Welcome back, you beautiful burned-out bunker builders-- where, in this episode, we explore the neon-lit hellscape we now call the entertainment industry. This is Apocalypse…Now?, the podcast where comedy, culture, and chaos hold hands and walk into the sea. On this episode, I summoned Emmy-nominated comedy writer and grief expert Alison Zeidman to the pod to talk about something terrifying:

The death of late night television.

More specifically — the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Yes. That Colbert. That show. That number-one-in-the-ratings Colbert.
Gone.

Slain not by market forces or ratings dips, but by a weird, murky cocktail of corporate cowardice, lawsuit settlements, and good old-fashioned fascist vibes. If you’re not screaming yet, don’t worry — Alison and I did plenty for you.

What does 2025’s astrology really say about the future of America? Astrologer and psychic medium Jessica Lanyadoo joins Apocalypse…Now? to break down Saturn in Aries, Pluto in Aquarius, and why this might be the astrology of collapse.

Has democracy in America reached its breaking point? In this episode of Apocalypse…Now?, Jo Ana Van Thuyne explores whether the United States has already crossed into fascist territory — or if there's still time to pull back from the brink. Joining Jo Anna is Professor Anthony DiMaggio, political science scholar at Lehigh University and author of Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here.
Together, they unpack the signs, dangers, and real-world consequences of America's political trajectory in 2025.





The State of Democracy: Crisis or Collapse?
Jo Anna poses the question: Has America fallen into a fascist authoritarian regime?
In this candid conversation, Jo Anna and Anthony discuss everything from deporting pro-Palestinian protestors to sending people to prisons in El Salvador — illustrating the fragile state of free expression and protest rights today.

Finding Love, Finding Fear
Intertwined with this heavy subject matter, Jo Anna reflects on the need for connection amid societal upheaval. What else can we do in the face of systemic decline?
This episode gives listeners a "safe space happy place" to have these hard conversations.




Meet Our Guest: Professor Anthony DiMaggio
Anthony DiMaggio is no stranger to studying the warning signs of democracy's collapse. As a professor, author, and researcher on social movements, media, and extremism, his work shines a harsh light on America's increasingly authoritarian tilt.



Specialization: Fascism, right-wing extremism, social movements, political communication


Jo Anna Discusses His Book: Rising Fascism in America: It Can Happen Here





What We Cover in This Episode
Is Fascism Already Here?
Professor DiMaggio shares why he believes the January 6th insurrection was a turning point that exposed America's vulnerability to fascism — but also how the seeds of extremism were sown long before, through decades of political rhetoric, inequality, and right-wing propaganda.

The Media’s Role in America’s Authoritarian Shift
Jo Anna and Anthony dissect the rise of right-wing echo chambers, social media polarization, and how corporate media has failed to warn the public about the looming threats to democracy.

How Citizens Can Fight Back
The conversation turns toward hope and resistance:



Protest movements


Critical thinking and media literacy


Building strong, resilient local communities


Using your dollars to support ethical organizations


Game Time: Is It Fascism?
To make it even more awkward, Jo Anna hosts a darkly humorous "game show" nobody asked for called, Is It Fascism? Hear Anthony weigh in on issues like Project 2025, deporting student protesters, and censorship of public institutions — and tell us whether or not it's full blown fascism.
Spoiler: Jeff Bezos' phallic rocket is mentioned at some point. 




Want to Take Action? Here's How:


Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.


Leave a review to help more people find Apocalypse…Now?.


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What happens when corporate America gets its hands on artificial intelligence? Are we on the brink of a technological utopia where humans are liberated from mundane tasks, or are we careening toward an automation apocalypse where creative minds are obsolete? This episode we talk about AI and jobs and the future of work.

Welcome back to Apocalypse...Now?, where your host, Jo Anna Van Thuyne—actor, comedian, podcaster, filmmaker, and musician—dives headfirst into the chaotic, unsettling, and downright absurd world of AI. In this episode, Jo Anna reflects on her personal automation anxiety,, the future of work, creativity, and the relentless march toward the automation apocalypse.

AI: Friend or Foe?

Guess who's back? Back again. Jo Anna Van Thuyne's back—so tell a friend. Or, you know, just leave a voicemail at (920) 474-6763 because this woman is ready to hear your deepest, darkest, most pandemic-induced existential crises. After a hiatus that probably involved some soul-searching, a 9-to-5 grind, and a midlife crisis complete with a side of alien conspiracies, Jo Anna has clawed her way out of survival mode and is here to remind us all that Apocalypse... Now? is still a thing—and so is she.

This trailer kicks off an unfiltered flight into the chaos of modern life! From drones dominating the skies to the return of Trump, midlife crises, and the ever-present specter of aliens, host Jo Anna Van Thuyne returns to tackle the dystopian realities of life with humor and insight. Don’t miss new episodes of Apocalypse… Now? starting January 2025. Join us as we hold space for the end of the world—metaphorically… we hope.

Micheal has been known in the NYC improv and sketch world for years--but the pandemic has pushed him to provide a place for his fellow performers to grow: Squirrel Comedy Theater!

I talk with one of the many NYC mayoral candidates looking to change the city for the better.

This week, I talk with Kyle Lewis, a comedian, entertainer, and streamer that's been on the scene for years.

This week, I talk with the host of What's Betwixt Us and The Bitch Seat, Lyssa Mandel. She's a native New Yorker questioning her loyalty to the Big Apple.

I talk to Laura Canty Samuel, the host of The Goss on The LITverse. Laura is an award-winning comedian whose work can be found on Nickelodeon and Sesame Studios.

This week, I had a great time talking to Jason Farr, host of This Is It Podcast. We had a great conversation about social media's effects, doing a comedy podcast during a pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

I talk to Blair about life in lockdown and we gab like Blanche and Dorothy eating cheesecake at a kitchen table at 2 am.

Jettie Copeland has taken her pandemic woes and turned them into a QUARANDREAM! At least, that's the name of her new web series, QuaranDream TV. I got to sit down with Jettie to talk about the process of creating a web series during a pandemic and her hopes for a post-pandemic future.

I talk with Daron Jenkins of Dig This Podcast. He's been working in the podcasting medium for a few years now, but the pandemic kicked him into high gear. Now he produces five shows, and he's always thinking of new ways to podcast.

I talk with one of the funniest women I know, Caroline Cotter. I got to talk to Caroline about a lot of things. Y2K, making bread, and bunnies all around. You're going to dig this conversation and fall in love with Caroline.

This week, I sit down with the host of the podcast Robots vs. Dinosaurs, Louie G! We talk about the dangers of technology, and Louie welcomes our robot overlords.

Dylan is a comedian, musician, and a treasure, and I really love this conversation. His show with Kelly Backman, "Rape Victims are Horny Too", was featured in the New York Times, and he's the co-composer of the musical, Goodmorning New York, which played at NYMF and also Off-Broadway at the Players theatre earlier in 2020. You're going to enjoy this one!

Eric is a Transformational Alignment Coach that works with men to help them reach their full potential.

On this episode, I sit down with Jackie to discuss how the election has left us feeling and the work that still needs to be done. We also comb through Biden's plan to tackle the pandemic and thank Philadelphia for saving America once again.