JRE 1539 · September 22, 2020

Jenny Kleeman

technologysciencephilosophyenvironmentpsychology

Who is Jenny Kleeman?

Award-winning documentarian and journalist Jenny Kleeman has reported for HBO’s Vice News Tonight, and BBC’s Unreported World. She is the author of Sex Robots & Vegan Meat: Adventures at the Frontier of Birth, Food, Sex & Death, available now from Pan MacMillan.

Topics and Timestamps

01Jenny Kleeman discusses her book covering advances in sex robots, lab-grown meat, artificial wombs, and end-of-life technology
02She explores the ethical implications of sex robots and whether they could reduce sexual violence or normalize harmful behaviors
03The conversation covers lab-grown meat development and how it could revolutionize food production and address environmental concerns
04Kleeman shares her experience as a documentarian reporting from the frontier of emerging technologies for HBO Vice News and BBC
05Discussion about artificial wombs and the potential future of reproduction outside the human body
06Joe and Jenny debate the societal implications of these technologies and whether we're ready for them
▶Jenny introduces her book and the four frontier technologies it covers0:00:00
▶Discussion about sex robots and their potential societal impact0:15:00
▶Lab-grown meat technology and its environmental implications0:35:00
▶Jenny explains her investigative journalism process and fieldwork0:50:00
▶Discussion about artificial wombs and the future of reproduction1:15:00

The Show

JRE 1539 brings award-winning documentarian Jenny Kleeman to discuss her fascinating book 'Sex Robots & Vegan Meat: Adventures at the Frontier of Birth, Food, Sex & Death.' The episode dives deep into four cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping how we think about some of humanity's most fundamental experiences.

Kleeman starts by explaining how she became fascinated with these frontier technologies while working as a journalist for major outlets like HBO's Vice News Tonight and BBC's Unreported World. Her book and this conversation explore everything from sex robots being developed in labs to lab-grown meat that could transform agriculture. She's done the legwork to investigate these technologies firsthand, interviewing the people actually building them and thinking through the implications.

The sex robots segment gets particularly interesting as Joe and Jenny debate whether these machines are liberation or regression. Jenny presents the argument that some researchers believe sex robots could reduce sexual violence by providing an outlet, but she also explores the counterargument that normalizing sex with robots might reinforce harmful behaviors and attitudes toward women. It's not a simple issue, and the conversation treats it with appropriate nuance.

When they pivot to lab-grown meat, Jenny explains how cell-based meat is being developed and the massive potential it has to address environmental concerns around traditional livestock farming. The technology is advancing faster than many people realize, and the implications for food security and sustainability are huge. She discusses the regulatory hurdles these products face and why consumer acceptance will be crucial.

Throughout the episode, Joe challenges Jenny's perspectives in that classic JRE way, asking the hard questions about whether society is actually ready for these technologies and what the unintended consequences might be. Jenny holds her own with solid research and thoughtful analysis, which is why she's become such a respected documentarian. This is the kind of conversation that makes you think differently about the future we're building.