hours and hours of podcast & audio interviews
limits of understanding
This "Endless Universe" podcast, featuring David and Paul Steinhardt (Endless Universe), touches up against the outer limits of cosmology, and through that brings up questions of limits on the imagination, the role of theology, and the end (and endings) of the universe.
let's surveil the surveilers
One response to stepped-up surveillance is a stepped-up effort to hide from it — more laws regulating what people and governments are allowed to record, and more funds devoted to encryption and other privacy-protecting resources. But while this approach reflects the right instincts, it is insufficient. Especially as technology advances, there will be no hiding from surveillance. What we should instead fight for is transparency: the watchers must feel just as exposed as the watched.
space, astronomy, alien life and AI, oh my!
MacObserver runs an interesting interview podcast series. This one with David Brin covers a wide range, from his education at Caltech and UCSD and how he started writing fiction to where he imagines "things" heading.
science fiction in the genes!
Check out daughter Ari Brin's iTunes podcast Novum: A Science Fiction Exploration, broadcasting live out of JAM Radio in Dundee, Scotland. Her episodes "explore" sci fi tropes and themes — where it's been, where it could go — including an episode reading David's short story, "The Logs."
it’s exhausting, infuriating, blood-boiling — and addictive?
Are we, as a nation, addicted to anger? That's the question posed by the To the Best of Our Knowledge podcast interview of David's essay, "Addicted to Self-Righteousness?"
podcasting @ Mars
Planetary Radio podcasts Science Fiction Greats at the Mars Society — Gregory Benford, David Brin, Geoffrey Landis and Larry Niven — about terraforming Mars, the origin of life, the drive to explore and more.
where is my privacy?
Co-editors David Brin and Stephen Potts were interviewed on KPBS radio about Chasing Shadows. Among the questions posed: what happens in a society without privacy?
can sf writers prevent nuclear war?
BBC reports: "Catherine Asaro and David Brin are both science fiction writers. They’ve also both advised the US government on challenges society could someday face. Reporter Daniel Gross recently spoke to them about their jobs."
predicting — inventing! — the future
In this Bloomberg RealClear Radio Hour interview with Bill Frezza, David Brin explores how science fiction can improve the future, by helping us chart technological dangers to avoid and promising goals to pursue.
the note show
Brin talks about the power of sci fi to create self-preventing prophecies on The Note Show. The host seemed pleased, despite hardly getting a word in! Also available on itunes and stitcher.
partially examined living
David Brin participated in a podcast radio panel discussion about Philosophy(!) on the Partially Examined Life show with some very smart co-panelists. All sorts of implications of SETI, the Fermi Paradox, transparency, humanity, life, the universe... and almost everything.
next-gen futurism
For a garrulous ramble that will take you from Pericles to Popper to Pluto — though mostly focusing on transparency and accountability and re-learning the art of pragmatism — here's a podcast interview Brin gave about the future of freedom.
author stories
David Brin joins writer Hank Garner for Episode 172 of The Author Stories Podcast, where they talk about: Why authors should first write a murder mystery, moving the plot along in science fiction stories, writing believable stories with believable characters... and more.
finding quicksand
In this Tech Emergenceinterview, Dan Faggella talks with David about fiction's unique role in helping humanity find a beneficial future — a job done in large part by pointing out what we want to avoid most.
overlordzing robotz
The Robot Overlordz guys had David on their show for an audio interview about topics ranging from SETI to tech freedom to why Hollywood sci fi plots are so dumb.
3 writers talk ... writing
This podcast poses an hour's worth of questions about writing to the great Sci Fi author Allen Steele, rising star Dan Haight, and David Brin.
our newest civil war
Here's an informal recording at a Portland restaurant... in which Brin explores the roots of today’s phase of the American Civil War.
what's the point of thinking?
The brainiac philosophers at "A Partially Examined Life" have posted both the two hour podcast of our interview and their followup notes.
space for enlightenment
Here's an interview David Brin gave Veritas Radio about SETI and space and maintaining a scientific civilization.
is sci fi a good predictor?
Does science fiction still influence or predict technological advances? Brin is one of several sages interviewed on this terrific-yet-too-brief NPR show about the ideas and influence of science fiction in creating the modern world.
what about EXISTENCE?
