Factually! with Adam Conover

We're Not So Special, Animals Can Talk Too with Dr. Arik Kershenbaum

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We humans often like to think we're superior to animals, and that our ability to speak makes us extra special. While it's true that language is unique...

Nootropics Are Bull@#*t

16 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired ...

Are We About To Discover Life On Mars? with Nathalie Cabrol

14 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NASA's Perseverance rover recently discovered a rock on Mars that could be the key to finding evidence of life beyond Earth. Coupled with the recently...

How We Created an Age of Fire with Stephen Pyne

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our species didn't just stumble upon fire during our evolution; we evolved because of our unique relationship with it. From cooking food to burning fo...

This Election is Historically F***ed Up with Rick Perlstein

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 2024 election cycle has been positively ludicrous. Between Biden's disastrous debate performance, the attempted assassination of Trump, every sing...

How Bankruptcy Shields Capitalists from Consequences with Melissa Jacoby

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bankruptcy can mean totally different things depending on your wealth. For the rich, it’s a shield; for the poor, it’s a punishment. Despite this ...

The "Food Barons" Jacking Up Your Grocery Bill with Austin Frerick

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're at the grocery store or a restaurant, food is becoming obscenely expensive. It's easy to point to inflation as the sole culprit, but th...

WTF did the Supreme Court Just Do with Leah Litman and Kate Shaw of Strict Scrutiny

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The latest round of Supreme Court decisions will radically reshape America as we know it. From overturning the Chevron decision and stripping federal ...

The A.I. Bubble is Bursting with Ed Zitron

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Big tech is betting tens of billions of dollars on AI being the next big thing, but what if it isn't? ChatGPT burns obscene amounts of cash daily with...

How Contrapoints Reinvented Philosophy for YouTube with Natalie Wynn

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Since 2016, Natalie Wynn has been making wildly popular video essays on YouTube under the name ContraPoints. Her videos, which cover everything from p...

Your Brain is Hardwired to Love Games with Kelly Clancy

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Games often get a bad rap as mere distractions, the frivolous filler between so-called "important things." But research into the connection between pe...

Your Houseplants Can Think with Zoë Schlanger

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our understanding of intelligence is always growing, but recent research has thrown a fascinating curveball: we're discovering that plants are intelli...

The Human Cost of Banning Abortion with Shefali Luthra

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Abortion is not just a political story; it's a personal one. In the two years since Roe was struck down by the Supreme Court in the Dobbs decision, a ...

How Capitalism Murdered Journalism with Margot Susca

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been discussing the slow death of journalism for a long time, but what if it didn’t just “die”? This week, Adam speaks with Margot Susca...

How Google RUINED the Internet

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired ...

Why Billionaires Should Be Banned with Ingrid Robeyns

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/FACTUALLY and get on your way to being your best self.We're ...

Can Unions Make a Comeback? with Hamilton Nolan

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The labor movement is in a state of flux. Support for unions is the highest it's been in decades, including the explict support of the Biden administr...

Myths about Homeless People with Dr. Margot Kushel

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Homelessness has reached a record high, with over 650,000 people experiencing it in the USA today. Despite this staggering number, many remain unaware...

Technology Won’t Stop the Climate Apocalypse with Dr. Dana Fisher

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The climate crisis is unfolding very day, with many inevitable consequences looming in the near future. While we may hope for clean energy or fossil f...

Why Isn’t the Left Winning? with Bhaskar Sunkara

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/FACTUALLY and get on your way to being your best self.The term "s...

How White People Benefit from Racism with Tracie McMillan

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is sponsored by Surfshark.When we talk about racism in America, we tend to focus on the harm inflicted upon people of color, while rarely...

Should Prison Be Reformed, or Abolished? with Tommie Shelby

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The American prison system is in shambles. Rehabilitation efforts fall short, recidivism rates soar, and the numbers show that our incarceration syste...

What Does Ozepmic Actually DO? with Dr. Dhruv Khullar

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's been a surge in discourse around medications such as Ozempic, prompting understandable skepticism—Is this another weight loss fad, or the be...

Why Climate Change Isn’t the End of the World with Dr. Hannah Ritchie

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The climate crisis is undeniably real, but it won't be the end of the world. Tomorrow, the planet will still be here, whether it's better or worse, an...

Why Everyone Hates the 2024 Election with David Weigel

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Widespread denial looms over the 2024 presidential election. Will Biden be replaced due to his age? Coul...

