Factually! with Adam Conover
Latest Episodes
Why Smart People Become Conspiracy Theorists with Naomi Klein
What is the appeal of conspiracy theories, and how is it that they entrap our friends, coworkers, or family members? Political polarization and the rise of social media have generated an unprecedented amount of seemingly absurd misinformation, yet many re
What Liberals Get Wrong about the Right with Corey Robin
It's easy to caricature those on the political far right as outlandish, cartoonish, and bizarre, and easier still to dismiss their agendas as irrational or uninformed. This, however, can be a tremendous mistake. Assessing political rivals requires not jus
Why You Don't Actually Want to Live on Mars with Dr. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
The prospect of human life on Mars, once a science fiction fantasy, now seems increasingly plausible. But does actually warrant being anything other than a fantasy? This week, Adam speaks with Dr. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, authors of A City on Mars, to
How to Fight Monopoly Power with FTC Chair Lina Khan
America has been sliding back toward levels of corporate control, consolidation, and inequality not seen since the Gilded Age. This resurgence in monopoly capitalism has sparked a corresponding movement in antitrust reform known as the New Brandeis moveme
What’s Happening in Israel and Why with Nathan Thrall
The October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel's subsequent response have left the world in shock. To better understand the context behind this moment, Adam is joined by Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem-based journalist, former Director of the Arab-Israeli Project
How Engineering Created Your World with Roma Agrawal
We tend to think of "technology" as screens and apps, but it really means everything from the plumbing in our homes to the nails that hold our walls together. The field of engineering literally builds the world around us, but the fascinating history behin
How Roads Actually Divide Us with Ben Goldfarb
We often perceive roads as connectors, expanding our world and improving our quality of life. However, roads, from the smallest hiking trails to vast multilane highways, have profound and unseen effects on the fundamental ecology of our environment. They
Inside the Crypto Crash with Zeke Faux
Remember crypto? Only a year ago, it seemed like the future of finance, but now it's a smoldering crater in the ground. Between large corporations and everyday people that got caught up in the grift, trillions of dollars vanished seemingly overnight. But
Why Are Americans Afraid of Black History with Michael Harriot
American history has been whitewashed, with the accounts of millions of black Americans pushed to the margins, and their narratives stripped of agency and action. In this episode, Adam is joined by Michael Harriot, the author of Black AF History: The Un-W
Why Free Parking Is Ruining Your City with Henry Grabar
Free and available parking is a cornerstone of American society, but is it also our undoing? The places where we stow our cars have more of an impact on the fundamental fabric of the urban landscape than the roads we drive on, affecting everything from ho