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Climate Change
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Democracy
United States
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Middle East
Artificial Intelligence
Inflation
Covid-19
Israel
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Public Health
Immigration
Brazil
CRISPR
Economy
Race In America

It's easy to be pessimistic, especially with headlines dominated by global challenges like a changing geopolitical landscape, the rise in authoritarianism, and a seemingly unstable global economy. But what if, despite all that, humanity is actually making progress?Join Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell every Wednesday as he chats with leading experts like Ian Bremmer and Anne Marie Slaught... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes246Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for What Could Go Right?

Latest Episodes

What if you never have to wear a pink ribbon again? For years, experts called the medical dream of a personalized cancer vaccine impossible. Now, a new therapy written by an algorithm is making it happen. We're also talking about how Australian cybor... more

Is interest in space dying, or are we on the brink of our greatest interstellar discoveries? In this episode of What Could Go Right, Zachary Karabell sits down with Dr. Dakotah Tyler, an astronomer and astrophysicist who pivoted from a promising coll... more

David Pakman is the founder and host of The David Pakman Show, one of the most watched independent progressive podcasts and online political shows. He's built an audience of over 6.7 million subscribers across social media platforms through calm, fac... more

The media is constantly telling us that danger is everywhere. Between true crime binges and political rants, we're led to believe that our streets are a war zone. However, recent statistics released by the FBI tell a completely different story. Plus,... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Furestein
Biotech reporter
Stat News (as referenced)
Episode: AI Designed a Cancer Therapy, Cyborg Bugs Are Saving Lives, and the Farmworkers Who Fought Back
Stéphane Bancel
CEO of Moderna
Moderna
Episode: AI Designed a Cancer Therapy, Cyborg Bugs Are Saving Lives, and the Farmworkers Who Fought Back
Dakotah Tyler
Astronomer, Astrophysicist, Astrobiologist
Dr. StarKid podcast host
Episode: Alien Civilizations, Mars Colonization & Humanity in the Age of AI | With Dr. Dakotah Tyler
David Pakman
Political commentator, host of The David Pakman Show
David Pakman Media
Episode: Social Media Is Making Politics Feel Worse Than It Really Is | With David Pakman
Carissa Véliz
Professor of philosophy focusing on ethics and AI at Oxford University
University of Oxford
Episode: The AI Future Isn’t Inevitable. So Why Are We Told It Is? | With Carissa Véliz
Ronda Rousey
World-class athlete and author of Expecting the Unexpected
Public figure / MMA advocate
Episode: How Haters Can Accidentally Make You Happier | with Ronda Rousey
Ben Lamm
Co founder of Colossal Biosciences
Colossal Biosciences
Episode: The Case for Rewriting Nature's Code | with Ben Lamm
Mark Zandi
Chief economist at Moody's, founder of economy.com, host of Moody's Talks, Inside Economics
Moody's Analytics
Episode: Why the Economic Numbers Don't Match How You Feel | With Mark Zandi
David Epstein
Author of Inside the Box; writer focusing on science, sports, and decision-making
Episode: The Case for Embracing Limits | with David Epstein

Hosts

Emma Varvaloucas
Executive Director, The Progress Network; host of weekly insights and partner-focused discussions.
Zachary Karabell
Founder of The Progress Network; host of content-focused discussions on progress, policy, and governance.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 164 ratings
  • Her Screechy Voice

    While the topics are kind of interesting and positive I cannot bear the high-pitched squeaky voice of Emma.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MissTerripus
    United States3 months ago
  • Keep it Coming!

    Been receiving your newsletters for ages (I have them archived!) but forgot you also have a podcast. Lovely to hear your voices and dive into your content through this medium.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    et ipsa scientia potestas est
    United States7 months ago
  • See you in 2026!!

    Can’t wait for more GOOD NEWS!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    artist/anne
    United Statesa year ago
  • Makes me feel Hope!

    I adore this duo! Both have great minds and sound quips- my hope is that are back for many more months of shows, I need it more than ever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    artist/anne
    United Statesa year ago
  • View the upside of all topics except… that one

    Your newest episode starts out claiming Harris lost the election because America is racist and misogynist. Seriously? Every episode I have listened to a tempered analysis, finding truth in the hyperbole. But this episode the content creators revealed themselves as unserious. This is the epitome of why the election went the way it did: a refusal to deal in reality and a focus on charactering other people in hateful and untrue ways. Then, you allow your guest to go on to justify cutting others out... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Advocacy instead of excuses
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the hopeful, evidence-based framing and in-depth interviews with experts.
A subset of reviews expresses strong disagreement with viewpoints and tone, indicating polarized reception among some listeners.
Some critiques note a perceived bias and strong personality tones from hosts.
Fans appreciate practical takeaways and real-world examples that illustrate progress in diverse fields.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#227
Saudi Arabia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#237
Norway/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Alien Civilizations, Mars Colonization & Humanity in the Age of AI | With Dr. Dakotah Tyler
Q: What draws you to pursue curiosity-driven research despite practical skepticism about vast cosmic questions?
He emphasizes pursuing topics deeply interesting to the researcher, like exoplanets and astrobiology, because curiosity itself is a key driver of progress and discovery.
Alien Civilizations, Mars Colonization & Humanity in the Age of AI | With Dr. Dakotah Tyler
Q: Or are they just like different ways of saying the same thing?
The guest explains that astronomer and astrophysicist roles overlap in practice: using telescopes for observations and applying physics analyses to interpret data.
The Case for Rewriting Nature's Code | with Ben Lamm
Q: How do you balance openness with the need to protect public safety and prevent misuse?
Open science and transparency are important for progress and accountability, but there must be practical controls around dissemination of high‑risk capabilities. The goal is to educate and engage stakeholders while ensuring that peer review, regulatory oversight, and safety considerations guide how and when information is shared.
The Case for Rewriting Nature's Code | with Ben Lamm
Q: What guardrails or regulatory framework should exist as these technologies advance?
A robust, adaptive framework is needed, involving government, industry, and academia. It should enable responsible innovation, set clear boundaries for human and environmental applications, and allow rollbacks or adjustments as understanding grows, rather than delaying progress with endless debates.
The Era of Mass Incarceration May Actually Be Ending | with Alex Duran
Q: Tell us about something that went unexpectedly right for you in your life.
I served 12 years in prison and unexpectedly earned a world class liberal arts education through Bard College Prison Initiative, which opened doors I never imagined and set the foundation for my later work in philanthropy and reform.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About What Could Go Right?

What is What Could Go Right? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, progress-forward show that pairs data-driven optimism with expert analysis across science, economics, governance, and technology. Listeners hear conversations that weigh evidence for positive trends in climate, health, and innovation, while also tackling how headlines shape public perception. Episodes frequently feature researchers, policymakers, and authors who provide practical insights, concrete case studies, and nuanced takes on big issues. The format often blends long-form interviews with hopeful, I-can-do-it attitude, making it useful for professionals seeking balanced perspectives and actionable takeaways for strategy, communications, or policy work. A notable strength is its willingness to feature diverse viewpoints—fr... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What Could Go Right??

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Could Go Right?:

1. You Might Be Right
2. Conversations with Coleman
3. Breaking History
4. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
5. Aspen Ideas to Go

How many episodes of What Could Go Right? are there?

What Could Go Right? launched 5 years ago and published 246 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 What Could Go Right??

Recent guests on What Could Go Right? include:

1. Adam Furestein
2. Stéphane Bancel
3. Dakotah Tyler
4. David Pakman
5. Carissa Véliz
6. Ronda Rousey
7. Ben Lamm
8. Mark Zandi

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