Here's a podcast interview David Brin did with Scott Sigler about Existence.
talking about ET
Brin is the go-to guy on the topic of Extraterrestrial life. Here's a podcast and interview he gave to Tom Fudge of KPBS radio.
getting our geeks on
The fun fellows at "GeeksOn" interviewed Brin about everything from the future to politics to SETI to all the myriad ways that science fiction has either gone astray or else propelled our thoughts into new frontiers.
Brin is dweebcasted
Dweebcast is one of these joyfully-geeky mini-shows that celebrate tech optimism. In this episode they ask Brin: "Hey, where are the hoverboards we were promised in Back to the Future?"
the pirate hour
David Brin spends an hour with the California Pirate Party, discussing inventors, inventiveness, intellectual property, transparency — and Existence. "Brin's philosophy is refreshing because it projects meaning and understanding from thousands of years of human evolution and activity. Our conversation with him was insightful, funny and uplifting."
getting wired
WIRED Magazine interviewed Brin for their popular "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" podcast.
the hero's role
Kevin Tumlinson's interviews Brin for his 100th Wordslinger podcast episode, about writing and the role of the hero.
the point of inquiry
David Brin talks with Chris Moony on the Point of Inquiry podcast, discussing the value of scientific inquiry and rational minds in creating a better world (or even a better novel!).
can we rely on the kindness of crowds?
Here's a podcast interview of David Brin one on the subject of "Kickstarter and other open-source methods for dream-funding." Interesting sub-topics around the notion that creativity will open all sorts of new opportunities for all of us.
ain't mythbehavin'
Mythbehaving is a way-fun site filled with interesting podcast interviews and other goodies. David Brin gave them an hour recently — about science fiction, dystopias, augmented humans, science, movies, propaganda and so much more! Good for your daily commute.
our reality tv president
Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson interviews Brin and Boise State University professor Justin Vaughn about how our cameras-everywhere culture is affecting the candidates, presidential campaigns and us.
is there an ideal sci-fi protagonist?
Catch this episode of Roundtable Podcast, in which a number of top sci-fi authors were offered this particular challenge at a recent World Science Fiction Convention: "Describe your ideal protagonist." Providing short, pithy and fascinating answers were Elizabeth Bear, Alan Dean Foster, Howard Tayler, David Brin — along with many more.
building future societies with transparency and freedom
In this FutureThinkers podcast, Brin notes that sub-saharan tribeswomen today have better access to information via the Internet than world leaders did just a few decades ago. That’s huge — although it doesn’t make as entertaining news as terrorism or twerking, so few news agencies are talking about it.
can we snapchat and forget it?
On KCRW's "To The Point" Brin joined a panel of experts to discuss SnapChat and the Future of an Erasable Internet."
40 years from now
NPR interviews Brin about "The Nature of Existence."
third millennium problem solving
Can our civilization maintain its 200-year commitment to openness, transparency, accountability, and confident belief in progress, or will a growing "relinquishment movement" fight back against the onrush of change?
virtually speaking
This Virtually Speaking podcast interview discusses transparency, security, privacy, surveillance and sousveillance.
getting to the future
SF Signal Podcast chats with David Brin about science fiction's exploration of the future, by presenting gedankenexperiments, or thought experiments, as well as the notion of self-preventing prohecies.
getting to existence
David Brin talks with Planetary Radio about his monumental new novel, Existence.
getting science into science fiction
NPR's Talk of the Nation interviews David and William Gibson, author of Neuromancer, Mona Lisa Overdrive and Virtual Light.
science fiction is evolving
Another Talk of the Nation episode interviews David and James Gunn and Michael Capobianco, where they discuss the art and evolution of Science Fiction.
a singular interview
David Brin talks with Singularity about science fiction, the singularity, Star Wars and Existence.
our inevitable future
Science and technology are converging to change the global game. Join David and Paul Rosenbloom to talk about our cyber future. Will humanity survive and even thrive when the Singularity arrives?
crowdfunding dreams
David Brin is interviewed on Funding the Dream about the idea that crowds can make smart decisions for society.
getting into space
In David Livingston's syndicated radio SPACE SHOW, Brin talks starships, asteroid mining, and bringing boldness back to our civilization.
the world transformed
David Brin joins P. J. Manney and Thomas McCabe to discuss our thinking transformed. Our thinking is always subject to scrutiny and inspection, but perhaps never more urgently than now. If profound change truly is upon us, what assumptions must we avoid? What new ideas must we be ready to embrace? And what cherished "truths" must we be prepared to put away once and for all?
