Outrage Overload: Staying grounded through science and balanced perspectives
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.
Episodes
Why is it so hard to have civil conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? And can we break through the outrage culture, media tribalism, and polarization that dominate today’s discourse?
In this episode, we talk with Adam Boaz Becker, founder of Headon.AI, an AI platform designed to foster political dialogue and bridge divides. Adam shares what he's learned from years of street interviews in Israel and the West Bank...
Exploring Democratic Erosion and the Rise of Authoritarian Tactics
Is the U.S. Sliding Toward Competitive Authoritarianism? Political scientist Lucan Way joins us to discuss signs of democratic erosion, competitive authoritarianism, and the weaponization of institutions. Drawing from his co-authored New York Times essay, “How Will We Know When We Have Lost Our Democracy?”, Way explains how democratic backsliding may already be under...
Why are we so divided — and what can we really do about it? In this episode, Rich Harwood, founder of The Harwood Institute and author of The New Civic Path, returns to the show to share how communities across America are rebuilding trust and taking action — without waiting on Washington.
We talk about how to bring people together, restore belief in each other, and start healing our divided country from the ground up.
If you're ...
How Wellness Content Fuels Conspiracies
What starts as a search for natural living or homegrown veggies can slowly become something else entirely.
In this episode, we follow the personal story of Kavisha Pillay, a digital ethics expert who unexpectedly found herself pulled into the “tradwife” aesthetic while simply exploring homesteading and wellness content online. We explore how seemingly wholesome spaces—like DIY cle...
How a Doctor’s Long COVID Journey Exposed Systemic Failures
Millions are still living with long COVID, yet many patients are dismissed, misunderstood, or left without answers. In this episode, Dr. Zeest Khan shares her personal journey—from treating critical patients as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist to becoming a long COVID patient herself.
This conversation isn’t just about COVID—it's about how we listen, how ...
How AmeriCorps Cuts Threaten Our Civic Future
Tens of thousands of AmeriCorps service positions are being eliminated. In this episode, we explore how cuts to national service programs are affecting communities, civic engagement, and the future of democracy in America.
Maureen Eccleston, Chief Impact Officer at Service Year Alliance and longtime AmeriCorps alum, joins David Beckemeyer to break down what these cuts mean, who’s being im...
Why 500 Organizations Joined Forces to Bridge America’s Deepest Divides
We sit down with Karissa Raskin, the new CEO of Listen First Project, a national organization leading a coalition of over 500 groups working to reduce toxic polarization and build stronger communities through connection and dialogue. Karissa shares her personal journey into the bridge-building space, what it’s like to lead a movement that spans ide...
Exploring Media Consolidation, Distrust, and the Future of News
Why are major newspapers stepping back from endorsing presidential candidates? What does that say about the Fourth Estate—and its ability to hold power accountable?
In this episode of Outrage Overload, David Beckemeyer is joined by journalist and educator Michael Deas, former editor at The Chicago Tribune, to explore the challenges facing journalism today. ...
How Perceptions of Harm Drive Moral Outrage and Political Conflict
In episode 61, we explored Outraged! with Kurt Gray, discussing the harm-based model of morality and how our perceptions of harm and victimization fuel moral outrage. But there’s so much more to uncover.
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the research behind these ideas with moral psychology researcher Sam Pratt. We examine the paper Morality in...
How Systems Like Community Notes on Twitter/X Aim to Break the Cycle of Misinformation
Are social media algorithms fueling misinformation and deepening echo chambers—or can they help bridge divides? In this episode, we talk with Paul Resnick, a pioneer in recommender systems and digital trust, about how platforms curate content, the truth behind filter bubbles, and whether fact-checking tools like Community Notes ...
Why Resistance Matters: Lessons from Postcards to Hitler
How does authoritarianism take hold? What warning signs do we often miss? In this episode, we speak with Bruce Neuburger, author of Postcards to Hitler: A German Jew’s Defiance in a Time of Terror, about the rise of political extremism—then and now. Neuburger shares his grandfather’s incredible story of resistance under Nazi rule and explores the modern parallels...
Why is outrage so powerful? And why does it feel so addictive? In this episode, Dr. Kurt Gray joins us to discuss his new book, Outraged!, which offers a groundbreaking look at the psychology of moral fury, social media outrage, and political division. If The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt set the stage for understanding moral differences, Outraged! is the next step—revealing how outrage operates as a social force in the digital ...
A Ritual for Intentional Living
In this special bonus episode of Outrage Overload, I share a personal ritual that keeps me grounded and mindful of the ripples we create in our daily lives. Originally recorded for What’s Your Ripple?, this conversation explores the power of small, intentional actions and how they shape the world around us.
I sit down with JJ Holley, a retired Air Force Major and founder of Ripple Retreat, an alcohol-f...
In this special PODCASTHON episode of Outrage Overload, we’re spotlighting Dev Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to training and mentoring underserved young adults for careers in tech. We sit down with Leonardo Sosa, founder and executive director of Dev Mission, to discuss how the organization is closing the digital divide, increasing diversity in tech, and helping young people from underrepresented backgrounds break into the industr...
Why do younger generations feel so disconnected from the world their parents grew up in? Are millennials just complaining, or is there something deeper at play?
In this special OK Boomer episode of Outrage Overload, host David Beckemeyer sits down with Valerie Beck, a holistic health practitioner and founder of Intrepid Wellness, to explore the complex dynamics between boomers and millennials. From shifting expectations to the weigh...
How Media Shapes Reality
James Shanahan, a leading expert on cultivation theory, joins David Beckemeyer to explore how television, news, and social media influence public perception, fear, and political polarization. They discuss the Mean World Syndrome, the rise of outrage media, and how algorithms amplify division. Tune in to learn how media effects shape our world—and what we can do about it.
Is the U.S. presidency becoming too powerful?
Imagine a president ignoring court rulings, dismantling government agencies, and bypassing oversight. It’s not just a hypothetical—it’s happening now. In this episode, we explore the rise of executive overreach and its implications for democracy.
🔹 Guests:
- Professor Kevin Smith – Political scientist specializing in governance and federal agencies.
- James Goodwin – Legal expert in consti...
How Correcting Misperceptions Can Heal Political Divides
Ever wonder why political conversations feel more heated than ever? It might not be about the issues themselves but how we perceive the other side. In this episode of Outrage Overload, we explore the "perception gap"—the distorted views we hold about political opponents—and how correcting these misperceptions can reduce toxic polarization.
How Biology Challenges the Male-Female Binary
In this documentary-style episode, Outrage Overload dives into the intricate and often misunderstood world of sex development, using the controversy surrounding female boxers at the Paris Olympics as a case study. We unpack the science, ethics, and personal stories behind Differences in Sex Development (DSDs), challenging the oversimplified narratives that dominate today’s ...
Why Physical Experiences Still Matter in a Digital World
Vinyl records are outselling CDs. Instant-print cameras are finding their way back into people’s hands. Even paper notebooks remain a must-have for many. But why are we seeing this resurgence of analog technologies in an overwhelmingly digital world? In this episode, David Sax, award-winning journalist and author of The Revenge of Analog and The Future is Analog,...
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