New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

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Artificial Intelligence

Climate Change

World War II

Social Media

Drone Warfare

Technology

Algorithms

Social Justice

Environmental Justice

Covid-19 Pandemic

Environmental History

Medical Progress

Cultural History

Autonomous Weapons Systems

Technologies Of the Marvellous In Ancient Greek Religion

Geoai

Capitalism

Memory

Cancer

China

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

77 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	2856	Founded	14 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Social SciencesScience

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Latest Episodes

Roland Betancourt, "Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth" (Princeton UP, 2026)

When Disneyland opened to the public in 1955, it demystified the hidden world of factory automation through its extraordinary new attractions. In Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth (Princeton Uni... more

Today • 55 min

Sarah Murray, "Powered by Smart: A Prehistory of Everyday AI" (NYU Press, 2026)

Powered by Smart traces the techno-cultural evolutions that made artificial intelligence feel more familiar than futuristic. From wearables and streaming platforms to home voice assistants and AI toasters, smart is an inescapable feature of postdigit... more

Yesterday • 55 min

The Information State: How is the State Surveilling and Manipulating us These Days?

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI Acting Director Eli Karetny interviews Jacob Siegel, writer, Army veteran, and author of The Information State. Siegel traces how military information operations, post‑9/11 surveillance programs, and Sil... more

Yesterday • 54 min

David Blumenthal and James A. Morone, "Whiplash: From the Battle for Obamacare to the War on Science" (Yale UP, 2026)

For nearly a century, every Democratic president—and many Republicans—entered office promising to restructure America’s health care system. Barack Obama finally broke through but, in the process, opened a tumultuous decade in which battles over healt... more

21 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 7 min

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Recent Guests

Keith Cooper

Author of Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025)

Reaktion

Episode: Keith Cooper, "Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact" (Reaktion, 2025)

Nabil Ali

Author of Gold from Newton's Apple Tree, Historical Recipes for Natural Inks, Paints, and Dyes

Cambridge University Botanic Garden (resident and researcher)

Episode: Nabil Ali, "Gold from Newton's Apple Tree: Historical Recipes for Natural Inks, Paints, and Dyes" (Princeton UP, 2026)

David Kirsch

Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship

University of Maryland

Episode: David Kirsch on the Dot Com Bubble and Bust

Flower Darby

Author of The Joyful Online Teacher, Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes

University of Oklahoma Press

Episode: Flower Darby, "The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes" (U Oklahoma Press, 2026)

Alberto Galasso

Author of The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital

University/Research on innovation and IP

Episode: Alberto Galasso, "The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital" (Rotman-UTP Publishing, 2024)

Peter McDonald

Author of The Impossible Reversal (University of Minnesota Press)

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Episode: Peter D. McDonald, "The Impossible Reversal: A History of How We Play" (U Minnesota Press, 2026)

Thea Riofrancos

Author of Extraction, The Frontiers of Green Capitalism

Providence College; Climate and Community Institute; Transnational Institute

Episode: The Green Transition and the Politics of Lithium Extraction

David Arditi

Author and scholar discussing music technology panic narratives

Author of Music Technology Panic Narratives Beyond Privacy from Tapings to Napster to TikTok

Episode: David Arditi, "Music Technology Panic Narratives Beyond Piracy: From Taping to Napster to TikTok" (Anthem Press, 2026)

Douglas Erwin

Independent researcher at the Santa Fe Institute; former senior scientist and curator of paleobiology

Santa Fe Institute

Episode: Douglas H. Erwin, "The Origins of the New: Novelty and Innovation in the History of Life, Culture, and Technology" (Princeton UP, 2026)

Host

Dr. Miranda Melcher

Host of The New Books Network; multiple appearances; represents scholarly and publishing-centered interviews.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings

Excellent, but please fix the audio
Excellent content, but the audio of the introductory part is disturbed by static noise. Thankfully the introduction is pretty short. The audio of the interview is much better. I think it would be wise to get a new microphone.
Apple Podcasts
3
Em1975
United States5 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

Guests are well-chosen and bring deep expertise; episodes feel like accessible academic surveys with practical takeaways.

Some audio quality issues can be a distraction, particularly at the start of episodes, but content quality remains high.

The show consistently delivers thoughtful, scholarship-forward conversations with clear explanations of complex ideas.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#66	United States/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#32	Canada/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#162	United Kingdom/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#177	France/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#194	Germany/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#206	Italy/Science/Social Sciences

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nabil Ali, "Gold from Newton's Apple Tree: Historical Recipes for Natural Inks, Paints, and Dyes" (Princeton UP, 2026)

Q: What does the framework look like in practice, and how does it help you decide which materials and mordants to use?

He outlines a structured approach where plant parts are extracted into dyes, then combined with fillers, liquids, preservatives, and binders, with mordants tested in side experiments to determine color brightness and stability before composing the final pigment or paint.

Nabil Ali, "Gold from Newton's Apple Tree: Historical Recipes for Natural Inks, Paints, and Dyes" (Princeton UP, 2026)

Q: Could you start us off by telling us a little bit about yourself and why you decided to write this book?

The author describes his long-running engagement with plants in Cambridge, his motivation rooted in decades of exploration and field research, and a desire to make historical color knowledge accessible to artists, conservators, and general readers alike.

Alberto Galasso, "The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital" (Rotman-UTP Publishing, 2024)

Q: How should managers think about the balance between IP strategy and product-market strategy?

IP and product-market success are complementary but not determinative of each other. Patents can protect and enable market advantage, but a strong product-market fit and customer value are still essential for success. Firms should tailor IP strategy to their specific industry dynamics and cost-benefit trade-offs.

Alberto Galasso, "The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital" (Rotman-UTP Publishing, 2024)

Q: What are the biggest mistakes managers make regarding patents in startups and small firms?

A common mistake is underinvesting in filing and protecting early patents, not selecting the right patent agents, and failing to view IP as a strategic asset rather than a legal formality. Founders often regret not protecting technology early, which can hinder future product lines and fundraising.

Alberto Galasso, "The Management of Innovation: Managing and Creating Technology Capital" (Rotman-UTP Publishing, 2024)

Q: Can you walk us through the distinction between technology management and technology creation, and why it matters for managers?

Technology management focuses on facilitating the production of new knowledge—understanding how to organize the firm and its environment to spur innovation. Technology creation is about what to do once ideas are generated—how to extract value, protect, and decide whether to commercialize. Both are essential but require different organizational approaches and governance structures.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show centers on scholarly discussions of recently published work in science, technology, and society, with a strong emphasis on historical perspectives, data practices, and the social and political implications of technology. Conversations feature historians, linguists, information scholars, and interdisciplinary researchers who trace how technologies shape culture, economy, and everyday life—from early computing and data archives to modern policy debates surrounding AI, digital infrastructure, and environmental impact. A notable strength is the ability to translate complex research into accessible storytelling through archival anecdotes, cross-disciplinary comparisons, and thoughtful critiques of technological c... more

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1. New Books in Critical Theory
2. Tech Won't Save Us
3. 99% Invisible
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this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 2856 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Keith Cooper
2. Nabil Ali
3. David Kirsch
4. Flower Darby
5. Alberto Galasso
6. Peter McDonald
7. Thea Riofrancos
8. David Arditi

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