Apocalyptic Optimist Podcast
Real talk about what’s broken and how to fix it.
What happens when a global superpower starts dismantling its own scientific infrastructure to protect a dying industry? In this episode, Dr. Dana Fisher sits down with acclaimed Harvard historian Dr. Naomi Oreskes to map out the terrifying parallels between current American rollbacks in science and historic authoritarian regimes. They break down the mechanics of modern disinformation networks, explain how market forces are winning the green transition anyway, and reveal why Big Oil's recent political bribes are actually a sign of sheer panic. Forget passive "hope"—this episode is a call to turn appropriate, targeted anger into the fuel that drives real systemic climate action and pushes back against authoritarianism.
Political power isn’t what you think…The algorithms thrive on your anger, keeping you stuck in a cycle of doomscrolling, posting, and feeling utterly powerless. Comedian, writer, and labor activist Adam Conover (creator of Adam Ruins Everything and The G Word) knows we’ve been looking at political change all wrong.
In the first episode of the Apocalypric Optimist Podcast, Dr. Dana R. Fisher speaks with Rachel O’Leary Carmona and Tamika Middleton from the Women’s March on what we can learn from the Free America Walkout.
In Episode 2 of the Apocalyptic Optimist Podcast , Dana talks with Dr. Rashawn Ray about the realities of building solidarity in a deeply divided moment. From his work with communities-of-color and police departments to learning from the Black Lives Matter movement, Dr. Ray breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and how people can show up as more effective racial justice advocates right now.