The Outside Context

"An Outside Context Problem was the sort of thing most civilizations encountered just once, and which they tended to encounter rather in the same way a sentence encountered a full stop." — Iain M. Banks, Excession. This podcast discusses challenges that fall into the outside context with the innovators and visionaries who are the forefront of technological change. It considers the big picture of technology, and why this matters for the future of human civilisation.

Podcasting since 2024 • 17 episodes

The Outside Context

Latest Episodes

The Long Equation: Tech, Trust & Solving for Financial Inclusion

In Episode 16 of The Outside Context, Kenneth Kou, Head of Venture Lab at Mercy Corps Ventures shares his journey from mathematics to impact investing, exploring how financial inclusion, blockchain technology, and innovative solutions can build...

April 29, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 16 • 47:13

The Sixth Domain: Tech, Power, and the New Geopolitics

In episode 15 of The Outside Context, co-hosts Jannah Patchay and Elise Soucie Watts welcome Melanie Garson, an Associate Professor in International Security & Conflict Resolution at UCL as well as the Founder of GeopolitIQ, to discuss the ...

April 08, 2026 • Season 1 • Episode 15 • 50:31

The New Invisible Hand: Machine Learning, Human Earning

In Episode 14 of The Outside Context Elliot Hentov, chief macro policy strategist at State Street Investment Management, discusses the intersection of AI and macroeconomics. He explores the current state of AI's impact on productivity, investme...

November 20, 2025 • Season 1 • Episode 14 • 34:02

Back to the Future: Notes on an Alien Earth

In episode 13 of The Outside Context, Elise and Jannah reflect on their year of podcasting, discussing their experiences and the themes explored in previous episodes. They discuss the TV series 'Alien: Earth', examining it as a social commentar...

October 30, 2025 • Season 1 • Episode 13 • 48:27

Teaching the Machine: Conscience and Truth in the Age of AI

In episode 12 of The Outside Context, Haviva Kohl, Senior Program Manager at a Big Tech firm, shares her unique journey from being a sixth-grade teacher to working in tech, through to discussing the implications of AI, disinformation, and the d...

August 27, 2025 • Season 1 • Episode 12 • 43:44