Best Casey Handmer Podcasts (2025)

1
Achieving results in the physical world, with Adam Jarvis of “Public Service” 1:11:19

1d ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Patrick McKenzie is joined by Adam Jarvis, author of the Public Service substack and a New Zealand civil engineer and public sector veteran. They discuss how political capital constraints, funding misalignment across government levels, and accumulated regulatory "scar tissue" make infrastructure projects extraordinarily difficult. The conversation …

1
The AI infrastructure stack with Jennifer Li, a16z 45:50

9d ago45:50

45:50

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Jennifer Li, a general partner at a16z investing in enterprise, infrastructure and AI. Jennifer breaks down how AI workloads are creating new demands on everything from inference pipelines to observability systems, explaining why we're seeing a bifurcation between language models and diffusi…

1
Getting better at LLMs, with Zvi Mowshowitz 51:50

22d ago51:50

51:50

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) recorded with Zvi Mowshowitz (TheZvi) live at the LessOnline conference. They explore practical strategies for getting better results from large language models. Zvi explains how to customize AI behavior through thoughtful system prompts, while Patrick shares techniques for using LLMs as writing partners …

1
Machine learning meets malware, with Caleb Fenton 1:21:16

30d ago1:21:16

1:21:16

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) discusses software reversing and AI's transformative impact on cybersecurity with Caleb Fenton, co-founder of Delphos Labs. They explore how LLMs are revolutionizing the traditionally tedious work of analyzing compiled binaries, the nation-state cyber warfare landscape, and how AI is shifting security from reactive to pro…

1
How to negotiate your salary package 45:21

1M ago45:21

45:21

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) revisits his widely-shared negotiation essay, which he notes may be the most impactful thing he's done in his career aside from VaccinateCA. The essay covers the psychology and tactics of salary negotiation, emphasizing that engineers have turned being bad at negotiation into a "perverse badge of virtue" …

1
2025-W22 Leadership, Learning, and Large Projects 2:43:22

1M ago2:43:22

2:43:22

In this wide-ranging episode, Casey and Christine dive deep into leadership transitions, complex systems, and the art of managing large-scale projects. Christine discusses her new role as Head of Engineering at a Series D startup, managing 60+ people and Casey discusses the counterintuitive challenges of scaling teams. Christine shares her syntheti…

1
The capitalist's guide to podcasting, with Ross Rheingans-Yoo 1:03:27

1M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) and returning guest Ross Rheingans-Yoo discuss the strategic advantages of starting a podcast, particularly for professionals seeking to build trust, expand their networks, and support fundraising efforts. They explore the nuts and bolts of podcast production models, recording logistics, transcript creati…

1
Killing viruses with light, with Jacob Swett 1:01:43

2M ago1:01:43

1:01:43

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Jacob Swett of Blueprint Biosecurity to discuss far UVC technology - a specialized wavelength of UV light that kills airborne pathogens while remaining safe for humans. Jacob explains how widespread deployment of this technology in schools, hospitals, and public spaces could dramatically redu…

1
2025-W19 Australian Adventures & Lemonade Stands 1:31:45

2M ago1:31:45

1:31:45

In this episode, Casey recounts his recent trip to Australia to visit family and friends, while Christine shares her experience running a lemonade stand fundraiser for their children's preschool. They discuss ongoing technical and creative projects, explore the challenges of educational systems for exceptionally bright children, and reflect on vari…

1
Life insurance and your money, with Zac Townsend 1:20:53

2M ago1:20:53

1:20:53

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Zac Townsend, a serial founder and CEO of Meanwhile, a fully regulated life insurance company operating in Bitcoin. They explore the differences between life and property insurance, explain why term life is essential financial protection everyone should consider, and dive into the tax benefit…

1
Fixing government technology, with Mikey Dickerson 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Mikey Dickerson to discuss the complex realities behind government software projects. Mikey shares insights from leading the healthcare.gov rescue effort and founding the United States Digital Service, explaining how procurement processes create requirements through committee decision-making…

1
2025-W18 Beeping Microwaves and Talking Dinosaurs: The Value of Intelligence in 2025 2:44:52

2M ago2:44:52

2:44:52

Summary In this week's episode, Casey and Christine discuss their weekend family adventures, including picnic table remodeling, bike maintenance, and trips to the local airport and climbing gym. They explore their experiences with AI toys for children, microwave modification projects, and dive into deeper conversations about human intelligence, bio…

1
Understanding and wielding power in local government, with Daniel Golliher 59:35

2M ago59:35

59:35

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Daniel Golliher, founder of Maximum New York, to discuss the opaque mechanics of political power and how everyday people can effectively engage with government systems. They explore the stark gap between formal political science degrees and how politics actually works, practical tactics for …

