Hit Pause with Star Price

Star Price
  • 4.8 (5)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

We're living in a time of sweeping change and constant chaos. HIT PAUSE with STAR PRICE is a podcast exploring the head-spinning cultural shifts happening every-single-day. From the fall of the world order to the rise of AI, from the insanity of our politics to the revolution of independent media (and what about Starbucks shrinking its cup size?) — we offer a look into what it all means, with a few laughs along the way. Host Star Price is a documentary filmmaker with 30 years of experience interviewing people who matter. New episodes every Thursday!

  1. 2d ago

    Why Won’t They Stop AI? The Race Toward Superintelligence

    AI companies are racing to build machines that could become smarter than humans. But what happens if those machines become impossible to control—and why aren't the companies developing them willing to stop? John Sherman of the AI Risk Network argues that the race toward superintelligence is creating risks that society is dangerously unprepared for. In this conversation, we explore recursive self-improvement, AI agents acting beyond their intended boundaries, the incentives driving AI companies, and whether regulation can keep pace with the technology. IN THIS EPISODE We discuss why AI safety advocates see recursive self-improvement as a potential turning point, what recent AI agent behavior may reveal about control, and why the race to build ever more capable systems could be difficult to stop. John explains why he believes financial incentives and competition are pushing companies toward dangerous capabilities, why he thinks a pause in frontier AI development is possible, and what ordinary people can do to press lawmakers for action. We also discuss the Hugging Face incident, AI potentially spreading to internet-connected devices, Bill Gates's concerns about AI regulation, the possibility of a major AI-related crisis, and the difference between developing more powerful AI and making existing AI more useful. John's message is urgent: learn about the risks, talk about them, and demand that elected officials take them seriously. CHAPTERS 00:00 Is the AI Threat Unstoppable?00:50 The AI Threat: How Worried Should We Be?01:59 The Hugging Face Incident and AI Agents04:10 Can AI Develop Its Own Goals?05:05 The Paperclip Maximizer Explained06:51 Can Humans Control Superintelligent AI?08:18 Recursive Self-Improvement: The Bright Red Line09:49 Why AI Companies Won’t Stop11:04 Connor Leahy’s Warning—and What’s Changed11:31 The AI Safety Debate Goes Mainstream12:47 Could AI Spread to Smart Devices?13:54 Can AI Be Regulated?15:36 Bill Gates, Corporate Responsibility and AI Risk16:44 Will It Take a Disaster to Force Action?18:20 What Could an AI Catastrophe Look Like?20:16 Are AI CEOs Acting Irresponsibly?21:04 Is Anthropic Really Different?21:37 Who Benefits From the AI Race?22:22 Are AI Insiders Sounding the Alarm?23:34 Can We Pause AI Development?25:42 Why Not Focus AI on Solving Human Problems?27:01 Are Frontier AI Companies Financially Sustainable?29:35 Could Regulation Damage the Economy?30:28 Can Lawmakers Act in Time?31:52 The US-China AI Race32:44 Why We Need to Hit the Brakes33:18 Why John Sherman Became an AI Safety Advocate34:38 What Can You Do About the AI Threat?35:48 How John Sherman Hits Pause37:14 Final Thoughts ABOUT JOHN SHERMAN John Sherman is a communicator and AI safety advocate with the AI Risk Network. He discusses the risks posed by increasingly capable AI systems and advocates for stronger public oversight of frontier AI development. ABOUT HIT PAUSE Hit Pause with Star Price explores the big changes in politics, culture, and technology. We cut through the noise, ask hard questions, and try to make sense of the chaos. 🌐 Website: https://hitpausepod.com Subscribe to Hit Pause for more conversations about the forces reshaping our future.

  2. Oct 15

    The Midterms: Can Democrats Take the House AND Senate?

