Keen On America
Episodes
Why Food Stamps Work: Christopher Bosso's political history - and defense - of SNAP
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1779: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Christopher Bosso, author of WHY SNAP WORKS, about a history, and defense, of the US Food Stamp pr...
Saving Bill Clinton's life and other tales from the operating theater: Craig R. Smith on his life as one of America's most celebrated heart surgeons
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1778: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Craig R. Smith M.D., author of NOBILITY IN SMALL THINGS, about his life as one of America's most c...
A New Deal to Save the Earth: John J. Berger outlines the three dimensions to solving the world's climate crisis
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1777: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to John J. Berger, author of SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, about the three essential dimensions to savi...
The Emotional Life of Populism in Israel: Eva Illouz on Netanyahu, Hamas and what the left has lost by not embracing the fear, disgust, resentment and love that determine democratic politics
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1776: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Eva Illouz, author of THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF POPULISM, about the fear, disgust, resentment and love...
The October weekend that changed the Middle East forever: Uri Kaufman compares the Yom Kippur war of October 1973 with the Simchat Torah war of October 2023
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1775: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Uri Kaufman, author of EIGHTEEN DAYS IN OCTOBER, about the 2023 October weekend that changed the...
Tripping into our brave new psychedelic world: Andy Mitchell on his odyssey into the new reality of psychedelics
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1774: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Andy Mitchell, author of TEN TRIPS, about his odyssey into the new reality of psychedelics Andy M...
The Blood Years, then and now: Elana K. Arnold on book banning, book burning and what we can learn from Second World War books about good and evil
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1773: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Elana K. Arnold, author of THE BLOOD YEARS, about book banning, book burning and what we can learn...
Disorder, Disorder, Disorder: Jason Pack and Alexandra Hall Hall order our disordered world
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special guest episode, Andrew hands the KEEN ON mic to Jason Pack and Alexandra Hall Hall, co-hosts of the DISORDER podcast. For more about ...
Is peace there for the taking? Jason Pack on Israel, Gaza, the Middle East and beyond
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1772: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jason Pack, co-host of the DISORDER podcast, about the disorder in Israel, Gaza, the Middle East a...
The All American B***h: Evelyn McDonnell on Joan Didion's artistic sensibility and moral clarity
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1771: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Evelyn McDonnell, author of THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JOAN DIDION, about Didion's artistic sensibilit...
Why politics needs to be relegated to its proper place: Alexandra Hudson offers timeless principles on how to heal society and ourselves
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1770: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Alexandra Hudson, author of THE SOUL OF CIVILITY, about timeless principles to heal society and ou...
Claudia Goldin, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Economics, on women's journey to close the gender gap
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1769: In this repeat of a KEEN ON show from December 2021, Andrew talks to Claudia Goldin, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Economics, about...
The Myth of Progress: Erik J. Larson on Silicon Valley's failure to change anything of any significance since the Fifties
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1768: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Erik J. Larson, author of THE MYTH OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, about Silicon Valley's failure to c...
My Bath with Hitler: Kenneth Rendell on safeguarding history at a time when fakers are much smarter and more creative than their victims
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1768: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kenneth W. Rendell, author of SAFEGUARDING HISTORY, about protecting the truth at a time when fake...
The Human Tragedy and Political Shame of America's Mass Criminal Supervision System: Vincent Schiraldi on probation, parole and the illusion of safety and freedom in contemporary America
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1767: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Vincent Schiraldi, author of MASS SUPERVISION, about the illusion of safety and freedom in today's...
Iron Man, Ant-Man and our relentless thirst for parasocial super heroes: Joana Robinson and Gavin Edwards on the reign of Marvel Studios
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1766: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Joanna Robinson and Gavin Edwards, co-authors of MCU: THE REIGN OF MARVEL STUDIOS, Iron Man, Ant-M...
The Right Female Stuff: Loren Grush on the story of America's first six female astronauts
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1765: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Koren Grush, author of THE SIX, about the story of the America's first women astronautsLoren Grush...
