Humans On The Loop
Michael Garfield
Let's dream better! Join paleontologist-futurist Michael Garfield for bold, far-ranging explorations into the nature of agency in the age of automation, wisdom and innovation, responsibility and power, and the care and feeding of the new superpowers conferred to us by magical technologies. Weekly dialogues at the edge of the knowable, learning to navigate Global Weirding and exponential AI with the curiosity and play required of us. Building on twenty years of independent research plus firsthand experience of the tech, arts, and science worlds, Humans On The Loop is a show to transform you and help us make better use of our greatest natural resource: our attention. michaelgarfield.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 1h 23min
Collective Futurecrafting: Play, Trauma, and The Duty of Care with Mathew Mytka
Mathew Mytka, a moral imagineer and social entrepreneur who designs playful ethical systems, joins to riff on imagination, tech, and institutions. He discusses play versus games, trauma and recovery, and pivoting from tech ethics to hyperlocal coordination. Conversations explore duty of care, fractal community circles, and nurturing weird online communal gardens for collective learning.
19 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 35min
Neuroscience in Hyperspace with Andrew Gallimore
Andrew Gallimore, pioneering psychedelic neuroscientist and author, explores DMT’s strange high-dimensional worlds and their implications for consciousness. He discusses treating DMT as a technology, EEG evidence of vivid closed-eye perception, the intelligent-agents hypothesis, modeling expanded cortical representation, and plans for extended-state research at Eleusis.
Mar 11, 2026 • 1h 26min
(Re)Building Trustworthy Institutions with Nathan Kinch
Nathan Kinch, AI ethicist and founder of Trustworthy By Design, helps organizations design trustworthy socio-technical systems. He explores why well-meaning institutions drift from their values. Short, lively conversations cover the five-layer trust framework, participatory living labs for organisational reflection, power imbalances and incentives, and playful approaches to embed ethics in practice.
17 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 1h 22min
AI Doesn't Have To Be This Way feat. Alex Komoroske
Alex Komoroske, CEO and co-founder of Common Tools and former product leader at Google and Stripe, outlines privacy-first, decentralized computing and resonant computing as an alternative to centralized AI. He discusses embedding policies with data, confidential compute, emergent folksonomies, LLMs as translators of thought, ambient interfaces, and ephemeral, user-owned software. Quick, provocative, and future-focused.
35 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 29min
Fostering "Prodigies of Uncertainty" with Layman Pascal
Layman Pascal, metamodern spiritual thinker and meditation teacher, blends shamanic sensibility with integral theory. He discusses our shift to a biodigital, stranger world. Short takes cover cultivating “weirdness specialists,” navigating compressed timescales, building civic spirit, and raising “prodigies of uncertainty.” Conversation is playful, strange, and futurity-focused.
36 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 1h 18min
Becoming Hyperhuman with Carl Hayden Smith
Carl Hayden Smith, an Associate Professor of Media and founder of the Museum of Consciousness, dives into fascinating topics like hyperhumanism, where technology nurtures human abilities rather than replaces them. He discusses the impact of psychedelics on creativity, the dangers of escapism via tech, and the importance of human connection. Carl emphasizes integrating insights from journaling and psychedelic experiences into daily life, while exploring the future of culture beyond screens. His vision of 'hobbitism' presents a refreshing shift towards a multi-species society.
15 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 1h 6min
Co-Intelligence & Planetary Perspectives with Rimma Boshernitsan of DIALOGUE
Rimma Boshernitsan, founder of DIALOGUE and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, explores the fascinating realm of co-intelligence. She discusses the transformative potential of integrating human, machine, and planetary intelligence. The conversation delves into how social media shapes identity and connection, and whether AI can democratize creativity. Rimma also reflects on communal living and the implications of sending civilians to space, all while emphasizing the importance of intuition in leadership. A thought-provoking journey into future possibilities!
40 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 24min
Co-Evolving with Magical Technologies feat. Sam Arbesman
In this engaging discussion, Sam Arbesman, a scientist-in-residence at Lux Capital, unpacks themes from his book, The Magic of Code. He explores the enchanting blend of code and human experience, likening code to both magic and a liberal art. Sam emphasizes the importance of open-source development and iterative experimentation, illuminating the interplay between simplicity and complexity. He also probes the relationship between technology and biology, and advocates for a conscious approach to our digital tools, embracing the ephemeral nature of software for greater present impact.
Sep 22, 2025 • 2h 15min
Holistic Technology for Growing a World in Love with Larry Muhlstein
Larry Muhlstein, a former UC Berkeley research fellow in machine learning, discusses his Holistic Technology Project aimed at aligning technology with care and love. He dives into the concept of 'Technological Love,' exploring how technologies can foster understanding and mutual respect. Larry warns against societal 'disease' caused by economic incentives and urges a shift toward shared truths to combat deception. He also highlights ways to scale care from local to global governance through practices like meditation and gratitude.
14 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 13min
Taryn Southern on Surfing the Exponential Tech Tsunami
Taryn Southern, a creative technologist and early YouTube star, dives into the wild world of exponential technology. She reflects on her tech journey from Wichita to the digital frontier, revealing how technology can expand human experiences and bridge conversations. Taryn discusses AI's potential in personal growth and facilitating difficult dialogues, while navigating the complexities of tech's impact on identity and belonging. She also emphasizes the importance of ethical dialogue in AI, suggesting diverse voices for shaping its future.