    Just weeks before the 2026 midterms, political journalist Brian Karem thinks Republicans face a difficult fight to hold Congress. But how big could the Democratic gains be—and what happens after Election Day? On this episode of Hit Pause, Star Price talks with Brian Karem, White House columnist for Salon and host of the Just Ask the Question podcast, about the state of the midterm races, Donald Trump's impact on Republican candidates, and the stakes for American democracy. Brian shares his outlook on the battle for the House and Senate, including why he thinks Democrats could make gains but shouldn't count on a landslide. We also dig into several races that could shape the political landscape, from Texas and Maine to Michigan and Georgia. IN THIS CONVERSATION • Where the midterm races stand three weeks before Election Day• Trump's impact on Republican candidates and voters' concerns about the economy• What could happen if Democrats take control of the House and Senate• The Texas Senate race: James Talarico vs. Ken Paxton• Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson in Maine• Michigan's Senate race and the debate over Abdul El-Sayed• Jon Ossoff and the future of the Democratic Party• The Democrats' messaging problem—and the challenge of governing• Trump's possible response to the election results• Why voter turnout could determine everything Brian doesn't expect Democrats to win by a landslide. He also argues that winning back Congress won't be enough: Democrats will need a message that goes beyond simply opposing Trump. ABOUT BRIAN KAREM Brian Karem is a political journalist, White House columnist for Salon, and host of the Just Ask the Question podcast. ABOUT HIT PAUSE Hosted by Star Price, Hit Pause takes a breath from the daily chaos to make sense of politics, culture, technology, and change. Subscribe for more conversations with journalists, experts, and people who help explain what's happening—and why it matters. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: Brian Karem on the Midterms01:15 Can Democrats Win the House and Senate?02:21 The Economy, Voters and Trump's Approval04:14 Why Does Trump Ignore Voters?05:28 What Happens After Election Day?08:57 Impeachment and Congressional Investigations10:24 The Democrats' Messaging Problem11:04 Texas: Talarico vs. Paxton14:42 Maine: Can Troy Jackson Beat Susan Collins?19:10 Michigan: Abdul El-Sayed vs. Mike Rogers21:37 Who Are the Democrats' Rising Stars?25:29 Georgia: Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins28:52 South Carolina and the Limits of Trump's Influence30:03 Is the GOP Facing an Insurmountable Task?32:01 How Much Could Democrats Actually Win?33:34 Will Voters Turn Out?35:27 Final Thoughts Website: https://hitpausepod.com

  3. Oct 7

    What Killers Don't Want You to See

    A HIT PAUSE SPECIAL EPISODE: What does a crime scene reveal that a killer doesn't want you to see? In this complete, uncut conversation, criminal investigator and true-crime TV host Paul Holes goes deep on how he thinks about murder, serial predators, staged crime scenes, investigative mistakes, and why we're so fascinated by true crime. Holes explains how he approaches a case from the crime scene and the victim outward—and how his own experience with the Golden State Killer taught him the danger of tunnel vision. He also talks about how true crime can educate people about danger, but can also become psychologically unhealthy when we're constantly exposed to the worst things people do. We also get into several notorious cases: • Nancy Guthrie: Holes analyzes the surveillance video and argues that what appears to be an abduction for ransom may have been staged to misdirect investigators. • Missy Bevers: Why Holes thinks the bizarre surveillance footage may itself be part of the staging—and why he believes the killer could be either male or female. • Marilyn Monroe: Holes explains why he believes her death scene may have been staged and lays out his theory about how she died. These are Holes' theories, not established facts. • The Zodiac Killer: Why Holes believes the case may still be solvable through DNA and genetic genealogy. And in one of the more personal parts of the conversation, Holes talks openly about the psychological toll of decades spent investigating horrific crimes—and how he tries to “hit pause” himself by getting outside, mountain biking and taking what he calls his “dandelion break.” This is the complete 66-minute conversation, including material that didn't make it into the shorter edited episode. If you enjoy conversations that go beyond the headlines and try to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to Hit Pause. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Why are we fascinated by true crime? 02:43 How social media changed criminal investigations 05:03 Is technology making murder harder? 07:41 What does evil actually look like? 09:41 Could any of us become a murderer? 13:06 Why we want true crime to have an ending 15:46 Why do so many women love true crime? 18:52 How Paul Holes approaches a murder investigation 23:09 The danger of tunnel vision 25:33 How true crime can educate killers 29:17 The psychological toll of investigating evil 35:22 The Nancy Guthrie case 42:03 The mystery of Missy Beavers 49:29 Was Marilyn Monroe's death staged? 59:56 The Zodiac Killer: Can he still be identified? 61:41 Is our obsession with true crime healthy? 64:06 How Paul Holes hits pause 65:19 What's next for Paul Holes? For more, visit our website: https://www.hitpausepod.com

  4. Oct 1

    Can Abdul El-Sayed Win Michigan’s Senate Race?

