CAPTivated

CAPTivated

Join political scientist Hanna Sistek, media historian Sage Goodwin, and communication scholar Julius Freeman at the Center for American Political History, Media, and Technology as they dig into two big questions: What’s wrong with our information environment? And what can we do to make it right? From disinformation and polarization to algorithmic news feeds and attention traps, we explore the forces reshaping how we understand the world and each other. We pick the brains of researchers, journalists, technologists, and other experts to unpack the major problems with our digital public sphere today, how we got here, and what we should do about it.  Along with their insights guests share their own “media diets,” the good, the guilty, and how they hit reset when the noise becomes too much. Join us to cut through the chaos, find the signal, and rethink how we engage with the media that shapes our lives. 

Episodes

  1. Aug 28

    Ep 11 History Gives Us Agency with Bruce Schulman

    In this episode, Hanna, Sage, and Julius sit down with historian Bruce Schulman to explore the relationship between history, media, journalism, and American politics. Bruce explains how mass media transformed political communication, why journalists need a stronger historical perspective, and what the history of Ralph Nader, consumer protection, and seat belt regulation can teach us about regulating Big Tech and AI. He also explores media fragmentation, historical thinking, and why studying the past can help us understand the present, imagine alternative possibilities, and create a more informed political future. Key Takeaways from Bruce: History gives us hope and agency. Nothing is inevitable. The path we're on was shaped by the choices people made (or didn’t make). That means the past can provide a toolkit for understanding what else was, and still could be, possible.Media doesn't just "happen." From radio to AI, how a technology gets used is shaped by institutional and political choices, not technological destiny.Media fragmentation makes reform harder. In the 1960s one activist could galvanize the country through one book; today's splintered media landscape makes that kind of unified outrage — and the regulation it produces — much tougher to achieve, even though the legal tools still exist. Find out more about Bruce on: Bruce's X - @bjschulmBoston University History Department  Some of the texts, and resources we refer to in this episode: Media Nation: The Political History of News in Modern America edited by Bruce J. Schulman and Julian E. Zelizer“Dark Side of American Dream: When Reiventing Past Means Forgetting It”, Bruce Shulman, Los Angeles Times, 1991“Fifty Years Later, Watergate is Still Shaping Our Politics”, Bruce Schulman, Made By History, Washington Post, 2022“What About Social Security’s Rollout?”, Bruce Schulman, Reuters, 2013“Court-packing and Other Radical Consitutional Reforms - Might Save America,” Bruce Schulman, Made By History, Washington Post, 2020Unsafe at Any Speed by Ralph NaderSilent Spring by Rachel Carson  Bruce’s Media Diet Meat and potatoes:  Outlets: The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Made by History Junk Food: Episodic TV Palate cleanser: Live music This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  2. Jul 2

    EP 10 The Lost Art of Persuasion with Mary Kate Cary

    In this episode, Hanna, Sage, and Julius sit down with Mary Kate Cary, former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush and, until recently, Assistant Vice President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the University of Virginia, and director of Think Again at UVA— a student-facing initiative built around freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, intellectual humility, and critical thinking. She's now heading to the University of Denver to lead the new National Academy for Free Expression and Pluralism. Mary Kate takes us behind the scenes of presidential speechwriting — from drafting the State of the Union to the time a jet-lagged President Bush threw up on the Japanese prime minister — and breaks down Monroe's Motivated Sequence, the century-old formula behind history's most persuasive speeches. She also walks us through Think Again's programming, including Disagree With a Professor, Low Stakes Hot Takes, a student-written free speech toolkit, the free online course Speaking of America, and the "low-tech zones" getting students to ditch their headphones and talk to each other in the dining hall again. Key Takeaways from Mary Kate: Take off the headphones, put down the cell phone, look people in the eye. Make new connections and engage with people around you.Persuasion is important no matter what you do in life. Especially in the age of AI, learning to listen with empathy and speak generously is a critical skill regardless of your career.One person speaking up can truly change the course of history. There are countless examples throughout American history of individuals who shaped democracy through the power of speech, and that potential still exists today. Find out more about Mary Kate on: Mary Kate’s websiteHer X and LinkedInThink Again at UVASpeaking of AmericaNational Academy for Free Expression and Pluralism at Denver Some of the texts, and resources we refer to in this episode: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence Mary Kate’s Media Diet Meat and potatoes:  Outlets:  Ground News (Blind Spot), RealClearPolitics Junk Food: X Palate cleanser:  Babylon Bee, Uncommon Knowledge,and  Heterodox Out Loud Off-screen (no phones/headphones): Golf and fly fishing This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  3. May 21

