Best Murder By Algorithm Podcasts (2025)

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Simplified Speech #235 – Talking about chemicals 30:55

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1h ago30:55

30:55

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about harmful chemicals in household products and how they try to reduce exposure to these chemicals in their daily lives. You will hear them discuss common household cleaners, beauty items, plastic food storage containers, and some simple choices that they make to try and stay safe and hea…

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Guest Host Iza Ding with Deborah Seligsohn: Inside COP30 in Belem, Brazil, and China's Climate Leadership 2:05:54

3d ago2:05:54

2:05:54

This week on Sinica, I'm delighted to have Iza Ding as guest host. Iza is a professor of political science at Northwestern University and a good friend whose work on Chinese governance I greatly admire. She's joined by Deborah Seligsohn, who has been a favorite guest on this show many times. Deb is an associate professor of political science at Vil…

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Bonus episode #162 – Time for revenge 30:36

31m ago30:36

30:36

Have you ever had a moment where you thought, “OK, time for revenge”? In this episode, Andrew takes you to the streets of Seoul to talk about participating in the 2025 JTBC Marathon. As you listen, you will hear clear, natural English and pick up useful expressions and storytelling language that can help you understand English more easily and speak…

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Big Tech Made Peace with Trump. Reid Hoffman Didn’t. 1:09:57

5d ago1:09:57

1:09:57

My guest today is entrepreneur and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. He’s now facing something most tech business people never imagine: being personally targeted by a sitting president’s Department of Justice. Reid and I talk through the rise of politically motivated prosecutions, the erosion of trust in institutions, and how social media and AI ha…

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Simplified Speech #234 – The Holidays 2025 35:06

6d ago35:06

35:06

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana chat about the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Indiana shares how she hosted a vegetarian Thanksgiving potluck, talks about classic U.S. traditions like turkey, parades, football, and turkey trots, and compares them with Canadian Thanksgiving. Then Andrew and Indiana discuss Chri…

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Murder House: Zhong Na on the Silicon Valley Tragedy That Exposed the Cracks in China's Meritocracy 49:58

10d ago49:58

49:58

This week on Sinica, I speak with Zhong Na, a novelist and essayist whose new piece, "Murder House," appears in the inaugural issue of Equator — a striking new magazine devoted to longform writing that crosses borders, disciplines, and cultures. In January 2024, a young couple, both Tsinghua-educated Google engineers living in a $2.5 million Silico…

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Justice in the Age of Retribution with Andy McCarthy 1:09:10

12d ago1:09:10

1:09:10

In today’s episode, I sit down with former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy, now a columnist at the National Review. He is someone whose legal commentary I’ve followed closely for years. Andy has consistently offered analysis of the major legal battles shaping American politics. In our conversation, we cover everything from the rise of modern lawfa…

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Culips Community Update – December 2025 13:57

10d ago13:57

13:57

In this episode, Andrew and Alina share a Culips Community Update and introduce the final monthly challenge of 2025. They chat about their personal highlights from the year, then invite you to join the December 2025 Challenge on the Culips English Podcast Discord server. This month’s theme is reflecting on 2025, sharing your wins, celebrating commu…

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Chatterbox #342 – Talking about curiosity 35:17

7d ago35:17

35:17

In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna talk about what curiosity is, why you feel it, and how it can help or hurt you in everyday life. You will hear real stories about things they have been curious about lately, how curiosity can help you discover new ideas, and how it can sometimes distract you. They also explain the different types of curio…

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The Viral Educator: Warren Smith on Wokeness, Campus Culture, and Losing His Job 1:14:58

19d ago1:14:58

1:14:58

Today I’m joined by Warren Smith, a teacher and filmmaker. He created a viral video challenging a student to explain why they believed J.K. Rowling was a bigot. It sparked a national conversation and ultimately cost Smith his job. We talk about that fallout, compare our experiences on college campuses during the height of wokeness, dig into Trump’s…

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Simplified Speech #233 – Ethical dilemmas 32:26

17d ago32:26

32:26

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about ethical dilemmas. They share everyday tricky situations, like splitting a restaurant bill, switching airplane seats, and seeing someone cheat on a test. You will hear how they think through hard choices, weigh pros and cons, and set healthy boundaries without starting a fight. What yo…

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Finbarr Bermingham of the SCMP on Nexperia, Export Controls, and Europe's Impossible Position 51:01

23d ago51:01

51:01

This week on Sinica, I welcome back Finbarr Bermingham, the Brussels-based Europe correspondent for the South China Morning Post, about the Nexperia dispute — one of the most revealing episodes in the global contest over semiconductor supply chains. Nexperia, a Dutch-headquartered chipmaker owned by Shanghai-listed Wingtech, became the subject of e…

