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This Machine Kills

This Machine Kills
Artificial Intelligence
Silicon Valley
Capitalism
Climate Change
Openai
Elon Musk
Trump Administration
Political Economy
China
Microsoft
Surveillance
Amazon
Google
Gaza
Military Technology
Labor Rights
Forensic Pseudoscience
Extractive Capitalism
Fossil Fuels
Venture Capital

A podcast about technology and political economy /// Agitprop against innovation and capital /// Hosted by Jathan Sadowski and Edward Ongweso Jr., Produced by Jereme Brown /// Hello friends and enemies Listen anywhere that fine podcasts are distributed. Subscribe at patreon.com/thismachinekills to get premium episodes every week.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes483Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for This Machine Kills

Latest Episodes

It’s a news roundup! First, in a duo of stories designed to make Ed jealous, Australia has seized 20 million illegal vapes at the border since January 2024, while the Australian attorney general has announced a $1.4 billion lawsuit against 3M over th... more

We chat with Gaby Del Valle—policy reporter at the Verge—about her excursion to the Border Security Expo, the new hardware and software being sold to fight the endless battle at the border, and how the border has now expanded to encompass everywhere ... more

We chat about how so many people keep getting seduced into thinking chatbots are conscious, or just keep hedging their bets in some kind of Cyber-Pascal’s Wage, or just keep lying to prop up an industry and culture they are invested in perpetuating. ... more

We’re going in for a threepeat – it’s Data Centers 3, as we continue with our analysis of the data center industry, the opposition to these hyperscale projects, and the real impacts on social communities and natural ecosystems. We get into the indust... more

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Recent Guests

Tim Sahay
Writer for Polycrisis; co-host of Electric World Order podcast
Polycrisis / Phenomenal World
Episode: 451. Do Not Become Addicted to Electrons (ft. Tim Sahay, Kate Mackenzie)
Kate Mackenzie
Writer for Polycrisis; co-host of Electric World Order podcast
Polycrisis / Phenomenal World
Episode: 451. Do Not Become Addicted to Electrons (ft. Tim Sahay, Kate Mackenzie)
Jimmy Wu
Contributor to Bay Area Current
Bay Area Current
Episode: TMK Live Show in San Francisco - March 19th
Wendy Liu
Episode: Patreon Preview – 446. Vibe Decoder (ft. Wendy Liu, Jimmy Wu)
Bruce Schneier
Renowned security technologist and author.
Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: 445. What’s Democracy Got to Do With AI? (ft. Bruce Schneier)
Brian Chen
Policy Director at Data & Society
Data & Society
Episode: 443. Behold the Big Beautiful AI State (ft. Brian Chen)
Adam Tooze
Economist and historian focusing on America's embrace of petrochemicals and China's electrical advancements.
Episode: Patreon Preview – 442. The Empire of Blood and Oil
Ciara Keegan
Researcher at the National Union of Healthcare Workers
National Union of Healthcare Workers
Episode: 441. The Fight Over AI Use in Mental Healthcare (ft. Ciara Keegan, Ilana Marcucci-Morris)
Ilana Marcucci-Morris
Licensed clinical social worker, therapist at Kaiser Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente
Episode: 441. The Fight Over AI Use in Mental Healthcare (ft. Ciara Keegan, Ilana Marcucci-Morris)

Hosts

Jathan Sadowski
Host of This Machine Kills; affiliated with This Machine Kills project; active in technology and political economy critique.
Edward Ongweso Jr.
Co-host of This Machine Kills; frequent collaborator on tech/policy discussions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 563 ratings
  • Jathan Ed and Jeremy get it. Theyre kind of wordy but they're on the level and very informed.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    BrightKM
    a month ago
  • Excellent Coverage

    Excellent, excellent coverage of multiple topics. Episode 441 with the fight against AI in behavioral health was among them. I 100% disagree with the naysayers in the reviews. All the hosts make this podcast worthwhile listening to regularly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EdeTM
    United States3 months ago
  • Really Good

