Fred Turner on Countercultures, Cybercultures, and Californian and Texan Ideologies
About this episode
The episode features a discussion with Fred Turner about his book on the evolution of digital utopianism and its implications in contemporary society.
Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, and guest host, Paula Bialski, Associate Professor of Digital Sociology at University of St. Gallen, talk to Fred Turner, Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of Communication at Stanford University, about his classic 2006 book, _From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism_. They briefly explore the arc of Fred’s career and revisit the book in the spirit of asking what has changed in digital ideology since the book’s publication, including with the role of Silicon Valley elites in the second Trump Administration, Elon Musk’s role in DOGE, and the (perhaps only brief) turn of digital technology elites moving from California to Texas. Since this conversation was recorded in April 2025, Fred’s essay, “The Texan Ideology,” has been published in The Baffler: Link here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west
People in this episode
Host: Lee Vinsel
Guest: Paula Bialski
Topics covered
- digital ideology
- counterculture
- cyberculture
- Silicon Valley
- Texan Ideology
- Elon Musk
- Trump Administration
Keywords
- Fred Turner
- digital utopianism
- Silicon Valley
- counterculture
- cyberculture
- Elon Musk
- Texan Ideology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of St. Gallen, Stanford University, The Baffler
Books & works: From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism
Places: California, Texas
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