Should environmentalists be utopian? Dickson Despommier imagines the perfect 21st century city
07 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1764: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Dickson Despommier, author of THE NEW CITY, about the perfect environmental city of the futureDick...
From Suicide Notes to Every Star That Falls: Michael Thomas Ford on 15 years that changed the world of teen mental health and sexual identity
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1763: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michael Thomas Ford, the author of SUICIDE NOTES and EVERY STAR THAT FALLS, about 15 years that ch...
Artificial Intelligence or Bust: Keith Teare on why AI might be the most important development in tech since the invention of the internet
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1762: In this regular weekly show with THAT WAS THE WEEK newsletter author Keith Teare, Keith acknowledges that AI might be the most important...
Evil colonizers, brave explorers or clueless white men? Peter Slen on the geographical and literary exploits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1761 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Peter Slen, executive producer of the CSPAN series "Books That Shaped America", about the physical and l...
The real McElroy: Isle McElroy on what it means to be a non-binary writer and how it might feel like to be born into the wrong body
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1760 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Isle McElroy, author of PEOPLE COLLIDE, about what it means to be a non-binary writer and how it might fee...
The Taylor Swift or Lady Di of the early 20th Century: Shelley Fraser Mickle on Alice Roosevelt, the White House wild child
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1759 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Shelley Fraser Mickle, author of WHITE HOUSE WILD CHILD, about Alice Roosevelt, the Taylor Swift or Lady...
The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence: Kian Vesteinsson on the crisis of freedom on the internet in 2023
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1758 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Kian Vesteinsson, co-author of FREEDOM ON THE NET 2023, about the repressive power of artificial intellige...
All the American demons are there: Jake Tapper on how returning to the late 1970's can help us understand the America of the early 2020's
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1757 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Jake Tapper, author of ALL THE DEMONS ARE HERE, about how returning to the late 1970's can help us underst...
Modern Britain and all that caper: Jonathan Coe on British chocolate, the Royal Family and its decision to marry the wrong Super Power
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1756 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Jonathan Coe, author of BOURNVILLE, about British chocolate, the Royal Family and the country's decision t...
An Old Story Told Differently: Bethanne Patrick on 8 books reimagining the experience of first generation immigrants
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1755 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to LA Times book critic Bethanne Patrick about 8 books reimagining the experience of first generation immigra...
Against the Romance of Transformation: Leon Weiseltier on America's love affair with the promise of personal and social change
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In EPISODE OF 1748 of KEEN ON, Andrew talks to Leon Wieseltier, editor of LIBERTIES, about America's love affair with personal and social changeLeon W...
Normalizing China: Gilles Guiheux on China's very ordinary history between 1949 and today
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 1747 of the KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Gilles Guiheux, author of CONTEMPORARY CHINA: 1949 TO THE PRESENT, about what he sees as Communis...
Against Green Capitalism: Charles Derber on how big money fuels extinction and what we can do about it
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Charles Derber, co-author of DYING FOR CAPITALISM, about how big money fuels extinction and what we can do about...
No, Men aren't Angels: Peter Slen on why the Federalist Papers is one of the ten books that has most shaped America
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1745: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Peter Slen, the host of the C-SPAN show, BOOKS THAT SHAPED AMERICA, about THE FEDERALIST PAPERSPet...
Dumb devices, dumb bureaucrats and dumb entrepreneurs: Keith Teare on FTC chair Lina Khan, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried and why the iPhone is on the brink of becoming radically more intelligent
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1750: In this regular weekly show with THAT WAS THE WEEK newsletter author Keith Teare, Keith explains what FTC chair Lina Khan and FTX founde...
Why Disorder may be the New Order: Jason Pack on how the global system itself has gone rogue and no longer conforms with the textbooks
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1749: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks with Jason Pack, co-host of the DISORDER podcast, on how the international system has gone rogue and ...
