Episode Summary: Presenting: Dreaming Against The Machine

Show: This Guy Sucked
Host: Multitude (Claire Aubin)
Guest: Adam Becker (Astrophysicist, Tech Journalist, Author)
Date: April 9, 2026

Overview

This episode of This Guy Sucked takes a brief hiatus from its regular programming to present a special preview of the upcoming podcast Dreaming Against The Machine by Adam Becker. The episode introduces Adam’s new show, his motivation behind it, and his critique of tech billionaires’ visions for the future. The central theme is: it’s not enough to rage or criticize—what does it mean to hope, dream, and imagine a better world together, especially in an era dominated by pessimism and powerful, harmful tech ideologies?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction by Claire Aubin

• [00:00 – 01:09]
  • Claire shares that after their one-year anniversary, they’re taking a brief break and are using the week to introduce Adam Becker’s new podcast.
  • Describes Adam as "the opposite of me, like in every possible way, basically"—an astrophysicist and tech journalist.
  • The preview is "like a real proper introduction to the show," not just a trailer.
  • Tone: Friendly, conversational, and supportive.

2. Adam Becker’s Approach: From Critique to Community

• [01:09 – 02:45]
  • Adam frames Dreaming Against The Machine as conversations about science, society, and what a good future could look like.
  • His recent book, More Everything Forever, is a deep critique of tech billionaires and their often dystopian/utopian future visions.
  • Adam’s immersion in Silicon Valley culture and conversations motivated his critical stance, especially as these fringe ideas seeped into mainstream politics and society.
  • "Many, many of these ideas about the glorious future of humanity in space with a godlike AI… end up running against limits in science. And many of those limits are in physics." — Adam Becker [01:51]

3. The Emotional Toll of Critique

• [02:45 – 04:33]
  • Writing critically about "these fucking people" (tech billionaires) was emotionally draining.
  • "In my heart, the title of the book wasn’t More Everything Forever, it was these Fucking People." — Adam Becker [03:19]
  • Adam found respite in nature, often among California’s largest and oldest trees.

4. Criticism Versus Construction

• [04:33 – 07:03]
  • Writing about bad futures led Adam to a central challenge: after all this critique, how do you imagine and articulate a positive alternative? The task proved tough.
  • Structure of a book (or any vision) can never be fully planned—writing is "like having a map of a hiking trail, except the map is 50 years old… the actual route of the trail is different from the map."
  • Criticism is important, but "building something is harder." He recognizes the need to construct—not just deconstruct.

5. The Problem with Utopianism

• [07:03 – 09:02]
  • Adam attempts to envision a utopia, but struggles.
  • Uncovers an insight via George Orwell: "Most people who imagine utopia are like… someone who has a toothache, who thinks that happiness consists in not having a toothache." — Paraphrased from Orwell, Adam Becker [08:16]
  • Even good visions are limited; best we can do is choose "certain lines" for progress.

6. Post-Book Reflections: Hope and Community

• [09:02 – 11:45]
  • After finishing the book, Trump wins the 2024 election, compounding Adam’s despair about the future.
  • On book tour, audiences repeatedly pressed for hope: "They’ve won. What can we do? Where is the hope?" — Summary of audience reactions [10:51]
  • Adam observes backlash to tech oligarchs and "AI slop," seeing glimmers of hope in recent political results.

7. Building the Future Together

• [11:45 – 13:20]
  • Insight from his friend Shazida: "Coming up with good ideas about the future is something that we have to do in community." — Adam quoting Shazida [12:21]
  • "What makes a future good, is it’s a place where all of us can live, so all of us have to build it together."
  • Writing a book felt isolating; building the future must be collective.

8. Dreaming Against the Machine’s Mission

• [13:20 – 14:00]
  • Adam describes the show’s purpose: “I don’t want to rage against the machine… I want to be hopeful. I want to think of a better future.”
  • Expresses deep admiration for Ursula K. Le Guin: "We are going to need dreamers of a larger reality."
  • The podcast aims to convene conversations for imagining a collective, better future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "In my heart, the title of the book wasn’t More Everything Forever, it was these Fucking People." — Adam Becker [03:19]
• "Many, many of these ideas about the glorious future of humanity in space with a godlike AI… end up running against limits in science. And many of those limits are in physics." — Adam Becker [01:51]
• "Most people who imagine utopia are like… someone who has a toothache, who thinks that happiness consists in not having a toothache." (paraphrased from Orwell) — Adam Becker [08:16]
• "What makes a future good is it’s a place where all of us can live, so all of us have to build it together." — Adam Becker [12:32]
• "I don't want to rage against the machine… I want to be hopeful. I want to think of a better future. I think a better future is possible." — Adam Becker [13:29]
• "We are going to need dreamers of a larger reality." — Adam quoting Ursula K. Le Guin [13:44]

Key Segment Timestamps

• Claire’s introduction / show context: [00:00 – 01:09]
• Adam introduces Dreaming Against the Machine / his motivations: [01:09 – 02:45]
• Tech billionaire critique and emotional toll: [02:45 – 04:33]
• On failures of utopianism and narrative construction: [07:00 – 09:02]
• Election aftermath and questions of hope: [09:20 – 11:00]
• Building futures in community, not isolation: [11:45 – 13:20]
• Le Guin quote / Show’s vision statement: [13:29 – 14:00]

Tone & Style

• Adam is wry, self-deprecating, and candid—occasionally veering into exasperation about “these fucking people” but ultimately shifting to sincere optimism.
• Humorous analogies (writing a book vs. being a lighthouse keeper, or outdated hiking maps) keep the tone accessible.
• The emphasis is on hope, meaningful critique, and collaborative imagination.

Conclusion

This episode offers a reflective, honest introduction to Dreaming Against The Machine, exploring the limits of criticism, the necessity of community, and the challenge of conjuring hope in a tech-driven, pessimistic era. Adam Becker positions his new show as a platform for collective dreaming, learning, and building—resisting not with anger, but with resolve and vision.

Listeners interested in the intersection of science, society, and the future will find this preview both thoughtful and energizing.