Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

How Perceptions of Harm Drive Moral Outrage and Political Conflict In episode 61, we explored Outraged! with Kurt Gray, discussing the harm-based model of morality and how our perceptions of harm and victimization fuel moral outrage . But there’s so much more to uncover. In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the research behind these ideas with moral psychology researcher Sam Pratt. We exami...

How Systems Like Community Notes on Twitter/X Aim to Break the Cycle of Misinformation Are social media algorithms fueling misinformation and deepening echo chambers—or can they help bridge divides? In this episode, we talk with Paul Resnick , a pioneer in recommender systems and digital trust, about how platforms curate content, the truth behind filter bubbles, and whether fact-checking tools lik...

Why Resistance Matters: Lessons from Postcards to Hitler How does authoritarianism take hold? What warning signs do we often miss? In this episode, we speak with Bruce Neuburger, author of Postcards to Hitler: A German Jew’s Defiance in a Time of Terror , about the rise of political extremism—then and now. Neuburger shares his grandfather’s incredible story of resistance under Nazi rule and explor...

Why is outrage so powerful? And why does it feel so addictive? In this episode, Dr. Kurt Gray joins us to discuss his new book, Outraged! , which offers a groundbreaking look at the psychology of moral fury, social media outrage, and political division. If The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt set the stage for understanding moral differences, Outraged! is the next step—revealing how outrage operat...

A Ritual for Intentional Living In this special bonus episode of Outrage Overload , I share a personal ritual that keeps me grounded and mindful of the ripples we create in our daily lives. Originally recorded for What’s Your Ripple? , this conversation explores the power of small, intentional actions and how they shape the world around us. I sit down with JJ Holley, a retired Air Force Major and...

In this special PODCASTHON episode of Outrage Overload , we’re spotlighting Dev Mission , a nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring underserved young adults for careers in tech. We sit down with Leonardo Sosa , founder and executive director of Dev Mission, to discuss how the organization is closing the digital divide , increasing diversity in tech , and helping young people from underrepres...

Why do younger generations feel so disconnected from the world their parents grew up in? Are millennials just complaining, or is there something deeper at play? In this special OK Boomer episode of Outrage Overload , host David Beckemeyer sits down with Valerie Beck , a holistic health practitioner and founder of Intrepid Wellness , to explore the complex dynamics between boomers and millennials....

How Media Shapes Reality James Shanahan, a leading expert on cultivation theory, joins David Beckemeyer to explore how television, news, and social media influence public perception, fear, and political polarization. They discuss the Mean World Syndrome, the rise of outrage media, and how algorithms amplify division. Tune in to learn how media effects shape our world—and what we can do about it. T...

Is the U.S. presidency becoming too powerful? Imagine a president ignoring court rulings, dismantling government agencies, and bypassing oversight. It’s not just a hypothetical—it’s happening now. In this episode, we explore the rise of executive overreach and its implications for democracy. 🔹 Guests: Professor Kevin Smith – Political scientist specializing in governance and federal agencies. Jam...

How Correcting Misperceptions Can Heal Political Divides Ever wonder why political conversations feel more heated than ever? It might not be about the issues themselves but how we perceive the other side. In this episode of Outrage Overload , we explore the "perception gap"—the distorted views we hold about political opponents—and how correcting these misperceptions can reduce toxic pola...

How Biology Challenges the Male-Female Binary In this documentary-style episode, Outrage Overload dives into the intricate and often misunderstood world of sex development, using the controversy surrounding female boxers at the Paris Olympics as a case study. We unpack the science, ethics, and personal stories behind Differences in Sex Development (DSDs), challenging the oversimplified narratives...

Why Physical Experiences Still Matter in a Digital World Vinyl records are outselling CDs. Instant-print cameras are finding their way back into people’s hands. Even paper notebooks remain a must-have for many. But why are we seeing this resurgence of analog technologies in an overwhelmingly digital world? In this episode, David Sax, award-winning journalist and author of The Revenge of Analog and...

