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Artwork for Life with Machines

Life with Machines

Baratunde Thurston
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Creativity
Comedy
Technology
Technology and Culture
Education
Democracy
Innovation
Community Engagement
BBL Drizzy
Privacy
Sustainable Innovation
Digital Culture
AI Technology
E-Commerce
Parenting
Mental Health
Human Rights
Music Industry

Life With Machines explores the human side of the A.I. revolution – the good, the bad, and the weird – and asks, “How can these machines help us become more human?” In this video podcast, host Baratunde Thurston helps us understand our rapidly emerging future, and encourages us to shape it and laugh at the absurdity. Baratunde demystifies A.I. and makes it personal with a wide range of guests: ent... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes47Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationTechnologyHow To

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Artwork for Life with Machines

Latest Episodes

We throw around the phrase "digital native" like a compliment, but Big Tech uses it as a free pass to force-feed youth their latest experiments. They market convenience while masking the true human toll: young minds navigating rampant algorithmic fal... more

YouTube

What happens when Silicon Valley's AI boom collides with rural America and Indigenous communities? Big Tech is pouring hundreds of billions into data centers, eyeing reopened nuclear plants like Three Mile Island, and pushing for expanded uranium min... more

Baratunde joins filmmakers Valerie Veach and Charlie Terrell, Mozilla's Dio Ade, and Kena's Christie Marqueese at Sundance 2026's Solidarity House to explore who gets to shape our technological future.

The panel challenges the seductive lie that tec... more

In an era of deepfakes and AI manipulation, recording reality is vital. This episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with returning guest Sam Gregory, executive director of WITNESS. They discuss how our experience of reality is being resh... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Tesia Zientek
Managing Director of Programs at Aises; Young Futures grantee
Aises; Young Futures
Episode: Big Tech Is Coming for Rural America. Young People Are Ready.
Charlotte Dungan
Chief Learning Officer of the Mark Cuban Foundation; leads AI bootcamps for rural youth
Mark Cuban Foundation; Young Futures
Episode: Big Tech Is Coming for Rural America. Young People Are Ready.
Sam Gregory
Human rights advocate and co-founder of Witness
Witness
Episode: ICE, Deepfakes, and What's Real w/ Sam Gregory
Elise Hu
Award-winning journalist and host of Raising Us
KidsCo
Episode: AI Joins the Family (cross-post)
Lee C. Camp
Award-winning theologian and host of No Small Endeavor
No Small Endeavor
Episode: Who Tells Our Story in the Age of AI? (cross-post)
Katya Hancock
Co-founder and CEO of Young Futures
Young Futures
Episode: Every Parent Needs to Have “The AI Talk”
Kristine Gloria
COO and co-founder of Young Futures
Young Futures
Episode: Every Parent Needs to Have “The AI Talk”
Samin Bhan
Stanford sophomore who co-developed a mobile app
Episode: Every Parent Needs to Have “The AI Talk”
Lisan Basquiat
Host of the Shaping Freedom podcast
Episode: Does Connecting with Our Humanity Require Disconnecting from AI? (cross-post)

Host

Baratunde Thurston
Host of Life with Machines

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Outstanding conversation with Michael Running Wolf

    I’m new to this podcast and this conversation with Michael about Indigenous leaders leveraging AI to uplift indigenous languages now and for the next generations.I hope you connect this group to more funding! I shared this episode thank you!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    katyaseattle
    United States6 months ago
  • Listen to a storytelling craftsman uplift the gems of his guests’ incredible stories

    Baratunde’s How To Citizen has been a beacon for me through dark times and so many of the guests are inspirations for my own work.

    Life with Machines is a natural progression and already has things I’ve never heard before- like an AI rap battle!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    csageland
    United States2 years ago
  • Learning journey

    I’m leery of AI in many ways because of the potential downside, but interested in learning more about it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    elizlk
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful conversations that surface practical funding and collaboration opportunities for impact-focused guests.
A natural progression from the host's previous work, delivering fresh AI insights with engaging storytelling.
Listeners appreciate the balanced, curious approach to AI and its societal implications.

Top Technology Podcasts

Acquired
AcquiredBen Gilbert and David Rosenthal
Tomorrow, Today
Tomorrow, TodayShekhar Natarajan
Hard Fork
Hard ForkThe New York Times
The Room Podcast
The Room PodcastClaudia Laurie and Madison McIlwain
Building AI Boston
Building AI BostonBuilding AI Boston
Eye On A.I.
Eye On A.I.Craig S. Smith

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Big Tech Is Coming for Rural America. Young People Are Ready.
Q: How can Indigenous communities steer AI development to reflect their values?
By grounding technology in Indigenous knowledge, building data sovereignty, and creating community-led initiatives like AUNTIE Tech and sovereign AI projects that pair tradition with modern tools.
Big Tech Is Coming for Rural America. Young People Are Ready.
Q: So what's the solution for communities facing a new wave of AI-driven resource use?
Equip local youth with AI education and agency, connect them with trusted programs like Young Futures and the Mark Cuban Foundation, and build governance frameworks that prioritize digital sovereignty and local needs.
Whose Future Are We Building? (cross-post)
Q: What is the most seductive lie that we tell ourselves about progress through technology?
We justify behavior by believing that optimizing and increasing efficiency will improve our lives, yet we lose meaningful experiences behind it.
ICE, Deepfakes, and What's Real w/ Sam Gregory
Q: What can we learn from other historical contexts about witnessing and accountability?
Witnessing can make a difference over time, and historical archives can help establish accountability even if immediate justice is not achieved.
ICE, Deepfakes, and What's Real w/ Sam Gregory
Q: What principles should we follow when bearing witness?
We should work in community, assess risk, film with intention, and think carefully before sharing what we film.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Life with Machines

What is Life with Machines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, people-focused exploration of artificial intelligence and its impact on society, work, culture, and daily life. Conversations center on the human side of tech—ethics, collaboration, and empowerment—featuring entrepreneurs, researchers, activists, educators, and storytellers who push for responsible AI, linguistic preservation, youth empowerment, and democratic participation. The show pairs rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling and even humor, making complex topics approachable for a broad audience while highlighting real-world applications and potential pitfalls.

Across episodes, the host's curiosity about how technology intersects with identity, community, and humanity drives a pattern of cross-disciplinary guests a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Life with Machines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Life with Machines:

1. The Nature Of with Willow Defebaugh
2. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Daily

How many episodes of Life with Machines are there?

Life with Machines launched 2 years ago and published 47 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 Life with Machines?

Recent guests on Life with Machines include:

1. Tesia Zientek
2. Charlotte Dungan
3. Sam Gregory
4. Elise Hu
5. Lee C. Camp
6. Katya Hancock
7. Kristine Gloria
8. Samin Bhan

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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