Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
If politics and media leave you feeling angry, overwhelmed, or exhausted, Outrage Overload is for you.
In about 30 minutes every few weeks, we explore how outrage spreads, how polarization distorts perception, and how media and technology amplify emotional extremes.
Through conversations with leading scientists, researchers, and authors, we unpack the psychology, incentives, and systems shaping today’s political climate — and offer practical tools to think clearly, stay grounded, and respond constructively.
Outrage Overload helps listeners with critical questions about outrage culture, political polarization, misinformation, and media manipulation—offering science-based insight, expert interviews, and practical tools to stay grounded in a divided world.
If you’ve ever asked yourself…
• How can I stay politically informed without feeling outraged or exhausted all the time?
• Why is political polarization getting worse, and what can we do about it?
• What exactly is outrage culture, and how does it manipulate us?
• How do I talk about politics without it turning into a fight?
• Am I being misled by the media? How can I tell?
• What’s the psychological toll of living in an outrage-driven media environment?
• How can I build critical thinking skills to make sense of today’s news?
• What role does social media play in fueling outrage and misinformation?
• Is it possible to care about politics without losing your mind?
• What practical tools or insights can help me deal with toxic politics and media?
…then this is the politics show you didn’t know you needed.
Join host David Beckemeyer—science communicator and founding CTO of EarthLink—as he explores the mechanics of outrage, speaks with experts in psychology, media, and political science, and equips listeners with strategies for navigating today’s high-conflict culture with emotional resilience, critical thinking, and civil discourse.
Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
BONUS - Tech Bro Apocalypse Dreams - David Troy
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How Tech Bros Like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel want to Shape Our Future
In this special episode, we're tackling the intriguing—and often troubling—world of "techno-libertarianism." We sit down with tech entrepreneur and researcher David Troy to unpack this movement’s bold vision of a future free from government control and centralized institutions, driven entirely by technology.
What You'll Hear:
- Big Ideas and Bold Players: Discover the ideas of influential figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who argue that governments are outdated and inefficient. They’re betting on digital systems to replace traditional institutions, but is this vision realistic—or reckless?
- Hidden Risks and Global Power Plays: We’ll explore how these techno-libertarian goals may align with international destabilization efforts, raising the stakes and the risks on a global scale.
- The Road Ahead: What happens if these ideas gain traction? Hear about possible outcomes that could reshape society, and why it’s crucial for all of us to look beyond the hype.
Why Tune In?
This episode encourages listeners to think critically about a techno-libertarian future and the impacts it could have on democracy, equity, and social stability. Don't miss this deep and eye-opening conversation—because the future it envisions just might be closer than you think.
Show Notes:
https://outrageoverload.net/
Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com
HOTLINE: 925-552-7885
Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode
If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.
Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload
Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites.
Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.
Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, ...
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