Dystopia Tonight, the podcast hosted by John Poveromo, returns to Twitch on May 27-28 for a 24-hour livestream to raise funds for the National MS Society.
The stream, which Poveromo quips is the show’s attempt to “once again attempt the increasingly questionable decision of staying awake for 24 straight hours on the internet for a good cause,” will feature a non-stop marathon of interviews, performances, comedy, music, surprise appearances, and “whatever begins happening to the human brain around hour 19.”
The event, which is celebrating its 5th anniversary, has reached more than half a million viewers and raised over $45,000 for MS research and support programs in its last year.
This year’s guest lineup includes live appearances, musical performances and video messages from:
- Ray Romano
- Tommy Chong
- Kurtwood Smith
- Debra Jo Rupp
- Mark Brazill
- Dominic Holland
- Lewis Black
- Richard Kind
- Colin Mochrie
- Ernie Hudson
- Judah Friedlander
- Beth Broderick
- Charles Fleischer
- Art Alexakis (Everclear)
- Zak Starkey (The Who/Oasis)
- Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole/Smashing Pumpkins)
- The Volebeats
- Jonathan Russell (The Head And The Heart)
- Steven Page (Founding member of Barenaked Ladies)
- Marlana Sheetz
- John Hampson (Nine Days)
- Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root)
- Maurice Lamarche
- Rob Paulsen
- Colin Quinn
- Steven Wright
- Voices from X-Men: The Animated Series
- Cal Dodd (Wolverine)
- George Buza (Beast)
- Adrain Hough (Nightcrawler)
- Chris Potter (Gambit)
…and special, unannounced guests.
According to the event’s press release, the show is, “unlike traditional telethons or tightly formatted livestreams, Dystopia Tonight operates more like an unfolding live documentary. Guests drop in from around the world for candid conversations, acoustic performances, comedy sets, storytelling, and moments that often feel more like friends talking at a diner at 3 a.m. than scheduled programming.”
Jokes aside, this stream began for very personal reasons for Poveromo as a member of his family was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than two decades ago.
“Dystopia Tonight has always been about finding connection in a world that increasingly feels disconnected,” said Poveromo. “The internet can be exhausting, isolating, and overwhelming. For one full day, we try to turn it into something good. We laugh, people overshare, musicians play songs they haven’t touched in years, and somehow this weird little community keeps raising real money and awareness for people living with MS.”
The livestream will air continuously from May 27 at 8 PM EST through May 28 at 8 PM EST on Twitch, with live donations benefiting the National MS Society throughout the event.
For more information, guest updates, and donation links, follow @johnpoveromo and @dystopiatonight on social media.
