Danny Crichton — Player of Games (EP.239)

Danny Crichton is a man of many talents. He’s got a background in computer science, has worked in the worlds of foreign policy, was a managing editor at Techcrunch, and now serves as Head of Editorial at Lux Capital.

As Lux’s de-facto games master, Danny also devises their Riskgames: strategic simulations that immerse players in complex scenarios reflecting real-world challenges and dynamics. These games – whose players include senators, major generals, congressmen and, think-tank CEOs – include scenarios like ‘Hamptons at the Cross-Roads’ (that deals with climate change and maritime security) and ‘Powering Up’ (that deals with China’s global EV dominance).

Danny and I discuss the origins of Riskgaming and the lessons he’s learned in high-stakes games with tech founders and government officials. Plus, we riff on our shared Minnesotan roots, and discuss ways to combat the uncertain fog of war in our careers.

I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.

Important Links:

• Danny's Twitter
• Danny's LinkedIn
• Danny's Personal Website
• Lux Securities Newsletter
• The Riskgaming Initiative

Show Notes:

• Origins of Riskgaming
• The Different Play Styles between Technologists and Policymakers
• One-off games vs. Iterative games
• The Game Theoretic Foundations of Riskgaming
• It’s All About Tough Decisions
• Parable of the First Mover Disadvantage
• The Importance of Incentives
• Why Insurance Companies are Obsessed with Truth in the Market
• How AIs Can Cut Through Bureaucratic Slog
• How Danny Builds Scenarios
• Why Riskgaming Teaches Better Decision Making
• Danny’s Thoughts on Intellectual Humility
• Danny and Jim’s Minnesotan Heritage
• Danny’s experience launching TechCrunch+
• Facing the Fog of War
• The Importance of Agility
• Danny as Emperor of the World

Books Mentioned:

• Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter
• Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places; by Paul Collier