Maitt Saiwyer

"The Saga of Human Civilization" is the definitive, -episode journey through the entire arc of human history, from the emergence of consciousness to the challenges of the digital age. This series rejects simple narratives of kings and dates, instead exploring the deep forces—biological, cultural, and economic—that built the modern world. Each week, we will investigate a critical turning point in the human story, drawing on seminal works of history, philosophy, and science. We begin with the Cognitive Revolution, examining how shared fictions like language and myth enabled Homo sapiens to conquer the globe, only to find themselves trapped by the Agrarian Revolution and the subsequent rise of inequality. We then delve into the rise and collision of the classical and medieval world powers, from Plato’s ideal state and the Mandate of Heaven in China to the cultural zenith of the Islamic Golden Age. We examine the great globalizers—the Crusaders, the Mongols, and the explorers of —and track the monumental intellectual shifts of the Enlightenment: the rise of capitalism under Adam Smith, the call for revolution by Rousseau and Marx, and the challenge to creationism posed by Darwin. Finally, we confront the great conflicts and crises of the 20th century, analyzing the rise and fall of totalitarianism, the psychological toll of empire (Fanon), and the modern fight for human autonomy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism. This is the story of how we learned to cooperate, how we fought, how we innovated, and where we go next. It is the full, complex, and unblinking saga of us.

The Food System: From Farm to Fork is the definitive, 100-episode journey that uncovers the hidden costs and potential solutions embedded in what we eat every day. We dive deep into the forces—from corporate monopolies to climate change—that shape our dinner plate, exploring everything from the industrial corn maze to the politics of the perfect tomato. Each episode dissects a critical piece of the chain, revealing how agricultural policy, global trade, and unseen labor struggles impact the quality of our food and the health of the planet. We explore the great debates: pitting the efficiency of AgTech and vertical farms against the resilience of regenerative agriculture and ancestral wisdom. Our focus is on the radical idea that the health of the soil microbiome holds the key to drawing down atmospheric carbon and ensuring global food security. You'll gain a geopolitical understanding of food, learning how historical choices in farming have driven everything from empire building to modern social inequality. This is more than just a critique; it is a blueprint for change, drawing on the wisdom of 50 foundational books and the insights of farmers, scientists, and activists. Join us as we challenge the illusion of cheap food, unpack the ethical consequences of our consumption, and empower you to participate in building a more just, resilient, and delicious food system.

Welcome to the front lines of digital conflict, where the stakes are global and the battleground is code. Global Cyber Security: The Encrypted Podcast is your essential guide through the complex world of modern defense, strategic warfare, and digital privacy. Over 100 deep-dive episodes, we dissect the foundational texts that define our secure—and insecure—digital reality. We go beyond the headlines to explore applied cryptography, threat modeling, and secure cloud architecture, explaining the core mathematics and engineering practices that protect your data at scale. From the anatomy of nation-state attacks like Sandworm and Stuxnet to the dark economics of the zero-day market, we trace the full contours of the global cyber-arms race. You will learn about the critical intersection of technology and policy, including the psychological principles behind social engineering and the necessary shift to Zero Trust models. Our mission is to transform passive fear into actionable knowledge, preparing executives, developers, and practitioners for the next generation of threats. Each two-part episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of a single seminal work, guiding you from historical context to future-proof defensive strategies. Join us as we unlock the secrets of network defense and explore the technical solutions required to build a truly encrypted and resilient digital future. This is the technical deep-dive and strategic analysis you need to navigate global cybersecurity with confidence.

Behind every billion-dollar fortune is a story they don’t want told. Billionaire Biographies is the definitive podcast that uncovers the real lives of the titans who have shaped our world for the last one hundred years—from the robber barons of the Gilded Age to the tech gods of Silicon Valley. We go beyond the sanitized myths and official histories to expose the ambition, the genius, and the brutal tactics that built the world’s greatest empires. This isn't a celebration of wealth; it's an investigation of power. We dissect the lives of figures like John D. Rockefeller, Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk, revealing the scandals, the family feuds, and the human cost behind their legendary success. We explore how their innovations transformed society and how their relentless pursuit of money and influence reshaped politics, culture, and the very rules of the game. If you want to understand how true power is acquired and wielded, and the price the rest of the world pays for it, this is the podcast for you. Join us for an unflinching look at the figures who control our past, present, and future.

