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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
AI Technology
Digital Culture
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 monthlyEpisodes48Founded2 years ago
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EducationTechnologyHow To

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Artwork for Life with Machines

Latest Episodes

A few months ago, Dan Blumberg — host of Future Around and Find Out, Webby winner for Best Technology Podcast — brought me in and let me get spicy. The question we kept circling: who actually gets to decide what this technology does to us, for us and... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Podcast Host
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Neha Shukla
21-year-old AI ethicist, activist, and Duke student (CS and Sociology)
Young Futures; Innovation For Everyone; World Economic Forum youth AI advisory leadership
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
Tazin Khan
Cyber risk strategist, digital rights advocate, founder of Cyber Collective
Young Futures
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
Sneha Revanar
Founder of ENCODE JUSTICE, youth-led organization
ENCODE JUSTICE
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
Zaman Qureshi
Leader of Youth Coalition at Design It For Us
Design It For Us
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
Shosha Prabhu
Founder of Rethink Citizens
Rethink Citizens
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
Anika Dugal
High schooler leading campaigns like Stop Explicit Deepfakes
Youth-led campaigns
Episode: They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
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.
Elise Hu
Award-winning journalist and host of Raising Us
KidsCo
Episode: AI Joins the Family (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 States7 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
#70
Saudi Arabia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#76
Ireland/Technology

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

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

Listeners per Episode
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. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Nature Of with Willow Defebaugh
3. On Being with Krista Tippett
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Pivot

How many episodes of Life with Machines are there?

Life with Machines launched 2 years ago and published 48 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. Neha Shukla
2. Tazin Khan
3. Sneha Revanar
4. Zaman Qureshi
5. Shosha Prabhu
6. Anika Dugal
7. Tesia Zientek
8. Charlotte Dungan

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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