Danny Crichton is a man of many talents. He’s got a background in computer science, has worked in the worlds of foreign policy, was a managing editor at Techcrunch, and now serves as Head of Editorial at Lux Capital.

As Lux’s de-facto games master, Danny also devises their Riskgames: strategic simulations that immerse players in complex scenarios reflecting real-world challenges and dynamics. These games – whose players include senators, major generals, congressmen and, think-tank CEOs – include scenarios like ‘Hamptons at the Cross-Roads’ (that deals with climate change and maritime security) and ‘Powering Up’ (that deals with China’s global EV dominance).

Danny and I discuss the origins of Riskgaming and the lessons he’s learned in high-stakes games with tech founders and government officials. Plus, we riff on our shared Minnesotan roots, and discuss ways to combat the uncertain fog of war in our careers.

I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.

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Show Notes:

Origins of Riskgaming
The Different Play Styles between Technologists and Policymakers
One-off games vs. Iterative games
The Game Theoretic Foundations of Riskgaming
It’s All About Tough Decisions
Parable of the First Mover Disadvantage
The Importance of Incentives
Why Insurance Companies are Obsessed with Truth in the Market
How AIs Can Cut Through Bureaucratic Slog
How Danny Builds Scenarios
Why Riskgaming Teaches Better Decision Making
Danny’s Thoughts on Intellectual Humility
Danny and Jim’s Minnesotan Heritage
Danny’s experience launching TechCrunch+
Facing the Fog of War
The Importance of Agility
Danny as Emperor of the World

Books Mentioned:

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter
Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places; by Paul Collier

Danny Crichton — Player of Games (EP.239)