What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
Slate PodcastsEvery Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 628 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsTech NewsTechnology | |||
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Latest Episodes
Donald Trump—or at least the tech guys who have his ear—is ready to clear the regulatory runway for A.I. but other Republicans aren’t too sure. Can he bring them around? Or will the bubble burst first?
Guest: Gerrit De Vynck, tech reporter for the W... more
A tech mogul who made bank from Paypal with his Stanford buddies and has endeared himself to right-wing politicians and enriched himself the same way? No not him; this one’s South African..no, not him either.
Guest: Ryan Mac, reporter for the New Yo... more
As the U.S. upgrades and updates its defense and military systems, the question isn’t whether A.I. will be integrated, but where, how much, and how much decision-making are we ceding to the machine?
Guest: Josh Keating, senior correspondent at Vox a... more
Note: This episode was originally published on July 27, 2025.
There’s an entire economy devoted to seeing what products are trending—clothing, skin care, even Greek Islands—and delivering you a cheaper knock-off to buy.
Guest: Mia Sato, reporter fo... more
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Reviews
- Just advert after advert
Tried to bear it but I’m out
Apple Podcasts1Flash0983
United Kingdom5 months ago - Too much ads
Sick
Apple Podcasts1FuuuuuuckThisGame
United States2 years ago - I love this podcast, but …
It’s played in What Next? also, so I decided to unsubscribe, so I wouldn’t have the same episode show up on my feed. Lizzie O’Leary is awesome. I used to enjoy hearing her in Marketplace. I’m happy to here her again
Apple Podcasts5semipenguinUnited States2 years ago - Shallow summaries of tech issues filled with ads
There is a huge demand for deep dive podcasts into the hot topic tech issues like AI and the Metaverse etc. This podcasts taps exactly into that but fails miserably. After summarizing an issue, which basically takes the entire episode because of all the ads (funded by the same companies they critique i.e. Apple), they end each episode with a “ok so what does this all mean?” segment. Except this segment lasts 30 sec followed by more ads and then the podcast ends.
So if you are looking for dee... more
Apple Podcasts1Samd199United States2 years ago - OMG… now I realize why trump will get re-elected
Generally enjoy the show, but just listened to
Apple Podcasts2bluebill987United States2 years ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #169 |  Canada/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #194 |  Norway/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #229 |  New Zealand/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #237 |  Argentina/Technology |
Apple Podcasts | #244 |  South Africa/Technology |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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Frequently Asked Questions About What Next: TBD
What is What Next: TBD about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Focused on the intersections of technology, politics, and society, this podcast offers insightful discussions around contemporary issues shaped by technological advancements. It tackles a wide range of topics including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, surveillance, the implications of tech in politics, and the evolving music industry. Each episode features expert guests who provide commentary and analysis on the ethical and societal implications of technology. Notably, the podcast strives to present complex subjects in an accessible manner, making it suitable for both tech enthusiasts and general listeners looking to understand the impact of technology on their lives and communities.
Where can I find podcast stats for What Next: TBD?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for What Next: TBD. 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 What Next: TBD and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does What Next: TBD get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for What Next: TBD, 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 What Next: TBD?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What Next: TBD, 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 What Next: TBD have?
To see how many followers or subscribers What Next: TBD 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 What Next: TBD?
These podcasts share a similar audience with What Next: TBD:
1. What Next | Daily News and Analysis
2. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
3. Explain It to Me
4. Today, Explained
5. Slate Money
How many episodes of What Next: TBD are there?
What Next: TBD launched 8 years ago and published 628 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 What Next: TBD?
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 What Next: TBD?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What Next: TBD 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 What Next: TBD?
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What guests have appeared on What Next: TBD?
Recent guests on What Next: TBD include:
1. Josh Keating
2. Cassie Ho
3. Ali Breland
4. Renée DiResta
5. Samanth Subramanian
6. Jamie Stewart
7. Makena Kelly
8. Daryl Lowe
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.