458 episodes

Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future Slate Podcasts

    • Technology
    • 4.4 • 223 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Bird Flu—It’s in Milk?

    Bird Flu—It’s in Milk?

    Bird flu isn’t new, you may even remember past outbreaks. But showing up in milk? 

    Is America ready if it leaps to spreading among humans?

    Guest: Katelyn Jetelina, epidemiologist, senior advisor to the CDC 

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 25 min
    The Failures of ‘Organic’ Farming

    The Failures of ‘Organic’ Farming

    There are regulations regarding how farm animals are transported, how they’re auctioned, how they’re slaughtered—but when they’re living on the farm? That’s where things get cloudy. 

    Guest: Annie Lowrey, journalist writing on politics and economic policy for The Atlantic.

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.

    Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Patrick Fort, and Anna Phillips.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 27 min
    So ... Is TikTok Banned?

    So ... Is TikTok Banned?

    The TikTok ban that has been floating around Washington since the last administration has been signed into law. What does that mean for users, creators and the court battles ahead?

    Guest: 
    Louise Matsakis, reporter covering tech and China.
    Dillon White, TikToker under the handle @dadchats

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 22 min
    The Internet Archive Endangered

    The Internet Archive Endangered

    From the Wayback Machine to the mass-digitization of the history of Aruba, the Internet Archive is a non-profit doing valuable work. But some of its other projects—a pandemic-era lending library and the ongoing digitalization of 78 rpm records—have led to lawsuits now threatening the future of this repository of the past. 

    Guest: Kate Knibbs, senior writer at Wired.

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 23 min
    What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?

    What’s Driving Tesla’s Layoffs?

    Tesla’s market cap has dropped. The company had its biggest round of layoffs ever. The Cybertruck doesn’t seem to be taking off. And Elon’s posting through it. Is Tesla in serious trouble?

    Guest: Dana Hull, Bloomberg reporter and contributor to the podcast Elon, Inc.  

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 23 min
    Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics?

    Is America Ready for Legal Psychedelics?

    How the semi-legalization of marijuana has drawn a road map for legalizing psychedelics—and also provided a list of pitfalls to be avoided. 

    Guest: Jane C. Hu, science journalist and author of the newsletter The Microdose.

    Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
223 Ratings

223 Ratings

semipenguin ,

I love this podcast, but …

It’s played in What Next? also, so I decided to unsubscribe, so I wouldn’t have the same episode show up on my feed. Lizzie O’Leary is awesome. I used to enjoy hearing her in Marketplace. I’m happy to here her again

FuuuuuuckThisGame ,

Too much ads

Sick

ASobering ,

🔥🤖🔥🤖🔥

This show has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I'm consistently impressed by the engaging conversations that Lizzie leads, and the insightful content in each and every episode. I truly learn something new every time I listen!

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