HTTP/2 302 x-request-id: u7zgcf62ki11mn5up73z9lwf access-control-allow-origin: * content-security-policy: default-src 'self';base-uri 'self';font-src 'self' https: data:;form-action 'self';frame-ancestors 'self';img-src 'self' data:;object-src 'none';script-src 'self';script-src-attr 'none';style-src 'self' https: 'unsafe-inline';upgrade-insecure-requests cross-origin-opener-policy: same-origin cross-origin-resource-policy: same-origin origin-agent-cluster: ?1 referrer-policy: no-referrer strict-transport-security: max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains x-content-type-options: nosniff x-dns-prefetch-control: off x-download-options: noopen x-frame-options: SAMEORIGIN x-permitted-cross-domain-policies: none x-xss-protection: 0 location: https://rss.libsyn.com/shows/102976/destinations/547951.xml vary: Accept content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 content-length: 81 date: Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:47:40 GMT HTTP/2 200 content-type: application/rss+xml; charset=utf-8 last-modified: Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:31:05 GMT content-encoding: gzip x-amz-server-side-encryption: AES256 x-amz-version-id: w9N31ovothPY29YVhVN1ozmwq.v_mgT4 server: AmazonS3 date: Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:47:40 GMT etag: W/"bec865f4e8b77260c41ca231298aecaa" vary: accept-encoding x-cache: Hit from cloudfront via: 1.1 ca6a8f79bd862f05717933aee496ef70.cloudfront.net (CloudFront) x-amz-cf-pop: BOM78-P5 alt-svc: h3=":443"; ma=86400 x-amz-cf-id: SR5YH_R6d8_CkKUnFOY0XlCF9m7KS39nzUNDzxouJX8TRg-lZMaALw== age: 59 vary: Origin Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:30:49 +0000 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:30:49 +0000 Libsyn RSSgen 1.0 https://www.after-on.com en https://www.after-on.com https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/8/5/e/5/85e5d3110306034f/AfterOnPodcastCover-3000x3000.jpg Rob Reid false Rob Reid afteron.podcast@after-on.com episodic no 61: An "Observatory" for a Shy Super AI ? Sun, 04 Aug 2024 22:30:57 +0000 Might we unwittingly start sharing our world with a super AI? A monologue and (mostly) playful thought experiment.

]]> Might we unwittingly start sharing our world with a super AI? A monologue and (mostly) playful thought experiment.

]]> 01:21:05 false 1 61 full Rob Reid Deep Fakes | Sam Harris and Zohaib Ahmed Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:55:00 +0000 Will the glittering dawn of the genai era be accompanied by a dark tsunami of pixel-perfect deep fakes? I discuss this prospect with Sam Harris, as well as the CEO of synthetic audio pioneer Resemble.ai.

 

]]> Will the glittering dawn of the genai era be accompanied by a dark tsunami of pixel-perfect deep fakes? I discuss this prospect with Sam Harris, as well as the CEO of synthetic audio pioneer Resemble.ai.

]]> 01:52:20 false 1 60 full Rob Reid Generative AI | What's New & What's Next Wed, 08 Mar 2023 19:35:00 +0000 My thoughts on what's happening in the mad world of generative AI, announcing my new home online at robreid.substack.com, and more.

]]> My thoughts on what's happening in the mad world of generative AI, announcing my new home online at robreid.substack.com, and more.

]]> 32:41 false 59 full Rob Reid Recipes for Future Plagues | Kevin Esvelt Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:20:01 +0000 USAID's new "DEEP VZN" program aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses, then broadcast their genomes to the world, according to MIT evolutionary engineer Kevin Esvelt. He estimates that 30,000 people in dozens of countries could then easily assemble them.

]]> USAID's new "DEEP VZN" program aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses, then broadcast their genomes to the world, according to MIT evolutionary engineer Kevin Esvelt. He estimates that 30,000 people in dozens of countries could then easily assemble them.

]]> 01:55:23 false 1 58 full Rob Reid Octopus Intelligence (and more!) | Roger Hanlon Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:58:10 +0000 A wide-ranging discussion of cognition in octopuses & cuttlefish, plus many, many other topics with globally renowned sensory ecologist Roger Hanlon.

]]> A wide-ranging discussion of cognition in octopuses & cuttlefish, plus many, many other topics with globally renowned sensory ecologist Roger Hanlon.

