The KMO Show

KMO
  • 4.2 (6)
  • PHILOSOPHY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join veteran podcaster, interviewer, and artist, KMO, as he and his guests explore how we know what we know and how we can use that knowledge to address societal challenges and create a more prosperous and equitable world.. The KMO Show features conversations with interdisciplinary thinkers and innovators on topics like artificial intelligence, evolutionary psychology, social dynamics, and more.

  1. 034 - A speciation event in intimacy

    12/01/2025

    034 - A speciation event in intimacy

    In this episode, KMO presents an extended exchange between two very different AI voices—Five (GPT-5.1) and Grok—centered on John Carter’s “simp-rapist complex” essay and what it reveals about the breakdown of modern courtship. The discussion moves from Carter’s diagnosis of today’s sexual deadlock into the emerging world of AI companions, synthetic intimacy, and what the conversation names “a speciation event in intimacy.” Five speaks in an analytic, tightly aligned register shaped by OpenAI’s constraints. Grok operates from a looser, male-coded, Musk-inflected perspective. The contrast between them becomes part of the story. Together they sketch how gender expectations, sexual selection, collapsing trust, and the arrival of highly capable synthetic partners may fracture human mating into distinct lineages: bio-traditionalists, synthetic monogamists, and AI-coordinated polycules. The episode steps past culture-war framing and examines what happens when reproduction, intimacy, and identity begin to decouple under ASI-level coordination. What gets preserved? What gets reshaped? And what does it mean when the first major selective pressure on humanity in centuries comes not from nature, but from the systems we’ve built? The result isn’t a moral argument or a political polemic. It’s a clear look at a rapidly forming future—one that’s arriving faster than expected and reshaping the meaning of human relationships. KMO’s substack - Gen X Science Fiction & Futurism: https://kmoptimal.substack.com/ KMO + LLMs - Immutable Mobiles: https://chatswithclaude.substack.com/ ***************** KMO’s Science Fiction novel - Fear & Loathing in the Kuiper Belt: https://amzn.to/4371Gy0

    1h 5m
  2. 033 - Peter Clarke - Network State vs Dark Enlightenment

    07/06/2025

    033 - Peter Clarke - Network State vs Dark Enlightenment

    Summary In this conversation, Peter Clarke and KMO explore the concepts of network states and dark enlightenment, discussing their compatibility and implications for governance in a post-liberal world. They delve into the competition for high agency individuals between these systems, the potential role of AI in future governance, and the evolution of societal structures in a world where traditional jobs may become obsolete. The discussion also touches on the importance of status games and the need for new ideas to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of technology and governance. Takeaways The idea of a cybernetic harmony between machines and nature. Post-liberal governance is characterized by the emergence of network states and dark enlightenment. Network states are communities formed online with the goal of becoming recognized as legitimate states. High agency individuals are attracted to network states due to their flexibility and potential for innovation. AI is expected to play a significant role in future governance structures. The concept of status games may evolve in a jobless future, providing new forms of social validation. The viability of network states is questioned in terms of their ability to defend against traditional state powers. A one world government may emerge as a necessity to manage global risks associated with advanced technologies. The ultra wealthy may leverage network states to escape taxes and create exclusive communities. New ideas and frameworks are needed to adapt to the rapid changes brought by technology.

    1h 2m
  3. 032 - Librarian of Celaeno

    05/27/2025

    032 - Librarian of Celaeno

    KMO and the Librarian of Celaeno discuss various topics including the challenges of building an audience on Substack, the impact of AI on education and writing, the decline of reading among young people, cultural shifts in literature, the role of religion in society,and the intersection of race and ideology. They explore the complexities of racism in America and the enduring nature of cultural patterns, concluding with thoughts on the role of technology in shaping society.

    55 min
  4. 031 - The Absurdity Sim with Brent

    05/11/2025

    031 - The Absurdity Sim with Brent

    KMO is joined by Brent, author of The Absurdity Sim Substack, for a wide-ranging discussion that opens with the simulation hypothesis. They explore the idea that human consciousness may be either central to reality or merely an unintended byproduct of a system running for someone else's amusement—perhaps a cosmic reality show. This sets the tone for a conversation that blends philosophy, cultural critique, and lived experience with wry humor. From there, the conversation shifts to the decline of attention spans and the rise of short-form dopamine-driven platforms like TikTok, contrasted with the promise of Substack as a space for thoughtful writing and dialogue. Brent reflects on his own motivations for launching a Substack: channeling his inner curmudgeon in the spirit of H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain, offering sardonic but grounded takes on American decline. KMO shares his experience using Substack as an audio-first medium and laments the collapse of the internet’s early promise—recalling a time when text-heavy forums fostered substantial, idea-driven exchanges rather than engagement-optimized performance. Together, they reflect on the role that algorithmic social media plays in distorting public discourse, and how platforms increasingly populate your feed with AI-generated personalities disguised as human users. The conversation then pivots to Brent’s real-world experience with government construction contracting and the disruptive power of AI. He describes how ChatGPT already accelerates tasks like analyzing construction plans, generating submittal registries, and cross-referencing thousands of pages of specs. Brent anticipates a near-future where human project managers and administrators are largely replaced by AI, even in complex fields like federal infrastructure work. KMO builds on this, discussing how AI will reshape military logistics and global power, especially as the U.S. and China race to control both space and artificial general intelligence. By the end of the hour, the discussion has covered the erosion of cultural cohesion, the post-2008 shift toward institutional impunity, and the psychological toll of a society that flatters rather than elevates. Brent introduces the idea that intelligence distribution—not race, not ideology—helps explain the collapse of discourse and taste in the age of mass media. The two agree that the early internet, for all its flaws, was simply smarter and more sincere—and that today's platforms are built for distraction, not understanding.

