Best Doomer Optimism Podcasts (2025)

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DO 284 - Group Chat Live 1:29:27

Play Pause

2d ago1:29:27

1:29:27

Join the Doomer Optimism crew for their first-ever live group chat as they tackle the big questions facing our technologically saturated world. Ashley, Nate, Jason, Peter, and Patrick gather to discuss Paul Kingsnorth’s new book Against the Machine, the creeping influence of AI in our daily lives, and whether we’re heading toward accelerated collap…

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DO 283 - Kevin Ryan's Grassroots Run for Illinois 57:15

9d ago57:15

57:15

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Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures 52:28

12d ago52:28

52:28

To become a supporter, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we explored Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures. Other than trying to prove he's not the Antichrist, what is this guy up to? Newsletter piece on the topic, titled "The Political Power of Eschatological Thinking: This Is Why Peter Thiel Is Talking About the Antichrist": ht…

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DO 282 - John Heers and Ashley on Learning Humility from Georgian Dinners and Forgotten Villages 1:16:28

16d ago1:16:28

1:16:28

Against efficiency and isolation: learning humility from forgotten communities and the ancient art of the Georgian feastJohn Heers, founder of First Things Foundation, joins Ashley to discuss his unconventional approach to international development—sending people to live humbly in forgotten communities from Mozambique to Guatemala, learning local l…

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DO 281 - Tucker Max's Journey to Radical Self-Sufficiency with Dr. Chris Ellis 1:15:05

23d ago1:15:05

1:15:05

Dr. Chris Ellis interviews Tucker Max, who shares his transformative journey from bestselling author to homesteader, focusing on resiliency and self-sufficiency. Tucker discusses the impact of COVID-19 on his beliefs and actions, emphasizing the importance of family involvement in homesteading and the skills developed through this lifestyle. He emp…

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DO 280 - Building Resilience in Modern Society with Dr. Chris Ellis and Jonathan Rawles 30:14

1M ago30:14

30:14

Generational Perspectives on Preparedness with Dr. Chris Ellis and Jonathan RawlesDr. Chris Ellis sits down with Jonathan Rawles, mechanical engineer, author, and co-founder of Survival Realty, to explore how different generations approach preparedness and community resilience in an era of cultural collapse. Unlike his father, James Wesley Rawles, …

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Bryan Johnson, Mortal 1:02:40

1M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we explored the anti-aging obsession of Bryan Johnson. From erection measuring to NDA's, join us for a weird ride. Futher reading: How Bryan Johnson, Who Wants to Live Forever, Sought Control via Confidentiality Agreements – The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/technology/bryan-johns…

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DO 279 - Community, Bunkers, and the Future of Preparedness 56:23

1M ago56:23

56:23

What does it mean to be truly prepared in an uncertain world? Dr. Chris Ellis is joined by Bradley Garrett to explore the evolving landscape of resilient citizens and prepping communities, from the "Noah archetype" of community-focused preparedness to bunker communities like Vivos xPoint. The discussion unpacks the psychology, demographics, and pra…

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The Astroturf Agenda with Dean Preston 46:09

1M ago46:09

46:09

To help us keep the show going become a subscriber here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about the tech billionaire-backed astroturf campaigns that flooded his district with money and disinformation. We dig into how tech barons are reshaping local politics through …

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DO 278 - Thriving Through Homesteading 47:25

1M ago47:25

47:25

Dr. Chris Ellis, author of "Resilient Citizens," sits down with homesteader and author Roxanne Ahern to explore how sustainable living practices build both personal and community resilience. Ahern, who wrote "Holistic Homesteading" after her own transformation from health struggles to self-sufficiency, breaks down the practical and philosophical as…

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My BF is AI 47:17

2M ago47:17

47:17

To become a sponsor and get an extra episode each week, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow, This week, we talked about what AI is doing to our emotions and our relationships. From AI Psychosis to AI Boyfriends, AI is breaking our brains and our hearts. Further reading: https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2025/aug/28/ai-psychosi…

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Patreon Preview: The Vox Writer w/ Eugenics Fanfic (Effective Altruism in Media) 1:19

2M ago1:19

1:19

To hear the rest of the episode and become a supporter visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow We are entirely listener supported and we appreciate your contributions so much! This week, we were joined by Rachel Adjogah, of the brilliant Polemics.md blog. discussed The Argument, a new publication funded in part by Open Philanthro…

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DO 277 - Joe Allen on Golems, Brahmas, and the Eternal Return 53:19

2M ago53:19

53:19

Joe Allen leads us on a journey through the Axial Age's profound wisdom traditions to uncover how ancient civilizations grappled with the same transhumanist dreams that captivate us today. From the bronze automaton Talos guarding Crete to the terrifying Brahmastra weapons of the Mahabharata, we trace humanity's eternal fascination with creating art…