]]> 01:59:19 false 1 57 full Rob Reid A Massive Future for an Old Vaccine? | Megan Murray Sat, 19 Jun 2021 09:39:30 +0000 Harvard epidemiologist Megan Murray tells us all about the anti-tuberculosis vaccine "BCG," and the astonishing protection it may provide against Covid -- as well as looming future pandemics.

]]> Harvard epidemiologist Megan Murray tells us all about the anti-tuberculosis vaccine "BCG," and the astonishing protection it may provide against Covid -- as well as looming future pandemics.

]]> 01:13:37 false 1 56 full Rob Reid Detecting Disease Outbreaks from Internet Traffic | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Fri, 23 Apr 2021 22:34:09 +0000 This is closely tied to a 4-hour collaboration between Sam Harris and me, which Sam is posting to his podcast's feed. I strongly recommend that episode too! But it's not "required" for you to get everything out of this fascinating conversation with Seth.

]]> This is closely tied to a 4-hour collaboration between Sam Harris and me, which Sam is posting to his podcast's feed. I strongly recommend that episode too! But it's not "required" for you to get everything out of this fascinating conversation with Seth.

]]> 01:42:30 false 1 55 full Rob Reid Announcing a New Season Tue, 02 Feb 2021 22:34:58 +0000 This "episode" is just a quick new announcement of a new season of the podcast (finally)! And also of something very cool that I'm working on with fellow podcaster Sam Harris.

]]> This "episode" is just a quick new announcement of a new season of the podcast (finally)! And also of something very cool that I'm working on with fellow podcaster Sam Harris.

]]> 02:47 false 1 54 full Rob Reid The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated) Tue, 30 Jul 2019 04:01:10 +0000 Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.  

]]> Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.

]]> 01:41:09 false 1 53 full Rob Reid Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:02:10 +0000 Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.

]]> Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.

]]> 01:37:02 false 1 52 full Rob Reid On Consciousness | Annaka Harris Tue, 25 Jun 2019 04:01:21 +0000 The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.

]]> The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.

]]> 01:20:23 false 1 51 full Rob Reid About that TED Talk | Kevin Rose Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:13:47 +0000 This morning, TED posted a talk I just gave at their annual conference (on 11 days notice!). Kevin Rose interviewed me about my talk for his podcast. I'm posting his interview here as well.

]]> This morning, TED posted a talk I just gave at their annual conference (on 11 days notice!). Kevin Rose interviewed me about my talk for his podcast. I'm posting his interview here as well.

]]> 01:21:42 false 1 50 full Rob Reid Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 2) | Rick Doblin Tue, 28 May 2019 17:11:05 +0000 The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

]]> The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

]]> 01:00:30 false 1 49 full Rob Reid Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 1) | Rick Doblin Tue, 21 May 2019 04:15:13 +0000 The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

]]> The drug known as Molly, Ecstasy and MDMA may soon get regulatory approved for therapeutic use, thanks to a 34-year campaign waged by Rick Doblin. Rick and I discuss all of this, plus his own unique story.

]]> 01:06:28 false 1 48 full Rob Reid AI Boom, or Doom? | Stuart Russell Tue, 30 Apr 2019 04:00:41 +0000 Stuart Russell's textbook is used to teach AI in over 1,400 universities and 120 countries. If AI scares him, it should scare you too.

]]> Stuart Russell's textbook is used to teach AI in over 1,400 universities and 120 countries. If AI scares him, it should scare you too.

]]> 01:30:06 false 1 47 full Rob Reid Defeating Food Allergies | Kari Nadeau Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:01:31 +0000 The food allergy epidemic is mysterious, volatile, and growing fast. Kari Nadeau and her Stanford team are trying to halt it.

]]> The food allergy epidemic is mysterious, volatile, and growing fast. Kari Nadeau and her Stanford team are trying to halt it.

]]> 01:47:49 false 1 46 full Rob Reid End Games (part 2) | Naval Ravikant Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:40:51 +0000 A rampage killer with a knife can kill a few. With a gun, dozens. With a jetliner, way more. What might future tech enable? In Part Two of our conversation, Naval and I discuss "The Ender."And how to preclude this monstrosity.

]]> A rampage killer with a knife can kill a few. With a gun, dozens. With a jetliner, way more. What might future tech enable? In Part Two of our conversation, Naval and I discuss "The Ender."And how to preclude this monstrosity.