Why Artificial Intelligence will make us smarter: W. Russell Neuman presents AI as a progressive moment in human evolution
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1748: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to W. Russell Neuman, author of EVOLUTIONARY INTELLIGENCE, about why he sees AI as a progressive mome...
An Afterword to Words Themselves? Bethanne Patrick on six speculative novels which imagine a world saturated by AI
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1747: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bethanne Patrick, book critic at the LA Times, about six speculative novels which imagine a world ...
Should we punish innovation? Keith Teare on public and private investment markets, breaking up Google and paying to use X
24 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1746: In this regular weekly show with THAT WAS THE WEEK newsletter author Keith Teare, Keith describes the slow but gradual integration of th...
The 10 books that have most shaped America: Peter Slen on Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1745: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Peter Slen, the host of the C-SPAN show, BOOKS THAT SHAPED AMERICA, about Thomas Paine's 1776 pamp...
The White Man's version of Democracy in America? Brook Manville on the "Civic Bargain" that defines the history of democracy in western civilization
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1744: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Brook Manville, co-author of THE CIVIC BARGAIN, about the history and future of democracy in the W...
How to think faster and talk smarter: Matt Abrahams on speaking successfully when you're put on the spot
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1743: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Matt Abrahams, author of THINK FASTER, TALK SMARTER, about how to speak successfully when you're p...
"I want you to be more selfish": Millennial therapist Sara Kuburic on how to discover your true self and change your life
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1742: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Sara Kuburic (aka: The Millennial Therapist) on how to discover your true self and change your l...
The case against forgiveness: Myisha Cherry questions a forgiving God, Christian forgiveness and happy Hollywood moral endings
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1741: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Myisha Cherry, author of FAILURES OF FORGIVENESS, about a forgiving God, Christian forgiveness and...
The Buried History of Jerusalem: Andrew Lawler digs up the political archeology of the world's most contested city
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1740: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Andrew Lawler, author of UNDER JERUSALEM, about the political archeology of the world's most con...
Untangling the twin three-way relationships shaping the contemporary Middle East: Ilan Eyatar on Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1736: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ilan Eyatar, co-author of TARGET TEHRAN, about how Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United State...
Nothing will ever be the same again: Hugh Eakin remembers the year when the United States bumped into Pablo Picasso and modern art arrived in America
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1739: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Hugh Eakin, author of PICASSO'S WAR, about the year (1939) when the United States bumped into Pa...
How to ensure the survival of democracy: Josiah Ober on ancient Greece and Rome as models of self government by their citizens
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1737: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Josiah Ober, co-author of THE CIVIC BARGAIN, about how ancient Greece and Rome are models of self ...
There's No Them There, Only Us: Kerri Maher on the Jane Collective in the early 1970s and how to write fiction about an issue as divisive as abortion
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 1738: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kerri Maher, author of ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL, about the Jane Collective in the early 1970s an...
On Power, Patriarchy and Privilege: Kemi Nekvapil offers a woman's guide to living and leading without apology
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1735: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kemi Nekvapil, author of POWER, about a woman's guide to living and leading without apologyKemi Ne...
Is the American Constitution undermining American Democracy? Daniel Ziblatt on how constitutional reform can strengthen democracy in America
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1734: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY, about how constitutional reform can strength...
Blood in the Machine: Brian Merchant on what we can learn from the 19th century Luddites in our digital age of gig work and generative AI
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1732: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Brian Merchant, author of BLOOD IN THE MACHINE, about what we can learn from the 19th century Ludd...
Notes from the invisible underground: Kat Calvin on the 26 million American adults who have no government ID and, thus, in the eyes of the government, don't really exist
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1732: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kat Calvin, author of AMERICAN IDENTITY IN CRISIS, about the 26 million American adults who have n...
How the quest for respect can heal our divided world: Michele Lamont on rebuilding dignity in our age of anxiety , inequality and isolation
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1731: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michele Lamont, author of SEEING OTHERS, about rebuilding dignity in our age of anxiety , inequali...
