Episode
You're Not Crazy: Reality Has Grown Absurd
- Published
- Jan 7, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1637
- Processing state
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Summary
If explaining the state of the world makes you feel like a conspiracy theorist, you aren't alone. In this monologue, Rushkoff argues that our built environment has become so convoluted that accepting its premises essentially means gaslighting oneself. Rushkoff recounts a recent experience as a guest on the companion podcast for the Hulu series Paradise, a show about a billionaire-funded private city. When Rushkoff tried to explain that this isn't just sci-fi, pointing to real-world projects like "California Forever" in Solano County and "Neom" in Saudi Arabia, the interviewer looked at him with concern and incredulity. Why does simply describing how the world works make us sound "crazy" to the uninitiated? Rushkoff breaks down why we are not the crazy ones; we are just the ones noticing the absurdity of a system designed to privatize the planet. Team Human is proudly sponsored by Everyone's Earth. Learn more about Everyone's Earth: https://everyonesearth.com/ Change Diapers: https://changediapers.com/ Cobi Dryer Sheets: https://cobidryersheets.com/ Use the code “rush10” to receive 10% off of Cobi Dryer sheets: https://cobidryersheets.com/ Support Team Human on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/teamhuman Follow Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff: Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/douglasrushkoff YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJdUEh2Wh4fnswTLmqoEnhg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douglasrushkoff Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rushkoff.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy