5 Best Brian Merchant Podcasts in 2026

1. Resistance

Follow Play Sep 28, 2025 58:46
Website Apple
About Episode We've talked about a lot on Politechs this season, and now it's time to pull it all together and think about how we can resist AI. And who better to talk to about resistance than Brian Merchant, author of "Blood in the Machine", a fascinating book about the original Luddites, a group of tech workers in early 19th century England who took up the hammer and smashed the machines that were being used to emiserate them. We talk about the parallels between the time of the Luddites and our current moment, how capital and the state teamed up to crush the Luddites, and how we can avoid their fate. Mentioned in this episode: Empire of AI, by Karen Hao [] Blood in the Machine, by Brian Merchant [] Blood in the Machine newsletter, by Brian Merchant AI Killed My Job: Translators [] Getting off US tech: a guide, by Paris Marx [] We'd love to hear from you if you disagree with something we've said. Please read our rules of engagement for good faith discussions, and then send an email to podcast@politechs.dev or hit us up on socials. To view full show notes, including transcripts, please visit the episode page. Be sure to follow us on BlueSky and Mastodon! Cover art by Anya K. Jordan @anyakjordan.bsky.social Theme music by Xylia Politechs is provided under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoAI licence MORE Podcast Title Politechs
Podcast Description A podcast exploring the inherent political nature of technology
Guest Brian Merchant
Apple Rating 5.0/5 Avg Length 55 min Format Long form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. Will AI Kill Your Job? w/ Brian Merchant | Tech Won't Save Us

Follow Play Sep 04, 2025 59:52
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss whether the AI bubble is about to burst and how bosses are deploying AI tools to kill jobs and degrade work. Brian Merchant is the author of ⁠Blood in the Machine⁠ and writes a ⁠newsletter⁠ of the same name. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyMORE Podcast Title The Nation Podcasts
Podcast Description Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Host Jon Wiener
Guest Brian Merchant
Producer/Network The Nation Magazine
Email ****@uci.edu
Apple Rating 4.4/5Twitter 142.5K Avg Length 49 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

3. Andy Levy & Brian Merchant

Follow Play Jun 11, 2025 50:19
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode As The World Churns’ Andy Levy examines the fallout from the Trump and Musk feud. Blood in the Machine author Brian Merchant details how AI is already quietly killing job prospects in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. MORE Podcast Title Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast
Podcast Description Join noted author & pundit Molly Jong-Fast for irreverent humor that cuts right to the heart of our politics today as she discusses the top political headlines with some of today’s best minds. Known for being one of the few interviewers in politics to cut through the talking points, Molly reveals the personalities and issues tearing the country apart. She asks the questions no one else does, and gets the answers even her guests didn’t expect to give – and exactly what you want to know. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday & Friday for the funniest yet serious look at what’s ailing America.MORE Host Molly Jong-Fast
Guest Brian Merchant
Producer/Network iHeartPodcasts
Email ****@iheartmedia.com
Apple Rating 4.8/5 Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

4. Tech in Check

Follow Play Apr 20, 2025 54:26
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode Worried that AI will replace you? It may not seem like the Hollywood writers’ strike has anything in common with the Luddite rebellion in England in 1811, but they are surprisingly similar. Today we use the term “Luddite” dismissively to describe a technophobe, but the original Luddites – cloth workers – organized and fought Industrial Revolution automation and the factory bosses who were replacing humans with cotton spinning machines and steam powered looms. Find out what our age of AI can learn from textile workers of 200 years ago about keeping humans in the loop. Guest: Brian Merchant - Los Angeles Times tech columnist and author of “Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech”   Featuring music by Dewey Dellay and Jun Miyake Originally aired January 14, 2024 Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMORE Podcast Title Big Picture Science
Podcast Description The surprising connections in science and technology that give you the Big Picture. Astronomer Seth Shostak and science journalist Molly Bentley are joined each week by leading researchers, techies, and journalists to provide a smart and humorous take on science. Our regular "Skeptic Check" episodes cast a critical eye on pseudoscience.MORE Hosts Molly Bentley, Seth Shostak
Guest Brian Merchant
Producer/Network Big Picture Science
Email ****@seti.org
Apple Rating 4.5/5Facebook 5.7KTwitter 5.9KInstagram 286 Avg Length 55 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. Burgers from the Machine

Follow Play Dec 27, 2024 56:33
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode Welcome Hamburger Enthusiasts! Our guest today is writer, reporter, and author Brian Merchant. He writes the Blood In the Machine newsletter about AI, Silicon Valley, labor and power. He joined us for a discussion based on the very recent case study McDonald’s: Moving Toward a Fully Automated Future? and to teach us some lessons from the luddites. The case study, and much of our conversation, is really asking if we as a society have a problem with a certain level of automation. And the fully automated burger is still a capitalist fantasy. It’s more cost effective to hire low wage workers than install and maintain expensive robotics. The case study’s example of an “automated” McDonald’s was actually not automated at all. As our discussion moved into science fiction Chris asked the philosophical question, “If we could make a fully automated machine that sold burgers, should we?” To which Brian replied that it’s not up to us and our ethics. As soon as it’s profitable for a company to do it, they will. The problem for automation is that the United States has kept labor costs very low. The minimum wage in that Texas location is $7.25 an hour. If you enjoy Hamburger Business Review you can support us by subscribing, buying merch, or even just buying us a burger. Get full access to Hamburger Business Review at www.hamburgerbusinessreview.com/subscribeMORE Podcast Title Hamburger Business Review
Podcast Description Analysis and discussion about the business of burgers. Also original reporting and investigation! www.hamburgerbusinessreview.com
Guest Brian Merchant
Producer/Network Zach Rose, Mike Merrill, Chris Higgins
Apple Rating 4.6/5 Avg Length 43 min Format Long form Get Email Contact