Keen On

Andrew Keen
Keen On

Nobody asks sharper or more impertinent questions than Andrew Keen. In KEEN ON, Andrew cross-examines the world’s smartest people on politics, economics, history, the environment, and tech. If you want to make sense of our complex world, check out the daily questions and the answers on KEEN ON. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best-known technology and politics broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running show How To Fix Democracy and the author of four critically acclaimed books about the future, including the international bestselling CULT OF THE AMATEUR. Keen On is free to listen to and will remain so. If you want to stay up-to-date on new episodes and support the show please subscribe to Andrew Keen’s Substack. Paid subscribers will soon be able to access exclusive content from our new series Keen On America. keenon.substack.com

  1. Episode 2234: Walter Mosley on Easy Rawlins, King Oliver and the history of fictional black American detectives

    17 HR. AGO

    Episode 2234: Walter Mosley on Easy Rawlins, King Oliver and the history of fictional black American detectives

    The acclaimed American writer Walter Mosley has a new King Oliver book out: Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right, a novel that follows Oliver's search for both a missing woman and his estranged father who was released from prison nine years ago. But before getting to his latest mystery, I couldn’t resist asking Mosley to compare his most famous fictional character, Easy Rawlins, with King Oliver. Mosley explains how Oliver, a contemporary detective in New York, faces different, perhaps less racialized challenges than Rawlins did in 1940s Los Angeles. We then moved onto to Mosley’s observations about crime and punishment in white and black America as well as the importance of jazz music in his writing. Here are the five KEEN ON takeaways from this conversation with Walter Mosley: * The difference between his two detective characters reflects changing times in America: Easy Rawlins operates in a strictly black-and-white 1940s Los Angeles where his race defines everything, while Joe King Oliver works in contemporary New York where racial boundaries are more fluid, even if racism still exists. * Mosley's writing process is remarkably disciplined and productive (or so he says) - he writes three hours every day without fail, enabling him to complete two to three books annually while also working on television and film projects. * The character Joe King Oliver was named after the famous jazz musician - this reflects both the musical qualities Mosley sees in writing and the character's connection to his fictional missing father, who named him after the jazz great who mentored Louis Armstrong. * Been Wrong So Long It Feels Like Right interweaves two plots: a case involving a runaway wife and a personal quest to find Oliver's estranged father who was secretly released from prison nine years ago, exploring themes of family reconciliation. * Growing up as an only child with a Jewish mother and African-American father influenced Mosley's perspective on American identity - though he sees such multicultural backgrounds as common to many Americans' experiences rather than unique to his situation. Walter Mosley is one of America's most celebrated and beloved writers. His books have won numerous awards and have been translated into more than twenty languages. Mosley is the author of the acclaimed Easy Rawlins series of mysteries, including national bestsellers Cinnamon Kiss, Little Scarlet, and Bad Boy Brawly Brown; the Fearless Jones series, including Fearless Jones, Fear Itself, and Fear of the Dark; the novels Blue Light and RL's Dream; and two collections of stories featuring Socrates Fortlow, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, for which he received the Anisfield-Wolf Award, and Walkin' the Dog. He lives in New York City. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    38 min
  2. Episode 2233: John Kay on why (almost) everything we are told about business is wrong

    1 DAY AGO

    Episode 2233: John Kay on why (almost) everything we are told about business is wrong

    According to the Scottish economist Sir John Kay, author of The Corporation in the 21st Century, the Magnificent Seven tech companies that supposedly control the global economy aren’t quite as magnificent as we are led to believe. These corporations aren’t even really capitalist, he says, noting that companies like Amazon and Apple own surprisingly few physical assets and thus should be considered providers of “capital as a service”. Kay claims that today's big tech companies probably won’t maintain their dominance, citing historical examples like Cisco and U.S. Steel. He criticizes the contemporary corporate focus on individual leadership, deal-making and shareholder value, advocating instead for businesses built on trust and collective capabilities. And Kay expresses a deep skepticism about both Donald Trump's tariff policies and Elon Musk's recent involvement in government reform, suggesting that Musk’s success might have even undermined his sanity. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from this conversation with John Kay * Corporate dominance is typically temporary, not permanent. Kay uses historical examples like U.S. Steel, IBM, and Cisco to demonstrate that even the most powerful companies often decline or lose their dominance over time, suggesting today's "Magnificent Seven" tech giants may face similar fates. * Modern corporations operate on a "capital as a service" model, owning surprisingly few physical assets. Unlike Henry Ford's vertically integrated empire, companies like Amazon and Apple primarily buy or lease the capabilities they need, with much of their value based on expected future profits rather than tangible assets. * Business success is driven by collective capabilities, not individual genius. Kay challenges the "great man" theory of business history, arguing that innovations and progress come from teams of people working together with collective knowledge, rather than from singular visionary leaders. * The term "capitalism" is outdated and misleading. Kay prefers "pluralist" or "market economy" to better describe modern economic systems, where value is created through networks of capabilities rather than traditional capital ownership. * Corporate success should be built on trust relationships and long-term value creation, not short-term financial engineering. Kay criticizes the focus on deal-making and shareholder value maximization, citing examples like ICI and Marks & Spencer where this approach led to decline. Sir John Kay, fellow of St John’s College, Oxford, has a distinguished career in academia, business, and finance. His writing, which includes the best-selling Other People’s Money and a regular column for the Financial Times, has been recognized by numerous awards. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    46 min
  3. Episode 2332: Greg Beato on what could go possibly RIGHT with our AI future