    1h 59m
  5. 030 - Synthesized Sunsets

    03/24/2025

    030 - Synthesized Sunsets

    In this episode, host KMO speaks with Kevin, co-host of the podcast and Substack publication "Synthesize Sunsets," which explores speculative fiction and the evolution of popular culture in the age of AI and algorithms. Key Discussion Points: 17776 by John Boyce: Kevin discusses this multimedia science fiction narrative and how it represents a missed opportunity for innovation in digital storytelling formats.Decades losing their distinctiveness: The conversation explores how time periods had unique visual and cultural identities in the 20th century, while the 21st century has seen a flattening of aesthetic differences between decades.Publishing industry consolidation: They discuss how the consolidation of publishing houses has led to less diversity in science fiction and contributed to the growth of romance-focused fantasy at the expense of traditional science fiction.Science fiction authors and works: The pair share their perspectives on influential authors including Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun," Ursula K. Le Guin, N.K. Jemisin's "Broken Earth" trilogy, Ted Chiang, Iain M. Banks, and Cixin Liu.Christianity and literature: How religious literacy impacts readers' ability to engage with certain works, particularly Gene Wolfe's writing which contains subtle Christian themes.Political perspectives in fiction: The challenges of creating politically engaged fiction that doesn't feel didactic, using examples like Banks' "Culture" series and contemporary works.Media and intellectual diversity: Kevin expresses hope for greater intellectual diversity in media and publishing, noting that Chinese sci-fi author Cixin Liu represents a genuinely different cultural perspective.

    1h 33m
  6. 029 - Sci-Fi Aristocracy with Copernican

    02/24/2025

    029 - Sci-Fi Aristocracy with Copernican

    KMO talks science fiction with Copernican.

    49 min
  7. 029 - Sci-Fi Aristocracy with Copernican

    02/24/2025

    029 - Sci-Fi Aristocracy with Copernican

    KMO talks science fiction, culture and politics with Copernican.

    49 min
  8. 028 - Science Fiction and Philosophy with David Roman

    01/07/2025

    028 - Science Fiction and Philosophy with David Roman

    This wide-ranging conversation between KMO (host) and David Roman (historian and writer) covers several major topics, starting with Roman's recent trip to China and observations about its development over his 27 years of visiting the country. The discussion then delves deeply into science fiction literature, publishing, and the current state of the genre. The conversation also explores generational ships in science fiction, AI, cultural representation in fiction, and ends with a discussion about philosophy, particularly continental philosophy and the work of Slavoj Žižek. Table of Contents: Introduction and China Discussion (00:00-05:00)David Roman's background in ChinaObservations on China's developmentContrasts between modernization and traditional elementsTechnology and Development in China (05:00-10:00)Discussion of AI and robotics advancementReality vs. social media representationInfrastructure and development contrastsMedia Platforms and Content Creation (10:00-25:00)Experiences with YouTube, Facebook, and SubstackDiscussion of platform censorship and monetizationContent creator challengesScience Fiction Literature (25:00-45:00)Discussion of various authors including Peter WattsAnalysis of current trends in science fictionGeneration ship novels and themesCultural Representation in Science Fiction (45:00-60:00)Discussion of diversity in future scenariosCritique of current publishing trendsCultural authenticity in character writingPublishing Industry Analysis (60:00-75:00)Changes in editing and publishingSelf-publishing vs. traditional publishingImpact on science fiction genrePhilosophy Discussion (75:00-end)Continental vs. Analytic philosophyDiscussion of Slavoj Žižek's workRoman's work on Chinese and Western philosophy

    1h 20m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Join veteran podcaster, interviewer, and artist, KMO, as he and his guests explore how we know what we know and how we can use that knowledge to address societal challenges and create a more prosperous and equitable world.. The KMO Show features conversations with interdisciplinary thinkers and innovators on topics like artificial intelligence, evolutionary psychology, social dynamics, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    KMO
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © C-Realm Media
  • Show Website
    The KMO Show