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.
Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
72. The Fight to Make Online Spaces Civil Again - Yevgeny Simkin
Why Owning Your Online Identity Matters More Than Ever
Is it possible to fix social media? In this episode, I’m joined by Yevgeny Simkin, Co-Founder of Sez.us, a new social media platform built to encourage civility and healthier online spaces.
We talk about why we need real alternatives to Facebook and Twitter, who controls online conversations today, and how owning your online identity could change the way communities connect. Yevgeny explains why escaping social media giants might be the first step toward better ways to connect online and how community-driven platforms can reshape our digital future.
If you’ve ever wondered whether social media could be less toxic and more human, this conversation offers both hope and a roadmap.
Listen now to explore how Sez.us is rethinking what social media can be.
Show Notes:
https://outrageoverload.net/
Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.
HOTLINE: 925-552-7885
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Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.
Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
