In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop speaks with Ryan Estes about the intersections of podcasting, AI, ancient philosophy, and the shifting boundaries of consciousness and technology. Their conversation spans topics like the evolution of language, the impact of AI on human experience, the role of sensory interfaces, the tension between scientism and spiritual insight, and how future technologies might reshape power structures and daily life. Ryan also shares thoughts on data ownership, the illusion of modern VR, and the historical suppression of mystical knowledge. Listeners can connect with Ryan on LinkedIn and check out his podcast at AIforFounders.co.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 – Stewart Alsop and Ryan Estes open with thoughts on podcasting, conversation as primal instinct, and the richness of voice communication.
05:00 – Language and consciousness, bicameral mind theory, early religion, and auditory hallucinations.
10:00 – AI, cognitive ergonomics, interfacing with tech, new modes of communication, and speculative consciousness.
15:00 – Scientism, projections, and authenticity; ownership of hardware, software, and data.
20:00 – Tech oligarchs, Apple, Google, OpenAI, and privacy trade-offs.
25:00 – VR, escapism, illusion vs. reality, Buddhist and Gnostic parallels.
30:00 – Magic, Neoplatonism, Copernicus, alchemy, and suppressed knowledge.
35:00 – Oligarchy, the fragile middle class, democracy’s design, and authority temptation.
40:00 – AGI, economic shifts, creative labor, vibe coding, and optimism about future work.
45:00 – Podcasting's future, amateur charm, content creation tools, TikTok promotion.

Key Insights

1. Conversation is a foundational human instinct that transcends digital noise and brings people together in a meaningful way. Ryan Estes reflects on how podcasting revives the richness of dialogue, countering the flattening effects of modern communication platforms.
2. The evolution of language might have sparked consciousness itself. Drawing on theories like the bicameral mind, Estes explores how early humans may have experienced internal commands as divine voices, illustrating a deep link between communication, cognition, and early religious structures.
3. AI is not just a tool but a bridge to new kinds of consciousness. With developments in cognitive ergonomics and responsive interfaces, Estes imagines a future where subconscious cues might influence technology directly, reshaping how we interact with our environment and each other.
4. Ownership of software, hardware, and data is emerging as a critical issue. Estes emphasizes that to avoid dystopian outcomes—such as corporate control via neural interfaces—individuals must reclaim the stack, potentially profiting from their own data and customizing their tech experiences.
5. Virtual reality and AI-generated environments risk becoming addictive escapes, particularly for marginalized populations. Estes likens this to a digital opiate, drawing parallels to spiritual ideas about illusion and cautioning against losing ourselves in these seductive constructs.
6. The suppression of mystical traditions—like Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, and indigenous knowledge—has led to vast cultural amnesia. Estes underscores how historical power structures systematically erased insights that modern AI might help rediscover or recontextualize.
7. Despite the turbulence, AI and AGI offer a radically optimistic future. Estes sees the potential for a 10x productivity boost and entirely new forms of work, creativity, and leisure, reshaping what it means to be economically and spiritually fulfilled in a post-knowledge age.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop sits down with the masked collective known as the PoliePals—led by previous guest Cathal—to explore their audacious vision of blending humans, nature, and machines through cryptographic reality verification and decentralized systems. They talk about neural and cryptographic projector-camera technologies like the “truth beam” and “reality transform,” analog AI using optical computing, and how open protocols and decentralized consensus could shift power away from corporate control. Along the way, they share stories from Moad’s chaotic tinkering workshop, Meta’s precise Rust-coded Alchemy project, and Terminus Actual’s drone Overwatch. For links to their projects, visit Poliebotics on Twitter and Poliebotics on GitHub.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:05 Neural and cryptographic projector-camera systems, reality transform for art and secure recordings, provably unclonable functions.
00:10 Moad’s GNOMAD identity, chaotic holistic problem-solving, tinkering with tools, truth beam’s manifold mapping.
00:15 Terminus Actual’s drone Overwatch, security focus, six hats theory, Lorewalker’s cryptic mathematical integrations.
00:20 Analog AI and optical computing, stacked computational layers, local inference, physical reality interacting with AI.
00:25 Meta’s Alchemy software, music-driven robotics, precise Rust programming, contrast with neural network unpredictability.
00:30 Decentralization, corporate dependency critique, hardware ownership, open protocols like Matrix, web of trust, Sybil attacks.
00:35 Truth beam feedback loops, decentralized epistemology, neo-feudalism, Diamond Age references, nano drone warfare theory.
00:40 Biotech risks, lab truth beams for verification, decentralized ID systems, qualitative consensus manifolds.
00:45 Maker culture insights, 3D printing community, iterative prototyping, simulators, recycling prints.
00:50 Investment casting, alternative energy for classic cars, chaotic hardware solutions, MoAD workshop’s mystical array.
00:55 Upcoming PolyPals content, Big Yellow Island recordings, playful sign-offs, decentralized futures.

