From Magic To Machines... The Wonder (And Worry) Of Code With Sam Arbesman
Release Date: 09/21/2025
Why Authenticity Is Overrated With Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic - TWMJ #1010
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1010 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What if the search for our “true selves” has been leading us away from who we actually need to become? That’s the tension at the heart of ’s work, a globally respected authority on people analytics, talent, leadership, and the Human–AI interface whose career spans , , , , , and decades of research that have shaped how organizations understand human behavior. His latest book, challenges one of the most cherished modern beliefs - that success comes from projecting our raw, unfiltered selves - and...
info_outline
Beyond Flying Cars And Futurist Myths With Nick Foster - TWMJ #1009
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1009 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). The future isn’t something to predict... it’s something to practice. Few people embody that idea more completely than , a designer, futurist and author whose work has quietly influenced some of the most innovative companies on the planet - from , , and to , where he served as head of design. In his new book, , Nick challenges the way we imagine what comes next. Rather than offering forecasts, he explores four mindsets - could, should, might, and don’t - that shape how individuals and organizations...
info_outline
Radical Humanness In The Age of AI With Henrik Werdelin - TWMJ #1008
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1008 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What if artificial intelligence didn’t just build faster startups... but redefined what it means to be an entrepreneur? has been exploring that question for years. As the co-founder of (the company behind and the new ) and (the startup studio that helped launch ventures like , , and ), Henrik (who also has a great podcast called, ) has spent his career creating businesses that live at the intersection of creativity, community and technology. Now, with his new book , he’s rethinking...
info_outline
In Praise Of The Office WIth Peter Cappelli - TWMJ #1007
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1007 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). The debate over hybrid work has become one of the most emotionally charged topics in business... but few people have studied it as deeply as , the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at the and Director of its . In his latest book, , co-authored with , Peter challenges the idea that remote work is the inevitable future of knowledge work. Drawing from decades of research and real-world case studies, he argues that while technology has allowed us to untether from our desks, it has also quietly eroded...
info_outline
Epic Disruptions And The Future of Innovation With Scott Anthony - TWMJ #1006
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1006 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Disruption isn’t always loud. It’s often quiet, slow and deeply human. That’s one of the lessons has spent his career unpacking. As a leading voice on innovation and the managing partner emeritus at (the consultancy founded by the late ), Scott has helped global companies navigate the uncertainty that comes with change. He si currently a Clinical Professor of Strategy at 's . His latest book, , reframes how we think about progress through stories that stretch from gunpowder to generative AI,...
info_outline
Inventing The Future With Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard - TWMJ #1005
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1005 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). Every major leap in human connection starts as a simple question: what if? For , that question led to the invention of the cable modem and the birth of broadband internet access as we know it. Often called the “father of the cable modem,” Rouzbeh is a visionary engineer and entrepreneur whose work transformed how billions of people access information. His new book, , traces the improbable journey from an idea nobody believed in (“why would anyone want the internet at home?”) to the global...
info_outline
The Future Of Work And Leadership With Robert Glazer - TWMJ #1004
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1004 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What does it really mean to lead with values when so much of modern business seems built on quarterly results and surface-level culture? has spent his career proving that sustainable performance isn’t just about financial results. It’s about the alignment between who you are and what you stand for. As founder and chairman of (a marketing agency), Bob built a company repeatedly recognized as one of the best places to work. Beyond the accolades, he is an author of seven books, including , and his...
info_outline
Manage Yourself To Lead Others With Margaret Andrews - TWMJ #1003
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1003 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). When you look closely at leadership, it often seems like a conversation about others… how to motivate, how to manage, how to inspire. But what if the real work starts somewhere far more intimate… with yourself? , a distinguished educator, consultant and leadership expert, has spent years making the case that true leadership begins with self-awareness. It’s the quiet realization that the patterns of your past, your assumptions and your worldview don’t just shape who you are… they shape how you...
