The Westenberg Podcast

Dec 06 2024 5 ep. 5 mins 3
The Westenberg Podcast artwork

The Westenberg Podcast offers ideas, explainers, book notes, and reflections on technology, philosophy, and the human experience. Hosted by Joan Westenberg, each episode unpacks complex topics with clarity and depth, blending personal insights with thought-provoking analysis. It’s a space for exploring big questions and fresh perspectives in an accessible format.

  Society & Culture  Technology
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The Rise of Digital Oligarchies

Dec 06 2024 11 mins  
How Tech Giants Control Our LivesIn this episode of the Westenberg Podcast, I explore the concept of digital oligarchies in 2024, where a few tech companies dominate critical infrastructure and influence how we work, socialize, and think. I discuss the power dynamics of platforms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon, emphasizing the role of network effects, data control, and attention

Could You Invest for 100 Years?

Dec 06 2024 3 mins  
The Power of Long-Term ThinkingIn this episode, I explore the concept of long-term thinking and its profound impact on civilization. I challenge viewers with hypothetical bets to illustrate how modern society often prioritizes short-term gains over exponential long-term benefits. Highlighting examples from the Catholic Church to the Dutch flood control systems, I discuss how some o

You Were Not Born to Censor Yourself for Other People’s Comfort

Dec 06 2024 2 mins  
Stop Self-CensorshipIn this episode, I explore the importance of being true to yourself and rejecting the pressure to self-censor just to fit in. You'll learn why it's crucial to speak your mind, embrace your unique personality, and respect your own voice as much as you do others. Society advances when we challenge the status quo, and it's time to stop diluting our thoughts to make

Pepsi, the Cold War, and the Soviet Submarine Deal

Dec 06 2024 5 mins  
Pepsi's Misadventures in the USSR: How Not to Navigate Authoritarian MarketsIn this episode, I explore how a savvy Pepsi executive in the late 1950s leveraged Cold War tensions to open the Soviet market to American consumers. This daring (and doomed) endeavor included groundbreaking deals structured around barter, including the famous yet often misunderstood submarine trade. Kendal

More Data Doesn't Equal More Truth

Dec 06 2024 5 mins  
The Illusion of More Data: Why More Isn't Always BetterIn this episode, I explore the paradox of data collection and truth. Despite our growing ability to track and analyze vast amounts of data, our confidence in what we know often decreases as more evidence complicates simple conclusions. Using examples from fields such as medicine and social science, I question the assumption tha