We're joined by Jason Paul, an attorney, political strategist, and candidate for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Jason brings his wealth of experience and bold ideas to the table, offering insights on the challenges facing the Democratic Party and his vision for revitalizing its structure and operations. Whether you’re a political enthusiast or someone eager to understand th...

How Silicon Valley Elites Decide the Future Without Us Silicon Valley’s technological breakthroughs promise to change the world, but at what cost? In this episode, we sit down with philosopher and technology critic Dr. Émile P. Torres to examine the hidden price of innovation. From AI’s environmental footprint to the ethical failures in its development, we explore how a small, unelected group of t...

Do I Know You? A Journey Through Neurodiversity and Inner Lives Journalist and author Sadie Dingfelder takes us on a journey through the hidden diversity of human perception. Diagnosed with aphantasia (the inability to create mental images) and face blindness, Sadie has learned firsthand how drastically inner worlds can differ from person to person. These differences impact how we connect with oth...

How to Survive the Age of Misinformation We are joined by Dr. David Helfand, an esteemed professor of astronomy at Columbia University and author of A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age .  Dr. Helfand shares practical tools to help listeners sharpen their critical thinking skills, question the narratives they encounter, and distinguish between fact and fiction in today’s hyperconnected world...

Guest host Ross "Yergz" Yerger flips the script and puts David and Lisa Beckemeyer—the voices behind the podcast—on the other side of the mic! 🎧 Listeners have asked to know more about the people behind the show, so here’s a fun, candid role-reversal episode just for you. Whether you’re driving on Christmas Day, unwinding after the festivities, or simply catching up later, this episode...

Why Building Together Is the Key to Healing Divided Communities How can communities overcome disconnection, address anger, and rebuild trust in today’s polarized and often overwhelming world? In this episode of Outrage Overload , Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, discusses the roots of civic disconnection and how media-driven outrage and social media algorithms...

How Understanding Can Combat Hate: Insights from “The Hate Next Door” In this episode of Outrage Overload, we delve into the unsettling reality of hate and extremism in America with Matt and Tawni Browning, authors of "The Hate Next Door: Undercover Within the New Face of White Supremacy." Matt, a former undercover detective, infiltrated white supremacist groups, offering a unique perspe...

How Social Media Hostility Impacts Democracy Together with our guest, Ariel Hasell, a leading expert in media, communication, and political psychology, we unpack how the outrage fueled by hostile political posts spreads across social media platforms, driving polarization and shaping public discourse based on findings of the research paper "When Social Media Attack: How Exposure to Political A...

Are We Finally Sick of the Media Outrage Machine? In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Selepak, media professor at the University of Florida, for an eye-opening conversation on the shifting landscape of media and its role in stoking public outrage. Selepak explains how the decline in trust toward traditional media stems from several factors, including the media’s shift toward engagement-driven...

What Are Voters Really Saying? In this special post-election episode of Outrage Overload , we examine the surprising twists of the 2024 election. What were voters truly trying to tell us, and what drove their choices this year? Join us as we unpack the results with fresh insights from top experts, including political scientists and a computational anthropologist, who reveal what the electorate may...

How Neuroscience Can Help Us Fight Burnout in an Age of Outrage and Division A compelling conversation with Dr. Gary Simonds, a neurosurgeon and burnout expert, to unpack the emotional toll of our outrage-saturated media environment. We explore how the relentless cycle of negative news, social media hype, and political bias can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even outrage fatigue. Dr. S...

How Tech Bros Like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel want to Shape Our Future In this special episode, we're tackling the intriguing—and often troubling—world of "techno-libertarianism." We sit down with tech entrepreneur and researcher David Troy to unpack this movement’s bold vision of a future free from government control and centralized institutions, driven entirely by technology. What...

Why Embracing Complexity and Nuance is Critical for Personal Growth and Informed Decision-Making We sit down with Julie Rose, host of the Top of Mind podcast, to explore her journey from feeling overwhelmed by the negativity in the news to fostering thoughtful, nuanced conversations. Julie shares how she broke free from the media’s tendency to oversimplify and polarize issues, focusing instead on...