]]> 01:06:02 false 1 45 full Rob Reid End Games (part 1) | Naval Ravikant Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:03:41 +0000 Naval & I discuss a horrifying risk. We questioned whether to post this. Might it give someone ideas? Well, the bad guys already HAVE ideas. And cataclysms are only averted if we face them. There's still time.

]]> Naval & I discuss a horrifying risk. We questioned whether to post this. Might it give someone ideas? Well, the bad guys already HAVE ideas. And cataclysms are only averted if we face them. There's still time.

]]> 01:13:41 false 1 44 full Rob Reid Synthetic Neurobiology | Ed Boyden Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:03:11 +0000 Not yet 40, Ed Boyden has already concocted a panoply of tools, which are revolutionizing neuroscience research. He tells us all about optogenetics, expansion microscopy, and more.

]]> Not yet 40, Ed Boyden has already concocted a panoply of tools, which are revolutionizing neuroscience research. He tells us all about optogenetics, expansion microscopy, and more.

]]> 01:22:04 false 1 43 full Rob Reid Live from Gainesville + the 2019 Plan Sun, 30 Dec 2018 01:57:00 +0000 We start with a review of this podcast's 2019 roadmap. Then – recorded before a live audience in Gainesville, Florida – I'M the interviewee for once!

]]> We start with a review of this podcast's 2019 roadmap. Then – recorded before a live audience in Gainesville, Florida – I'M the interviewee for once!

]]> 56:07 false 1 42 full Rob Reid The Medical Potential of Video Games | Adam Gazzaley Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:38 +0000 Both a recap and extensive update of last summer's conversation about neuroscience, consciousness, and the medical potential of video games.

]]> Both a recap and extensive update of last summer's conversation about neuroscience, consciousness, and the medical potential of video games.

]]> 01:29:23 false 1 41 full Rob Reid Our Interstellar Visitor | Avi Loeb Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:04:57 +0000 Did the product of an alien intelligence make a near-Earth approach last fall? Harvard Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb believes this is possible.

]]> Did the product of an alien intelligence make a near-Earth approach last fall? Harvard Astronomy Department Chair Avi Loeb believes this is possible.

]]> 01:10:35 false 1 40 full Rob Reid Restoring Sight to the Blind | EJ Chichinilsky Wed, 14 Nov 2018 09:22:00 +0000 Amazing work at Stanford could restore vision to the blind. Then later become a gateway some mind-blowing neural augmentation! We discuss the astounding neuroscience and engineering behind all this, with the professor who's making it happen.

]]> Amazing work at Stanford could restore vision to the blind. Then later become a gateway some mind-blowing neural augmentation! We discuss the astounding neuroscience and engineering behind all this, with the professor who's making it happen.

]]> 01:24:16 false 1 39 full Rob Reid The Science & Practice of Happiness | Laurie Santos Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:00:09 +0000 This spring, Yale evolutionary psychologist Laurie Santos debuted a course about happiness, almost as an experiment. It became the most popular course in the university's 300+ year history. Listen carefully, because this episode could make you happier!

]]> This spring, Yale evolutionary psychologist Laurie Santos debuted a course about happiness, almost as an experiment. It became the most popular course in the university's 300+ year history. Listen carefully, because this episode could make you happier!

]]> 01:25:55 false 1 38 full Rob Reid On the Future | Astronomer Royal Martin Rees Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:01:02 +0000 Can humankind survive this century? Great Britain's Astronomer Royal Martin Rees shares some of his profoundly original thinking on this fraught question.

]]> Can humankind survive this century? Great Britain's Astronomer Royal Martin Rees shares some of his profoundly original thinking on this fraught question.

]]> 01:20:59 false 1 37 full Rob Reid Mapping the Heavens | Priya Natarajan Thu, 13 Sep 2018 23:42:50 +0000 Dark matter, dark energy, and black holes are the universe's three most massive mysteries. Literally! Yale astrophysicist Priya Natarajan takes us on a fascinating tour of them all. 

]]> Dark matter, dark energy, and black holes are the universe's three most massive mysteries. Literally! Yale astrophysicist Priya Natarajan takes us on a fascinating tour of them all.

]]> 01:23:44 false 1 36 full Rob Reid Empowering the Acre | Andrew Youn Wed, 22 Aug 2018 04:31:47 +0000 Andrew Youn's One Acre Found is bringing food security to hundreds of thousands of families throughout Central Africa. Now THAT'S an inspiring startup!

