Outrage Overload

About Outrage Overload

If politics and media leave you feeling angry, overwhelmed, or exhausted, Outrage Overload is for you. In about 30 minutes every few weeks, we explore how outrage spreads, how hyper-partisanship distorts perception, and how media and technology amplify emotional extremes. Through conversations with leading scientists, researchers, and authors, we unpack the psychology, incentives, and systems shaping today’s political climate — and offer practical tools to think clearly, stay grounded, and respond constructively. 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. Most media is designed to hijack your biology. They have the tactics, but they lack a worldview that respects your intelligence. Outrage Overload uses the tools of modern technology not to capture your attention, but to return it to you. We aren't here to 'fix the algorithm'; we're here to help you outgrow it. 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.

Publisher

David Beckemeyer

Category

government · science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Oct 2022

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

26 of 178 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Civic Voices: Designing Civic Spaces That Neutralize Outrage – Bill Woodson

   Host [Host Name] interviews Bill Woodson, leader of CATA, about designing civic spaces that neutralize outrage and foster listening.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   98: Why Saving Democracy Sounds Like a Threat to Conservatives – Scott Warren and Sophia Winner

   Researchers Scott Warren (Lab Director and SNF Agora Fellow) and Sophia Winner (Research Program Coordinator) explore why conservative Americans perceive pro-democracy messages as a threat in this interview.

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   97. Is Academic Research Compromising Its Own Standards – Ashley Rubin

   Host [Host Name] interviews Dr. Ashley Rubin, Professor of Sociology, about how political pressures may be compromising academic research standards and eroding public trust in higher education.

Inside a recent episode

Civic Voices: Designing Civic Spaces That Neutralize Outrage – Bill Woodson

Published 14 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And so we do that kind of the obvious explicit things. We talk about the importance as we prepare people for their table based dialogues amongst their table mates. we tell them, you know, attack ideas, but don't attack people. You know, assume good intention. Assume also that you have table mates that all you want to hear from everyone. If you're someone who tends to speak a lot in these conversations or in dialogue in general, maybe step back and make sure you're leaving space for your neighbors to share their ideas as well. And we also, on the converse side, if you're someone who tends to sit back and not be so forthcoming with your own opinions, to step up. […]

Who has been a guest on Outrage Overload

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Bill Woodson
• Scott Warren
• Sophia Winner
• Ashley Rubin
• Douglas Giles

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

8,495

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 84 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

87

Social presence

91

YouTube

74

Engagement

82

Contact Outrage Overload

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Outrage Overload