
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 c... more
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 438 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Earth SciencesNatural SciencesScience | |||

In this week's Frankly, Nate examines the possibility that global economic growth is approaching its limits, reframing it as a historically unusual period in human history enabled by an extraordinary inheritance of fossil fuels. By tracing the relati... more
With headlines reporting that oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz are recovering to pre-war levels, it seems that the oil supply chains have stabilized – yet prices and availability don't tell the same story. Over two billion barrels of expected... more
In the face of increasing chaos in our world, Nate turns inward in this week's Frankly to examine a more personal question: what allows an individual to remain grounded, authentic, and capable of contributing meaningfully in turbulent times? He draws... more
Many of us question the core principles of individualism, competition, and transaction our current civilization is founded on. But with an entire culture steeped in these ideals, we don't know where to look for a different way forward. Thankfully, ag... more
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I seldom feel compelled enough to write a review, but the Great Simplification is my absolute favorite podcast. It takes subjects I feel are generally artificially siloed and instead weaves them together to provide a more comprehensive, systemic perspective of all the issues that affect us today. Thank you, Nate, for your perspective. It’s much appreciated.
I appreciate how some of your guests view the individual as having agency over the path of the super-organism. I disagree. I think of it how Bill Rees puts it; whatever resources I forgo aren’t now saved, they are taken up by another individual.
I would love to hear a round table with landfill experts, that’s a story worth exploring to understand the logistics required to build up a landfill.
Thanks for great work TGS team!
I deeply admire Nate and his open and humble approach to this difficult topic. Nate explores the nature of or civilization’s most pressing problems with a sincere and non-prescriptive attitude together with countless amazing and important thinkers and doers.
Thank you for your amazing work, Nate.
Hierarchy can be good as a scaffold but this is a very odd take and use on the term third person and post modernism especially if you look at how all that has been used before. Also plenty of people were “we” based long before 100 years ago and this is not linear. Too “good guys vs bad guys” framed, like if you don’t become exactly this way you are some lower. There are lots of other avenues. I fear this this could lead to non dual coming to mean “become one like me”
I feel like Bill is one of the few who tells it how it really is. A lot of people don’t paint the picture like he does, they gloss over it or avoid it all together.
Bill is essential listening to enlighten people about the reality.
I’d love to hear if you could do an episode about landfills too.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #42 | |
Apple Podcasts | #2 | |
Apple Podcasts | #50 | |
Spotify | #36 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #2 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A thoughtful, systems-focused show that probes the forces shaping the human-nature predicament across ecology, energy, economics, and geopolitics. Conversations center on how complex feedbacks, constraints, and scarce resources drive long-term outcomes, with frequent emphasis on resilience, robustness, and practical action at household and community scales. Guests range from scientists and policy experts to energy strategists and sustainability practitioners, offering rigorous analysis paired with actionable ideas for individuals and organizations navigating a rapidly changing world. A distinguishing thread is connecting deep technical understanding to real-world decisions, from local land stewardship and regenerative finance to global supp... more
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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 438 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on this podcast include:
1. Rory Johnston
2. Robin Wall Kimmerer
3. Indy Johar
4. Art Berman
5. Zeke Hausfather
6. Robert A. Pape
7. Sarah Wilson
8. Roman Yampolskiy
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