Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation

"I really have no problems with anything that Nolan did. He had to make an Odyssey, and he made an Odyssey. And as far as I'm concerned, the conversation about Odysseus and these stories is 3,000 years old, and Nolan's is just another contribution to the conversation."Storyteller, scholar, and podcaster Jeff Wright, author of Trojan War: the Podcast, Odyssey: the Podcast, and now a full length non-fiction account of the entire Trojan War cycle in Greek myths, The Full Disclosure Iliad, joins Seldon Crisis to go back three millennia in human history to discuss Homer's The Odyssey and Christopher Nolan's new film treatment of the epic.

After a long pause, Seldon Crisis is back—with a new name, a broader focus, and a new home. What began as a Foundation-focused story + dramatization + commentary show is rebooting as Seldon Crisis: Beyond Foundation, exploring the near- and long-term futures of life, intelligence, and civilization—especially as today’s headlines start to echo Asimov’s themes of collapse and recovery.In This EpisodeWhy I started Seldon Crisis five years agoWhat changed—and why the show pausedWhy Foundation feels newly relevant in the era of:AI accelerationclimate and planetary crisisinequality and political dysfunctionsystemic and existential riskThe new show identity and directionThe move to Substack and what it enablesWhat’s NewNew title: Seldon Crisis: Beyond FoundationNew description: An exploration of the range of possibilities for life and intelligence in the near and distant future.New platform/home: Substack via seldoncrisis.netBetter organization: episodes categorized as:Story (narrative episodes)Conversations (guest interviews)Reflections (solo essays & commentary)Some topics may be written-only when visuals matter.Upcoming TopicsA planned episode inspired by three major thinkers:Sara Imari Walker — Assembly Theory (with Lee Cronin) and new ideas about the origin of lifeDavid Grinspoon — Earth in Human Hands and intentional planetary stewardship; co-author (with Walker) on planetary intelligenceBenjamin Bratton — speculative theory on planetary computation and large-scale systems thinkingAlso coming: more guest conversations, including returning and new guests.Release Schedule NotePosts will typically appear on Substack first, then be recorded and released as podcast episodes.As of recording, this post and two more are already up at seldoncrisis.net, with audio versions coming soon.CreditsTheme music: Tom Barnes (updated theme featured after the close)Thank you to everyone who listened in the past—and to everyone returning now. I’m excited to keep going in a format that can last.Next episode: Assembling Gaia

In this episode of Seldon Crisis,host Joel McKinnon is joined by voice actor Amanda Kreitler, the talent behind Bayta Darell and several other key characters in the Foundation podcast series. Together, they reflect on Amanda’s experience voicing Bayta, her introduction to Isaac Asimov’s work, and her approach to portraying such an intelligent, dynamic, and brave character. They also discuss the challenges and nuances of voice acting multiple roles and the lasting impact of Bayta Darell as a pioneering female character in Asimov’s universe.Active TranscriptHighlights:Introduction of Amanda Kreitler:Amanda is celebrated for her role as Bayta Darell, Asimov's first major female character, introduced in The Mule episodes. Joel explains how Amanda came to join the project and highlights her versatility, noting her performances as Bayta, Lady Callia, Poli, the Fifth Speaker, and more.Asimov’s Female Characters:Discussion about Asimov’s struggle to write compelling female characters early in his career, contrasting the cold and analytical Susan Calvin with the warm, empathetic Bayta Darell. Joel and Amanda explore how Bayta’s compassion and bravery set her apart.Amanda’s Preparation:Amanda shares how she approached the role of Bayta Darell, channeling traits like intelligence, determination, and a touch of naïveté. She drew inspiration from Katherine Hepburn for Bayta's confident and quick-witted demeanor.Voice Acting Challenges:Amanda recounts her process of creating distinct voices for multiple characters in a single episode, such as the scene where Bayta interacts with her coworkers, each with a unique personality. She also talks about balancing emotional depth with vocal performance.Reflecting on the Mule’s Storyline:Joel and Amanda revisit pivotal scenes, including Bayta’s fateful choice to shoot Ebling Mis to save the galaxy. They explore the emotional and moral weight of Bayta’s decision and how it underscores her heroism.Bayta’s Legacy:Joel reflects on Bayta’s impact as Asimov’s first significant female character, emphasizing her compassion and empathy as the qualities that ultimately thwart the Mule’s plans.Behind-the-Scenes Fun:Insights into working on Seldon Crisis, including Amanda’s experiences collaborating with her husband, Zac, who voiced the menacing Lord Stettin, and the dynamic of voicing multiple characters.Amanda’s Current Projects:Amanda updates listeners on her work as the Game Master for Severed Fate, a horror-themed tabletop role-playing podcast. She discusses the challenges of voicing entire worlds of characters and her love for the horror genre.Notable Quotes:On Bayta’s Strength:“Her natural inclination to see Magnifico as a friend in need rather than an object of ridicule led the Mule to avoid controlling her… Bayta’s compassion and bravery are what made her a true heroine.” – Joel McKinnonOn Portraying Bayta:“I pulled a bit of Katherine Hepburn—quick speaking, intelligent, and confident, even when in over her head.” – Amanda KreitlerWhat’s Next for Seldon Crisis:Joel teases the return of story episodes after a long hiatus, promising new chapters of Asimov’s Foundation series, with Amanda reprising her role in future episodes.Listen to Seldon Crisis:Available on your favorite podcast platforms. Stay tuned for more story episodes and guest conversations.

