The Flux by Epistemix

Epistemix

Welcome to The Flux - where we talk data, decisions, and stories of people asking the what-if questions to create an intentional impact on the future. 

  1. 11. März

    From Archaeology to Algorithms: Exploring Human Systems with Agent-Based Models with Stefani Crabtree

    At the Complex Systems Society of the Americas conference in Santa Fe, host John sits down with archaeologist and complexity scientist Stefani Crabtree to explore the unexpected paths that lead to agent-based modeling. From studying theater and music to traveling the world on a fellowship and working in contract archaeology, Stefani’s journey into computational modeling was anything but linear. In this episode, Stefani shares how agent-based models help researchers reconstruct the past from exchange networks in the American Southwest to the rise and collapse of hierarchy in ancestral Pueblo societies. She explains why modeling human systems is both powerful and controversial, how simple models can resolve decades-long academic debates, and why thinking like a modeler changes the way scientists approach complex questions. The conversation also explores how insights from archaeology can inform modern policy, including work with Aboriginal communities in Australia that influenced government decision-making. Along the way, Stefani reflects on “What the Flux” moments turning points where different choices might have changed history or her own life, from the halted expansion of the Mongol Empire to a near-career in music. It’s a wide-ranging discussion about complexity, history, and the power of asking “what if?”

  2. 13.10.2025

    Big Data, Little Brain: Making Structural Components Known and Emergent Outcomes Clear with Paolo Gaudiano

    In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix, sits down with Paolo Gaudiano, a complexity scientist turned DEI innovator, whose journey spans neuroscience, agent-based modeling, and the business of inclusion. Together, they explore what happens when we stop treating diversity as a box to check and start understanding it as an emergent property of complex systems. Paolo shares how he uses agent-based modeling to connect individual experiences to organizational outcomes, revealing why attempts to “fix diversity” often fail and how measuring inclusion can transform both workplace culture and financial performance. He also explains the danger of “big data, little brain” thinking and how true insight requires combining domain expertise with dynamic modeling. Whether you’re a data scientist, executive, or systems thinker, this episode will challenge how you see data, decisions, and the future of organizational design.

  3. 08.07.2025

    Strategic Innovation in Public Health with Les Craig

    Les Craig joins us to discuss how simulation and synthetic data are changing the way organizations prepare for infectious disease outbreaks. From helping public health leaders visualize complex scenarios to enabling pharmaceutical companies to explore new R&D pathways, Les explains how advanced modeling technology empowers faster, smarter decisions. This episode unpacks how simulation can move ideas from theory to action and why creating low-risk environments for experimentation is key to building long-term trust and value in emerging tech.

  4. 23.06.2025

    Designing for Uncertainty with Mickey McManus

    In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier sits down with innovation pioneer Mickey McManus to explore what it means to design for uncertainty in a world where complexity is the norm. Mickey draws on decades of experience from leading Maya Design and shaping decision-support tools for DARPA, to helping build the Future of Learning team at Autodesk to share insights on how human-centered design, systems thinking, and simulation can empower better decisions when the stakes are high and clarity is scarce. Together, John and Mickey unpack stories ranging from battlefield strategies in Iraq to fifth-grade prototyping workshops, illustrating how the right tools, environments, and mindsets can turn chaos into creativity. They dive into the importance of creating interaction physics in digital tools, the role of cognitive diversity in teams, and how simulation both technological and social builds resilience and foresight. Whether you're a designer, strategist, educator, or technologist, this episode offers a compelling lens on how to build for adaptability, foster innovation, and empower decision-makers in an age of flux.

  5. 09.06.2025

    The Role of Sentiment and Social Dynamics in Public Health Models with Philippe Giabbanelli

    In this episode of The Flux, we explore how modeling trust, belief, and social sentiment can unlock deeper insights in public health. Our guest, Philippe Giabbanelli, shares how agent-based models are evolving to capture not just behaviors, but the opinions and social dynamics that drive them like vaccine hesitancy or trust in institutions. We discuss the challenges of representing complex human psychology in simulations, the importance of sentiment in shaping real-world outcomes, and how these models are being used to support decision-making in uncertain, high-stakes environments. If you’ve ever wondered how data can reflect what people think, not just what they do, this conversation offers a compelling look into the future of predictive modeling.

  6. 19.05.2025

    Glory Days of Modeling: Dan Eichelsdoerfer on Building Macrocosm

    In a world full of linear thinking, Dan Eichelsdoerfer is building a company grounded in complexity. In this episode, Dan joins The Flux to discuss why agent-based models are finally ready for prime time and how Macrocosm is creating tools to simulate economic and energy systems with more nuance, flexibility, and realism than ever before. Dan talks about the interdisciplinary “glory days” of modeling inside Macrocosm, where economists, physicists, and data scientists come together to break old paradigms and challenge assumptions. From applying agent-based models to simulate energy markets to envisioning what sustainable economics might actually look like, this is a masterclass in thinking differently to make better decisions. If you'd like to reach out to Dan and his team, email them at info@macrocosm.group.

  7. 05.05.2025

    From Chaos to Clarity with Doyne Farmer: Why Agent-Based Models Matter Now

    On this episode of The Flux, agent-based models (ABMs) have long lived on the fringes of mainstream economics but that’s changing. Doyne Farmer breaks down how advances in computing and data are fueling a new era of bottom-up modeling. He explains where ABMs outperform traditional models, why certain fields (like epidemiology and traffic systems) adopted them earlier, and how economics is finally catching up. We explore the structural and behavioral complexity that ABMs are uniquely suited to handle and what it will take to shift institutional thinking in policy and business.

  8. 22.04.2025

    Mining Meaning: Laura Sheppard on Gender, Academia, and the Power of Public Data

    In this episode of The Flux, we talk with Laura Sheppard, a research fellow at University College London’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies, about how data mining can uncover powerful insights from unexpected sources. Laura shares her work using the British Library’s Ethos dataset, a comprehensive record of UK doctoral theses - to explore gender inequality in higher education. We discuss the process of inferring gender from names, the challenges of working with messy or incomplete data, and how publicly available datasets can be creatively repurposed to answer socially important questions. Laura also touches on her work with The Trussell Trust, combining geographic and census data to map food bank accessibility in the UK. This conversation is a deep dive into the art and science of data mining, and how thoughtful assumptions, transparent methodology, and a bit of creativity can turn raw data into meaningful research.

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Welcome to The Flux - where we talk data, decisions, and stories of people asking the what-if questions to create an intentional impact on the future. 

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  • Erstellt von
    Epistemix
  • Jahre aktiv
    2024 - 2026
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    25
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