    2 DAYS AGO

    Episode 2332: Greg Beato on what could go possibly RIGHT with our AI future

    So what’s it like co-authoring a book with Reid Hoffman, the multi-billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn and amongst Silicon Valley’s most prominent Democrats? According to Greg Beato, who just co-wrote Superagency with Hoffman, it certainly beats co-authoring anything with an AI algorithm. Not that Beato has anything against artificial intelligence. The doomers and the gloomers have it all wrong, he reassures. There will be nothing Orwellian about today’s AI revolution, Beato says. Rather than 1984, he promises, our automatic future will be enriched by AI platforms like Pol.is and Remesh. I hope he’s right. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from our conversation with Beato: * The concept of "super agency" differs from typical AI agents - Beato clarifies that rather than referring to autonomous AI agents, super agency describes what happens when millions of people gain access to new tools that enhance their human capabilities. The benefits compound as more people use these tools, similar to how the widespread adoption of automobiles and smartphones created societal-wide advantages. * Individual agency vs. collective benefit - While Beato’s Superagency emphasizes individual empowerment through AI, he stresses that individual agency is meant to be a starting point, not an endpoint. He draws parallels to America's founding principles, where individual liberty was important but existed within the larger context of building a collective democracy and Republic. * Contrasting view on AI surveillance concerns - Beato and Hoffman’s book challenges the persistent Orwellian fears about technology leading to dystopian surveillance and control. Beato argues that contrary to these long-standing predictions, technological advancement has historically led to increased individual power rather than centralized control. * The role of AI in writing and creativity - Beato shares his experience using AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT primarily as editorial aids rather than replacement writers. He suggests that writing is currently the creative field best suited for AI collaboration because it allows for iterative improvements, unlike other creative mediums. * Tension between optimism and realism - Beato acknowledges that there’s a tension between Reid Hoffman's more optimistic entrepreneurial outlook and his more measured and practical journalistic perspective. This is particularly evident in Beato’s discussion of major tech companies' trustworthiness and the challenges of ensuring AI benefits society broadly rather than just privileged individuals like Reid Hoffman and the other billionaires of Silicon Valley. Greg Beato has been writing about technology and culture since the early days of the World Wide Web. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, Reason, Spin, Slate, Buzzfeed, The Guardian, and more than 100 other publications worldwide. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    48 min
  4. Episode 2331: The Week that Silicon Valley went from Woke to DOGE