Why Justice is Coming to America: Cenk Uygur predicts that progressives are going to take over the country and how we are all going to love it
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1730: In this KEEN ON episode, Andrew talks to Cenk Ugyur, the author of JUSTICE IS COMING, about how progressives are going to take over Am...
Confronting Amazon, Google and his own powerful family: John Sargent on his adventures and misadventures as CEO of one of the world's largest publishing companies
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1729: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to John Sargent, author of TURNING PAGES, about his adventures and misadventures as CEO of MacMillan ...
What's Your Lego? Bent Flyvbjerg on how to get big things done
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1728: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bent Flyvbjerg, author of HOW BIG THINGS GET DONE, about the suprising factors that determine the ...
Seeing through all the shtick: of parenting Gary John Bishop on how to grow up to become the parent your kids deserve
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1727: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Gary John Bishop, author of GROW UP, on how to become the parent your kids deserveGary John Bish...
Is Web3 technology - Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, DAOs, NFTs et al - just the latest Silicon Valley hype? Alex Tapscott separates the signal from the noise on the internet's next economic and cultural frontier
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1724: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of WEB3, Alex Tapscott, who separates the signal about Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs and oth...
Tyranny of an Ethnocratic Minority: Steven Levitsky on what an increasingly broken American political system has to learn from the democracies of Brazil and Argentina
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1726: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Steven Levitsky, co-author of TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY, about what America has to learn from the ...
When the stink became overwhelming: Corban Addison tells the true story of when large-scale farming went on trial in North Carolina
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1725: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Corban Addison, the author of WASTELANDS, about the true story of large-scale farming on trial in ...
Your Face Belongs to Us: Kashmir Hill on a secretive startup's quest to end privacy as we know it
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1723: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kashmir Hill, author of YOUR FACE BELONGS TO US, about a secretive startup's quest to end privacy ...
Eight novels to take to a desert island this Fall: Bethanne Patrick on new fiction about Haiti, Jamestown, 1984, Malaysia and women on the margins of the Vietnam war
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1722: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bethanne Patrick , the LATimes book critic, about eight of the best novels she recommends for the ...
On the Awesomeness of Globalization: Keith Teare explains why the next chapter of globalized technology will undermine the economic and political power of the nation-state
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1721: In this regular weekly show with THAT WAS THE WEEK newsletter author Keith Teare, Keith explains why he hopes tech globalization will un...
The Economic and Moral Case for Good Jobs: Zeynep Ton on why companies need to bring dignity, pay and meaning to everyone's work
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1720: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Zeynep Ton, author THE CASE FOR GOOD JOBS, about why companies need to bring dignity, pay and mean...
How to stand up to a dictator: Maria Ressa on courage, honesty, perseverance and why must all fight for our future
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1719: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel laureate and author of HOW TO STAND UP TO A DICTATOR, about courage, hones...
The shocking saga of big media malfeasance rivaling Succession for its sex, lies and betrayals: Rachel Abrams on the Redstone dynastic struggle, former CBS executive Les Moonves and their significance to the Me Too movement
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1718: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Rachel Abrams, co-author of UNSCRIPTED, about on the Redstone dynastic struggle at Paramount/CBS w...
Why AI threatens not just writing, creativity and thinking, but also democracy: Naomi S. Baron on how new tools like Chat GPT are stopping us knowing who we really are as individuals
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1717: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Naomi S. Baron, author of WHO WROTE THIS?, about how AI and the lure of efficiency is are stoppi...
The Long Life of a Radical Gerontologist: Ken Dychtwald on how to age with purpose
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1716: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ken Dychtwald PhD, author of RADICAL CURIOSITY, on how to simultaneously stay young and old in a...
The $100 Trillion Wealth Transfer: Ken Costa explains why the handover of wealth from Boomers to Gen Z must revolutionize capitalism
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1711: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ken Costa, the author of THE 100 TRILLION DOLLAR WEALTH TRANSFER, about why the handover of wealth...
Why digital transformation isn't about technology: David Rogers on how to rebuild organizations in our age of continuous change
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1715: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to David L. Rogers, author of THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, about how to rebuild organizations in our...
