Future Knowledge

Authors James A. Jacobs and James R. Jacobs join librarian Shari Laster to discuss their book, Preserving Government Information: Past, Present, and Future . From print to digital, they explore how gaps in preservation threaten accountability, research, and democracy itself—and what must be done to safeguard the public record in an age when vital materials can disappear with the click of a button....

Authors Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen join historian Abby Smith Rumsey to discuss their acclaimed book The Library: A Fragile History —a sweeping exploration of how libraries have been built, destroyed, cherished, and reinvented over the centuries. From ancient archives to modern public libraries, they trace the people, politics, and passions behind the world’s great collections, and ref...

Erin Malone , author of In Through the Side Door , joins designer and writer Abby Covert for a conversation about the women who helped pioneer user experience and interaction design. From the early days of desktop computing to today’s digital interfaces, Malone traces how women brought insights from design, psychology, and engineering to shape the way we interact with technology—often working behi...

What rights do libraries, archives, and memory institutions need to preserve our digital heritage? In this episode, we explore the "Our Future Memory" campaign and the Statement on Four Digital Rights, a global call to action to secure the legal rights libraries and other memory institutions need in the digital age. Featuring voices from around the world, this conversation highlights the urgent ne...

Recorded live at the Internet Archive Canada in Vancouver, this discussion features historian Ian Milligan , author of Averting the Digital Dark Age , in conversation with Brewster Kahle , founder of the Internet Archive. Guided by journalist Takara Small , the discussion explores Canada’s role in preserving our digital heritage—and why safeguarding born-digital history is more urgent than ever. G...

Author and activist Cory Doctorow joins us to discuss The Internet Con , his call to reclaim internet control from Big Tech. From locked-down platforms to the illusion of choice online, Cory lays out how interoperability can break corporate monopolies—and why reshaping the digital landscape starts with empowering users to leave, remix, and reimagine the internet on their own terms. Grab your copy...

Author John Brackett ( Live Dead ) is joined by musician and Grateful Dead scholar David Gans to discuss how live recordings—both official and fan-made—shaped the sound, story, and enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead. This episode explores what these tapes reveal about audience, authenticity, and the cultural power of the “live” experience. Grab your copy of Live Dead : https://dukeupress.edu/liv...

Historian Peter Baldwin joins copyright scholar Pamela Samuelson to unpack The Copyright Wars —a sweeping look at 300 years of trans-Atlantic copyright battles. From 18th-century publishing monopolies to today’s clashes between Big Tech, libraries, and the entertainment industry, this conversation reveals how history can illuminate the future of intellectual property in a digital world. Grab your...

Authors Joshua Levine and Tim Hwang sit down with Lila Bailey to discuss Copyright, AI, and Great Power Competition . Together they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming copyright law—and how global powers are using IP policy as a strategic tool in the race for technological dominance. Grab your copy of Copyright, AI, and Great Power Competition : https://www.thefai.org/posts/copyrig...

Launching in June 2025, Future Knowledge explores the intersection of technology, culture, and information policy with leading authors, scholars, and experts. From copyright and open access to AI and digital preservation, we discuss the big issues shaping knowledge and creativity in the digital age. This podcast is brought to you by the Internet Archive and Authors Alliance.