Människan & maskinen and Myter & mysterier
Per Johansson and Eric Schüldt have together created several podcast series that explore human nature, technological development, and existential questions.
Människan och maskinen: This series, originally produced for Sveriges Radio, consists of twenty episodes where Johansson and Schüldt examine the relationship between humans and technology. Through conversations in various libraries around Stockholm, they discuss how historical ideas and technological advancements shape our present and future.
Kunskapens Träd: As a standalone continuation of “Människan och maskinen,” this podcast series is a deep dive into the frontiers of science and humanity's ancient myths. By intertwining modern theories with classic stories, they seek answers to questions about human nature and potential.
Myter och mysterier: In this series, Johansson and Schüldt continue to explore existential themes by analyzing myths, religious stories, and philosophical questions. They illuminate how these narratives affect our understanding of the world and ourselves.
These podcast series offer listeners an opportunity to reflect on profound questions about humanity, the role of technology, and our perception of reality.
During 2017 and 2018, I listened through every published episode of these three series at least three times. These podcasts have given me a deeper insight into what it means to be human, how the world works, why it looks the way it does – and what it takes to change it. It is so incredibly gratifying that someone has deeply READ all those books and philosophers, delved into various myths and religious texts, and can explain them in such a simple way, thereby inviting the listener to their own reflections. – Axel Bohlin, editor Fasciaguiden
Axel's Picks
Människan och maskinen
Really, my strongest recommendation is to listen to all 20 episodes from start to finish. They are well-produced, thoroughly researched, and despite being a few years old, they are more relevant now than ever.
But if I were forced to pick 5 out of 20, they would be, in chronological order:
Mysteriet: An examination of how we in the modern West actually view what a human being is. A review and critique of, among others, Dawkins and the widespread idea that there is no deeper meaning, that we are, in fact, machines.
Framtiden: As early as February 2013, this conversation warns of what could happen now that transhumanist Ray Kurzweil had become Director of Engineering at Google – and it's frightening how much of it has come true.
Ekonomi: At the end of the Middle Ages, the largest and most advanced machine the world had ever seen began to be built. Today, it goes by the name of the global economy.
Det nya landskapet: If you like episode 2 of Fasciaguiden, you will love this (as well as the episode about Descartes). It's about how the idea of dividing things up began to physically reshape the world. About agriculture, land reform, and how Carl von Linné's work became central to the demystification of the world.
Evigheten: An episode about what time is – but also about how the modern West is the only civilization in world history that “does not believe in eternity” and how that might be an answer to why we make such collectively short-sighted decisions and the consequences for the world around us.
Kunskapens träd
Here too, I'd recommend just listening to everything. There are 10 episodes, all containing gems – but if I have to choose two, they are:
Jobb: About why we work at all, but also what happens WHEN (not if) new inventions like AI take over jobs. It's striking how relevant a conversation from 2015 is today.
Pyramiden: An episode that both focuses on the big picture and goes in-depth, about what kind of world we have actually built.
Myter och mysterier
How do you pick the best from a series with 109 episodes, most of which are incredibly good? In any case, my 10 favorites are:
#16 Magi: This episode is about advertising, which might be unexpected given the title. But when you talk about influencing opinions, propaganda, and manipulation in terms of magic, it becomes incredibly interesting and provides a new perspective on what is happening around us.
#17 Kristendomen: The first episode I heard of all the series, the one that grabbed me and made me understand that there is a completely different way of looking at things than what I had learned. Has anything shaped our world as much as Christianity?
#18-29 BIBELN: This is perhaps more for those who are truly interested in understanding the world's most-read book, which has undoubtedly had the greatest influence on world history. The cool thing here is that Per Johansson has read the Bible in its original languages. This leads to very interesting interpretations of words and stories – so a strong recommendation.
#30-38 STATEN & KAPITALET: The rights of nature, oil, debt, money, the all-seeing eye, and desire are all incredibly interesting conversations about how today's civilization works.
#34 Det allseende ögat: Highlighting this one specifically as it deals with what YOU have approved for Apple, Google, Meta, and others to do with your data.
#35 Begär: Also highlighting this one as it is a serious conversation about what a conspiracy theory is and why the term “conspiracy theorist” came into use – and this is before it started being thrown around wildly in the media.
#67 Det inre kriget: This is about the thoughts you have that say you're not good enough, that it won't work out, etc. What are these thoughts, why do they appear, and how can you understand them?
#76 Kontroll: This is an episode for the revolutionary within you. Why is it in the interest of “power” for you to live a predictable life? How do you get people to do what you want?
#77 Frihet: The follow-up to control, what is freedom?
#108 Aristoteles: The episode that concluded the series is also a summary of the insights gained from 10 years of podcasting. Per himself says this is one of the most pivotal episodes he has ever been a part of – and I agree.
