Episodes

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode of Keen On, Andrew is joined by Randall Kennedy, the author of Say It Loud!: On Race, Law, History, and Culture, to discuss the key social justice issues of our time—from George Floyd to antiracism to inequality and the Supreme Court. Find more Keen On episodes and additional v...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by David Kushner, the author of “Masters of Disruption: How the Gamer Generation Built the Future”, to tell the story of the people behind the breakthroughs and the breakthroughs to come - from augmented reality to virtual reality, esports to blockchain gaming, NFTs to online community. David Kushner is an award-winning journalist and author. His memoir has been adapted into a serial podcast and many of his articles and books are being adapted for ...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Zack Greenburg, the author of We Are All Musicians Now, to talk about NFTs and the future of the music industry. Zack Greenburg played the title role in the 1992 film Lorenzo’s Oil; he started his writing career at age 14 as video game reviewer for Boys’ Li...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Eric J. Johnson, the author of “The Elements of Choice: Why the Way We Decide Matters”, to discuss how we can design better end-to-end decision-making processes that are unique to our respective situations. Eric J. Johnson is a faculty member at the Columbia Business School at Columbia University where he is the inaugural holder of the Norman Eig Chair of Business, and Director of the Center for Decision Sciences. His research examines the inter...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Janine di Giovanni, the author of “The Vanishing: Faith, Loss, and the Twilight of Christianity in the Land of the Prophets”, to discuss the plight and possible extinction of Christian communities across Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Palestine after 2,000 years in their historical homeland. Janine di Giovanni is an author, journalist and war correspondent. She is a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, a non-resident...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode of Keen On, Andrew is joined by Talya Miron-Shatz, the author of Your Life Depends on It: What You Can Do to Make Better Choices About Your Health, to explain the barriers that all of us face when making health choices, and give some practical guidance on how we can make better ...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode of Keen On, Andrew is joined by Kinari Webb, the author of Guardians of the Trees: A Journey of Hope Through Healing the Planet, to discuss her global initiative to heal the world’s rainforests, as well as to tell the story of the communities who depend on them.

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Katharine Hayhoe, the author of “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World”, to discuss the urgency for a more empathetic approach to the conversation surrounding climate change. Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist and chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy. She is also the Endowed Professor in Public Policy and Public Law and Paul W. Horn Distinguished Professor at Texas Tech University. She has been ...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Anne-Marie Slaughter, the author of “Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics”, to discuss how we as individuals, organizations, and nations can move backward and forward at the same time, facing the past and embracing a new future. Anne-Marie Slaughter is the CEO of New America, a think ​and action ​tank dedicated to renewing the promise of America, bringing us closer to our nation’s highest ideals. She is also th...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Joseph Weisberg, the author of “Russia Upside Down: An Exit Strategy for the Second Cold War”, to discuss how America's policy towards Russia is failing–and why it will never be fixed until they rethink the relationship. Joseph Weisberg is an American television writer-producer, novelist and school teacher. Weisberg is best known as the creator and executive producer of the FX TV series The Americans. Visit our website: https://lithub.com/story...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Kristin Henning, the author of “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth”, to discuss the day-to-day brutalities endured by Black youth growing up under constant police surveillance and the persistent threat of physical and psychological abuse. Kristin Henning is a nationally recognized trainer and consultant on the intersection of race, adolescence, and policing. She is the Blume Professor of Law and director of the Juvenile ...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode of Keen On, Andrew is joined by Mehran Sahami, the author of System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot, to discuss how big tech’s obsession with optimization and efficiency is sacrificing fundamental human values and what we can do to change course, renew our...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode of Keen On, Andrew is joined by Joshua Prager, the author of The Family Roe: An American Story, to discuss the life of Norma McCorvey whose unwanted pregnancy in 1969 opened a great fracture in American life.

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Stephen Davis, the author of “Flight 149: A Hostage Crisis, a Secret Special Forces Unit, and the Origins of the Gulf War”, to tell the true story of a plane full of unsuspecting passengers who landed in a war zone and were delivered into the hands of a murderous dictator. Stephen Davis has been on the front lines of journalism for three decades as an investigative reporter in TV, magazines and newspapers and as a leading journalism educator. He...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Jeanette Winterson, the author of “12 Bytes: How Artificial Intelligence Will Change the Way We Live and Love”, to talk about her illuminating new collection of essays on technology. Jeanette Winterson CBE is an English writer, whose novels have explored gender polarities and sexual identity, as well as the relations between humans and technology. She broadcasts and teaches creative writing and has won a Whitbread Prize for a First Novel, a BAFT...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Sathnam Sanghera, the author of “Empireland: How Modern Britain is Shaped by its Imperial Past”, to discuss how so much of what is considered to be modern Britain is actually rooted in its imperial past, from how the British live to how they think. Sathnam Sanghera was born to Punjabi parents in the West Midlands in 1976. He entered the education system unable to speak English but, after attending Wolverhampton Grammar School, graduated from Chr...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Connor Towne O'Neill, the author of “Down Along with That Devil's Bones: A Reckoning with Monuments, Memory, and the Legacy of White Supremacy”, to discuss our vital need to confront our past in order to transcend it and move toward a more just society. Connor Towne O'Neill is a producer on the NPR podcast White Lies, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting. His writing has appeared in New York Magazine, Vulture, Slate, Village Voic...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Jeremy Weinstein, the author of “System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot”, to discuss how big tech’s obsession with optimization and efficiency is sacrificing fundamental human values and what we can do to change course, renew our democracy, and save ourselves. Jeremy Weinstein is Professor of Political Science, Fisher Family Director of Stanford Global Studies, and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for Internat...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Tom Nichols, the author of “Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from within on Modern Democracy”, to discuss how the frustration of citizens who claim to be liberals has ironically fed into an increasingly illiberal way of life in America. Tom Nichols is an academic specialist on international affairs, currently a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and at the Harvard Extension School. His work deals with issues involving Russia, nuclear weapon...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Alec Ross, the author of “The Raging 2020s: Companies, Countries, People — and The Fight for Our Future”, to discuss the economic and political forces that shape our daily lives. Alec Ross is one of the world’s leading experts on innovation. Author of New York Times–bestselling The Industries of the Future, he is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at The University of Bologna Business School and a Board Partner at Amplo, a global ventu...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, the co-authors of “The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III”, to tell the story of legendary White House chief of staff and secretary of state James A. Baker III: the man who ran Washington when Washington ran the world. Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, responsible for reporting on President Biden, the fifth president he has covered. He previousl...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Keith Boykin, the author of “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America”, to discuss the fear of a darkening America—a country in which there is no longer a predominant white majority. Keith Boykin is a CNN political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Keith has taught at the Institute for Research in African...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Giulio Boccaletti, the author of “Water: A Biography”, to discuss the history of how the distribution of water has shaped human civilization. For the last 20 years, Giulio Boccaletti's work has been at the intersection of geophysical and ecological science, public policy, and business strategy. Water security and our relationship with Earth's climate are particular interests of his. Giulio started out as a scientist, working on climate dynamics...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by David Cutler, the author of “Survival of the City: Living and Thriving in an Age of Isolation”, to discuss how cities are changing in the face of existential threats that have only been accelerated by the pandemic. David Cutler has developed an impressive record of achievement in both academia and the public sector. He served as Assistant Professor of Economics from 1991 to 1995, was named John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Social Sciences in 1...