(Recorded May 26, 2025)
In a world grappling with converging crises, we often look outward – for new tech, new markets, new distractions. But the deeper issue lies within: our relationship with energy, nature, and each other. What if we step back far enough to see human civilization itself as an organism that is growing without a plan?
In this week’s Frankly — adapted from a recent TED talk like presentation (called Ignite) — Nate outlines how humanity is part of a global economic superorganism, driven by abundant energy and the emergent properties of billions of humans working towards the same goal. Rather than focusing on surface-level solutions, Nate invites us to confront the underlying dynamics of consumption and profit. It’s a perspective that defies soundbite culture — requiring not a slogan, but a deeper reckoning with how the world actually works.
These are not quick-fix questions, but the kinds that demand slow thinking in a world hooked on speed. What if infinite growth on a finite planet isn't just unrealistic – but the root of our unfolding crisis? In a system designed for more, how do we begin to value enough? And at this civilizational crossroads, what will you choose to nurture: power, or life?
Show Notes and More:
https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/frankly-original/97-the-superorganism-in-7-minutes
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00:00 - Introduction
02:45 - The Superorganism in 7 Minutes
03:33 - Energy
04:14 - The Carbon Pulse
05:20 - The Economic Superorganism
08:04 - Limits to Growth
09:30 - The Great Simplification
11:10 - What Can We Do?
12:45 - Closing Thoughts