Radio Live - Podcasts - Keen On America - On our nostalgia for vinyl records and authoritative political leaders

On our nostalgia for vinyl records and authoritative political leaders

Author: Andrew Keen January 2, 2024 Duration: 36:26

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.

Happy New Year everyone!

Substack are automating the transcripts now of video interviews. It’s free (at the moment), so no apologies if the transcripts are worthless. But more to come on this front in 2024.

I enjoyed listening to Kunzru. Hope you will too.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

More episodes

The Magical Realist United States: Jazmine Ulloa on El Paso as America’s New Ellis Island

12.03.2026 Duration: 36:11

“It’s about blood. I cover a lot of bloodshed in the book, but I also talk about a different kind of blood: blood that ties, blood that binds families across time and distance.” — Jazmine UlloaKristi Noem is gone. Under…

Episode page

Move Fast and Break the World: Jonathan Taplin on Trump as an Interregnum

11.03.2026 Duration: 36:26

“This is not the beginning of a new right-wing revanche fascist era; this is the end of something. But the problem is we can’t get to the new world because the new world is too filled with problems.” — Jonathan TaplinTru…

Episode page

So Are All Immigrants Manchurian Candidates? Peter Schweizer on How Mexico, China, and the Muslim Brotherhood Are Weaponizing Immigration

10.03.2026 Duration: 28:33

“Fidel Castro told his aides, ‘We’re going to fill his arms with shit.’ That is an example of weaponised migration. What we’re experiencing now is on a thermonuclear scale.” — Peter SchweizerIs best selling writer Peter…

Episode page

Gatsby Without the Romance: Michael Wolff on Why Trump and Epstein Are the Same Person

09.03.2026 Duration: 32:34

“I have always said that they are the same person. And the drama of this story is that one ends up dead in the darkest prison in America, and the other in the White House.” — Michael WolffA few days ago we had Jason Pack…

Episode page

How to Reclaim the Internet: Olivier Sylvain on Platforms and Policy

08.03.2026 Duration: 43:05

“The fatal error is ours. Legislators set out a regulatory regime that keeps regulation at bay. The only other industry with a similar protection is the gun industry.” — Olivier SylvainThere are certain words in book tit…

Episode page

No AI Good Guys? Andrew & Keith Ask If Altman Amodei, & Hegseth Have All Failed the Leadership Test

07.03.2026 Duration: 43:37

“They’re both naughty boys in the playground, leveraging the absence of clarity to their own advantage. Neither one of them is an authoritative leader of opinion with the interests of everyone at heart.” — Keith TeareWha…

Episode page

What Would Daniel Ellsberg Say About Iran? His Son Michael on America’s Most Famous Whistleblower

07.03.2026 Duration: 39:20

“All my life, I’ve absolutely opposed all terrorism by anyone under any circumstances. I define terrorism as the deliberate killing of noncombatants.” — Daniel Ellsberg, October 2001Last week we had Tom Wells on the show…

Episode page

From the Muckers to the Mullahs: Christopher Clark on the Lessons of History

05.03.2026 Duration: 51:13

“I don’t think we’re sleepwalking, because people have striven to be as thoughtful as possible. In some ways, they’ve been too thoughtful. We’re paralysed, in fact, by our risk awareness.” — Christopher ClarkIt’s 1830 in…

Episode page

How To Fix Big Med: Halle Tecco and Robin Blackstone on American Healthcare and its Discontents

04.03.2026 Duration: 1:07:37

“We should all be able to look at the numbers and agree that this is not sustainable and that whatever we’ve been doing is not working. Democrats have had their chance, and Republicans have had their chance, and it’s onl…

Episode page

The Coming Storm: Odd Arne Westad Asks If We're On the Brink of World War Three

04.03.2026 Duration: 41:52

“If we let things continue in the direction that they are taking now, I think it is more likely than not that we will end up in some kind of Great Power war within the foreseeable future.” — Arne WestadThis conversation…

Episode page

Racism as Entertainment: Rhae Lynn Barnes on Darkology and American Culture

03.03.2026 Duration: 34:55

“When you use humor to degrade people, you can get away with it—but you’re also doing something that’s completely devastating.” — Rhae Lynn BarnesDonald Trump’s recent retweet of Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as ape…

Episode page

A Chosen Land for a Chosen People? Matthew Avery Sutton on How Christianity Made America and America Remade Christianity

02.03.2026 Duration: 38:01

“If you disestablish Christianity, then Christian leaders need to make Christianity a consumer product. They need to give the American people something they want.” — Matthew Avery SuttonOver the years, Keen On has done m…

Episode page

American Yellow Vests? Manissa Maharawal on the Fight Against Tech-Led Gentrification in San Francisco

01.03.2026 Duration: 38:28

“We keep telling you there’s an eviction crisis, so organize with us. Feel free to come into our meetings. Feel free to learn about the lives of people who have been here for a long time.” — Manissa MaharawalYesterday we…

Episode page

Is Anthropic Wrong? Andrew vs. Keith on Amodei vs. Trump

28.02.2026 Duration: 40:59

"He's blundered here. He's trying to set policy for the government on the use of AI through a sales contract." — Keith Teare on Dario AmodeiThere's only one story this week: Dario Amodei's refusal to let the Department o…

Episode page

Why You Can't Wear a Yellow Vest Anymore: Ida Susser on the Battle for Democracy in France

28.02.2026 Duration: 36:58

"You can't wear a yellow vest on a demonstration anymore because you get arrested as soon as the police see you." — Ida SusserIn November 2018, something strange happened in France. People from the urban periphery—truck…

Episode page