Outrage Overload: Finding calm through science and balanced perspectives

David Beckemeyer
  • 5.0 (9)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Outrage Overload: Finding calm through science and balanced perspectives

If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence. Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.

  1. BONUS - Special: The Hosts in the Hot Seat!

    12/25/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS - Special: The Hosts in the Hot Seat!

    Guest host Ross "Yergz" Yerger flips the script and puts David and Lisa Beckemeyer—the voices behind the podcast—on the other side of the mic! 🎧Listeners have asked to know more about the people behind the show, so here’s a fun, candid role-reversal episode just for you. Whether you’re driving on Christmas Day, unwinding after the festivities, or simply catching up later, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes stories and lighthearted moments.We’ll be back next episode with more expert...

    41 min
  2. 54. Civic Renewal: Fighting Polarization with Local Solutions That Work - Rich Harwood

    12/18/2024

    54. Civic Renewal: Fighting Polarization with Local Solutions That Work - Rich Harwood

    Why Building Together Is the Key to Healing Divided CommunitiesHow can communities overcome disconnection, address anger, and rebuild trust in today’s polarized and often overwhelming world? In this episode of Outrage Overload, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, discusses the roots of civic disconnection and how media-driven outrage and social media algorithms fuel division. Drawing from his groundbreaking report, Civic Virus: Why Polarization is a Misdiagno...

    35 min
  3. BONUS - The Hate Next Door: Unmasking the New Face of White Supremacy - Matt and Tawni Browning

    12/11/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS - The Hate Next Door: Unmasking the New Face of White Supremacy - Matt and Tawni Browning

    How Understanding Can Combat Hate: Insights from “The Hate Next Door”In this episode of Outrage Overload, we delve into the unsettling reality of hate and extremism in America with Matt and Tawni Browning, authors of "The Hate Next Door: Undercover Within the New Face of White Supremacy."Matt, a former undercover detective, infiltrated white supremacist groups, offering a unique perspective on the evolving nature of hate and extremism.The conversation explores how hate is no longer confined t...

    21 min
  4. 53. The Impact of Political Attacks on Social Media - Ariel Hasell

    12/04/2024

    53. The Impact of Political Attacks on Social Media - Ariel Hasell

    How Social Media Hostility Impacts DemocracyTogether with our guest, Ariel Hasell, a leading expert in media, communication, and political psychology, we unpack how the outrage fueled by hostile political posts spreads across social media platforms, driving polarization and shaping public discourse based on findings of the research paper "When Social Media Attack: How Exposure to Political Attacks on Social Media Promotes Anger and Political Cynicism." We discuss the role of engagement a...

    31 min
  5. 52. Nobody wants to be an idiot - Andrew Selepak

    11/20/2024

    52. Nobody wants to be an idiot - Andrew Selepak

    Are We Finally Sick of the Media Outrage Machine?In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Selepak, media professor at the University of Florida, for an eye-opening conversation on the shifting landscape of media and its role in stoking public outrage. Selepak explains how the decline in trust toward traditional media stems from several factors, including the media’s shift toward engagement-driven content, the erosion of investigative journalism, the rise of filter bubbles, and an increas...

    27 min
  6. BONUS - Post-Election 2024 Special: What Are Voters Really Saying?

    11/14/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS - Post-Election 2024 Special: What Are Voters Really Saying?

    What Are Voters Really Saying?In this special post-election episode of Outrage Overload, we examine the surprising twists of the 2024 election. What were voters truly trying to tell us, and what drove their choices this year? Join us as we unpack the results with fresh insights from top experts, including political scientists and a computational anthropologist, who reveal what the electorate may really be saying about the direction of the country.From inflation to immigration, economic pain t...

    29 min
  7. 51. The complex interplay between burnout, outrage, and societal challenges - Gary Simonds

    11/06/2024

    51. The complex interplay between burnout, outrage, and societal challenges - Gary Simonds

    How Neuroscience Can Help Us Fight Burnout in an Age of Outrage and DivisionA compelling conversation with Dr. Gary Simonds, a neurosurgeon and burnout expert, to unpack the emotional toll of our outrage-saturated media environment. We explore how the relentless cycle of negative news, social media hype, and political bias can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even outrage fatigue. Dr. Simonds provides a unique perspective on how these stressors impact our mental health, drawing conn...

    37 min
  8. BONUS - Tech Bro Apocalypse Dreams - David Troy

    10/30/2024 · BONUS

    BONUS - Tech Bro Apocalypse Dreams - David Troy

    How Tech Bros Like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel want to Shape Our FutureIn this special episode, we're tackling the intriguing—and often troubling—world of "techno-libertarianism." We sit down with tech entrepreneur and researcher David Troy to unpack this movement’s bold vision of a future free from government control and centralized institutions, driven entirely by technology.What You'll Hear:Big Ideas and Bold Players: Discover the ideas of influential figures like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, ...

    21 min
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About

If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence. Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.

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