What If Inclusion, Not Normalization, Was the Goal?Too often, conversations about autism happen without autistic voices at the table. In this episode, we talk with Ari Ne’eman, Assistant Professor at Harvard and co-founder of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, about the real divides in autism advocacy and what a better path forward could look like.Ari brings both lived experience and policy expertise, with service under multiple U.S. administrations, to examine how public policy shapes autism services, support, and the future of neurodiversity.This conversation challenges common assumptions and points toward values-driven autism advocacy—centered on communication, inclusion, and real quality of life.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email [email protected]. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
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72. The Fight to Make Online Spaces Civil Again - Yevgeny Simkin
Why Owning Your Online Identity Matters More Than EverIs it possible to fix social media? In this episode, I’m joined by Yevgeny Simkin, Co-Founder of Sez.us, a new social media platform built to encourage civility and healthier online spaces.We talk about why we need real alternatives to Facebook and Twitter, who controls online conversations today, and how owning your online identity could change the way communities connect. Yevgeny explains why escaping social media giants might be the first step toward better ways to connect online and how community-driven platforms can reshape our digital future.If you’ve ever wondered whether social media could be less toxic and more human, this conversation offers both hope and a roadmap.Listen now to explore how Sez.us is rethinking what social media can be.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email [email protected]. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
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DOCUMENTARY - What’s Pulling Young Men to the Right?
Gen Z’s political gender gap is widening. Young women are trending left, while young men drift right—and it’s not just politics. In this episode, we explore the cultural, social, and economic pressures shaping young men’s identities, from the “manosphere” to societal expectations around masculinity and the pressure to be the breadwinner.We examine the consequences for democracy, social cohesion, and the future of civic engagement—and consider how society can create better spaces for young men to belong, participate, and thrive.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why young men are drawn to exclusionary spaces onlineHow societal pressures around masculinity and economic roles influence political choicesThe role of both the left and right in widening the gender gapWhy this divide matters for democracy and social stabilityPaths toward healthier engagement and belongingGuests:Rev. Angela Denker, award-winning author and journalistMark Sutton, gender expert and author of How Democrats Can Win Back MenEric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics and author of The Third AwokeningText me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email [email protected]. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
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71. Do Facts Really Change Minds? – Nick Stagnaro
The Shift from Certainty to NuanceWe’ve all heard the saying: facts don’t change minds. But new research challenges that idea.In this episode, David talks with social scientist Nick Stagnaro about what happens when people dive deep into the facts on divisive issues like gun control. The findings? Knowledge can soften extreme positions—shifting people toward a more nuanced middle ground.But here’s the catch: while attitudes toward policies change, feelings toward people on the “other side” often don’t. That puzzle drives Nick’s research into belief change, polarization, and how credibility, trust, and even AI-driven debates might help bridge divides.Listen in to explore how facts can move us—and where they fall short.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email [email protected]. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
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70. Is There Still Hope for the Internet? - Kristin Hansen
The Hidden Power of Social NormsSocial media often gets blamed for fueling outrage and deepening political divides. But what if the very tools that spread division could be used to bridge it?In this episode, we talk with Kristin Hansen, Executive Director of Civic Health Project, about Normsy.ai—a groundbreaking initiative using human-plus-AI tools to foster civility and connection online.Kristin shares her personal journey into bridge-building, why social norms matter just as much as rules, and how we can all play a part in reshaping the online world for the better.Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, DavidSupport the showShow Notes:https://outrageoverload.net/ Follow me, David Beckemeyer, on Twitter @mrblog or email [email protected]. Follow the show on Twitter @OutrageOverload or Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload.HOTLINE: 925-552-7885Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episodeIf you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it.Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.
About Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media
If you're angry, frustrated, or scared about the state of politics and media and looking for thoughtful, balanced discussions, this podcast is for you. About 30 minutes every few weeks. It will change your life.Outrage Overload explores the extreme polarization and political bias dominating politics and media today. We dive into the anger and outrage that drive divisions between people, distort the news, and fuel political violence. Each episode features leading scientists, researchers, authors, and community leaders tackling topics like outrage fatigue, toxic polarization, extremism, healthy conflict, disinformation, social media's role in outrage, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence.Join us to rediscover humanity in your rivals, improve your mental health, and find practical strategies to feel less stressed and more in control in a world fueled by outrage.Outrage Overload helps listeners with critical questions about outrage culture, political polarization, misinformation, and media manipulation—offering science-based insight, expert interviews, and practical tools to stay grounded in a divided world.If you’ve ever asked yourself…• How can I stay politically informed without feeling outraged or exhausted all the time?• Why is political polarization getting worse, and what can we do about it?• What exactly is outrage culture, and how does it manipulate us?• How do I talk about politics without it turning into a fight?• Am I being misled by the media? How can I tell?• What’s the psychological toll of living in an outrage-driven media environment?• How can I build critical thinking skills to make sense of today’s news?• What role does social media play in fueling outrage and misinformation?• Is it possible to care about politics without losing your mind?• What practical tools or insights can help me deal with toxic politics and media?…then this is the politics show you didn’t know you needed.Join host David Beckemeyer—science communicator and founding CTO of EarthLink—as he explores the mechanics of outrage, speaks with experts in psychology, media, and political science, and equips listeners with strategies for navigating today’s high-conflict culture with emotional resilience, critical thinking, and civil discourse.
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