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Are We Doomed? with Ben Bradford

Aug 6, 2026 · 47m

Summary

Host Robert Lamb interviews Ben Bradford about his new NPR podcast, *Are We Doomed?*, which examines existential threats like nuclear war, AI, and climate change. Bradford explains his journalistic approach to "doom without the gloom," using expert analysis to demystify fears and highlight human resilience. The discussion covers pop culture’s apocalyptic tropes, the reality of civilizational collapse, and the concept of a "reverse apocalypse" reflecting global progress.

Topics discussed

Sponsors: Ebglis, ChatGPT Work, Grainger, Harley-Davidson Introduction to Ben Bradford and his podcast Are We Doomed? Apocalyptic media, nuclear war fears, and the concept of empire The 'How to Start a Nuclear War' episode and finding hope in solutions Nuclear deterrence, food supply resilience, and the 'kill switch' proposal Sponsors: ChatGPT Work, Ebglis, The Unshakeables, Right Care AI existential risks, guest selection, and sandbox escapes Super volcanoes, global interconnectedness, and internet vulnerabilities Sponsors: ChatGPT Work, Ebglis, The Unshakeables, Amazon Pharmacy Cultural panic vs. reality, historical collapses, and community resilience The 'Reverse Apocalypse': improving human life expectancy and agency Are We Doomed? video format, mailbags, and closing thoughts
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