Radio Live - Podcasts - Keen On America - Joel Simon: How the Infodemic Is Making the World Sicker and Less Free

Joel Simon: How the Infodemic Is Making the World Sicker and Less Free

Author: Andrew Keen April 27, 2022 Duration: 34:28

Podcast episode

Keen On America

Keen On America is a sharp, fast-moving podcast hosted by author and commentator Andrew Keen. Known for asking impertinent questions, Keen cross-examines some of the world’s most thoughtful voices on politics, economics, history, culture, the environment, and technology. Each episode digs beneath headlines and hype to uncover what is really shaping America today and how those forces connect to global change. Listeners can expect challenging conversations rather than easy talking points, as Keen presses guests to explain not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. Whether you are trying to make sense of polarized politics, rapid technological disruption, or shifting social norms, this show offers a bracing, critical lens. Tune in and listen episodes of Keen On America to hear Andrew Keen interrogate the ideas and assumptions that define contemporary American life.

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now.

In this episode, Andrew is joined by Joel Simon, author of The Infodemic: How Censorship and Lies Made the World Sicker and Less Free.

Joel Simon is a fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia Journalism School and formerly the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. Before joining CPJ, he worked as a journalist in Latin America and California. He is the author of three books, including We Want to Negotiate: The Secret World of Hostages, Kidnapping, and Ransom, also from Columbia Global Reports. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

More episodes

Wall Street's Assault on Democracy: Georges Ugeux explains how today's financial markets exacerbate inequalities, create unsustainable government debt and foment authoritarianism

14.12.2023 Duration: 31:39

Episode 1890: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Georges Ugeux, author of WALL STREET'S ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY, about how today's financial markets exacerbate inequalities, increase government debt and foment authoritar…

Episode page

Getting to Know Ella Fitzgerald Through Her Music: Judith Tick on the canonical jazz singer who transformed both American song and culture

13.12.2023 Duration: 34:25

EPISODE 1889: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Judith Tick, author of BECOMING ELLA FITZGERALD, on the jazz singer who transformed both American song and cultureJudith Tick is professor emerita of music history at N…

Episode page

Five of the Non-Fictional Best: Bethanne Patrick picks her favorite non-fiction books for 2023

13.12.2023 Duration: 36:11

EPISODE 1888: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the LA Times book critic Bethanne Patrick about her five favorite non-fiction books of the yearBethanne Patrick maintains a storied place in the publishing industry as…

Episode page

How Not To Age: Dr Michael Greger offers a simple dietary approach to getting healthier as we get older

12.12.2023 Duration: 36:26

EPISODE 1887: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Michael Greger, author of HOW NOT TO AGE, about a dietary approach to getting healthier as we get olderMichael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times bestsel…

Episode page

Why it's time stop declaring war on everything: David Keen on the "Wreckonomics" of how we now find ourselves locked into so many failed economic, environmental and political policies

11.12.2023 Duration: 40:11

EPISODE 1886: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to David Keen, author of WRECKONOMICS, about why we find ourselves locked into so many failed and counterproductive economic, environmental and political policiesDavid Kee…

Episode page

How our brains mirror the history of human evolution: Min W. Jung on the neuroscience of imagination and abstract thinking

11.12.2023 Duration: 39:45

EPISODE 1885: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Min W. Jung, author of A BRAIN FOR INNOVATION, about the neuroscience of imagination and abstract thinking Min W. Jung is the author of A Brain for Innovation: The Neur…

Episode page

A Return to Normal Abnormality in Silicon Valley: Keith Teare on why even some of the most highly capitalized AI start-ups are now running out of runway and will not survive

11.12.2023 Duration: 33:17

EPISODE 1884: In our weekly KEEN ON wrap of tech news with Keith Teare, author of the THAT WAS THE WEEK newletter, Keith talks about why even some of the most highly capitalized AI start-ups are now running out of runway…

Episode page

In Praise of Ineffective Altruism: Amy Schiller on how philanthropy went wrong and how to fix it

09.12.2023 Duration: 33:56

EPISODE 1883: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Amy Schiller, author of THE PRICE OP HUMANITY, how philanthropy has gone wrong and how to fix itAmy Schiller is a writer and political philosopher. She is currently a V…

Episode page

Should we let go of Philip Roth? Hannah Gold gets into Roth's mind, his hands and his followers

09.12.2023 Duration: 36:22

EPISODE 1882: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Hannah Gold, author of "Your Mind's in the Hands of Everything: Letting go of Philip Roth", about Roth's mind, his hands and his followersHannah Gold lives in New York…

Episode page

In Defense of Trash Talk: Rafi Kohan on Muhammed Ali, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Elon Musk and why talking smack is as old as the Bible

08.12.2023 Duration: 38:28

Episode 1881: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Rafi Kohan, author of TRASH TALK, about Muhammed Ali, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Elon Musk and why talking smack is as old as the bibleRafi Kohan is an Atlanta-based wr…

Episode page

Why even the smartest machine vision won't eliminate bias: Jill Walker Rettberg on how algorithms are changing the way we see and are seen by the world

07.12.2023 Duration: 37:07

EPISODE 1880: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jill Walker Rettberg, author of MACHINE VISION, about how algorithms are changing the way we see and are seen by the worldJill Walker Rettberg is Professor of Digital C…

Episode page

When Language Was Up For Grabs: Ben Lerner warns against falling in love once again with the promise of digital technology to democratize language

06.12.2023 Duration: 40:42

EPISODE 1879: In the KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Ben Lerner, the Poetry Editor of Harper's Magazine, about the dangers of falling in love once again with the supposed democratizing power of digital technologyBen Lerner…

Episode page

The First Neo-Liberal or the Last Conservative? Jennifer Burns on Milton Friedman, the most controversial American economist of the 20th century

30.11.2023 Duration: 44:42

EPISODE 1878: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jennifer Burns, author of THE LAST CONSERVATIVE, the most controversial American economist of the 20th centuryJennifer Burns is an Associate Professor of History at Sta…

Episode page

Why American humor isn't really being cancelled by the woke police: Kliph Nesteroff's history of showbiz and its perennial culture wars

29.11.2023 Duration: 35:49

EPISODE 1877: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kliph Nesteroff, author of OUTRAGEOUS, about the history of American showbiz and its perennial culture warsKliph Nesteroff was born and raised in a pacifist community i…

Episode page

Why all great geniuses are also rebels: Bulent Atalay on how Shakespeare, Da Vinci, Newton, Beethoven and Einstein all shared similarly transgressive minds

28.11.2023 Duration: 33:02

EPISODE 1876: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Bulent Atalay, author of BEYOND GENIUS, about how Shakespeare, Da Vinci, Newton, Beethoven and Einstein all shared the same kind of transgressive mindsDescribed by the…

Episode page