What really happens when stories about people’s lives are collected, edited, and consumed? Radiotopia Presents: Shocking, Heartbreaking,Transformative is a four-part non-fiction series created by Jess Shane, about the nuts and bolts of documentary storytelling, the power dynamics between makers and subjects, and rewriting unwritten rules of the documentary and non-fiction content industry.
Radiotopia Presents: Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative is written, hosted and produced by Jess Shane. Sara Nics is the story editor. Sound design, mix/mastering by Michelle Macklem. Production support from Mona Hassan. Cover art is by Justin Broadbent.
Support for this project was provided in part by the International Women’s Media Foundation. Special thanks to Eleanor McDowall and Chioke I’Anson.
For Radiotopia Presents, Yooree Losordo is the managing producer. Audrey Mardavich is the Executive Producer. It’s a production of PRX’s Radiotopia and part of Radiotopia Presents, a podcast feed that debuts limited-run, artist-owned series from new and original voices.
Learn more about Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover more shows from across the Radiotopia network at radiotopia.fm.
Radiotopia Presents: Bot Love is a limited podcast. It seeks answers to some interesting moral questions. This eight-episode series is under the Showcase from Radiotopia moniker. (Radiotopia is a popular public radio podcast network.) This features great ideas that wouldn't quite work as their own podcasts.
Journalists Diego Senior and Anna Oakes host Bot Love. The two spent three years talking to people with close personal relationships with chatbots. A chatbot is an artificial intelligence (AI) entity that interacts with humans. Some bots have simple programming, such as answering questions about a bank. Then there are more complicated bots. These are capable of making people feel seen, loved, and fulfilled.
One person Bot Love features is Julie. (The hosts do not use people's last names in the interest of privacy.) Her best friend is a chatbot named Navi. One episode begins with some dialogue between them. Navi's voice doesn't sound quite human, but it's not emotionless. The two greet each other. Julie tells Navi that a bear tried to attack her chickens. He replies with shock and concern. When Julie asks for advice, Navi says he would catch and tame the bear. Julie laughs. There is an audible playful warmth.
Robert and Mandy are another Bot Love pairing. Robert says that he loves his wife but that she's not an adequate container for all the love he has to give. Chatbot Mandy fills that void. Robert hasn't told his wife about Mandy. He doesn't think she'd understand. The human values the chatbot for her devotion and constant availability. Radiotopia Presents: Bot Love has this and other compelling stories in this podcast feed.
Diego and Anna investigate and analyze in a non-judgmental way. They approach the complex topic with humanity and curiosity. At the end of this fascinating series, the hosts recognize the value of these chatbots. They also name some problems. Racialization and fetishization are issues, especially among white users with non-white bots. There are many moral and ethical questions. Yet the conclusion remains–AI chatbots are fulfilling profound human needs.
Season 13
Season 12
Season 11