The future of work is already being rewritten—by systems, not people. As AI accelerates labor displacement and concentrates wealth in fewer hands, Universal Basic Income (UBI) has returned to the spotlight. But Katie Smith and Beth Rudden aren’t here to romanticize it.

In this episode, they break down what UBI really is, why it’s misunderstood, and how the conversation gets hijacked by tech elites. They challenge the moral logic of effective altruism and explore why true economic reform demands more than a payout—it requires listening to people on the ground and rewriting the social contract with the community at the center.

From epigenetics and AI ethics to the shrinking middle class, this is not a handout discussion—it’s a call to design something radically better, together.

Topics Covered

• What Universal Basic Income is—and what it isn’t
• AI’s role in accelerating economic collapse and job displacement
• The branding problem: Why “basic” isn’t helping the cause
• Effective altruism and the failure of top-down solutions
• Epigenetics, stress, and the physiological cost of poverty
• Why UBI must be tied to systemic reform—not seen as a silver bullet
• The future of work and the danger of being left behind
• Community-led responses to automation and inequality
• How reimagining contribution can strengthen the middle class

Key Takeaways

• UBI isn’t the finish line—it’s a starting point.AI disruption is forcing urgent questions about labor, value, and equity.
• Effective altruism often centers the donor’s equation, not the community.
• The branding of UBI must shift from “basic needs” to shared contribution.
• Long-term economic health requires investing in people, not platforms.
• Real reform must be community-driven, transparent, and just.

Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 — Introduction to Universal Basic Income (UBI)

01:53 — Defining UBI and Its Implications

07:12 — The Floor vs. The Ceiling: Understanding UBI's Role

15:26 — Critique of Effective Altruism and Top-Down Solutions

24:54 — Systemic Issues and the Need for Reform

31:28 — Reimagining the Future of Work

34:47 — The Role of Universal Basic Income

37:29 — Understanding Epigenetics and Stress

41:47 — The Dangers of AI and Wealth Distribution

46:29 — Listening to Communities for a Better Future

50:08 — Evolving Capitalism and Effective Altruism

In this reflection episode, Beth and Katie look back on the first seven conversations—threads of grief, growth, tech, and care woven into something bigger. This is our origin story and a soft landing for new listeners.

We talk about the role of community in turbulent times, the power of moral imagination, and the systems we’re unlearning—capitalism, AI, and outdated social contracts. Whether you're here for critique, clarity, or curiosity, this episode sets the stage for where we’re going next.

Topics We Cover

• What we’ve learned across the first 7 episodes
• The role of AI in reshaping human interaction
• Rewriting the social contract for our time
• Capitalism, care, and the future of work
• Why transparency and purpose matter more than ever

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap of the Journey

01:17 The Importance of Community and Connection

03:48 Navigating Change in a Rapidly Evolving World

06:15 The Impact of AI on Human Interaction

08:33 Trust and Reality in a Changing Landscape

11:32 Reimagining the Social Contract

13:56 Exploring Power Dynamics and Technology

16:15 The Future of Work and Universal Basic Income

25:39 The Role of Media and Data in Shaping Reality

26:54 Understanding Machines: The Human Element in AI

31:37 The Movement Towards a New Social Contract

34:10 Building a Foundation for Dignified Work

37:51 The Ethics of Work and Value in Society

42:05 Reimagining Capitalism and Community

45:53 The Future of Work and AI's Role

49:47 The Importance of Community and Connection

Resources to support people and families impacted by ICE raids. ⁠

Recorded during a wave of ICE raids in Los Angeles, this urgent episode asks what it means to truly belong in a country built on migration. Katie Smith and Beth Rudden open up about personal stakes, political theater, and the manufactured crises threatening immigrant families today.

From the roots of religious freedom to the metaphor of invasive species, they explore how narratives—about borders, safety, and identity—are shaped, distorted, and weaponized. This is a conversation about witnessing injustice, honoring complexity, and anchoring into the future we want to build.

With stories of community resilience, artistic resistance, and civic power, Beth and Katie challenge us to rethink ownership, accountability, and care.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• ICE raids in LA and the real-time impact on families and neighborhoods
• The role of the National Guard, state sovereignty, and political overreach
• Migration as a natural force, not a crisis
• *Artistic metaphors: seeds, invasive species, and stories as resistance
• Religion, freedom, and misunderstanding across political lines
• Psychological and social healing in post-colonial societies
• Local power: sheriffs, judges, and community-led safety
• Why paid organizers matter—and who actually benefits from unrest
• Redefining ownership as accountability
• Imagining belonging as the anchor for a just future

Artists mentioned:

• Maria Thereza Alves and her work ⁠Seeds of Change⁠
• Jenny Yurshansky and her work on the ⁠themes of what is to be a refugee⁠
• Patrisse Marie Khan-Cullors Brignac who leads work around ⁠Care not Cages⁠

📌 Key Takeaways:

• Migration is fundamental to life; borders are human inventions.
• Care must replace cages—at every level of society.
• Belonging is not a luxury; it's the condition for collective thriving.
• Local governance is where real power—and real accountability—lives.
• Artists, organizers, and everyday people are already building the future we need.

⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps):

• 00:00 ICE Raids and the Politics of Manufactured Crisis
• 06:00 The National Guard, Local Power, and Historical Echoes
• 12:00 Migration, Metaphor, and the Wisdom of Artists
• 18:00 Religion, Identity, and the Stories We Tell
• 25:00 Seeds, Borders, and the Absurdity of Lines
• 32:00 What Belonging Really Means
• 38:00 Digital Solidarity and the Arab Spring
• 44:00 Paid Organizers, Real Protest, and Who Benefits
• 50:00 Liberty Hill Foundation and Local Mutual Aid
• 52:00 Anchoring to a Future of Equity, Accountability, and Care