1
2025-W16 Bronze Age Ambitions: Swordcasting, Biohacking, and Family Adventures 1:36:27

3M ago1:36:27

1:36:27

Bronze Sword Replication Project - Inspired by a 3,400-year-old bronze sword found in South Central Germany in 2023 Lost PLA Method - Similar to the lost wax method for metal casting Cybertruck Experience - Family rented and drove Tesla's Cybertruck Glowing yeast experiment CRISPR experiment DNA athleticism gene testing Voyage of the Southern Sun -…

1
The AI energy bottleneck, with Tim Fist 1:06:05

3M ago1:06:05

1:06:05

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Tim Fist, Director of Emerging Technologies at the Institute for Progress, to discuss how energy constraints could bottleneck AI development. They explore how AI training clusters will soon require gigawatts of power—equivalent to multiple nuclear plants—with projections showing a single clu…

1
Taking stablecoins seriously, with Haseeb Qureshi 1:08:05

3M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Haseeb Qureshi, a managing partner at Dragonfly, a crypto-focused VC fund. They discuss the evolution of stablecoins, three key use cases, and their impact on international finance. Haseeb explains how stablecoins have grown beyond their initial association with crypto trading and illicit ac…

1
2025-W14 From Thruster Failures to Glowing Yeast 1:51:46

3M ago1:51:46

1:51:46

Show Notes Terraform's new blog post - Casey's Terraform 2.0 announcement and job postings Palladium Magazine - Why Starship Matters - Casey's article on what Starship means Beast Academy - Math enrichment program UNSW Math Enrichment - University math problems Modern Relationships Podcast - Agnes and Arnold - Episode with Agnes and Arnold discusse…

1
The past, present, and future of AI, with Stripe 1:33:48

3M ago1:33:48

1:33:48

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Emily Sands, Head of Information at Stripe, to discuss how they leverage AI to process over $1.4 trillion annually, while navigating the complex web of merchants, banks, and payment rails that facilitate online commerce. Patrick and Emily cover how Stripe’s layered stack of AI combats sophisticated card testi…

1
2025-W13 Woolly Mammoths to Watch Faces: Exploring Mars, Education, and Everything Between 2:01:04

3M ago2:01:04

2:01:04

In this week's episode, Christine and Casey dive into their recent adventures and intellectual pursuits. Christine shares highlights from Jeff Bezos' exclusive MARS conference (Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space), including fascinating encounters with colossal mammoth revival efforts, fusion energy breakthroughs, and quantum consciou…

1
No, poor people aren’t funding your credit card rewards 1:06:47

3M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) challenges a recent Atlantic article claiming that low-income cardholders subsidize credit card rewards through high interest payments. Drawing from his Bits About Money essay Anatomy of a credit card rewards program, Patrick explains that rewards are primarily funded by interchange fees paid by merchants…

1
2025-W12 Road Trips and Research: Reproductivity heads to Vegas 1:48:42

3M ago1:48:42

1:48:42

Note-Our audio was challenging this week! We did our best to postprocess to improve, and we promise the backlog is higher quality listening. This week, hosts Casey Handmer and Christine Corbett Moran share stories from their recent family road trip to Las Vegas for a cousin's wedding. They discuss the efficiency of Vegas weddings, touring the Hoove…

1
Points, profits, and packed planes, with Gary Leff 1:31:27

4M ago1:31:27

1:31:27

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Gary Leff, the author of "View from the Wing", to discuss the economic systems behind airlines and loyalty programs. They discuss how airlines manage to stay profitable despite razor-thin margins, the economics of frequent flyer programs, and why these programs often generate more value than the airlines them…

1
Tax the dirt, with Lars Doucet & Greg Miller 1:17:07

4M ago1:17:07

1:17:07

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Lars Doucet and Greg Miller, co-founders who have just launched the Center for Land Economics, to discuss improving property taxation in the US. They explore how shifting taxes from buildings to land could transform development patterns, why California's property tax caps coincide with its housing crisis, and…

1
2025-W10 Garage Scientists: From DNA Analysis to Radio Waves and Beyond 2:09:51

4M ago2:09:51

2:09:51

Show notes: Bento Lab - Portable DNA analysis lab with centrifuge, gel electrophoresis, and PCR machine Bio Bits - Kits for demonstrating protein synthesis with fluorescent indicators Shannon-Hartley theorem - Information theory concept discussed related to signal transmission Rock climbing for kids - REI resource about climbing with children The M…

