PCMag - The Convo with Evan Dashevsky

pundit FAREED ZAKARIA on the collusion of technology and politics

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:40:45 +0000

The brilliant Fareed Zakaria (bestselling author, Washington Post columnist, and host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS") stopped by our offices for a wide-ranging Convo about politics and other global forces are affected by technology. If you are at all interested (or even a little bit anxious) about where the world is going, before to check this interview out. Fareed is an amazingly fair, decent, and articulate dude.

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futurist comedian' BARATUNDE THURSTON on the promise and peril of technology

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:39:24 +0000

You may know Baratunde for his NYT-bestselling book "How to Be Black," for his work as director of digital for The Onion, his time as a digital producer for "The Daily Show," his column over at "Fast Company," or many many many appearances on various talkshows and podcasts. He stopped by our offices to talk about the promise and perils of the Internet. This was a super fun and super informative. Check it out!

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astronaut SCOTT PARAZYNSKI on the future of space

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:35:28 +0000

Former NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski (with five missions under his belt) has done A LOT. He's climbed to the summit of Mount Everest (the first person to make it there and into space), competed as an Olympic-level luger, and started his own machine-body interface company (just to name a few--seriously, this guy will make you feel bad about your life decisions). He stopped by PCMag's offices to talk about the future of humans in space and his new memoir The Sky Below.

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BILL NYE!

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:48:49 +0000

Bill Nye, America's science guy stopped by our offices to talk about how nerds created the modern world, keep it running, and will probably be the ones to save it from itself. Check out this wide-ranging conversation about the environment, space, and the future!

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PCMag senior analyst JEFF WILSON on the future of eSports

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:35:18 +0000

PCMag's own Jeff Wilson stopped by the Convo to talk about his fantastic digital cover story "How I learned to Stop Hating and Love eSports" about the multi-billion dollar global phenomenon that is competitive video gaming.

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functional apparel designer DANI RYAN talks about the future of soft robotic exosuits

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 18:17:06 +0000

We had a great Convo with functional apparel designer Dani Ryan about her work with Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. Her team has partnered with DARPA to create a soft-robotic exosuit designed to augment human motion and (more importantly to the military) help soldiers carry heavy loads over long distances. However, this same technology might soon be used to help stroke patients and others regain the ability to walk.

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Orange Is The New Black's JESSICA PIMENTEL on acting, tech, and metal

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 19:55:40 +0000

Actress Jessica Pimentel ("Maria Ruiz" on Netflix' Orange Is the new Black) stopped by PCMag's offices to talk about the phenomenon that is OITNB, her secret techy past, and her heavy metal extracurricular (also, we spend some time hating on Apple).

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"anti-disciplinary" artist, ANI LIU wants to combine art and emerging technologies

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:25:09 +0000

Ani Liu is a recent graduate from MIT's real-life magic factory better known as "The Media Lab." There, she has created some very cool, weird, fascinating projects that combine elements from VR, brain-machine interfaces, genetics, and botany. She came in to talk about the the intersection between science, culture, and emerging technologies. This was a fascinating and fun interview. Check it out!

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Year Million executive producer DAVE O'CONNOR on predicting the crazy, scary, weird future

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 20:49:15 +0000

Year Million is a new series on NatGeo which uses elements of science fiction and actual science to attempt to predict how technology will affect our species one hundred, one thousand, and even one million years in the future. Using modern technological trends, the series makes the argument that in the distant future, humans inevitably become immortal interplanetary cyborgs (seriously--there is actual science behind all of it). The series is a dramatization of the super future, but splices in commentary from experts like Peter Diamandis, Brian Green, and Michio Kaku. We spoke with the series executive producer Dave O'Connor about the weird future that is (potentially) waiting for us.

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adventure cameraman PAUL "MUNGO" MUNGEAM on hunting real-life monsters in the wild

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 21:10:36 +0000

If you don't know him, Paul is the longtime cameraman for Bear Grylls, but he has stepped in front of the camera for a new show on Animal Planet, "Expedition Mungo." In his new series, Paul travels around the world (often into remote and dangerous locales) to search for and film legendary creatures which he's heard about during his travels.