    EP 09 Selective Exposure and Motivated Reasoning with Josh Pasek

    In this episode, Julius, Sage, and Hanna talk to University of Michigan professor of Communication and Media and Political Science Josh Pasek about how people process political information in today’s digital public sphere. The conversation breaks down selective exposure and motivated reasoning, why we seek confirming news, reject dissonant facts, and rely on mental shortcuts shaped by our social circles, prior beliefs, and media algorithms. Josh explains how fragmented online information environments and viral extreme content fuel polarization, erode trust, and make democratic deliberation and compromise harder, even when most people aren’t acting maliciously. The episode also explores the need for civic effort, better context in news coverage, and potential system-level fixes—from platform incentives to public media—plus practical habits for intentional media consumption, including adding “friction” to screens and curating a healthier media diet. Key Takeaways from Josh: Democratic citizenship is not supposed to be easy. Being a citizen in a democracy requires a significant amount of individual effort and hard work to stay informed. Care about the polity as a whole, and look beyond your own narrow group interest.Writing off those who disagree with you as "bad actors" is highly dangerous. Falling into the trap of assuming anyone with an opposing viewpoint is malicious is damaging. It fragments communities and undermines society as a whole.No one else is going to do the work for you. You cannot wait for media platforms or a system-level fix to solve the current information crisis. Individuals have to take personal responsibility, practice intentionality, and put in the legwork to better engage with the information in front of them. Find out more about Josh on: Josh’s websiteHis LinkedIn, and Bluesky Josh’s Media Diet Meat and potatoes:  Outlets: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Wired, ProPublica, The Guardian, Bluesky  Junk Food: Josh is a news junkie, the news is his junk food. Palate cleanser:  Improv classes and curating quality content for his kids: Monty Python, Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire SlayerThis podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  4. May 8

    Ep 08 Battling Misinformation and AI Slop with Sree Sreenivasan

    In this episode Julius, Sage, and Hanna talk to tech journalist, former Chief Digital Officer of New York City, Columbia University, and the Met, and founder of Digimentors, Sree Sreenivasan to discuss misinformation. The conversation traces the problem from email scams and WhatsApp forwards all the way to AI-generated "slop," it's global ramifications, and examines why Silicon Valley's tech moguls are to blame. Yet Sree remains a techno-optimist. He makes the case that improving your media literacy is now a fundamental civic duty.  Key Takeaways from Sree: Own your role. Every time you doom scroll or share without thinking, you are part of the problem. Every time you put the phone down, read a local newspaper, or correct a bad forward in a group chat, you are making a difference.Stay literate about new technology. The speed of change is only accelerating. Experiment with new tools, test AI by asking it about things you know well, and stay curious about what's coming next.Participate. A handful of Silicon Valley oligarchs are betting that your vote doesn't matter — prove them wrong. The damage being done right now flows from an election margin of 1.5%. Your vote, your voice, and your willingness to make "good trouble" matter more than you think. Find out more about Sree on: Sree’s Substack (sreenet.substack.com)His X, YouTube,LinkedIn, and InstagramHis digital media consultancy, DigiMentorsNew York Times Read Along — his show reading the print paper aloud on social media Some of the texts, and resources we refer to in this episode: The 2009 NYT article How the Media Wrestle with the WebWonder Tools by Jeremy Caplan — breaking down AI and tech for non-expertsJournalist's Toolbox by Mike Riley — useful for anyone who wants to be a more informed news consumerLiza Donnelly — New Yorker cartoonist and Substack writer on media and culture Sree’s Media Diet Meat and potatoes:  Outlets: X, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal Junk Food: YouTube shorts This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  5. Apr 21

