There's no shortage of tech podcasts, but few give you a true dose of the future.

The A16Z podcast is an exception.

It takes you straight to the innovators behind new materials, data centers, self-driving cars, even electric boats,

eavesdrop on the future with the Exponential View podcast.

I'm Azimazar, your host and the creator of the newsletter Exponential View.

Before we get to my conversation, let me tell you about about exponential view. It's my way of explaining

how the world is changing under the force of technology. The podcast, these conversations

with brilliant minds is one avenue.

The other is through my free newsletter, a wonder missive which lands in your inbox every Sunday.

If you haven't subscribed, you can find it at W.W.

Exponential View. C.W. Exponential View.

Today's conversation is with Turkish

British novelist Ellif Shefak.

She is an astute observer of our political culture.

And in our discussion we explore what she describes as our current

epistemic crisis. We look at what's happening with democracy and the

challenge of populism and the relationship those trends have with technology and social media.

And we explore how we can remain optimistic in these times of anger, anxiety and change.

Now on to my conversation with Ellif Shafak. So today I'm in conversation with a world-renowned linguistic

nomad, the Turkish British novelist Elif Schaffak. Elif, lovely to have you here.

Thank you.

So we are meeting on a cold January morning.

...