Episode Details

This week, Sarah Constantin joins me on The Hope Axis. Sarah is a mathematician and versatile thinker whose work spans defense, software, AI, biotechnology, and mental health.

In this conversation, we revisit our connection from six years ago to discuss her latest explorations and her perspective in this unique moment for both AI and her own professional journey. Hope you enjoy.

For the full transcript of our conversation, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14uG39HZYnxphJ82I6pj4_3CLs00XK42n/view?usp=sharing

Important Links:

X (Twitter) – https://x.com/s_r_constantin?lang=en

Website– https://www.sarah-constantin.org/

Substack – https://sarahconstantin.substack.com/

Github – https://srconstantin.github.io/about/

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-constantin-ba71b02b/?isSelfProfile=false

Show Notes:

(0:00:00) Introduction
(0:05:21) The Internet used to be a social place
(0:14:57) The Importance of Practical Experience
(0:19:37) From the Covid Era to the AI Era
(0:22:34) Wrong Assumptions About Medicine
(0:36:02) Self-help
(0:39:51) Love, Relationships, and Conversations
(0:45:53) Neutrality, The Debate-resolution App
(0:56:53) Taiwan, the Lack of Explosives in the US
(1:01:36) Why Sarah Writes
(1:08:37) AI

Books, Essays & References Mentioned:

Samuel Shem — The House of God

Lewis Thomas — The Youngest Science

Ayn Rand — The Virtue of Selfishness

Agnes Callard — Open Socrates

Venkatesh Rao — "Never have both halves of a conversation"

Internal Family Systems (IFS) — Psychological framework

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — Psychological framework

Contractualism — Political philosophy of fair procedures

LessWrong — Rationalist community

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) — Statistical method

TSMC — Semiconductor manufacturing

SBIR — Small Business Innovation Research program

The military-industrial complex — Defense innovation ecosystem