The End of the World is a very descriptive title for this podcast. However, I’d like to propose an even better one:
We’re F*cked!
… Because, despite Josh Clark’s attempt to end things on an optimistic note, humans have some pretty significant challenges ahead of us. If a killer robot, pandemic, or alien invasion doesn’t get us — the sun is definitely going to explode and incinerate us all.
The End of the World is a new nine-episode podcast that discusses different existential risks, including biotechnology, artificial intelligence, natural risks, and physics experiments. I wasn’t certain what to expect when I clicked the “Subscribe” button – though, wouldn’t have been surprised to see (hear?) tin-foil hat theories and science fiction. (Not that that would be a bad thing … I’ve been binging The Sasquatch Chronicles since mid-September.)
As it turns out, The End of the World is a thoughtful and well-researched audio essay. It presents information — extremely heavy and very completed information — in an simple and easy-to-digest format. The discussion is stimulating, but not so dark that listeners are launched into an existential crisis.
This is definitely a binge-able listen … And, perhaps one to queue as you travel to your holiday parties. Everyone’s sick of talking about movies and the weather – much better to strike up a conversation with a stranger on whether infectious disease researchers are doing enough to prevent the risk to a superbug outbreak.
The Details:
- Podcast: The End of the World by Josh Clark
- Released: 2018, iHeartRadio
- Source: via iTunes
- Listen Date: December 1, 2018
- Rating: ★★★★★
- You should listen to this if you like … the idea of your predecessors not being killed by an AI-optimized paperclip machine
- Avoid this if you like … blissful ignorance
The Geeky Jock 