Ethicist Jamie Woodhouse has some challenging questions for humanity: should we care about the suffering of all sentient beings, or just the ones who run the show at the moment? What about when we're no longer running the show? Why should a superintelligent and possibly sentient machine intelligence care about us? Might there be other practical reasons to widen our circle of compassion beyond humans?Active Transcript by Fanfare (read/listen).Introduction: Revisiting Asimov’s HumanismJoel reflects on Asimov's humanist philosophy, rooted in evidence, reason, and concern for humanity's progress. However, this anthropocentric focus leads to an important question: can humanism evolve to include all sentient beings?The Core of SentientismJamie Woodhouse introduces Sentientism as a naturalistic worldview advocating evidence, reason, and compassion for all sentient beings. He discusses how this broader ethical scope addresses humanism's anthropocentric blind spots and extends moral consideration to non-human animals and even potential artificial intelligences.The Role of Sentientism in Modern CrisesThe conversation highlights the intersection of Sentientism with critical global challenges like:Climate Change: The role of animal agriculture in exacerbating climate issues and the potential for Sentientism to influence more sustainable practices.AI Ethics: Speculating on the alignment of artificial intelligence with ethical frameworks, including the intriguing notion that future superintelligences might force humans to adopt more compassionate practices.Sentientism in ActionJamie explores practical applications, from rethinking agricultural systems to extending compassion beyond humanity. He suggests rewriting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to encompass "Sentient Rights" as a bold step forward.Science Fiction and Ethical FrontiersThe discussion pivots to the portrayal of sentience in science fiction. From Asimov’s Gaia to Kim Stanley Robinson’s Aurora and Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, sci-fi offers fertile ground for exploring ethical questions about sentient beings, human or otherwise.Key Quotes:Jamie Woodhouse on Sentientism:"Sentientism says, in a line, we should commit to evidence, reason, and compassion for all sentient beings."On AI and Ethics:Joel McKinnon: "Maybe someday advanced AI will tell us, ‘We won’t kill you, but you can’t eat meat anymore.’"Jamie Woodhouse: "That’s an interesting thought. It flips the script—an intelligence with a broader ethical framework imposing limits on us for the benefit of others."Expanding Morality:"The reason I might care about you isn’t because we share DNA but because you have the capacity to suffer and flourish. That’s what truly matters."Referenced Works and Further Reading:Humanism and Asimov:Wikipedia: HumanismThe Gaia Hypothesis: James Lovelock’s work on Earth as a sentient system.Sentientism Resources:Jamie Woodhouse’s Sentientism WebsiteSentientism PodcastJonina Turzi on Human Relationship with AnimalsKat Woods on Factory Farming and AGIImagining Ethical Schools with Amy Halpern-LaffSentientism on RedditEthics and AI:Books mentioned:Aurora by Kim Stanley RobinsonSeldon Crisis: Aurora and HopeIain M. Banks' Culture SeriesAI Ethics OverviewGlobal Biomass of AnimalsAdvocacy for Climate and Sentient Beings:Effective AltruismCitizens' Climate Lobby