]]> Andrew Youn's One Acre Found is bringing food security to hundreds of thousands of families throughout Central Africa. Now THAT'S an inspiring startup!

]]> 01:13:26 false 1 35 full Rob Reid Ancient DNA | David Reich Tue, 31 Jul 2018 04:00:30 +0000 The genetic code of Neanderthals, archaic humans, and other elders is reconfiguring much of our understanding of human history. And it could just save hundreds of thousands of modern human lives per year.

]]> The genetic code of Neanderthals, archaic humans, and other elders is reconfiguring much of our understanding of human history. And it could just save hundreds of thousands of modern human lives per year.

]]> 01:31:35 false 1 34 full Rob Reid The Evolution of Beauty | Richard Prum Mon, 16 Jul 2018 04:09:17 +0000 A bold and brilliant refutation of the common wisdom about sexual attraction, aesthetics, and more. Rick Prum is an evolutionary heretic. And the wellspring of his unorthodox ideas is ... Charles Darwin himself.

]]> A bold and brilliant refutation of the common wisdom about sexual attraction, aesthetics, and more. Rick Prum is an evolutionary heretic. And the wellspring of his unorthodox ideas is ... Charles Darwin himself.

]]> 01:25:03 false 1 33 full Rob Reid Announcement | On the Future of this Podcast Sun, 01 Jul 2018 02:16:43 +0000 The full lowdown on where this podcast is going from here.

]]> The full lowdown on where this podcast is going from here.

]]> 20:59 false 1 32 full Rob Reid Expanding DNA's Alphabet (by half!) | Floyd Romesberg Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:03:32 +0000 Floyd Romesberg added two letters to DNA's ancient four-letter alphabet. He got this running in cells. And coding proteins. His cell lines have passed it down hundreds of generations. Now what?

]]> Floyd Romesberg added two letters to DNA's ancient four-letter alphabet. He got this running in cells. And coding proteins. His cell lines have passed it down hundreds of generations. Now what?

]]> 01:20:36 false 1 31 full Rob Reid De-extinction, The Whole Earth, and Way More|Stewart Brand Tue, 12 Jun 2018 04:01:48 +0000 Over six consecutive decades, Stewart Brand has impacted society, tech and science in outlandishly diverse ways. This truly unhurried conversation explores the scope of his intensely original American life.

]]> Over six consecutive decades, Stewart Brand has impacted society, tech and science in outlandishly diverse ways. This truly unhurried conversation explores the scope of his intensely original American life.

]]> 01:42:48 false 1 30 full Rob Reid Jordan Harbinger | Bonus Episode Fri, 08 Jun 2018 03:49:49 +0000 An examination of the science of psychopathy from my buddy Jordan Harbinger's terrific podcast. This bonus episode is in addition to the two new original episodes I'm creating this month.

]]> An examination of the science of psychopathy from my buddy Jordan Harbinger's terrific podcast. This bonus episode is in addition to the two new original episodes I'm creating this month.

]]> 01:27:55 false 1 27 full Rob Reid Exponential Medicine | Daniel Kraft Tue, 29 May 2018 04:00:37 +0000 Key aspects of medical technology are improving even faster than computers. What are the ramifications for our health? For our lifespans? Dr. Daniel Kraft has tremendous insights into all of this - particularly as it relates to cancer.

]]> Key aspects of medical technology are improving even faster than computers. What are the ramifications for our health? For our lifespans? Dr. Daniel Kraft has tremendous insights into all of this - particularly as it relates to cancer.

]]> 01:08:27 false 1 28 full Rob Reid Depression: The Psychedelic Cure | Katya Malievskaia & George Goldsmith Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:22 +0000 The largest-ever clinical trial of a psychedelic drug will soon begin in Europe and North America. The drug is psilocybin - the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. The target is treatment-resistant depression.

]]> The largest-ever clinical trial of a psychedelic drug will soon begin in Europe and North America. The drug is psilocybin - the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. The target is treatment-resistant depression.

]]> 01:05:42 false 1 27 full Rob Reid Reality Isn't | Don Hoffman Mon, 30 Apr 2018 16:45:21 +0000 Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. Is it the most counterintuitive insight since Pythagoras figured the Earth is round?

]]> Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. Is it the most counterintuitive insight since Pythagoras figured the Earth is round?

