We’ve talked a lot about criminal justice reform, but this week, we’re discovering how it’s actually put into practice. Adam is joined by Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón to talk about the DA’s path to becoming a reformer, the nationwide backlash against criminal justice reform, and how to balance the needs of the people most affected by over-policing with the demands of those fearful of crime. -- Promo Code: FACTUALLY Listener Discount: 10% Vanity URL: hover.com/FACTUALLY Learn more ...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Lotteries are the most popular form of gambling. So why the hell is the lottery run by our own government? And do they actually provide a windfall for public schools, or are they a scam that diverts money from the poorest taxpayers to a few giant companies? This week Adam is joined by Jonathan Cohen to explain how the government ended up taking over lotteries from organized crime syndicates, how they were then captured by a few large companies, and whether or not they actually pay off for societ...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Viruses are everywhere. But what exactly ARE they, and why have they been able to reshape our world? This week Adam is joined by microbiologist Joseph Osmundson to for a fascinating deep dive into microbiology, the impact of viruses on the LGBT community, and how understanding viruses can help us better understand ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr
What does neuroscience tell us about music’s impact on our species? And why do humans enjoy music at all? This week, sound engineer and neuroscientist Susan Rogers joins Adam to talk about the effects that music has on humans as a species. They discuss why records we listen to at a young age become encoded into our auditory cortex, how falling in love with a record is like falling in love with a person, and how music relates to the default network which is firing circuits in our central nervous ...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Workers are standing up for their rights across America, but to fight back against corporate power, they need help. This week Adam is joined by the General Counsel of the NLRB, Jennifer Abruzzo, to explain how the NLRB protects workers, and how to know YOUR rights in the workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nov 23, 2022•53 min
We’ve got a big one this week: best-selling historian and author of Sapiens and Unstoppable Us Yuval Noah Harari joins Adam to explain how humans took over the world, discuss his fears about A.I., and to respond to some prominent critiques. Pick up his books at http://factuallypod.com/books Promo Code: FACTUALLY Vanity URL: hover.com/FACTUALLY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://ar...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 26 min
Why is one of the most populous, diverse, interesting places on Earth barely covered in the media? Why isn’t the most violent conflict on Earth barely discussed in the US? And where do common stereotypes of Africa come from? Today, Adam is joined by author Dipo Faloyin to display the common misconceptions and explore the incredible dynamism and historical richness that exists in the biggest continent on Earth. Pick up a copy of Dipo’s book Africa Is Not a Country at http://factuallypod.com/books...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Can you create the universe with nothing but mathematics? This week mathematician Manil Suri joins Adam to explain why and how math is fundamental to reality, and how to fall in love with a subject that many of us hated in school. Check out his new book at http://factuallypod.com/books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 9 min
What does quantum physics have to tell us about the human experience? This week, Sabine Hossenfelder joins Adam to explain how quantum physics affects our notions of existence, time, and spirituality. Check out her book Existential Physics at http://factuallypod.com/books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 26, 2022•56 min
Most science fiction about climate change is apocalyptic. But what if we actually used our imaginative powers to invent a universe in which we DO something about climate change? This week, renowned author and outdoorsman Kim Stanley-Robinson joins Adam to talk about his book Ministry for the Future, and to explain why the future may not be as dark as we think. -- Listen to Pretend: A True Crime Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pretend-a-true-crime-documentary-podcast/id1245307962 EX...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Congress is at a historic low point of dysfunction and voter confidence. Today on the show, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Congressional Modernization, Reps. Derek Kilmer and William Timmons, join Adam to make their case for how their committee can help Congress evolve in the face of unprecedented polarization and the upheaval of the events of January 6th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Would leaving your freezer door open help climate change? What would happen if you slid down a fire pole from the Moon down to Earth? And how has creativity on the Internet changed over the past few decades? Legendary XKCD cartoonist and author Randall Munroe joins Adam today to ask and answer some of the most mind-blowing questions you’ve ever heard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at ht...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 22 min
Iran is currently being rocked by protests against the oppressive theocratic regime that rules the country. What is happening there, and what brought us to this point? Writer and scholar Reza Aslan joins Adam to explain how decades of bad American foreign policy created the Iran we know today, dispel media myths about the country and its people, and tell us the amazing story of martyr Howard Baskerville, an American missionary who joined the fight for freedom in Iran. Learn more about your ad ch...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 11 min
The housing crisis seems like one of the most intractable problems threatening America. But slowly and surely, we’re solving it, and you can be a part of the solution. President of California YIMBY, Brian Hanlon, joins Adam to explain how his group is building a movement for fair housing, how to organize for your rights as a renter, and the two pieces of legislation that could dramatically expand housing in California. Check out welcomingneighbors.us to learn more. Learn more about your ad choic...
