This week, we're joined by Adam Aleksic, also known as @etymologynerd to discuss his new book Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language. We talk everything from 67, slop, rationalists versus post-rationalists, teleology, vibes, and Silicon Valley slang.

Further Reading

• Buy Adam's book Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language at your local book store or online: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776856/algospeak-by-adam-aleksic/

• Find Adam Aleksic @etymologynerd on Instagram and TikTok, and check out his Substack at https://etymology.substack.com/.

• More on slop: https://etymology.substack.com/p/notes-on-slop

• Adam's website: etymologynerd.com

• Book recommendation: Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed (1998) by James C. Scott

This week, we dive into the horrifying world of Eliezer Yudkowsky, AI Doomer, Rationalist, and Harry Potter fan fiction author in light of his recently published NYT bestseller with Nate Soares, "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies."

Further reading:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-eliezer-yudkowsky.html
• https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/461680/if-anyone-builds-it-yudkowsky-soares-ai-risk
• https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/30/ai-debate-culture-clash-dc-silicon-valley-00133323
• https://www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/eliezer-yudkowskys-long-history-of

In this episode, we talked to journalist Eoin Higgins about his book "Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left" which examines how Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Elon Musk have used their wealth to shape media narratives, especially through journalists Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi.

Eoin Higgins: https://x.com/eoinhiggins_?lang=en

Eoin's Substack: https://eoinhiggins.substack.com/

Eoin's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eoin-higgins/owned/9781645030461/

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