Toward self-consistent simulations of stellar transients

Building self-consistent models of high-energy transients is especially crucial as we enter an unprecedented era of time-domain astronomy. With rapid advancements in computational resources (especially GPUs) and the development of optimized code for astrophysics, we can simulate larger scale and longer duration phenomena than ever before. In this talk, I will discuss how combining the capabilities of complementary tools allows us to tell a more complete story about how stars evolve and drive high-energy transients. I will briefly cover my ongoing work on black hole-neutron star mergers and past work on r-process nucleosynthesis in jet-driven supernovae. Then, I will share new results characterizing the stellar progenitors of long gamma-ray bursts associated with collapsars. I will end by describing future prospects for linking computational tools to construct a thorough understanding of the relationships between massive stars, their remnants, and the expanding zoo of observed transients.