The Orthogonal Bet

• Peter Bebergal on the Roots of Dungeons & Dragons

  In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Peter Bebergal. Peter is a writer and the author of numerous books, and the editor, most recently, of Appendix N: Weird Tales From the Roots of Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons and Dragons was created by Gary Gygax and draws from numerous sources, which Gygax listed in Appendix N of his Dungeon Master’s Guide. Peter took this list as the basis for creating a fascinating collection of stories that inspired D&D.Peter and Sam talked about the origins of this book and how he chose what to include in the anthology. But they also spoke more broadly about pulp and high fantasy, remixing and creativity in the role playing world, and even how all of this led to Peter’s favorite parts of the Internet.

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• Samantha John on Hopscotch the easy bake oven of code

  In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Samantha John, co-founder of Hopscotch—a delightful programming environment designed for children. Samuel wanted to explore the origins of Hopscotch, its underlying philosophy, and how we might think more broadly about teaching programming to young people.Their conversation spans the history of programming, the unique powers and possibilities of computers, and the role of tools like Hopscotch in shaping how kids interact with code. They also touch on AI and the future of programming. It’s a fun, wide-ranging discussion that captures Samantha’s thoughtful approach and contagious enthusiasm.

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  37:41
• Torie Bosch on the 26 Lines of Code That Changed the World

  In this episode, Samuel Arbesman sits down with Torie Bosch—now an editor at STAT News and formerly a longtime editor at Slate Magazine. Building on a groundbreaking Slate project, Bosch edited the acclaimed anthology You Are Not Expected to Understand This: How 26 Lines of Code Changed the World, which explores the pivotal snippets of software that have profoundly shaped society.Arbesman and Bosch trace the project’s origins and unpack the stories behind these influential code fragments. Their conversation dives into the wider interplay of code, technology, and culture—probing themes of humility in tech and the pitfalls that arise when programmers overlook social context. They explore how “learn to code” cycles through history, why recurring tech-society tensions matter, and the value of studying technology’s past. Bosch also shares insights from her current beat at STAT, outlining the questions she’s chasing in the life-sciences arena.

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  43:37
• Jason Crawford on The Techno-Humanist Manifesto

  In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Jason Crawford, a writer and thinker who explores the idea of progress in modern society. Jason is the founder and president of the Roots of Progress Institute, an organization dedicated to developing a modern philosophy of progress. As part of this mission, the institute runs a fellowship for individuals writing about progress-related themes. Jason himself is a prolific writer and is currently working on a book-in-progress titled The Techno-Humanist Manifesto.Together, Samuel and Jason discuss Jason’s journey from blogging about progress to founding an entire institution devoted to the topic. They explore his goals in writing, the cultural importance of storytelling in shaping societal values, and the distinct nature of the progress movement and how it compares to effective altruism and effective accelerationism. The conversation also touches on Jason’s broader ambitions for embedding progress-oriented thinking into pop culture and education, and concludes with a reflection on the role of optimism in shaping the future.Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Gates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Suno

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  36:18
• John Hendrix on "The Mythmakers"

  In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with John Hendrix. John is a writer and illustrator whose work appears widely across books and publications. His most recent book is the graphic novel The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. This compelling work delves into the enduring friendship between Lewis, author of the Narnia series, and Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. But it also goes far beyond their personal story, exploring broader themes such as mythmaking, creativity, and the nature of friendship itself.Samuel and John discuss the genesis of the book, examining the impact of the world wars on both Tolkien and Lewis, and how those experiences shaped their worldviews and writing. Their conversation also explores the role of mythology and fantasy, the authors’ differing views on progress and disenchantment, and the influence of fame on their lives and relationship. They even venture into the idea of what modern mythmaking might look like today.Produced by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Gates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by Suno

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  39:37

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