Rephonic
Artwork for Urgent Futures

Urgent Futures with Jesse Damiani

Jesse Damiani
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Mass Extinctions
Climate Crisis
Public Health
Biodiversity
Social Justice
Los Angeles Fires
Sustainability
Community Engagement
Capitalism
Self-Driving Cars
Fossil Fuels
Privacy
Human Rights
Policing
Documentary Filmmaking
Algorithmic Resistance
Feminism
Public Understanding Of AI

Welcome to the Urgent Futures Podcast, the show that finds signal in the noise. Each episode, I sit down with leading thinkers for dialogues that clarify the chaos, from culture to the cosmos. www.realitystudies.co

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes99Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Urgent Futures

Latest Episodes

From comedies like Anchorman and Step Brothers to The Big Short, Vice, and 2C—a forthcoming film about climate apocalypse—Adam McKay's evolution as a storyteller and public figure epitomizes the journey we will need many other creative folks to under... more

YouTube

By now, the company Palantir has probably entered your field of view—but many still don’t quite get the scope and scale of what they’re building and why. Juan, today's guest, formerly worked at Palantir and other AI companies, and has now emerged as ... more

YouTube

If you spend enough time learning about climate change, you come to regard the molecule carbon dioxide—abbreivated to CO2—with fear and frustration. After all, the long accumulation of CO2 is behind roughly 75% of Earth’s warming. Leaving aside the f... more

YouTube

When you think of threats from heat, your mind probably goes to wildfire threats. And don’t get me wrong, having lived through wildfires firsthand, they’re not to be underestimated! But the headline-grabbing nature of fires might overshadow the fact ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Vivek Shandas
Professor at Portland State University, expert on urban heat islands
Portland State University
Episode: Extreme Heat: What City-Dwellers Need to Understand - Vivek Shandas | #71
Sam Bloch
Founder and lead trainer at Camp DoomsDaddy
Camp DoomsDaddy
Episode: Prepper Camp, But Make it Fun & Community-Focused - Sam Bloch (DoomsDaddy) | #70
Eric Czuleger
Presenter/Analyst at The Under Report
The Under Report
Episode: Orbán’s Loss is a Big Deal. Explaining the Future of Hungary, the EU, & Geopolitics - Eric Czuleger | Rapid Response #23
Lee Buck
Investor and philanthropist focused on climate change
Investing in climate tech; boards and entrepreneurial ecosystem advocate
Episode: How Solar Power Could Change Everything - Lee Buck | #69
Cory Doctorow
Blogger, journalist and activist focused on digital rights
Electronic Frontier Foundation; Boing Boing; pluralistic.net
Episode: Enshittification: The Rot at the Heart of Big Tech - Cory Doctorow | #68
Dr. Bob Sutor
Technical leader and advisor with a Ph.D. in mathematics; CEO of Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory; author
Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory; IBM connections mentioned
Episode: Quantum Computing 101 - Dr. Bob Sutor | #67
Wim Carton
Associate professor of sustainability science at Lund University, author
Lund University
Episode: The Most Dangerous Technology in the World? - Wim Carton | #66
Jonathan Tonkin
Professor focusing on ecology and biodiversity
Episode: Biodiversity on the Brink: Ecological Rhythms & Human Urgency - Jonathan Tonkin | Rapid Response #20
Joseph Tainter
Anthropologist and author of The Collapse of Complex Societies
Formerly at Utah State University
Episode: When, How, & Why Complex Societies Collapse - Joseph Tainter | #65

Host

Jesse Damiani
Host of Urgent Futures, Reality Studies

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 61 ratings
  • the best!

    one of my favorite podcasts! jesse is a great host + has such an incredible variety of guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fake.milo
    United Statesa year ago
  • A+ Podcast

    Deeply needed in these times and highly informative. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DashaKitt
    United Statesa year ago
  • Relevant, researched and accessible

    This podcast is truly a gem. Not only Jesse’s curation of guests is refreshing, and very relevant, the content is enlightening and accessible without being superficial. I learnt so much listening to some of the episodes and truly wished more people knew about it.

