First Principles cover art

First Principles

First Principles

By: First-Principles Podcast
Listen for free

About this listen

 First Principles is the podcast that deconstructs the complex, invisible systems shaping our modern world. Ever wonder how a social media algorithm works, how AI really thinks, or how GPS knows your exact location? Each episode, we break down one concept from its fundamental truths, giving you clarity without the technical jargon. If you're curious about the tech you use every day and want to finally understand it, this is your starting point.First-Principles Podcast Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • EP44 - The Planetary Nervous System: Deconstructing the Internet of Things

    EP44 - The Planetary Nervous System: Deconstructing the Internet of Things
    Jan 9 2026
    It feels like magic when your watch tracks your sleep or your lights turn on as you enter a room, but how do inanimate objects actually "know" anything? This episode peels back the glossy interface of the smart home to reveal the messy, fascinating reality of sensors, signals, and the physical mechanics that allow the digital world to touch the physical one.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • EP43 - The Possible Worlds Engine: The First Principles of Digital Simulation

    EP43 - The Possible Worlds Engine: The First Principles of Digital Simulation
    Jan 2 2026
    We check the 7-day weather forecast without a second thought, trusting it to tell us whether to pack an umbrella. But how does a computer "know" what the sky will do next week? It feels like a guess, but it's one of the most complex calculations on Earth. This episode opens the black box of digital simulation to find the simple, brilliant rules computers use to build a copy of our world... and predict its future.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • EP42 - The Librarians of Everything: Unlocking the Database

    EP42 - The Librarians of Everything: Unlocking the Database
    Dec 25 2025
    You check your bank balance, "like" a photo, or book a flight, and the digital world instantly remembers. It feels like magic, but it's all managed by an invisible, perfectly organized system. What is this system, and how does it *really* keep track of trillions of shifting facts without ever making a mistake?
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.