The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens Podcast

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Nate Hagens
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Earth Sciences #58 in Science Social Sciences Society & Culture
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9.8K - 16.3K listeners Female/Male 4.8 rating 653 reviews 299 episodes USA
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The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens explores money, energy, economy, and the environment with world experts and leaders to understand how everything fits together, and where we go from here.

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens.

Hosts

Previous Guests

Linguist, author and filmmaker, Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the international non-profit organisation, Local Futures. She is a pioneer of the new economy movement, the convenor of World Localization Day, and an expert in understanding the ecological, social, and psychological effects of the global economy on diverse cultures. Additionally, Helena is the author of several books, including Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh.
Frankly is a media platform or host that produces episodes exploring cultural and societal topics, often featuring discussions on resilience, adaptation, and human behavior.
Dr. Zak Stein is a philosopher of education, Co-founder of the Center for World Philosophy and Religion, the Civilization Research Institute, the Consilience Project, and Lectica, Inc. He has authored numerous papers and books on education and societal issues.
Frank is a speaker and presenter known for his TED talk-like presentation called Ignite, where he discusses the concept of human civilization as a growing organism and explores systemic issues related to energy and societal growth.
Malin Pinsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Santa Cruz. His expertise includes the adaptation of ocean life to climate change, applications to ocean conservation and fisheries. He has authored over 120 publications in prominent journals such as Science and Nature. Pinsky is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an Earth Leadership Fellow, and an Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America. He serves on advisory boards for the Beijer Institute of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Oceana, and the Chewonki Foundation.

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Nate Hagens
@thegreatsimplification

Channel Stats

Subscribers: 78,800
Total Videos: 721
Total Views: 8,743,839
Joined: Apr 26, 2019
Location: United States

Description

The Great Simplification is a podcast that explores the systems science underpinning the human predicament. Through conversations with experts and leaders hosted by Dr. Nate Hagens, we explore topics spanning ecology, economics, energy, geopolitics, human behavior, and monetary/financial systems. Our goal is to provide a simple educational resource for the complex energetic, physical, and social constraints ahead, and to inspire people to play a role in our collective future. Ultimately, we aim to normalize these conversations and, in doing so, change the initial conditions of future events.

The “Frankly” Video Playlist is where Nate takes a deeper dive into the concepts of his work, offers candid takes on the future implications of current events, and evokes thought-provoking questions to spur the dialogue about the human predicament.

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Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens.

0:00 1:18:34

Globalization End Game: How Localization Builds Resilient Communities & Economies with Helena Norberg-Hodge

Hosts
Nate Hagens
Guests
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Keywords
globalization localization resilient communities economic globalization environmental degradation social fragmentation cultural erosion local economies systemic challenges global growth model

Over the last few decades, humanity has globalized everything from food production and supply chains to communication and information systems making countries, businesses, and individuals more connected and reliant on each other than ever before. Yet, with this increased interconnectedness comes more complexity and fragility. What have we lost through the globalization process, and how might we fortify our communities by investing in local economies?

In this episode, Nate is joined by Helena Norberg-Hodge a leading voice in the localization movement to explore the deep systemic challenges posed by economic globalization. Together, they examine how the global growth model has fueled environmental degradation, social fragmentation, and cultural erosion, and why shifting toward localized economies might be one of the most effective (and overlooked) responses to our predicament. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience, Helena invites us to question the assumptions underpinning our globalized lives and imagine a future rooted in local reconnection.

How might we rekindle a sense of enough in a world that constantly tells us we need more? As globalization begins to retreat, what small but meaningful steps can we take to relocalize our lives and reconnect with each other? And what kind of futures might be possible if we centered our communities around systems that regenerate the very places we call home?

(Conversation recorded on May 7th, 2025)

About Helena Norberg-Hodge:

Linguist, author and filmmaker, Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the international non-profit organisation, Local Futures. She is also a pioneer of the new economy movement, the convenor of World Localization Day, and an expert in understanding the ecological, social, and psychological effects of the global economy on diverse cultures.

Additionally, Helena is the author of several books, including Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh, an eye-opening tale of tradition and change in Ladakh, or Little Tibet. Together with a film of the same title, Ancient Futures has been translated into more than 40 languages, and sold half a million copies. Helena has continued to produce several other short films, including the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness.

Helena specialized in linguistics, including studies at the University of London and with Noam Chomsky at MIT. Her work, spanning almost half a century, has received the support of a wide range of international figures, including Jane Goodall, HH the Dalai Lama, HRH Prince Charles and Indira Gandhi.

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0:00 20:21

10 Qualities That Could Change the Future: The Seeds of New Cultural Mitochondria | Frankly 98

Hosts
Nate Hagens
Guests
Frankly
Keywords
cultural mitochondria resilience cooperation metabolize anxiety empathy humility grief adaptation human predicament behavior change

Living in a period increasingly fraught by various crises and risks, it is more necessary than ever to be able to metabolize anxiety into something useful. But what about at a cultural level? The behaviors that the current economic superstructure rewards cannot form the basis of what emerges from its ashes…we require new ways of thinking and living that put us in closer relationship to one another and the planet around us. In a system structured to serve as a dissipative structure, how do we plant the seeds of something that is more resilient and cooperative?

In this week’s Frankly, Nate addresses how we, as humans, might adapt and take on characteristics that will allow us to face the coming challenges of our world head-on. Through a framework of “cultural mitochondria,” Nate explores 10 traits that will help to shape the way we move through and address the human predicament. These are not far off ideals to think about once, then forget about. These are behaviors that require deep and regular practice, perhaps one of the most important tasks of our time.

