Urgent Futures with Jesse Damiani

Jesse Damiani

Artificial Intelligence

Algorithmic Resistance

Nationalism

Blockchain Technology

Iraqi Kurdistan

Liberland

Community Engagement

Human Rights

Critical Design

Cognitive Liberty

Self-Identity

Los Angeles

Hollywood

Post-Reality

Empathy Machine

Ethnography

Anthropology

Virtual Reality

Privacy

Activism

Welcome to the Urgent Futures Podcast, the show that finds signal in the noise. Each episode, I sit down with leading thinkers for dialogues that clarify the chaos, from culture to the cosmos. www.realitystudies.co

59 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	84	Founded	2 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	TechnologySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

"We All Know What We're Fighting Against, but There's a Deafening Silence Every Time we Ask What We're Fighting for"—On Hannah Arendt & Loving the World in Dark Times - Roger Berkowitz | #63

If you’re looking for historical thinkers who can help you navigate authoritarianism, fascism, totalitarianism, and questions of human rights, you’d do worse than to start with Hannah Arendt, one of the most influential political theorists of the 20t... more

3 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 52 min

From 'Prepper' to 'Resilient Citizen' - Chris Ellis | #62

Folks who have followed the channel will know that the subject of preparedness—what you colloquially hear referred to as “prepping”—is a subject of great importance to me. For a while now, I’ve felt like it was necessary for us to reclaim, normalize,... more

28 Jan 2026 • 1 hr 59 min

YouTube

We Must Decarbonize...but How? On Methods, Challenges, & the 'Physics of Capitalism' - Erald Kolasi | Rapid Response #18

We all know that we have to end our addiction to fossil fuels, but how do we actually do that in practice?

Today's guest, Erald Kolasi, breaks it down.

Support the show by checking out: ProtonVPN (gold-standard VPN—fast and safe. Click the link to ... more

26 Jan 2026 • 1 hr 14 min

YouTube

How Does AI Actually Work, & How is it Changing Our World? On 'Understanding AI' - Timothy B. Lee | #61

If there are two letters in the English language you’ve been unable to escape over the past four years, it’s A and I.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as the buzziest tech category since the metaverse and NFTs, but unlike those, AI has managed to... more

22 Jan 2026 • 1 hr 24 min

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests

Contact Information

Podcast Host

Number of Listeners

Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Great Simplification with Nate HagensNate Hagens

Weird StudiesSpectreVision Radio

The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Better OfflineCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Recent Guests

Timothy B. Lee

Reporter with over a decade of experience covering technology, economics, and public policy, and the author of the newsletter Understanding AI.

Understanding AI

Episode: How Does AI Actually Work, & How is it Changing Our World? On 'Understanding AI' - Timothy B. Lee | #61

Alyssa Battistoni

Assistant Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and author of Free Gifts, Capitalism and the Politics of Nature.

Barnard College

Episode: Capitalism Doesn't Value Nature Because It Can't—Understanding 'Free Gifts' - Alyssa Battistoni | #61

Brett Scott

An anthropology background combined with finance activism, author of The Heretic's Guide to Global Finance and Cloudmoney.

Episode: Rewiring the Global Economy, AI, the Cringiness of Big Tech Oligarchs, MMT, Stablecoins, & 'Releisure' - Brett Scott | Rapid Response #17

Katie Bogen

Clinical psychology PhD student and reconstructionist Jewish woman

Episode: Empathy is Hard Work—But It Can Save Us - Katie Bogen & Hani Chaabo (Super Humanizer) | #60

Hani Chaabo

Board certified in Family, Integrative & Addiction Medicine

El Dorado Community Health Center

Episode: Empathy is Hard Work—But It Can Save Us - Katie Bogen & Hani Chaabo (Super Humanizer) | #60

Indy Johar

Co-founder of Dark Matter Labs, open systems advocate, and professor at RMIT University

Episode: "Democracy is No Longer Expanding Agency"—Reimagining Governance, the Human, & Intelligence in the Machine Age - Indy Johar | #59

Colin Davis

Fitness coach and political activist

Episode: Unpacking ‘Fascist Fitness’ & Reclaiming Gym Culture from the Far Right - Colin Davis | Rapid Response #15

Steve Anderson

Director of the documentary 'Reality Frictions' and professor at UCLA

UCLA

Episode: Can Media Depict Reality in the Age of AI? Did It Ever, Really? Discussing the Interplay of Fact & Fiction in ‘Reality Frictions’ - Steve Anderson | #57

Colin Raymond

Research Scientist at University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles

Episode: Understanding Wet-Bulb Temperature, Climate Extremes, & Systemic Risk—& How We Build Resilience - Colin Raymond | #56