Key Insights

1. The PoliePals are pioneering a system that combines cryptographic models, neural projector-camera technologies, and decentralized networks to create tools like the “truth beam” and “reality transform,” which verify physical reality as a provably unclonable function. This innovation aims to secure recordings and provide a foundation for trustworthy AI training data by looping projections of blockchain-derived noise into reality and back.
2. Moad’s character, the GNOMAD—a hybrid of gnome and nomad—embodies a philosophy of chaotic problem-solving using holistic, artful solutions. His obsession with edge cases and tinkering leads to surprising fixes, like using a tin of beans to repair a broken chair leg, and illustrates how resourcefulness intersects with decentralization in practical ways.
3. Terminus Actual provides a counterbalance in the group dynamic, bringing drone surveillance expertise and a healthy skepticism about humanity’s inherent decency. His perspective highlights the need for security consciousness and cautious optimism when developing open systems that could otherwise be exploited.
4. Meta’s Alchemy project demonstrates the contrast between procedural precision and chaotic neural approaches. Written entirely in Rust, it enables music-driven robotic control for real-world theater environments. Alchemy represents a future where tightly optimized code can interact seamlessly with hardware like Arduinos while remaining resistant to AI’s unpredictable tendencies.
5. The episode explores how decentralization could shape the coming decades, likening it to a neo-feudal age where people consciously opt into societies based on shared values. With open protocols like Matrix, decentralized IDs, and webs of trust, individuals could regain agency over their data and technological ecosystems while avoiding corporate lock-in.
6. Optical computing experiments reveal the potential for analog AI, where stacked shallow computational layers in physical media allow AI to “experience” sensory input more like a human. Though still speculative, this approach could produce richer, lower-latency responses compared to purely digital models.
7. Maker culture and hardware innovation anchor the conversation in tangible reality. Moad’s MoAD workshop, filled with tools from industrial sewing machines to 3D printers and lathes, underscores how accessible technologies are enabling chaotic creativity and recycling systems. This grassroots hardware tinkering aligns with the PoliePals’ broader vision of decentralized, cooperative technological futures.

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop talks with Larry Diamond, co-founder of Healing with the Diamonds, about his journey from severe metabolic illness to vibrant health and his work helping others do the same. They explore topics like heart-brain coherence, the alchemical journey, insulin resistance, seed oils, and the deeper spiritual dimensions of healing, weaving in references to David Hawkins, Rupert Sheldrake, and the lost wisdom of the divine feminine. Larry shares insights on metabolic testing, ancestral eating, and the importance of authentic living, while also touching on the role of parasites—his term for the forces keeping humanity in fear and incoherence. You can find more about Larry and his work, as well as access his consulting, at healingwiththediamonds.com, and on Instagram and Facebook at Healing with the Diamonds. You can also read his latest blog "The Epidemic of Under-Nutrition in the Modern World and Why It Matters" in Substack or listen to his upcoming podcast in Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 Stewart Alsop introduces Larry Diamond of Healing with the Diamonds; they discuss his healing journey, health coaching, and the meaning of heart-brain coherence.
05:00 Alchemical journey, crystals, the hero’s journey, integrating masculine and feminine energies, and the idea of parasites feeding on fear.
10:00 Kindness vs niceness, morphic fields, Rupert Sheldrake’s theories, and quantum entanglement as evidence of interconnectedness.
15:00 Scientism vs true science, metabolic illness, citizen science, Larry’s 2013 health transformation.
20:00 Metabolic syndrome, C-reactive protein, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and Larry’s weight loss story.
25:00 Seed oils, refined carbs, ultra-processed foods, and strategies for restoring metabolic health.
30:00 Carb cycling, primal eating, intuitive healing, and ancestral wisdom.
35:00 Spirituality beyond religion, Yeshua vs Jesus, divine feminine, and writing your own gospel.
40:00 Living authentically, kindness in daily life, and finding healing in sovereignty and connection.