info_outline
From Magic To Machines... The Wonder (And Worry) Of Code With Sam Arbesman
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1002 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). What if code isn’t just software, but the culture script of our age shaping what we notice, how we decide and who holds power? That’s the provocation at the heart of ’s new book, which he uses to reveal how programming moves from the screen into the fabric of everyday life. Sam is Scientist in Residence at and a visiting scholar at He connects emerging technologies with human systems and helps founders, leaders and the rest of us make sense of complexity. He is also the author of two other...
info_outline
Status... Humanity’s Most Powerful Invisible Force With Toby Stuart - TWMJ #1001
Thinking With Mitch Joel
Welcome to episode #1001 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation). is a Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the , , where he directs the and the . Over his career, he has also taught at , , and , and he is recognized globally as one of the leading thinkers on entrepreneurship, networks and organizational strategy. Beyond academia, Toby sits on the boards of multiple technology companies, cofounded the , and serves as the founding Chairman of . His latest book, , examines the invisible hierarchies that govern so much of human life and why small...
info_outlineWelcome to episode #1002 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).
What if code isn’t just software, but the culture script of our age shaping what we notice, how we decide and who holds power? That’s the provocation at the heart of Sam Arbesman’s new book, The Magic Of Code - How Digital Language Created And Connects Our World - And Shapes Our Future, which he uses to reveal how programming moves from the screen into the fabric of everyday life. Sam is Scientist in Residence at Lux Capital and a visiting scholar at Harvard. He connects emerging technologies with human systems and helps founders, leaders and the rest of us make sense of complexity. He is also the author of two other influential books (The Half-Life of Facts and Overcomplicated). In this episode, we get a plain-English tour of why coding now functions as cultural literacy, why “vibe coding” and natural-language tools lower barriers without removing responsibility, and how to think clearly about the trade-offs when AI accelerates creation but also amplifies hidden assumptions. Sam breaks down how to treat algorithms less like oracles and more like instruments, demystifying engagement mechanics on social platforms, highlighting the shrinking shelf life of facts and offering ways to keep agency when tools get smarter and more opaque. These are practical frames for navigating complex systems (and their failure modes), along with a humane case for humility in product and policy and a reminder that the goal isn’t more tech for its own sake, but better versions of ourselves using it. If you care about where code, culture and creativity meet… and how to keep your bearings as the ground shifts… this one delivers both the big picture and next steps for smarter, more intentional use of the tools we’re all inheriting. Enjoy the conversation...
- Running time: 56:47.
- Hello from beautiful Montreal.
- Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.
- Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.
- Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Thinking With Mitch Joel.
- Feel free to connect to me directly on LinkedIn.
- Check out ThinkersOne.
- Here is my conversation with Sam Arbesman.
- The Magic Of Code - How Digital Language Created And Connects Our World - And Shapes Our Future.
- The Half-Life of Facts.
- Overcomplicated.
- Lux Capital.
- Sign up for Sam’s newsletter.
- Follow Sam on LinkedIn.
Chapters:
(00:00) - Exploring the Role of a Scientist in Residence.
(03:08) - The Evolution of Knowledge and Information.
(05:50) - The Importance of Coding in Modern Society.
(08:54) - Demystifying Coding and Access to Technology.
(12:11) - Cultural Shifts in Technology Perception.
(15:08) - Understanding the Complexity of Code.
(17:58) - Code as the Grammar of Modern Civilization.
(20:48) - The Impact of Code on Society.
(24:08) - The Future of AI and Coding.
(32:58) - The Evolution of Programming.
(36:14) - Vibe Coding: The Future of Software Development.
(39:44) - Democratizing Software: Customization for Everyone.
(43:09) - The Complexity of Technology and Trust.
(48:28) - Understanding Complex Systems.
(51:58) - Human Limitations in Technology.
(54:09) - The Role of Technology in Shaping Humanity.