The Orthogonal Bet

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Linda Liukas, author of the beloved Hello Ruby children’s book series about computers, as well as a new Finnish-language book for adults on computing. Liukas also recently designed a playground in Helsinki that introduces children to foundational ideas in computer science through play.Together, Arbesman and Liukas explore her path to becoming a children’s book author, how to cultivate curiosity, and the appeal of generative AI. Their conversation ranges across educational philosophies, playground design, and the relationship between play and curiosity. They also delve into the teaching of history within computer science, reflecting on the historical intersection of computing and education and the need to rekindle those connections.

Molly Mielke, an early-stage investor and founder of Moth Fund, has an impressive background with stints at Figma, Notion, and Stripe. She dives into her journey from tech intern to venture capitalist, emphasizing the importance of person-centered investment over sector focus. Molly discusses how early-stage bets reveal unique potential and the significance of supporting creative builders through grants. She also reflects on the tech culture in San Francisco, the risks of monoculture, and the importance of genuine values in startups.

Daniel Temkin, a writer and digital artist known for his pioneering work in esoteric programming languages, joins to explore the whimsical world of esolangs. They discuss how these unconventional languages challenge coding norms and stimulate creativity through playful constraints. Temkin highlights his unique creations, like Fatfinger—a tolerant dialect for code poetry—and shares surprising applications of esolangs, including their use in malware. The conversation dives into the intersection of art, programming, and human expression.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Parker Owens, whose passion for Lego has grown into something remarkable. In addition to working as an attorney, Parker runs Parker’s Brick Builds, a company where he designs and sells custom Lego creations. His sets range from vehicles and a siege tower to even a Lego “dumpster fire” that fans can build themselves.Arbesman and Owens explore Parker’s Lego journey—from childhood play, through a hiatus during his young adult years, to rediscovering the bricks and eventually becoming a Lego TikTok star. Their conversation covers the origins of Parker’s business, his win in a business competition, the broader Lego-adjacent ecosystem of creators and companies beyond the official Lego Group, how he approaches design, and the mission that guides his work, including the kind of customer he envisions for his sets.

Samuel Arbesman is joined once again by Kristoffer Tjalve. The two previously spoke about the poetic web and the delightful aspects of the internet. This time, Kristoffer shares his new project: the Internet Phone Book—a physical book that lists personal websites alongside essays about the internet. After selling out its first run, the book is now available again as a reprint from Metalabel.In their conversation, Arbesman and Tjalve discuss the origins and nature of the Internet Phone Book, the spirit of the early web it seeks to recapture, and the lessons Kristoffer learned while making it. They also explore ideas such as the Internet as an “underdeveloped ecosystem,” the notion of “organic software,” ways of supporting the poetic web, and what today’s online world might learn from the traditions of books and print publishing.It’s a wide-ranging and playful exchange that captures both the wonder and the seriousness of building a more poetic internet.

In this engaging discussion, Edward Ashton, acclaimed science fiction writer and author of The Fourth Consort, shares insights into his latest first contact narrative. He explores the nuanced portrayal of humanity in science fiction, emphasizing the need for complex characters over simplistic ones. The conversation delves into the vital role of storytelling in human social dynamics and the ethical dilemmas of interacting with alien species. Ashton also touches on the dark forest theory and the works of other notable authors, broadening the conversation about interstellar intelligence.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Neal Agarwal. Neal has been building online playthings for most of his life. He runs neal.fun, which many listeners may already be familiar with, home to such games and internet toys as Infinite Craft and Internet Roadtrip. For example, Infinite Craft begins with the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, which can be recombined in open-ended ways to build almost anything: water plus earth yields plant; plant plus fire equals smoke; smoke plus fire equals volcano—and then you’re off to the races. These websites are delightful, strange, and exciting, showcasing the sheer breadth of what the web can be.Samuel and Neal discuss Neal’s origins and history making things on the web, and how he came to build neal.fun full time. Their conversation explores the unique nature of the web as a medium, and what it means to take it seriously. This connects to the challenge of describing the internet toys Neal creates, since they represent something truly new and delightful. They also touch on programming, how AI might make building weird online things easier, the communities that have grown around Neal’s creations, and his process for designing these games. Along the way, they even consider fellow travelers in this world of fun online creations.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Julian Gough — a writer, musician, and now researcher in cosmology. Julian was part of Toasted Heretic, an Irish rock group, has written novels for both children and adults, and even composed Minecraft’s end poem. More recently, he has turned his attention to cosmology, exploring ideas at the intersection of evolution and universe formation to better understand why the cosmos is the way it is. He writes about this work in his newsletter The Egg and the Rock, where he argues that “our universe appears to be the result of an evolutionary process at the level of universes,” drawing on recent data from across many fields.Samuel and Julian discuss his career in music and writing, and how he gradually became drawn into big questions about cosmology. Their conversation explores cosmological natural selection, the idea of the universe as a developmental process, Julian’s blowtorch theory, and the challenges and opportunities of doing research outside the scientific establishment. Along the way, they consider the implications for our understanding of the cosmos, the role of intelligent life in the universe, how scientific paradigm shifts occur, and the value of interdisciplinary thinking.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Étienne Fortier-Dubois, a writer and programmer whose work has appeared in publications such as Asterisk Magazine and Works in Progress. He also authors the newsletter Hopeful Monsters. With a vast and eclectic set of interests—from the intricate details of technological history to the sweeping arcs of human civilization—Fortier-Dubois recently created The Historical Tech Tree, a website mapping the vast interconnections and interdependencies of technological advances across millions of years.Arbesman and Fortier-Dubois delve into the concept of a tech tree (and its connections to the game Civilization) and examine the nature of the tech tree he built. Their discussion ranges from decisions about what qualifies as a technology to the sources he used, as well as fascinating edge cases and stories uncovered during the project. They explore how such a tech tree can and cannot be used, its implications for education in technological history and literacy, and the potential for other kinds of “trees” to be constructed. The conversation also touches on worldbuilding, the so-called “illusion of complexity” in most fantasy and science fiction worlds, and how this perspective may have influenced Fortier-Dubois’s interest in history.

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Chris Ferrie, an associate professor of quantum information at the University of Technology Sydney and the author of an impressive range of books for audiences of all ages — from adults and children to even babies. Ferrie is best known for Quantum Physics for Babies, but his prolific output spans titles such as Night Night Tyrannosaurus, Newtonian Physics for Babies, 42 Reasons to Hate the Universe (and One Reason Not To), and ABCs of Artificial Intelligence. The breadth of his work is astonishing.Their conversation explores Ferrie’s background and the origins of his science-for-babies books, but also ventures far beyond. They discuss his nonlinear approach to building a career, his comfort with embracing the strange and unpredictable paths his professional life has taken, and his thoughts on communicating ideas clearly. Along the way, they touch on scientific jargon and gatekeeping, the value of generalists, perspectives on education and its future, and the work of raising children.