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Outrage Overload: Finding calm through science and balanced perspectives
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Outrage Overload: Finding calm through science and balanced perspectives

Author: David Beckemeyer

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If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.

Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence.

Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.

96 Episodes
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Why Physical Experiences Still Matter in a Digital World Vinyl records are outselling CDs. Instant-print cameras are finding their way back into people’s hands. Even paper notebooks remain a must-have for many. But why are we seeing this resurgence of analog technologies in an overwhelmingly digital world? In this episode, David Sax, award-winning journalist and author of The Revenge of Analog and The Future is Analog, joins us to uncover why these physical experiences hold such enduring appe...
We're joined by Jason Paul, an attorney, political strategist, and candidate for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Jason brings his wealth of experience and bold ideas to the table, offering insights on the challenges facing the Democratic Party and his vision for revitalizing its structure and operations.Whether you’re a political enthusiast or someone eager to understand the dynamics of party leadership, this episode offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective.Highli...
How Silicon Valley Elites Decide the Future Without Us Silicon Valley’s technological breakthroughs promise to change the world, but at what cost? In this episode, we sit down with philosopher and technology critic Dr. Émile P. Torres to examine the hidden price of innovation. From AI’s environmental footprint to the ethical failures in its development, we explore how a small, unelected group of tech elites wields enormous influence over our collective future. Dr. Torres unpacks the hype arou...
Do I Know You? A Journey Through Neurodiversity and Inner Lives Journalist and author Sadie Dingfelder takes us on a journey through the hidden diversity of human perception. Diagnosed with aphantasia (the inability to create mental images) and face blindness, Sadie has learned firsthand how drastically inner worlds can differ from person to person. These differences impact how we connect with others, process emotions, and navigate relationships. As we explore Sadie’s personal experiences and...
How to Survive the Age of Misinformation We are joined by Dr. David Helfand, an esteemed professor of astronomy at Columbia University and author of A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age. Dr. Helfand shares practical tools to help listeners sharpen their critical thinking skills, question the narratives they encounter, and distinguish between fact and fiction in today’s hyperconnected world. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way...
Guest host Ross "Yergz" Yerger flips the script and puts David and Lisa Beckemeyer—the voices behind the podcast—on the other side of the mic! 🎧 Listeners have asked to know more about the people behind the show, so here’s a fun, candid role-reversal episode just for you. Whether you’re driving on Christmas Day, unwinding after the festivities, or simply catching up later, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories and lighthearted moments. We’ll be back next episode with more ex...
Why Building Together Is the Key to Healing Divided Communities How can communities overcome disconnection, address anger, and rebuild trust in today’s polarized and often overwhelming world? In this episode of Outrage Overload, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, discusses the roots of civic disconnection and how media-driven outrage and social media algorithms fuel division. Drawing from his groundbreaking report, Civic Virus: Why Polarization is a Misdiagn...
How Understanding Can Combat Hate: Insights from “The Hate Next Door” In this episode of Outrage Overload, we delve into the unsettling reality of hate and extremism in America with Matt and Tawni Browning, authors of "The Hate Next Door: Undercover Within the New Face of White Supremacy." Matt, a former undercover detective, infiltrated white supremacist groups, offering a unique perspective on the evolving nature of hate and extremism. The conversation explores how hate is no longer confi...
How Social Media Hostility Impacts DemocracyTogether with our guest, Ariel Hasell, a leading expert in media, communication, and political psychology, we unpack how the outrage fueled by hostile political posts spreads across social media platforms, driving polarization and shaping public discourse based on findings of the research paper "When Social Media Attack: How Exposure to Political Attacks on Social Media Promotes Anger and Political Cynicism." We discuss the role of engagement a...
Are We Finally Sick of the Media Outrage Machine?In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Selepak, media professor at the University of Florida, for an eye-opening conversation on the shifting landscape of media and its role in stoking public outrage. Selepak explains how the decline in trust toward traditional media stems from several factors, including the media’s shift toward engagement-driven content, the erosion of investigative journalism, the rise of filter bubbles, and an incre...
