Podcast Episodes

The Race (Back) to the Moon

The first steps on the moon were in the name of “all mankind.” But with more countries—and the private sector—competing to not only return, but to tap into the moon’s resources, we’re going to need s…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

TBD | Where Scams Are Born

An app for open money laundering, a corridor of massive casinos in the middle of nowhere, and the global scamdemic. 

Guest: Cezary Podkul, reporter for ProPublica

If you enjoy this show, please conside…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

Decoder Ring: The Forgotten Video Game About Slavery

While the What Next team celebrates the holiday, enjoy this episode from our colleagues at Decoder Ring.

In 1992, a Minnesota-based software company known for its educational hit The Oregon Trail rele…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

How Israel-Hamas Has Divided Democrats

The war in Gaza has laid bare some deep fault lines within the Democratic party when it comes to Israel policy. How might that impact next year’s elections?

Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate politics writer. …

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

TBD | Inside OpenAI's Implosion

OpenAI was the hottest startup in Silicon Valley off the success of ChatGPT. Then, the board fired Sam Altman. 

Guest: Mike Isaac, technology reporter at the New York Times.

If you enjoy this show, ple…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

Moms for Liberty Tanked at the Polls. This Guy Called It.

Over the past few years, ultra-conservative activists took aim at school boards, trying to shape curriculums to match their beliefs. But this year, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, “parental rights candida…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

TBD | Bedbugs Are Back, Baby!

The bedbug break-out during Paris fashion week this fall was obviously horrifying, but the bad news doesn’t stop there. Bedbugs are on the rise—and on the move.

Guest: Benji Jones, senior environmenta…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

TBD | How Deepfake Porn Infected a School

Girls at a New Jersey high school were early victims of a novel and growing problem: their images were taken from social media without consent to create “deep-fake pornography.” 

Guest: Julie Jargon, …

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

What If Gaza Boils Over?

As Palestinian allies like Hezbollah and Iran voice their support, is there a danger of more countries being pulled into the war in Gaza? 

Guest: Gregory Gause, head of the Department of International…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago

Trump’s Second Term

If you want to imagine what Donald Trump’s second presidential term would look like, look at what he left unfinished from his first—and listen to his long list of personal grievances.

Guest: Susan Gla…

Published on 2 years, 1 month ago