What happens when civilizations don't plan ahead and invest in solving problems before they escalate? In this thought-provoking episode, anthropologist Dr. Jamie Saris joins me to discuss how societies have succeeded and failed at managing shared resources. We explore dams, agriculture, and public health initiatives through the lens of cost over time.

Dr. Jamie Saris, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth

Dr Saris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University. He holds advanced degrees in Social-Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago (MA and PhD), and he has completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinically-Relevant Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Episode Highlights:

[01:40] My relatable tiny home story.

[03:56] Jamie on how ancient civilizations harnessed water - and its ties to power.

[08:38] We discuss impacts of Egypt's famous Aswan dam project.

[10:18] When upstream dams lack foresight, downstream communities pay the price.

[11:38] Looking back on well-intentioned global health efforts like malaria eradication. Unintended consequences emerged.

[15:03] Dangers of cherry-picked climate data. Need the full picture.

[16:52] Jamie dives into flawed use of temperature mortality statistics.

[18:43] Could lifespan measure human progress? Jamie notes inequality's role.

[21:52] Imagining a future beyond oil dependence. Disruptive change can happen suddenly.

[23:24] Jamie on coming transformation in how we think about driving. Resistance expected.
[24:00] Jamie explores civilizations grappling with long-term thinking through stories.
[29:34] We end on a sober but hopeful note about today's passionate youth worldwide.

Links & Resources:

ProjectHoneyLight.life

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of bees and business. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and spread the word about the importance of nature and its lessons.

In this thought-provoking conversation with anthropologist Dr. Jamie Saris, we discuss cooperating with other people in the world live bees in a hive. We talk about the idea that since there's enough honey for everyone, it makes sense to invest in weapons of peace more than weapons of war.

Dr. Jamie Saris, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth

Dr Saris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University. He holds advanced degrees in Social-Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago (MA and PhD), and he has completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinically-Relevant Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Episode Highlights:

[0:02] - Investing in peace over war for long-term survival
[5:12] - Human impact on ecosystems and long-term planning
[9:09] - Population growth, inequality, and social change
[15:47] - The importance of shared truths and objective reality
[20:22] - Climate change, mass migration, and shared governance
[28:43] - Cooperation and anthropology

Links & Resources:

ProjectHoneyLight.life

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of bees and communities. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and spread the word about the importance of nature and its lessons.

If you’re alive today, it means you’ve eaten enough honey to survive up to this point. The honey represents the energy needed to sustain life. Since we’re all still here, there must be enough energy for everyone on the planet to thrive. But we often don’t see it that way. In this thought-provoking episode, I discuss with anthropologist Dr. Jamie Saris the idea that energy is abundant, but unequally distributed.

Dr. Jamie Saris, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth

Dr Saris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University. He holds advanced degrees in Social-Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago (MA and PhD), and he has completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinically-Relevant Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Episode Highlights:

[01:42] Rethinking “invasive species” and human impact.

[06:14] Ireland’s bogs shaped by ancient agricultural practices.

[07:35] Cycles of growth and collapse in habitats and civilizations.

[11:09] How to boost collaboration through properly structured meetings.

[17:16] Symbolic communication vs biological priorities.

[19:31] Tools allow leveraging energy, but disrupt habitats.

[21:18] Could a shared vision help human collaboration?

[26:30] Changing the status quo is hard when people benefit.

Links & Resources:

ProjectHoneyLight.life

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of bees and business. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and spread the word about the importance of nature and its lessons.