What Are Voters Really Saying?In this special post-election episode of Outrage Overload, we examine the surprising twists of the 2024 election. What were voters truly trying to tell us, and what drove their choices this year? Join us as we unpack the results with fresh insights from top experts, including political scientists and a computational anthropologist, who reveal what the electorate may really be saying about the direction of the country.From inflation to immigration, economic pain t...
How Neuroscience Can Help Us Fight Burnout in an Age of Outrage and DivisionA compelling conversation with Dr. Gary Simonds, a neurosurgeon and burnout expert, to unpack the emotional toll of our outrage-saturated media environment. We explore how the relentless cycle of negative news, social media hype, and political bias can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even outrage fatigue. Dr. Simonds provides a unique perspective on how these stressors impact our mental health, drawing conn...
How Tech Bros Like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel want to Shape Our FutureIn this special episode, we're tackling the intriguing—and often troubling—world of "techno-libertarianism." We sit down with tech entrepreneur and researcher David Troy to unpack this movement’s bold vision of a future free from government control and centralized institutions, driven entirely by technology.What You'll Hear:Big Ideas and Bold Players: Discover the ideas of influential figures like Elon Musk and Peter T...
Why Embracing Complexity and Nuance is Critical for Personal Growth and Informed Decision-MakingWe sit down with Julie Rose, host of the Top of Mind podcast, to explore her journey from feeling overwhelmed by the negativity in the news to fostering thoughtful, nuanced conversations. Julie shares how she broke free from the media’s tendency to oversimplify and polarize issues, focusing instead on curiosity and complexity.Tune in to hear Julie’s practical strategies for staying informed wit...
How to Have Better Political Conversations (Even with Your Most Difficult Relatives)In this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer sits down with Dr. Karin Tamerius, a political psychiatrist and founder of Smart Politics, a nonprofit that helps progressives communicate persuasively while maintaining respect for differing viewpoints. They discuss how political polarization affects both sides of the spectrum, with a focus on how it may impact progressives more deeply. Dr. Tamerius s...
Why We Need Courage, Not Hope, to Face Climate ChangeIn this episode, I dive into new territory, exploring the environmental crisis with Dr. Roger Gottlieb, renowned author of The Sacrifice Zone. Dr. Gottlieb offers a striking perspective on the looming threat of environmental devastation, arguing that our greatest enemy is not just the crisis itself but the avoidance and denial surrounding it. He makes a compelling analogy between humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels and addiction, highli...
Can Humor Save Election Day?In this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer interviews Jonathan Bernstein, a writer and satirist, about his new visual storytelling project that aims to increase voter turnout through political satire. Bernstein shares how humor can cut through the noise of outrage-driven media and foster civic participation by highlighting shared values and commonalities. He discusses the potential for humor to encourage self-reflection, reduce partisan divisions, a...
How Twitter Impacts Our Well-beingWe explore the intricate relationship between Twitter and society with Victoria Oldemburgo de Mello, a fourth-year PhD student at the University of Toronto. Victoria's research sheds light on the psychological effects of Twitter use, exploring how the platform shapes well-being, mental health, and social connections in a polarized digital landscape.Our conversation unpacks the ways in which social media can amplify feelings of belonging or deepen divide...
How AI Can Help Address Toxic PolarizationIn this bonus episode of Outrage Overload, we dive into the intriguing potential of artificial intelligence to reduce political polarization in online spaces. Our guest, Steve McIntosh—developmental philosopher, author, and co-founder of the Developmental Politics Project—joins us to discuss his work on DepolarizingGPT, a custom AI chatbot designed to provide balanced perspectives on divisive political issues."The news is filled with reports of ho...
How to Combat the Misinformation CrisisIn this episode, we sit down with Samuel Spitali, author of How to Win the War on Truth, to unravel the complexities of misinformation and its impact on society. Samuel offers a deep dive into the history of media polarization, examining key moments like the removal of the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of partisan news outlets. We also explore the psychological factors that make conspiracy theories so enticing, even to those who pride themselves on crit...
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