The After On Podcast
The After On Podcast
Rob Reid
We dive deep into the science, tech, and social issues explored in the novel "After On." It's NOT necessary to be an "After On" reader to listen, learn & enjoy this podcast!
60: Deep Fakes | Sam Harris and Zohaib Ahmed
Will the glittering dawn of the genai era be accompanied by a dark tsunami of pixel-perfect deep fakes? I discuss this prospect with Sam Harris, as well as the CEO of synthetic audio pioneer Resemble.ai.  
Jun 4, 2023
1 hr 52 min
59: Generative AI | What’s New & What’s Next
My thoughts on what's happening in the mad world of generative AI, announcing my new home online at robreid.substack.com, and more.
Mar 8, 2023
32 min
58: Recipes for Future Plagues | Kevin Esvelt
USAID’s new “DEEP VZN” program aims to discover new pandemic-grade viruses, then broadcast their genomes to the world, according to MIT evolutionary engineer Kevin Esvelt. He estimates that 30,000 people in dozens of countries could then easily assemble them.
Feb 28, 2022
1 hr 55 min
57: Octopus Intelligence (and more!) | Roger Hanlon
A wide-ranging discussion of cognition in octopuses & cuttlefish, plus many, many other topics with globally renowned sensory ecologist Roger Hanlon.
Oct 8, 2021
1 hr 59 min
56: A Massive Future for an Old Vaccine?  | Megan Murray
Harvard epidemiologist Megan Murray tells us all about the anti-tuberculosis vaccine “BCG,” and the astonishing protection it may provide against Covid -- as well as looming future pandemics.
Jun 19, 2021
1 hr 13 min
55: Detecting Disease Outbreaks from Internet Traffic | Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
This is closely tied to a 4-hour collaboration between Sam Harris and me, which Sam is posting to his podcast's feed. I strongly recommend that episode too! But it's not "required" for you to get everything out of this fascinating conversation with Seth.
Apr 23, 2021
1 hr 42 min
54: Announcing a New Season
This "episode" is just a quick new announcement of a new season of the podcast (finally)! And also of something very cool that I'm working on with fellow podcaster Sam Harris.
Feb 2, 2021
2 min
53: The Case Against Reality | Don Hoffman (classic + updated)
Quantitative Psychologist Don Hoffman has a head-spinning take on the true nature of reality vs. what our senses report to us. This is a revisitation of our original interview, expanded with lots of new material recorded last week.  
Jul 29, 2019
1 hr 41 min
52: Many Quantum Worlds | Sean Carroll
Quantum mechanics – and its eerie "Many Worlds" interpretation – are explored in terms that both poets & physicists can appreciate.
Jul 14, 2019
1 hr 37 min
51: On Consciousness | Annaka Harris
The baffling and fascinating mysteries connected to the phenomenon of consciousness are explored in this conversation with the deeply thoughtful science writer, Annaka Harris.
Jun 24, 2019
1 hr 20 min
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