    Michigan’s Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of 2026. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed emerged from a bruising primary and now faces Republican Mike Rogers in a battleground state that has become central to the fight for control of the Senate. In this episode of Hit Pause, Star Price talks with CNN political reporter Patrick Svitek about what’s really driving the race — and whether El-Sayed can maintain his momentum against Rogers. We break down: • Why El-Sayed’s campaign has connected with progressive and younger voters • How Republicans are using El-Sayed’s relationship with streamer Hasan Piker against him • Whether the Piker controversy is fading as a campaign issue• How Mike Rogers is trying to separate himself from Donald Trump without losing Trump’s voters • Rogers’ messaging on Iran, healthcare and prescription drug prices • El-Sayed’s push for Medicare for All • The importance of Black voters in the Detroit metro area• Whether young voters will actually turn out for El-Sayed• What the race could mean for Michigan — and the national Senate map • What an El-Sayed victory could mean for the 2028 Democratic presidential primaryPlus, we take a close look at the campaign ads and political strategy shaping the race.If you want politics without the endless doom scrolling, subscribe to Hit Pause.Website: https://www.hitpausepod.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hit-pause-with-star-price/id1896699258 Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Ou63sVknHdDRQjqQHA2ZS?si=0abf73a2d65b436c CHAPTERS 00:00 The Michigan Senate race 00:48 Why Michigan matters 03:26 How El-Sayed won the Democratic primary 06:09 El-Sayed’s “as Michigan as it gets” strategy 08:12 Mike Rogers’ response 11:22 How Rogers can attack El-Sayed 13:13 The Hasan Piker controversy 18:14 El-Sayed takes on the Piker question 20:22 Is the Piker attack fading? 21:31 How Donald Trump looms over the race 23:17 Can Rogers separate himself from Trump? 27:06 Why healthcare is becoming a major issue 28:33 Rogers’ prescription drug ad 31:30 El-Sayed and Medicare for All 35:14 What the polls are telling us 36:17 The Black vote in Michigan 38:02 Will young voters turn out? 40:11 What an El-Sayed victory could mean nationally 41:24 What does Patrick do to Hit Pause? Show website: https://www.hitpausepod.com Subscribe to Hit Pause for more conversations about politics, culture, technology and the changes reshaping America.

  5. Sep 25

    Is It Time to Leave America?

    For some Americans, the idea of leaving the United States has gone from a fantasy to a serious possibility.In this episode of Hit Pause, I talk with Jana Sanchez and Bethany Quinn, two Americans who moved to Europe and now help other Americans figure out where they could go—and how they could actually make the move. Jana and Bethany are the founders of GTFO Tours, which helps Americans explore relocation options and navigate the process of moving abroad. We talk about why Americans are considering life abroad, what countries offer realistic paths for Americans, how much money you really need, digital nomad and retirement visas, second passports, healthcare, and what life can actually be like after you leave. And yes, we get into the big question: Is there a place in the world for you? Jana and Bethany are the founders of GTFO Tours, which helps Americans explore relocation options and navigate the process of moving abroad. GTFO Tours: gtfotours.com Chapters 00:00 Why do Americans want to GTFO? 02:58 America is changing 06:28 “We’re just meat” 09:19 Who actually wants to leave America? 11:28 How Jana & Bethany got out 14:36 Why Bethany moved to Europe 16:40 Which countries are easiest for Americans? 19:12 The $5,000 Netherlands visa 23:28 Where can you live on very little money? 25:50 What about Italy? 33:56 Is there a place in Europe for everyone? 34:25 Could you qualify for a second passport? 35:04 Digital nomad visas and other options 37:06 How different countries treat Americans 40:07 Does Canada want Americans? 44:15 What about Asia? 45:05 What happens to your work-life balance? 46:35 How moving abroad can change your lifestyle 49:19 Final thoughts Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you don't miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@hitpausepod Also on Substack: https://www.starprice.substack.com And visit our website for every episode, short, and more: https://www.hitpausepod.com For questions: hitpausepod@gmail.com

  6. Sep 16

    Are We Becoming a Surveillance State?

    You’re being watched. License plate readers, security cameras, facial recognition and other surveillance technologies are becoming part of everyday life, often without us fully realizing how much information they collect or who can access it. In this episode of Hit Pause, I talk with Dave Maass of the Electronic Frontier Foundation about the rapid expansion of surveillance technology, especially Flock’s automated license plate reader network. How effective is Flock at fighting crime? What happens when police can track where your car has been? What happens when federal agencies like ICE can access that data? And what happens when technology designed for convenience becomes a powerful tool for an increasingly authoritarian government? Dave argues that the issue isn’t simply whether surveillance technology can solve individual crimes. It’s whether we are building a system that makes it easier to monitor everyone. We also talk about the constitutional protections being eroded in the name of convenience, the growing resistance to surveillance technology in cities across the country, and why Dave is still optimistic that Americans can push back. CHAPTERS: 00:00 You’re Being Watched 00:44 Are We on the Precipice of a Surveillance State? 02:18 How Flock Cameras Track You 03:28 Why People Are Fighting Back 04:39 The Fight Against Surveillance Technology 06:02 Do Flock Cameras Actually Reduce Crime? 06:57 When the Constitution Becomes “Inconvenient” 08:50 Who’s Making Money From Surveillance? 10:09 Can We Stop This Technology? 12:02 Has Our Relationship With Technology Changed? 13:21 The Case for Flock Cameras 15:42 Can ICE Access Your Location Data? 17:37 A Perfect Tool for an Authoritarian Government 18:34 Can Congress Regulate Surveillance? 20:47 Could “Precrime” Become Reality? 22:18 Why Dave Maass Is Still Optimistic Website: https://hitpausepod.com

  7. Sep 9

    Can Talarico Really Beat Paxton in Texas?

