In this episode we start from scratch and build a world in which to tell stories.

 

References

Dominion

MTG Improv

The Singularity

Charles Stross

Vernor Vinge

Questionable Content

Red Mars

Mistborn

Philosopher's zombie

Last Night (movie, 1998)

Quiverfull movement

Ringworld

HPMOR

Talleyrand

Foundation (Asimov)

D&D

Story of Your Life (Ted Chiang)

Chase the wind (Name of the Wind).  Chasing the wind is hard to describe compactly, but mainly it's walking in the world and learning deep things by being open to experience.

Cycle of death and rebirth

Starchild

Evangelion