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Did Trump Win Over Black Men or Did the Democrats Lose Them? with Astead Herndon 1:03:42

26d ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Today I sit down with journalist Astead Herndon, whose award-winning political reporting has appeared in The New York Times, on CNN, and now in Vox, where he serves as editorial director. Astead and I explore how President Donald Trump’s 2016 victory reshaped our own views of American politics. We disagree—cordially—about how much of Trump’s rise w…

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Bonus episode #161 – The mice will play 19:43

19d ago19:43

19:43

What makes the perfect bachelor weekend? In this episode, Andrew explains the English proverb “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” by sharing what happens when his wife takes a trip to Japan. He talks about his simple list of things he’s looking forward to doing alone. Along the way, you’ll learn useful idioms and everyday expressions while ge…

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Chatterbox #341 – Talking about frustration 38:43

28d ago38:43

38:43

Do you ever feel frustrated after a bad day at work, a test, or a long commute? In this Chatterbox episode, join Andrew and Anna for a conversation about frustration and how to talk about it clearly in English. In this lesson, you will learn how frustration is different from anger and disappointment, hear real stories you can relate to, and pick up…

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We Were Right: Kaiser and Jeremy Reunite to Riff on the China Vibe Shift 54:07

1M ago54:07

54:07

This week on Sinica, I welcome back Jeremy Goldkorn, co-founder of the show and my longtime co-host, to revisit the "vibe shift" we first discussed back in February. Seven months on, what we sensed then has fully borne out — there's been a measurable softening in American attitudes toward China, reflected not just in polling data but in media cover…

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Victor Davis Hanson on Tucker, Trump, and the Fracturing Right 1:13:41

1M ago1:13:41

1:13:41

My guest today is Victor Davis Hanson, a classicist, military historian, and senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Victor is one of the most articulate defenders of Donald Trump, and one of the few people willing to explain why millions of Americans still see him as a necessary corrective rather than a danger. We talk about how his years …

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Simplified Speech #232 – Indiana’s surprise birthday trip 30:11

27d ago30:11

30:11

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana chat about Indiana’s surprise 30th birthday trip to Las Vegas. You’ll hear how her husband planned the trip, what Las Vegas is really like, and how she felt when she discovered the big surprise he had prepared for her. Andrew and Indiana also talk about cultural expressions and ideas linked to L…

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Lizzi Lee on Involution, Overcapacity, and China's Economic Model 1:24:51

1M ago1:24:51

1:24:51

This week on Sinica, I chat with Lizzi Lee, a fellow on the Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute and one of the sharpest China analysts working today. We dig into the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Party Congress and what it reveals about China's evolving growth model — particularly the much-discussed but often misunderstood push a…

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BONUS: The 1987 Book that Explains Mamdani’s Victory 35:34

1M ago35:34

35:34

Today, I’m bringing you a special bonus episode with professor Shilo Brooks. Shilo is the host of a new Free Press books podcast called, 'Old School'. For our conversation, I picked Thomas Sowell’s A Conflict of Visions. Although our conversation happened months before Mamdani's victory yesterday, I think Sowell’s theory of the two “visions” that s…

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Hormones, Ideology, and the Cost of Dissent with Carole Hooven 1:36:53

1M ago1:36:53

1:36:53

My guest today is evolutionary biologist Carole Hooven. If you’ve followed her story, you know she was effectively pushed out of Harvard for articulating a basic biological fact—and doing it politely. We talk through her research on hormones, rough-and-tumble play, aggression, and libido; what puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones actually do; wh…

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Catch Word #289 – Apples to oranges 23:44

1M ago23:44

23:44

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very common and useful English expressions for making comparisons: “apples to oranges” and “night and day.” These idioms help you describe situations where things are so different that it’s not fair or even possible to compare them. You’ll hear realistic examples, like comparing homemade …

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Foreign Affairs Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan on Shifting Views of China 1:05:08

1M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

This week on Sinica, I chat with Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, editor of Foreign Affairs, about how the journal has both shaped and reflected American discourse on China during a period of dramatic shifts in the relationship. We discuss his deliberate editorial choices to include heterodox voices, the changing nature of the supposed "consensus" on China pol…

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Inside Cuba’s Police State: From Ration Cards to Black Berets with Gelet Martínez Fragela 58:31

2M ago58:31

58:31

My guest today is Gelet Martínez Fragela, a Cuban journalist and political refugee whose outlet is banned on the island. We trace Cuba’s path from independence to dictatorship, and separate myth from reality on the embargo, healthcare, and poverty. Gelet describes ration cards, compulsory “labor camps,” and why Cuba’s incarceration rate is among th…

