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Dystopia Now

Dystopia Now

By: Kate Willett and Emile Torres
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Dystopia Now is a show where a comedian (Kate Willett) and an academic (Emile Torres) explore the philosophies and religions of Silicon Valley and tech billionaires shaping our country, our world, and our future.2025 Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • How Tech Billionaires Bought the Narrative with Eoin Higgins
    Oct 23 2025

    In this episode, we talked to journalist Eoin Higgins about his book “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left" which examines how Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk have used their wealth to shape media narratives, especially through journalists Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi.

    Eoin Higgins: https://x.com/eoinhiggins_?lang=en

    Eoin’s Substack: https://eoinhiggins.substack.com/

    Eoin’s book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eoin-higgins/owned/9781645030461/

    Become a supporter of the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/c/DystopiaNow

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    52 mins
  • Is Saving Shrimps Effective Altruism? w/ Guest Comedian Josh Gondelman
    Oct 17 2025

    In this episode, we explore the Shrimp Welfare Project, featured on the Daily Show several months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNbIKtGMoaA&t. Comedian Josh Gondelman -- a former writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver -- joins us for laughs and some serious reflection on which types of beings should be included within our circles of moral concern.

    Info on the Shrimp Welfare Project can be found here: https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/

    A critique of Effective Altruism (written by Émile Torres) is here: https://www.truthdig.com/articles/effective-altruism-is-a-welter-of-fraud-lies-exploitation-and-eugenic-fantasies/

    Find Josh's special Positive Reinforcement on YouTube and his newsletter at https://www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com/.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Peter Thiel's Antichrist Lectures
    Oct 4 2025

    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": https://www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/the-political-power-of-eschatological-82b

    If people want to learn more about the "dispensationalist" view of the end of the world, see chapter 12 of Emile's book The End: https://c8df8822-f112-4676-8332-ad89713358e3.filesusr.com/ugd/d9aaad_c1777d7f673d4926a275be8ad78f16f2.pdf

    Gil Duran on Thiel's Antichrist obsession: https://newrepublic.com/article/200471/peter-thiel-obsession-antichrist-religion

    SF Chronicle article on protests outside the Thiel talks: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/peter-thiel-antichrist-lecture-sparks-s-f-21049962.php

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    52 mins
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