What Could Go Right?

Latest Episodes:

The AI Future Isn’t Inevitable. So Why Are We Told It Is? | With Carissa Véliz Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Being a human being is an anxious experience, and to calm the fear of uncertainty, we’re obsessed with predicting the future. Whether spiraling about changes to the economy, politics, or culture, we’re desperate to know what’s coming around the corner. In this episode, host Zachary Karabell is joined by Carissa Véliz, philosopher and author of "Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI." They discuss the ways tech executives and AI experts offer predictions for our society that are supposedly inevitable. But what if we refuse to accept these guesses as truth? What if leaning into ambiguity and our own vulnerability makes us better citizens and gives us a true chance to make a better world?
Zachary and Carissa discuss the difference between a mindset that is focused on definite outcomes versus a mindset open to the possibilities of different paths and why the latter is crucial to a healthy society. They also dive into Carissa's work on privacy and the pitfalls of unprecedented surveillance and data collection that feed the prediction machines.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
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Why the Experts Were Wrong about India Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Winston Churchill predicted this nation would collapse, but today India is experiencing a massive economic glow up as it rapidly lifts hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty. We also investigate why crucial historical signs are quietly vanishing from America's national parks, and how an eccentric doctor's argument with mother nature saved countless lives from malaria. Join Emma Varvaloucas on this episode of the What Could Go Right progress report to hear the full story.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork
Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

How Haters Can Accidentally Make You Happier | with Ronda Rousey Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The concept of the American Dream calls up images of enormous money and fame that most of us will never see. But what happens to someone who actually becomes mega famous? Is it truly something to strive for? Is the cost worth it? Ronda Rousey, the superstar MMA fighter turned graphic novelist, joins Zachary Karabell to explain her approach to creativity, life, and happiness that rejects our traditional metrics for success.
The discussion touches on Ronda's meteoric rise to fame, the tremendous wave of online hate directed at her, and how it taught her to give up her need for external validation. They tackle the divisive infiltration of politics into combat sports, and how Ronda's big fight on Netflix this past May could offer a solution. Plus, Ronda explains what makes her happy these days, including her graphic novel about a pregnant assassin called Expecting the Unexpected.

You can purchase Ronda's graphic novel, Expecting the Unexpected, here: ⁠https://awastudios.com/ronda⁠
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork
Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

The Case for Rewriting Nature's Code | with Ben Lamm Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Words like "de-extinction" and "cloning" are often associated with dystopian science fiction stories, but reality tells a more hopeful tale.
Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, joins host Zachary Karabell to argue that de-extinction, genetic engineering, and biotechnology can fix the harms humans have caused to our environment and prevent us from passing down genetic diseases.
Ben discusses the role of government in regulating private companies, ethical standards, and his personal decision to stop his children from inheriting a genetic mutation that contributed to a life-threatening illness.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork
Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

Global Shark Conservation Sees Historic Regulatory Breakthroughs Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

After decades of facing severe overfishing and cultural stigma, global shark populations are finally rebounding thanks to strict new international trade bans and expanding marine sanctuaries. Emma Varvaloucas, Executive Director of The Progress Network, shares how much our views and treatment of sharks have shifted over the last century and why there’s reason for optimism.

Plus: a team of 23 students in the Netherlands successfully engineered the world's first fully solar-powered ambulance to deliver off-grid medical care, Indigenous youth are reclaiming traditional face tattooing to preserve their cultural heritage, and robust conservation programs have helped two wildlife species in America bounce back from the brink of extinction.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork
Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

Why the Economic Numbers Don't Match How You Feel | With Mark Zandi Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

There is a massive chasm between what official data tells us about the financial landscape and how average Americans actually experience their daily lives. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's, joins Zachary Karabell to break down why this disconnect exists and how a skewing of income distribution means different classes are living in entirely separate realities. They explore whether modern technological leaps like artificial intelligence will create devastating job losses or spark a much-needed era of entrepreneurial business formation.
The conversation then shifts to the fundamental purpose of our financial systems and the vital role of government in setting clear, bright yellow lines for businesses to follow. They tackle the potential politicization of the Federal Reserve, the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies as a store of value, and why the historical data surrounding first-time home buyers might not be as dire as the modern internet suggests. Ultimately, they ask a critical question about the true goal of an affluent, democratic society in the twenty-first century.
What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.
For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org
Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/
Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork
Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk
Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

The Invisible Arms Race Against Wildfire Smoke Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

While the severity of North American wildfires and their deadly smoke has undeniably increased, humanity is quietly winning an invisible technological arms race against our changing atmosphere. Emma Varvaloucas, Executive Director of The Progress Network, explores how eight decades of innovations—from the invention of the HEPA filter to electrostatic N95 masks—are enabling individuals to mitigate climate impacts and become the architects of their own survival.

Plus: A Harvard-led discovery of an Earth-like exoplanet with an atmosphere, a 21% global decrease in road traffic fatalities, and the successful conservation of the Australian numbat. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

The Case for Embracing Limits | with David Epstein Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

We live in an era of limitless options, but infinite choice might actually be paralyzing our ability to make decisions and find satisfaction. David Epstein, bestselling author of Range and the new book Inside the Box, joins host Zachary Karabell to argue that we severely overvalue complete freedom. Instead, Epstein reveals how imposing limits and constraints on ourselves can act as a powerful tool to drive creativity, spur innovation, and increase personal contentment.

Epstein shares his own personal strategies for managing an overwhelming world. He discusses how he limits his own maximizing tendencies by setting strict parameters before shopping online, and how he outlined his entire new book on a single piece of paper to restrict his own sprawling curiosity. The conversation also delves into the stark contrast between the American youth sports machine and Norway's highly successful, joy-focused athletic development model. Along the way, they explore the decline of local investigative journalism, the cognitive pitfalls of learning via AI, and why historical context remains our best defense against modern pessimism.

What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/

Opening a Nearly 2,000-Year-Old Treasure + Reviving Eyes for Science and Shark-Spotting Drones Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

Researchers just used machine learning to read a carbonized Roman scroll that hasn't been opened in 2,000 years. In this week’s progress report, Emma Varvaloucas dives into a technological breakthrough that is unlocking an ancient library buried by volcanic ash in 79 AD.

Plus: a groundbreaking medical device in Barcelona that extends the viability of human eyes for vital medical research, the rapid adoption of eco-friendly heat pumps rivaling traditional air conditioning in the US, and theAI-powered drones thatare successfully protecting swimmers from shark encounters across the globe.

What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

Follow Emma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyemmavarv/

The Era of Mass Incarceration May Actually Be Ending | with Alex Duran Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

The American criminal justice system is often viewed as an unfixable and intractable problem. But shifting demographics and new approaches to community investment might actually bring a natural end to the era of mass incarceration.
Alex Duran spent 12 years in New York maximum security prisons before earning a liberal arts degree through the Bard College Prison Initiative. Today, he leads the criminal justice portfolio at Galaxy Gives. He joins host Zachary Karabell to discuss his surreal personal journey from Rikers Island to the world of high level philanthropy.
The two explore the real reasons crime rates fluctuate, why our current parole systems are built to manage failure rather than reward success, and how simple investments in the physical environment can do more for public safety than increased police budgets. They also tackle the harsh reality of modern prison labor and examine the unexpected data showing that the US might literally run out of inmates in the coming decades.

What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope.

For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org

Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/

Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork

Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/