    3 DAYS AGO

    Episode 2331: The Week that Silicon Valley went from Woke to DOGE

    It’s been quite a few days in Silicon Valley. "There are decades where nothing happens,” Lenin famously observed, “and there are weeks where decades happen”. As Andrew and Keith Teare reflect in their regular THAT WAS THE WEEK tech roundup, this was the week that Silicon Valley went from Woke to DOGE. It was the week that our Do No Evil friends @ Google slammed the door on diversity and embraced AI weapons technology. It was the week that Andreessen-Horowitz hired an ex-marine who choked to death a fellow passenger on the New York metro. And, of course, it was the week that Silicon Valley, in the form of DOGE, began the Palo-Altification of Washington DC. So, America, welcome to Silicon Valley. It’s going to be one hell of a disruption. Here are the 5 KEEN ON Takeaways from Andrew and Keith’s conversation: * They discussed Keith's metaphor of society as a layered cake, with economics as the foundation, politics in the middle, and society on top. While Keith argued that economics drives human experience, Andrew challenged whether this should be taken as a given. This framed much of their discussion about current events in Silicon Valley and Washington DC. * They had differing views on DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and Elon Musk's role in it. Keith supported DOGE's mission to modernize and reduce government spending, while Andrew was more skeptical, particularly about the aggressive approach and potential impacts on vulnerable populations both inside and outside the United States. * The conversation highlighted a significant shift in tech company policies, noting that both Google and Amazon have removed diversity initiatives from their corporate practices. They also discussed Andreessen Horowitz's controversial hiring of Daniel Penny, viewing it as part of a larger cultural shift in Silicon Valley. * They discussed the growth of OpenAI and the evolution of AI technology, identifying three distinct types: large language models, reasoning AI (like OpenAI's new O3 Mini), and agent models. Keith noted that OpenAI has established a significant lead in the market, similar to Google's early dominance in search. * The conversation touched on significant changes in the relationship between tech companies and government, including Google removing its pledge not to use AI for weapons and increasing nationalism in tech policy. While Keith described himself as a globalist, he acknowledged he was "documenting and charting the rise of nationalism, the cooperation between tech and national interest." Keith Teare is the founder and CEO of SignalRank Corporation. Previously, he was executive chairman at Accelerated Digital Ventures Ltd., a U.K.-based global investment company focused on startups at all stages. Teare studied at the University of Kent and is the author of “The Easy Net Book” and “Under Siege.” He writes regularly for TechCrunch and publishes the “That Was The Week” newsletter. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    41 min
  5. Episode 2330: Eoin Higgins on how reactionary tech billionaires bought Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi

    4 DAYS AGO

    Episode 2330: Eoin Higgins on how reactionary tech billionaires bought Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi

    Wow. According to the journalist and historian Eoin Higgins, right wing tech billionaires like Marc Andreessen, David Sacks and Peter Thiel have “bought” prominent anti establishment journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi. That’s the highly provocative thesis at the heart of his new book Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left. While I’m no great fan of the Greenwald/Taibbi school of paranoid anti-establishment journalism, I’m not totally convinced. After all, does working for an online publication partially funded by Thiel like Rumble really mean that you’ve been bought by him? But WTF do I know? Listen to Higgins for yourself. He certainly makes an interesting case for this highly controversial thesis. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways for our conversation withHiggins: * Tech Billionaire Influence on Media: The conversation centers on how right-wing tech billionaires like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Marc Andreessen have invested in and influenced alternative media platforms (like Rumble and Substack) as a response to what they perceived as hostile coverage from traditional media outlets. * Evolution of Left-Wing Voices: Higgins discusses how prominent left-wing journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi have shifted their political positioning over time, with their audience and platform choices moving increasingly rightward. He argues this shift “coincided” (LOL) with opportunities and financial support from right-wing tech platforms. * The Rumble Example: Higgins points to Rumble (a conservative YouTube alternative backed by Peter Thiel) hiring Glenn Greenwald as a concrete example of how tech billionaires have influenced media voices. He sees this as a "smoking gun" of how financial relationships can shape media alignment. * Complex Media Ownership: The discussion highlights the nuanced relationship between media ownership and editorial independence. While Higgins critiques certain ownership patterns, he acknowledges that journalists can maintain independence even within organizations owned by billionaires (citing examples from The Washington Post and other mainstream outlets). * Impact on Alternative Media: Higgins argues there's been a broader "takeover of alternative media" by tech billionaires, but he's careful to frame this not as a conspiracy but rather as a confluence of factors involving tech industry resentment of critical media coverage, financial opportunities, and changing political alignments. Eoin Higgins is a journalist and historian from New England. His work has appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Intercept, The New Republic, The Nation, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), Common Dreams, The Outline, Splinter, Deadspin, and many others. Additionally he writes for Morning Brew’s tech newsletter, IT Brew, with an audience of nearly 100,000. He can be found at his Twitter account (@eoinhiggins_, nearly 80,000 followers), where he engages regularly with a large audience on tech and U.S. and world politics. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    47 min
  6. Episode 2329: Ethan Zuckerman on how the United States learned to love online censorship

    5 DAYS AGO

    Episode 2329: Ethan Zuckerman on how the United States learned to love online censorship