Key Insights

1. Larry Diamond shares how his journey from severe metabolic illness to vibrant health became the foundation for Healing with the Diamonds. He explains how hitting rock bottom in 2013 inspired him to reject mainstream dietary advice and embrace a primal, whole foods approach that reversed his insulin resistance and helped him lose over 100 pounds.
2. A major theme of the conversation is heart-brain coherence, which Larry describes as essential for true wisdom and discernment. He connects this to ancient teachings, referencing Yeshua’s “sword of discernment” and suggesting that Western culture intentionally suppressed this knowledge to keep people in fear and mental fragmentation.
3. The episode explores the alchemical journey as a metaphor for inner transformation, likening it to Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. Larry emphasizes integrating masculine and feminine energies and overcoming ego as key steps in remembering our divine nature and embodying authenticity.
4. Larry critiques scientism, which he calls the inversion of true science, and encourages listeners to reclaim citizen science as a path to health sovereignty. He shares practical tools like testing for C-reactive protein, A1C, fasting insulin, and using triglycerides-to-HDL ratios to assess metabolic health.
5. He identifies the “Big Four” dietary culprits—seed oils, refined carbs, ultra-processed foods, and sugar—as drivers of chronic illness and advocates returning to ancestral foods rich in natural fats and nutrients. He stresses that flavor and enjoyment are critical for sustainable healing.
6. On the spiritual side, Larry reframes the Abrahamic religions as distortions of deeper wisdom traditions, contrasting the figure of Yeshua (aligned with love and sovereignty) with the institutionalized Jesus narrative. He highlights the divine feminine, Sophia, as a source of intuition and co-creation with the cosmos.
7. Finally, Larry encourages listeners to “write your own gospel and live your own myth,” seeing authentic, kind, and sovereign living as both a spiritual and practical act of resistance to what he calls the parasite class—forces of fear and manipulation seeking to block human awakening.

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop speaks with Rory Aronson, CEO of FarmBot, about how his open-source hardware project is transforming home gardening into a more automated and accessible practice. Rory explains how FarmBot works—essentially as a CNC machine for your garden—covering its evolution from Arduino-based electronics to custom boards, the challenges of integrating hardware and software, and the role of closed-loop feedback systems to prevent errors. They explore solarpunk visions of distributed food systems, discuss the importance of “useful source” documentation in open-source hardware, and imagine a future where growing food is as easy as running a dishwasher. For more on Rory and FarmBot, check out farm.bot and the open-source resources at docs.farm.bot.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 Rory explains FarmBot as a CNC machine for gardens, using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, automating planting, watering, and weeding.

05:00 Discussion on the hardware stack evolution, open-source electronics roots, and moving to custom boards for better integration.

10:00 Stewart shares his Raspberry Pi experiments, Rory breaks down the software layers from cloud apps to firmware, emphasizing complexity.

15:00 Conversation shifts to closed-loop feedback with rotary encoders, avoiding 3D printer-style “spaghetti” errors in outdoor environments.

20:00 Rory explores open-source challenges, highlighting “useful source” documentation and hardware accessibility for modifications.

25:00 Solarpunk vision emerges: distributed food systems, automation enabling home-grown fresh food without expert knowledge.

30:00 Raised bed setup, energy efficiency, and FarmBot as a home appliance concept for urban and suburban gardens.

35:00 Small-scale versus industrial farming, niche commercial uses like seedling automation, and user creativity with custom tools.

40:00 AI potential with vision systems, LLMs for garden planning, and enhancing FarmBot intelligence for real-time adaptation.

45:00 Sensors, soil monitoring, image analysis for plant health, and empowering users to integrate FarmBot into smart homes.

50:00 Rory describes community innovations, auxiliary hardware, and open documentation supporting experimentation.

55:00 Final reflections on solarpunk futures, automation as empowerment, and how to access FarmBot’s resources online.

