Opening Remarks
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode covers Jason Crawford’s opening remarks at the Progress Conference 2025, where he frames the modern progress movement as a generational project to reverse decades of stagnation.
There are three key takeaways from this discussion on rebuilding a bold vision for the future.
First, successful intellectual movements prioritize energy over simple networking. Crawford argues that reversing fifty years of anti-growth sentiment is draining work. Therefore, conferences must serve primarily as batteries to recharge the emotional and intellectual stamina needed for a long-term fight against institutional inertia.
Second, the scope of the progress agenda requires a total infrastructure rebuild. This is not merely about policy tweaks; it involves writing new textbooks, founding new universities, reforming scientific funding, and even building new cities. The goal is to dismantle the "vetocracy" that hinders growth and replace it with systems built for ambition and action.
Third, effective collaboration relies on deep alignment rather than volume. In a specialized field like metascience or urban planning, finding one or two partners who share a specific worldview is far more valuable than broad, superficial networking. These high-alignment connections are the most likely source of future co-founders and major breakthroughs.
To wrap up, Crawford emphasizes that inspiration must translate immediately into concrete output, urging listeners to channel their energy into tangible projects rather than passive optimism.
Episode Overview
- This episode features the opening remarks from Jason Crawford, founder of the Roots of Progress Institute, at the Progress Conference 2025.
- Crawford frames the current moment as a critical turning point for reversing decades of anti-growth sentiment and revitalizing stagnant scientific and political institutions.
- The talk outlines the conference's dual purpose: facilitating networking among progress-oriented thinkers and, more importantly, generating the energy required for a "generational project" to rebuild a bold vision of the future.
- Listeners will gain insight into the scope of the modern progress movement, ranging from AI and metascience to climate policy and the founding of new cities.
Key Concepts
- Energy Over Networking: While conferences are traditionally viewed as networking events, Crawford argues that for a movement as ambitious as the progress movement, the primary goal must be emotional and intellectual revitalization. The task of reversing a half-century of stagnation is draining; therefore, gatherings must serve as a battery recharge for the long haul.
- The Generational Scope of Progress: The work required to restore dynamism is not a short-term fix but a multi-decade endeavor. This involves a comprehensive rebuilding of infrastructure, including drafting new legislation, writing foundational texts, founding new universities and research labs, and even building new cities.
- Overcoming the "Vetocracy": A central theme is the need to dismantle obstructionist systems (often called vetocracies) that hinder growth. This requires a shift from a mindset of caution and stasis to one of ambition and action, specifically targeting areas like scientific institutions and regulatory frameworks.
- The "Unconference" as Intellectual Equalizer: The conference structure reflects a belief in distributed expertise. By hosting participant-led "unconference" sessions and emphasizing that many attendees are as qualified as the speakers, the event underscores that the progress movement relies on decentralized, grassroots contribution rather than just top-down instruction.
Quotes
- At 0:51 - "There is something that's even more valuable than making all those connections, which is getting energized... We need to reverse more than half a century of an anti-growth mindset." - Highlighting the primary psychological objective of the gathering and the scale of the cultural challenge they face.
- At 1:29 - "There are books to be written, speeches to be delivered, legislation to be drafted, textbooks to be revised, movies to be made, there are whole new organizations to be founded... even new cities." - Listing the tangible, diverse outputs required to build a new intellectual and physical infrastructure for progress.
- At 3:51 - "Treat the schedule as kind of like a smorgasbord... when you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, you don't try to sample every dish... fill your plate, don't overfill it." - Advising attendees on how to manage their attention economy during the event to maximize value without burnout.
Takeaways
- Prioritize deep alignment over volume: When networking in a specialized field, aim to find the one or two individuals who share your specific worldview or vision, rather than trying to meet everyone; these high-alignment connections often lead to co-founder relationships or major collaborations.
- Diversify your consumption of ideas: Approach learning opportunities like a buffet—selectively engage with topics that spark specific inspiration (e.g., AI, metascience, or urban planning) rather than attempting to consume every available piece of information.
- Translate inspiration into specific output: Do not leave an intellectual gathering with just a feeling of excitement; channel that energy immediately into a concrete "next step," whether that is writing a blog post, starting a new venture, or initiating a specific research project.
