The Atlantic Launches New Weekly Video Podcast, Galaxy Brain With Charlie Warzel
The Atlantic is excited to announce the launch of its new video podcast, **Galaxy Brain**, hosted by staff writer Charlie Warzel. This engaging series aims to navigate the complexities of our digital landscape, tackling the overwhelming flow of information that characterizes our online lives. Each episode will feature a different guest, delving into significant questions at the intersection of online culture and human behavior. The inaugural episode, now available, features renowned YouTuber Hank Green, who shares insights from his 26 years of navigating the internet. Together, Charlie and Hank discuss the current state of online spaces, exploring how the internet has transformed into a “misery machine,” the erosion of trust in institutions, and potential pathways for rebuilding that trust. They also address the pervasive frustration of being manipulated by algorithms and discuss actionable steps for users to reclaim their online experiences.
In his introduction to **Galaxy Brain**, Charlie Warzel articulates the pressing concerns of our time: “People everywhere are ensconced in their own, algorithmically tailored realities.” He highlights the ways social media distorts our worldview and how artificial intelligence is poised to reshape our digital interactions. With a commitment to providing clarity amid the chaos, **Galaxy Brain** seeks to be a grounding force, offering thoughtful conversations and insights that connect listeners to the often bizarre reality of online life. The podcast builds on Charlie’s notable reporting for The Atlantic, which scrutinizes the impact of digital culture on our everyday behaviors. His previous articles have tackled topics ranging from the implications of the Epstein scandal to the nuances of political campaigns in the digital age.
**Galaxy Brain** marks The Atlantic’s second foray into video podcasting, following the successful launch of **The David Frum Show** earlier this year. With episodes released every Friday, listeners can subscribe to watch the show on various platforms or listen wherever they enjoy podcasts. This new series is part of The Atlantic’s broader initiative to explore contemporary issues through innovative formats, including the recent seasons of **Autocracy in America** and the **How To** franchise. As digital culture continues to evolve, **Galaxy Brain** promises to be an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of our online world.
Today
The Atlantic
is launching
Galaxy Brain
, a new video podcast hosted by staff writer
Charlie Warzel
about making sense of the online fire hose of our information ecosystem. In new episodes released every Friday, Charlie will be joined by a different guest each week to ask big questions about the intersection of online culture and human behavior. The first episode,
which is now available
, features the YouTuber Hank Green on what it means to survive online for 26 years. In their conversation, Charlie and Hank look at where the internet stands today—how it became a misery machine, how institutions lost trust, and how they might begin to win it back. The pair discusses the universal frustration of being online and knowing you’re being manipulated by algorithms—and what, if anything, we can do to push back.
In an
introduction
to the show, Charlie writes: “People everywhere are ensconced in their own, algorithmically tailored realities. Social media is warping our perception of the world, while artificial intelligence threatens to remake it entirely. It all feels ridiculous and unmooring.” He continues, “
Galaxy Brain
will aim to be a grounding force—a space for conversations, explanations, and tangents that anchor you to reality, however strange it may be. No slop, bots, or spam.”
The podcast builds upon Charlie’s acclaimed
reporting
for
The Atlantic
, which orients people to a fast-changing digital culture and examines how online life is shaping and warping offline behaviors. He has recently written the articles “
The Dumb Truth at the Heart of the Epstein Scandal
,” on how the newly released documents are a skeleton key for understanding the dynamics of Donald Trump’s America; “
The Opposite of Slop Politics
,” about the success of Zohran Mamdani’s online campaign; “
A Tool That Crushes Creativity
,” looking at how it feels to live in the golden age of AI slop; and “
I’m Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is (Again)
.”
Galaxy Brain
is
The Atlantic
’s second video podcast, following the launch of
The David Frum Show
this past spring. Earlier this year,
The Atlantic
launched the second season of
Autocracy in America
and the eighth season of its
How To
franchise,
How to Age Up
, and this summer it published
No Easy Fix
, a three-part podcast series from
Radio Atlantic
.
Episodes of
Galaxy Brain
will be released each Friday; viewers can subscribe to watch
here
, or listen wherever they get podcasts. Please reach out with any questions or requests.
Press Contacts:
Paul Jackson and Quinn O’Brien |
The Atlantic
press@theatlantic.com