    EP 07 Digital Blackface and AI with Ryan Ken

    In this episode Julius, Sage, and Hanna sit down with Emmy-winning writer, actor, and comedian Ryan Ken to discuss “digital Blackface,” the use of online Black images, expressions, and likenesses for non-Black self-expression or profit. The conversation dives deep into the complex history of Blackface, from its roots in 19th-century minstrelsy to its insidious modern evolution into reaction memes and a dangerous new era of AI deepfakes. Ryan explores how new technologies are being used to "supercharge" centuries-old racist tropes, the political utility of "rage bait" AI, and how power operates through comedy. Ryan also points out the broader philosophical risk of losing human connection in art to artificial intelligence and highlights that critical thinking means having the humility to admit you can be wrong. Want to hear more from Ryan? Join them and CAPT for the first annual Summit on Information, Technology, and American Democracy in Indianapolis on April 30th. Register here. Key Takeaways from Ryan: Be suspicious of video.Don't believe you're too smart to be tricked. Seek out real, human creativity.  Find out more about Ryan on: TikTok (@ryan_ken_acts)  Instagram (@ryan_ken_acts) Bluesky (@ryankenacts.bsky.social)  X (@Ryan_Ken_Acts) Some of the texts we refer to in this episode: Joshua Lumpkin Green’s 2006 article coining the term Blackface: Digital Blackface: The Repackaging of the Black Masculine Image Birth of an Industry: Blackface Minstrelsy and the Rise of American Animation by Nicholas SammondAlgorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism by Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble The Code Switch Podcast’s episode The Evolution of Blackface in the Age of AIJeremy Carrasco’s page devoted to tips for spotting AI @jeremyfindsaiYK Hong’s page on tech justice and liberatory strategy @ykrebornTimnit Gebru’s work on AI and ethics Ryan’s Media Diet Meat and potatoes : Outlets: BlueSky, Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera, NPR, PBS Individuals:  Karen Attiah – journalist Erin in the Morning – trans rights reporting Vinny Thomas Caitlin Reilly Jay Jurdin This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  6. Apr 6

    EP 06 The Democrats and Big Tech with Lily Geismer

    In this episode, Sage, Julius, and Hanna hear from political historian Lily Geismer about the Democratic Party’s decades-long relationship to the tech industry. From the Atari Democrats of the 1970s to Al Gore's dinner-party pipeline with Silicon Valley executives, Lily explains how market-based thinking gradually replaced the social safety net as the party's organizing logic. Lily digs into what that ideological shift produced: derulation that allowed companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta to consolidate into the monopolies we know today. Lily breaks down what that consolidation actually costs the average American — in jobs, in prices, and in access to information — and why the promise that deregulation would help consumers largely never materialized. Her solutions include the enduring case for government regulation and supporting public media. Key Takeaways from Lily: 1. Big Tech monopolies were built, not born. 2. Doing well and doing good are not the same thing.  3. Democracy needs a public sector, in media not just in politics.  Find out more about: Dr. Lily Geismer Her X @LGeismer and Bluesky @lilygeismer.bsky.social Her books Left Behind: The Democrats' Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality and Don't Blame Us: Suburban Liberals and the Transformation of the Democratic PartyThe essay collections she’s co-edited: Shaped by the State: Toward a New Political History of the Twentieth Century and Mastery and Drift: Professional-Class Liberals Since the 1960sLily’s episodes of The Dig podcast Race and Class in the Liberal Suburbs and The New DemocratsLily’s writing for Jacobin and the Boston Review Lily’s Media Diet: Meat & potatoes: NYT, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, LA Times, NPR, Eastsider LA, The Daily , The Ezra Klein Show , The DigPalate Cleanser:  Borgen, The West Wing, Heated Rivalry (check the full transcript for more)This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  7. Mar 19

    EP 05 The Quasi-Religion of Right-Wing Media with Marcus Mann

    In this episode, Sage, Julius, and Hanna sit down with Purdue sociology professor Marcus Mann to discuss why polarization is the wrong framework for understanding our news media. Marcus explains that there are qualitative differences between right-wing and center-left news ecosystems. He argues that where center-left news reporting is largely focused on information dissemination, we can better understand right-wing media if we view it as a quasi-religious phenomenon marked by personality-centered programming, community-building, and defining in-groups and out-groups. Marcus gets into the reasons behind these differences in epistemologies between news reporting and opinion programming, suggests evaluating media by function and funding, and urges seeking social connection beyond political media. Key Takeaways from Marcus: Media ecosystems on the right and left are different. The "left needs to find a Joe Rogan" argument misses the point. Think about function and funding when evaluating media sources.  Find out more about: Dr. Marcus Mann His article with Dan Winchester: Beyond Polarization: RIght-Wing Media as a Quasi-Religious PhenomenonHis other articlesHis BlueSky Some of the texts we refer to in this episode: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Coalition Democrats by Matt Grossmann & David HopkinsOutrage Media by Sarah Sobieraj & Jeffrey BerryIrony and Outrage by Dannagal YoungAllSides Perceived Political Bias Ratings CompanyThe Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathon Haidt Marcus’ Media Diet: Meat and potatoes: New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, and NPR Junk Food/Palate Cleanser: Barstool Sports This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  8. Mar 5