He claims that he actually managed to film one of these creatures later in the season (but wouldn't tell us which one). Anyways, he was a super cool guy filled with some super cool stories. (And you know we asked him about which tech and drones he brings out into the field.) Check this one out!

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author CHUCK KLOSTERMAN on how tech reinvents culture and humanity

Mon, 22 May 2017 17:04:09 +0000

Writer, essayist, and author of multiple bestselling books (Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs; But What if We're Wrong?; Fargo Rock City) stopped by PCMag's offices to have a couple of beers, talk about his latest book, and discuss everything from tech's inevitable influence on culture, art, and politics to the downside of digital democratization to which Metallica album is best (he says Master of Puppets). Don't miss this sprawling super-sized Convo!

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actress MAYIM BIALIK of The Big Bang Theory talks about being a scientist on (and off) camera

Tue, 16 May 2017 19:53:03 +0000

The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik doesn't just play a scientist on TV, she has an actual PhD in neuroscience which she earned after her stint on the hit 90s show, Blossom. She stopped by our studios to talk about her new book Girling Up, which makes science accessible to tween and teen girls; her varied career; how she goes to battle with trolls online; how she has worked to overcome anxiety; and her love of top-shelf Scotch. She was super awesome and has all the smarts! Check this one out!

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activist, pundit VAN JONES talks about making Silicon Valley more diverse

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 19:40:29 +0000

CNN commentator, former Obama administration "Green Jobs" advisor, and founder of Dream Corps, Van Jones stopped by the offices to talk about his #YesWeCode initiative to make the tech industry more diverse. This was an AMAZING interview that veered off into some big topics (as it always does) including the root of global populist movements on the left and right, how technology has exasperated our extreme partisanship, and the time he completely geeked out when meeting Prince for the first time. Also he called (the newly jobless) Bill O'Reilly a "dick"! Check this one out!

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Craigslist founder CRAIG NEWMARK wants to save journalism

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:18:01 +0000

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark has partnered with Facebook and the CUNY school of journalism to spearhead the "News Integrity Initiate" to help news consumers make informed judgments about the news they read and share. In other words, Craig wants to help save the world from Fake News! In this episode of The Convo, we jump into the problems journalism faces and how technology can be used to fix them. And of course, we talk about the history, present, and future of everyone's favorite listing site: Craigslist.

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author DR. AMY HASINOFF on making sexting safer

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 18:19:22 +0000

We talked to Dr. Amy Hasinoff, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver and author of the book Sexting Panic about America's favorite pastime: SEXTING! The polls show that not only are a clear majority of young people (sexually active teens and young adults) sending out pictures of their bits and pieces, but all demographics--right on up to seniors--are partaking. Why? It's really fun! But it's also not without some risk. We talk about the steps people can take to protect their privacy, as well as how the law and Big Tech can adapt to accommodate this phenomenon that is not going away.

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author JAMIE LENDINO on the impact Atari computers had on the world

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 16:36:21 +0000

We spoke with ExtremeTech editor-in-chief Jamie Lendino about his new book: _Breakout: How Atari 8-Bit Computers Defined a Generation_, which details the rise, impact, and fall of Atari 8-bit computers. Atari computers weren't the first home PCs nor were they necessarily the best of the time, but they were without-a-doubt one of the most important.

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VP of Software Research at General Electric, DR. COLIN PARRIS on building a real Skynet

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:50:57 +0000

Skynet Is Actually Real (But Hopefully Won't Try to Destroy Us)

In this episode of The Convo, we speak with Dr. Colin Parris, VP of General Electric's software research division. We talk about the cutting edge of AI, the invisible force that literally keeps civilization running. New "digital twin" technologies show how advanced AI is even developing what could be described as "an imagination." We talk about how society should prepare for a new world in which machines take on more and more responsibilities. Get ready, humans.