Key Insights

1. Rory Aronson shares how FarmBot began as a DIY project built on Arduino and Raspberry Pi, leveraging the open-source 3D printing ecosystem to prototype quickly. Over time, they transitioned to custom circuit boards to meet the specific demands of automating gardening tasks like seed planting, watering, and weeding, highlighting the tradeoffs between speed to market and long-term hardware optimization.
2. The conversation unpacks the complexity of FarmBot’s “stack,” which integrates cloud-based software, a web app, a message broker, a Raspberry Pi running a custom OS, and firmware on both Arduino and auxiliary chips for real-time feedback. This layered approach is crucial for precision in an unpredictable outdoor environment where mechanical errors could damage growing plants.
3. Aronson emphasizes that being open source isn’t enough; to be genuinely useful, projects must provide extensive, accessible documentation and export files in open, affordable formats. Without this, open source risks being a hollow promise for most users, especially in hardware where barriers to modification are higher.
4. They explore the solarpunk potential of FarmBot, imagining a future where growing food at home is as effortless as using a washing machine. By turning gardening into an automated process, FarmBot enables people to produce fresh vegetables without needing expertise, offering resilience against industrial food systems reliant on monoculture and long supply chains.
5. Aronson points out that while FarmBot isn’t designed for industrial agriculture, its modularity allows it to support niche commercial use cases, like automating seedling production in cleanroom environments. This adaptability reflects the broader vision of empowering both individuals and small operations with accessible automation tools.
6. The episode highlights user creativity enabled by FarmBot’s open hardware, including custom tools like side-mounted mirrors for alternative camera angles and pneumatic grippers for harvesting. These community-driven innovations showcase the platform’s flexibility and the value of encouraging experimentation.
7. Finally, Aronson sees great potential for integrating AI, particularly vision systems and multimodal LLMs, to make FarmBot smarter—detecting pests, diagnosing plant health, and even planning gardens tailored to user goals like nutrient needs or event timelines, moving closer to a truly intelligent gardening companion.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I, Stewart Alsop, speak with Thamir Ali Al-Rahedi, host of the From First Principles podcast on YouTube, about the nature of questions and answers, their role in business and truth-seeking, and the trade-offs inherent in technologies like AI. We explore the tension between generalists and specialists, the influence of scientism on culture, and how figures like Steve Jobs embodied the power of questions to shape markets and innovations. Thamir also shares insights from his Arabic book summary platform and his cautious approach to using large language models. You can find Thamir’s work on YouTube at From 1st Principles with Thamir and on X at @Thamir’s View.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 Stewart Alsop introduces Thamir Ali Al-Rahedi and they discuss Stewart’s book on the nature of questions, curiosity, and shifting his focus to questions in business.
05:00 They explore how questions generate value and answers capture it, contrasting dynamic questioning with static certainty in business and philosophy.
10:00 The market is described as a subconscious feedback loop, and they examine the role of truth-seeking in entrepreneurship, using Steve Jobs as an example.
15:00 Discussion turns to Steve Jobs’ spiritual practices, LSD, and how unseen factors and focus shaped Apple’s success.
20:00 Thamir and Stewart debate starting with spiritual or business perspectives in writing, touching on the generalist curse and discernment in creative work.
25:00 They reflect on writing habits, moving from short-form to long-form, and using AI as a thinking partner or tool.
30:00 Thamir shares his cautious approach to large language models, viewing them as trade-offs, and discusses building an Arabic book summary platform to inspire reading and curiosity.

Key Insights

1. The dynamic interplay of questions and answers – Thamir Ali Al-Rahedi explains that questions generate value by opening possibilities, while answers capture and stabilize that value. He sees the best answers as those that spark even more questions, creating a feedback loop of insight rather than static certainty.
2. Business and philosophy demand different relationships to truth – In business, answers often serve as the foundation for action and revenue generation, requiring a “false sense of certainty.” By contrast, philosophy thrives in uncertainty, allowing questions to remain open-ended and exploratory without the pressure to resolve them.
3. The market as a subconscious mirror – Both Thamir and Stewart Alsop describe the market as a form of truth that reflects not only conscious desires but also subconscious patterns and impulses. This understanding reframes economic behavior as a dialogue between collective psychology and external systems.
4. Steve Jobs as a case study of truth-seeking in entrepreneurship – The conversation highlights Steve Jobs’s blend of spiritual exploration and technological vision, including his exposure to Eastern philosophy and LSD, as an example of how deep questioning and unconventional insight can manifest in world-changing innovations.
5. AI as a double-edged tool for generalists – Thamir views large language models with caution, seeing them as highly specific tools that risk outsourcing critical thinking if used too early in the learning process. He frames technologies as trade-offs rather than pure solutions, emphasizing the importance of retaining one’s cognitive autonomy.
6. The generalist’s curse and the art of discernment – Both guests wrestle with how to focus and finish creative projects without sacrificing breadth. Thamir suggests writing medium-length pieces as a way to engage deeply without the paralysis of long-form commitments, while Stewart reflects on how AI accelerates his exploration of open threads.
7. A call for cultural renewal through reading and reflection – Thamir shares his initiative to build an Arabic book summary platform aimed at reviving reading habits, especially among younger audiences. He sees curated human-written content as a gateway to generalist thinking and a counterbalance to instant, algorithm-driven consumption.