1
A tale of two Americas in one $50K cash withdrawal 41:13

4M ago41:13

41:13

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) explains the standard procedure for large withdrawals in bank branches, with particular focus on the viral story published in The Cut about a woman who withdrew $50,000 cash from a bank and handed it to scammers. Certain minor details in the article set off a year-long investigation where he identified the exact physical …

1
AI, data centers, and power economics, with Azeem Azhar 1:13:53

4M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Azeem Azhar, writer of the Exponential View newsletter, to discuss the massive data center buildout powering AI and its implications for our energy infrastructure. The conversation covers the physical limitations of modern datacenters, the challenges of electricity generation, the societal ripples from histor…

1
You can’t retract the facts 42:03

4M ago42:03

42:03

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) responds to a recent request by a crypto unicorn founder / bank CEO to retract his essay Debanking (and debunking?). Come for the note about editorial standards and independence, stay for the diss track. – Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/editorial-standards-and-indep…

1
2025-W8 Biology, Biohacking, and Building on Mars: A Journey from DNA to Starbase 1:22:59

4M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

In this week's episode, we explore Christine's new adventures in biohacking and home biology experiments, including plans for a PCR machine and DNA analysis. Casey shares detailed insights from his recent visit to SpaceX's Starbase, discussing the facility's impressive growth and the technical challenges of Mars colonization. The conversation weave…

1
Stablecoins and shenanigans, with Zeke Faux 1:27:03

5M ago1:27:03

1:27:03

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Zeke Faux, investigative reporter at Bloomberg and author of Number Go Up, to discuss stablecoins and crypto fraud. They dive into Tether's controversial history, the senate’s emerging GENIUS act, and how crypto enables various types of financial crime. The conversation explores how Tether w…

1
2025-W6 Nuclear Reactors for Mars and Career Management 1:26:27

5M ago1:26:27

1:26:27

Nuclear Reactors for Mars and Career Management (W6 2025) In this rain-soaked LA episode, Casey and Christine explore diverse topics from nuclear reactor design for Mars bases to the evolution of AI capabilities and career advice. The conversation weaves through Finland's unique energy landscape, the challenges of seasonal power storage, and innova…

1
Power plays: grid economics and engineering, with Travis Dauwalter 1:13:46

5M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) is joined by Travis Dauwalter, energy enthusiast (and PhD), to explain the systems we often take for granted behind the US electrical grid. The conversation covers how the grid maintains perfect supply-demand balance in real-time, the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, and why America actually has three …

1
The landmines buried in the fine print of Chicago’s new casino deal 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

In today’s episode Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) examines a Chicago casino investment, first of its kind within the city limits. Patrick reads from his Bits About Money essay (published January 2025) with additional commentary based on recent developments. The discussion reveals how municipal politics, grievances about national and local economic his…

1
2025-W5 Brewing the Future: Space, Scale, and Synthetic Food 1:41:44

5M ago1:41:44

1:41:44

In this wide-ranging discussion, Casey and Christine explore recent projects and interests, from Mars launch window calculations to precision fermentation technology. The conversation covers space exploration, particularly SpaceX's Starship development and its implications for Mars colonization. They discuss Christine's renewed newsletter project, …

1
The banking crisis, two years later 1:09:48

5M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) revisits his March 2023 essay that explained the dynamics of bank runs and system stress during the banking crisis one month prior. With data from a newly released Federal Reserve paper, he analyzes the true scope of the banking stress - including revelations that 22 banks experienced severe deposit outflows, far more th…

1
2025-W3 The Evacuation Edition: Fire, Recovery, and Reflection 1:57:30

6M ago1:57:30

1:57:30

Re:Productivity Podcast - Week 3, 2025 In this episode, Christine and Casey discuss their recent evacuation experience during the LA wildfires, exploring themes of emergency preparedness, community resilience, and the aftermath of natural disasters. They share personal insights about family dynamics during crisis situations, reflections on urban pl…

1
Debanking explained 1:00:43

6M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) unpacks his 24k word essay Debanking (and Debunking?) originally published on Bits about Money. He discusses the contours of recent debanking claims made by the crypto community, notably Marc Andreessen, Nic Carter, and explains how banking actually works as infrastructure rather than conspiracy. The con…

1
Retrospective on 2024, with Sammy Cottrell 1:03:50

6M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

In this special episode, Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) and his EA/producer Sammy Cottrell examine the production function behind Complex Systems, from studio logistics to transcript annotation and guest selection. They reflect on their most memorable episodes while discussing the podcast's core mission of making complex systems more legible and ensur…

