Lawrence Wright has produced some of the most seminal pieces of journalism on scientology, terrorism and – now – the Silicon Valley invasion of his hometown: Austin, Texas. Kara and Larry taped this interview in front of a live (outdoor) audience in Austin. They talk about recent transplants – from Elon Musk to Joe Rogan and Emma Stone – and the city’s trans ... Show More
Yesterday
Music, Consciousness and the Power of Connection
How should we understand the relationship among sound, consciousness and a healthy mind? It has to do with the power of connection, not just to other people but the world around us. In this episode of the Hacking Longevity series, Kara talks to Dr. AZA Allsop, an artist and psych ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 4
Theo Baker Cracks Open Stanford’s Faustian Bargain With Silicon Valley
Kara talks to Theo Baker, a Stanford University student journalist and the youngest-ever George Polk Award winner, about his new book, "How to Rule the World." In it, Baker unpacks his investigation into former Stanford president, Marc Tessier-Lavigne over research misconduct in ... Show More
57m 24s
Jun 1
Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro on Friendship, Feeds and Their New Podcast
Longtime NPR co-hosts Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro are reuniting for a new CNN podcast, “Engagement Party.” Each week, they unpack all the culture stories they’re obsessed with and that are generating buzz, from who’s still watching “Euphoria” to viral trends like “friction-maxi ... Show More
1h 3m
Feb 2023
The dark history of Silicon Valley
Sean Illing speaks with Malcolm Harris, a journalist, critic, and author of the new book Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World. Together, they discuss the weird history of the city that's birthed Stanford University, Hewlett Packard, Theranos, and the mode ... Show More
58m 13s
Mar 2011
SYSK Live from SXSW: How UFOs Work
<p>In this episode, Josh and Chuck ditch the studio and head west -- south by southwest, in fact -- to record a live podcast in Austin, Texas. Tune in and learn more Stuff You Should Know about SXSW and UFOs.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.ih ... Show More
37m 48s
Feb 2024
Social Media & Child Safety, Elon's Paycheck, and Guest Conor Dougherty
Kara and Scott talk Apple Vision Pro, Disney’s failed lawsuit against Ron DeSantis, and a $100 million deal for the Smartless podcast. Also, will Elon Musk move Tesla to Texas after a Delaware judge voided his $55 billion compensation package? Plus, the upshot of the social media ... Show More
1h 11m
Mar 2024
The Billionaires’ Secret Plan to Solve California’s Housing Crisis
<p>For years, a mysterious company has been buying farmland on the outskirts of Silicon Valley, eventually putting together a plot twice the size of San Francisco.</p><p>At every step, those behind the company kept their plans for the land shrouded in secrecy. Conor Dougherty, an ... Show More
28m 13s
Sep 2021
San Francisco and the American nightmare
<p>Since the internet boom in the mid-90s, San Francisco has become a tech superpower, overtaking Silicon Valley. The city has more billionaires per square mile than anywhere in the US, but it also has more homeless people. Danny Fortson meets the residents of its tent citie ... Show More
32m 37s