High Variance with Danny Buerkli

Jamais Cascio, a renowned futurist and author of "Navigating the Age of Chaos," dives into the compelling world of scenario planning. He explores its evolution, comparing military versus civilian approaches and the profound influence of figures like Herman Kahn. Jamais discusses the risks of geoengineering and its unpredictable impacts on our planet. He introduces his BANI framework, capturing the current fragility of the world, while emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptive responses. Prepare to rethink futures with insightful storytelling!

In this discussion, Antoine Bosselut, an assistant professor at EPFL and lead creator of the Apertus open LLM, shares insights into his groundbreaking work in transparent AI. He argues for public funding to support open models, explaining how accessibility enhances scientific research. Antoine dives into the cost-effectiveness achieved through public supercomputing and reveals the challenges of data compliance and talent acquisition in AI development. He also discusses the importance of community collaboration and the future of synthetic data in creating robust language models.

Vishal Jodhani, a master facilitator, shares insights on effective group conversations and creating a sense of belonging. He explores what makes a good question and the art of managing productive chaos. Drawing on his experiences, he discusses the impact of hierarchical structures on facilitation and the importance of self-management. Vishal contrasts the vibrant Berlin club culture with Adelaide's coffee scene and reflects on how growing up in Mumbai shaped his resilience and improvisation skills. His mantra emphasizes authenticity and collaborative exploration.

Don Kettl, a prominent scholar on public administration and former dean at the University of Maryland, shares insights into state capacity and government reform. He discusses the remarkable success of Operation Warp Speed and how it fostered private innovation. Kettl evaluates the agility of government reform, weighing the merits of incremental versus disruptive changes. He also highlights the importance of data-driven strategies and how AI can reshape public service delivery. Lastly, he draws lessons from the leadership of Paul Volcker and the adaptability of government by 2035.

We live in weird times. The world has become harder to read — more uncertain, more volatile, stranger. High Variance is an interview podcast about how to navigate this reality. We talk to people who are making sense of what’s happening around us to ask: What’s going on? And how should we respond?