Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.
Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence.
Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.
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
DOCUMENTARY - What’s Pulling Young Men to the Right?
Gen Z’s political gender gap is widening. Young women are trending left, while young men drift right—and it’s not just politics. In this episode, we explore the cultural, social, and economic pressures shaping young men’s identities, from the “manosphere” to societal expectations around masculinity and the pressure to be the breadwinner.
We examine the consequences for democracy, social cohesion, and the future of civic engagement—and consider how society can create better spaces for young men to belong, participate, and thrive.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why young men are drawn to exclusionary spaces online
- How societal pressures around masculinity and economic roles influence political choices
- The role of both the left and right in widening the gender gap
- Why this divide matters for democracy and social stability
- Paths toward healthier engagement and belonging
Guests:
- Rev. Angela Denker, award-winning author and journalist
- Mark Sutton, gender expert and author of How Democrats Can Win Back Men
- Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics and author of The Third Awokening
Show Notes:
https://outrageoverload.net/
Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.
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
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Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.
Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