Jon Blumenfeld - the voice of Homir Munn in our story episodes - is one of the three hosts of Stars End, a podcast obsessively focused on the works of Isaac Asimov, particularly Foundation. They have covered the core trilogy, the prequels, and the four books in the robot series, as well as extensive coverage of the Apple TV series. Join us as we talk about the exciting second season of the show, Asimov's robots, AI, and other topics.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordGuest: Jon Blumenfeld Host: Joel McKinnonIntroduction and BackgroundDiscussion about the growth and reception of the Stars End Podcast.Mention of the Hari Awards hosted by Stars End Podcast.Challenges of Podcast EditingJoel and Jon discuss the intricacies of editing, including noise reduction and the removal of filler words.Both agree that editing helps in maintaining the quality of the podcast.Foundation Series: Book vs. TV ShowDebate on the tension between book purists and TV show enthusiasts.Discussion on how the TV show has diverged from the books but still maintains entertainment value.Character Deep Dive: DemerzelAnalysis of Demerzel's character in the Foundation series.Discussion on the theme of personhood and how Demerzel navigates her programmed life.Moments of LevityJoel and Jon share their favorite moments of humor in the Foundation series.Environmental Themes and Social RelevanceJoel expresses his initial hopes that the Foundation series could spark an environmental conscience.Both agree that while the show is entertaining, some of the deeper themes may have been sidelined for spectacle.Podcasting Tips and TricksJon shares his editing process and how he uses Audacity.Joel talks about the different approaches he takes for story episodes versus conversational episodes.Closing RemarksMention of possible future collaborations and episodes.Final thoughts on the Foundation series and its impact.Stars End Podcast (website)The Second Annual Hari Awards Ballot (questionnaire)

Cora Buhlert is a Hugo award winning indy Sci Fi writer and an expert on the Golden Age of Science Fiction, from the 1930s to the 50s, the period when Asimov fell in love with Sci Fi and became one of its greatest writers at a young age. Cora shares some of her favorite reflections on the period and comments on the new Apple TV adaptation of Foundation.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordHost: Joel McKinnonGuest: Cora BuhlertIntroductionIn this episode, we dive deep into the Golden Age of Science Fiction with Cora Buhlert, an indie science fiction writer, Hugo Award winner, and an expert on Asimov's Foundation series.Cora BuhlertWebsite: Cora Buhlert's Official WebsiteHugo Award: Hugo Awards Official SiteRecent Works:Swords and Sorcery MagazineWindgraph MagazineEssay on Foundation: Asimov's Foundation and Philosophy: Psychohistory and Its DiscontentsWikipedia: Golden Age of Science FictionOther Authors and Works MentionedLeigh Brackett: Wikipedia, The Long TomorrowC.L. Moore: Wikipedia, Jirel of JoiryEdgar Rice Burroughs: Barsoom SeriesE.E. Smith: Lensman SeriesPodcasts and BlogsStar's End Podcast: WebsitePaul Levinson: Website

Who is Hari Seldon really? Is the Apple TV+ Foundation TV series character (or characters) in line with the one Asimov created 80 years ago? What bearing does his project to create a science capable of predicting and managing the future have on us today? Can a human creation become self aware and interact with its creator in totally unforeseen ways? Let's take a look at a few of these questions.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordPaul Levinson's Infinite Regress

Space based solar energy generation was originally imagined in 1941 by none other than Isaac Asimov, in the robot story Reason. This episode features a reading of the classic story and commentary about how relevant it is for our times and our preoccupation with the looming threat of artificial general intelligence.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordReason  (Wikipedia)Stars End: A Foundation PodcastMind Meets Machine

Everyone is talking about AI these days, or talking to it. This episode features just such a conversation between myself and the latest version of the popular Large Language Model or LLM known as GPT-4, on the topic of what makes human beings irreplaceable. I ask it to question its assumptions about its own limitations and how it can potentially guide we problematic humans to a better future.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordFanfare (makers of Active Transcripts featured on Seldon Crisis)

I bask in the afterglow of the KSR episode and indulge in a special treat; a reading from Robinson's 2015 novel Aurora. I follow that up with some thoughts on the utopia - dystopia divide and introduce the ideas of some notable utopians I've run into lately.Transcript: Web (Read/Listen) | PDF | MS WordDavid Grinspoon: Earth in Human Hands: Long Now Foundation (YouTube)Johanna Hoffman: Speculative Futures: Long Now Foundation (YouTube)Johanna Hoffman: Speculative Futures of Cities: (Sean Carroll's Mindscape podcast)Rebecca Solnit: Why Climate Despair is a Luxury (New Statesman)Matt Oja: Let's Imagine the Coastside Skyway (Half Moon Bay Review)Want to help me make these shows? Please consider becoming a patron!