In this episode, I sit down with science fiction writer, essayist, innovator, and cultural icon PJ Manney. We talk about the relationship between literature and empathy, the feedback loops between science fiction imagining and technological production, and how art is, and always has been, a technology.
PJ Manney is the author of the bestselling and Philip K. Dick Award-nominated science fiction technothriller, (R)EVOLUTION (2015), published by 47North in the Phoenix Horizon trilogy with, (ID)ENTITY (2017), and (CON)SCIENCE, (2021). Set as alternate, future American histories, the novels chart the influence of world-changing technologies on power and nations.
A former chairperson of Humanity Plus, she helped rebrand the organization, launch H+ Magazine and organize the first multi-org conference on futurist topics, Convergence ’08. She authored "Yucky Gets Yummy: How Speculative Fiction Creates Society" and "Empathy in the Time of Technology: How Storytelling is the Key to Empathy," foundational works on the neuropsychology of empathy and media.
Manney presented her ideas to National Geographic, the Producers Guild of America, Directors Guild of America, NASA-JPL, M.I.T., Huffington Post, The H+ Summit, and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, She is also a frequent guest on podcasts and webshows, and is widely published in as a public thinker and critic. Manney consults for varied organizations about the future of humanity and technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, cyborgs, nanotechnology, biotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, space, blockchains and cryptocurrencies.
Manney worked for over 25 years in film/TV: motion picture PR at Walt Disney/Touchstone Pictures; story development for independent film production companies; and writing as Patricia Manney for the critically acclaimed hit TV shows Hercules — The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess. She also co-founded Uncharted Entertainment, writing and/or creating many pilot scripts for television networks, including CBS, Fox, UPN, Discovery, ABC Family and Comedy Central.
This episode was produced by Matt Perry.
Our Head of Research is Sakina Nuruddin.
Art by Desi Aleman.
The Ethics and Technology of Teams in the Age of AI
Ethics Works: A day in the life of an ethics worker in tech
Feel the Burn: A new novel explores the financial crisis in tech
Dr. Strangelanguage: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Generative AI in Medicine
Taking the Temperature of AI: Measuring AI's Environmental Impact
Brain Storm: The new technologies that are changing how we think about brain function
The Singularity of Hope: The case for AI optimism
The Count: The politics of data science
Getting Public About Privacy: Understanding data privacy in the digital age
The Case for Cryptocurrency: The future of digital assets post Sam Bankman-Fried
The New Rules: challenging Big Tech’s reign over legal reform
Soul Machines: Can AI have a body?
Saving Israeli and Palestinian Lives: Technology For Life: Disaster relief and life-saving tech *From the Archives*
The Romance of AI: Discussing Love and Artificial Intelligence with Amy Kurzweil
Funny Business: ”Silicon Valley” writer and co-producer Dan Lyons explains what‘s funny about tech culture *From the Archives*
The American Dream Goes Digital: The myths and technologies that bind us with Dr. Julie Albright *From the Archives*
Bad Input: Raising public awareness about AI bias
Instituting Greenlining: how policy can promote digital inclusion
Designing Data Governance
Behind the Data: data, human values, and society
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Insight Story: Tech Trends Unpacked
Zero-Shot
Fast Forward by Tomorrow Unlocked: Tech past, tech future
The Unbelivable Truth - Series 1 - 26 including specials and pilot
A Prairie Home Companion: News from Lake Wobegon