The Flux by Epistemix

From Archaeology to Algorithms: Exploring Human Systems with Agent-Based Models with Stefani Crabtree

At the Complex Systems Society of the Americas conference in Santa Fe, host John sits down with archaeologist and complexity scientist Stefani Crabtree to explore the unexpected paths that lead to agent-based modeling. From studying theater and music to traveling the world on a fellowship and working in contract archaeology, Stefani’s journey into computational modeling was anything but linear. In this episode, Stefani shares how agent-based models help researchers reconstruct the past from exchange networks in the American Southwest to the rise and collapse of hierarchy in ancestral Pueblo societies. She explains why modeling human systems is both powerful and controversial, how simple models can resolve decades-long academic debates, and why thinking like a modeler changes the way scientists approach complex questions. The conversation also explores how insights from archaeology can inform modern policy, including work with Aboriginal communities in Australia that influenced government decision-making. Along the way, Stefani reflects on “What the Flux” moments turning points where different choices might have changed history or her own life, from the halted expansion of the Mongol Empire to a near-career in music. It’s a wide-ranging discussion about complexity, history, and the power of asking “what if?”

Big Data, Little Brain: Making Structural Components Known and Emergent Outcomes Clear with Paolo Gaudiano

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier, CEO of Epistemix, sits down with Paolo Gaudiano, a complexity scientist turned DEI innovator, whose journey spans neuroscience, agent-based modeling, and the business of inclusion. Together, they explore what happens when we stop treating diversity as a box to check and start understanding it as an emergent property of complex systems. Paolo shares how he uses agent-based modeling to connect individual experiences to organizational outcomes, revealing why attempts to “fix diversity” often fail and how measuring inclusion can transform both workplace culture and financial performance. He also explains the danger of “big data, little brain” thinking and how true insight requires combining domain expertise with dynamic modeling. Whether you’re a data scientist, executive, or systems thinker, this episode will challenge how you see data, decisions, and the future of organizational design.

Strategic Innovation in Public Health with Les Craig

Les Craig joins us to discuss how simulation and synthetic data are changing the way organizations prepare for infectious disease outbreaks. From helping public health leaders visualize complex scenarios to enabling pharmaceutical companies to explore new R&D pathways, Les explains how advanced modeling technology empowers faster, smarter decisions. This episode unpacks how simulation can move ideas from theory to action and why creating low-risk environments for experimentation is key to building long-term trust and value in emerging tech.

Designing for Uncertainty with Mickey McManus

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier sits down with innovation pioneer Mickey McManus to explore what it means to design for uncertainty in a world where complexity is the norm. Mickey draws on decades of experience from leading Maya Design and shaping decision-support tools for DARPA, to helping build the Future of Learning team at Autodesk to share insights on how human-centered design, systems thinking, and simulation can empower better decisions when the stakes are high and clarity is scarce. Together, John and Mickey unpack stories ranging from battlefield strategies in Iraq to fifth-grade prototyping workshops, illustrating how the right tools, environments, and mindsets can turn chaos into creativity. They dive into the importance of creating interaction physics in digital tools, the role of cognitive diversity in teams, and how simulation both technological and social builds resilience and foresight. Whether you're a designer, strategist, educator, or technologist, this episode offers a compelling lens on how to build for adaptability, foster innovation, and empower decision-makers in an age of flux.

The Role of Sentiment and Social Dynamics in Public Health Models with Philippe Giabbanelli

In this episode of The Flux, we explore how modeling trust, belief, and social sentiment can unlock deeper insights in public health. Our guest, Philippe Giabbanelli, shares how agent-based models are evolving to capture not just behaviors, but the opinions and social dynamics that drive them like vaccine hesitancy or trust in institutions. We discuss the challenges of representing complex human psychology in simulations, the importance of sentiment in shaping real-world outcomes, and how these models are being used to support decision-making in uncertain, high-stakes environments. If you’ve ever wondered how data can reflect what people think, not just what they do, this conversation offers a compelling look into the future of predictive modeling.