Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

If politics and media leave you feeling angry, overwhelmed, or exhausted, Outrage Overload is for you.

In about 30 minutes every few weeks, we explore how outrage spreads, how hyper-partisanship distorts perception, and how media and technology amplify emotional extremes.

Through conversations with leading scientists, researchers, and authors, we unpack the psychology, incentives, and systems shaping today’s political climate — and offer practical tools to think clearly, stay grounded, and respond constructively.

Outrage Overload helps listeners with critical questions about outrage culture, political polarization, misinformation, and media manipulation—offering science-based insight, expert interviews, and practical tools to stay grounded in a divided world.

If you’ve ever asked yourself…

• How can I stay politically informed without feeling outraged or exhausted all the time?

• Why is political polarization getting worse, and what can we do about it?

• What exactly is outrage culture, and how does it manipulate us?

• How do I talk about politics without it turning into a fight?

• Am I being misled by the media? How can I tell?

• What’s the psychological toll of living in an outrage-driven media environment?

• How can I build critical thinking skills to make sense of today’s news?

• What role does social media play in fueling outrage and misinformation?

• Is it possible to care about politics without losing your mind?

• What practical tools or insights can help me deal with toxic politics and media?

…then this is the politics show you didn’t know you needed.

Most media is designed to hijack your biology. They have the tactics, but they lack a worldview that respects your intelligence. Outrage Overload uses the tools of modern technology not to capture your attention, but to return it to you. We aren't here to 'fix the algorithm'; we're here to help you outgrow it.

Join host David Beckemeyer—science communicator and founding CTO of EarthLink—as he explores the mechanics of outrage, speaks with experts in psychology, media, and political science, and equips listeners with strategies for navigating today’s high-conflict culture with emotional resilience, critical thinking, and civil discourse.

Podcasting since 2022 • 158 episodes

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

Latest Episodes

92. Breaking the Duopoly Loop – Nathan Smolensky

Are we really trapped in a permanent political doom loop, or is the two-party duopoly actually more vulnerable than it looks? We often look at heavily gerrymandered, "safe" districts and hyper-partisan outrage and assume nothing can...

July 15, 2026 • Episode 92 • 29:18

Bonus: "Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising" (from Future Hindsight)

Today we have a special bonus episode for the Outrage Overload community. We are sharing the premiere episode of a brand-new, six-part documentary series from our sister show in The Democracy Group network, Future Hindsight.

July 08, 2026 • 41:24

Civic Voices: Reclaiming the Narrative at America 250

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, national pride has hit a 25-year record low. The milestone itself has fractured into institutional tugs-of-war, with the official, non-partisan congressional commission America250 ru...

July 02, 2026 • 24:17

91. Flipping the Financial Incentives of the Outrage Economy - Don Templeman

In this episode, we sit down with Aemula co-founder Don Templeman to break down the hidden architecture of media manipulation, audience capture, and algorithmic polarization. Drawing from his background in finance, Don explains why fight...

July 01, 2026 • Episode 91 • 40:17

Outrage Overload x The Politics Guys: Deconstructing Polarization

Why does our modern political landscape feel so intensely divided, and why does it seem like the media environment is constantly dialed up to eleven?In this special crossover episode, David sits down with Michael Baranowski, host ...

June 24, 2026 • 40:06