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PODCAST

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

David Beckemeyer

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 polarization 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

science social sciences

All Episodes

13:56

Okay Boomer - Mental Health - Valerie Beck

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/03/12

Why do younger generations feel so disconnected from the world their parents grew up in? Are millennials just complaining, or is there something deeper at play?In this special OK Boomer episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer sits down with Valerie Beck, a holistic health practitioner and founder of Intrepid Wellness, to explore the complex dynamics between boomers and millennials. From shifting expectations to the weight of generational trauma, Valerie shares insights from her research

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33:34

59. Outrage, Fear, and Perception: Understanding...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/03/05

How Media Shapes RealityJames Shanahan, a leading expert on cultivation theory, joins David Beckemeyer to explore how television, news, and social media influence public perception, fear, and political polarization. They discuss the Mean World Syndrome, the rise of outrage media, and how algorithms amplify division. Tune in to learn how media effects shape our world—and what we can do about it.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text)

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59:03

BONUS - The Imperial Presidency? Executive Overreach...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/02/26

Is the U.S. presidency becoming too powerful?Imagine a president ignoring court rulings, dismantling government agencies, and bypassing oversight. It’s not just a hypothetical—it’s happening now. In this episode, we explore the rise of executive overreach and its implications for democracy.🔹 Guests:Professor Kevin Smith – Political scientist specializing in governance and federal agencies.James Goodwin – Legal expert in constitutional law and public policy.🔍 Topics Covered:✔️ The shift of power

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26:36

58. The Truth Behind Political Division: Are We...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/02/19

How Correcting Misperceptions Can Heal Political DividesEver wonder why political conversations feel more heated than ever? It might not be about the issues themselves but how we perceive the other side. In this episode of Outrage Overload, we explore the "perception gap"—the distorted views we hold about political opponents—and how correcting these misperceptions can reduce toxic polarization.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way

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42:42

BONUS - Fairness, Biology, and Outrage: The...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/02/12

How Biology Challenges the Male-Female BinaryIn this documentary-style episode, Outrage Overload dives into the intricate and often misunderstood world of sex development, using the controversy surrounding female boxers at the Paris Olympics as a case study. We unpack the science, ethics, and personal stories behind Differences in Sex Development (DSDs), challenging the oversimplified narratives that dominate today’s polarizing debates.Join us as we explore:Why the biology of sex development is more

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38:31

57. The Surprising Revival of Vinyl Records, Instant...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/02/05

Why Physical Experiences Still Matter in a Digital WorldVinyl records are outselling CDs. Instant-print cameras are finding their way back into people’s hands. Even paper notebooks remain a must-have for many. But why are we seeing this resurgence of analog technologies in an overwhelmingly digital world? In this episode, David Sax, award-winning journalist and author of The Revenge of Analog and The Future is Analog, joins us to uncover why these physical experiences hold such enduring appeal.We

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36:58

BONUS - Behind the Curtain: A Conversation with DNC...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/01/29

We're joined by Jason Paul, an attorney, political strategist, and candidate for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Jason brings his wealth of experience and bold ideas to the table, offering insights on the challenges facing the Democratic Party and his vision for revitalizing its structure and operations.Whether youâre a political enthusiast or someone eager to understand the dynamics of party leadership, this episode offers a unique and thought-provoking

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46:53

56. The Cost of Innovation: Who Pays for Silicon...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/01/22

How Silicon Valley Elites Decide the Future Without UsSilicon Valley’s technological breakthroughs promise to change the world, but at what cost? In this episode, we sit down with philosopher and technology critic Dr. Émile P. Torres to examine the hidden price of innovation. From AI’s environmental footprint to the ethical failures in its development, we explore how a small, unelected group of tech elites wields enormous influence over our collective future.Dr. Torres unpacks the hype around

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29:31

BONUS - Aphantasia, Face Blindness, and the Diversity...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/01/15

Do I Know You? A Journey Through Neurodiversity and Inner LivesJournalist and author Sadie Dingfelder takes us on a journey through the hidden diversity of human perception. Diagnosed with aphantasia (the inability to create mental images) and face blindness, Sadie has learned firsthand how drastically inner worlds can differ from person to person. These differences impact how we connect with others, process emotions, and navigate relationships.As we explore Sadie’s personal experiences and her

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35:53

55. Surviving the Age of Misinformation - David Helfand

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2025/01/08

How to Survive the Age of MisinformationWe are joined by Dr. David Helfand, an esteemed professor of astronomy at Columbia University and author of A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age. Dr. Helfand shares practical tools to help listeners sharpen their critical thinking skills, question the narratives they encounter, and distinguish between fact and fiction in today’s hyperconnected world.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text)

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41:24

BONUS - Special: The Hosts in the Hot Seat!