Journalism is Collapsing with Matt Pearce

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The profession of journalism is facing a crisis. Recent years have brought devastating layoffs to nearly every major news outlet, with local newspaper...

How the Algorithm Warps Our Culture with Kyle Chayka

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The internet once felt novel and exciting, with new mysteries waiting to be discovered around every corner. These days there's a different mystery: wh...

Why Big Tech is Ruining Our Lives with Brian Merchant

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Express skepticism about technology and you might be labeled a "Luddite." However, the true story of the historical Luddites offers a fascinating pers...

How to Grow from Trauma with Dr. Edith Shiro

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The conversation about trauma is everywhere, and it seems like our culture is finally grappling with the concept openly. But here's the thing: if we d...

Free Will Absolutely Does Exist with Dr. Kevin Mitchell

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is free will a scientific fact? Dr. Kevin Mitchell, neuroscientist and the author of Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will, certainly thinks so...

Capitalism Has Mutated Into Something Worse with Yanis Varoufakis

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Capitalism has changed. A century ago, capitalists amassed untold wealth by building and manufacturing goods, but today, our economy appears to be dom...

Free Will Does Not Exist with Robert Sapolsky

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does free will truly exist, or are we merely sophisticated meat machines running our biochemical programming with sentience as a byproduct? Stanford U...

Comedy Censorship Used to be WORSE with Kliph Nesteroff

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For as long as there's been comedy, there have been people lamenting that "you can't do comedy anymore". This sentiment feels more prevalent than ever...

The Decimation of Gaza and What Happens Next with Rashid Khalidi

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gaza has been decimated by atrocious violence. Since the war erupted in October, 1 in every 100 Palestinians has been killed, and nearly all of those ...

What the Hell Happened at OpenAI with Karen Hao

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was ousted and then reinstated in a matter of days. No explanation has been made public, which is unsettling consideri...

Why Fentanyl is Suddenly Everywhere with Dr. Nabarun Dasgupta

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While the rise of fentanyl may seem like it emerged out of nowhere, it has a long and complicated history dating back hundred years. The pharmaceutica...

The REAL History of Gender with Dr. Kit Heyam

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, the number of young people identifying as trans has doubled. However, a common misinterpretation arises, suggesting that this surge i...

How Social Media Exploits Creators with Taylor Lorenz

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Social media is just media now. It has irreversibly changed how we engage with our world, yet it is often disregarded as frivolous. The dismissal of s...

What Tech Gets Wrong About Disability with Ashley Shew

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Over 34 million disabled Americans, but despite the commonality of having a disability, there's still a social tendency to want to "solve" disability ...

How the Wealthy Use “Charity” to Screw Everyone Else with Amy Schiller

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When we donate to charity, we aim to have the most significant impact possible, yet it's easy to feel like our giving makes zero difference. The rise ...

Why Smart People Become Conspiracy Theorists with Naomi Klein

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the appeal of conspiracy theories, and how is it that they entrap our friends, coworkers, or family members? Political polarization and the ri...

What Liberals Get Wrong about the Right with Corey Robin

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to caricature those on the political far right as outlandish, cartoonish, and bizarre, and easier still to dismiss their agendas as irration...

Why You Don't Actually Want to Live on Mars with Dr. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The prospect of human life on Mars, once a science fiction fantasy, now seems increasingly plausible. But does actually warrant being anything other t...

How to Fight Monopoly Power with FTC Chair Lina Khan

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

America has been sliding back toward levels of corporate control, consolidation, and inequality not seen since the Gilded Age. This resurgence in mono...

What’s Happening in Israel and Why with Nathan Thrall

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel's subsequent response have left the world in shock. To better understand the context behind this moment, Ad...

How Engineering Created Your World with Roma Agrawal

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to think of "technology" as screens and apps, but it really means everything from the plumbing in our homes to the nails that hold our walls t...

How Roads Actually Divide Us with Ben Goldfarb

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We often perceive roads as connectors, expanding our world and improving our quality of life. However, roads, from the smallest hiking trails to vast ...

Inside the Crypto Crash with Zeke Faux

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Remember crypto? Only a year ago, it seemed like the future of finance, but now it's a smoldering crater in the ground. Between large corporations and...

Why Are Americans Afraid of Black History with Michael Harriot

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American history has been whitewashed, with the accounts of millions of black Americans pushed to the margins, and their narratives stripped of agency...

