This is the first half of an interview with Nick Gurski, a mathematician specializing in algebra, and specifically in category theory. We dive quickly into the thick of what category theory is, beginning with its origins in algebraic topology. We run through how certain problems from other fields can be solved using category theory, using algebraic geometry as an example. We close this half talking about the homotopy hypothesis, one of Dr. Gurski's problems of interest, and higher category theory.