by Jesse Damiani
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. <br/><br/><a href="https://www.realitystudies.co?utm_medium=podcast">www.realitystudies.co</a>
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April 16, 2025
<p>Bit of a different episode this week! It’s a recording of my Substack Live with <a target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/profile/167138736-better-future-w-michael-mezz">Better Future w/ Michael Mezz</a>, where we dive into all the topics listed in the title, plus a few surprises.</p><p>It was a fun little experiment that ends up packing a punch—all thanks to Michael’s ability to sensemake such volatile, complex topics. He’s also a past guest of the show, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realitystudies.co/p/michael-mezzatesta-post-growth-degrowth-economy">our conversation is a fantastic introduction to degrowth and post-growth economics</a> (which we need to be considering now more than ever).</p><p><strong>Support the show </strong>by checking out: <a target="_blank" href="https://zbiotics.com/?sca_ref=4926056.YlP8s92iYP"><strong>ZBiotics</strong></a> (Decrease impact of hangovers. Code: JESSEDAMIANI for 10% off), <a target="_blank" href="http://mudwtr.pxf.io/Urgent"><strong>MUD\WTR</strong></a> (43% off starter kits), <a target="_blank" href="https://1password.partnerlinks.io/UrgentFutures"><strong>1Password</strong></a> (simplify your life and increase digital safety), <a target="_blank" href="https://mission-farms-cbd.sjv.io/Urgent"><strong>Mission Farms CBD</strong></a> (healthy, effective CBD for relief, sleep, and wellbeing—25% off with email), <a target="_blank" href="https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=97058&url_id=902"><strong>NordVPN</strong></a><strong> </strong>(the simplest way to protect yourself online, 74% off 2-year plans).</p><p><strong>👉 </strong>Never miss an episode! <strong>👉</strong> <strong>Subscribe to Urgent Futures now: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrgentFutures"><strong>Youtube</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/urgent-futures-with-jesse-damiani/id1708944394"><strong>Apple Podcasts</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4JOs9DssCQaGLhPNzz291z"><strong>Spotify</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p>Back with new full episodes next week!</p><p>Find more episodes of Urgent Futures at: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrgentFutures">youtube.com/@UrgentFutures</a>. Past conversations include <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky4ZxaYoUT0"><strong>Taylor Lorenz</strong></a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/A7YK5GjLtno?si=jp5pOloAdwtAJDGr"><strong>Lisa Messeri</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/v4tYsIqePKI?si=FwMyc9uJS89EDsDZ"><strong>Legacy Russell</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/GPmMeF0B4v4?si=fROxKYP2GTUOeptA"><strong>William E. Rees</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/3w6w-mr8OKY?si=KDSFC7xDn7esJ6yQ"><strong>Renée DiResta</strong></a><strong>, and more</strong>.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Reality Studies at <a href="https://www.realitystudies.co/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.realitystudies.co/subscribe</a>
April 2, 2025
<p>What if the ongoing devastation of the biosphere and the ascendancy of complex AI are rooted in the same anthropocentrism? What if there were a new theory of mind that incorporated our biological kin and AI? What if such a theory foregrounded ecological relationality and a broadening of our idea of what cognition is—and what can be a cognizer?</p><p>Today's guest, N. Katherine Hayles, proposes such a theory—the integrated cognitive framework (ICF)—in her new book, Bacteria to AI. It's a wild mutant of a read, drawing ideas from evolutionary biology, feminist theory, speculative fiction, and more—and I cannot recommend it enough.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4ciwVJW"><strong>Grab your copy of</strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4ciwVJW"><strong> Bacteria to AI</strong></a><a target="_blank" href="https://amzn.to/4ciwVJW"><strong> here!</strong></a></p><p><strong>Support the show </strong>by checking out: <a target="_blank" href="https://zbiotics.com/?sca_ref=4926056.YlP8s92iYP"><strong>ZBiotics</strong></a> (Decrease impact of hangovers. Code: JESSEDAMIANI for 10% off), <a target="_blank" href="http://mudwtr.pxf.io/Urgent"><strong>MUD\WTR</strong></a> (43% off starter kits), <a target="_blank" href="https://1password.partnerlinks.io/UrgentFutures"><strong>1Password</strong></a> (simplify your life and increase digital safety), <a target="_blank" href="https://mission-farms-cbd.sjv.io/Urgent"><strong>Mission Farms CBD</strong></a> (healthy, effective CBD for relief, sleep, and wellbeing—25% off with email), <a target="_blank" href="https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=97058&url_id=902"><strong>NordVPN</strong></a><strong> </strong>(the simplest way to protect yourself online, 74% off 2-year plans).