What if you could master the most powerful business ideas of the last two millennia? Welcome to The Business Canon, the definitive 1,000-episode audio masterclass designed to build your foundation of timeless wisdom. Each week, our AI hosts conduct a Deep Dive: a lively, in-depth conversation unpacking the core ideas from our curated library of over 100 seminal business books. We don't just skim the surface; we dedicate multi-part series to the most foundational texts, connecting timeless principles of strategy, leadership, and innovation to the complex challenges of today's world. Whether you're an entrepreneur building the next big thing, a seasoned executive navigating complexity, or a curious student of commerce, this is your audio library of essential knowledge. Subscribe to The Business Canon and join us on an epic intellectual journey, one deep dive at a time.

Artificial Intelligence is rewriting the rules of technology, society, and even humanity itself. Welcome to "Artificial Intelligence: AI at the Edge," a 100-episode journey through the science, history, ethics, and politics of AI. Each episode is anchored in one of the seminal books that has shaped and defined this revolutionary field. We begin by tracing AI’s evolution, from Alan Turing’s foundational theories and Marvin Minsky’s early machines to the modern breakthroughs in deep learning and reinforcement learning. The series then confronts the complex human side of this technology, exploring its hidden costs, the hype, its incredible promises, and its potential futures. We'll delve into everything from the corporate power struggles shaping the industry to the profound dream, and inherent danger, of a technological singularity. Our discussions will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of how we arrived at this moment. Whether you’re a builder, a skeptic, a policymaker, or simply AI-curious, this podcast offers the imagination and insight needed to navigate the technology shaping our century. Think of this as your guided tour through the new canon of artificial intelligence. Join creator Maitt Saiwyer to understand where AI is taking us, and the role we all play at the edge of tomorrow.

What does it really take to lead? From Plato’s philosopher-kings to Brené Brown’s call for courageous leadership, this podcast journeys through history’s most influential writings on power, vision, and character. Each episode uncovers timeless wisdom from philosophers, generals, reformers, and business thinkers — blending classical insights with modern case studies. Whether it’s Machiavelli’s playbook for power, Jim Collins’s path from good to great, or Simon Sinek’s search for why, Leadership Through the Ages reveals the lessons that shape leaders across centuries. Expect inspiring quotes, vivid stories, and practical takeaways you can apply to your own leadership journey. If you want to understand not just how to manage, but how to inspire — this podcast is your roadmap.

Welcome to The Art if Influence, the show that cuts through all the information noise to get to what really matters. We offer a shortcut to being genuinely well-informed by digging into different sources to find those key insights. Our mission is to connect threads that seem totally separate, helping you see the patterns that are often overlooked. We believe that true value, whether in resources or in people, often requires a fundamental shift in perspective. Each episode challenges our basic assumptions about where worth and value can be found. We explore societal blindness to both obvious material value, like a hidden oil field, and the unrecognized genius of entire groups of people. It all comes back to how we see the world and the viewpoints we choose to question. This is the kind of critical thinking we aim to spark with every episode. The Art if Influence provides quick, thorough knowledge with details that stick, sharpening your perspective source by source. Join us to explore the hidden "acres of diamonds"—all the knowledge and human stories waiting to be discovered.

"Every building tells a story — of vision, materials, and the people who bring it to life. But behind every great structure lies a history of best practices that shaped the way we build today." In Foundations & Futures, we uncover the seminal books, ideas, and breakthroughs that defined construction across centuries. From Vitruvius and Palladio’s ancient wisdom, to Lean Construction and digital twins, this series explores how builders, architects, and managers turned theory into practice and practice into industry standards. Each episode blends storytelling, history, and real-world examples to show how construction evolved from craft guilds and cathedral masons into today’s multi-billion-dollar projects powered by data, AI, and sustainability. Whether you’re a construction professional, an architecture enthusiast, or simply fascinated by the built world around you, this podcast offers timeless lessons and future-facing insights. Listen in, and discover how the past built the present — and how today is shaping the future of construction.

From ancient scriptures to modern bestsellers, The Living Library of Spirit takes you on a journey through the most influential spiritual books ever written. Each episode brings a classic work to life—blending history, storytelling, and reflection—while showing how timeless wisdom can illuminate the challenges of modern living. Explore the Upanishads, Tao Te Ching, The Bhagavad Gita, and The Dhammapada. Walk with Christian mystics like St. Augustine, Teresa of Ávila, and John of the Cross. Reflect on Thoreau’s Walden and William James’ Varieties of Religious Experience. Meet modern guides like Paramahansa Yogananda, Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, Tara Brach, Richard Rohr, and many more. Whether you are seeking inspiration, exploring different traditions, or deepening your own spiritual practice, this series offers a map across traditions and centuries. Each 1-hour episode is designed to not only inform but also to invite reflection—with guided practices, thought-provoking questions, and timeless teachings. This is not just a podcast—it’s a journey through the living wisdom of the spirit.