The most brutal and gruesome siege in human history? Prit Buttar on the siege of Leningrad 1941-42
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1714: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Prit Buttar, author of TO BESIEGE A CITY: LENINGRAD 1941-42 about perhaps the most brutal and grue...
Watch out for those Jewish space lasers: Mike Rothschild on the Rothschilds and 200 years of anti-semitic conspiracy theories
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1713: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Mike Rothschilds, author of JEWISH SPACE LASERS, about the Rothschilds and 200 years of anti-semit...
How to direct the power of digital technology into economic and political progress: Simon Johnson on what we can learn from our 1000-year struggle over technology and prosperity to make our age of Generative AI more equitable
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1712: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Simon Johnson, co-author of POWER & PROGRESS, on what we can learn from our 1000-year strugg...
On the science of failing well: Amy Edmondson explains why we need to take smart risks which will result in more, rather than fewer, failures
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1710: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Amy Edmondson, author of RIGHT KIND OF WRONG, about why we need to take smart risks which will res...
Don't Look Away: Alexander Batthyany on terminal lucidity, the "soul" and our final journey when we cross over the border from life to death
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1709: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Dr Alexander Batthyany, the author of THRESHOLD, about terminal lucidity and our final journey w...
Extremely Socially Online: Taylor Lorenz on the untold story of fame, influence, and power on the internet
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1708: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Taylor Lorenz, author of EXTREMELY ONLINE, about the untold story of fame, influence, and power on...
How to break free of "equality feminism": Marcie Bianco on the lie of equality and the feminist fight for freedom
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1707: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Marcie Bianco, author of BREAKING FREE, about the lie of equality and the feminist fight for fre...
Taming the Street then and now: Diana Henriques on the New Deal, FDR's fight to regulate American capitalism and its relevance in Joe Biden's America today
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1706: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Diana B. Henriques, author of TAMING THE STREET, about the New Deal, FDR's fight to regulate Ameri...
Was Richard Nixon really a Southern Californian paragon of cheerfulness , hard work and decency? Paul Carter's defense of the only US President born and raised in California
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1705: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Paul Carter, author of RICHARD NIXON: CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE SON, about a successful and tolerant US ...
The Dirty Secrets of our Material World: Ed Conway on the six physical commodities underpinning the global extractive economy
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1704: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ed Conway, author of MATERIAL WORLD, about the six physical commodities that constitute the essent...
An Un-Whitewashed Story of America: Michael Harriot on AF History, Black Twitter and how he "discovered" America at 8.00 pm on November 4, 1980
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1703: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michael Harriot, author of BLACK AF HISTORY, about white sugarcoating, Black Twitter and how he "d...
Eight great non-fiction reads for the Fall: LA Times book critic Bethanne Patrick on new books about video-gaming writers, Roman emperors, Rastafarian fathers, Jerusalem murders, American guns and the genealogy of the female body
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1702: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bethanne Patrick , the LATimes book critic, about eight non-fiction books she recommends for the F...
Why money now is the most valuable commodity in Silicon Valley: Keith Teare explains how cash has become king for both tech investors and entrepreneurs
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1701: In this regular weekly show with THAT WAS THE WEEK newsletter author Keith Teare, Keith explains how cash has become king for both Silic...
When fictional characters turn out to be more authentic than real people: Lang Leav on anti Asian racism in Australia and her love of the early internet as a place where she could escape how she looks
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1700: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Lang Leav, author of OTHERS WERE EMERALDS, about fiction and authenticy, anti Asian racism in Au...
How Bill Clinton betrayed progressive ideas and capitulated to the right: Nelson Lichtenstein on the failure of the Clinton presidency and the transformation of American capitalism
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1699: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Nelson Lichtenstein, author of A FABULOUS FAILURE, about the failed "neo-liberal" policies of the ...
Five Elemental Ways of Building a Sustainable Future: Stephen Porder on how five core elements changed earth's past and will shape our future
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1698: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the Brown University ecologist and author of ELEMENTAL, Stephen Porder, about the five elements th...
