In this episode Jason discusses the risk that AI will rob humanity of its meaning and purpose and concludes that it will not once you realize what truly makes human life meaningful. Bill McKibben’s piece that was the proximate inspiration for this episode is here; the earlier DZA episode on the Purpose of Life is here; the Thresholds piece on how conscious beings have something to lose is here; and the DZA website is here.

Jason returns to podcasting after a long hot summer to discuss why he has chosen to stay in America for the time being, his reservations about his decision, and how he’s going to make the most of it. The DZA website is here.

In this episode Jason discusses the extreme parasitic form of capitalism we’re in now, along with the rot at the federal level, and the three possible directions where this can all lead. The DZA website is here.

In this episode Jason discusses four positive trends, all based on current data, that point to a much improved future for all life on the planet in the not-too-distant-future. The Great Depopulation article in the Atlantic is here and the DZA website is here.

In this episode Jason makes specific predictions about global oil markets over the next few years, all of which is great news if they come to pass. The DZA website is here.

In this episode Jason discusses a very important and surprising quality of life metric where America is clearly superior to Europe and most other advanced nations. The DZA website is here.

In this episode Jason discusses how denialism about what America has become has crept into almost all forms of media, at just the time when uncertainty over the future is at its greatest since WW II, which bodes ill for a well-functioning society. He then provides an antidote related to what to do about it. The Sam Harris-Tristan Harris conversation is here and the DZA website is here.

In this episode, Jason discusses the illogic of those who didn’t vote for Kamala in 2024 due to anger over the Biden Gaza policy, which may continue to hurt Democrats and democracy in 2026 and 2028. He explains why this was worse than a devil’s bargain and what he thinks people should do to make amends. The DZA website is here.