“We’re Going to be Okay” with social psychologist Adam Mastroianni
September 26, 2025
39 min
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Episode 383 · September 26, 2025
“We’re Going to be Okay” with social psychologist Adam Mastroianni
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39:59This episode“We’re Going to be Okay” with social psychologist Adam Mastroianni
Summary
<p>Trump. Gaza. Artificial Intelligence. Authoritarianism. Assassinations. Climate Chaos. Russia. Social media. The far right. Terrorism. Political division. How bad are things? More importantly: How would we know?<br /><br />Every generation believes things are falling apart. And at some point, they’ll be right. But the social psychologist Adam Mastroianni argues that we’re exhibiting a kind of doom paralysis right now.<br /><br />Even if things were as bad as they seem, they’re more likely to be solved - and you’re more likely to be constructive - if you assume they’re not.<br /><br />Mastroianni has a PhD from Harvard and studies how knowledge and ideas spread, and how people think about each other. His terrific Substack newsletter is <a href="https://www.experimental-history.com/">Experimental History</a>, and he joins Josh to help us understand why some people feel powerless, and some enthusiastic, about the challenges ahead.</p>
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