]]> 01:21:56 false 1 26 full Rob Reid A Night at the Battery Tue, 17 Apr 2018 04:02:42 +0000 In this very atypical episode, the tables turn and I'm the interviewee! We discuss all of my creative projects, including this podcast series. Recorded live at The Battery in San Francisco.

]]> In this very atypical episode, the tables turn and I'm the interviewee! We discuss all of my creative projects, including this podcast series. Recorded live at The Battery in San Francisco.

]]> 01:03:40 false 1 25 full Rob Reid BioEngineering |George Church Tue, 03 Apr 2018 00:25:51 +0000 George Church helped found 22 companies, and co-invented the paradigm-shattering gene editing technique CRISPR. In our interview, he delivers a sweeping survey of the world of synthetic biology, and makes some astounding predictions

]]> George Church helped found 22 companies, and co-invented the paradigm-shattering gene editing technique CRISPR. In our interview, he delivers a sweeping survey of the world of synthetic biology, and makes some astounding predictions

]]> 01:20:53 false 1 24 full Rob Reid AI & Robotics - Their Present and Future| Rodney Brooks Tue, 20 Mar 2018 04:06:46 +0000 Rodney Brooks is a founding luminary of TWO vital domains in tech: robotics and AI. He's the father of the Roomba, the long-time head of MIT's AI lab, and a serial entrepreneur. Few can rival his breadth & depth in technology.

]]> Rodney Brooks is a founding luminary of TWO vital domains in tech: robotics and AI. He's the father of the Roomba, the long-time head of MIT's AI lab, and a serial entrepreneur. Few can rival his breadth & depth in technology.

]]> 01:22:44 false 1 23 full Rob Reid Creating the 6th, 7th & 8th Sense | David Eagleman Tue, 06 Mar 2018 06:09:13 +0000 Neuroscientist David Eagleman has done groundbreaking work on how we perceive time. Now he hopes to radically expand the pantheon of human senses.

]]> Neuroscientist David Eagleman has done groundbreaking work on how we perceive time. Now he hopes to radically expand the pantheon of human senses.

]]> 59:32 false 1 22 full Rob Reid Neural Imaging and ... Telepathy? | Mary Lou Jepsen Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:45:28 +0000 After stints at Google and Facebook, serial entrepreneur Mary Lou Jepsen is ready to upend the worlds of medical imaging and ... telepathy. Yup, TELEPATHY. Give it a listen!

]]> After stints at Google and Facebook, serial entrepreneur Mary Lou Jepsen is ready to upend the worlds of medical imaging and ... telepathy. Yup, TELEPATHY. Give it a listen!

]]> 01:07:47 false 1 21 full Rob Reid Radical Life Extension | Aubrey de Grey Wed, 17 Jan 2018 20:14:59 +0000 Aubrey de Grey is a highly credentialed scientist who believes it's within our grasp to REVERSE human aging in the next few decades. Dozens of scientists are now executing on his plan, funded by extremely smart backers including Peter Thiel.

]]> Aubrey de Grey is a highly credentialed scientist who believes it's within our grasp to REVERSE human aging in the next few decades. Dozens of scientists are now executing on his plan, funded by extremely smart backers including Peter Thiel.

]]> 01:07:00 false 1 20 full Rob Reid A Lightning Tour of the After On Universe Tue, 02 Jan 2018 02:40:12 +0000 A wide-ranging set of excerpts from the After On audiobook, read brilliant folks including John Hodgman, Felicia Day, Jesse Cox, Tom Merritt. Back to "normal" episodes next week, promise! :-)

]]> A wide-ranging set of excerpts from the After On audiobook, read brilliant folks including John Hodgman, Felicia Day, Jesse Cox, Tom Merritt. Back to "normal" episodes next week, promise! :-)

]]> 01:14:04 false 1 19 full Rob Reid It's Really After On Fri, 22 Dec 2017 00:39:36 +0000 This week, Broadway's own January LaVoy and legendary fantasy writer Patrick Rothfuss read/perform the the opening of the After On audiobook (plus quite a bit more). With some notes & observations from the author.

]]> This week, Broadway's own January LaVoy and legendary fantasy writer Patrick Rothfuss read/perform the the opening of the After On audiobook (plus quite a bit more). With some notes & observations from the author.