    EP 04 AI is Not Inevitable with Alice Marwick

    In this episode Hanna, Julius, and Sage talk to Dr. Alice Marwick, Director of Research at nonprofit research institute, Data & Society. Alice discusses the rapid expansion of AI. She explains how AI is dangerously concentrated in a handful of powerful companies whose interests are increasingly aligned with the current US administration, and how people are being pushed into using AI involuntarily in their workplaces, schools, and apps. She also raises concerns about people using chatbots for mental health support, highlighting the safety risks of “private vibes” versus real privacy. Alice argues that AI adoption is far from inevitable and society still has the power to shape its development, making the case for meaningful regulation built around broad principles rather than specific technologies.  Key Takeaways from Alice: AI is not inevitable. The real problem is power and political economy, not technology“Private vibes” aren’t the same as privacy. Chatbots may feel safe and confidential, but unlike therapy, there are no legal protections governing what happens to what you share.Regulation should be built on broad principles, not specific technologies. Grounding laws in ideas like data privacy and worker dignity means they stay relevant no matter what new tools come along. Find out more about: Dr. Alice Marwick Her book The Private is Political: Networked Privacy and Social MediaData & Society The Center for Information Technology in Public Life Alice helped found at UNC Chapel HillHer X - @‌alicetiara Her LinkedIn Some of the texts we refer to in this episode: "Danger Sound Claxon" by Matthew F. JordanRebecca Lewis’s dissertation Tech's Right Turn : the Rise of Reactionary Politics in Silicon Valley and OnlineEmil Torres’s How Effective Accelerationism Divides Silicon ValleyJoe Lato’s Critical computational social science researcher Alice’s Media Diet: Meat and potatoes: BlueSky, New York Times, Reddit Palate Cleanser: Rosalía's Lux album, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Silo, Severance, Better Call Saul, Naomi Novik, Who? Weekly This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  9. Feb 19

    EP 03 Why Local Journalism Still Matters with Dave Bangert

    In this episode Sage, Hanna, and Julius sit down with Dave Bangert, a veteran local journalist who spent over three decades covering Lafayette, Indiana, first at the Lafayette Journal and Courier, and now through his independent Substack: Based in Lafayette, Indiana. Dave talks about what happens when newsrooms shrink from 45 people to seven, why those "boring" school board meetings actually matter, and how he's built a subscriber base of over 8,000 people who are hungry for local coverage. He shares stories about getting called out in the grocery store, why fairness doesn't mean being soft, and what gets lost when there's no one left to cover the community stories that end up clipped and saved on refrigerators. Dave makes the case that supporting local journalism isn't just about staying informed. It's about maintaining the accountability that keeps democracy functioning at the level where it actually touches people's lives. Three Key Takeaways from Dave: Support local journalism and subscribe to anybody who is doing the workPut in the legwork to read enough that you can tell which reporters you trust and which you don't As a journalist, make sure that you're able to walk in the grocery store, and people can hold you accountable.Find out more about: Dave Bangert’s Substack: Based in Lafayette, Indiana His website Recent study about the death of American local newspapersSome of the texts we refer to in this episode: Dave’s Journal & Courier article about The Time Johnny Cash stopped in Lafayette to go Fishing Dave’s Media Diet: Main: Journal & Courier, Indy Star, Indiana Capital Chronicle, Mirror Indy, Axios, WaPo, NYTJunk Food: Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Athletic Pulse, Greg Kot’s music reviews, 30 for 30 documentariesThis podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  10. Feb 5

    EP 02 The Personalized Public Sphere with Fred Turner

    In this episode, Sage, Hanna and Julius hear from Stanford Professor Fred Turner about how personalization and commercial platforms have corrupted the “public sphere.” Fred traces the historical roots of the fantasy of a global connected conversation system back to post-WWII scientists, critiques the techno-utopianism of Silicon Valley, and underscores the importance of institutions and regulation for breaking up companies that would otherwise destroy public goods. He reminds us of the power of in-person organizing and solidarity to resist authoritarianism. Key Takeaways from Fred: Personalization and profit-driven platforms killed the public sphere - When debate is about who you are as a person not how to distribute resources, rational deliberation becomes impossibleTech companies are terrified of regulation for a reason - Their fear is a measure of our power. We've broken up extractive industries before, and legislated safety. We can build seat belts.Online attention is not action - Stop circulating “misery porn.” Hard, dull in-person work builds the solidarity, trust, and friendships that create changeFind out more about: Fred TurnerHis books: Echoes of Combat, From Counterculture to Cyberculture, Seeing Silicon Valley, The Democratic SurroundHis Texan Ideology article Some of this episode's texts : Habermas, Structural Transformation of the Public SphereMurrow “Wires and Lights in a Box”Mcluhan The Global VillageBarthe's “exnomination” Mythologies used by Stuart Hall Benkler Wealth of NetworksSharp and Jenkin Fighting Tyrannyhooks' Oppositional Gaze Fred’s Media Diet: Main: Times, Post, Guardian, Fox News, CNN, WSJ, Portland Press Herald, MDIThis podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  11. Feb 5

