The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens
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.
- Update frequency
- every 4 days
- Average duration
- 62 minutes
- Episodes
- 320
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Sian Sutherland: "Innovating the Business of Plastics”
On this episode, Nate is joined by Sian Sutherland, a leader in the movement towards reducing the overconsumption of plastic and its waste. The modern era is dependent on fossil fuels for many reason…
Robert Sapolsky: "The Brain, Determinism, and Cultural Implications”
On this episode, neuroscientist and author Robert Sapolsky joins Nate to discuss the structure of the human brain and its implication on behavior and our ability to change. Dr. Sapolsky also unpacks …
Titanic Oceans: Daniel Pauly, Antonio Turiel, Peter Ward | Reality Roundtable #04
On this Reality Roundtable, marine biologist Daniel Pauly, ocean physicist Antonio Turiel, and paleobiologist Peter Ward join Nate to discuss the numerous oft-overlooked threats to the Earth’s great …
The Many Shapes of the Carbon Pulse | Frankly #44
In this Frankly, Nate describes the Carbon Pulse - a one time massive consumption of fossil hydrocarbons at a pace millions of times faster than they were created. He outlines the many shapes that th…
Graham Palmer: "Energy Storage and Civilization: A History”
On this episode, Nate is joined by Graham Palmer, a scholar and engineer in the field of energy. While this show frequently covers the importance of energy itself, this discussion focuses on how the …
Fossil Energy Subsidies: The Bottom Line | Frankly #43
In this week’s Frankly, Nate reacts to recent analysis by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) critical of 2022 subsidies to fossil fuel. These subsidies - by IMF math totalling $7+ trillion - are n…
Lisi Krall: "Agriculture, Surplus, and the Economic Superorganism”
On this episode, ‘Superorganisms’ converge as Nate is joined by economist and anthropologist Lisi Krall to discuss the evolutionary origins of our current systemic predicament. Starting with the Agri…
Running the 'Systems Discourse' Gauntlet | Frankly #42
In this week’s Frankly, Nate considers 7 different continuums of perspectives people use when taking part in a “systems” discourse, such as The Great Simplification podcast is attempting. In such co…
Iain McGilchrist: “Wisdom, Nature, and the Brain”
On this episode, literary scholar and psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist joins Nate to discuss the way modern culture teaches and encourages us to use - and not use - the two lobes of our brains. While mo…
Jean-Marc Jancovici: "Our Global Energy Predicament"
On this episode, Nate is joined by well-known French educator Jean-Marc Jancovici to discuss the critical importance of energy to modern economies. Together, Nate and Jean-Marc break down the fundame…
Unlearning Economics: Jon Erickson, Josh Farley, Steve Keen, & Kate Raworth | Reality Roundtable #03
On this Reality Roundtable, Nate is joined by Jon Erickson, Josh Farley, Steve Keen, and Kate Raworth - all of whom are leading thinkers and educators in the field of heterodox economics. In this liv…
Just Stop Oil !? Part 4 - The Intersection | Frankly #41
In Part 4 of this Frankly mini-series, Nate concludes the deep dive into the nexus between “just stopping oil” and “just pumping oil” with 10 guideposts which might help us to navigate through the in…
Doomberg: "Our Fragile Energy Economy"
On this episode, Nate is joined by Doomberg - the anonymous energy/finance analyst team (visually presenting as a talking chicken icon) who uses an energy lens to analyze global trends in the economy…
Just Stop Oil !? Part 3 - 10 Pathways to Post-Growth | Frankly #40
In Part 3 of this Frankly Series, Nate (just after watching the movie Oppenheimer!) breaks down the logic of how we COULD arrive at a post-growth future. Our global situation is complex and not stati…
Kevin Anderson: "The Uncomfortable Link between Climate and Equity"
On this episode, Nate is joined by climate scientist Kevin Anderson to discuss the possible paths of averting severe climate outcomes and how this is interconnected with equity. As nations plan their…
Just Stop Oil !? Part 2 - Oil is the Economy | Frankly #39
In Part 2 of this Frankly Series, Nate breaks down why energy - and specifically oil - is currently the central foundation of our entire modern economic system. There are ecological and energetic law…
Roger Pielke Jr: "Understanding the Origins of Climate Models"
On this episode, Nate is joined by climate and policy scientist Roger Pielke Jr. to discuss the progression of climate research and modeling. The climate activist community is based around projection…
The 7 Things That Scare Me Most | Frankly #38
In this week’s Frankly, Nate expands upon something he finds himself saying more frequently these days; ”what scares me the most is…”. From the likelihood of nuclear war to how our human in/action h…
Taimur Ahmad: "Energy Inequality in the Polycrisis"
On this episode, Nate is joined by recent Stanford graduate and biophysical researcher Taimur Ahmad to discuss energy inequality within and across nations. Taimur offers a unique perspective as someo…
Just Stop Oil !? Part 1 - Gasoline | Frankly #37
In this must watch Frankly, Nate illustrates how a reduction in the demand for gasoline will not - as commonly believed - result in a 1:1 reduction in the demand for oil. This is contrary to a wides…