The "What is Money?" Show

Are We Better Than Nature? w/ Michael Sullivan

20 snips
Dec 12, 2025
Guest
Michael Sullivan
Michael Sullivan, co-founder of Blockware Intelligence and author of "Blood of the Bourgeoisie," dives deep into humanity's complicated relationship with nature and technology. He unpacks the dangers of attempting to "play God" and the hidden costs of intervening in natural systems. Through engaging discussions on storytelling, he highlights how to make complex concepts like Bitcoin relatable and emotional. Michael argues for the power of fiction in conveying truths and stresses humility in our understanding of complex systems, warning against central planning's pitfalls.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Illusion Of Control Over Nature

  • Humans overestimate control when meddling with complex natural systems.
  • Michael Sullivan warns that interventions (e.g., genetic edits, geoengineering) often produce catastrophic unintended consequences.
INSIGHT

Hormesis Builds Resilience

  • Removing stressors can weaken systems because stress builds resilience.
  • Sullivan uses the greenhouse analogy: sheltered trees break when exposed to natural forces.
ADVICE

Lead With Story, Not Specs

  • Use story and narrative to emotionally engage people before explaining technical details.
  • Introduce Bitcoin pragmatically and show how it applies to a person's life to inspire curiosity.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app