Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.
Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence.
Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.
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.
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.
Episodes
75. The Hidden Power of the Politically Homeless - Lura Forcum
DOCUMENTARY - The Manosphere: A Shadow Network of Influence – Havana Mohr-Ramirez
74. When Polarized Communities Work Together – Kira Hamman
73. Rethinking Autism Advocacy – Ari Ne’eman
72. The Fight to Make Online Spaces Civil Again - Yevgeny Simkin
DOCUMENTARY - What’s Pulling Young Men to the Right?
71. Do Facts Really Change Minds? – Nick Stagnaro
70. Is There Still Hope for the Internet? - Kristin Hansen
BONUS - Teaching Civics in the Age of Outrage - June Klees
69. America’s Connection Opportunity - Kate Carney and Calista Small
68. Is Our Democracy Failing Because We’re Not Thinking Enough? - James Fishkin
Outrage on the Mic – Part 3: Rage Sells, But We Don’t Have to Buy It
Outrage on the Mic, Part 2: Outrage Has Always Been With Us
Outrage on the Mic – Part 1: Laughing Through the Outrage
67. AI vs. Ancient Hatreds: Can Tech Ease the Israeli-Palestinian Divide? – Adam Boaz Becker
BONUS - Are We Witnessing a Democracy in Crisis? - Lucan Way
66. What It Really Takes to Fix the Division in America – Rich Harwood
DOCUMENTARY - How ‘Natural Living’ Becomes Extremism: Inside the Crunchy-to-Radical Pipeline
65. Grief, Fatigue, and the Aftermath of COVID - Zeest Khan
BONUS - Crisis in National Service Undermines Civic Engagement – Maureen Eccleston
64. Our Democracy Is Fraying—Here’s How We Start Repairing It - Karissa Raskin
BONUS - Crisis in Journalism with Michael Deas
63. Moral Psychology and the Harm-Based Roots of Political Polarization - Sam Pratt
62. Reducing Online Outrage: What Role Can Community-Driven Algorithms Play - Paul Resnick
BONUS - How Authoritarianism Creeps In: Lessons from Postcards to Hitler - Bruce Neuburger