40 years from now
On NPR David Brin, a "San Diego Futurist," explores the nature of Existence.
listening to culture
Hearsay Culture interviews author David Brin on transparency, reciprocal accountability, cyber-utopianism and the preservation of excitement in an age of cynicism.
cheaters, transparency, and how ICOs avoid jail
In this episode of Milk, Brin tackles the crypto space and issues of state surveillance in an entirely different manner.
getting creative
Now live, Ed Willett's podcast at The Worldshapers, where David Brin gives some of his best advice on writing science fiction to would-be best-selling authors!
DAVID BRIN's podcasted stories
Of course, Brin's novels and books are available as audiobooks. These short stories are also offered as podcasts. Enjoy the listen!
Aficionado
part of my novel EXISTENCE
"Aficionado" (read here or listen to the podcast) takes you on a wild rocket ride — the new sport of the super-rich in 2050. Hacker Sander is spoiled, temperamental and a champion rock-jock, expert at the game of Space War... till a crash landing throws him into lethal peril. His sole hope? A tribe of strangely savvy sea creatures, with a secret need of their own.
Bubbles
with Harlan Ellison
The September 2011 issue Lightspeed Magazine features an audio recording of "Bubbles" read by science fiction great Harlan Ellison: The "universe" is full of holes, emptiness, and Serena is stranded within that great emptiness. Will she spend eternity staring at unreachable galaxies strung at the fringes of monstrous cavities like flickers on the surface of a soap bubble?
The Logs
included in Insistence of Vision
How to endure the unendurable? "The Logs" is a tale of survival in the harshest of conditions... in an isolated asteroid work camp. Hear daughter Ari Brin read David's poignant short story in the latest Novum podcast. It was originally included in Shadows of the New Sun
Temptation
a novella from the Uplift universe
"Temptation" is also available as an audio podcast. In it, a female dolphin on Jijo who must escape from two of her own kind and then penetrate a deeply dangerous ancient secret. The novella answers several unresolved riddles left over from Heaven's Reach.
a brief intro to science fiction author DAVID BRIN
To learn more, visit his books page, or see his "about me" page or detailed biography.
novels
David Brin's science fiction novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages. They range from bold and prophetic explorations of our near-future to Brin's Uplift series, envisioning galactic issues of sapience and destiny (and star-faring dolphins!). Learn More
shorter fiction
Short stories and novellas have different rhythms and artistic flavor, and Brin's short stories and novellas, several of which earned Hugo and other awards, exploit that difference to explore a wider range of real and vividly speculative ideas. Many have been selected for anthologies and reprints, and most have been published in anthology form. Learn More
Contrary Brin blog
Since 2004, David Brin has maintained a blog about science, technology, science fiction, books, and the future — themes his science fiction and nonfiction writings continue to explore. Learn More
social media influencer
Who could've predicted that social media — indeed, all of our online society — would play such an important role in the 21st Century — restoring the voices of advisors and influencers! Lively and intelligent comments spill over onto Brin's social media pages. Learn More
scientist
David Brin's Ph.D in Physics from the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. Every science show that depicts a comet now portrays the model developed in Brin's PhD research. Learn More
transparency expert
Brin's non-fiction book, The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy?, continues to receive acclaim for its accuracy in predicting 21st Century concerns about online security, secrecy, accountability and privacy. Learn More
speaker & consultant
Brin speaks plausibly and entertainingly about trends in technology and society to audiences willing to confront the challenges that our rambunctious civilization will face in the decades ahead. He also talks about the field of science fiction, especially in relation to his own novels and stories. To date he has presented at more than 200 meetings, conferences, corporate retreats and other gatherings.Learn More
future/tech advisor
Brin advises corporations and governmental and private defense- and security-related agencies about information-age issues, scientific trends, future social and political trends, and education. Urban Developer Magazine named him one of four World's Best Futurists, and he was cited as one of the top 10 writers the AI elite follow. Past consultations include Google, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and many others. Learn More