On this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I, Stewart Alsop, talk with Sarah Boisvert, founder of New Collar AI, about the future of work in manufacturing, the rise of “new collar” jobs, and how technologies like 3D printing and AI are transforming skills training. We cover her experience with Fab Labs, creating a closed-loop AI tutor for workforce development, and the challenges of capturing implicit knowledge from retiring experts. Sarah also shares insights from her books The New Collar Workforce and People of the New Collar Workforce, which feature augmented reality to bring stories to life. You can connect with Sarah through LinkedIn.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 Sarah introduces New Collar jobs and how digital skills are transforming blue collar roles, discussing FedEx robotics and augmented workers.
05:00 Stewart asks about 3D printing challenges; Sarah explains advances in printer automation and the ongoing difficulty of CAD design.
10:00 They discuss Generation Z as digital natives, instant gratification, and workforce engagement, highlighting Lean manufacturing principles.
15:00 Sarah reflects on how technology speeds life up, her experiences with management training, and the importance of communication on factory floors.
20:00 They explore text-to-CAD possibilities, Sarah’s closed-loop AI tutor for manufacturing, and the creation of a proprietary technical database.
25:00 Sarah describes the scale of open jobs in 3D printing, challenges of filling them, and shifting perceptions of manufacturing work.
30:00 Discussion of robotics safety, small business adoption barriers, and the need for human oversight in automation.
35:00 Sarah talks about capturing implicit knowledge from retiring experts, using LLMs for factory floor solutions, and military applications.
40:00 Knowledge management, boutique data sets, and AI’s role in preserving technical expertise are explored.
45:00 Sarah shares insights on product design, her AR-enabled book, and empowering workers through accessible technical training.

Key Insights

1. Sarah Boisvert introduces the concept of “new collar” jobs, emphasizing that modern manufacturing roles now require digital skills traditionally associated with white-collar work. She highlights how roles like CNC machinists and 3D printing operators blend hands-on work with advanced tech, making them both in-demand and engaging for a younger, tech-savvy workforce.
2. The conversation explores the rise of Fab Labs worldwide and their role in democratizing access to manufacturing tools. Boisvert shares her experience founding a Fab Lab in Santa Fe, enabling students and adults to gain practical, project-based experience in CAD design, 3D printing, and repair skills critical for today’s manufacturing environment.
3. Boisvert underscores the persistent skills gap in manufacturing, noting that 600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs remain unfilled. She attributes part of this to outdated perceptions of manufacturing as “dirty and unsafe,” a narrative she’s actively working to change through her books and training programs that show how modern factories are highly technical and collaborative.
4. She reveals her team’s development of a closed-loop large language model for workforce training. Unlike ChatGPT, this system draws from a proprietary database of technical manuals and expert knowledge, offering precise, context-specific answers for students and workers without relying on the open internet.
5. The episode dives into generational differences in the workplace. Boisvert describes how Gen Z workers are motivated by purpose and efficiency, often asking “why” to understand the impact of their work. She sees Lean principles as a key to managing and empowering this generation to innovate and stay engaged.
6. On automation, Boisvert stresses that robots are not replacing humans in manufacturing but filling labor shortages. She notes that while robots improve efficiency, they require humans to program, monitor, and repair them—skills that new collar workers are being trained to master.
7. Finally, she shares her innovative approach to storytelling in her book People of the New Collar Workforce, which uses augmented reality to bring worker stories to life. Readers can scan photos to hear directly from individuals about their experiences transitioning into high-tech manufacturing careers.