    Internet scholar and activist Ethan Zuckerman is horrified by the American ban on TikTok. As a self-described “progressive” with a long and distinguished career advocating for internet freedom, Zuckerman expresses alarm at how the U.S. has moved from defending unfettered access to information in the 1960s to now being willing to ban popular Chinese platforms like TikTok and perhaps even DeepSeek. He suggests the ban stems from the anti-China hysteria and exaggerated fears about social media's impact on young people fueled by paranoid critics like Jonathan Haidt. If this trend toward online censorship continues, Zuckerman warns, America will become indistinguishable from other authoritarian states in its disdain for digital freedom. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from the interview with Zuckerman: * The TikTok ban represents a dramatic shift in American values - Zuckerman points out that the US has moved from defending unfettered access to information (even Communist propaganda) in 1965 to now being willing to ban popular platforms. He sees this as contradicting core First Amendment principles. * Anti-China sentiment and social media fears are driving policy - The push to ban TikTok stems from a combination of paranoia about Chinese influence and exaggerated concerns about social media's effects on youth. Zuckerman argues there's little evidence supporting claims of Chinese manipulation or widespread social media harm. * Young people view the TikTok ban as evidence of institutional disconnect - Students see the ban as proof that lawmakers don't understand modern technology or youth culture. Their response of moving to other Chinese platforms demonstrates their cynicism toward government actions. * Social media platforms have become too powerful to easily abandon - Despite disagreeing with the politics of platforms like Facebook and X, users remain because of network effects. Zuckerman himself confesses to still using these platforms to maintain connections, even while advocating for alternatives. * "Middleware" could offer a solution - Rather than banning platforms or creating new ones, Zuckerman (like Frank Fukuyama) advocates for tools that let users modify how they interact with existing platforms. However, he warns, major platforms like Meta actively resist these efforts through legal threats and technical barriers. Ethan Zuckerman is an associate professor of public policy, communication, and information, as well as director of the UMass Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, focused on reimagining the Internet as a tool for civic engagement. His research focuses on civic media, online community governance, digital public infrastructure, quantitative studies of media attention, technology, and social change. Before coming to UMass, Zuckerman was at MIT, where he served as director of the Center for Civic Media and as associate professor of practice in media arts and sciences at the MIT Media Lab. His research focuses on the use of media as a tool for social change, the role of technology in international development, and the use of new media technologies by activists. The author of Rewire: Digital Cosmopolitans in the Age of Connection, he will publish a new book, Mistrust: Why Losing Faith in Institutions Provides the Tools to Transform Them (W.W. Norton), in early 2021. In 2005, Zuckerman cofounded Global Voices, which showcases news and opinions from citizen media in more than 150 nations and 30 languages. Through Global Voices, and as a researcher and fellow for eight years at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, Zuckerman has led efforts to promote freedom of expression and fight censorship in online spaces. In 1999, Zuckerman founded Geekcorps, an international, nonprofit, volunteer organization that sent IT specialists to work on projects in developing nations, with a focus on West Africa. Previously, he helped found Tripod.com, one of the web's first "personal publishing" sites. In addition to authoring numerous academic articles, Zuckerman is a frequent contributor to media outlets such as The Atlantic, Wired, and CNN. He received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and, as a Fulbright scholar, studied at the University of Ghana at Legon. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    49 min
  7. Episode 2328: A gay Jewish atheist rides to the rescue of American Christianity

    6 DAYS AGO

    Episode 2328: A gay Jewish atheist rides to the rescue of American Christianity

    Trust a gay Jewish atheist to defend the value of American Christianity. In his new book Cross-Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy, the Brookings scholar and gay marriage activist Jonathan Rauch argues that Christianity plays a vital role in sustaining American democracy. He points to the Mormon Church (LDS) as a model for balancing religious beliefs with democratic pluralism, contrasting their approach with white evangelical churches that have become increasingly intolerant of democracy. Rauch suggests that Christianity's core teachings of fearlessness, egalitarianism, and forgiveness align more with James Madison's democratic vision than with MAGA politics, and argues that secular liberals should work to make civic spaces more welcoming to people of faith. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from our conversation with Rauch: * As a gay Jewish atheist, Rauch makes the counterintuitive argument that Christianity is essential for American democracy, suggesting that as religious participation declines, society loses important communal bonds and values that help sustain democratic institutions. * Rauch points to the Mormon Church (LDS) as a model for how religious institutions can balance conservative theological beliefs with democratic pluralism - opposing same-sex marriage internally while supporting legal protections for it in civil society. * He identifies three core Christian teachings that he believes align with democratic values: "don't be afraid," egalitarianism (treating people as ends in themselves), and forgiveness - arguing these are more consistent with James Madison than with the MAGA movement. * Rauch contends that the decline of mainstream Christianity has led people to seek substitute religions in ideologies like "wokeness," MAGA, and QAnon, which he argues don't provide the same social or political benefits as traditional religious institutions. * While remaining personally atheist, Rauch advocates for secular liberals to be more accommodating of religion in public life, suggesting that the "culture wars" approach of both evangelical Christians and militant secularists threatens democratic stability. * JONATHAN RAUCH, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, is the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His latest book, published in 2021 by the Brookings Press, is The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, a spirited and deep-diving account of how to push back against disinformation, canceling, and other new threats to our fact-based epistemic order. In 2018, he published The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, a lauded account of the surprising relationship between aging and happiness. Other books include Denial: My 25 Years Without a Soul, a memoir of his struggle with his sexuality, and Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America, published in 2004 by Times Books (Henry Holt). His most recent ebook is Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy (Brookings, 2015). Although much of his writing has been on public policy, he has also written on topics as widely varied as adultery, agriculture, economics, gay marriage, height discrimination, biological rhythms, number inflation, and animal rights. His multiple-award-winning column, “Social Studies,” appeared from 1998 to 2010 in National Journal. Among the many other publications for which he has written are The New Republic, The Economist, Reason, Harper’s, Fortune, Reader’s Digest, Time, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, Slate, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Public Interest, National Affairs, The Advocate, The Daily, and others. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    43 min
  8. Episode 2327: John Lee Hooker Jr explains who gets to go to Heaven and who doesn't

