In this wide-ranging and deeply pragmatic conversation, Dr. Wayne Pernell sits down with Mark Stouse—founder and CEO of Proof Causal AI—to explore what actually drives outcomes in business and life. Together, they unpack the critical difference between correlation and causation, why most patterns we notice don’t matter, and how leaders can reclaim agency in a world where 70–80% of factors are outside their control.

Blending philosophy, math, leadership insight, and real-world examples, this episode challenges conventional thinking about truth, belief, intuition, and effectiveness—while offering leaders a radically practical way forward.

Key Topics & Insights
• Causality vs. Correlation: Why understanding why things happen matters more than spotting patterns
• The 70–80% Reality: Most outcomes are shaped by factors outside your control—what matters is how you respond
• Three Universal Leadership Questions:
∘ How do I get more of what matters?
∘ How do I make it better?
∘ How do I do it faster?
• Reality Over “Truth”: Why belief can shut down progress—and why reality is the true decision-maker
• Unlearning: Letting go of outdated knowledge as a leadership superpower
• Time Lag Effects: Why good decisions take time to show results—and bad ones don’t
• Efficiency vs. Effectiveness: Why cutting costs without direction misses the point
• Agency Without Illusion: Doing your best, acting with integrity, and releasing control of outcomes
• Intuition, Instinct, and GIGO: How flawed data sets lead to consistently bad decisions
• Radical Pragmatism: Making better decisions without over-philosophizing the process

Mark Stouse is the founder and CEO of Proof Causal AI, and one of today’s most thoughtful voices on causality, fiduciary risk, and executive accountability. Known for blending rigorous mathematics with radical pragmatism, Mark helps leaders make better, defensible decisions in complex, rapidly changing environments. He is also the author of an upcoming book on Unlearning.

🔗 Connect with Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markstouse/

🎥 Watch now on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gHnqzgQzEdk