Design, Innovation, Work, and the future of Humanity

with Will Little, founder and managing partner of Prota Ventures

Hello friends.

Exactly one year ago today I had a conversation with Will Little (founder and managing partner of Prota Ventures) about the many nuances of design, the future of work, and implications for humanity. In revisiting this conversation lately I found many of the themes discussed to be as relevant as ever, thus I’m sharing with you all. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

You can watch this episode below or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts (search for “Ventures”).

Here are a few of the books I mention in this conversation (or books that further discuss some of the ideas I bring up):

For better understanding the modern human condition, read The Ascent of Humanity by Charles Eisenstein. (I also just recently started The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, and it is amazing.)

Some great reads regarding work: Brave New Work, Theory and Practice of Resistance to Work, Bullshit Jobs, Can't Even, Dying for a Paycheck, Humanocracy, and Reinventing Organizations.

On data, value creation, and future economics check out Who Owns the Future, Radical Markets, Neo Feudalism, Debt, and The Post American World.

To learn more about what grief is and why it is so important, read The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller.

For more reading recommendations, see my comprehensive reading list here.