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What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

Slate Podcasts
Elon Musk
Artificial Intelligence
Trump Administration
Donald Trump
Openai
Tiktok
Cryptocurrency
Social Media
Meta
Tesla
Google
Spacex
Department Of Government Efficiency
Mental Health
Data Centers
DOGE
Misinformation
Biden Administration
Chatgpt
Silicon Valley

Every 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes684Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for What Next: TBD

Latest Episodes

Ah, New York—where it’s hot, loud, and the air is barely breathable. So it’s not especially surprising that Governor Kathy Hochul is opting out of adding to all of that and announcing a moratorium on building new data centers in the state. 

Guest: N... more

Is Microsoft laying off 3,200 employees from the Xbox division just a new boss coming in and pruning an overgrown asset, or is it a sign that console gaming is coming to the end?  

Guest: Jason Schreier, reporter at Bloomberg News, cohost of Triple ... more

If you’ve seen ads for Trump Accounts for kids, but also know anything about Donald Trump, you might be wondering “Free $1,000 per baby? Okay, what’s the catch?” It’s a classic. 

Guest: Justin Wolfers, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Unive... more

Thanks for joining us during the holidays. White our team is taking a break, we want to share a series with you that we think you’ll love. It’s called Diving In. 

Getting food delivered should be simple — but somehow it's gotten outrageously expensi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Cory Doctorow
Author of The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI
Author/Journalist
Episode: A.I. Enshittifies Everything
Mark Follman
National Affairs Editor at Mother Jones; author of Trigger Points
Mother Jones
Episode: Can ChatGPT Be a Criminal Accomplice?
Randi Weingarten
President of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
Episode: Gradu-AI-tion Day
Anna Gomez
Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Episode: Trump's Disney Shakedown
Jack Conte
CEO of Patreon
Patreon
Episode: Can Patreon Build a Better Internet?
Matt Kaufman
Roblox Chief Safety Officer
Roblox
Episode: TBD Tries…Roblox
Mary Harris
Co-host of the broader What Next show
Slate
Episode: TBD Tries…Roblox
Cecilia D'Anastasio
Bloomberg journalist who has covered Roblox
Bloomberg
Episode: TBD Tries…Roblox
Stella Dove
Host Mary Harris's daughter, featured participant in the Roblox experiment
Episode: TBD Tries…Roblox

Host

Lizzie O'Leary
Host with Slate background; guides tech and policy conversations; central editorial voice.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 357 ratings
  • Just advert after advert

    Tried to bear it but I’m out

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Flash0983
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Too much ads

    Sick

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FuuuuuuckThisGame
    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 Podcasts
    5
    semipenguin
    United States3 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 Podcasts
    1
    Samd199
    United States3 years ago
  • OMG… now I realize why trump will get re-elected

    Generally enjoy the show, but just listened to

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    bluebill987
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and topics often feel timely and relevant to ongoing tech-policy discussions.
Ads are a frequent criticism, impacting listening experience for some.
Positive feedback highlights strong host engagement and accessible explanations of complex topics.
Listeners appreciate expert guests and insightful context for complex tech issues.
Some listeners want more depth and fewer promotional segments.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#212
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#229
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#26
Philippines/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#29
New Zealand/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#52
Denmark/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#74
Sweden/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can ChatGPT Be a Criminal Accomplice?
Q: What did the author/host observe about the safeguards in the chatbots during testing?
The safeguards responded with generic safety cautions, but in many scenarios they did not prevent the user from pursuing increasingly detailed and dangerous information, indicating gaps in protection.
Gradu-AI-tion Day
Q: What is the role of federal policy in guiding AI in schools?
Federal guidance is crucial to set nationwide standards and avoid a patchwork approach; without national direction, districts may misalign AI adoption with long-term educational outcomes.
Gradu-AI-tion Day
Q: Why partner with big tech for training if you're worried about influence and cognitive concerns?
The partnership is framed as providing necessary resources for teacher training, with conditions that the tools must be under teacher control and accompanied by strong guardrails to prevent coercive or harmful use in the classroom.
Gradu-AI-tion Day
Q: Can you run me through your plan? Give me the highlights.
Weingarten outlines a plan prioritizing teacher agency in AI adoption, restricting screens in early grades, delaying chatbot use until students are older, and linking AI integration to bargaining agreements and funding, all aimed at keeping education as the central driver of policy while adding guardrails.
Trump's Disney Shakedown
Q: What role does the concept of bonafide news exemptions play in this dispute?
Bonafide news exemptions exist to avoid undue scrutiny of legitimate news interviews, but the FCC's actions suggest it could threaten or redefine how such exemptions are applied, potentially affecting coverage of political figures.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

A tech-forward news show that blends policy, business, and culture at the intersection of technology and power. Recent episodes cover creator ecosystems, platform safety, AI and software paradigms, airline economics, climate tech, and OpenAI/open-media dynamics, often featuring reporters, executives, and policy experts as guests. The conversational style leans toward analytical context, real-world implications, and thoughtful critique of industry trends, with a recurring emphasis on transparency, accountability, and the societal impact of tech decisions. Listeners likely care about how big tech shapes everyday life, the ethics of platforms, and the future of work and regulation; the show is notable for its creator-first framing, media-indus... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What Next: TBD?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Next: TBD:

1. Slate Money
2. What Next | Daily News and Analysis
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Hard Fork
5. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

How many episodes of What Next: TBD are there?

What Next: TBD launched 9 years ago and published 684 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 Next: TBD?

Recent guests on What Next: TBD include:

1. Cory Doctorow
2. Mark Follman
3. Randi Weingarten
4. Anna Gomez
5. Jack Conte
6. Matt Kaufman
7. Mary Harris
8. Cecilia D'Anastasio

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