S2 Episode #8: A Century of Influence – Propaganda's Transformation

AI Deepfakes, Edward Bernays, and What’s Next on The Century of the Self

Host Kodie, joined by Arthur and Joe, announces upcoming episodes on Edward Bernays and Adam Curtis’s The Century of the Self, noting the recordings were spread across March and late April and outlining a schedule that includes a deep dive on parts one and two, a discussion of modern PR and the Trump PR machine, and a later episode on parts three and four. The group discusses AI propaganda using examples including a Senate Republicans in Texas deepfake of James Talarico reading real tweets, an AI-created Lego-style propaganda video from Iran, and a satirical Epstein-related clip, focusing on intent, audiences, deception, and growing difficulty distinguishing AI from real footage, as well as proposed but failed political advertising regulations. Kodie reads a 2023 EBSCO article summarizing Bernays’s background, his rebranding of propaganda as public relations, “engineering of consent,” and major campaigns and clients, with brief discussion of parallels to Mad Men, and the episode ends promoting Thursday’s documentary deep dive.

00:00 Show Cold Open

00:40 Season Preview

02:31 Quote Quiz Goebbels

04:24 AI Deepfake Examples

08:35 Ethics And Regulation

15:33 Flood The Zone

18:04 Sponsor Skit Focus Frame

19:43 Bernays Series Kickoff

21:23 Bernays Bio Primer

24:01 Mad Men Comparison

27:06 Bernays Greatest Campaigns

31:52 Sponsor Skit Waterless Bath

33:17 Wrap Up And Next Episode

Resources for Next Episode

https://www.youtube.com/@justadamcurtis9178