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Artwork for Life with Machines

Life with Machines

Baratunde Thurston
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Creativity
Comedy
Technology
Technology and Culture
Democracy
Education
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 monthlyEpisodes46Founded2 years ago
Categories
How ToTechnologyEducation

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Artwork for Life with Machines

Latest Episodes

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

YouTube

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

In this episode of Life with Machines, we explore the rise of AI as a substitute for human emotional support systems. With a focus on mental health, this video investigates how and why AI companies are pushing companionship as a core feature, and the... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

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)
Milagros Miceli
Sociologist and computer scientist with a focus on the human labor behind AI systems.
Episode: The Shadow Workforce Powering AI | Advocate Milagros Miceli (Ep. 26)
Michael Running Wolf
Northern Cheyenne and Lakota technologist and AI researcher
Episode: Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)

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 States5 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.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#248
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#109
South Africa/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#210
Ireland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
ICE, Deepfakes, and What's Real w/ Sam Gregory
Q: What are we supposed to do when a disturbing video hits our screens?
We need to pause and assess whether we are ready to engage with such content and understand that it is not our obligation to constantly witness violence.
BLAIR's Dead. Long Live BLAIR?
Q: What impact has technological time travel had on you?
Peter reflects on experiencing both thrilling and terrifying changes due to his deep exposure to rapidly evolving AI technology.

Audience Metrics

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

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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. Hard Fork
2. Today, Explained
3. Pivot
4. Radiolab
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Life with Machines are there?

Life with Machines launched 2 years ago and published 46 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 Life with Machines?

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What guests have appeared on Life with Machines?

Recent guests on Life with Machines include:

1. Sam Gregory
2. Elise Hu
3. Lee C. Camp
4. Katya Hancock
5. Kristine Gloria
6. Samin Bhan
7. Lisan Basquiat
8. Milagros Miceli

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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