Human Current

In this episode, Haley talks with Dr. Daniel Stickler at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Dr. Stickler is a physician, author, speaker and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Apeiron Center for Human Potential. During his interview, Dr. Stickler explains Apeiron’s systems-based model which focuses on human systems, homeostatic balance and optimization. He also discusses how and why lifestyle decisions are the key to creating an optimized life.

In this episode, Haley talks with Gad Saad at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Gad Saad is a Marketing Professor and evolutionary behavioral scientist. He is also author of The Consuming Instinct, which explores how evolutionary forces influence our lives as consumers. During his interview, Saad shares how elements of complexity theory apply to his research. He also describes the challenges he faces when talking about evolutionary theory and behavioral science openly with the public.

In this episode, Haley and Angie introduce a special conversation between Gad Saad and Nassim Nicholas Taleb at ICCS. Gad Saad is an evolutionary behavioral scientist and Marketing professor at Concordia University and Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a best-selling author, probability researcher and former trader. During their quick and informal conversation, Gad and Nassim share details from their joint presentation at ICCS and some friendly remarks about each other’s research.    

In this episode, Haley interviews Stephen Wolfram at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Wolfram talks with Haley about his professional journey and reflects on almost four decades of history, from his first introduction to the field of complexity science to the 30 year anniversary of Mathematica. He shares his hopes for the evolution of complexity science. He also gives advice for complexity researchers, recommending they focus on asking simple, foundational questions.

In this episode preview, we share a clip from our interview with Stephen Wolfram. Wolfram is the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha and the Wolfram Language; the author of A New Kind of Science; and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research. Wolfram shares with us his disappointment that the basic science of complexity has not been more explored. He states, “the great thing about the basic science is that it will survive forever”.  

It’s the 100th episode! In this celebratory episode, Angie and Haley make a cheers to all the wonderful people who have supported the podcast’s mission. They also reminisce about ICCS and share two interviews from the event. The first interview is with Dr. Emma Towlson who is a Physics Professor and a researcher in the Center for Complex Network Research. The second interview is with Richard Cooper, Ph.D, who is Maurits C. Boas Professor of International Economics at Harvard University.

In this episode, Haley interviews George Church, who is a professor at Harvard and MIT. Church talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about his presentation on the evolution of modern biotechnology and the implications of existential risk within this field. He also talks about the goals and mission of the BRAIN Initiative, which he co-initiated in 2011, as well as why he believes people should have access to their own genome.

In this episode, Haley interviews Boston College Professor Patrick McQuillan. McQuillan talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about his current work and expertise in education reform and urban school leadership. He shares why it is so important for school leaders to decentralize control and work toward a unified school culture. Professor McQuillan also describes “the thread of adaptive leadership” as a productive approach to systemic change.

In this episode, Haley interviews Natalia Komarova, Chancellor's Professor of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Komarova talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about her presentation, which explored using applied mathematics to study the spread of mutants, as well as the evolution of popular music.

In this episode, Haley interviews the Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System at Harvard Kennedy School, Carmen Reinhart. Reinhart talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about financial fragility and economic booms and busts. She also explains the profound complexity of financial crises describing them as black swan events which affect many systems connected to human wellbeing.

In this episode, Angie interviews the Head of Strategy at Basecamp, Ryan Singer. Singer talks with Angie at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about design strategy, nonlinear dynamics, interdisciplinary work, and his personal journey of discovering complexity science and NECSI.

In this episode, Haley interviews author, mental health counselor, change agent & Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Steven Hassan. Hassan talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about cults & mind control as “a systematic social influence process”. He also describes how a complex systems model can mobilize social networks like policy makers, educators, health professionals & law enforcement to empower individuals impacted by undue influence.

In this episode, Haley interviews Ricardo Hausmann at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Hausmann is Professor of Economic Development at Harvard's Kennedy School and Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University. He talks with Haley about the scale of the current economic collapse in Venezuela, economic complexity, systemic resilience, and the invisible hand.

In this episode, Haley interviews the President of the New England Complex Systems Institute, Professor Yaneer Bar-Yam, at the opening day of the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Bar-Yam talks about the diversity of people presenting and attending the conference and why the event is so important for the complexity science community and the world.

In this episode, Haley interviews author, filmmaker and Founder of Local Futures, Helena Norberg-Hodge. Helena discusses the harmful consequences of economic globalization and advocates for localism as a systemic path to return us ‘to the reality of complexity, diversity and interdependence of all life.’ Helena also shares the importance of spreading systemic and economic literacy, which is a mission she works toward at Local Futures.