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, I, Stewart Alsop, sit down with returning guest Brian Ahuja to explore a thought-provoking idea he’s been stewing on—could we one day build a robot capable of true partner dancing? From the biomechanics of salsa to the possibilities of AI embodiment, we unpack what it would take to engineer fluid, responsive movement and how that intersects with everything from artificial muscles to the intimacy of tactile feedback. We also touch on Brian’s long-term vision for a potential lab or foundation to tackle this challenge. You can follow Brian and future developments on Twitter @brianahuja.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 – Brian Ahuja returns to discuss AI embodiment, sparked by his experience in ballroom dance and curiosity about translating physical intelligence into robotics.
05:00 – They explore robotics in partner dancing, touching on the difference between choreographed motion and improvisational, responsive movement.
10:00 – Brian breaks down human biomechanics, emphasizing that hip motion in dances like salsa originates from knees and feet—not the hips directly.
15:00 – The conversation shifts to balance, proprioception, and ocular reflexes, linking them to movement stability in dance.
20:00 – They compare robot vs. human movement, noting robots’ jerky motions and the absence of muscle-based initiation.
25:00 – The need for haptic feedback is discussed, with Brian detailing how partner dancing depends on tactile signals and real-time response.
30:00 – They touch on robotic form factors, questioning whether humanoid robots are the best approach and pondering the design of artificial muscles.
35:00 – Brian proposes the idea of the Ahuja Test, gauging if a robot can move so fluidly it's indistinguishable from a human, using dance as the standard.

Key Insights

1. Partner Dancing as a Frontier for Robotics: Brian Ahuja proposes that partner dancing could be a benchmark for robotic embodiment, where success would indicate a robot’s ability to replicate fluid, responsive human movement. This task is far more complex than solo choreography—it requires real-time tactile feedback, improvisation, and nuanced physical communication.
2. Movement Origin in Humans vs. Robots: A critical difference lies in how movement is generated. Human motion begins with muscle contraction, not at the joints. Robots, however, typically initiate movement at joint points, missing the layered interplay of muscles, tendons, and fascia that create smooth, lifelike motion.
3. Haptic Feedback and Improvisation: Real partner dancing involves subtle cues, like pressure through fingertips, to signal direction and timing. For a robot to follow or lead a dance, it would need a highly sensitive haptic feedback system capable of interpreting and responding to these nonverbal signals in real time.
4. The Limits of Current Robotics: Even with advanced robots like the Tesla bot, current movement still appears jerky and lacks the fluidity needed for partner dancing. The mechanical design—especially the lack of artificial musculature—may impose fundamental limits on how closely robots can mimic human motion.
5. Applications Beyond Dance: The implications of this inquiry stretch beyond dance into fields like physical therapy, elder care, and domestic robotics. A robot that could move like a human could handle tasks requiring adaptability, precision, and physical sensitivity.
6. Vision and Systems Thinking: Brian frames the challenge as a systems problem that might start with a lab or foundation. He emphasizes not needing to do everything alone, recognizing the value of building knowledge iteratively through conversations, research, and community.
7. The Ahuja Test: Inspired by the Turing Test, Brian coins the idea of the “Ahuja Test”—a way to measure if a robot can move indistinguishably from a human. He suggests partner dancing could serve as the ultimate proving ground for such a test, given its demand for embodied intelligence and nuanced coordination.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, I, Stewart Alsop, speak with Andrew Einhorn, CEO and founder of Level Fields, a platform using AI to help people navigate financial markets through the lens of repeatable, data-driven events. We explore how structured patterns in market news—like CEO departures or earnings surprises—can inform trading strategies, how Level Fields filters noise from financial data, and the emotional nuance of user experience design in fintech. Andrew also shares insights on knowledge graphs, machine learning in finance, and the evolving role of narrative in markets. Stock tips from Level Fields are available on their YouTube channel at Level Fields AI and their website levelfields.ai.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 – Andrew introduces Level Fields and explains how it identifies event-driven stock movements using AI.
05:00 – Discussion of LLMs vs. custom models, and how Level Fields prioritized financial specificity over general AI.
10:00 – Stewart asks about ontologies and knowledge graphs; Andrew describes early experiences building rule-based systems.
15:00 – They explore the founder’s role in translating problems, UX challenges, and how user expectations shape product design.
20:00 – Insight into feedback collection, including a unique refund policy aimed at improving user understanding.
25:00 – Andrew breaks down the complexities of user segmentation, churn, and adapting the product for different investor types.
30:00 – A look into event types in the market, especially crypto-related announcements and their impact on equities.
35:00 – Philosophical turn on narrative vs. fundamentals in finance; how news and groupthink drive large-scale moves.
40:00 – Reflection on crypto parallels to dot-com era, and the long-term potential of blockchain infrastructure.
45:00 – Deep dive into machine persuasion, LLM training risks, and the influence of opinionated data in financial AI.
50:00 – Final thoughts on momentum algos, market manipulation, and the need for transparent, structured data.

