Historically, America’s cultural identity has become inextricably linked to the automobile. However, what began as a convenient, and often essential, mode of transportation has morphed into an unhealthy tyrannical obsession, which symbolizes success and power. Some would say we have a national addiction with cars – and big ones especially.
In the past twenty years, cars have grown larger, heavier and more intimidating. Mimicking the appearance of military vehicles with names to match, massive SUVs dominate the landscape and the statistics are not pretty. Globally, cars directly take the lives of more than a million people annually they also kill others through air pollution and environmental hazards, including their use as attack weapons.
Our increasing dependency on cars is draining earth’s natural resources, their carbon emissions drive climate change and they create unsafe streets and congestion which make the planet unlivable. We know much of this, yet we continue to ignore the negative consequences of our indulgent behavior and worship at the altar of the auto. Cars dominate our lives and we just love the personal comfort and distraction afforded by the gadgets behind the wheel. But for how long can we ignore the true costs of our driving habits on others and the planet, without paying the price?
Speakers
Matthew Shaer
Matthew Shaer is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine and a fellow at New America. His longform reporting regularly appears in Esquire, National Geographic, The Atlantic, and Harper’s, among other magazines. He is also the host of the new weekly podcast Origin Stories, which explores the creative processes of some of the world’s best novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, and journalists. Shaer lives in Atlanta with his family and a beagle named Salty Dog.
Arthur Kay
Arthur Kay is an entrepreneur, urban designer, and advisor, building solutions for sustainable cities. He is an Advisor to Innovo Group, and founder of several technology and urban design companies, including Bio-bean; Skyroom; and the Key Worker Homes Fund. Arthur is an advisor to various organisations focused on building sustainable cities, including serving as a Board Member of Transport for London (TfL), the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Museum of the Home, and Fast Forward 2030. He is Associate Professor (Hon.) and Entrepreneur in Residence at UCL Institute for Global Prosperity. He is the co-author of the new book, Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars (Wiley, 2025). https://getroadkill.com/
Ryan Martin
Professor Ryan C. Martin, Ph.D, is a leading expert in anger management and emotional wellness. He is the author of How to Deal with Angry People and Why We Get Mad: How to Use Your Anger for Positive Change, where he examines why people experience anger, how to channel it productively and how to effectively engage with others in emotionally charged situations – such as driving!
Trained as a counseling psychologist at the University of Southern Mississippi, Martin first began studying anger after earning his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of St. Thomas. He is Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. His work has been featured by the NYT, NPR’s Invisibilia, BBC Radio’s Digital Human and other major media outlets. When not exploring the science of emotions, he enjoys running and spending time with his family.
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