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UNLOCKED: Zizians Part 1- A Cult Within a Cult 48:48

2M ago48:48

48:48

This week we are off, so thought I'd unlock one of our Patreon eps from the series we did about the Zizians. We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Doom Circles. To hear parts 2 and 3 become a subscriber on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow We'll be back on our regula…

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DO 276 - Peter Allen: How to Become a Keystone Species and Restore the Earth 56:34

2M ago56:34

56:34

What if everything we think we know about "natural" ecosystems is wrong? Peter Allen is a restoration ecologist and regenerative farmer, and learn how North America's pre-European landscapes weren't wild at all—they were sophisticated agricultural systems managed by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Speaking from his 220-acre farm in Wisco…

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PATREON PREVIEW: Listener Q and A 12:56

2M ago12:56

12:56

This week we answered questions from our Patreon supporters about the Bay Area cyberdelic scene, Church of the Subgenius, the persistence of eugenics, anarcho-primitivism, TESCREAL boardgames and what our personal tech (or tech free?) utopias would be. To hear the rest of the episode become a sponsor at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow. We use…

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"These F*cking People" with Adam Becker 56:46

2M ago56:46

56:46

Become a supporter at https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we interviewed astrophysicist and science journalist Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity. Becker contends that Silicon Valley’s grandiose fantasies cloak a hunger for control, ofte…

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DO 275 - Exploring Transhumanism with Ashley and Grayson 1:01:18

2M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Ashley is joined by Grayson Quay, author of 'The Transhumanist Temptation' to explore the philosophical and ethical implications of transhumanism, its historical roots, and its intersection with modern ideologies. They cover the concept of natural law, the role of technology in shaping human identity, and the challenges parents face in a tech-drive…

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PATREON PREVIEW: The Extropians 5:21

2M ago5:21

5:21

To hear the full ep sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow In the 1990s, at the height of the Grunge Era, a small but ambitious group calling themselves the Extropians dreamed of transcending the limits of the human body and mind, through technology, radical life extension, and an unapologetically libertarian vision of the future. In t…

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Simone and Malcolm Collins: TESCREAL Parents 1:09:46

2M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

To become a Patreon subscriber go here: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we go on a dark journey of TESCREAL parenting with Simone and Malcolm Collins, the rationalist pro-natalism advocates who are raising their kids on an all AI diet. Strap in as we explore their secular religion, their runs for office, and "Future Day." By the end o…

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DO 274 - Kentucky, Catholicism, and Agrarian Revival 1:31:46

2M ago1:31:46

1:31:46

The Shire We Call Home Jason sits down with Tom Ruby and Alan Cornett to explore the profound influence of Wendell Berry on modern agrarianism, the surprising revival of Catholicism in America, and why the future might belong to those willing to get their hands dirty. From the rolling hills of Kentucky, which echo Tolkien's Shire, to the intellectu…

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PATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians Part 3: The Murder Spree 0:59

3M ago0:59

0:59

This is the final installment of our series on the Rationalist Death Cult, the Zizians. This three part series unpacks the twisted story of the Zizians, a fringe group born out of the Bay Area rationalist and effective altruism subcultures that descended into violence and murder. Blending a belief in utilitarianism with extreme accelerationist ideo…

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Mark Zuckerberg: Bunker Boy 59:43

3M ago59:43

59:43

To become a supporter, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we explore the weird world of Mark Zuckerberg and billionaire bunkers. FURTHER READING: Meta, Zuckerberg, and AI Meta Q2 earnings beat forecasts, pushes toward AI “personal superintelligence” deadline.com/2025/07/meta-q2-earnings-beat-forecasts-ai-personal-superintel…

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DO 273 - The Future of DO with Ashley, Jason, and James 1:04:17

3M ago1:04:17

1:04:17

In this episode, Ashley asks her two closest collaborators on Doomer Optimism – Jason on the podcast, and James on events – to think through what drew them to the project, lessons from what we’ve done so far, and where we could go from here.