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Bonus episode #160 – My funky jacket 30:45

1M ago30:45

30:45

What do you do when your favorite jacket starts to smell really bad? In this episode, Andrew shares a funny story about two expensive jackets that developed a terrible musty odor after being stored under his bed for the summer. He talks about trying different solutions, like leaving them in the sun, putting them in the freezer, and spraying them wi…

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Simplified Speech #231 – Hanging out with Kassy 23:50

2M ago23:50

23:50

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew catches up with Kassy, who returns to share exciting updates about her life. She talks about finishing her master’s degree, taking a long trip across the United States with her baby, moving to a new city in Korea, and adjusting to work after maternity leave. Kassy also shares her experience planning her son…

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The View from Behind Xi Jinping's Desk, with Jonathan Czin 1:19:43

2M ago1:19:43

1:19:43

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I speak with Jonathan Czin, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center. His new essay in Foreign Affairs, “China Against China: Xi Jinping Confronts the Downsides of Success,” challenges the dominant Western narrative of Xi Jinpin…

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Trailer | Spiral: Murder in Detroit 1:28

2M ago1:28

1:28

On October 21, 2023, beloved Detroit community leader Samantha Woll was found brutally stabbed to death outside her home—two weeks to the day after the October 7 attacks on Israel. It looks like an open-and-shut case—a hate crime. But swiftly the police rule that out. Instead they eventually find themselves with two unrelated suspects. When they ch…

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When Empathy Goes Too Far with Dr. Gad Saad 1:03:03

2M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Dr. Gad Saad is a visiting scholar at the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom in Mississippi and an evolutionary psychologist. We discuss his forthcoming book, Suicidal Empathy, in which he argues that the political left has taken empathy to a dangerous extreme. We also talk about his childhood as a Jew in Lebanon a…

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Chatterbox #340 – How algorithms affect us 28:19

2M ago28:19

28:19

In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna talk about algorithms, the hidden digital systems that shape what we see online. They discuss how these tools affect what we buy, what we believe, and even how we feel. If you’ve ever wondered why the same ads seem to follow you everywhere, or you’re curious about Andrew’s story of being flooded with hair…

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Can Evolution Explain Our Politics? Nicholas Wade Thinks So 59:54

2M ago59:54

59:54

Nicholas Wade is a former science writer for The New York Times and author of several books on human evolution, including A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race, and Human History and his new book, The Origin of Politics: How Evolution and Ideology Shape the Fate of Nations. Today, I invite Wade on to discuss some of the toughest topics in modern s…

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Bonus episode #159 – Full House for Chuseok 25:53

2M ago25:53

25:53

What’s the best way to give money as a gift? In this episode, Andrew tells a story about hosting his wife’s family for Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday. You’ll hear him talk about preparing a huge meal, fitting eight people into a small space, and turning gift-giving into fun games with cash prizes. Listen along to supercharge your listenin…

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Simplified Speech #230 – The golden years and how people spend them 35:45

2M ago35:45

35:45

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana talk about retirement. They chat about what it means, how it looks in different countries, and what people dream of doing after they stop working. You’ll hear them share real examples from the United States, Canada, and Korea and discuss ideas like second careers, semi-retirement, and common lif…

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Bonus episode #158 – The rain stole my thunder 37:13

2M ago37:13

37:13

Have you ever had a day that started off terribly but somehow became unforgettable? In this episode, Andrew shares the story of a rainy half marathon that began in total chaos and ended with a sweet surprise. You’ll hear real, everyday English as he talks about staying motivated, finding focus, and turning frustration into pride. You’ll also learn …

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A Debate with Dave Smith: Israel, Iran, and American Power 3:32:11

2M ago3:32:11

3:32:11

Note that this conversation took place before Hamas addressed some conditions of President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan and said it agreed to release all remaining hostages. This was the most requested conversation I've ever had, and one of the longest and most challenging. Dave Smith—comedian, podcaster, and libertarian foreign policy critic…

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Simplified Speech #229 – Things that get on our nerves 22:05

2M ago22:05

22:05

In this episode, Andrew and Indiana get honest with each other about everyday things that annoy people. They talk about habits that “get on their nerves,” such as loud chewing, people using their phones while talking, overused clichés, bad driving habits, and even dog owners who don’t follow the rules. Along the way, your hosts explain useful expre…

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The Symbolism of the Flying Tigers: Peking University's Wang Dong on the American Volunteer Group and its Historical and Diplomatic Usages 38:57

2M ago38:57

38:57

This week on Sinica, I chat with Peking University's Professor Wang Dong (王栋), an international relations scholar at the School of International Studies at Peking University, where he also serves as Deputy Director and Executive Director of the Office for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. Pro…

