Being Team Human in Crazy Town

Being Team Human in Crazy Town

Author: Post Carbon Institute March 25, 2026 Duration: 54:29

Have you ever had that feeling in your gut, when you suddenly realize that the person you’re talking with might have a screw or two loose? What about when you’re the one others are trying to slowly back away from at the punch bowl? The question of who’s the real nut often arises for us collapse-aware folks living here in Crazy Town. Since Mr. Peanut is no longer returning their phone calls, Rob, Jason, and Asher invite Douglas Rushkoff, media theorist, professor, and host of the Team Human Podcast to answer the question. In this far ranging conversation, they discuss why “leveling down” might be the best strategy for navigating late stage capitalism and bringing ourselves back into right relationship with each other and the planet. Originally recorded on 2/24/26.

Sources/Links/Notes:

  1. Team Human
  2. Douglas Rushkoff YouTube Channel
  3. Douglas Rushkoff, “You Are Not Crazy,Substack, January 7, 2026
  4. Douglas Rushkoff, “Survival of the Richest,Medium, July 5, 2018
  5. Jesse Armstrong, Mountainhead, 2025 film
  6. Dan Fogelman, Paradise, Hulu, 2025 series
  7. Prospera
  8. Neom
  9. California Forever
  10. Jack Manno, Privileged Goods, 1999 book


Related episode(s) of Crazy Town:

  1. Tech Bros on Acid with Douglas Rushkoff (Bonus episode of Crazy Town)
  2. It’s All Paradox with Douglas Rushkoff (Bonus episode of Crazy Town)



Trying to make sense of a world that often feels like it's lost the plot? That's the space where Crazy Town lives. Hosted by Asher, Rob, and Jason from the Post Carbon Institute, this fortnightly conversation navigates the disorienting headlines and deeper systemic crises-from climate chaos and ecological overshoot to the relentless engine of runaway capitalism-with a necessary blend of sharp analysis and dark humor. They’re not just diagnosing the "Great Unraveling" of our social and environmental fabric; they’re actively exploring what a transition to a genuinely sustainable and equitable society could look like, all while trying to keep their own wits about them. This podcast is for anyone who looks at the status quo and senses the profound delusions holding it together, offering listeners a mix of grounded understanding and candid discussion that’s as engaging as it is urgent. Tune in for conversations that are both a reality check and a search for a viable path forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 165

Crazy Town
Podcast Episodes
Bonus: New Year's Dissolutions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:16
Asher, Jason, and Rob reflect on 2023 – a year filled to the brim with Crazy Townisms like the COP climate conference being held in Dubai, an anti-aging nutbag who parasitizes his own son, and the hijinks of the world’s…
Bonus: Vanilla Andreessen, Pygmy Marmosets, and Hi-Tech Delusions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:03
The most vomit-inducing document of 2023 has to be the "Techno-Optimist Manifesto," written (oh so obviously) by a billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Join Jason, Rob, and Asher if you feel like sharing in som…
Bonus: Bundyville and Stories that Need to Be Told with Leah Sottile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:05
Investigative journalist Leah Sottile writes articles teeming with insights, and she produces and hosts podcasts filled with ah-ha moments. Rob tries not to sound like too much of a fanboy as he interviews Leah about pol…
Bonus Riff: Infinite, Unlimited, Forever - Water in the Desert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
Just how much has the extractivist growth mindset come to dominate Phoenix and other cities in the desert Southwest of the United States? Prepare to turn your indignation meter up to 11 as Jason, Rob, and Asher consider…
Bonus: Holding the Fire - Indigenous Voices on the Great Unraveling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:11
We are pleased to share the new podcast from Post Carbon Institute, Holding the Fire. Award-winning journalist and author Dahr Jamail hosts in-depth interviews with leaders from around the world to uncover Indigenous way…
Bonus: Going Wild with Rae Wynn-Grant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
Wildlife ecologist and communicator extraordinaire Rae Wynn-Grant visits Crazy Town to talk human-wildlife interactions, the social side of environmentalism, diversity and equity in the sciences, and ideas for young peop…
Bonus: Bagdhad Bob Visits Climate Town [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:23
What do Saddam Hussein’s information minister and the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board have in common? Hint: it starts with a “d,” ends with “enial,” and isn’t just a river in Egypt. A new and virulent strain of cli…
Bonus: Choose Your Own Adventure in the Great Unraveling [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:38
After hearing a story of woe on the streets of Portland, Oregon, Jason, Rob, and Asher cover the four critical ways of cultivating personal resilience to navigate the Great Unraveling. The report we reference several tim…
The Elon Musk Episode about Elon Musk Brought to You by Elon Musk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:45
Meet Elon Musk, the Muskian mogul who Elon Musks his way to the pinnacle of Muskitude. Please share this episode with your friends and start a conversation.Warning: This podcast occasionally uses spicy language.For an en…