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/12/25

Guest host Ross "Yergz" Yerger flips the script and puts David and Lisa Beckemeyer—the voices behind the podcast—on the other side of the mic! 🎧Listeners have asked to know more about the people behind the show, so here’s a fun, candid role-reversal episode just for you. Whether you’re driving on Christmas Day, unwinding after the festivities, or simply catching up later, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories and lighthearted moments.We’ll be back next episode with more

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34:32

54. Civic Renewal: Fighting Polarization with Local...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/12/18

Why Building Together Is the Key to Healing Divided CommunitiesHow can communities overcome disconnection, address anger, and rebuild trust in today’s polarized and often overwhelming world? In this episode of Outrage Overload, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, discusses the roots of civic disconnection and how media-driven outrage and social media algorithms fuel division. Drawing from his groundbreaking report, Civic Virus: Why Polarization is a Misdiagnosis,

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21:21

BONUS - The Hate Next Door: Unmasking the New Face of...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/12/11

How Understanding Can Combat Hate: Insights from “The Hate Next Door”In this episode of Outrage Overload, we delve into the unsettling reality of hate and extremism in America with Matt and Tawni Browning, authors of "The Hate Next Door: Undercover Within the New Face of White Supremacy."Matt, a former undercover detective, infiltrated white supremacist groups, offering a unique perspective on the evolving nature of hate and extremism.The conversation explores how hate is no longer

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31:08

53. The Impact of Political Attacks on Social Media -...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/12/04

How Social Media Hostility Impacts DemocracyTogether with our guest, Ariel Hasell, a leading expert in media, communication, and political psychology, we unpack how the outrage fueled by hostile political posts spreads across social media platforms, driving polarization and shaping public discourse based on findings of the research paper "When Social Media Attack: How Exposure to Political Attacks on Social Media Promotes Anger and Political Cynicism." We discuss the role of engagement

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26:52

52. Nobody wants to be an idiot - Andrew Selepak

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/11/20

Are We Finally Sick of the Media Outrage Machine?In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Selepak, media professor at the University of Florida, for an eye-opening conversation on the shifting landscape of media and its role in stoking public outrage. Selepak explains how the decline in trust toward traditional media stems from several factors, including the media’s shift toward engagement-driven content, the erosion of investigative journalism, the rise of filter bubbles, and an increasingly

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28:35

BONUS - Post-Election 2024 Special: What Are Voters...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/11/14

What Are Voters Really Saying?In this special post-election episode of Outrage Overload, we examine the surprising twists of the 2024 election. What were voters truly trying to tell us, and what drove their choices this year? Join us as we unpack the results with fresh insights from top experts, including political scientists and a computational anthropologist, who reveal what the electorate may really be saying about the direction of the country.From inflation to immigration, economic pain to

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36:44

51. You can't shift a negative mindset by just saying...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/11/06

How Neuroscience Can Help Us Fight Burnout in an Age of Outrage and DivisionIn this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer sits down with Dr. Gary Simonds, an experienced neurosurgeon and expert on burnout, to explore how burnout impacts all of us in today's hyper-connected world. Dr. Simonds shares insights into the emotional toll of constant negative news and political divisiveness, explaining how burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, lack of empathy, and nihilism.They dive

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21:20

BONUS - Tech Bro Apocalypse Dreams - David Troy

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/10/30

How Tech Bros Like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel want to Shape Our FutureIn this special episode, we're tackling the intriguing—and often troubling—world of "techno-libertarianism." We sit down with tech entrepreneur and researcher David Troy to unpack this movement’s bold vision of a future free from government control and centralized institutions, driven entirely by technology.What You'll Hear:Big Ideas and Bold Players: Discover the ideas of influential figures like Elon Musk and

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29:04

50. I got to the point where I just didn't even want...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/10/23

Why Embracing Complexity and Nuance is Critical for Personal Growth and Informed Decision-MakingWe sit down with Julie Rose, host of the Top of Mind podcast, to explore her journey from feeling overwhelmed by the negativity in the news to fostering thoughtful, nuanced conversations. Julie shares how she broke free from the media’s tendency to oversimplify and polarize issues, focusing instead on curiosity and complexity.Tune in to hear Julie’s practical strategies for staying informed without

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30:42

BONUS - You can't influence someone you are not...

Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and... ·

2024/10/16

How to Have Better Political Conversations (Even with Your Most Difficult Relatives)In this episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer sits down with Dr. Karin Tamerius, a political psychiatrist and founder of Smart Politics, a nonprofit that helps progressives communicate persuasively while maintaining respect for differing viewpoints. They discuss how political polarization affects both sides of the spectrum, with a focus on how it may impact progressives more deeply. Dr. Tamerius shares

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141 results

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