New Books in Science, Technology, and Society
New Books Network
This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field.
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Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com
Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/
Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetworkSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 13, 2025 • 38min
Edward McPherson, "Look Out: The Delight and Danger of Taking the Long View" (Astra House, 2025)
Edward McPherson, a writer and professor known for his exploration of environment and technology, discusses his book, Look Out. He reveals the fascinating history of aerial views and bird's-eye maps, emphasizing their power and cultural implications. McPherson connects the past with modern practices, likening historic maps to today’s selfies. He also weighs the ethical dilemmas of drones and the impact of pandemic lockdowns on perception. The conversation encourages viewing both the distant and nearby to grasp the fuller picture of our world.
Dec 10, 2025 • 1h 2min
Montserrat Bonvehi Rosich and Seth Denizen, "Thinking Through Soil: Wastewater Agriculture in the Mezquital Valley" (Harvard UP, 2025)
Dr. Seth Denison, a landscape architecture scholar, delves into the intriguing complexities of the Mezquital Valley, the world’s largest wastewater agricultural system. He discusses how soil records urban growth in Mexico City and contemplates its critical role in sustainability. Denison highlights the paradox of a recent protest against a treatment plant, emphasizing contaminant concerns. He also imagines a sustainable future by integrating Otomi practices and valuing ecosystem services, framing soil as pivotal to environmental solutions.
Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 42min
Thomas Haigh on the History of “AI” as a Brand
Thomas Haigh, a historian of computing and Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, dives into the fascinating history of the brand 'artificial intelligence.' He explores how 'AI' has been used to label varied technologies and why it remains an enduring intellectual brand. The conversation touches on the origins of AI branding, early misconceptions, and how these lessons apply to today’s generative AI hype. Haigh critiques AI's historical narrative and reflects on the implications for future technologies.
Dec 4, 2025 • 43min
Daniel Skinner et al., "The City and the Hospital: The Paradox of Medically Overserved Communities" (U Chicago Press, 2023)
Jonathan Winn, a sociologist and co-author of The City and the Hospital, delves into the paradox of hospitals near underserved communities. He explores how collective memory and cultural narratives shape hospital-neighborhood relationships. The discussion reveals the flaws in current community benefit definitions and the need for tighter standards. Winn critiques how hospitals often engage with these communities superficially while making policy recommendations for more equitable investments. His insights resonate with urban policy, highlighting the complex dynamics of care and community.
9 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 43min
Reading the Bible with AI?: A Conversation with John Kaag, Philosopher and Co-Founder of Rebind AI
In this engaging discussion, John Kaag, a philosopher and co-founder of Rebind AI, explores how AI can enhance reading by creating interactive spaces for learning, including the innovative Rebind Study Bible. He reveals how Rebind allows readers to engage deeply with texts alongside AI-generated commentary from scholars. Kaag argues that this technology democratizes access to knowledge while highlighting the irreplaceable value of human teachers. Personal anecdotes and future expansion plans for Rebind add an inspiring touch to the conversation.
Nov 30, 2025 • 49min
Amanda Parrish Morgan, "Stroller" (Bloomsbury, 2022)
Amanda Parrish Morgan, an author and scholar specializing in parenting and culture, discusses her book *Stroller*, revealing fascinating insights about strollers as cultural symbols. She explores how these everyday objects reflect class and identity, the societal pressures of parenting, and the impact of social media on parenting philosophies. Morgan critiques modern anxieties surrounding safety and the role of technology, discussing how strollers represent both protection and pressure in the parenting journey. Her engaging perspectives highlight strollers as not just tools, but cultural narratives.
11 snips
Nov 30, 2025 • 40min
Paulette F. C. Steeves, "The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere" (U Nebraska Press, 2021)
Paulette F. C. Steeves, a Métis and Cree scholar and Associate Professor of Sociology, reclaims Indigenous history in the Americas through her groundbreaking work. She argues that Indigenous peoples have been in the Western Hemisphere for over 60,000 years, disputing long-held archaeological beliefs. Steeves emphasizes the importance of integrating Indigenous oral traditions with scientific evidence, the need for more Indigenous archaeologists, and critiques the Clovis concept. Her research aims to inspire hope and healing in Indigenous youth while advocating for decolonizing narratives in academia.
Nov 29, 2025 • 42min
Elisabetta Ferrari, "Appropriate, Negotiate, Challenge: Activist Imaginaries and the Politics of Digital Technologies" (U California Press, 2024)
Elisabetta Ferrari, a scholar of communication and digital studies, explores the intersection of activism and digital technology. She delves into how activists in Italy, Hungary, and the U.S. creatively appropriate and negotiate Silicon Valley's tech narrative. Ferrari contrasts freedom and populism in the tech discourse while discussing the varied activist strategies, from the Hungarian Internet Tax Protest to pragmatic organizing by Philly Socialists. She emphasizes the challenges activists face in rejecting mainstream tech paradigms and introduces her future research on mutual aid during the pandemic.
Nov 28, 2025 • 59min
Meg Bernhard, "Wine" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Meg Bernhard, a journalist and essayist with hands-on experience in family vineyards in Spain, discusses her book, which explores wine's complex cultural and power dynamics. She reveals the evolution of wine from a humble beverage to a luxury good, highlighting issues of class and access. The conversation touches on gender dynamics in winemaking, the ecological impacts of climate change on vineyards, and innovation in response to environmental challenges. Bernhard also shares her personal journey with wine, emphasizing the cultural significance of shared experiences.
Nov 27, 2025 • 40min
Karen Weingarten, "Pregnancy Test" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Karen Weingarten, a cultural historian of reproduction and professor at Queens College, dives into the historical and cultural significance of home pregnancy tests. She reveals how these tests shifted control over reproductive information from male doctors to women, fostering empowerment. Weingarten shares the story of Meg Crane, the inventor of the practical home test, and discusses the commercialization of pregnancy testing and its impact on societal norms. The conversation also touches on how early detection has redefined pregnancy and loss in today's context.
