What does it really mean to “count everyone”—and who decides how data shapes our democracy?
In this episode, we uncover the politics, complexities, and human stories behind the U.S. Census with Danah Boyd.

Topics Covered

• The evolving purpose and interpretation of the U.S. Census
• Data legitimacy and the social fabric around statistics
• Online manipulation and attempts to disrupt the 2020 Census
• The invisible infrastructure and complex processes of demographic data
• Geographies, census blocks, and mapping America
• Political battles over counting citizens vs. residents
• Jenga metaphor for U.S. agencies’ fragility
• AI’s dependency on civic data and community knowledge
• Concept collapse and the shifting meaning of “political”
• Hope in civil servants and the future of collective action

• Read danah boyd’s book, *Data Are Made, Not Found:*
  • https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo277581183.html
• Submit a public comment on the proposed 2030 Census residence rules by November 2nd: https://handsoffourcens.us/

• Website: https://www.danah.org
• Blog (Apophenia): https://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/
• Newsletter: https://made-not-found-by-danah-boyd.ghost.io/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danahboyd/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zephoria.bsky.social

Episode Chapters

00:04 Introduction, framing the census as more than just counting
01:14 Danah Boyd’s background and origin story
03:03 Founding Data & Society and joining the Commerce Department’s Data Advisory Council
04:40 Entering the Census Bureau and studying data legitimacy
06:21 Discovering toxic online forums targeting the 2020 census
09:20 Attending census meetings and understanding the phases of data-making
12:29 Census blocks, the creation of geographies, and mapping
17:39 The challenges of counting everyone and errors in data
20:33 The 2020 Presidential Memorandum and battles over who counts
25:51 New residence rules, Congress’s responsibility, and high-stakes policy debates
27:34 The Jenga metaphor for agency fragility and infrastructure
30:15 Census data and AI: foundational roles and vulnerabilities
33:01 Data legitimacy: social fabric, trust, and the politics of information
35:50 Vocabulary breakdown: “political” and the perception of civil servants
39:30 Hope in civil servants, future action, and collective responsibility
43:43 Appreciation for the census, the new book, and closing thoughts

What happens when we bring more humanity—and humor—into technology, leadership, and the systems that shape our world? In this episode, discover how we can do good better amidst complexity, disruption, and AI-driven change.

In this episode, Kate O’Neill welcomes author, comic, and advisor Jess Pettitt to explore how imperfect people and organizations can “do good better.” Together, they tackle topics from confronting bias in technology and leadership, to creating cultures where dissent—and learning from failure—are possible. Jess Pettitt shares high-stakes humor and vulnerable stories, unpacking why “good enough now” is sometimes vital and sometimes not enough.

Topics covered:

• Using humor to open up difficult conversations
• The limits of certainty and performance in leadership
• Organizational values and aligning intention with action
• The power of curiosity and the “Prepare, Recognize, Respond” framework
• Navigating positional power and fostering inclusive cultures
• Exposing neutrality and hidden power in technology and policy
• Redefining hope, agency, and responsibility in complex environments
• Generosity and actionable steps for failing together in the right direction

Connect with Jess Pettitt
Website


Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:19 Guest Introduction: Jess Pettitt and Body of Work
03:19 A Flamingo, Complexity, and Unexpected Human Moments
05:21 Humor’s Role in Difficult Conversations
09:11 Learning, Language, and Avoiding Performative Efforts
12:16 Organizational Values, Shared Goals, and Truth Telling
15:24 Discomfort with Complexity and the Realities of Safety
17:00 Making Room for Dissent and Practicing Curiosity
19:41 Feedback Loops and Real-Time Adjustment
24:08 AI Tools, Accuracy, and Personal Responsibility
26:44 Cultural and Conscious Response vs. Habitual Reaction
29:42 “Good Enough Now”—Progress, Stakes, and Ethics
33:24 Humanity, Everyday Generosity, and Self-Reflection
36:30 Balancing Ego and Humility in Driving Change
39:09 Power, Voice, and Cultural Structures in Organizations
45:25 Recognizing Politics and Power Hiding Behind “Neutrality”
51:59 Imagining a Hopeful, Human-Centered Future
57:32 Reclaiming Coexistence and Forward-Looking Hope
01:01:29 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

How do data science and AI impact social justice, and what happens when massive tech infrastructure lands in local communities?

Assistant professor and author Ben Green joins Kate O’Neill on The Tech Humanist Show to discuss AI, data centers, and how technology impacts social justice, communities, and local governments. Hear insights on responsible data science, community resistance, and sustainable tech.

Topics covered:

• The relationship between data science, AI, and social justice
• Algorithmic Realism and responsible data science methods
• Public resistance and organizing against data center expansion
• Impact of data centers on small towns and local governance
• Environmental justice and the burdens of tech development
• Power grid strain and electricity cost distribution
• The opaque economics and long-term sustainability of data centers
• The role of technologists and communities in shaping technology’s future

Connect with Ben Green
Website
Signup for Algorithmic Realism

Episode Chapters:
00:04 Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show
01:29 Conversation with Ben Green Begins
02:05 Data Science and Social Justice: The Connection and Contradictions
03:49 Algorithmic Realism: Rethinking Responsible Data Science
06:13 Unlearning Optimization: Real Stories from Boston EMS
09:31 Beyond Tech: The “Smart Enough City” Philosophy
10:26 Hype, Policy, and the Expansion of Data Centers
13:49 The Power Imbalance and Role of Public Resistance
16:54 Key Findings from “What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town”
21:36 Land Use, Community Decisions, and Generational Trade-offs
24:55 Environmental Justice & Health: Who Bears the Burden?
28:25 Data Centers, Power Grid Strains, and Electricity Costs
33:17 Hardware, Supply Chain, and the Sustainability of Data Centers
36:41 Heat Generation and Local Climate Effects
38:09 How Community Organizing Shapes Technological Outcomes
42:41 Building a Bridge: Technologists, Communities, and Hope for the Future
46:21 Closing Thoughts and What Gives Hope