Key Insights

1. Event-Based Investing as Market Forecasting: Andrew Einhorn describes Level Fields as a system for interpreting the market’s weather—detecting recurring events like CEO departures or earnings beats to predict price movements. This approach reframes volatility as something intelligible, giving investors a clearer sense of timing and direction.
2. Building Custom AI for Finance: Rejecting generic large language models, Einhorn’s team developed proprietary AI trained exclusively on financial documents. By narrowing the scope, they increased precision and reduced noise, enabling the platform to focus only on events that truly impact share price behavior.
3. Teaching Through Signals, Not Just Showing: Stewart Alsop notes how Level Fields does more than surface opportunities—it educates. By linking cause and effect in financial movements, the platform helps users build intuition, transforming confusion into understanding through repeated exposure to clear, data-backed patterns.
4. User Expectation vs. Product Vision: Initially, Level Fields emphasized an event-centric UX, but users sought more familiar tools like ticker searches and watchlists. This tension revealed that even innovative technologies must accommodate habitual user flows before inviting them into new ways of thinking.
5. Friction as a Path to Clarity: To elicit meaningful feedback, Level Fields implemented a refund policy that required users to explain what didn’t work. The result wasn’t just better UX insights—it also surfaced emotional blockages around investing and design, sharpening the team’s understanding of what users truly needed.
6. Narrative as a Volatile Market Force: Einhorn points out that groupthink in finance stems from shared academic training, creating reflexive investment patterns tied to economic narratives. These surface-level cycles obscure the deeper, steadier signals that Level Fields seeks to highlight through its data model.
7. AI’s Risk of Amplifying Noise: Alsop and Einhorn explore the darker corners of machine persuasion and LLM-generated content. Since models are trained on public data, including biased and speculative sources, they risk reinforcing distortions. In response, Level Fields emphasizes curated, high-integrity inputs grounded in financial fact.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop speaks with Moritz Bierling, community lead at Daylight Computer, about reimagining our relationship to technology through intentional hardware and software design. The conversation traverses the roots of Daylight Computer—born from a desire to mitigate the mental and physiological toll of blue light and digital distraction—into explorations of AI integration, environmental design, open-source ethos, and alternative models for startup funding. Moritz discusses the vision behind Daylight’s “Outdoor Computing Club,” a movement to reclaim nature as a workspace, and the broader philosophical inquiry into a “third timeline” that balances techno-optimism and primitivism. You can explore more about the project at daylightcomputer.com and connect through their primary social channels on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Daylight Computer, critique of mainstream tech as a distraction machine, and inspiration from Apple’s software limitations.
05:00 – Origin story of Daylight, impact of blue light, and how display technology influences wellbeing.
10:00 – Exploration of e-ink vs. RLCD, Kindle as a sanctuary, and Anjan’s experiments with the Remarkable tablet.
15:00 – Development of Solo OS, the role of spaces in digital environments, and distinctions between hardware and software.
20:00 – Vision for AI-assisted computing, voice interaction, and creating a context-aware interface.
25:00 – Emphasis on environmental design, using devices outdoors, and the evolutionary mismatch of current computing.
30:00 – Reflections on solar punk, right relationship with technology, and rejecting accelerationism.
35:00 – Introduction of the third timeline, rhizomatic organizational structure, and critique of VC funding models.
40:00 – Discussions on alternative economics, open-source dynamics, and long-term sustainability.
45:00 – Outdoor Computing Club, future launches, on-device AI, and the ambition to reclaim embodied computing.