</p><p>N. Katherine Hayles is the Distinguished Research Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the James B. Duke Professor Emerita from Duke University. Her research focuses on the relations of literature, science and technology in the 20th and 21st centuries. Her twelve print books include Postprint: Books and Becoming Computational (Columbia, 2021), Unthought: The Power of the Cognitive Nonconscious (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2017) and How We Think: Digital Media and Contemporary Technogenesis (Univ. of Chicago Press 2015), in addition to over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Her books have won several prizes, including The Rene Wellek Award for the Best Book in Literary Theory for How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Literature, Cybernetics and Informatics, and the Suzanne Langer Award for Writing Machines. She has been recognized by many fellowships and awards, including two NEH Fellowships, a Guggenheim, a Rockefeller Residential Fellowship at Bellagio, and two University of California Presidential Research Fellowships. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her latest book will be is, Bacteria to AI: Human Futures with our Nonhuman Symbionts from University of Chicago Press.</p><p><strong>CREDITS:</strong> This podcast is edited and produced by Adam Labrie and me, Jesse Damiani. Adam Labrie also edited the video version of the podcast, which is available on YouTube. The podcast is presented by Reality Studies. If you appreciate the work I’m doing, please subscribe and share it with someone you think would enjoy it.</p><p><strong>Find more episodes of </strong><strong>Urgent Futures</strong><strong> at: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrgentFutures"><strong>youtube.com/@UrgentFutures</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Reality Studies at <a href="https://www.realitystudies.co/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.realitystudies.co/subscribe</a>
March 26, 2025
<p>Can feminism be African? The more you sit with this question, the more its complexities reveal themselves; as you emphasize different aspects of the question, new subtexts and assumptions come into view.</p><p>This question is also the title of a new book by Minna Salami, today's guest. It's a remarkable read—I encourage you to <a target="_blank" href="https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/can-feminism-be-african-a-most-paradoxical-question-minna-salami?variant=41459562676302"><strong>pick up your copy now</strong></a>!</p><p><strong>Support the show </strong>by checking out: <a target="_blank" href="https://zbiotics.com/?sca_ref=4926056.YlP8s92iYP"><strong>ZBiotics</strong></a> (Decrease impact of hangovers. Code: JESSEDAMIANI for 10% off), <a target="_blank" href="http://mudwtr.pxf.io/Urgent"><strong>MUD\WTR</strong></a> (43% off starter kits), <a target="_blank" href="https://1password.partnerlinks.io/UrgentFutures"><strong>1Password</strong></a> (simplify your life and increase digital safety), <a target="_blank" href="https://mission-farms-cbd.sjv.io/Urgent"><strong>Mission Farms CBD</strong></a> (healthy, effective CBD for relief, sleep, and wellbeing—25% off with email), <a target="_blank" href="https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=97058&url_id=902"><strong>NordVPN</strong></a><strong> </strong>(the simplest way to protect yourself online, 74% off 2-year plans).</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/minnasalami_/"><strong>Minna Salami</strong></a> is a Nigerian-Finnish and Swedish feminist author, social critic and currently Program Chair at THE NEW INSTITUTE. She is the author of Can Feminism Be African? (Harper Collins) and Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone (Bloomsbury 2020) which has been translated into multiple languages. She has also co-authored children’s books and written content on feminism for numerous anthologies as well as educational textbooks.</p><p>A leading voice of contemporary feminism, she has drawn over a million readers to her multiple award-winning blog MsAfropolitan.com. Her writing can be found in the Guardian, Project Syndicate, Al Jazeera, and The Philosopher, and many others. She is a frequent speaker and lecturer including at some of the world’s most prominent institutions such as the UN, EU, Oxford Union, Cambridge Union, Yale University, and the Singularity University at NASA. She has worked as a Research Associate and Editor at Perspectiva, consulted governments on gender equality, written school curricula, and curated cultural events at The Victoria & Albert Museum in London.</p><p><strong>CREDITS:</strong> This podcast is edited and produced by Adam Labrie and me, Jesse Damiani. Adam Labrie also edited the video version of the podcast, which is available on YouTube. The podcast is presented by Reality Studies. If you appreciate the work I’m doing, please subscribe and share it with someone you think would enjoy it.</p><p><strong>Find more episodes of </strong><strong>Urgent Futures</strong><strong> at: </strong><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrgentFutures"><strong>youtube.com/@UrgentFutures</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Reality Studies at <a href="https://www.realitystudies.co/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.realitystudies.co/subscribe</a>
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