    Jesse is also a great interviewer with kindness, nuance and humility always on the agenda. Cannot recommend this podcast enough!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lili069475
    United Statesa year ago
  • High def glimpses into the chaos

    What is reality in a world dominated by rapid cycles of technological and cultural production? In the clear speak I’ve always valued in his writing, Damiani delves into the frayed edges of thought and creativity by assembling experts from a fresh cross-section of disciplines to synthesize visions of a post-real now. With each episode, am consistently enthralled by the subtlety and mastery with which Damiani teases out critical issues and weaves these into piercing dialogues, in real time. Also a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    missrenao
    United States2 years ago
  • One of the Best Podcasts in America

    Anyone interested in cutting-edge ideas about culture, tech, and philosophy needs to be listening to this podcast. The variety of guests is incredible, and all of them have something urgent to say. I always feel smarter and more generatively perplexed after listening to Urgent Futures, and I keep coming back because I want to know what the most intelligent, idiosyncratic thinkers are thinking and talking about amongst themselves. You will not regret becoming a regular listener!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daniel S. Isaac
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners find the conversations cutting-edge and globally aware.
guests are refreshingly diverse and highly relevant, never superficial.
The show delivers deep, interdisciplinary insights into culture, tech, and global issues.
The host is a skilled interviewer with kindness, nuance and humility in agenda.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#210
Brazil/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Solar Power Could Change Everything - Lee Buck | #69
Q: What is your ideal future for energy use and what steps would get us there?
The ideal is an abundant, clean energy world powered by sun and storage, with electrified industrial processes, distributed generation, and a regulatory environment that enables flexible, responsive grids.
How Solar Power Could Change Everything - Lee Buck | #69
Q: What's your view on the IRA subsidies and their impact on the solar industry's long-term success?
He argues subsidies created a land-rush mentality and some inefficiencies, but also notes the necessity of policy support in shaping market dynamics and emphasizes the need to recalibrate incentives to align with sustainable, long-term outcomes.
How Solar Power Could Change Everything - Lee Buck | #69
Q: What do you see as the most urgent and practical problems and responses in climate tech today?
Buck points to practical steps like expanding solar and storage, reforming grid incentives, advancing electrification where feasible, and focusing on high-leverage sectors such as shipping and industrial heat, while acknowledging policy and regulatory hurdles.
Enshittification: The Rot at the Heart of Big Tech - Cory Doctorow | #68
Q: Which will have more enshittifying power, CalSI or generative AI?
Generative AI has immense potential for enshittification due to opacity, misaligned incentives, and possible manipulation of outputs, though CalSI presents a different vector via predictive betting platforms that can also be exploited; both require careful governance to avoid harm.
Enshittification: The Rot at the Heart of Big Tech - Cory Doctorow | #68
Q: What is one thing you wish people paid more attention to?
Paying attention to administrability of regulation—how feasible and enforceable a rule is, especially for large-scale, fast-moving platforms, rather than chasing perfect niches that can be easily evaded.

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 Urgent Futures

What is Urgent Futures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thought-provoking show that foregrounds conversations with leading thinkers spanning technology, environment, policy, and culture. Episodes frequently explore complex systems—from urban resilience and climate politics to digital governance and AI—through accessible, rigorously sourced dialogues. Guests range from academics and journalists to practitioners shaping policy and technology, offering practical insights and critical perspectives. The host curates a diverse slate of experts, aiming to illuminate urgent global issues with nuance, clarity, and intellectual curiosity. Listeners likely value interdisciplinary thinking, rigorous analysis, and ideas-at-scale discussions about the near and distant futures that affect society, technology... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Urgent Futures?

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

How many listeners does Urgent Futures get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Urgent Futures, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Urgent Futures, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Urgent Futures have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Urgent Futures 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 Urgent Futures?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Urgent Futures:

1. Planet: Critical
2. Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff
3. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
4. Better Future with Michael Mezz
5. Making Sense with Sam Harris

How many episodes of Urgent Futures are there?

Urgent Futures launched 3 years ago and published 99 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 Urgent Futures?

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 Urgent Futures?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Urgent Futures. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Urgent Futures?

Recent guests on Urgent Futures include:

1. Vivek Shandas
2. Sam Bloch
3. Eric Czuleger
4. Lee Buck
5. Cory Doctorow
6. Dr. Bob Sutor
7. Wim Carton
8. Jonathan Tonkin

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days