Key Insights

1. Technology as Both Lifeline and Hindrance
   Moritz Bierling frames modern computing as a paradox: it connects us to society and productivity while simultaneously compromising our well-being through overstimulation and poor design. The Daylight Computer aims to resolve this by introducing hardware that reduces digital fatigue and invites outdoor use.
2. Inspiration from E-Ink and Purposeful Tools
   The initial concept for Daylight Computer was inspired by the calm, focused experience of using a Kindle. Its reflective screen and limited functionality helped Anjan, the founder, realize the power of devices built for singular, meaningful purposes rather than general distraction.
3. Designing for Contextual Intent
   With the introduction of Sol OS, Daylight enables users to define digital “spaces” aligned with different modes of being—such as waking, deep work, or relaxation. This modular approach supports intentional interaction and reduces the friction of context-switching common in modern OS designs.
4. Respectful Integration of AI
   Rather than chasing full automation, the Daylight team is exploring AI in a measured way. They’re developing features like screen-aware AI queries through physical buttons, creating a contextual assistant that enhances cognition without overpowering it or promoting dependency.
5. Alternative Economic Models
   Rejecting venture capital and the short-term incentives of traditional tech funding, Daylight pursues a community-backed model similar to Costco’s membership. This aligns financial sustainability with shared values, rather than extracting maximum profit.
6. Third Timeline Vision
   Moritz discusses a conceptual “third timeline”—a balanced future distinct from both primitivism and techno-solutionism. This alternative future integrates technology into life harmoniously, fostering right relationship between humans, nature, and machines.
7. Environmental Computing and Cultural Regeneration
   Daylight is not just a hardware company but a movement in environmental design. Through initiatives like the Outdoor Computing Club, they aim to restore sunlight as a central influence in human life and work, hinting at a cultural shift toward solar punk aesthetics and embodied digital living.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop speaks with futurist Richard Yonck about the profound implications of our accelerating relationship with technology. Together, they explore the emergence of emotionally intelligent machines, the nuances of anticipatory systems, and how narrative frameworks help societies prepare for possible futures. Richard unpacks the role of emotion in AI and why cultivating foresight is essential in an age of rapid disruption.

Check out this GPT we trained on the conversation

Timestamps

00:00 – The episode opens with Richard Yonck introducing the concept of artificial emotional intelligence and why it matters for the future of human-machine interaction.

05:00 – The discussion moves to anticipatory systems, exploring how technologies can be designed to predict and respond to future conditions.

10:00 – Richard explains how narrative foresight helps individuals and societies prepare for possible futures, emphasizing the power of storytelling in shaping collective imagination.

15:00 – A deeper look into affective computing, with examples of how machines are learning to detect and simulate emotional states to improve user experience.

20:00 – The conversation touches on the role of emotion in intelligence, challenging the misconception that emotion is the opposite of logic.

25:00 – Richard outlines how technological disruption can mirror societal values and blind spots, urging more thoughtful design.

30:00 – The focus shifts to long-term thinking, highlighting how future-oriented education and leadership are vital in an age of rapid change.

35:00 – Closing thoughts center around the evolution of human-technology partnerships, stressing the need for ethical, emotionally aware systems to support a thriving future.

Key Insights

1. Emotion as a Computational Frontier: Richard Yonck highlights that as we push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, the next significant frontier involves enabling machines to understand, interpret, and possibly simulate emotions. This capacity isn’t just a novelty—it plays a crucial role in how machines and humans interact, influencing trust, empathy, and cooperation in increasingly digital environments.
2. The Importance of Anticipatory Systems: One of the core ideas explored is the concept of anticipatory systems—those that can predict and react to future conditions. Richard emphasizes how building such foresight into our technologies, and even into our societal structures, is vital in managing the complexity and volatility of the modern world. It’s not just about responding to the future, but actively shaping it.
3. Narrative as a Tool for Foresight: The discussion underscores that storytelling isn’t just entertainment—it’s a powerful instrument for exploring and communicating possible futures. By framing future scenarios as narratives, we can emotionally and cognitively engage with potential outcomes, fostering a deeper understanding and preparedness across different segments of society.
4. Emotions as Integral to Intelligence: Contrary to the view that emotion impairs rationality, Richard points out that emotions are essential to decision-making and intelligence. They help prioritize actions and signal what matters. Bringing this understanding into AI development could result in systems that more effectively collaborate with humans, particularly in roles requiring empathy and nuanced social judgment.
5. Technology as a Mirror of Humanity: A recurring insight is that the technologies we create ultimately reflect our values, assumptions, and blind spots. Emotionally intelligent machines won’t just serve us—they’ll embody our understanding of ourselves. This raises profound ethical questions about what we choose to model and how these choices shape future interactions.
6. Urgency of Long-Term Thinking: The conversation brings to light how short-termism is a critical vulnerability in current systems—economic, political, and technological. Richard advocates for integrating long-term thinking into how we design and deploy innovations, suggesting that futures literacy should be a core skill in education and leadership.
7. Evolutionary Partnership Between Humans and Machines: Lastly, Richard describes the trajectory of human-technology interaction not as domination or subservience, but as an evolving partnership. This partnership will require emotional nuance, foresight, and ethical maturity if we’re to co-evolve in ways that support human flourishing and planetary stability.

Contact Information

• Richard Yonck's LinkedIn