What Could Go Right?

What if instead of being on the brink of disaster, we’re on the cusp of a better world? No one can deny the challenges the world faces, from pandemics to climate change to authoritarianism. But pessimism and despair are too easy a response. Each week, Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell and Executive Director Emma Varvaloucas convene a diverse panel of experts to discuss the central issues of our era, including sustainability, polarization, work, and the economy, and make the case for a brighter future. They emerge from their conversations with a counterintuitive but informed take: progress is on its way.

What Could Go Right? is a society podcast hosted by The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, with 206 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas hosts What Could Go Right?, a society show with 206 episodes published.

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  What Could Go Right?

  AI Designed a Cancer Therapy, Cyborg Bugs Are Saving Lives, and Farmers Are Fighting Back

  Sep 7, 202619 min

  What if you never have to wear a pink ribbon again? For years, experts called the medical dream of a personalized cancer vaccine impossible. Now, a new therapy written by an algorithm is making it happen. We're also talking about how Australian cyborg cockroaches could come to the rescue at natural disasters, and we get into the alliance that brought a California farming empire to its knees and created a historic labor movement. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

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  What Could Go Right?

  Alien Civilizations, Mars Colonization & Humanity in the Age of AI | With Dr. Dakotah Tyler

  Sep 2, 202649 min

  Is interest in space dying, or are we on the brink of our greatest interstellar discoveries? In this episode of What Could Go Right, Zachary Karabell sits down with Dr. Dakotah Tyler, an astronomer and astrophysicist who pivoted from a promising college football career to unraveling the mysteries of the universe.They discuss the existential threats and promises of large language models, questioning whether tech leaders can manipulate human thought and if our innate drive to explore is being outsourced to bots.They also explore the statistical probability of discovering alien life and why complex organisms might be a rare cosmic anomaly. Dr. Tyler brings a grounded scientific perspective to trending space topics, dissecting the cultural impact of the Artemis moon missions and the validity of UFO sightings.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgSubscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetworkFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrkSubscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

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  What Could Go Right?

  Introducing: The Ongoing Transformation

  Aug 31, 202625 min

  This week, we want to share a podcast from our friends at Issues in Science & Technology. It’s called The Ongoing Transformation and it looks at how science and society are continually transforming each other. From countless ads to outright scams, spam is an annoying constant of online life. But does it have to be that way? In this episode, Rebecca Coyne and Jason Lloyd examine the history of spam. And take a look at efforts to address spam in the early 2000s may offer lessons for how we might regulate technologies such as artificial intelligence today. Listen to more episodes and subscribe to The Ongoing Transformation wherever you get your podcasts.

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  What Could Go Right?

  Social Media Is Making Politics Feel Worse Than It Really Is | With David Pakman

  Aug 26, 20261h 1m

  David Pakman is the founder and host of The David Pakman Show, one of the most watched independent progressive podcasts and online political shows. He's built an audience of over 6.7 million subscribers across social media platforms through calm, fact-based analysis and critical thinking. David joins host Zachary Karabell to discuss his new book, Pay Attention, coming out on September 22. They dive into the missed messaging opportunities for the left, the ongoing culture wars that lend themselves to clickbait headlines, and strategies to expand the progressive political tent within the limitations of the American two-party system. David offers his perspective on building an audience while protecting his values and integrity, and why the future of American political discourse might actually be brighter than the headlines suggest.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgSubscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetworkFollow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrkSubscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

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  What Could Go Right?

  1. The Crime Wave Is Over. Why Does Nobody Believe It?

  Aug 24, 202617 min

  The media is constantly telling us that danger is everywhere. Between true crime binges and political rants, we're led to believe that our streets are a war zone. However, recent statistics released by the FBI tell a completely different story. Plus, we'll get into why video game fans have the resume the FAA is looking for. Then in our this week in history segment, we’re taking a look at a bad deal that sparked a massive non-violent protest in the form of a human chain. Join Emma Varvaloucas on this episode of the What Could Go Right progress report to hear the full story. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

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