S2E14 ~ The Machine Stops

From Post-Apocalyptia by Timewalkerauthor

May 10, 2026 · 32 min · Season 2 · Episode 45

About this episode

This episode discusses E.M. Forster's cautionary tale 'The Machine Stops' and its relevance to modern issues like AI and social media.

This week on Post-Apocalyptia: We go way back to a cautionary tale from more than a century ago, in E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops"! We talk about AI, conformity, and a world that wasn't ready for social media--and whether ours is. And we ask the question: Where do we draw our lines? Because when the Machine stops, it may well take us with it! All this and more, in "The Machine Stops". Join us there, at the end of the world! "The Machine Stops" is in the public domain, and can be read for free at the Project Gutenberg website, here. Or, listen to our audiobook version here, or in your favorite podcast app! Post-Apocalyptia can be found on most podcast apps, and on our website at https://www.postapocalyptia.com. We can also be found on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter/X, Bluesky, and Reddit. Have a story you'd like to see us feature? Or, want to join us as a guest? Leave us a comment on any of our social media, or email us at postapocalyptiapodcast@gmail.com. Intro/Outro Music: "Achilles" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Interstitial music is taken…

People in this episode

Host: Timewalkerauthor

Topics covered

AI
conformity
social media
cautionary tale
E.M. Forster

Keywords

E.M. Forster
The Machine Stops
AI
social media
conformity
cautionary tale

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Project Gutenberg

Books & works: The Machine Stops