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The After On Podcast

Rob Reid

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!

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 23 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S1 · E62
    March 11 · 1 hr 53 min

    62: "DEEP VZN" Revisited | Kevin Esvelt

    I'm reposting my 2022 interview with Kevin Esvelt on the deranged USAID program "DEEP VZN," in conjunction with my latest appearance on Sam Harris's podcast, in which we discuss this terrifying topic

  • S1 · E60
    Jun 5, 2023 · 1 hr 52 min

    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.

  • S1 · E58
    Feb 28, 2022 · 1 hr 55 min

    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.

  • S1 · E56
    Jun 19, 2021 · 1 hr 13 min

    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.

  • S1 · E54
    Feb 2, 2021 · 2 min

    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.

  • S1 · E53
    Jul 30, 2019 · 1 hr 41 min

    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.

  • S1 · E52
    Jul 15, 2019 · 1 hr 37 min

    52: Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll

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

  • S1 · E51
    Jun 25, 2019 · 1 hr 20 min

    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.

  • S1 · E50
    Jun 18, 2019 · 1 hr 21 min

    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.

  • S1 · E49
    May 28, 2019 · 1 hr

    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.

  • S1 · E48
    May 21, 2019 · 1 hr 6 min

    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.

  • S1 · E47
    Apr 30, 2019 · 1 hr 30 min

    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.

  • S1 · E45
    Mar 21, 2019 · 1 hr 6 min

    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.

  • S1 · E44
    Mar 19, 2019 · 1 hr 13 min

    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.

  • S1 · E43
    Mar 1, 2019 · 1 hr 22 min

    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.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes