

Non-Zero-Sum James
Non-Zero-Sum James
A podcast where I read my blog to you, and chit-chat a little.
I'm Non-Zero-Sum James, your companion on this exploration of win-win games and how they are essential for a better future. I've been writing here at nonzerosum.games for a couple of years now, and decided it was finally time to reproduce the content in the form in which I usually consume media, audio. So, playing catch-up, every couple of days I'll be reading from the blog, exploring a new aspect of game theory, moral philosophy, ethical economics and AI—looking for solutions to the complex problems we face in our world together.
I'm Non-Zero-Sum James, your companion on this exploration of win-win games and how they are essential for a better future. I've been writing here at nonzerosum.games for a couple of years now, and decided it was finally time to reproduce the content in the form in which I usually consume media, audio. So, playing catch-up, every couple of days I'll be reading from the blog, exploring a new aspect of game theory, moral philosophy, ethical economics and AI—looking for solutions to the complex problems we face in our world together.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 2, 2026 • 8min
The End of Morality
A hopeful conclusion to Andrew Tane Glen's series "Why Cooperate" | See the original post and links here: https://nonzerosum.games/whycooperate3.html

Dec 31, 2025 • 4min
Why Cooperate?—Part 2
Andrew Tane Glen continues his 3-part series "Why Cooperate" | for the original post and links: https://nonzerosum.games/whycooperate2.html

Dec 29, 2025 • 5min
Why Cooperate?—Andrew Tane Glen introduces the super-defector
this week I've invited Andrew Tane Glen to read his guest post "Why Cooperate". Andrew a software engineer and an Aristotle scholar (with a Masters in Philosophy) and also my best mate, with whom I talk philosophy on the regular. His unique creative and analytical philosophical approach often yields unexpected insights—insights that have impacted the way I see the world. His conception of why we cooperate, which introduces his concept of the super defector is one that I return to often, so a while back I asked him to write about it. This is his three part series, why cooperate? | For the original post and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/whycooperate1.html

Dec 20, 2025 • 5min
What Can One Person do?—Alexei Navalny
Written on the day of Alexei Navalny's death, a meditation on courage & sacrifice. | For the original post with links and resources: https://nonzerosum.games/oneperson.html

Dec 13, 2025 • 11min
Masculinity—a case for courage
This one created a bit of a stir when I first wrote the post. Hopefully people can see that the message is a positive one, for everyone. | For the original post and links, visit: https://nonzerosum.games/masculinity.html

Nov 28, 2025 • 7min
The NPC → MC Spectrum
For supplementary diagrams and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/npc.html

Oct 28, 2025 • 7min
No Matter Where You Get To... There You Are
A funny story that wasn't so funny at the time (as is so often the case). | For the original post visit: https://nonzerosum.games/nomatterwhereyougetto.html

Oct 6, 2025 • 9min
Paine on Economic Justice
The system didn't and doesn't need to be this way. | For the original post visit: https://nonzerosum.games/painejustice.html

Oct 2, 2025 • 9min
Rights & Liberties—are opposites
I'm always trying to picture in my mind what sort of society I want to live in. To do this is to balancing the freedoms I'm willing to forego in order to provide rights that we determine to be essential to a healthy society. | This week's episode explores the new way of looking at Rights & Liberties, as a way of codifying this process, rather being used as vaguely interchangeable terms. | For the original post and references visit: https://nonzerosum.games/rightsandliberties.html

Sep 26, 2025 • 6min
Why People in Poverty Make Poor Decisions
In this episode we make the case for giving money to people who are bad with money! | For the original post and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/poverty.html