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Tech and Hasbara 54:13

3M ago54:13

54:13

To become a supporter and keep the show going, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by Keira Havens of Citizen’s Impeachment and Nicholas Rodelo, a staff researcher at Dropsite News to discuss how tech has assisted propaganda campaigns to further the genocide in Gaza. Articles and Media Mentioned: http…

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Mind Uploading and Life Extension 1:04:12

3M ago1:04:12

1:04:12

Become a subscriber and join our listener chat: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we explored the tech billionaire fixation with cryonics, mind uploading and life extension. We’re just a couple of decel deathists! (You’ll see what we mean) In the intro this week, we talked about Superman’s critique of tech billionaires, Mountainhead,…

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DO 272 - James, Basel, and The New Deal 1:22:34

3M ago1:22:34

1:22:34

Monopoly Power, New Deal Legacies, and the Fight for Real Economic Democracy James and Basel unpack the legacy of the New Deal, the tangled history of regulation, and the roots of today’s anti-monopoly movement. From egg prices and avian flu to Big Tech and corporate control of agriculture, they explore how concentrated power distorts markets, erod…

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Ecomodernism and Nuclear Energy 1:47:48

3M ago1:47:48

1:47:48

To join us on Patreon, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we talked to professors Kyle Keeler and Nathaniel Otjen about the Breakthrough Institute, ecomodernism nuclear energy and AI. Does nuclear come with some downsides? (Yes) Futher Reading: Links between AI, tech, nuclear energy “Continued Propaganda About AI and Nuclear P…

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Thiel is the Antichrist with Will Menaker 1:16:07

3M ago1:16:07

1:16:07

To become a supporter and help keep our show going: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow (An earlier version of this show was posted, we fixed a sound problem with the file and reposted) Back from our short break. This week we analyzed Peter Thiel's interview with Ross Douthat and then sat down with Will Menaker from Chapo Trap House to talk about…

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DO 271 - The Machine with Paul Kingsnorth and Leighton Woodhouse 1:06:16

4M ago1:06:16

1:06:16

Paul Kingsnorth and Leighton Woodhouse in conversation for the Third Annual Doomer Optimism Campout at The Wagon Box.

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DO 270 - Leaving the 20th century w/ James, Donald and Ashley 1:39:31

4M ago1:39:31

1:39:31

Ashley, Donald, and James cover a lot of ground in this episode. They kick things off with the story of Leslie Peltier, a self-taught stargazer from Ohio, before diving into a deeper conversation about environmentalism. Donald raises concerns about how today’s climate discourse can feel paralyzing, especially for young people, and argues that inste…

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Pro-Natalism, Anti-Natalism and Efilism with Briahna Joy Gray 1:30:15

4M ago1:30:15

1:30:15

To join us on Patreon go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we were joined by Briahna Joy Gray to talk about natalism and Efilism. We also had a great discussion about the philosophy of human extinction. Bad Faith Podcast / Briahna Joy Gray Bad Faith Podcast: “Episode 479: Promo — Truth in Fiction w/ Cory Doctorow” https://podcas…

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The Crapture: Transhumanism and Christianity 40:04

4M ago40:04

40:04

Please support our show at patreon.com/dystopianow This week, we explore the growing relationship between Christianity and transhumanism and how they may be merging in the MAGA movement into an end-times fantasy that can satisfy everyone! Surveillance, Policing, and Immigration Tech Waymo Faces Data Privacy Protests in Los Angeles https://www.wired…

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DO 269 – Engineering, education, empathy, and memetic warfare? Dr. Chuck Pezeshki & Josh 1:53:29

4M ago1:53:29

1:53:29

DO 269 – Engineering, education, empathy, and mimetic warfare? Dr. Chuck Pezeshki & JoshDr. Chuck is an engineering professor at Washington State University. He runs an engineering design studio for student projects and blogs on an exorbitantly wide range of topics at https://empathy.guru.Dr. Chuck is hard to characterize other than “someone Doomer…

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Transhumanism and Capitalism with Dr. Alexander Thomas 1:35:56

4M ago1:35:56

1:35:56

To become a supporter and join our group chat, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DystopiaNow This week we chatted with Dr. Alexander Thomas, author of The Politics and Ethics of Transhumanism: Techno-Human Evolution and Advanced Capitalism. Dr Alexander Thomas is a multi-award-winning film director and screenwriter. His academic research…

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The Tech Bro Zone with Quinn Slobodian 1:08:28

5M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

To join our group chat or become a subscriber, go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we chatted with historian Quinn Slobodian, a professor of international history at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. His books, which have been translated into ten languages, include, most recently, Hayek’s Ba…

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DO 268 - Matt P on DO 1:49:30

5M ago1:49:30

1:49:30

Can Humanity Keep Pace with the Technologies It Creates? Matthew Pirkowski joins Ashley Fitzgerald to unpack the complicated relationship between technology and humanity. They dive into the worlds of AI and cryptocurrency, exploring how these tools work—and how they shape our minds, societies, and futures. Drawing from his background in evolutionar…

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PATREON PREVIEW: The Zizians, A Cult Within A Cult 2:56

5M ago2:56

2:56

This week is Part 1 of our Patreon supporter only series on the Zizians. We discuss the origins of the Zizian ideology in the Rationalism community, MIRI, CFAR, Roko's Basilisk and Doom Circles. To become a subscriber, visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

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Dragging Matt Yglesias with Nathan Robinson 1:13:24

