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
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
Sep 6, 2025 • 11min
Saving Lives Reduces Overpopulation
I will be making the case that somewhat counter-intuitively, by saving lives we actually reduce over-population. | For the full post and references: https://nonzerosum.games/savinglives.html
Aug 29, 2025 • 14min
Effortocracy ~ I've had meritocracy all wrong
've been wrong about the meaning of Meritocracy, and for good reason, there are many different definitions—the term has been used as a pejorative, as an aspirational term, as a definition of a government, and as a general way of allocating credit to individuals. But I understood it as this: A society where a person's rewards reflect their efforts (merit) | For links, pictures and references check out the original post here: https://nonzerosum.games/effortocracy.html
Aug 23, 2025 • 9min
Saidi, My Friend
This episode begins a series on luck and circumstances, and asks "What do we owe to each other?" | For the original post and links visit: https://nonzerosum.games/saidi.html