    Jathan, Ed and Jeremy (and guests) present an accessible way to understand tech/finance/etc through the lens of dialectical materialism. What I enjoy most about this podcast is that they don’t just speak in abstractions, they are actually knowledgeable on these subjects. I always learn something new.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MRudley
    United States7 months ago
  • Take a breath Jathan

    Jathan is emblematic of the windbag Marxist professor who can't help themselves with the endless lecturing and quotes from Marx before asking his guest an actual question. Cannot recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Evantegrity
    United Statesa year ago
  • I genuinely wish I could give this a higher rating, because everyone involved in this podcast is knowledgeable and clearly researches every topic extensively but this entire show is pretty much just Jathan monologuing for an hour. Even when there's a really interesting guest, it's not a conversation. Jathan takes 20 minutes to ask a question because he goes off rambling about something and then the guest gets a brief period to talk. I heard Ed on Better Offline and he was great! I literally only... more

    Podchaser
    3
    Ali78
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful critique of tech capitalism and its societal impacts.
Balanced, accessible yet rigorous—great for policy-minded listeners.
Some listeners find the cadence lengthy or densely theoretical.
Promotes important debates on AI governance and democratic accountability.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#178
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#115
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#214
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#234
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#37
Ireland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

459. One Border After Another (ft. Gaby Del Valle)
Q: How do these technologies relate to broader immigration policy and enforcement strategies?
The guest notes that the tools are situated within a broader political project that intertwines national security, immigration control, and perceptions of threat, with privatization and contractor networks reinforcing a lasting, expansive regime beyond traditional border management.
459. One Border After Another (ft. Gaby Del Valle)
Q: What was your impression of the Border Security Expo and the technologies on display?
Del Valle describes a mix of hardware demonstrations, surveillance towers, cameras, drones, and training simulations, highlighting how the expo showcased a wide range of tools used to harden borders and monitor populations, along with some booths that were less interactive but still indicative of the overall tech-centric approach.
441. The Fight Over AI Use in Mental Healthcare (ft. Ciara Keegan, Ilana Marcucci-Morris)
Q: What lessons can unions facing similar issues learn from this conflict?
Make sure to keep a strong eye on contract language related to technology and to be aware of developments that could affect labor.
441. The Fight Over AI Use in Mental Healthcare (ft. Ciara Keegan, Ilana Marcucci-Morris)
Q: What should patients be doing in response to the use of AI in healthcare?
Patients are encouraged to demand the services they are paying for and to file complaints if they're having trouble accessing care.
427. Many Worlds of Extraction (ft. Laleh Khalili)
Q: Why write about extractive capitalism?
Khalili discusses the growing attention to commodity exploitation and its historical context.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Machine Kills

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

This program centers on the political economy of tech, surveillance, AI, data centers, and the social impacts of innovation. Episodes frequently critique corporate power, techno-optimism, and state-society dynamics, often through a Marxist or materialist lens. The show stands out for its willing engagement with controversial topics, deep dives into policy and governance, and a preference for guests who bring rigorous analysis on energy, security, and digital culture. Listeners are likely drawn to critical conversations about how technology shapes democracy, labor, and public policy, with a tone that blends sharp critique, humor, and accessible explanation.

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Which podcasts are similar to This Machine Kills?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Machine Kills:

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. TRASHFUTURE
3. Better Offline
4. Kill The Computer
5. Trillbilly Worker's Party

How many episodes of This Machine Kills are there?

This Machine Kills launched 6 years ago and published 483 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 Machine Kills?

Recent guests on This Machine Kills include:

1. Tim Sahay
2. Kate Mackenzie
3. Jimmy Wu
4. Wendy Liu
5. Bruce Schneier
6. Brian Chen
7. Adam Tooze
8. Ciara Keegan

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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