The After On Podcast

We dive deep into the science, tech, and social issues explored in the novel "After On." It's NOT necessary to be an "After On" reader to listen, learn & enjoy this podcast!

60: Deep Fakes | Sam Harris and Zohaib Ahmed

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.  

06-05
01:52:20

59: Generative AI | What’s New & What’s Next

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

03-08
32:41

58: Recipes for Future Plagues | Kevin Esvelt

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.

02-28
01:55:23

57: Octopus Intelligence (and more!) | Roger Hanlon

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

10-08
01:59:19

56: A Massive Future for an Old Vaccine? | Megan Murray

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.

06-19
01:13:37

55: Detecting Disease Outbreaks from Internet Traffic | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

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.

04-23
01:42:30

54: Announcing a New Season

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.

02-02
02:47

53: The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated)

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.  

07-30
01:41:09

52: Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll

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

07-15
01:37:02

51: On Consciousness | 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.

06-25
01:20:23

50: About that TED Talk | Kevin Rose

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.

06-18
01:21:42

49: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 2) | Rick Doblin

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.

05-28
01:00:30

48: Canceling PTSD with MDMA (part 1) | Rick Doblin

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.

05-21
01:06:28

47. AI Boom, or Doom? | Stuart Russell

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.

04-30
01:30:06

46: Defeating Food Allergies | Kari Nadeau

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

04-09
01:47:49

45: End Games (part 2) | Naval Ravikant

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.

03-21
01:06:02

44: End Games (part 1) | Naval Ravikant

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.

03-19
01:13:41

43: Synthetic Neurobiology | Ed Boyden

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.

03-01
01:22:04

42: Live from Gainesville + the 2019 Plan

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!

12-30
56:07

41: The Medical Potential of Video Games | Adam Gazzaley

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

12-19
01:29:23

km

Welcome back! 👍

05-25 Reply

ncooty

"Does incredible violence to our intuitions"? I can't listen to this crap. You're trying to sound trendy in lieu of accurately conveying meaning.

05-15 Reply

ncooty

@6:52: "Bears no resemblance" to traditional advertising?! It's an infomercial! That's all it is. What is with you people who pretend old, crappy things are somehow trendy or better just because you use a redundant neologism or merely do it on a podcast?

05-15 Reply

km

Yay 😁

04-24 Reply

pkdj

great podcast

02-29 Reply

02-12

02-03

08-23

08-19

08-06

08-02

07-11

06-26

12-23

12-06

11-30

09-19

09-16

09-11

07-23

Recommend Channels