    FEB 4

    Episode 2327: John Lee Hooker Jr explains who gets to go to Heaven and who doesn't

    Who gets to go to heaven and who doesn’t? According to John Lee Hooker Jr., son of the legendary bluesman and author of From The Shadow of the Blues, many are called but not everyone is chosen. In the new autobiography, he confesses his own journey from addiction and imprisonment to religious redemption, while reflecting on growing up in his father's musical shadow. Hooker Jr. distinguishes between genius (like Prince) and talent (like himself), and offers thoughtful insights on the blues as both a response to African-American suffering and as a celebration of joy. And then there’s his take on the heaven question which won’t please everyone, especially those from the LGBTQ community. Here are the 5 KEEN ON takeaways from our conversation with Hooker Jr: * On living in his father's shadow - John Lee Hooker Jr. describes it as both a blessing and a burden. While his father was humble and encouraged him to find his own authentic sound, he felt pressure from the music industry to live up to the Hooker name. He makes an important distinction between talent (which he says he has) and genius (which he attributes to artists like Stevie Wonder and Prince who could master multiple instruments and aspects of music production). * His perspective on the blues - He explains that blues music served a dual purpose: expressing the pain and suffering of African Americans during slavery and Jim Crow, but also celebrating joy and dance. He notes that people "sung the blues because they had the blues" - tired of discrimination and different treatment - but the genre encompasses both hardship and happiness. * His battle with addiction - Hooker Jr. describes addiction as a spiritual chain that can't be broken by human means alone. He differentiates between what he sees as lighter "addictions" (like social media) and the physical, desperate nature of drug and alcohol addiction that affected his body and led him to criminal behavior. His struggles led to multiple incarcerations and nearly cost him his life. * His path to redemption - After multiple failed attempts at rehabilitation, including joining a cult called Synanon, he found salvation through religious faith. This transformation occurred after hitting rock bottom in San Francisco's Tenderloin district. He wrote his book to offer hope to others struggling with addiction, showing that change is possible even after multiple relapses and failures. * His current perspectives - While acknowledging the reality of racial discrimination in America, he takes personal responsibility for his past actions rather than blaming the system. He now lives in Germany, not having given up on America, but because he found love there. He maintains strong Christian convictions that guide his now conservative worldview and describes himself as loving everyone while holding firm to his literal biblical interpretations. Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr., was born in Detroit, Michigan, and he is the son of one of the greatest blues legends that has ever lived, the late and the great, John Lee Hooker (1917-2001). He is an artist who has received multiple awards throughout his career; he was also nominated for a Grammy in 2004 and 2008, and the recipient of the 2018 “Bobby Bland Lifetime Achievement Award.” Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

    40 min
4.2
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Nobody asks sharper or more impertinent questions than Andrew Keen. In KEEN ON, Andrew cross-examines the world’s smartest people on politics, economics, history, the environment, and tech. If you want to make sense of our complex world, check out the daily questions and the answers on KEEN ON. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best-known technology and politics broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running show How To Fix Democracy and the author of four critically acclaimed books about the future, including the international bestselling CULT OF THE AMATEUR. Keen On is free to listen to and will remain so. If you want to stay up-to-date on new episodes and support the show please subscribe to Andrew Keen’s Substack. Paid subscribers will soon be able to access exclusive content from our new series Keen On America. keenon.substack.com

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