Why Free Parking Is Ruining Your City with Henry Grabar

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Free and available parking is a cornerstone of American society, but is it also our undoing? The places where we stow our cars have more of an impact ...

Why YOU Need a Union with Kim Kelly

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes have garnered significant public attention, those unions represent only a tiny fraction of the unionized workers...

How These Strippers UNIONIZED Their Strip Club with Equity Strippers Noho

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every worker deserves a union — including strippers! Recently, strippers at the Star Garden in North Hollywood became the first strippers in decades...

The Disgusting (and Delicious) Truth about Hot Dogs with Jamie Loftus

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The history of the hot dog is the history of America. The humble hot dog bun holds not just a tube of delicious-yet-dubious meats, but a long lineage ...

The Secret History of Theme Parks with Defunctland

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Theme park rides stand as one of the few forms of popular entertainment that can vanish with no way to experience them once again. So, how can such a ...

Hollywood's Toxic Underbelly with Maureen Ryan

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The entertainment industry is frequently called out for posturing as politically enlightened and progressive, yet beneath this veneer lies a troubling...

The Hidden Factors Controlling Your Health with Bapu Jena and Chris Worsham

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While we commonly credit genetics, fitness, and access to healthcare for our well-being, a more complex reality exists – our lives are influenced by...

Unionizing the Skies with Sara Nelson

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Plot to End Voting Rights with Rick Hasen

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We consider democracy a fundamental American value, but the reality is that we haven't been truly democratic for as long as our country has existed. N...

How Computers Took Over Our Lives with Laine Nooney

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard to imagine life without smartphones, but it wasn't so long ago that the idea of a home computer was a novelty. When was the exact moment tha...

Do Generations Exist? with Jean Twenge

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers truly distinct groups or just convenient labels? With millions of individuals in each category, it's h...

The ACTUAL Danger of A.I. with Gary Marcus

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is increasingly empowered to take control of various aspects of our lives. While some tech companie...

Could MDMA Be Medicine? with Rachel Nuwer

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As implausible as it might sound, it's entirely possible that by this time next year, MDMA could be recognized as a medicine eligible for insurance co...

Saving Time Is For Suckers with Jenny Odell

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our conception of time is a construct, so why does it have so much power over us? Adam and author Jenny Odell delve into the history of "time" as we k...

The Real Cause of Poverty with Matthew Desmond

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The United States is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, so why is it that our poverty rates surpass those of so many other countries? In thi...

Why Language is Always Changing with Valerie Fridland

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Language changes, and that's not a bad thing! This week, Adam is joined by sociolinguist Valerie Fridland to uncover how language is much more malleab...

Debunking the Tech Hype Cycle with Dan Olson

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

From the Metaverse to AI, tech giants continue lure us with false promises of "the next big thing." This week, Adam is joined by Dan Olson, a percepti...

Why Cops Are Untouchable with Joanna Schwartz

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is there such a thing as "too much justice"? This week, Adam explores the pressing issue of police violence and accountability with Professor of Law a...

Why Writers Are On Strike with David A. Goodman and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time in over 15 years, the Writers Guild of America is on strike. Your favorite shows and movies are at risk, but so is the livelihood o...

Remembering Judith Heumann and the Extraordinary History of the Disability Rights Movement

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of the passing of the Judith Heumann, we’re re-airing Adam’s 2019 interview with the trailblazing disability rights activist and hero, Ju...

A.I. and Stochastic Parrots with Emily Bender and Timnit Gebru

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

So-called “artificial intelligence” is one of the most divisive topics of the year, with even those who understand it in total disagreement about ...

Social Justice, One Bite at a Time with Daryl Atkinson

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Racism in the way America polices its communities is so deeply rooted, it often seems intractable. So how do we make progress? According to this week’...

The Truth about TikTok and China with Abbie Richards

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is the truth about the relationship between TikTok and the Chinese government, and would banning it help or hurt Americans? This week, TikTok mis...

Rethinking Intelligence with Rina Bliss

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How should we actually understand intelligence? This week, Rina Bliss Joins Adam to discuss common misconceptions of our understanding of intelligence...

Synthetic Biology with Michael Specter

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What is synthetic biology and why is the “next Industrial Revolution”? Michael Specter joins Adam to discuss MRNA vaccines, stunning new developme...

Organizing for Power with Jane McAlevey

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam talks with legendary organizer Jane McAlevey about why organizing is the only way for unions, workers, and activists to win gains, and how to do ...

