Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

Bridging Divides
  • 5.0 (11)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

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.

  1. BONUS - Navigating the Outrage Industry with Corey Nathan

    5D AGO ·  BONUS

    BONUS - Navigating the Outrage Industry with Corey Nathan

    Corey Nathan joins the show to deconstruct the "Rage Merchant" business model and explore how we can strengthen our civic muscle in an era of hyper-polarization. Corey is the host of Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killing Each Other and a partner in The Democracy Group podcast network. In this conversation, we move past the surface-level bickering of the news cycle to examine why our brains are often more attracted to the dopamine hit of outrage than the slow work of nuance. We discuss the "Exhausted Majority"—the vast segment of the population that feels alienated by extreme rhetoric—and offer tactical ways to navigate difficult conversations by focusing on curiosity rather than conflict. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    43 min
  2. 87. The Human Need to Make the World Make Sense

    MAY 6

    87. The Human Need to Make the World Make Sense

    In this episode, we step back from the headlines to conduct a psychological case study on how we form and protect our worldviews. We’re joined by Sidney Pines, whose journey away from the mainstream consensus offers a window into the information ecosystems that define our modern era. Rather than debating specific claims, we use the "Three Cs" framework—Comprehension, Control, and Community—to analyze the universal human needs that draw individuals toward alternative media systems. We explore how a "cognitive vacuum" created by sensationalist media can lead to a search for certainty, often filled by grand narratives that trade messy realities for clear, singular explanations. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    22 min
  3. 86. Why We Viscerally Resist Talking to the Other Side – Mónica Guzmán

    APR 22

    86. Why We Viscerally Resist Talking to the Other Side – Mónica Guzmán

    The New Counterculture of Conversation In a world where political labels have become shields and social media is a minefield of "rhetorical grenades," Monica Guzman argues that the most radical act you can perform is to stay curious. As the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, Monica has seen firsthand how fear has become the "archvillain" of American discourse. In this episode, we dismantle the failing left-right paradigm and explore why bridge-building isn't about being "nice" or "middle-of-the-road"—it’s about having the courage to withstand intense disagreement without losing your convictions. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    42 min
  4. BONUS - An Island with No Plan B - Caleb Scharf

    APR 15 ·  BONUS

    BONUS - An Island with No Plan B - Caleb Scharf

    We are joined by Dr. Caleb Scharf, NASA Senior Scientist for Astrobiology, to explore the profound implications of the Fermi Paradox. Why, in a galaxy of hundreds of billions of stars, do we find only silence? We move beyond the "geek wonderland" of physics and biology to examine the "Overview Effect"—the shift in perspective that occurs when we realize just how fragile our shared existence truly is. If humanity is the first species to face the conundrum of its own survival, we have a unique moral responsibility to look past the outrage of the day and safeguard the future of life on Earth. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    37 min
  5. 85. Escaping the Filter Bubble: How to Find Consensus in a Divided World - Kristin Jackson

    APR 8

    85. Escaping the Filter Bubble: How to Find Consensus in a Divided World - Kristin Jackson

    In an age where algorithms are designed to confirm your existing beliefs, finding a shared sense of reality has become nearly impossible. Host David Beckemeyer welcomes Kristin Jackson, co-founder of the Freespoke search engine alternative, to discuss a platform built to help users break out of the echo chamber. Jackson shares that up to 80% of the population has given up on news because they "couldn't figure out what the truth was". This vital conversation explores the vision behind Freespoke and its mission to deliver unbiased news and help you find the full story. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    27 min
  6. 84. I Bought a Bar: An experiment in bridge-building - K Scarry

    MAR 25

    84. I Bought a Bar: An experiment in bridge-building - K Scarry

    After seven years working in traditional, formal "bridge-building" spaces, K Scarry realized that the people who most needed to connect were the ones least likely to attend a scheduled "dialogue event." Her solution? Move the conversation to where people already go naturally. In this episode, K Scarry joins David to discuss her journey from civic engagement professional to neighborhood bar owner. We explore how "Third Spaces" serve as essential training grounds for civic grace, the "musculature" of empathy, and the challenge of maintaining your values while staying open to those you disagree with. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    38 min
  7. BONUS - The “Move to the Center” Strategy Is Distracting Us From What Matters – Frank A. Spring

    MAR 11 ·  BONUS

    BONUS - The “Move to the Center” Strategy Is Distracting Us From What Matters – Frank A. Spring

    Is the "move to the center" vs. "lean left" debate a false choice? Following recent election cycles, the dominant advice for Democrats has been to moderate their cultural messaging and pivot to the middle—a strategy championed by the October 2025 Deciding to Win report. Conversely, many argue the party should double down on a bold, progressive populist agenda to mobilize the base. In this episode, we challenge this entire left-versus-center framework with Frank A. Spring, Chief of Research at Altum Insight and Managing Partner at Undaunted Ventures. Through deep qualitative research, Frank discovered that voters are "politically heterodox"—they don't fit into the neat ideological boxes we’ve built for them. We explore why the real crisis isn't "ideological excess," but "narrative confusion." Voters might know the party is "for diversity," but they often don't know what a Democratic vision of governance actually feels like for their daily lives. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    19 min
  8. 83. Connection Is Slow, And That’s the Point – Tim Jones

    MAR 4

    83. Connection Is Slow, And That’s the Point – Tim Jones

    We talk about polarization in terms of media, algorithms, and politics. But what if we’ve simply forgotten how to sit down with people who aren’t like us? In this episode, David sits down with Tim Jones, founder of Longer Tables, a real-world initiative that brings strangers together over shared meals to rebuild social trust and human connection. Tim argues that humans are “slow-cooked.” Trust, belonging, and meaningful relationships don’t scale at the speed of technology—and that mismatch may be driving much of our social division. This conversation explores what happens when you remove job titles, politics, and performance from the table—and what it might take to design connection in a polarized world. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

    38 min
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About

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.

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