

Search Engine
Hosted by PJ Vogt
Why are there so many chicken bones on the street? What does it feel like to believe in God? How do we survive the media apocalypse? These are just a few examples of questions that a search engine like Google doesn't have a good answer to, but they make ideal subjects for episodes of the American podcast Search Engine. In it, host PJ Vogt searches for answers every week, under the motto 'no question too big, no question too small.' We spoke with him and editor Sruthi Pinnamaneni, both of whom are also creators of the popular podcast Reply All, which ended in 2022.
Episodes

A road trip through the data center debate
<p>The midterms are approaching, and as the discourse heats up, one of big new villains is: a kind of building. Data centers. Reporter Jasmine Sun took a road trip through two swing states to meet the people living at the center of these debates, and to understand where this all might be headed. </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://jasmi.news/p/no-data-centers-in-my-backyard">no data centers in my backyard</a> by Jasmine Sun</p>

The machines are learning… to do crimes?
<p>For the first time, an AI model has autonomously hacked a company. This week, an evolving story, a postcard from a strange, frightening moment in the story of our technology.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.platformer.news/a-big-week-for-ai-denialism/">A big week for AI denialism</a> by Casey Newton</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/its-ai-agent-spent-days-hacking-company-sources-say

What’s in your cocaine and the questions Search Engine CAN’T answer
<p>An interview with a cocaine salesman about cocaine adulterants, plus – questions Search Engine can’t answer, with special guest Kelefa Sanneh. </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://searchengine.supercast.com/">Become a premium subscriber!</a></p>

How to pursue excellence … in noodles (unlocked bonus)
<p>The world right now, seems tilted towards the good enough. The AI-written wedding toast, the half-assed attempt. Despite this, a handmade noodle shop is trying to make perfect noodles. Trying so hard that they have signs admonishing their customers to ONLY EAT THEIR SPICY NOODLES THE CORRECT WAY, DO NOT TAKE THEM TO-GO, THE EXPERIENCE WILL BE RUINED.</p><p>Why do some people still want to do small things perfectly, even at the expense of profits? An interview with Jason Wang, of Xi'an Famous

Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain? Pt. 2 (classic)
<p>We travel to Germany to trace techno’s history from Detroit to Berlin. The story of how, after the Wall fell, Berlin exorcised its brutal past with a very strange, decade-long party. A mission that takes us all the way to the gates of Berghain.</p><p>Music Credits: Original composition in this episode by Armen Bazarian. Additional Tracks: Game One - Infiniti, Dead Man Watches The Clock - Marcel Dettmann & Ben Klock, The Call - Marcel Dettmann & Norman Nodge, Quicksand - Marcel Dettmann. Full

Why didn’t Chris and Dan get into Berghain? Pt. 1 (classic)
<p>Two Americans embark on a quest: fly across an ocean to try to get into the most exclusive nightclub in the world – Berghain. A German techno palace where the line outside can last 8 hours, and the bouncers are merciless in their judgments. The club does not explain how it makes its decisions about who can enter, but one foolish podcaster will try to explain anyway.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://searchengine.supercast.com/">Become a premium member!<

A Strange Voyage
<p>This month, SpaceX had the largest IPO in all of human history. In a mission to understand a bewildering moment, we trace the story of the stock market itself. From its very beginnings in the Netherlands, to its supersizing in America, through the prism of crypto and widespread speculation that has led to this moment with SpaceX. What happened? </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Exchange-Columbia-Business-Publishing/dp/0

Why doesn’t anybody come to my parties?
<p>Claire Haber-Harris has a question. When she sends out an invitation, why does she get a tidal wave of excuses and no's? How could someone claim to have had the same stomach virus three times in a row? Search Engine investigates why a random American mom might be annoying people in her community. </p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cartoonshateher.com/">Cartoons Hate Her</a> on Substack</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"
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