We Are As Gods Podcast with Jason Sussberg, David Alvarado cover art

We Are As Gods

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We Are As Gods

By: David Alvarado, Jason Sussberg
Narrated by: Jason Sussberg, David Alvarado
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About this listen

“We are as gods and might as well get good at it.”

These are the opening lines that radical thinker, environmentalist, and technologist Stewart Brand wrote for The Whole Earth Catalog. His thesis—that humans should use our god-like powers to build a better way to live—is at the core of his extraordinary life.

At key historical moments in the 20th century, Stewart Brand was behind the scenes shaping things. As founding editor of Wired Magazine Kevin Kelly says, “Stewart has a Forest Gump-like superpower—he can sense where the future is and be there.” From acid tests to space odysseys to modern environmentalism to social networks and open source technology, Stewart was there early on - posing the framing questions, marching in the streets, running the camera, gathering the experts, and then, before the scene got boring, running out the back door.

Stewart has never shied away from controversy. Some of his ideas have drawn fire and accusations of betrayal from his former allies, but Stewart isn’t afraid of a fight. Now in his 80’s, he looks to leave a legacy for the future with his Long Now Foundation, which urges humans to think beyond our limited lifespans and consider the longer ecological time frames of our epoch.

He’s also trying to bring back the woolly mammoth.

We Are As Gods is a story from the directing duo behind the SXSW hit filmsThe Immortalists and Bill Nye: Science Guy, with sound design from Academy Award-nominated Peter Albretchsen, and a timeless and beautiful original score from Brian Eno.

This 8 chapter, cinematic audio documentary marries psychedelia, counterculture, and futurism to chronicle an American polymath who has lived his intellectual life in public, tracing the journey of a mind that has shaped our culture, past, present and future.

©2022 Structure Films (P)2022 Audible Originals LLC Professionals & Academics Science & Technology
Episodes
  • We Are As Gods - Trailer

    We Are As Gods - Trailer
    Aug 25 2022

    “We are as gods and might as well get good at it.”

    These are the opening lines that radical thinker, environmentalist, and technologist Stewart Brand wrote for The Whole Earth Catalog. His thesis—that humans should use our god-like powers to build a better way to live—is at the core of his extraordinary life.

    At key historical moments in the 20th century, Stewart Brand was behind the scenes shaping things. As founding editor of Wired Magazine Kevin Kelly says, “Stewart has a Forest Gump-like superpower—he can sense where the future is and be there.” From acid tests to space odysseys to modern environmentalism to social networks and open source technology, Stewart was there early on - posing the framing questions, marching in the streets, running the camera, gathering the experts, and then, before the scene got boring, running out the back door.

    Stewart has never shied away from controversy. Some of his ideas have drawn fire and accusations of betrayal from his former allies, but Stewart isn’t afraid of a fight. Now in his 80’s, he looks to leave a legacy for the future with his Long Now Foundation, which urges humans to think beyond our limited lifespans and consider the longer ecological time frames of our epoch.

    He’s also trying to bring back the woolly mammoth.

    We Are As Gods is a story from the directing duo behind the SXSW hit filmsThe Immortalists and Bill Nye: Science Guy, with sound design from Academy Award-nominated Peter Albretchsen, and a timeless and beautiful original score from Brian Eno.

    This 8 chapter, cinematic audio documentary marries psychedelia, counterculture, and futurism to chronicle an American polymath who has lived his intellectual life in public, tracing the journey of a mind that has shaped our culture, past, present and future.
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    3 mins
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  • Prologue

    Prologue
    Sep 29 2022
    Figures from the counterculture, environmental movement, and Silicon Valley introduce Stewart Brand, an optimistic iconoclast with a flair for making the future happen.
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    14 mins
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  • Episode 1: The Counterculture

    Episode 1: The Counterculture
    Sep 29 2022

    A young Army officer from Rockford, Illinois discovers LSD and joins the counterculture. Breaking through the staleness of mainstream America, he organizes an acid-propelled festival that brings thousands of hippies together and fuels a movement.
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    49 mins
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David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg
Everett Katigbak
Arjun Pothuri

About the Hosts and Producers

David Alvarado (Host and Producer)
David Alvarado is a director/cinematographer focusing exclusively on science, health, technology and nature. Structure Films is a New York/ San Francisco production company founded with Jason Sussberg. Together, they directed The Immortalists, Bill Nye: Science Guy, and We Are As Gods.
Jason Sussberg (Host & Producer)
Jason Sussberg is a San Francisco-based filmmaker focusing on the art and humanity in the sciences. He started his career working in sports TV. After receiving his M.F.A. at Stanford University, he and filmmaking partner David Alvarado founded Structure Films. Together, they directed The Immortalists, Bill Nye: Science Guy, and We Are As Gods.

About the Story Producer

Everett Katigbak, story producer, is a creative director in San Francisco, who helps several emerging technology companies develop their brands. He is currently helping Stripe extend its Stripe Press publishing efforts, into the world of documentary film and new media. He was also an early stage employee at Pinterest and Facebook, where he’s similarly helped develop their brand narratives through video and creative projects.

About the Associate Producer

Arjun Pothuri, associate producer, is a filmmaker interested in the intersection between humanity and nature. After earning a B.A. in philosophy from Williams College, he has been supporting Structure Films projects as an editor and associate producer.

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Stewart Brand has done much in his life, in many fields, many disciplines and sharing all the way. He's been involved with numerous ideas, and implementations in art, science, philosophy, architecture, etc. not only these podcasts but doing some queries on Google will also pull up some interesting videos, his ideas and his impact are things you've often seen, but didn't realize where they came from.

Stewart Brand - the silent undercurrent

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An amazing life story that we can all learn from. The segmented approach was well organized and easy to listen to.

Five stars

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this has been the best podcast I've listened to in the past 2 years. The way this story was framed - introducing Stewart Brants' origins, how has his thought formed and developed over the years. But also who are the opponents of his work.
I've barely known anything about Stewart, and I feel I have been provoked in a good sense.

Inspiring and thought-expandinf

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The story of Stewart Brand is insightful, especially in the way it connects seemingly disparate domains and histories. This mini-series is engaging and very well produced. Highly recommend.

An important story, produced beautifully

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We gobbled it up and wished that the series would continue wish that we could see parts of it in video.

Bravo!

Yes, The questions raised, The sensibility to nourish the lifeweb, The Daring explorations into answers that might possibly work to make our world so much more viable, A more thriving place.

Lofty. Perhaps. But for those of us who also hear The Calling To cherish our world, And to nourish into it with a deep awe, and love for who we might become far into the future.

Such lovely food for thought. And since we had to have an ending, what a great way out. For the many aspects of deep thinking throughout, in the end, to me, it is about art. The creation of a thing that feels akin to the great cathedrals of Europe. About inspiring our thoughts upwards. And longwards. To feel the loftiness within ourselves as we consider who we might be. And what role we've come to fulfill in the eternal act of our Universe forever recreating itself.

Brilliant. ✨️ And lovely

Heartlifting with so much inspiration

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This was my favorite audible series to-date. Such an inspiring and powerful range of messages, delivered in a fun, dynamic style with glimpses into recent history I had no idea existed. Well done!

Absolutely inspiring and beautifully captured

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Very interesting learning about the early online communication forums with lessons for how we may utilize communication forums as we collaborate to advance sustainability of our civilization.

Fascinating Listen - communication in community

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I loved how innovative Stewart Brand was—I never knew. He was a simple genius who thought outside of the box.

Interesting Man

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