From Wall Street to Complexity Science
In this episode, we sit down with Michael Lissack—former Wall Street whistleblower turned pioneering voice in complexity science and cybernetics. Lissack takes us on a wide-ranging journey through the power of context in understanding observations, the difference between complex and merely complicated systems, and the urgent need to uncover hidden assumptions in the age of AI.
Together, we explore how AI challenges traditional critical thinking, how the attention economy distorts scientific progress, and why publishing bold ideas is harder than it should be. Lissack unpacks the dialectical nature of learning, the misuse of statistics in research, and the tension between fearing uncertainty and fearing being wrong.
We also dive into his vision for education: one that embraces questioning, engages students deeply, and adapts to the tools—and challenges—of our time.
This is a rich, challenging conversation about systems, meaning-making, and the future of learning.
Order Michael’s latest book:
Understanding Questioning, Questioning Understanding
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