The World According to Jen & Carolyn
The World According to Jen & Carolyn is a podcast where history, politics, psychology, and humor collide in unexpected yet brilliant ways. Hosted by Jen, a community servant with a sharp wit and a knack for digging up the historical receipts, and Carolyn, a licensed marriage and family therapist who expertly unpacks the psychological layers behind it all, our show offers listeners a smart, hilarious, and refreshingly real conversation between two friends with 25 years of stories and opinions to share.
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The World According to Jen & Carolyn
The Dark Enlightenment: Silicon Valley, Anti-Democracy, and the Future of Power
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*Sorry about the audio on this one, folks! Things got a little wonky!
Today’s episode is… heavy. We’re diving into something that sounds like a sci-fi dystopia, but is very real: The Dark Enlightenment. Also known as NRx, or neoreactionary thought. And if you’ve never heard of it before, you’re not alone—but its influence is quietly growing in tech, politics, and online spaces. This is not just fringe internet philosophy. It intersects with power, wealth, and governance—and challenges the core assumption that democracy is the best system we’ve got. We’re going to discuss where it came from, what it believes, why it’s appealing to some, and why critics say it’s deeply dangerous.
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Müller, J.W. – What is Populism?
Nature Genetics (re: race & genetics)
Hirschman, A.O. – Exit, Voice, and Loyalty
Piketty, T. – inequality and political systems
Levitsky & Ziblatt – How Democracies Die
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