Upstream

Upstream
Podcast Description
Upstream is a politics and society podcast that takes a deeper look at our world, going beyond conventional analysis and media punditry. We interview big picture thinkers on issues and events "upstream" at their source. We bring psychology, history, culture, philosophy and human nature into the mix to gain a better understanding of what is happening, and why. Episodes are co-hosted by John Bell and/or John Zada, two co-founders of The Conciliators Guild, an organization highlighting the role of underlying motivations in politics.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast dives into a variety of subjects including the impact of globalization, human flourishing in contemporary society, cultural polarization, and the philosophy of civilization. Episodes feature discussions like the endangerment of local cultures with Antone Martinho Truswell and the cultural ramifications of polarization with Dr. Calum Nicholson, emphasizing deep analytical insights into how these topics influence modern life.

Upstream is a politics and society podcast that takes a deeper look at our world, going beyond conventional analysis and media punditry. We interview big picture thinkers on issues and events “upstream” at their source. We bring psychology, history, culture, philosophy and human nature into the mix to gain a better understanding of what is happening, and why. Episodes are co-hosted by John Bell and/or John Zada, two co-founders of The Conciliators Guild, an organization highlighting the role of underlying motivations in politics.
Author Naomi Alderman (The Power) examines how pasttechnological revolutions—writing, the printing press—reshaped human cognition and society. Her insights reveal a pattern: each wave of innovation brought both empowerment and dislocation. Today’s challenge is to harness AI without letting it erode agency or meaning and her views provide context from history in that regard.
The Third Information Crisis – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0020xrs
https://naomialderman.com/

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