Tech Won't Save Us

The Left Doesn’t Hate Technology w/ Gita Jackson

Paris Marx is joined by Gita Jackson to discuss why the left’s hatred of AI is justified, why a different approach to technology is necessary, and how they’re reassessing their own relationships with digital tech. Gita Jackson is a co-founder of Aftermath [https://aftermath.site]. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Gita wrote about why the left doesn’t hate technology [https://aftermath.site/anthropic-claude-ai-leftist-technology/]. * Gita also wrote about downloading digital music [https://aftermath.site/digita-audio-player-snowsky-echo-mini-fiio-hyby/] onto a Snowksy Fiio Echo Mini. * Chris Person wrote about the Boox Palma eReader [https://aftermath.site/i-love-my-weird-little-phone-shaped-ereader/] as an alternative to Kindle. * Learn more about Mike Pondsmith [https://blackgirlnerds.com/from-cyberpsychos-to-netrunners-here-is-the-story-of-mike-pondsmith-the-true-mastermind-behind-cyberpunk/?fbclid=IwAR3FXZ4ne0Iy4xrbB0zoL0B_aa9O0Zf6pny7SQHo_w3KmK-8hzkkYg_f8Ng] and his Cyberpunk TTRPG. * Gita will one day get Paris to watch Frieren [https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GG5H5XQX4/frieren-beyond-journeys-end?srsltid=AfmBOoqjvcnG5JevUY6h-DznEZai1fEZG5crg8gR2Sv3gtmCsP6SrDvt].

Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Tim Schwab

Paris Marx is joined by Tim Schwab to discuss the evolving story of Bill Gates and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the issues that arise from allowing billionaires to use philanthropy to push personal political agendas and launder their reputations. Tim Schwab is the author of The Bill Gates Problem: Reckoning with the Myth of the Good Billionaire [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781250850102]. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Tim wrote about why Bill Gates should be removed from the foundation [https://timschwab.substack.com/p/the-epstein-files-should-end-bill] over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. * Here is the interview [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/03/nx-s1-5697080/melinda-french-gates-reacts-to-ex-husband-bill-gates-being-mentioned-in-epstein-files] Melinda French Gates did with NPR * Here is the Wall Street Journal article [https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-gates-apologizes-to-foundation-staff-over-epstein-ties-67f39ef5] covering Bill Gates apology to Gates Foundation staff for his relationship with Epstein

The Luddite Club is For Everyone w/ Amanda Hanna-McLeer & Lucy Jackson

Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Hanna-McLeer and Lucy Jackson to discuss the story of The Luddite Club, from its beginnings as a high school organization to its pivot into a non-profit and growth into an international movement. Amanda Hanna-McLeer is a writer, educator, and director of The Luddite Club [https://www.ludditeclubdoc.com] documentary. Lucy Jackson is an early member of the Luddite Club [https://www.theludditeclub.org]. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Go to surfshark.com/SAVEUS [http://surfshark.com/SAVEUS] to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN, plus there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee or just punch in code SAVEUS at checkout! Also mentioned in this episode: * The original New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/style/teens-social-media.html] article featuring the club * Amanda shouts out Brian Merchant’s book The One Device [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780316546249] and Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781612198552] * The film discussed was John Carpenter’s 1988 sci-fi horror film They Live [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/]

What’s Driving the Push For Humanoid Robots w/ James Vincent

Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social implications if we were to achieve it. James Vincent is a UK-based journalist and author of Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781324066149]. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/saveus [https://incogni.com/saveus]. Promo Code SAVEUS Also mentioned in this episode: * James wrote about what kicking robots [https://harpers.org/archive/2025/12/kicking-robots-james-vincent-humanoids/] can tell us about the state of modern robotics * Rodney Brooks [https://rodneybrooks.com/why-todays-humanoids-wont-learn-dexterity/] makes a case for the difficulty in teaching robots human dexterity * Here is an in-depth look at what Agility Robotics [https://www.therobotreport.com/agility-robotics-explains-train-whole-body-control-foundation-model/] has been working on * Shout-out to the 2008 movie Sleep Dealer [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804529/] * Japanese convenience stores [https://restofworld.org/2025/philippines-offshoring-automation-tech-jobs/] are using robots run by offshore operators * This is what a toilet cleaning robot [https://www.therobotreport.com/primech-launches-upgraded-bathroom-cleaning-robot/] looks like

The Green Transition Needs So Much Mining w/ Thea Riofrancos

Paris Marx is joined by Thea Riofrancos to discuss the global struggle to move away from fossil fuels and the future of the green transition, including the limitations of existing supply chains, geopolitical tensions, and the tech industry's role in the growth of extractive industries. Thea Riofrancos is the author of Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism [https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781324036760]. She is also Associate Professor of Political Science at Providence College and Strategic Co-Director of the Climate and Community Institute. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus]. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: * Thea has written about Trump’s resource nationalism [https://www.ft.com/content/6ff94e8a-7918-4d0f-b0cc-bae8605ffb7b] and the resources needed for a green transition [https://thebaffler.com/latest/gimme-more-riofrancos]. * The Climate and Community Institute has done a lot of research on mining and transportation [https://climateandcommunity.org/transportation-mining/]. * Indonesia has been building out a ton of coal plants [https://news.mongabay.com/2025/04/indonesia-defies-global-coal-retreat-with-captive-plant-boom/] to power its nickel industry.