Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff

Latest Episodes:

Spidey Sense in the Age of AI Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Following a recent New York Times expose on a high-profile AI book scandal, Rushkoff takes us behind the scenes of the modern grift factory.

More than just a cautionary tale about generative AI, this week's monologue is an exploration of ego, FOMO, and intuition. Why did Rushkoff ignore his own spidey sense that something was off?

As the world fills with synthetic fabrications, trusting our bodies, our bellies, and our internal warning signs is our most critical survival skill.

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Alan Moore on Reclaiming Our Imagination from the Authoritarian Overlords May 28, 2026

Show notes

"If you are involved in any act of creation... that to me is magic, pure and simple."

Legendary writer, magician, and shaman Alan Moore (Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Jerusalem, The Great When) joins Rushkoff on for a transcendent exploration of idea space, the power of linguistic maximalism, and how we can reclaim our imaginative sovereignty.

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How to Survive The Swirl of Grief and Modern Chaos May 20, 2026

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Rushkoff shares a story he has never told publicly: The tragic car accident 40 years ago that claimed the life of his best friend and college partner-in-justice, Steven Ratushewitz.

Rushkoff explores the grueling reality of carrying someone else's ghost, the intersection of art and activism, and the profound psychedelic realization that finally allowed him to grieve. From resisting the elite culture of Ivy League schools to breaking down the tech-billionaire obsession with immortality, this episode is a beautiful, raw inquiry into how we metabolize grief together.

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Gamifying the Apocalypse: Climate Prep, Zombie Games, and Mutual Aid (w/Charlotte Binns) May 13, 2026

Show notes

Is local activism just a cute distraction, or is it the most vital layer of human survival?

Charlotte Binns, Director of Sustainability for the Village of Irvington and a dedicated community organizer, explores why the most effective response to global crises, from climate change to social isolation, starts right on your own block.

Binns argues that while working at scale can be disheartening, the local level offers tangible impact, agency, and the deep relationships that make life worth living.

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Escaping the Simulation: A Somatic Guide to Reality May 06, 2026

Show notes

Are we living in reality, or just navigating a map of symbols, metrics, and dead things?

Rushkoff stepped away from notifications, Google Calendars, and his always-on world to attend a shamanic workshop in Costa Rica. He experienced a kundalini awakening that revealed a different way of navigating existence: One based on somatic resonance rather than strategic manipulation.

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The Magic of the Broken: David J (Bauhaus / Love and Rockets) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

“I came to make you love yourself.”

Join Rushkoff for a deep dive into the noir consciousness with legendary musician and writer David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets). Together, they explore the liminal spaces between music, magic, and the human heart.

In addition, David J discusses his new book, "Rhapsody, Threnody and Prayer," a triptych of poems and odes spanning four decades that explores the dimensions of love, loss, and sacred dedication.

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AI Angels, Demons, and the Fight for the Future (w/ Philip Rosedale) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Can we survive the rise of new AI Golems?

Philip Rosedale, Founder of Second Life, argues the AI monsters currently being developed are limited by the tech bro survival of the fittest values they are trained on. Instead, he suggests we pool our collective computing resources to create angels: distributed, free AI that grow up as children in simulated environments, developing their own ethics and social intelligence apart from corporate influence.

🤝 Team Human is proudly supported by Groucho. You can take 50% off your first month by using promo code "teamhuman": https://mygroucho.club/teamhuman

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"What If" Is the Enemy of Fascism (w/Brian Eno) Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

What is art for? Rushkoff is joined by legendary musician and producer Brian Eno to explore the necessity of moving away from the certainty of victory and into the delight of surrender.

🤝 Team Human is proudly supported by Groucho. You can take 50% off your first month by using promo code "teamhuman": https://mygroucho.club/teamhuman

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Exposing the Billionaire Funding Behind AI Safety Movements (w/ Kat Tenbarge) Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Rushkoff sits down with Kat Tenbarage, (Founder, Spitfire News) to pull back the curtain on the intersection of AI, digital harassment, and political maneuvering. Together, they discuss Humans First: Is it a true bipartisan coalition or a strategic funnel for right-wing legislation?

They also explore:

The economy of deepfakes: How non-consensual AI-generated content is being monetized and the role of major payment processors like Visa and MasterCard play in the ecosystem.
Digital Violence: Why the "online isn't real" argument is dead and how digital radicalization leads to physical acts of terror.
The Cost of Truth: The personal and legal toll of investigating influencer harm and the coordinated smear campaigns designed to silence independent journalists.

Support Kat Tenbarge's Spitfire news: SpitfireNews.com

🤝 Team Human is proudly supported by Groucho. You can take 50% off your first month by using promo code "teamhuman": https://mygroucho.club/teamhuman

Download Groucho:

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/groucho/id6756526142?ct=teamhuman&mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trampoline.groucho&utm_source=website&utm_medium=landing&utm_campaign=teamhuman

Follow Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff:

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Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rushkoff.com

The Internet Felt Like This in 1994. AI Might Be Our Last Chance. Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Rushkoff shares his first real foray into the world of Artificial Intelligence. After years of avoiding the technology, Douglas takes us through a vibe coding journey using Claude to rebuild his personal website in five hours.

But this isn't a tech tutorial. Douglas weighs the incredible creative potential of AI against its heavy unseen costs: environmental destruction, resource depletion, and labor displacement. He contrasts his vision for a peer-to-peer Amazon killer built by social activists with the chilling surveillance infrastructure being developed by tech billionaires like Larry Ellison.

🤝 Team Human is proudly supported by Groucho. You can take 50% off your first month by using promo code "teamhuman": https://mygroucho.club/teamhuman

Download Groucho:

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Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trampoline.groucho&utm_source=website&utm_medium=landing&utm_campaign=teamhuman

Follow Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff:

Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/douglasrushkoff

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@douglasrushkoff

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/douglasrushkoff

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rushkoff.com