Dispatch from the Zombie Apocalypse

Dispatch from the Zombie Apocalypse provides a space to reckon with our demons, call out our enemies, and work together to build a better society. DZA is 100% fact-based and firmly grounded in the reality-based community; it rejects "post-truth" politics and holds everyone to account. Each episode contains suggested antidotes, as the purpose of this show is social change, not simply intellectual discourse. *DZA's host is Dr. Jason Scorse, who holds a PhD in Environmental Economics with a minor in Behavioral Economics from UC Berkeley. He has taught public policy since 2004.

An Underground Railroad For The New Fascist American Era

In this episode Jason lays out what he would do to help others in America if he decided to stay in this fascist era of our history. The DZA website is here.

10-28
23:02

Why The Techno-Optimists And Abundance Crowd Come Up Short

In this episode Jason critiques the techno-optimism of Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman (his Trevor Noah interview is here) and the Abundance of Klein and and Thompson, neither of which grapple with the difficult reality of caste, hierarchy, race, and power in America. The DZA website is here.

10-14
01:00:07

The Future Of The Fossil Fuel Industry

In this episode Jason lays out the basic tensions in the fossil fuel market (mostly oil), and makes some predictions as to where it's headed. The analysis includes the future of the US oil industry and the extent to which the rest of the world is willing to be bullied to buy US fossil fuels. The DZA website is here.

09-30
32:58

Preparing Humans For The Zombie Apocalypse

In this episode Jason discusses the seven key human traits that he thinks will best prepare humans, particularly children, for life in our increasingly chaotic, uncertain, and dangerous future in the zombie apocalypse. The DZA website is here.

09-16
20:18

Exploring Some Of The Big Economic Issues in the Zombie Apocalypse

In this episode Jason discusses three big economic issues that will impact our lives—the future of US economic dominance, risks from crypto, and climate risks. The Sean Carroll podcast on the history of digitization is here and the DZA website is here.

09-02
39:36

Evil People Can Sometimes Be Nice

In this episode Jason discusses some of the subtleties when describing people as evil, how support for evil political ideologies overwhelms individual acts of kindness, and why American individualism is a recipe for national decline an age of collective action problems. The DZA website is here.

08-19
21:24

The Purpose Of Life Is To Choose Your Purpose

In this episode Jason discusses the key elements that make for a fulfilling life of purpose, while critiquing some of the more selfish versions that are popular in religion and modern culture. The DZA website is here.

08-05
15:20

Creating A Culture Based On Truth And Well-Being

In this episode Jason discusses three elements of new cultural norms that would greatly improve human and non-human well-being, based entirely in truth and requiring no faith. The DZA website is here. Here’s the WaPo article on doubt from the philosophy graduate.

07-22
23:29

Moving Beyond Meat And Dairy Culture

In this episode Jason discusses the myths around culture generally, and specifically about the myths surrounding meat and dairy. He then provides some recommendations for how we create a new plant-forward culture based in honesty, compassion, sustainability, and health. The DZA website is here.

07-01
39:22

Moral Relativism Is Liberalism's Achilles Heel

In this episode Jason makes the case that liberals need to lead with their values, that moral relativism is a bankrupt worldview, and that only liberal values can save the human race. The DZA website is here.

06-24
29:38

What I Got Wrong About America

In this episode Jason discusses the two fundamental errors that led him to believe Harris would win in 2024, along with some of the other explanations for why American society is so fundamentally broken. The DZA website is here.

06-10
32:06

Making America Poorer Again

In this episode Jason explains the many ways the maga fascists are making America poorer and weaker and how bad it might get; the antidote includes advice for how to incorporate this information into your financial plans. The DZA website is here.

05-27
23:40

In Praise Of The Biden-Harris Administration

In this episode Jason discusses the incredible accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration, the horrible media coverage they received, and why holding onto truth is the foundation of resistance. The DZA website is here.

05-13
30:36

It Is Not That Complicated

In this episode Jason critiques the conventional wisdom that most issues are too complex for "average" people to understand them, and argues that most issues are easy for anyone to understand with examples. The DZA website is here.

04-29
37:46

How To Go On Offense Against The Maga Fascists

In this episode Jason discusses elements of both style and substance to help us take on maga fascism and set the conditions for building a better society. The DZA website is here.

04-15
29:17

How Did The Zombie Virus Get So Out Of Control In America?

In this episode Jason looks at the three main causes that led us to this incredibly dangerous and destructive moment in American history, where our future as a stable republic is incredibly precarious and uncertain. The DZA website is here.

04-01
35:26

The Sheer Evil And Stupidity Of Maga (And Some Silver Linings)

In this episode Jason outlines how not only is Maga pure evil, but it’s blisteringly stupid, making America weaker in every way. But there are some silver linings worth pondering, both internationally and domestically. The DZA website is here.

03-25
41:24

Embrace Entropy & Savor Serenity

In this episode Jason talks about the origin of his favorite aphorism that helps guide his life and bring stability in these chaotic times. The DZA website is here.

03-04
19:41

Where AI Has The Greatest Potential To Do Good

In this episode Jason discusses the main areas where AI has the greatest potential to improve welfare, both for humans and non-humans. The DZA website is here.

02-04
24:14

My Xmas Miracle And Thoughts On The US Healthcare System

In this episode Jason discusses his recent medical emergency and successful surgery, and general thoughts on the US healthcare system. The DZA website is here.

01-21
18:31

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