Indy Johar argues that humanity's first view of Earth from space initiated "planetary self-awareness," urging us to reimagine civilization as a global endeavor. Facing climate instability and AI's transformative impact, he advocates for "civilizational optionality"—a buffer against cascading shocks. He suggests embracing our limited knowledge fosters curiosity, tenderness, and care.

Johar envisions human-machine systems enhancing our capacity for complex discourse, defining intelligence as a conversational field for collective sense-making. This talk, presented January 27, 02026, is part of the Long Now Talks series, which fosters long-term thinking. For more, see the episode notes, watch the livestream, or join The Long Now Foundation.

Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup method and author of *The Lean Startup*, will discuss his upcoming book, *Incorruptible*. He posits that all commercial and civic infrastructure, though seemingly immutable, can be reinvented. Ries will explore how founders and leaders can build incorruptible organizations designed to last for decades and tangibly support human flourishing.

His Long Now Talk, facilitated by Denise Hearn, will delve into architecting accountability and governance mechanisms that outlive their creators and remain resilient across generations. Ries emphasizes imagining institutions future generations will thank us for, ensuring today's organizational choices become liberating structures rather than inherited constraints. His new book, *Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad…and How Great Companies Stay Great*, is available May 28, 2026.