How can we become more grounded and regulated in our bodies in order to become agents of change? What does it mean to metabolize grief into resilience and action? And how do we expand empathy and humility for one another as we grapple with increasingly isolating conditions?

(Recorded June 1, 2025)

 

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0:00 1:49:55

AI’s Unseen Risks: How Artificial Intelligence Could Harm Future Generations with Zak Stein

Hosts
Nate Hagens
Guests
Zak Stein
Keywords
artificial intelligence education children's development critical thinking technology ethics society impact regulation of AI human connection

While most industries are embracing artificial intelligence, citing profit and efficiency, the tech industry is pushing AI into education under the guise of ‘inevitability’. But the focus on its potential benefits for academia eclipses the pressing (and often invisible) risks that AI poses to children – including the decline of critical thinking, the inability to connect with other humans, and even addiction. With the use of AI becoming more ubiquitous by the day, we must ask ourselves: can our education systems adequately protect children from the potential harms of AI?

In this episode, Nate is joined once again by philosopher of education Zak Stein to delve into the far-reaching implications of technology – especially artificial intelligence – on the future of education. Together, they examine the risks of over-reliance on AI for the development of young minds, as well as the broader impact on society and some of the biggest existential risks. Zak explores the ethical challenges of adopting AI into educational systems, emphasizing the enduring value of traditional skills and the need for a balanced approach to integrating technology with human values (not just the values of tech companies).

What steps are available to us today – from interface design to regulation of access – to limit the negative effects of Artificial Intelligence on children? How can parents and educators keep alive the pillars of independent thinking and foundational learning as AI threatens them? Ultimately, is there a world where Artificial Intelligence could become a tool to amplify human connection and socialization – or might it replace them entirely? 

(Conversation recorded on May 12th, 2025)  

 

About Zak Stein:

Dr. Zak Stein is a philosopher of education, as well as a Co-founder of the Center for World Philosophy and Religion. He is also the Co-founder of Civilization Research Institute, the Consilience Project, and Lectica, Inc. He is the author of dozens of published papers and two books, including Education in a Time Between Worlds. Zak recieved his EdD from Harvard University. 

 

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Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.

 

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0:00 14:46

Why the World Feels Like It’s Falling Apart: The Superorganism Explained in 7 Minutes | Frankly 97

Hosts
Nate Hagens
Guests
Frank
Keywords
energy human civilization superorganism converging crises growth consumption profit finite planet value civilizational crossroads

In a world grappling with converging crises, we often look outward – for new tech, new markets, new distractions. But the deeper issue lies within: our relationship with energy, nature, and each other. What if we step back far enough to see human civilization itself as an organism that is growing without a plan?

In this week’s Frankly — adapted from a recent TED talk like presentation (called Ignite) — Nate outlines how humanity is part of a global economic superorganism, driven by abundant energy and the emergent properties of billions of humans working towards the same goal. Rather than focusing on surface-level solutions, Nate invites us to confront the underlying dynamics of consumption and profit. It’s a perspective that defies soundbite culture — requiring not a slogan, but a deeper reckoning with how the world actually works.

These are not quick-fix questions, but the kinds that demand slow thinking in a world hooked on speed. What if infinite growth on a finite planet isn't just unrealistic – but the root of our unfolding crisis? In a system designed for more, how do we begin to value enough? And at this civilizational crossroads, what will you choose to nurture: power, or life?

(Recorded May 26, 2025)

 

Show Notes and More

Watch this video episode on YouTube

 

Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.

 

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0:00 1:05:05

The Fish are Fleeing: How Shifting Marine Ecosystems are Upending Life with Malin Pinsky

Hosts
Nate Hagens
Guests
Malin Pinsky
Keywords
marine ecosystems ocean temperatures fish migrations biodiversity climate change food security geopolitical stability

For all of human history, the oceans and the life within them have remained a stable and fundamental part of Earth as we know it. Yet, for the past few decades, fisheries and scientists alike have observed massive migrations in marine ecosystems unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed. What is driving these unprecedented movements, and how are they rippling out to affect every aspect of life

In this conversation, Nate is joined by marine ecologist Malin Pinsky, whose decades of research shed light on the dramatic migrations of marine species due to rising ocean temperatures. Malin breaks down the science behind these changes – from declining oxygen levels pushing fish toward the poles, to the cascading impacts on intricate marine food webs, as well as the growing threat of localized extinctions among key fishery species.

How has a cultural disconnect from the importance of biodiversity and the interdependence of life led to such a drastic impact on the function of our oceans? What do these changes mean for humanity, including impacts on global food security and geopolitical stability? Finally, could reconnecting with the ocean’s abundant, diverse ecosystems help us reduce our impact on these deep, blue pillars of life? 

(Conversation recorded on April 22nd, 2025) 

More TGS Ocean Episodes

 

About Malin Pinsky:

Malin Pinsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Santa Cruz with expertise in the adaptation of ocean life to climate change and applications to ocean conservation and fisheries. His more than 120 publications have appeared in Science, Nature, and other journals. 

He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an Earth Leadership Fellow, and an Early Career Fellow of the Ecological Society of America. Pinsky serves on advisory boards for the Beijer Institute of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the non-profit Oceana, and the Chewonki Foundation. He grew up exploring tidepools and mountains in Maine.

 

Show Notes and More

Watch this video episode on YouTube

 

Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.

 

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Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future

Join our Substack newsletter

Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners

 

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