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Steven Pinker on How Common Knowledge Rules Our Lives 56:32

3M ago56:32

56:32

Recorded live at the Comedy Cellar in New York City: I sat down with Steven Pinker, Harvard psychologist, best-selling author, and world-class debunker of doom, to talk about his new book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…:Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life. We got into this idea of “common knowledge”: what…

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Culips Community Update – October 2025 10:53

3M ago10:53

10:53

In this episode, Andrew and Alina share updates about what’s new at Culips! You’ll learn about the second European meetup happening in Hamburg, Germany on October 18th. They also introduce the October challenge, which is focused on linking words that will help you create better-connected sentences. European Meetup #2 – Hamburg, Germany Date: Saturd…

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Catch Word #288 – The benefit of the doubt 24:49

3M ago24:49

24:49

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very useful English expressions: “cut someone some slack” and “give someone the benefit of the doubt.” These are common phrases that English speakers use to ask for understanding, forgiveness, or trust when someone is under pressure or when we are unsure about their actions. What you’ll l…

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Jasmine Sun on Silicon Valley through a Chinese Mirror 1:11:18

3M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

This week on Sinica, co-host Tianyu Fang makes his debut on the show to join me in interviewing his Stanford classmate and talented writer Jasmine Sun, who studies the anthropology of disruption. This summer, she took a trip to China with a group of friends with different levels of China experience, from people raised in the country to total novice…

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Politics for the Exhausted American Voter with Jane Coaston 1:21:55

3M ago1:21:55

1:21:55

In this episode, I’m joined by Jane Coaston, a journalist and former host of The Argument podcast at The New York Times who is now a host at Crooked Media. We talk about how she became a libertarian, the spread of far-right conspiracies, why black support for conservatives is growing, and what the mainstream media continues to miss. A special thank…

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Bonus episode #157 – Universal translator 41:20

3M ago41:20

41:20

What if you could speak with anyone, in any language, in real time? In this bonus episode, Andrew explores that idea with a clear, step-by-step look at live translation. He reads a news article and explains the key ideas and terms in easy to understand English, showing how Apple, Google, and Meta are pursuing the “universal translator” and what it …

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Understanding the Black Conservative Vote with Janiyah Thomas 32:44

3M ago32:44

32:44

In this mini episode, I’m joined by Janiyah Thomas, the Black Media Director for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. We talk about Charlie Kirk's assasination, Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air, Trump’s National Guard deployment in D.C., and how Janiyah helped Trump win over black voters. If you enjoy these shorter episodes, let me know and maybe we’…

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Chatterbox #339 – Street smarts 25:47

3M ago25:47

25:47

In this episode of Chatterbox, Andrew and Anna talk about street smarts: the practical skills and awareness people should have in order to stay safe and confident in cities. They share personal stories about living in places like Madrid, London, Seoul, and Canada, and explain how experiences such as pickpocketing or mugging can change the way peopl…

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Yascha Mounk on China and Western Liberalism 1:22:03

3M ago1:22:03

1:22:03

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with well-known author and public intellectual Yascha Mounk about his recent fascination with China, his approach to learning about the country and learning Chinese, and his thoughts on how China fits into the current crisis of Western liberal democracy. 7:15 – Yascha’s experience of living in China and learn…

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Can Socialism Ever Really Work? w/ Bhaskar Sunkara 1:24:12

3M ago1:24:12

1:24:12

My guest today is Bhaskar Sunkara. He’s the founding editor of Jacobin magazine and currently serves as president at The Nation. Bhaskar is a proud democratic socialist; he was even vice-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, and he’s the author of a book titled The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Ine…

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Simplified Speech #228 – Overrated or Underrated? Fun English Expressions Explained 27:40

3M ago27:40

27:40

In this episode, Andrew and Indiana continue their fun conversation about things that are overrated or underrated. They share their opinions on topics like walking 10,000 steps a day, biohacking, pineapple on pizza, vinyl records, and even the idea of being famous. They compare their different views, tell stories, and explain why some things deserv…

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What Did the September 3 Parade Mean? 1:43:11

3M ago1:43:11

1:43:11

This week on Sinica, I speak first with retired Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, a frequent commentator on Chinese military and security affairs and a prolific writer now at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, and with Rana Mitter of the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Forgotten Ally, a book about World War II in …

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Is America Rewarding the Wrong Values? Ben Shapiro Thinks So 1:08:23

3M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

I’m joined by Ben Shapiro, a controversial figure who for many needs no introduction. Ben is a political commentator, author, and co-founder of The Daily Wire. He joins me to discuss his new book, Scavengers and Lions. We explore the central metaphor of the book and what it says about the moral choices facing our culture today. Ben lays out his arg…