    EP 01 Unpacking Conservative Media with Nicole Hemmer

    Welcome to the very first episode of the CAPTivated Podcast! Hosts Hanna, Julius and Sage sit down with Dr. Nicole Hemmer, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Rogers Center for the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University, to explore the history and power of conservative media in American politics. From William F. Buckley Jr. and Rush Limbaugh to Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk, this episode traces how and why right-wing media evolved into a dominant force in the digital age. Nicole also breaks down what’s different about contemporary conservative influencers, why fact-checking fails and media literacy isn’t enough, and how strong local communities matter more than perfect information systems. Three Key Takeaways from Nicole Politics and media are inextricable - You can't fix one without addressing the other20th-century solutions don't solve 21st-century problems - We need forward-looking approaches, not nostalgia for a media "golden age"Touch grass with others - Strong local communities and real-world connections are essential foundations for both better media consumption and democratic healthFind out more about: Prof. Nicole HemmerHer books Messengers of the Right and PartisansHer Radiotopia podcast This DayMade By History the historical analysis column Nicole helped found at the Washington Post which has now moved to TIMEHer instagram @‌pastpunditHer Bluesky @‌pastpunditry.bsky.social Some of the texts we refer to in this episode: Nicholas Buccola, The Fire Is Upon UsNicole’s Media Diet: Meat and Potatoes:  The Daily, 5-4, Strict Scrutiny, New York Times, Boston Review, The New Yorker, The TennesseanJunk Food/Palate Cleanser: If Books Could Kill, Taskmaster, Bridgerton, Love Is BlindThis podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  12. Feb 3

    Meet the Minds: Introducing the CAPTivated Podcast with Special Guest Kathryn Cramer Brownell

    Welcome to CAPTivated! In this teaser episode hosts Hanna Sistek, Sage Goodwin, and Julius Freeman at Purdue University’s Center for American Political History, Media, and Technology (CAPT) are joined by CAPT Director Professor Kathryn Cramer Brownell, to introduce their new podcast. They chat briefly about who they are, what they do, and why they’re making this podcast: to help listeners understand what’s wrong with our media, how we got here, and what we can do about it. In upcoming episodes they’ll pick the brains of researchers, journalists, technologists, and other experts to provide listeners with tools and insights to help rethink how we engage with the media that shapes our lives. They’ll explore everything from disinformation and polarization to AI and the death of local journalism. Tune in every other week for new episodes! Find out more about: CAPTKathryn Cramer BrownellMade By HistorySage GoodwinHanna SistekJulius FreemanSome texts we refer to in this episode: A piece Sage wrote for Made By HistoryA piece Kathryn wrote for Made By History Thanks to Meibel Dabodabo for production help! This podcast is part of CAPT’s efforts to encourage open and diverse intellectual exchange. The ideas presented by individuals on the podcast are their own and do not represent Purdue University, which adheres to a policy of institutional neutrality. We would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us feedback to captivatedpod@gmail.com

  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Join political scientist Hanna Sistek, media historian Sage Goodwin, and communication scholar Julius Freeman at the Center for American Political History, Media, and Technology as they dig into two big questions: What’s wrong with our information environment? And what can we do to make it right? From disinformation and polarization to algorithmic news feeds and attention traps, we explore the forces reshaping how we understand the world and each other. We pick the brains of researchers, journalists, technologists, and other experts to unpack the major problems with our digital public sphere today, how we got here, and what we should do about it.  Along with their insights guests share their own “media diets,” the good, the guilty, and how they hit reset when the noise becomes too much. Join us to cut through the chaos, find the signal, and rethink how we engage with the media that shapes our lives. 

Information

  • Creator
    CAPTivated
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CAPTivated
  • Show Website
    CAPTivated