Happy Doomsday | Podcast on RSS.com

Happy Doomsday

by Lauren & Andrew

Politics Philosophy

Season 1

Oh no! End of Season One!

We are seeing out our first season with a little recap and retrospective, through an open conversation about the making of the pod itself. Come take a peek behind the curtain as we revisit the highs and lows. As we take a break and gear up for a higher production value season 2, please let us know what you like and would like to see changed. The Dark Chat will return soon!

Oh no! Autonomous Humanoid Robots!

The spectre of humanoid robots in everyday life is closer than it's ever been. Tech companies seem to think we all want an autonomous robot living with us and doing our laundry. What are the ethical concerns and also WHYYYYYYYYYYYY?!! Whether ye be off silicon or flesh, welcome to the Dark Chat!

Oh no! Asteroids!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a.... oh shit, it's an asteroid... RUUUUUUUNNNN!!!!! In this episode, Andrew and Lauren talk about how big or small of a threat asteroids actually are and what we are doing to combat them. Grab a telescope, hop into your favorite bunker, and welcome to the Dark Chat!

Oh no! Journalism! Part 2

In this episode, Lauren explains how the mainstream news media was miraculously saved from degradation and harmful incentives and is now in better shape than ever before! ...Wait...did you actually fall for that?! Mainstream news is a hellhole! In this episode, the gang discusses the birth of the 24 hour news cycle and how that content hungry machine eventually spilled on to the web. And it's worse than ever! But honestly, still kind of hung up on you totally falling for that opening line. So gullible... welcome to the Dark Chat I guess.

Oh no! Journalism! Part 1

In Part 1 of this epic two parter, Lauren takes us through the storied history and modern pitfalls of journalism ethics while laying the groundwork for next week's internet focused dystopia. Welcome to the Dark Chat!

Oh no! Hypernormalisation!

Does it feel like the whole world is gaslighting you? Do you feel a weird dissociation between the reality of your crumbling democracy and the monotony of your everyday life? Well, have we got a word for you. Hypernormalisation! In this episode, Lauren and Andrew take on Hypernormalisation and try to get their heads around this concept which was invented to describe the feeling of living in Russia, but which is increasingly relevant in America. Welcome to the Dark Chat and have a very Happy Doomsday! To learn more, check out some of Andrew's primary sources for the episode with the 2016 Adam Curtis documentary "Hypernormalisation" and the book "Nothing is True and Everything is Possible" by Peter Pomerantsev.

Oh no! Water Wars!

In this episode, the Dark Chat sits in the splash zone and gets good and soppy. Prepare to drench yourself in an array of topics around California's water supply, from reserve ownership to private firefighters. Grab yourself a couple hydrogen particles and one oxygen while you're at it, because we're getting wet and wild this week on Happy Doomsday!

Oh no! Sports Gambling!

In this week's Dark Chat, Lauren and Andrew spiral into the horrifically predatory world of online Sports Gambling! From history, to lobbying, to app design, to the psychology of addiction itself - they break it all down! Lauren and Andrew may not know much about sports in general, but they can tear apart the negative incentive structures of capitalism all day long! So kick back in your favorite recliner, grab a nice cold brewski, and watch Lauren and Andrew equip themselves with research to take on the Stealers!* You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll never want to touch your phone again. Welcome to the Dark Chat and have a Happy Doomsday! *"Stealers" as in the corporate overlords and local governments stealing people's income through psychological exploitation, not to be confused with the Pittsburgh based football franchise of the same name

Oh no! Diddy!

This week, Andrew and Lauren discuss the monstrous life of Sean Combs aka Puffy aka Puff Daddy aka Puff aka P Diddy aka Diddy aka Brother Love and use his story as a launching point for a larger discussion about the horrific psychologies of the mega-wealthy. Every week is Eat-The-Rich-Week on Happy Doomsday. Welcome to the Dark Chat!

Oh no! Drones!

What in the hell was up with those drones in New Jersey anyway?! If there's anyone who can get to the bottom of it, it's the internet's greatest Doomers, Andrew and Lauren. Slip on a tinfoil hat, pop open a bottle of motor oil, and invite over your favorite four-rotored friend, because this is an episode that can be enjoyed both by man and machine. Wild speculation and overly researched theories await!

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