logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
1 h

Why Big Tech is Ruining Our Lives with B...

HeadGum
About this episode
Express skepticism about technology and you might be labeled a "Luddite." However, the true story of the historical Luddites offers a fascinating perspective on the relationship between workers and technology. In this episode, Adam chats with tech journalist Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech, about ... Show More
Up next
Sep 2
Is The Video Game Industry Collapsing?
The gaming industry's old model is falling apart. RAM costs are skyrocketing, making new consoles scarce and unaffordable. The industry is beset by layoffs and studio closures, and indie developers aren't doing much better. Will there be anything left for young gamers beyond Fort ... Show More
1h 39m
Aug 31
AI Has Ruined the Internet
Get 20% off DeleteMe by going to https://joindeleteme.com/adam and use code adam to protect your privacy!--Does the internet seem a lot worse lately? Here's why.https://www.yachtclubgames.com/games/... https://www.404media.coSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal ... Show More
17m 12s
Aug 26
The Philosophy of Good Sex with Quill R. Kukla
Consent has been the focal point of discussions around sex in our society, and rightly so. But consent is, or should be, the bare minimum. Philosopher Quill R. Kukla joins me to examine how we can prioritize not just consent, but agency, and dare I say...pleasure? SUPPORT THE SHO ... Show More
1h 37m
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Blood in the Machine
<p>Brian Merchant is a tech reporter, and he'd been covering the industry for years when he started to notice a term that kept coming up. When he wrote a story that was critical of tech, he'd be accused of being a "Luddite."</p><p>Like most people, Brian knew at least vaguely wha ... Show More
29m 4s
Sep 2025
Will AI Kill Your Job? w/ Brian Merchant
Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss whether the AI bubble is about to burst and how bosses are deploying AI tools to kill jobs and degrade work.Brian Merchant is the author of Blood in the Machine and writes a newsletter of the same name.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a ... Show More
59m 52s
Oct 2025
The World of AI Regulation with Brian Merchant
In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by writer Brian Merchant to talk about US AI regulation, and how governments never seem to make the effort to understand technology. https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/were-about-to-find-out-if-silicon Get $1 ... Show More
29m 24s
Sep 2023
What the Luddites Can Teach Us about AI
The Luddites did not hate technology—but they did fight the way it was used to exploit humans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
11m 21s
Jun 2023
We Don’t Need the Apple Vision Pro w/ Brian Merchant
Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss the vision of the future of computing offered by Apple’s Vision Pro headset and why it should be resisted. Brian Merchant is the technology columnist at the LA Times. He’s also the author of The One Device: The Secret History of t ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 2021
Fake Tech
Bob prompts a discussion about technology that blurs the lines of reality in this hilarious episode full of gadget scams, 00’s game nostalgia, and if the mute button could exist for real life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
53m 52s
Sep 2022
Who, exactly, were the Luddites?
Today you'll hear people described as 'Luddites' if they don't care for -- or don't understand -- some newer piece of technology, but where did this phrase come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and guest producer Tari trace the term back to its surprising origin story ... a vi ... Show More
42m 43s
Apr 2022
Gavin Mueller, "Breaking Things at Work: The Luddites Are Right About Why You Hate Your Job" (Verso, 2021)
In Breaking Things at Work: The Luddites are Right About Why You Hate Your Job (Verso, 2021), Gavin Mueller provides a bracing and wide-ranging study of the fractious relationship between workers and technology under capitalism. Mueller traces the thought and actions of ordinary ... Show More
1h 13m
Oct 2025
TECH005: What Tech Is Doing to Us with Justin Evidon (Tech Podcast)
Preston and Jevi unpack the double-edged sword of modern technology. They examine how social media, AI, EMFs, and LED lights impact our well-being, and offer real-world privacy solutions like Graphene OS and open-source photo apps. From sleep disruption to self-sovereignty, they ... Show More
54m 49s