
Connor explains that inspiration comes from fresh, high-concept music videos and DIY approaches that feel timely, with a focus on how the internet rewards clever reaction-building and timeless appeal, rather than simply high production value.
Bad things happen when we let robots decide what’s good
Q: How do you see AI changing the creative process in TV and film?
Cenac explains that while AI writers or assistants can be useful as a brainstorming tool, he remains skeptical about AI's ability to replace human writers entirely, emphasizing the value of human judgment, context, and the social dynamics behind collaboration.
Bad things happen when we let robots decide what’s good
Q: What do you enjoy about the internet?
Wyatt Cenac talks about liking nostalgia, especially compilations of old TV commercials and 1970s-1990s ads, and how that content is pushed to him by the algorithm; he also notes a fascination with the way these old moments evoke a sense of comfort and context that contrasts with today's feeds.
We went to the UFC fight at the White House lol
Q: Did you enjoy the fighting?
I found the fighting boring personally, while others in the group had fun watching live.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Panic World

What is Panic World about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, culturally attuned examination of how internet dynamics influence culture, politics, and media. Episodes frequently probe topics like AI, online ecosystems, prediction markets, platform regulation, and the attention economy, often through provocative guests and candid critique. The show stands out for its fearless, takes-no-prisoners style, deep dives into niche online phenomena, and a willingness to challenge tech and media narratives, making it a strong fit for listeners who want context and critique about how digital life shapes real-world outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Panic World?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Panic World. 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 Panic World and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Panic World get?

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What are the audience demographics for Panic World?

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How many subscribers and views does Panic World have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Panic World 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 Panic World?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Panic World:

1. Kill The Computer
2. Taylor Lorenz’s Power User
3. Hyperfixed
4. Ill Conceived
5. Search Engine

How many episodes of Panic World are there?

Panic World launched 3 years ago and published 114 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 Panic World?

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 Panic World?

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

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What guests have appeared on Panic World?

Recent guests on Panic World include:

1. Max Ng
2. Noah K
3. Connor Musarra
4. Charlie Warzel
5. Wyatt Cenac
6. Rob Flaherty
7. Sam Eagan
8. Ben Collins

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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