Mr. Robot Writer / Producer KOR ADANA (From the Archives)

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 21:18:11 +0000

We talked with Kor Adana, one of the writers on the show _Mr. Robot_, who helps give the show some technological realism. Kor's real life actually somewhat mirrors the show's fictional protagonist, Elliot. He was a teenage hacker who got in trouble with the law and became a white hat for hire before becoming a writer.

AEI fellow, CNBC correspondent, JAMES PETHOKOUKIS

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 20:40:43 +0000

We had a fascinating conversation with tech/economy/politics writer, James Pethokoukis about how robots and algorithms are (probably) going to replace the need for a human workforce (at some point). We dig into the weeds about what possible solutions civilization should consider when confronting this sea change: a universal basic income (UBI); negative income tax; or shortening the work week to four days. (And, yeah, we also talked about his time as a Jeopardy champion and got to try and answer his winning final Jeopardy question.)

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TED Talk "all-star," JUAN ENRIQUEZ

Tue, 21 Feb 2017 20:53:05 +0000

This was a fascinating talk about human evolution, past and FUTURE. Enriquez details, among other things how humans actually have four genomes; why the obesity problem has spread to wild birds;why autism may be a symptom of the IT economy; why blue eyes are going extinct in the US; and, you know, how we might live forever.

Director of Columbia University's Creative Machines Lab, DR. HOD LIPSON

Tue, 21 Feb 2017 18:53:55 +0000

The Creative Machines Lab's goal is to create robots that are self-aware, self-replicating, and creative. We speak with the program's director, Dr. Hod Lipson about his work creating robots that can learn on their own, evolve over time without any human intervention, and even create works of art (pretty good ones too). We also talk about his book _Driverless_, about the robotic technology (driverless cars) that will reshape the world in the decade to come.

Check out Dr. Lipson's book right here!
https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/driverless

Adult Video Entrepreneur JOANNA ANGEL (From the Archives)

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 19:23:44 +0000

We talked to adult video entrepreneur and all-around badass Joanna Angel about how content makers can survive in the digital age.

Robot ethicist DR. KATE DARLING

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 18:02:25 +0000

MIT Media Lab researcher Dr. Kate Darling stopped by the studio with her dino-bot (Mr. Spaghetti) to talk about the ethics of how new robot friends, what rights robots have, and what are the ethics surrounding sex bots. Plus, watch as Mr. Spaghetti takes his first steps ever!

Hank T. Greely

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:15:30 +0000

We spoke with Stanford Law professor Henry T. Greely about his new book The End of Sex, which predicts the end of procreational sex and the rise of designer babies in as early as 20 years.

Dava Newman

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 18:13:58 +0000

We spoke with NASA deputy administrator Dava Newman about how humans will get to Mars.

Richard Garriott (AKA "Lord British")

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 21:07:00 +0000

Richard Garriott (AKA "Lord British:"), the video game pioneer behind the Ultima series reflects on the industry he helped create and his many non-game adventures including his time as a private space tourist who spent two weeks orbiting the Earth. We delved into how drugs were an important part of the early technology industry; how online games help keep society from disintegrating; and why space is gross (but still worth it).

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 21:01:16 +0000

The world's favorite astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson stopped by for a super-sized Convo to talk about science, politics, education, his Twitter beef with the rapper B.O.B., if there will be another season of Cosmos, the multiverse (and "the metaverse"), and A LOT more. Check this one out!

Sean Carroll

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:58:44 +0000

We talked with theoretical physicist Sean Carroll about his fascinating non-fiction book The Big Picture, the meaning of life, and how the universe works at its most fundamental level. You know, the little things.

Mike Massimino

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:54:26 +0000

Former astronaut Mike Massimino dropped by our studios to talk about his new memoir, Spaceman, as well as what it's like to actually travel to space and work there (including all the gross and painful stuff you don't hear about).

Michael Shermer

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:53:33 +0000

We talked with author (The Moral Arc, among others) and founder of The Skeptics Society, Michael Shermer about immortality, UFOs, and how technology has made us the most moral society in history.