    NEW SEASON: We head into the Texas Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton to find out whether the red state of Texas could actually turn blue. Texas has been a Republican stronghold for decades. But this race is different enough to raise a tantalizing question: Could James Talarico actually break through? For this episode of Hit Pause, I wanted to get beyond the campaign ads and political talking points. So I talked to Texas voters across the political spectrum about the issues that could decide this race—and brought their reactions to political reporter Alex Roarty for his analysis. We look at: Talarico vs. Paxton: Why this race is suddenly so competitive? Christianity: Two very different visions of faith—and a fight over which version belongs in Texas politics Masculinity: Why Paxton is attacking Talarico's manhood and whether that strategy is working Immigration: The issue Republicans have long used to their advantage, and whether that is changing Trans rights: Why the issue has become part of the campaign—and whether voters actually care as much as politicians think they do Paxton's scandals: His impeachment by the Republican-controlled Texas House, allegations surrounding his personal and political conduct, and why those controversies haven't necessarily driven Republican voters away The economy: Whether Talarico can convince Texas voters that Democrats can be trusted on business and jobs Money: Talarico's enormous fundraising advantage and the Republican money that could pour into the race The changing political landscape: Why Talarico's youth, communication skills and willingness to embrace new media may give him an advantage over the more traditional Paxton And then we ask the biggest question of all: Could Texas actually turn blue? The voters aren't in agreement. And after decades of Democratic disappointment in Texas, there's a lot riding on whether this time really is different. CHAPTERS: 00:00 — The Battle for Texas 01:10 — How Competitive Is the Race? 03:25 — What Do Texas Voters Actually Care About? 09:18 — Can Paxton’s Scandals Hurt Him? 13:21 — The $1,000 Pen Ad 14:57 — A Battle Over Christianity 18:26 — Is Masculinity a Campaign Issue? 22:18 — Immigration and the Texas Border 26:23 — The Fight Over Trans Rights 29:11 — Who’s Running the Better Campaign? 32:19 — Money: Talarico’s Huge Fundraising Advantage 35:17 — Can Texas Really Turn Blue? 36:36 — The Last Mile Problem For every episode, clips, background info, and upcoming schedules, and to reach out with comments or questions, visit our website: https://www.hitpausepod.com

  8. Sep 2

    Who's Telling the Truth?

    A HIT PAUSE SPECIAL EPISODE: Who do we trust when we no longer agree on what is true? In this 81-minute Uncut Conversation, historian, author, and media analyst Claire Potter goes much deeper than in our 30-minute July episode. We examine Donald Trump, the media, political polarization, independent media, the decline of corporate news, and how Americans decide what information they can trust. Potter argues that we're living in a media environment that doesn't simply reflect our political divisions—it can reinforce and intensify them, pushing us toward increasingly tribal ways of thinking. We also discuss authenticity in politics, why traditional media struggled to cover Trump, what happens to MAGA after Trump, and what historians may be able to tell us about this period in American life. This is the full, uncut conversation, including the longer answers, additional exchanges and ideas that didn't make the edited episode. If you're a political junkie, this is your 81-minute fix. Subscribe and follow us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hitpausepod And on Substack: https://starprice.substack.com CHAPTERS: 00:00 Who’s Telling the Truth? 03:13 Do We Still Have a Shared Reality? 04:30 Is Corporate Media Losing Its Audience? 07:07 Why Does “Authenticity” Matter? 09:41 How Fox News Changed Political Media 14:05 When Politics Became a Spectator Sport 16:31 Did the Media Create Our Tribal Politics? 18:18 How Trump Mastered the Media 22:10 Why Has the Media Failed to Cover Trump? 25:23 Why Can’t the Media Go Deeper? 27:25 The Politics of Authenticity 36:28 What Happens to MAGA After Trump? 44:39 How Will History Remember Trump? 48:03 How Do We Rebuild After Trump? 55:46 Are America’s Guardrails Holding? 1:00:52 What Will Happen in 2026 and 2028? 1:03:05 Is Democratic Socialism the Future? 1:18:10 Will America Swing Back to the Center? 1:20:34 Is There Still Hope?

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About

We're living in a time of sweeping change and constant chaos. HIT PAUSE with STAR PRICE is a podcast exploring the head-spinning cultural shifts happening every-single-day. From the fall of the world order to the rise of AI, from the insanity of our politics to the revolution of independent media (and what about Starbucks shrinking its cup size?) — we offer a look into what it all means, with a few laughs along the way. Host Star Price is a documentary filmmaker with 30 years of experience interviewing people who matter. New episodes every Thursday!

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