In this fascinating discussion with anthropologist Dr. Jamie Saris, we explore how bees and humans collaborate, compete, and communicate in order to survive. Just as bees form hives and human form communities, we must work together towards common goals and share resources if we hope to thrive.

Dr. Jamie Saris, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, NUI Maynooth

Dr Saris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Maynooth University. He holds advanced degrees in Social-Cultural Anthropology from the University of Chicago (MA and PhD), and he has completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinically-Relevant Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

Timeline Summary:

[00:36] Introducing Secret 17 The Game of Survival: collaboration and sharing resources.

[01:02] Welcoming my brilliant co-host Dr. Jamie Saris, associate professor of anthropology at Maynooth University.

[01:55] Interspecies collaboration in nature through “resource partitioning.”

[09:08] Comparing resource sharing in bee colonies to business partnerships and strategic alliances.

[10:04] Businesses create their own supportive ecosystems, just as diverse lifeforms depend on each other. Competition and collaboration go hand in hand.

[11:43] Discussing human collaboration, aggression, and the complexity of parsing competition from cooperation.

[13:33] Language and culture make human collaboration/competition far more complex than in nature. Managing differences becomes critical.

[16:47] Tailoring products and messaging to cross cultural divides requires understanding nuances in worldviews. Fine-tuned communication is key.

[20:45] Bees “vote” through scent and humans vote through words, but both systems aim for group alignment.

[22:14] Successful human communities balance flexibility, communication styles, and giving people a personal stake.

[24:35] Shared visions and goals are crucial. Collaborating on dreams bonds people more tightly than administrative systems.

[26:32] The printing press changed communication through proliferating words over images. We must re-learn the art of pictorial dreaming.

[27:05] Anthropology explores how stories and narratives become binding forces within cultures.

Links and Resources:

ProjectHoneyLight.life (https://projecthoneylight.life/)

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, and review the Lessons From Nature podcast. Your support helps us continue to bring you more episodes like this one.

Together with David Dorr, we dive deep into the role of bees in the economy, their incredible specialization, and the insights they offer on optimization and intellectual property. Be prepared to be amazed as we draw parallels from the hive to the broader world, exploring how these tiny creatures might just be the key to understanding the future of work and resources. If you've ever been curious about the intricate dance of nature and how it intertwines with our modern-day challenges, this episode is a must-listen. The wisdom of the bees awaits!

Episode Highlights:

[01:36] Two bee colonies in my backyard and my dilemma.

[06:06] Lessons from investing and defining risk tolerance, including the importance in business of optimizing not just output but profit.

[07:20] We discuss how a healthy hive gathers and stores energy, similar to a company monitoring its cash flow.

[08:44] I appreciate David's risk management insight and add the importance of planning for learning with each decision.

[10:02] We explore the macroeconomics of full employment, letting market cycles play out naturally.

[11:27] On inflation and money supply, David explains the gold standard analogy and different schools of thought.

[15:35] Reflecting on our connection to nature's energy cycles.

[17:30] David weighs the pros and cons of job specialization, the risk of isolation from the whole system.

[19:59] We discuss problems with kids identifying themselves as "being" something, rather than creating something.

[21:17] Fiscal policy and public debt related to resource management in the hive.

[23:20] We critique short-term thinking and passing debt to future generations.

[24:57] David emphasizes the need for whole systems thinking beyond our lifetimes.

[25:16] A honey-based economy as a thought experiment.

[27:05] David provides research on intellectual property and open collaboration.

[29:12] Reflecting on wisdom, character, and the digital age.

Links & Resources:

Dorr Asset Management: https://dorrasset.com/

ProjectHoneyLight.life

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of bees and business. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and spread the word about the importance of nature and its lessons.

In this episode, we delve deep into the symbiotic relationship between energy, time, and money. From my personal experience of setting up a greenhouse to the intrinsic value of honey in a bee's world, we uncover the essence of trading energy for time. Together with my co-host, David Dorr, a stalwart in global macroeconomics, we juxtapose the economic secrets of bees with the human art of making and saving money. Listen in as we unearth the wisdom of the hive and apply it to the world of business and finance.

Episode Highlights:

[00:22] Money, energy, and a greenhouse tale.

[06:44] Safety or innovation: The business balance.

[07:55] Decoding the art of business reserve deployment.

[09:00] Exploring nature's buffer: The bee's honey storage.

[10:20] Honey as a buffer: The bee's strategy.

[11:45] Money in the bank vs. honey in the hive.

[12:20] Contrasting bee's efficiency with human consumption patterns.

[14:30] Debating the role of buffer in decision-making and risk-taking.

[16:30] The delicate balance between spending and saving in nature's realm.

[17:15] The art of making informed choices with a safety net in place.

[18:45] The interplay between time, energy, and money in business.

[21:30] Reflecting on nature's efficiency versus human excesses.

[22:50] How nature's cycles mirror economic booms and busts.

[26:30] Discussing the role of innovation in sustainable business models.

[29:30] Debating the merits of aggressive vs. conservative business strategies.

[33:15] Exploring the concept of value creation in the business world.

Links & Resources:

Dorr Asset Management: https://dorrasset.com/

ProjectHoneyLight.life

Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of bees and business. If you enjoyed this episode, please remember to rate, follow, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach more people and spread the word about the importance of nature and its lessons.