The Mythos of Technology and Capitalism w/ Jathan Sadowski

The Mythos of Technology and Capitalism w/ Jathan Sadowski

Author: Multitude May 28, 2025 Duration: 56:06
Technology and capitalism? In your mythology podcast? It’s more likely than you’d think! We’re joined by Jathan Sadowski, professor and podcaster, to discuss the myth of inevitability, the modern Eleusinian Mysteries of Silicon Valley, and why technologists need to read better sci-fi.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of capitalism, US politics, AI, racism, slave labor, and animal sacrifice.  Guest Jathan Sadowski is a Senior Lecturer in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab // Department of Human Centred-Computing // Faculty of Information Technology // Monash University // Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of The Mechanic and the Luddite: A Ruthless Criticism of Technology and Capitalism. He is also the cohost of a weekly podcast on technology and political economy: This Machine Kills. Housekeeping - Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests’ books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books - Call to Action: Get our new Old Wives’ Tale Teller Corduroy Hat! - Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344 Sponsors - Shaker & Spoon is a subscription cocktail service that helps you learn how to make hand-crafted cocktails right at home. Get $20 off your first box at shakerandspoon.com/cool Find Us Online - Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com - Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast - Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch - Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast - Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com - Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast - Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com - Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387 Cast & Crew - Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin - Editor: Bren Frederick - Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod - Artwork: Allyson Wakeman - Multitude: multitude.productions About Us Spirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grab a glass and settle in for Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore, a weekly podcast from Multitude that blends humor with deep dives into the world's oldest stories. This isn't a dry lecture; it's a conversational and often hilarious exploration where each episode pairs a legendary tale with a thematic drink. You'll hear about familiar gods and heroes from Greek or Norse myths, sure, but the show truly shines when it uncovers lesser-known folklore from cultures across the globe, stories of tricksters, ghosts, and creatures you've never encountered. The hosts approach these ancient narratives with genuine curiosity and a comedic touch, making themes of love, betrayal, creation, and chaos feel both timeless and freshly relevant. Listening to this podcast feels like joining a fun, insightful chat between friends who are just as likely to laugh at a god's misadventure as they are to ponder its cultural significance. New stories are served over ice every Wednesday, offering a perfect midweek escape into the weird and wonderful foundations of human imagination. It’s the kind of show where you might learn about a Filipino vampire one week and a Scottish selkie the next, all while getting a great drink recommendation. The result is a uniquely engaging mix of comedy, history, and culture that demystifies mythology without ever losing its sense of awe.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore
Podcast Episodes
Feast of Fools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:01
It’s the end of the year, so let’s make some resolutions - to turn the world upside down! So we’re taking inspiration from the Medieval festival known as the Feast of Fools. We talk about its origins, how it was celebrat…
Ghost Child’s Screen Time | Your Urban Legends 115 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:56
We should be telling more ghost stories in the winter time. That’s why we’re coming to you with a whole new urban legends episode, featuring mischievous ghost children, haunted dorms with a mysterious pull, and a grandpa…
Appalachian Folklore w/ Chuck Corra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:34
Appalachia is a hotbed of spooky things - ghost stories, UFO sightings, well known cryptids. But what is it about this region that makes it so mysterious? We’re joined by Chuck Corra of the Appodlachia podcast to discuss…
The Kallikantzaros [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
Ah, Christmastime - presents, feasting, and… little goblins?! We explore this Greek folktale of the Kallikantzaroi, mischievous goblins that come to earth during the 12 Days of Christmas to cause shenanigans. Could your…
Jack Frost & Winter Spirits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:35
Do you feel the cold weather nipping at your nose? What’s up with that? Is it Jack Frost, like a lot of the stories and songs say? Or is it another embodiment of winter, like Frau Hole, Boreas, or Morozko? You’ll have to…
Say Hi to Uncle Rob (Ghost) | Your Urban Legends 114 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:30
There’s something about hearing a ghost story told aloud that makes it 1000x scarier! That’s why this episode definitely has us scared! From haunted schools to haunted bedrooms (both in the past and the present!), we’re…
Irish Horror & Disability w/ Grace Daly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:25
Sometimes the most ‘mundane’ horror is the scariest, as we learn from author Grace Daly. She joins us to talk about the intersection of medical horror, comedy, and Irish folklore, as well as provides some great context f…
Dark Academia & The Scholomance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:46
Where did the Dark Academia aesthetic come from with it’s Gothic architecture and dark libraries? What if we told you there is a school, straight from Transylvanian folklore, that might have spawned the whole idea? And t…
Will-o'-the-Wisp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:21
Do you see that floating light just off in the distance in the dark woods? It has many names - the jack-o-lantern, the Min Min lights, the Naga Fireballs, but it’s perhaps best known as the will-o-the-wisp: a mysterious,…
Halloween Double Feature | Your Urban Legends 113 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:41
Since it’s the week of Halloween, we’re breaking out a DOUBLE FEATURE URBAN LEGENDS EPISODE. There’s hauntings. There’s watery footprints. There’s a mysterious pit. Plus, it ends up being a haunted smells-centered episod…