]]> 01:25:25 false 1 18 full Rob Reid The Past Present & Future of Cryptocurrency | Coinbase Co-Founder Fred Ehrsam Wed, 13 Dec 2017 04:00:00 +0000 Whether you're a cryptocurrency novice or expert, this episode will teach you a ton. My guest, Fred Ehrsam, founded the world's largest platform for storing & trading Bitcoin and more. Just us for a full crypto education!

]]> Whether you're a cryptocurrency novice or expert, this episode will teach you a ton. My guest, Fred Ehrsam, founded the world's largest platform for storing & trading Bitcoin and more. Just us for a full crypto education!

]]> 01:44:38 false 1 17 full Rob Reid The Promise & Peril in YOUR Genes | Robert Green Wed, 29 Nov 2017 04:53:11 +0000 You will soon have access to a dizzying battery of facts about your health. Some could be horrid or positive on a life-changing scale! But most will be wildly ambiguous. Should you peek? NOTE: This is NOT just hypothetical.

]]> You will soon have access to a dizzying battery of facts about your health. Some could be horrid or positive on a life-changing scale! But most will be wildly ambiguous. Should you peek? NOTE: This is NOT just hypothetical.

]]> 01:36:07 false 1 16 full Rob Reid Music Piracy | The Extraterrestrial Threat Tue, 21 Nov 2017 03:48:56 +0000 A vast alien civilization is so into American pop music, it recently committed the biggest copyright violation since the dawn of time. Against us! How should humanity respond? A special (and rather playful) episode with John Hodgman.

]]> A vast alien civilization is so into American pop music, it recently committed the biggest copyright violation since the dawn of time. Against us! How should humanity respond? A special (and rather playful) episode with John Hodgman.

]]> 01:23:12 false 1 15 full Rob Reid The Future (if any) of Jobs | Andrew McAfee Tue, 14 Nov 2017 16:45:37 +0000 Andy McAfee of MIT is a leading thinker about how robotics and other automation will influence the future of work and jobs. We touch on some scary stuff - plus some delightful notes of optimism!

]]> Andy McAfee of MIT is a leading thinker about how robotics and other automation will influence the future of work and jobs. We touch on some scary stuff - plus some delightful notes of optimism!

]]> 01:17:27 false 1 14 full Rob Reid Medium, Twitter, and Networked Words | Ev Williams Tue, 31 Oct 2017 04:04:33 +0000 Ev Williams co-founded and ran both Twitter and Blogger.com, and is now the founder/CEO of Medium. He's a deep thinker about ideas morph & travel, and is carving out a place for thoughtful, serious writing online.

 

 

 

 

]]> Ev Williams co-founded and ran both Twitter and Blogger.com, and is now the founder/CEO of Medium. He's a deep thinker about ideas morph & travel, and is carving out a place for thoughtful, serious writing online.

]]> 01:17:40 false 1 13 full Rob Reid TED Talks + Organization | Chris Anderson Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:45:22 +0000 You've probably seen a TED Talk or two (or 500!) online. Chris runs the TED organization, and has some fascinating thoughts both on how we're wired to process oratory, and how we might build a better world.

]]> You've probably seen a TED Talk or two (or 500!) online. Chris runs the TED organization, and has some fascinating thoughts both on how we're wired to process oratory, and how we might build a better world.

]]> 01:20:11 false 1 12 full Rob Reid Space Archaeology | Sarah Parcak Tue, 17 Oct 2017 04:32:02 +0000 Sarah Parcak is a pioneer in the emerging field of space archaeology. In 2016 she won the TED Prize to launch a "citizen science" platform, which is finding lost sites and fighting archaeological looting throughout the world.

 

 

]]> Sarah Parcak is a pioneer in the emerging field of space archaeology. In 2016 she won the TED Prize to launch a "citizen science" platform, which is finding lost sites and fighting archaeological looting throughout the world.

]]> 01:37:58 false 1 11 full Rob Reid 10. Tech's Past & Future | Tim O'Reilly Tue, 10 Oct 2017 07:20:58 +0000 Technology's pre-eminent publisher, Tim O'Reilly helped trigger the rise of the commercial Web, the open source community, the Web 2.0 era, and the maker movement. I discuss tech's past and future with one of its most original thinkers.

]]> Technology's pre-eminent publisher, Tim O'Reilly helped trigger the rise of the commercial Web, the open source community, the Web 2.0 era, and the maker movement. I discuss tech's past and future with one of its most original thinkers.

