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PODCAST · comedy

Critical Impacts

by Steve Spalding

Engineers Steve Spalding and Mike Barbieri pull out their crystal balls and have fun, informal conversations about some of the scientific, technological, and cultural shifts that will impact all of our futures.

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Episodes

  1. The Future of Institutions (Metainstitutions Part Two)

    Steve and Mike talk about a top secret organization charged with making us a bit less crappy to one another. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  2. The Future of Institutions (Metainstitutions Part One)

    Steve and Mike talk about loss of institutional trust and how to find common ground in complicated informational environments. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  3. The Future of Work Redux (Talent Contracts)

    Steve and Mike talk about the perverse incentives that drive modern employment contracts, and one way to make them a bit less dystopian. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  4. The Future of Charity

    Steve and Mike talk about getting people stuff without being giant jerks about it. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  5. The Future of Adventure Part Two (Metareal Corporation)

    Steve and Mike talk about lying your way to utopia on the season premiere of Critical Impacts. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  6. The Future of Adventure (Adventure Buddy)

    Steve and Mike talk about the future in adventure in this final episode of the first season of Critical Impacts. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  7. World Immune System (The Future of Medicine)

    This is an episode that was *supposed* to be released months ago, but then the global pandemic hit so it was put on the shelf. Steve and Mike chat about the future of medicine, Preventative Health bots and a world immune system. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff:...

  8. Cities In The Sky

    Steve and Mike decide to leave this flaming ball of anxiety behind and talk about building cities in the Sky. The world looks so much better from up there. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  9. Multi-Layered Suburbs (The Future Of Housing?)

    Steve and Mike discuss how to fit more houses onto a finite Earth, and also parking lots for some reason. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  10. 3D Printed Everything (How Technology Can Be Distributed)

    Steve and Mike discuss open source, the Akashic Record, and 3D printing -- not necessarily in that order. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  11. Are Utopias A Good Thing?

    Steve and Mike discuss what "Utopia" really means, whether they are possible, and whether they should even be our goal in this far ranging debate on what it takes to build better worlds. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  12. Surviving Change (How To Find Your Place In The Future)

    Pandemics. Protests. The future is happening now, and in this episode Steve and Mike discuss different ways to think about it, and try to help you find a meaningful place in the brave, new world that we're all building. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff:...

  13. A Work From Home Revolution

    Working from home could completely change the way people look at their careers, Steve and Mike talk about how this new trend could improve our lives in the long term. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  14. Exploring A Post-Pandemic Future

    A few more weeks into Quarantine, Steve and Mike talk about the effects this virus might have on society now and into the future. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  15. Apocalypse Force (Coronavirus and the Battle Against Existential Threat)

    On this special live episode of Critical Impacts, Steve and Mike talk about COVID-19, what it is, what can be done to keep yourself safe, and what we might do as a society to arm ourselves against future existential threats. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff:...

  16. Hot And Cold Running Food Juice (The Future of Food)

    Steve and Mike talk about Applebees, nutrition and a whole lot of Soylent as they try to tackle the future of food. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  17. Climate Manhattan Project (The Future of Climate Change)

    Steve and Mike talk about a variety of different ways to think about and potentially tackle the problem of climate change. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  18. Coracle (The Future of Transportation)

    Steve and Mike spend a lot of time talking about flying cars, and other ways transportation might change...but mostly flying cars. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  19. Gene Dot Com (Somatic Gene Editing)

    Steve and Mike have a conversation about somatic gene editing, and whether or not we should be tinkering with humanities source code. Content Note: On this episode we talk about population level genetic engineering, an idea that has an extremely fraught history, including some horrific detours…

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  20. The Simulation Hypothesis

    Steve and Mike talk about The Simulation Hypothesis, whether we are all trapped in the Matrix, and whether it even matters if we are. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  21. Hyperreality (The Future of Entertainment)

    Steve and Mike talk about alternative reality theme parks, immersive theater, and steampunk orcs. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  22. Down With The System (Post-Scarcity Society)

    Steve and Mike talk about post-scarcity societies without the help of replicators and nano-tech. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  23. Futureville (The Future of Cities)

    Steve and Mike talk about communes, capitalism, and the future of cities. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  24. Famedex (The Future of Fame and Influence)

    Steve and Mike talk about fame, influence, and selling parts of yourself for fun and profit. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  25. Space Madness (Starships and Long Distance Space Colonization)

    Steve and Mike talk about Generation Ships, the light cone, and the complex art of trying to land human beings on distant stars. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  26. Edutainment (The Future of Education)

    Steve and Mike try their very best to figure out ways to improve the state of education, and answer some of the complex questions surrounding it. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  27. Politics Buddy (The Future of Law Making)

    Steve and Mike talk about ways to make Democracy more democratic, and how to create tools to give people more control over the legislative process. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  28. Streamocracy (The Future of Government)

    Steve and Mike talk about radical transparency and the future of politics, they also posit a world in which YouTube celebrity might just get you into the halls of power. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  29. Tylercoin Casino (Blockchain, ICOs, and Cryptocurrency)

    Mike and Steve have a wide ranging discussion about voting, casinos, snake oil, and participatory democracy as they try to suss out the future of Blockchain and its associated technologies. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  30. Will Our Technology Make Us Less Human?

    Steve and Mike talk have a wide ranging discussion about whether the technologies we create to enhance are lives are going to leave us feeling less human. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  31. SUDDEN IMPACTS - Citizen Surveillance

    On this mini-episode Steve and Mike look at an app that lets you track down crime, and find out what you might be getting an extra photo taken at the airport. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alexkantrowitz/fast-growing-citizen-app-will-alert-you-to-danger-and-send

  32. Reality Chauvinists (Virtual Reality)

    Steve and Mike talk about Virtual Reality, the changing meaning of "real," and how likely it is that we all eventually retreat behind our VR goggles. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  33. Moonizens (Colonizing The Moon)

    Steve and Mike talk about what it might be like to build a life out in space, they discuss the ins and outs of moon colonies, and how to avoid boredom when you're tens of thousands of miles away from terra firma. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  34. SUDDEN IMPACTS - AI Cancer Fighters and Magic Leaves

    On this mini-episode Steve and Mike look at an AI that has managed to outperform doctors in Cancer diagnosis and magical leaves that might help is battle climate change....

  35. Artisanal Bird Feeders (The Future of Jobs)

    Steve and Mike take a look at the future of jobs, what it might be like to be gainfully unemployed, and the fine line between work and recreation. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

  36. Mr. Robot Goes To Washington (The Singularity)

    Steve and Mike talk about the possibility of a technological Singularity, what that might look like down here on the ground, and whether or not we would all be happier being ruled over by a robot. Music EzaOne - Supernova: youtu.be/xZDYu5azS-c Elexive - Sheriff: youtu.be/Dup6CzMzY2w

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Engineers Steve Spalding and Mike Barbieri pull out their crystal balls and have fun, informal conversations about some of the scientific, technological, and cultural shifts that will impact all of our futures.

HOSTED BY

Steve Spalding

CATEGORIES

comedy technology

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Critical Impacts have?

Critical Impacts currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Critical Impacts about?

Engineers Steve Spalding and Mike Barbieri pull out their crystal balls and have fun, informal conversations about some of the scientific, technological, and cultural shifts that will impact all of our futures.

How often does Critical Impacts release new episodes?

Critical Impacts has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Critical Impacts?

You can listen to Critical Impacts on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Critical Impacts?

Critical Impacts is created and hosted by Steve Spalding.
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