1
2025-W1 The Universe Inside: Computing, Making, and Learning in 2025 1:20:50

6M ago1:20:50

1:20:50

Re:Productivity Podcast - Episode 1, 2025 Summary In our first episode of 2025, we dive into our recent activities, from 3D printing train whistles to exploring the complexities of hardware manufacturing and global supply chains. We discuss parenting in the digital age, share thoughts on the limitations of school-provided technology, and debate the…

1
Seeing like an outsider, with Yatharth 1:19:31

6M ago1:19:31

1:19:31

In this episode, Yatharth (@askyatharth), a graduate student and software engineer, turns the tables to interview Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) about cultural codes, writing, and AI. Patrick shares how his early experiences fighting credit report errors and navigating cross-cultural business environments led to his distinctive approach to understandi…

1
2024-W51 Ancient Scrolls, Terraforming the American West, and AI for Kids 1:30:44

6M ago1:30:44

1:30:44

Christine Corbett Moran and Casey Handmer discuss a fascinating blend of parenting, productivity, and ambitious projects in this episode of Re:productivity. They delve into Casey's involvement in decoding ancient scrolls, highlighting the painstaking process of using cutting-edge AI and imaging technology to uncover lost texts. The conversation tra…

1
The future of pandemic preparedness, with Joshua Morrison 1:12:30

7M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Joshua Morrison, the CEO of advocacy non-profit 1Day Sooner. They discuss what worked and what didn't in Operation Warp Speed's unprecedented push to develop COVID-19 vaccines. The conversation then turns to the future of pandemic preparedness, particularly the promising (and underappreciated…

1
2024-W49 Mars Simulations to Mocktails 1:15:45

7M ago1:15:45

1:15:45

From the challenges of raising curious kids to scaling Mars simulations and building hardware prototypes, hosts Christine Corbett Moran and Casey Handmer dive into a whirlwind of creativity, productivity, and life as parents on a mission. Whether it's simulating space elevators, exploring AI for kids, crafting non-alcoholic cocktails, or hiking wit…

1
How we tax property, with Lars Doucet 1:09:36

7M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) and Lars Doucet, the author of Land is a Big Deal, discuss how cities determine your property's value and collect taxes. They explore how assessment offices juggle political pressures, statistical models, and technological tools while trying to maintain equity across millions of properties. They also cove…

1
Fraud levels are a policy choice 49:21

7M ago49:21

49:21

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) offers a reading of his viral essay, "The optimal amount of fraud is non-zero" with extensive live commentary. Patrick examines payment systems, benefits programs, and pandemic-era policies, to uncover how businesses and governments often intentionally accept some level of fraud as a cost of doing busines…

1
AI, poker, and mind games, with Max Chiswick 55:00

8M ago55:00

55:00

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Max Chiswick, a former professional poker player turned AI educator, to explore how poker intersects with decision making. They discuss how the online poker boom created unprecedented opportunities to study decision-making at scale and how computational advances have transformed both the game's theory and pra…

1
Boom, busts, and long term progress with Byrne Hobart 1:42:59

8M ago1:42:59

1:42:59

By popular demand, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Byrne Hobart for a 3rd conversation to discuss Byrne’s book "Boom: Bubbles and the End of Stagnation." They explore how periods of irrational market enthusiasm often create lasting value despite their painful endings. Using examples from the 1990s fiber optic boom that enabled modern stream…

1
How money moves, with Erik Torenberg 37:21

8M ago37:21

37:21

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Erik Torenberg, the founder of Turpentine, to discuss the fundamentals of money movement and banking systems. Patrick breaks down how banks facilitate transfers through correspondent accounts and clearinghouses, explaining the evolution from physical check movement to digitization. They cover…

1
From molecule to medicine, with Ross Rheingans-Yoo 1:27:14

8M ago1:27:14

1:27:14

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Ross Rheingans-Yoo to discuss drug development and clinical trials. Ross breaks down how drugs progress from academic research through FDA approval, the challenging economics, and the many systemic inefficiencies in the current approval process. Patrick and Ross discuss historical cases like …

1
Picking Uncle Sam's pocket, with Jetson Leder-Luis 1:18:10

8M ago1:18:10

1:18:10

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by economist and fraud researcher Professor Jetson Luis-Leder to examine the systemic issues underlying government program fraud. Jetson and Patrick discuss healthcare fraud cases, including hospice eligibility manipulation and ambulance transport schemes, and other fraud practices against unemp…

1
How real estate investing works with Moses Kagan 1:28:30

9M ago1:28:30

1:28:30

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Moses Kagan, co-founder of Adaptive Realty, ReSeed, and Reconvene. Their deep dive into real estate investing and property management covers the different classes of apartment buildings, the challenges of property management, and the complexities of financing structures in the industry. They …

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