Today on the show, we're joined by Brian Potter — engineer, researcher, and author of the groundbreaking new book The Origins of Efficiency. In this conversation, Brian unpacks why certain industries evolve toward extraordinary efficiency while others stagnate, and what history can teach us about building better systems today.
From 19th-century factories to modern construction sites, Brian reveals the surprising patterns that shape productivity, innovation, and the hidden forces that determine why some technologies take off and others never do.
If you care about progress, engineering, or how the world actually gets built, this is an episode you don't want to miss.
