Pronatalism, Silicon Valley, and the New Eugenics | Emma Waters

What happens when creating a child becomes a consumer choice? In this provocative episode of Brave New Us, research associate at the Heritage Foundation Emma Waters joins host Samantha Stephenson to break down the rising trend of embryo screening, designer genetics, and artificial wombs. From Elon Musk's child-maxxing to CRISPR enhancements and Build-a-Baby startups like Nucleus Genomics and Orchid, we explore how reproductive technologies are reshaping what it means to become a parent—and what’s at stake for the children created through these tools.

If you've ever asked yourself:
• Is embryo selection a form of modern eugenics?
• Can we separate desire from design in the future of family building?
• Are children becoming products instead of persons?
• What's the difference between healing and enhancement in genetic medicine?

Topics Covered:

Why "have healthy babies" is a deceptive marketing slogan

The ethics of picking embryos based on IQ, personality, or sex

The rise of child-maxxing among elites like Elon Musk

Why "designer babies" deepen inequality and threaten parent-child love

What three-parent embryos and artificial gametes mean for the future of family

The philosophy behind eugenics—and why it's rebranded, not gone

When CRISPR gene editing might cross the line from healing to hubris

Why strong families—not just birthrates—should be the goal of pronatalism

Mentioned in the Episode

Emma Waters’ work on pronatalism and reproductive ethics

Connect with Emma on X (Twitter)

New Atlantis article: Stop Hacking Humans

Public Discourse article: The Pronatalism and Silicon Valley

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