If you want to understand America, you have to understand basketball: Rich Cohen on the 1987-1988 NBA's "greatest season"
09 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1697: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Rich Cohen, the author of WHEN THE GAME WAS WAR, about the 1987-1988 NBA season which, he argues, ...
Imagine an AI that customizes a musical soundtrack of our lives: Niclas Molinder on the opportunities and threats that AI offers the creative community
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1696: In this special KEEN ON from the DLD AI Summit in Munich, Andrew talks to the songwriter, music producer and musician Niclas Molinder ...
AI as our Guttenberg moment: Moritz Schularick, the President of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, on the economic significance of today's AI revolution
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1695: In this special episode of KEEN ON from the DLD AI Summit in Munich, Andrew talks to Moritz Schularick, the President of the Kiel Instit...
AI as our Oppenheimer moment: Benedikt Franke, CEO of the Munich Security Conference, on the geo-political significance of today's AI revolution
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1694: In this special episode of KEEN ON from the DLD AI Summit in Munich, Andrew talks to Benedikt Franke, the CEO of the Munich Security Con...
One year that changed the world: Ludwig Ensthaler on the short but revolutionary history of Generative AI
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1693: In this special KEEN ON show from the DLD AI Summit in Munich, Andrew talks to Ludwig Ensthaler, the founder and general partner of the ...
There will be no stock market on a dead planet: Sandrine Dixson-Decleve on how to transform extractive capitalism into a regenerative model of equitable economic progress
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1692: In this special KEEN ON show from the DLD AI Summit in Munich, Andrew talks to Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, co-president of the Club of Rome...
Why truthful stories about nature should have neither beginnings nor endings: Martin Puchner on telling circular environmental stories
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1691: In this special KEEN ON show from DLD Circular, Andrew talks to Martin Puchner, professor of literature at Harvard, about why truthful s...
Why there is hope in the soil: Jan-Gisbert Schultze on the transformational promise of regenerative agriculture
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1690: In this special KEEN ON show from the DLD Circular conference in Munich, Andrew talks to Jan-Gisbert Schultze, the founder of the Regene...
What, exactly, is circular economics? Martjin Lopes Cardozo on the current state of the circular economy
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1689: In this special KEEN ON show from the DLD Circular conference in Munich, Andrew talks to Martjin Lopes Cardozo, CEO of the Amsterdam b...
The Age of the Sustainable City: Ian Goldin on how to make the 21st century city the heart of a new circular economy
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1688: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ian Goldin, author of AGE OF THE CITY, about how to make the 21st century city the heart of a new ...
Trust and the Tokenization of Value: Rachel O'Dwyer on the future of money in our age of the digital platform
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1687: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Rachel O'Dwyer, author of TOKENS, about the future of money in our age of the digital platformRa...
Containing and Controlling AI: Mustafa Suleyman on how to strengthen the nation-state in the coming wave of radical technological disruption
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1686: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Mustafa Suleyman, author of THE COMING WAVE, about how to strengthen the nation-state in the comin...
Silicon Valley's Destruction of Reality: Jonathan Taplin on how 4 tech billionaires are selling us a fantasy future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1685: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jonathan Taplin, author of THE END OF REALITY, on how 4 tech billionaires - Elon Musk, Mark Zuck...
I Must Resist: Michael G. Long celebrates the political and personal bravery of Bayard Ruskin on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1684: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michael G. Long, the editor of BAYARD RUSTIN: A LEGACY OF PROTEST AND PROTEST, the political and...
Why extraterrestrial life doesn't give a damn about us: Avi Loeb on the search for interstellar species and our future in the stars
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1683: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Avi Loeb, author of INTERSTELLAR, about our search for extraterrestrial life and our future in the...
Saving the Planet Five Times Faster: Simon Sharpe rethinks the science, economics and diplomacy of climate change
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE 1682: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Simon Sharpe, author of FIVE TIMES FASTER, about how we need to rethink the science, economics and...