5M ago1:13:24

1:13:24

To become a Patreon supporter go here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow With guest Nathan Robinson, Editor of Current Affairs, we dive into the career and ideology of Matt Yglesias and his confidently wrong opinions about everything. Yglesias has helped shift mainstream liberalism toward a colder, more cynical worldview that prioritizes elite …

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TESCREAL Overview with Kath Barbadoro and Alex Ptak 1:04:01

5M ago1:04:01

1:04:01

To join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we welcomed comedians Kath Barbadoro (What a Time to Be Alive podcast) and Alex Ptak (Quorators podcast) to go through each letter in the bundle of ideologies. Who invented them, who believes in them, and the impact they are having on our world today. Transhumanism Extropianism …

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DO 267 - Doomer Optimism w/ Matt Smith + Graham Summers + Chris Ellis 1:19:08

5M ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Dr. Chris Ellis hosts Graham Summers and Matt, discussing various economic topics including market dynamics, investment strategies, and the role of metals in the current financial landscape. They explore the implications of monetary policy, the significance of gold and silver, and the potential for a monetary reset amidst inflationary pressures. Th…

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The Dark Enlightenment (Nick Land and Curtis Yarvin) 1:01:58

5M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week we discussed Nick Land's series of essays "The Dark Enlightenment," considered a foundational document for right accelerationists (r/acc) and neoreactionary ideologies (NrX). Plus the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit, Mark Zuckerberg's AI friends, Bryan Johnson's penis de-aging, and AI sp…

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UNLOCKED: Nuke Mars (Bezos vs. Musk) 49:17

6M ago49:17

49:17

If you'd like to become a subscriber to hear more bonus episodes you can do it here: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow his Patreon bonus episode with Kenice Mobley about Bezos vs. Musk on space was so fun we decided to unlock it. Bezos wants us to live in cylinders, Musk wants us to nuke Mars, but both of them want a future where we're all digi…

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DO 266 - Ashley, Chris, and Jason 1:16:52

6M ago1:16:52

1:16:52

Chris Smaje and Jason Snyder make their triumphant return to DO to join Ashley to explore the concepts of 'strong gods' and 'weak gods' as articulated by NS Lyons, examining the historical context, implications of nationalism's resurgence, critiques of the strong gods argument, and the importance of localism and community in navigating societal cha…

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COPAGANDA with Alec Karakatsanis 1:18:32

6M ago1:18:32

1:18:32

Please join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow For the first half of the episode, we talked about the Semafor reveal of Silicon Valley groupchats and Marc Andreessen’s posting addiction + Èmile’s article on End Times Eschatology. We covered Yudkowsky’s “Fun Theory,” cryogenically freezing your head, and the connection between tran…

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DO 265 - Transition Engineering with Susan Krumdieck and Josh 1:51:59

6M ago1:51:59

1:51:59

Transition Engineering with Susan Krumdieck and Josh Susan Krumdieck (PhD, mechanical engineering) is a Professor at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and is the foremost global proponent of the emergent discipline of Transition Engineering. Susan figured out “Doomer Optimism” before it was a thing and asked herself, “What can I do as an engineer?…

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Q & A Part 1 -- Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality 40:40

6M ago40:40

40:40

This week we answered some questions from our Patreon supporters. It's like a mini episode on a bunch of different topics, including the worst book I've ever heard of. We covered Èmile's journey out of longtermism, Yudkowsky's Harry Potter fan fic, end-times narratives, and how we will one day beat the tech bros by withholding our labor. If you'd l…

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Sam Altman Part 2: Doomsday Prepping and Simulation Hypothesis 1:15:55

6M ago1:15:55

1:15:55

Please consider becoming a subscriber on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/dystopianow/membership This episode we began with a discussion of Peter Singer and eugenics ideas in the Effective Altruism community. And more Sam Altman-- his firing at Open AI, his doomsday prepping and his version of utopia. Sam Altman & OpenAI Moore’s Law for Everythin…

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DO264 - Natural Law w/ PlasmaRob and Ashley 1:53:34

6M ago1:53:34

1:53:34

Ashley and Robert bounce through a wide range of topics — everything from the tug-of-war between natural law and man-made law to how postmodernism has shaped (and maybe warped) the way we see truth and art. They look at how Western values were shaped, especially through Christianity, and wonder what gets lost when those foundations are ignored. The…

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Sam Altman Part 1: Building God, Scanning Eyeballs 52:33

6M ago52:33

52:33

Become a member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow This week, we begin to explore the mystery that is Sam Altman of Open AI. We cover the AI Doomer coup, Sam's Worldcoin metal orb that scans your retinas, his friendship with Peter Thiel, and his views on restructuring our government with AItopia. We also talked about the weirdo tech …