What would it mean if nothing matters? This hour, a look at the philosophy of nihilism, and how it shows up online and in children's books.

GUESTS:

• Nolen Gertz: Associate Professor of Applied Philosophy at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. He is author of books including Nihilism and Nihilism and Technology

• Charlie Warzel: Staff writer at The Atlantic and the host of its technology podcast, "Galaxy Brain"

• Jon Klassen: Author and illustrator of books including I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, The Rock From The Sky, and The Skull

Music featured (in order):

• Caring is Creepy – The Shins

• I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ – Shirley Horn

• Nothing from Nothing – Billy Preston

• Battle of Who Could Care Less – Ben Folds Five

• Hurt – Johnny Cash

• Nothing – A Chorus Line Broadway cast

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Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 26, 2026.