Why Do We Laugh? with Nuar Alsadir

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What the hell is laughter? Why do we do it, and what is its purpose? This week, psychoanalyst Nuar Alsadir joins Adam to discuss her theories about th...

Chokepoint Capitalism with Cory Doctorow

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How can creative workers and individuals defend ourselves against the largest monopolies in the US? This week author and activist Cory Doctorow joins ...

The Attack on Trans Rights with Shelby Chestnut

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a very scary time to be a trans person in America. An unprecedented onslaught of transphobic legislation is being pushed in state houses across...

The First Scientist with Carlo Rovelli

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Adam invites one of his favorite guests Carlo Rovelli back to the show to talk about the deep history of science, the first physicist, and the conce...

Dark Matter and More with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Adam is joined by theoretical cosmologist and particle physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein to discuss what the hell dark matter actually IS a...

Death to Productivity with Oliver Burkeman

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

All of us have too much to do and too little time to do it in. Yet the more we try to increase our productivity, the less happy and productive we seem...

Cars, Debt, and Police Violence with Andrew Ross and Julie Livingston

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our dependency on cars isn’t just bad for traffic and the environment; it also forces many Americans to take on debt, or interact with our dangerous...

You Are Going to Die with Caitlin Doughty

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We know we’re going to die. So why don’t we act like it? This week, Adam is joined by Caitlin Doughty to discuss human composting, aquamation, gre...

Talking About the Weather with Daniel Swain

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What are atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones, and why are they mercilessly attacking us? This week climate scientist Daniel Swain joins Adam to discu...

Justice for Animals with Martha Nussbaum

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What, exactly, do we owe to our fellow animals? Which animals are conscious, and how do we tell? How can we know what’s best for animals that cannot...

Viral Justice with Ruha Benjamin

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When the problems facing us are so massive and systemic, how can we ever hope to address them as individuals? This week’s guest, Ruha Benjamin, joi...

Snitching with Alexandra Natapoff

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly is a snitch, and why is the use of informants so corrosive to criminal justice? This week, Adam is joined by Alexandra Natapoff to talk a...

How DAs are Changing Criminal Justice with DA George Gascón

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve talked a lot about criminal justice reform, but this week, we’re discovering how it’s actually put into practice. Adam is joined by Los An...

Why No One Wins the Lottery with Jon Cohen

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lotteries are the most popular form of gambling. So why the hell is the lottery run by our own government? And do they actually provide a windfall for...

How Viruses Have Shaped Our World with Joseph Osmundson

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Viruses are everywhere. But what exactly ARE they, and why have they been able to reshape our world? This week Adam is joined by microbiologist Joseph...

Why Humans Need Music with Susan Rogers

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does neuroscience tell us about music’s impact on our species? And why do humans enjoy music at all? This week, sound engineer and neuroscienti...

How the NLRB Defends Workers Rights with Jennifer Abruzzo

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Workers are standing up for their rights across America, but to fight back against corporate power, they need help. This week Adam is joined by the Ge...

How Humans Took Over the World with Yuval Noah Harari

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve got a big one this week: best-selling historian and author of Sapiens and Unstoppable Us Yuval Noah Harari joins Adam to explain how human...

Africa is Not a Country with Dipo Faloyin

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why is one of the most populous, diverse, interesting places on Earth barely covered in the media? Why isn’t the most violent conflict on Earth bare...

The Big Bang of Numbers with Manil Suri

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can you create the universe with nothing but mathematics? This week mathematician Manil Suri joins Adam to explain why and how math is fundamental to ...

Existential Physics with Sabine Hossenfelder

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does quantum physics have to tell us about the human experience? This week, Sabine Hossenfelder joins Adam to explain how quantum physics affects...

The Science Fiction of Climate Change with Kim Stanley Robinson

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Most science fiction about climate change is apocalyptic. But what if we actually used our imaginative powers to invent a universe in which we DO some...

The Congressional Modernization Committee with Reps. Derek Kilmer and William Timmons

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Congress is at a historic low point of dysfunction and voter confidence. Today on the show, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Congressional Modernizatio...

What If? with Randall Munroe

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Would leaving your freezer door open help climate change? What would happen if you slid down a fire pole from the Moon down to Earth? And how has crea...

What’s Happening in Iran and Why? with Reza Aslan

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Iran is currently being rocked by protests against the oppressive theocratic regime that rules the country. What is happening there, and what brought ...