Host

Jesse Damiani

Host of the show, Jesse engages with guests across fields, guiding nuanced discussions that navigate the complex landscape of technology, society, and culture.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings

the best!
one of my favorite podcasts! jesse is a great host + has such an incredible variety of guests.
Apple Podcasts
5
fake.milo
United Statesa year ago
A+ Podcast
Deeply needed in these times and highly informative. Thank you!
Apple Podcasts
5
DashaKitt
United Statesa year ago
Relevant, researched and accessible
This podcast is truly a gem. Not only Jesse’s curation of guests is refreshing, and very relevant, the content is enlightening and accessible without being superficial. I learnt so much listening to some of the episodes and truly wished more people knew about it.
Jesse is also a great interviewer with kindness, nuance and humility always on the agenda. Cannot recommend this podcast enough!
Apple Podcasts
5
lili069475
United Statesa year ago
High def glimpses into the chaos
What is reality in a world dominated by rapid cycles of technological and cultural production? In the clear speak I’ve always valued in his writing, Damiani delves into the frayed edges of thought and creativity by assembling experts from a fresh cross-section of disciplines to synthesize visions of a post-real now. With each episode, am consistently enthralled by the subtlety and mastery with which Damiani teases out critical issues and weaves these into piercing dialogues, in real time. Also a... more
Apple Podcasts
5
missrenao
United Statesa year ago
One of the Best Podcasts in America
Anyone interested in cutting-edge ideas about culture, tech, and philosophy needs to be listening to this podcast. The variety of guests is incredible, and all of them have something urgent to say. I always feel smarter and more generatively perplexed after listening to Urgent Futures, and I keep coming back because I want to know what the most intelligent, idiosyncratic thinkers are thinking and talking about amongst themselves. You will not regret becoming a regular listener!
Apple Podcasts
5
Daniel S. Isaac
United Statesa year ago

Embed These Reviews on a Website

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many express gratitude for the thoughtful exploration of pressing societal issues, with a frequent emphasis on the expert insights shared during episodes.

The podcast is characterized as essential listening for those interested in technology, culture, and urgent global topics.

The host's interviewing style is particularly noted for its depth and ability to stimulate critical thought.

Listeners praise the insightful and urgent nature of the discussions, highlighting a great variety of knowledgeable guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#184	Poland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts	#203	Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts	#215	Brazil/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Does AI Actually Work, & How is it Changing Our World? On 'Understanding AI' - Timothy B. Lee | #61

Q: What are some concerns about AI?

Lee mentioned concerns include political stability and effects on job markets, but overall, he feels many fears are exaggerated.

How Does AI Actually Work, & How is it Changing Our World? On 'Understanding AI' - Timothy B. Lee | #61

Q: Why is public understanding of AI important?

AI is a general-purpose technology that influences many aspects of life, making it crucial for the public to have a basic comprehension of its implications.

Empathy is Hard Work—But It Can Save Us - Katie Bogen & Hani Chaabo (Super Humanizer) | #60

Q: What is one moment when your sense of reality was disrupted?

When I was 18 and experienced airstrikes while working at Burger King, it drastically changed my understanding of safety and normalcy.

Empathy is Hard Work—But It Can Save Us - Katie Bogen & Hani Chaabo (Super Humanizer) | #60

Q: What is one resource you recommend for making better sense of reality?

The Cognitive Behavioral Triangle, as it helps illustrate how our thoughts can influence our emotions and actions.

Empathy is Hard Work—But It Can Save Us - Katie Bogen & Hani Chaabo (Super Humanizer) | #60

Q: What is one thing you wish people paid more attention to?

Listening, as it transforms how we show up as doctors, friends, and co-hosts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Urgent Futures

What is Urgent Futures about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Key themes explored include the complexities surrounding artificial intelligence, climate change, societal collapse, and the ethical responsibilities tied to media representation. The discussions often feature thought-provoking dialogues with guests from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including academia, journalism, and literature, providing listeners with a multifaceted understanding of current global challenges. This podcast is particularly noteworthy for its engagement with urgent topics that are critical to contemporary society, aiming to stimulate deep reflection and discussion surrounding the future of humanity and the planet.

Where can I find podcast stats for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Urgent Futures. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Urgent Futures and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Urgent Futures get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Urgent Futures, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Urgent Futures, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Urgent Futures have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Urgent Futures has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Urgent Futures?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Urgent Futures:

1. The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
2. Weird Studies
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Better Offline

How many episodes of Urgent Futures are there?

Urgent Futures launched 2 years ago and published 84 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Urgent Futures?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Urgent Futures from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Urgent Futures?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Urgent Futures. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Urgent Futures?

Recent guests on Urgent Futures include:

1. Timothy B. Lee
2. Alyssa Battistoni
3. Brett Scott
4. Katie Bogen
5. Hani Chaabo
6. Indy Johar
7. Colin Davis
8. Steve Anderson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.

Try it free for 7 days