Sep 21, 2022•1 hr 13 min
Climate change is the biggest disaster facing humanity. And yet so often, our solutions seems to be limited to buying slightly better grocery bags and cars. How do we ACTUALLY fight back against climate change — and are our solutions working? One of America’s foremost climate experts and activists, Bill McKibben, joins Adam to explain what is being done, and more importantly what YOU can do, to protect our planet. factuallypod.com/books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Sep 14, 2022•59 min
How do we fight back against those who are trying to take away Americans’ civil rights? Scholar and organizer Mie Inouye joins Adam to explain how American civil rights movements built political power, and how we can do the same by following their example. She gives practical tips for organizing in our daily lives, and explains how each of us can be part of the movement to restore rights in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art1...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Comedy is one of world’s oldest, most popular art forms, but almost no one thinks seriously about what comedy is or what it’s for. Is comedy inherently liberal? Does it actually convey truth, or is it just for entertainment? And what do we make of the rise of right-wing comedy in America? Researchers Nick Marx and Matt Sienkiewicz, authors of the new book That's Not Funny join Adam to discuss these topics and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Americans are trapped in two competing narratives about immigration: That we’re a nation of immigrants, and that outsiders are invading to steal our jobs. But if we set ideology and narrative aside, what’s the truth? Leah Boustan joins Adam on this weeks episode to discuss her research into why and how people come to the United States, and what actually happens to them and their descendants after they do. You can buy Leah’s book, Streets of Gold, at http://factuallypod.com/books Learn more about...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Climate change, racial inequality, and the anti-rights revolution all feel like comets heading towards our inevitable destruction. If you’re depressed about these challenges, you’re not alone. So how do we fight back? In this episode, author and journalist Chris Hayes joins Adam to discuss whether we’re as fucked as we think, and to offer solutions to the interlocking predicaments we find ourselves in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://a...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Why is it so hard to get around in America? Why is it so much more expensive to build a mile of transit here than it is in any country? And will we ever be able to break America of its car addiction? United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joins Adam to answer these questions. They cover how countries in Europe laid the foundation for fast and efficient public transportation after World War II while America failed to, how apps like Uber and Lyft are hurting public transportation...
Aug 10, 2022•46 min
In honor of our move to Starburns Audio, we’re taking a week off and running a Factually classic. In this interview from 2019, Adam speaks with Jenny Odell, artist, writer, and author of the wonderful book "How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.” Jenny’s message about how to reclaim your attention and the value of seemingly purposeless activity is exactly what we need in our all-too-frantic world. Enjoy, and we’ll be back with a new episode next week! Learn more about your ad choice...
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 24 min
How can we best help animals, when it’s we humans who cause their suffering? Animal Crisis authors Alice Crary and Lori Gruen join Adam to explain how the same systems that hurt and kill animals also harm humans. They discuss the human rights abuses that happen in industrial slaughterhouses and how palm oil monocrops are devastating the world’s rainforests. They also share how we can have solidarity with animals in our daily lives. You can purchase their book at http://factuallypod.com/books Lea...
Jul 27, 2022•1 hr 11 min
In times of turmoil, it can be useful to take a longer view of history. Like, a LOT longer. Paleontologist and author of “The Rise and Reign of the Mammals” Stephen Brusatte joins Adam to explain how mammals took over the Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, and why we survived and achieve sentience when dinosaurs died out. Stephen goes on to discuss why taking a deep look at our history can help prepare us for the crises of the near future. You can purchase Stephen’s book at http://factuall...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Trans people have existed as long as, you know, people have. But the barriers to legal inclusion and equality are still higher than most people realize. “Sex is as Sex Does” author Paisley Currah joins Adam to discuss why institutions have been slow to give legal recognition to trans identities, why Republicans have shifted their attacks from bathroom policies to trans youth in sports, and why the struggle for trans equality is tied to feminism and women’s liberation. You can purchase Paisley’s ...
Jul 13, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Asian Americans are an essential part of the history of this country, but the true story is all too little told, especially in a time of rising anti-Asian sentiment and violence. Historian and author of “Asian American Histories of the United States” Catherine Choy joins Adam to discuss the origin of racist ideas such as the “model minority myth,” and dive into the history. You can purchase Catherine’s book at http://factuallypod.com/books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Jul 06, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Crypto is crashing, which makes it the perfect time to ask whether blockchain technology is actually — you know — useful for anything. Computer scientist Nicholas Weaver joins Adam to discuss the inherent flaws in the technology, the shockingly slow state of innovation considering that the technology has been around for a decade, and what a better system for digital money might be. You can follow Nicholas on Twitter at @ncweaver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Is artificial intelligence a problem, or is the real problem how we’re using the term in the first place? Linguistics professor Emily Bender joins Adam to discuss why we should resist the urge to be impressed when it comes to big tech’s AI promises, and how our belief in the fantasy of A.I. could be worse than the reality. You can follow Emily on Twitter at @emilymbender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 19 min
Despite our efforts, we seem to be no better at treating mental illness than we were hundreds of years ago. Desperate Remedies author Andrew Scull joins Adam to explain why, on the way touching on the history of lobotomization, the collapse of psychoanalysis, and why our current regime of pharmaceutical intervention might not be all it’s cracked up to be. You can purchase Andrew's book here: https://factuallypod.com/books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 18 min
In 2020, America went through a national reckoning about our racist criminal justice system. Just under two years later, has all that progress evaporated? Pulitzer winner, professor, and author of Locking Up Our Own, James Forman Jr., joins Adam to discuss the return of “tough on crime” politics and how building a movement for criminal justice reform locally can lead to progress nationally, as well as how community organizers and “violence interrupters” are a key part of the restorative justice ...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 14 min
When we picture robots, we normally think of an artificial being created in our own image. But what if this were deeply misleading? Author ofThe New Breed, Kate Darling, joins Adam to separate fact from science fiction and discuss the potentials and perils of real life robots. They get into the ethical issues involved with autonomous weapons systems and vehicles, why robots don’t need to look like people, and why robots might be better thought of as animal companions, rather than human replaceme...
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr 1 min