]]> 01:18:21 false 1 10 full Rob Reid Drones |Chris Anderson of Wired & 3DR Tue, 03 Oct 2017 07:00:00 +0000 Chris Anderson was Wired's editor-in-chief for 12 years, then started one of the world's great drone companies.

We discuss all this – and his origins as a high school dropout living in a squat and playing bass for a band called REM (no, not that REM).

]]> Chris Anderson was Wired's editor-in-chief for 12 years, then started one of the world's great drone companies.

We discuss all this – and his origins as a high school dropout living in a squat and playing bass for a band called REM (no, not that REM).

]]> 01:23:25 false 1 9 full Rob Reid Fermi's Paradox (or, where are all the aliens?) | Stephen Webb Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:43:37 +0000 Our universe's vastness and age has given alien intelligence ample space and time in which to arise. Why can we detect no sign of it? 

This is actually a momentous and scientifically serious question. Yes, really! With British astronomer Stephen Webb.

]]> Our universe's vastness and age has given alien intelligence ample space and time in which to arise. Why can we detect no sign of it?

This is actually a momentous and scientifically serious question. Yes, really! With British astronomer Stephen Webb.

]]> 01:50:02 false 1 8 full Rob Reid The Dangers of Superintelligence| James Barrat Tue, 19 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000 James Barrat's book "Our Final Invention" helped touch off a public debate about the possible dangers of superintelligence, which continues to this day. We discuss these dangers in depth in our interview.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 380-464 in the very last section of the podcast.

 

]]> James Barrat's book "Our Final Invention" helped touch off a public debate about the possible dangers of superintelligence, which continues to this day. We discuss these dangers in depth in our interview.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 380-464 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 56:29 false 1 full Rob Reid On Terrorism | Sam Harris Tue, 12 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000 Sam Harris is one of the most visible and controversial commentators on terrorism and its roots. Our interview dives deep into this subject, as well the personal journey that made Sam into the public intellectual he has become.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 289-380 in the very last section of the podcast.

 

]]> Sam Harris is one of the most visible and controversial commentators on terrorism and its roots. Our interview dives deep into this subject, as well the personal journey that made Sam into the public intellectual he has become.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 289-380 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 02:16:20 false 1 6 full Rob Reid Quantum Computing |Steve Jurvetson Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:00:00 +0000 Quantum computers could be almost farcically powerful compared to classical computers. Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson and I discuss how & why this is – and whether this potential will ever be realized.

 

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 241-288 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> Quantum computers could be almost farcically powerful compared to classical computers. Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson and I discuss how & why this is – and whether this potential will ever be realized.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Meritt and I discuss pages 241-288 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 01:08:31 false 1 5 full Rob Reid Synthetic Biology | Andrew Hessel Thu, 24 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000 It took 13 years and $3 billion to read the first human genome in 2003. Now takes #$1K and just hours. What happens when we can WRITE DNA as easily as we now read it?

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 180-241 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> It took 13 years and $3 billion to read the first human genome in 2003. Now takes #$1K and just hours. What happens when we can WRITE DNA as easily as we now read it?

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 180-241 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 01:18:15 false 1 4 full Rob Reid Privacy + Govt Intrusion | Cindy Cohn (EFF) Thu, 17 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000 In this episode, we discuss patent trolls, government hacking, privacy in the digital age, and other vital issues with Cindy Cohn, who runs the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 110-180 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> In this episode, we discuss patent trolls, government hacking, privacy in the digital age, and other vital issues with Cindy Cohn, who runs the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 110-180 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 01:16:45 false 1 3 full Consciousness & Neuroscience | Adam Gazzaley Thu, 10 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000 In this episode,we discuss the roots of consciousness and other vital topics with UCSF neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 51-109 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> In this episode,we discuss the roots of consciousness and other vital topics with UCSF neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 51-109 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 01:21:00 false 1 2 full Rob Reid Augmented Reality | Meron Gribetz Thu, 03 Aug 2017 07:00:00 +0000 In this episode, we discuss augmented reality (AR) with the CEO of AR pioneer Meta, Inc. Meron Gribetz. 

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 1-51 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> In this episode, we discuss augmented reality (AR) with the CEO of AR pioneer Meta, Inc. Meron Gribetz.

For those who are reading the novel After On, Tom Merritt and I discuss pages 1-51 in the very last section of the podcast.

]]> 01:18:49 false 1 1 full Rob Reid