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S.1 Ep. 15 Calm Technology, DAO Games, & the Anthropology of Governance with Amber Case
In this episode of Governance Futures, hosts Jamilya and Eugene speak with Amber Case (Cyborg Anthropologist), technologist, author, and founder of the Calm Technology Institute.
Case explores how humans and technology co-evolve — a field she helped pioneer as one of the world’s leading voices in cyborg anthropology. The conversation dives into lessons from Case’s DAO Game, a simulation designed to help communities stress-test governance systems before launching. Drawing from Case's work on Calm Technology, Case explains why governance must account for human limits, how inclusive design mirrors ancient rituals, and why “design is governance.” The episode explores patterns in community behavior — from country clubs to DAOs — revealing that while tools change, human coordination remains timeless.
Case closes with reflections on AI, collective learning, and why the future of governance might just look a lot like the past.
Some of the materials we mention in the episode:
- An Illustrated Dictionary of Cyborg Anthropology (PDF) - https://caseorganic.gumroad.com/l/anthropdf Design is governance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clxm5qW3pao&t=1s Calm Governance - https://www.calmtech.institute/
- Design is governance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clxm5qW3pao&t=1s
- Calm Governance - https://www.calmtech.institute/
Timestamps:
00:00 – Cold Start
00:56 – Introduction: Jamilya and Eugene reflect on their conversation with Amber Case
02:23 – First impressions: cyborg anthropology and governance
04:15 – What is cyborg anthropology? Humans, tech, and adaptation
06:14 – The birth of wikis and the evolution of online collaboration
08:38 – Wiki culture, editing systems, and governance through software
11:06 – Invisible governance: how online communities self-organize
13:32 – Digital identity, hyper-sigils, and the self in online life
15:11 – Simulating governance: why Case built the DAO Game
17:34 – How DAO Game helps players experience governance dynamics
19:12 – Why every DAO should test its governance as a game
20:13 – Governance as a marathon: lessons from boardrooms to DAOs
22:41 – What really happens behind the scenes of board governance
25:02 – Rituals, trust, and the hidden rules of community participation
27:24 – Old wisdom in new systems: lessons from Ostrom and co-ops
29:49 – Origins of “DAO” and the automation of home systems
31:58 – Are DAOs just repeating human governance patterns?
33:55 – Design is governance: how architecture shapes participation
36:21 – Inclusive vs. exclusive design and the myth of openness
38:45 – Entropy, ecosystems, and why good governance reduces chaos
41:02 – Boundaries, belonging, and the emotional work of inclusion
42:55 – How to handle community tensions and exclusivity
44:54 – Measuring vibes: Case’s 60-point community scoring system
48:21 – Reducing entropy through shared rituals and space design
50:44 – Training community members and fostering stewardship
53:07 – Recognizing creativity, humility, and contribution
55:34 – Legos, learning, and what makes great collaborators
57:18 – The social awareness matrix: identifying healthy dynamics
59:36 – Group design, collaboration, and cultural literacy
01:02:26 – The politics of cleanliness, care, and invisible labor
01:05:39 – The Phoenix Project: bottlenecks, burnout, and learning loops
01:08:49 – Calm Technology and AI: using minimal tech for maximum care
01:10:56 – Why messy spaces produce creativity and innovation
01:13:14 – Final reflections and the rapid-fire governance quiz
01:14:18 – One-word quiz: Constraint, History, Sobriety, Past
01:15:30 – Closing thoughts and outro
View all episodes
By Governance Futures PodcastIn this episode of Governance Futures, hosts Jamilya and Eugene speak with Amber Case (Cyborg Anthropologist), technologist, author, and founder of the Calm Technology Institute.
Case explores how humans and technology co-evolve — a field she helped pioneer as one of the world’s leading voices in cyborg anthropology. The conversation dives into lessons from Case’s DAO Game, a simulation designed to help communities stress-test governance systems before launching. Drawing from Case's work on Calm Technology, Case explains why governance must account for human limits, how inclusive design mirrors ancient rituals, and why “design is governance.” The episode explores patterns in community behavior — from country clubs to DAOs — revealing that while tools change, human coordination remains timeless.
Case closes with reflections on AI, collective learning, and why the future of governance might just look a lot like the past.
Some of the materials we mention in the episode:
- An Illustrated Dictionary of Cyborg Anthropology (PDF) - https://caseorganic.gumroad.com/l/anthropdf Design is governance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clxm5qW3pao&t=1s Calm Governance - https://www.calmtech.institute/
- Design is governance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clxm5qW3pao&t=1s
- Calm Governance - https://www.calmtech.institute/
Timestamps:
00:00 – Cold Start
00:56 – Introduction: Jamilya and Eugene reflect on their conversation with Amber Case
02:23 – First impressions: cyborg anthropology and governance
04:15 – What is cyborg anthropology? Humans, tech, and adaptation
06:14 – The birth of wikis and the evolution of online collaboration
08:38 – Wiki culture, editing systems, and governance through software
11:06 – Invisible governance: how online communities self-organize
13:32 – Digital identity, hyper-sigils, and the self in online life
15:11 – Simulating governance: why Case built the DAO Game
17:34 – How DAO Game helps players experience governance dynamics
19:12 – Why every DAO should test its governance as a game
20:13 – Governance as a marathon: lessons from boardrooms to DAOs
22:41 – What really happens behind the scenes of board governance
25:02 – Rituals, trust, and the hidden rules of community participation
27:24 – Old wisdom in new systems: lessons from Ostrom and co-ops
29:49 – Origins of “DAO” and the automation of home systems
31:58 – Are DAOs just repeating human governance patterns?
33:55 – Design is governance: how architecture shapes participation
36:21 – Inclusive vs. exclusive design and the myth of openness
38:45 – Entropy, ecosystems, and why good governance reduces chaos
41:02 – Boundaries, belonging, and the emotional work of inclusion
42:55 – How to handle community tensions and exclusivity
44:54 – Measuring vibes: Case’s 60-point community scoring system
48:21 – Reducing entropy through shared rituals and space design
50:44 – Training community members and fostering stewardship
53:07 – Recognizing creativity, humility, and contribution
55:34 – Legos, learning, and what makes great collaborators
57:18 – The social awareness matrix: identifying healthy dynamics
59:36 – Group design, collaboration, and cultural literacy
01:02:26 – The politics of cleanliness, care, and invisible labor
01:05:39 – The Phoenix Project: bottlenecks, burnout, and learning loops
01:08:49 – Calm Technology and AI: using minimal tech for maximum care
01:10:56 – Why messy spaces produce creativity and innovation
01:13:14 – Final reflections and the rapid-fire governance quiz
01:14:18 – One-word quiz: Constraint, History, Sobriety, Past
01:15:30 – Closing thoughts and outro