The Nerd Reich and the War on Democracy with Gil Durán

The Nerd Reich and the War on Democracy with Gil Durán

Author: Caitlin Begg August 24, 2026 Duration: 50:08

Social media was once sold to us as "fun"—years later, the Big Tech leaders who sold us on it flaunt their authoritarian alignments.

Gil Durán and I discuss his new book, "⁠The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy"⁠.

We speak about what "technofascism" is and its origins; "The Nerd Reich" and its similarity to the Third Reich; the "religion of technicity"; Gil's permanent ban from X and suppression on Meta platforms which drew headlines; Peter Thiel (ranging from "Zero to One" to his current obsession with the antichrist to his relationship with JD Vance); fringe philosophers' impact on Big Tech leaders & the U.S. government; DOGE and RAGE; Palantir and 9/11; the challenge of imagination in today's world; how professionals can navigate the job market with so many open roles coming from Big Tech; whether it is possible to work in Big Tech and still make a difference; and more.

Gil Durán is a San Francisco-based journalist covering tech extremism.

⁠⁠Buy the book⁠⁠

⁠More about Gil Durán⁠

⁠The Nerd Reich Newsletter⁠


There's a quiet but persistent feeling that something essential is getting lost in our digital shuffle. Progression to Analog is a space to examine that feeling, hosted by sociologist and Authentic Social founder Caitlin Begg. This isn't a nostalgic retreat, but a thoughtful exploration of how reintroducing analog elements-whether in communication, work, or leisure-can reshape our daily experience toward something more intentional and, ultimately, more human. Each conversation in this podcast moves beyond simple tool-swapping to ask deeper questions about presence, connection, and the architecture of our attention. You'll hear discussions that weave sociological insight with practical reflection, considering how the textures of a less-mediated life can influence our relationships, creativity, and sense of self. New episodes arrive every Monday, offering a regular pause to consider the pace and quality of the everyday. Tune in for a series that treats the analog not as an antiquated concept, but as a meaningful progression.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 46

Hypercommunication
Podcast Episodes
Could you attend a concert without documenting it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:52
I explore how phones have shifted the modern concert experience, as well as attending a concert in 2024 without documenting it. I also explore artists' and music lovers' opinions on the matter. Some of the references fro…
Coincé dans l’écran—STUCK IN THE SCREEN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:28
Just as hostages affected by Stockholm Syndrome may rationalize their captor’s actions, we often rationalize inappropriate or manipulative behaviors related to screens. This is a phenomenon that I call “coincé dans l’écr…
Blocked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:00
I explore blocking from a sociological perspective. References: ⁠⁠Block Party: How Blocking Someone Became a Dating Power Move⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Psychopolitics⁠⁠ by Byung-Chul Han ⁠⁠Simulacra and Simulation⁠⁠ by Jean Baudrillard Episo…
AI Readiness with Amsterdam-based Rob van der Veer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:37
In this episode, Amsterdam-based Senior Principal at Software Improvement Group (SIG) Rob van der Veer and I discuss AI readiness. Rob is an experienced technologist, advisor, successful entrepreneur, and keynote speaker…
Hi from Budapest! MOME & Brain Bar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:24
In this mini episode, I speak about the contents of my ⁠masterclass at MOME⁠ (an art an design university in Budapest) and ⁠session at Brain Bar⁠ (Europe's largest festival on the future). Full-length season two episodes…
Season Two: Winter 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:55
In this season two trailer, I share milestones and insights from season one including: ​Several keynotes, seminars, and talks across the U.S. and Europe, centered around Progression to Analog and related ideas ​Upcoming…
Reflecting on Our Relationship with Tech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
Book recommendations; out-of-print technology magazines across nine decades; the spectacular and the everyday; what's next? (in terms of our relationship with tech); general reflections after getting home from doing one…