Explore the complex interconnections between global crises, human civilization, and natural systems in this thought-provoking podcast episode featuring physicist Geoffrey West. Delve into the fundamental laws governing societal structures, economic growth, and urban development while examining the relationship between human and non-human worlds. Gain insights into potential solutions for civilization's complex challenges and the possibility of establishing a sustainable mode of existence. Learn about the cardiovascular and nervous systems of human societies, and how understanding these systems may lead to addressing societal issues. This episode, part one of a two-part conversation, sets the stage for a deep examination of existential threats by reviewing key concepts from West's book "Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies."