

Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
Patrick McKenzie
We live in a world where our civilization and daily lives depend upon institutions, infrastructure, and technological substrates that are _complicated_ but not _unknowable_. Join Patrick McKenzie (patio11) as he discusses how decisions, technology, culture, and incentives shape our finance, technology, government, and more, with the people who built (and build) those Complex Systems.
Episodes
Mentioned books

57 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 32min
Talking to the Bank of England about systemic risk and systems engineering
Patrick McKenzie dives into the critical vulnerabilities in financial systems, prompted by the CrowdStrike outage that crippled U.S. banks. He discusses the dangerous consequences of regulatory guidance that led to software monocultures. The conversation also touches on the booming stablecoin market, its potential risks for regulation, and the accountability issues in Silicon Valley. Lastly, McKenzie urges regulators to better understand AI risks, emphasizing the need for diverse engineering perspectives to mitigate systemic failures.

18 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 31min
Narrative, mastery, and character bleed in games, with Ricki Heicklen
Ricki Heicklen, a game designer and educator known for her innovative use of games in teaching, joins the conversation to share insights from the Metagame conference. They discuss how simplified game design enhances learning and the blurred lines between player and character identities. Ricki explains exciting megagame mechanics and the challenges of designing engaging player experiences. Patrick shares his journey of using LLMs to create compelling narratives in games, examining the emotional weight that emerges from minimal world-building.

30 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 15min
Bits and bricks: Oliver Habryka on LessWrong, LightHaven, and community infrastructure
Oliver Habryka runs Lightcone Infrastructure, the force behind LessWrong and the Lighthaven venue. He delves into how LessWrong evolved into a vital forum, the challenges of managing unusual venues, and the intricacies of fundraising for nonprofits. Highlights include the unexpected impacts of building regulations, the intricacies of hotel maintenance, and innovative community financing strategies. Habryka also shares insights from the effective altruism ecosystem, discussing how recent events have reshaped donor trust and engagement.

48 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 12min
Building institutions that bend towards truth, with Clara Collier of Asterisk Magazine
Clara Collier, editor and publisher of Asterisk Magazine, dives into the challenges of building truth-driven institutions in today’s media landscape. She discusses why she chose print in the digital age, exploring the unique benefits of long-form journalism. Their conversation highlights the history of German universities and the decline of trust in science communication—especially during the pandemic. Clara argues for honest reporting to rebuild trust, warning that misinformation's long-term effects could last for generations.

74 snips
Sep 25, 2025 • 47min
How blogging went legit, with Substack CEO Chris Best
Chris Best, CEO and co-founder of Substack, delves into the platform's journey from a simple newsletter tool to a media powerhouse. He discusses how subscription models foster better writer-audience relationships than traditional ad-based approaches. Chris highlights Substack's commitment to press freedom during challenging times and reveals innovative features like AI-powered video production. He also explains the impact of revenue guarantees on attracting writers, transforming career options, and providing legal protection for independent creators.

83 snips
Sep 19, 2025 • 1h 31min
Prestige media, new media, and the US government, with Kelsey Piper
Kelsey Piper, a journalist and co-founder of The Argument, engages in a captivating conversation about the challenges facing modern journalism and governance. They discuss the detrimental effects of social media on meaningful discourse and critique prestige media's constraints. Kelsey provides insights into PEPFAR, highlighting its critical impact and mismanagement during funding cuts. With proposals for reform, she emphasizes the importance of civic participation and engaging with practical realities to rebuild effective media and governance.

103 snips
Sep 11, 2025 • 1h 27min
AI alignment, with Emmett Shear
Emmett Shear, co-founder of Twitch and former interim CEO of OpenAI, now leads Softmax AI alignment. He critiques traditional AI safety methods that rely on control, advocating for an 'organic alignment' approach where AI systems learn to care for their communities. The discussion dives into AI's rapid advancements, the contrast between convergence and discernment learning, and the challenges of aligning AI with human values. Shear emphasizes the need for flexibility in AI goals and the importance of context in developing responsible technologies.

101 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 16min
Building software that survives contact with reality, with Will Wilson
Will Wilson, CEO of Antithesis, dives into the future of software testing with a transformative approach focusing on deterministic simulation. He highlights the innovative 'time machines' his team has developed for debugging complex failures in distributed systems. From discussing the limitations of traditional testing methods to illustrating the evolution of testing with insights from classic games like Super Mario, Will emphasizes the need for robust solutions as AI begins to take the reins on coding, shaping the next era of software reliability.

62 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 3min
Defense, drones, and military procurement, with Bean of Naval Gazing
A defense expert discusses the unique challenges of procurement in a monopsony-dominated industry, where the government is the sole buyer. The conversation unveils the intriguing evolution of drones, likening them to upgraded cruise missiles from the 1950s. It also explores the role of operations research in shaping military strategy since World War II. With insights on the financial complexities of developing aircraft carriers and subs, the dialogue illustrates how historical innovations impact contemporary military technology.

77 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 4min
AI and the great developer speed-up, with Joel Becker of METR
Joel Becker, a researcher at METR, joins to discuss fascinating insights from recent AI research. They reveal that AI coding tools may hinder productivity rather than enhance it, contrary to common beliefs. The conversation dives into the complexities of measuring developer performance, particularly in a 'flow state,' and reflects on the unpredictable impact of AI on software development. Topics also include the challenges in AI benchmarking and the importance of evolving standards as AI technology develops.


