Gadfly Academy

Herman Middleton

The Gadfly Academy podcast is focused on understanding what it means to be a human in a world that treats humans like machines. That humans are not machines is a guiding principle, as is the conviction that we were born into a huge social experiment, which began hundreds of years ago, and at the heart of which is a mechanistic anthropology that views humans as machines...

  1. The Parenting Decision That Will Matter Most in the Age of AI

    Apr 26

    The Parenting Decision That Will Matter Most in the Age of AI

    "The First Smartphone Dilemma": Free 5-Part Course for parents -> https://go.gadflyacademy.com/waitlist-not-yet-ga-sp In this episode, Dr. Herman Middleton argues that human depth: the capacity for sustained attention, genuine connection, and original thought...is the defining scarce resource of the Age of AI, and that early smartphone use is quietly destroying it in an entire generation of children. Drawing on developmental research, media theory, and thinkers from C.S. Lewis to Jonathan Haidt, he makes both theintellectual case and the practical one: why "not yet" is not a sacrifice but a strategy, and what parents can actually do right now (link to a free course for parents, above!)

    11 min
  2. The World's Most Dangerous Religion? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 19 & 20 | Book Study # 10

    Jan 22

    The World's Most Dangerous Religion? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 19 & 20 | Book Study # 10

    📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || *This is the lost episode that got overlooked over Christmas and New Year's!|| Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why we took a deep dive into his book...|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    11 min
  3. Progress Is A Religion | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 24-27 | Book Study # 12

    Jan 15

    Progress Is A Religion | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 24-27 | Book Study # 12

    📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why we have been taking a deep dive into his book...|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    12 min
  4. The Myth of Neutral Technology | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 21, 22 & 23 | Book Study # 11

    Jan 8

    The Myth of Neutral Technology | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 21, 22 & 23 | Book Study # 11

    📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why we have been taking a deep dive into his book...|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    17 min
  5. Why Nothing Feels Stable Anymore | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 16, 17 & 18 | Book Study # 9

    12/18/2025

    Why Nothing Feels Stable Anymore | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 16, 17 & 18 | Book Study # 9

    Merch Store is now open for a limited time! -> https://gadflyacademy.printful.me || 📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why, over the coming weeks and months, we are taking a deep dive into his book...please join us most Monday and Thursday evenings at 7:30pmEST for a livestream (on YouTube) conversation. (But NOT the week of Christmas!)|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    17 min
  6. The Real Crisis Isn't Political | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 12, 13, 14 & 15 | Book Study # 8

    12/11/2025

    The Real Crisis Isn't Political | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 12, 13, 14 & 15 | Book Study # 8

    Merch Store is now open for a limited time! -> https://gadflyacademy.printful.me || 📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why, over the coming weeks and months, we are taking a deep dive into his book...please join us most Monday and Thursday evenings at 7:30pmEST for a livestream (on YouTube) conversation.|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    23 min
  7. Are Humans Limitless? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 9, 10, & 11 | Book Study # 7

    12/05/2025

    Are Humans Limitless? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 9, 10, & 11 | Book Study # 7

    Merch Store is now open for a limited time! -> https://gadflyacademy.printful.me || 📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why, over the coming weeks and months, we are taking a deep dive into his book...please join us on Thursday evenings at 7:30pmEST for a live-stream (on YouTube) conversation.|| If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    15 min
  8. Are We All Colonists? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 7, 8 | Book Study # 6

    11/20/2025

    Are We All Colonists? | Paul Kingsnorth's Against The Machine: Ch. 7, 8 | Book Study # 6

    Merch Store is now open for a limited time! -> https://gadflyacademy.printful.me || 📙 Download The How Did We Get Here? Reading List (+ Social media links!): https://sleekbio.com/gadflyacademy || Paul Kingsnorth’s new book, Against the Machine, is one of the most profound critiques of modern technological civilization. || This is why, over the coming weeks and months, we are taking a deep dive into his book...please join us on Thursday evenings at 7:30pmEST for a live-stream (on YouTube) conversation.|| Here's part of our schedule: || November 20: 7:30pmEST || -Pages 64-88 || If you’ve ever wondered what went wrong with our relationship to technology, or how to reclaim your humanity in a mechanized age, this conversation is for you. || 🎥 View podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@GadflyAcademy || 🔔 SUBSCRIBE, please! || 🖇️ LET'S CONNECT! || Substack: https://gadflyacademy.substack.com/ || TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@gadflyacademy || X/Twitter: http://x.com/gadflyacademy || Instagram: http://instagram.com/gadflyacademy || Threads: http://threads.net/@gadflyacademy || Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gadflyacademy || Medium: https://medium.com/@gadflyacademy || Website: http://www.gadflyacademy.com || #culturalcriticism #anthropology #cosmology #matrix

    13 min
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About

The Gadfly Academy podcast is focused on understanding what it means to be a human in a world that treats humans like machines. That humans are not machines is a guiding principle, as is the conviction that we were born into a huge social experiment, which began hundreds of years ago, and at the heart of which is a mechanistic anthropology that views humans as machines...

Information

  • Creator
    Herman Middleton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Herman Middleton
  • Show Website
    Gadfly Academy