The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

By Nate Hagens

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.

13 episodes

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All Episodes

Disruption Catalysts: Confronting Dependencies and Localizing Future Resilience

Mar 13, 2026

Global events disrupt our illusions of stability, forcing a confrontation with our true dependencies. Discover how to distinguish essential needs from familiar comforts before scarcity dictates your choices.

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Human Exceptionalism as Root of Ecological Crisis

Mar 11, 2026

Human exceptionalism fuels our ecological crisis. Challenging this belief reveals flawed systems and unlocks pathways to a more connected, sustainable existence.

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Strait of Hormuz Disruption: Cascading Systemic Risks Beyond Oil

Mar 10, 2026

Disrupting the Strait of Hormuz threatens more than oil prices; it risks crippling our physical economy by cutting off sulfur for critical minerals, fertilizers for food, and exposing military stock vulnerabilities.

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Reclaiming Personal Agency: Precondition for Collective Action

Mar 06, 2026

Reclaim

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West Sleepwalking Into Resource-Constrained Future Via Financial Market Focus

Mar 04, 2026

Discover how prioritizing financial markets over industrial capacity leaves the West vulnerable to rivals employing economic statecraft. Understand the hidden risks of ignoring material realities and gain a crucial advantage.

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AI-Generated Content Erodes Judgment, Demands Cognitive Discipline

Feb 27, 2026

AI-generated content floods us with "ultra-processed information," eroding our judgment. True discernment, not information itself, becomes the scarce, valuable resource.

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Inoculating Against Deception: Facts Are Insufficient to Counter Misinformation

Feb 25, 2026

Counter misinformation by understanding deception techniques, not just facts. This "inoculation" approach builds universal resilience against manipulation, appealing to a shared desire to avoid being tricked.

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Metrics Mask Systemic Decay and Economic Pain

Feb 23, 2026

Europe's renewable energy milestone masks deindustrialization and economic pain, revealing how progress metrics can obscure shrinking productive capacity and systemic decay.

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Human Instincts Amplified by Scale Create Systemic Crises

Feb 20, 2026

Ancient human instincts, amplified by scale, now drive global crises, not moral failings. Understand these systemic drivers to build durable solutions for a world that outpaces our intuition.

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The Farming Club Model: Cultivating Resilience and Skills Beyond Industrial Agriculture

Feb 18, 2026

Reclaim agency and community resilience by cultivating essential skills and a direct relationship with the land, moving beyond industrial agriculture's hidden costs.

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The Stability Imperative: Questioning Growth in an Age of Instability

Feb 13, 2026

Shift from growth to stability to build resilience. Uncover how prioritizing short-term gains erodes meaning and amplifies societal fragmentation, especially with AI.

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CO2's Deep History--Earth's Operating System and Our Disruption

Feb 11, 2026

CO2 is Earth's ancient thermostat, a miraculous molecule that built and sustains our planet. Understanding its deep history reveals our climate crisis stems from disrupting this delicate, four-billion-year balance.

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The Great Simplification: Interconnected Energy, Technology, and Ecological Challenges

Feb 09, 2026

Uncover how optimizing for short-term energy and tech gains creates systemic risks. Connect the dots on energy, AI, and ecological collapse to navigate a resource-constrained future.

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