47 episodes

Simplifying Complexity is a podcast about the underlying principles of complex systems. On the show, we explore the key concepts of complexity science with expert minds from around the world. Each episode focuses on an interview where we break down a specific concept in detail.

Simplifying Complexity Sean Brady from Brady Heywood

    • Science
    • 4.8 • 14 Ratings

Simplifying Complexity is a podcast about the underlying principles of complex systems. On the show, we explore the key concepts of complexity science with expert minds from around the world. Each episode focuses on an interview where we break down a specific concept in detail.

    Stereotypes and crime

    Stereotypes and crime

    We're joined again by Rajiv Sethi, Professor of Economics at Barnard College at Columbia University and External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute to explore the intersection between stereotyping, crime, and the justice system to understand criminal behaviour beyond simplistic explanations.
     
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 40 min
    The city of the future

    The city of the future

    What will the city of the future be like?
    To explore the future of our cities, we’re joined once more by Luis Bettencourt, Professor at the University of Chicago and External Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute, as he explains how urban areas will need to evolve in terms of infrastructure and sustainability to match pace with growing populations around the world.
     
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 37 min
    Governing the power grid

    Governing the power grid

    In today’s episode, we’re once again joined by Seth Blumsack, Professor of Energy Policy and Economics and International Affairs in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, to talk about the power grid.
    In the past, we’ve spoken to Seth about the history of the power grid and how the power grid fails. In today’s conversation, we discuss how it is governed.
     
     
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 33 min
    What makes music sound ‘good’?

    What makes music sound ‘good’?

    Today we're once again joined by Dmitri Tymoczko, Professor of Music at Princeton University. Last time, Dmitri talked about the geometry and patterns we hear in music and its history, particularly from the 1900s onwards.
    In this episode, Dmitri delves into some underlying principles that make music sound ‘good’.
     
    Resources and links:
    Dmitri Tymoczko’s website ‘Long As You Know You’re Living Yours’ by Keith Jarrett on Spotify  
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 41 min
    A puzzle, a problem, and a mess

    A puzzle, a problem, and a mess

    Gerald Ashley is the Co-founder and Managing Director of St Mawgan & Co, a London-based strategy and risk consulting agency.
    In today’s episode, Gerald explores the difference between risk and uncertainty, the challenges of managing them in the financial world, and how it can be powerful to split issues into either puzzles, problems, or messes.
     
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 41 min
    Is complexity economics the answer?

    Is complexity economics the answer?

    Nicholas Gruen is the CEO of Lateral Economics, Patron of the Australian Digital Alliance, and a Visiting Professor at Kings College London. 
    In this episode, Nicholas discusses the limitations of traditional economic models and emphasises the importance of nuanced problem-solving. He advocates for critical thinking and an interdisciplinary approach to decision-making within complex economic systems, and asks if embracing another paradigm, in this case, complexity economics, is really the answer. 
     
    Resources and links:
    Lateral Economics website  
    Connect:
    Simplifying Complexity on Twitter Sean Brady on Twitter Sean Brady on LinkedIn Brady Heywood website
    This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

    • 48 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

will505 ,

Trust in Brady

Some of the early episodes didn’t seem all that amazing to me, but I now realize they were laying the groundwork for some reason amazing insights on AI and Emergence that come later on. Excellent work!!

KevinMurphyLaw ,

A must listen

Next level thinking. Beyond contracts and engineering, it’s asking how this stuff really works—the people behind it all. Too often we ignore how the human factors affect our projects. One of the most insightful podcasts I’ve heard.

ThatWeirdPagerGuy ,

Absolutely the best!

Hands down the most fascinating pod I’ve found. It forces you to think about problems in a completely different way.

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