Infinite Loops
Every Thursday, join Jim O'Shaughnessy and his favorite people as they arm you with the tools & fresh perspectives required to upgrade your HumanOS and thrive in our messy, probabilistic world. Visit our Substack at newsletter.osv.llc for full transcripts, highlights, weekly doses of timeless wisdom, and a bounty of other goodies designed to make you go, "Hmm that’s interesting!"
Thu, April 17, 2025
Tommy Potter — Building the CIA for Entrepreneurs (EP.264)
Young, polymathic, and full of energy — Tommy Potter is on a quest to build a “CIA for Entrepreneurs.” He calls it “The Power Hour” — a startup community in Michigan that hosts dropouts, undergrads and PhDs across many industries: enterprise, consumer, CPG, aviation, gaming, robotics and AR/VR, as they work together to build cool projects. I had a great time chatting with Tommy as we spoke about non-linear career paths, embracing authenticity, working with dazzling, delusional people and more! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: X/Twitter Linkedin Powerhour: The CIA For Entrepreneurship Show Notes: Tommy’s Origin Story Using The Third Door Lessons from Documenting the Homeless Can We Ever Be Our Authentic Self? What Traits Tommy Looks for in People Bringing Delusional People Together The East Coast - West Coast Bubbles Being a ‘Weirdo Broker’ Process Over Outcomes. Serendipity Over Itinerary. Different Personalities in Public vs. Private Markets The Importance of Learning People Life Isn’t a Highlight Reel - Live It All Tommy As World Emperor Books Mentioned: The Third Door: The Mindset of Success; by Alex Banayan One-upmanship; by Stephen Potter Class: Style and Status in the USA; by Paul Fussell Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America; by Chris Arnade The Science of Getting Rich; by Wallace D. Wattles The Act of Creation; by Arthur Koestler
Thu, April 10, 2025
Alex Danco — On Strollers, Slop & Citizen Kane (EP.263)
Shopify Product Director Alex Danco returns for his NINTH appearance on the show — and he comes in hot. As you’ll hear, I didn’t even get a chance to introduce him before he launched into his take on what everyone gets wrong about Citizen Kane. We also unpack the performance art of parenting, why dinner parties are the new status signals, the difference between meme and slop culture and MUCH more. Unsurprisingly, this was a fun one. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco Substack: https://danco.substack.com Website: https://alexdanco.com/ Previous episode: https://newsletter.osv.llc/p/finding-method-in-the-madness?utm_source=publication-search Show Notes: What EVERYONE gets wrong about Citizen Kane Jim’s hardest interview question Elon & Lutnick: clash of the cartoons The status hierarchy of baby strollers What happened to Yuval Noah Harari? (With a diversion via digital girlfriends and North Korean crypto hackers) Dinner parties as status signals Parenting as performative art History’s greatest memers Infinite Jest: the sequel (an Alex Danco & Jim O’Shaughnessy production) GIF culture vs AI slop From “code is capital” to “code is labour” “Did I mention that I dropped out of Stamford?” From Clint Eastwood to Cloud Atlas MORE! Books, Articles & Films Mentioned: Two Thoughts: A Timeless Collection of Infinite Wisdom ; by Jim O'Shaughnessy and Vatsal Kaushik Finnegans Wake ; by James Joyce Invest Like the Best ; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind ; by Yuval Noah Harari Underwriters of the United States: How Insurance Shaped the American Founding ; by Hannah Farber The Magic Mountain ; by Thomas Mann The Gervais Principle ; by Venkatesh Rao Scarcity & Abundance in 2025 ; by Alex Danco Cloud Atlas ; by David Mitchell Citizen Kane ; directed by Orson Welles F for Fake ; directed by Orson Welles My Dinner w
Thu, April 03, 2025
Vizi Andrei — The Way of the Tinkerer (EP.262)
My guest today is my former teammate Vizi Andrei, founder of The Sovereign Artist program and author of Sovereign Artist: Meditations on Lifestyle Design . Vizi’s journey has been anything but conventional. After dabbling in various creative projects, he realized that the internet offers a unique opportunity: the freedom to take countless small risks without catastrophic consequences. He built The Sovereign Artist program to help creators step away from the toxic hustle culture and build sustainable, meaningful lives rooted in creativity, deep work, and sacred leisure. His insights into Slow Living, the Sicilian Dream, and embracing experimentation over optimization can help one break free from comparison traps. He joins me to discuss the dangers of chasing unrealistic benchmarks of success, the myths of modern productivity, how to unlock creative freedom, and MUCH more! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack. Important Links: Website Instagram The Sovereign Artist KronArête (Community) Gumroad X The Great Reshuffle Show Notes: Is procrastination a signal for something bigger? The Sicilian Dream: challenging the hustle culture The Pursuit of Busyness The rise of the pseudo-entrepreneur Are we taking the internet for granted? The outlier obsession can kill your creative potential Are your goals your own? or borrowed from prepackaged societal narratives? Drunk with too many choices Crossing the bridge of nihilism The art of boredom: slow living might just be the answer Knowledge is existential; energy is everything MORE! Books Mentioned: Sovereign Artist: Meditations on Lifestyle Design; by Vizi Andrei The Pathless Path: Imagining a New Story for Work and Life; by Paul Millerd Status Anxiety; by Alain de Botton The Soul of the World; by Roger Scruton Escolios to an Implicit Text; by Nicolás Gómez Dávila Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder; by Nassim Taleb The Infinity of Lists; by Umberto Eco The Myth of the Eternal Return; by Mircea Eliade Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine; by Derren Brown <!-- notionvc: 0dfd740c-7016-4
Thu, March 27, 2025
Barry Ritholtz — Make Fewer Errors, Make More Money (EP.261)
My friend Barry Ritholtz has spent his career being an astute market observer, investigating behavioral finance and data analytics. He runs Ritholtz Wealth Management which has been named ETF Advisor of the Year, Financial Times Top 300 Advisors, and one of America’s fastest-growing RIAs. He’s also the host of Masters in Business , Bloomberg Radio’s most popular podcast (50+ million streams/downloads), which he started way back in 2014. In his new book, How Not To Invest , Barry emphasizes how avoiding rookie mistakes can significantly help you do better financially. He blends engaging stories with data-driven insights, and explores overlooked aspects of behavioral finance, psychology and the market. Reading his book is like having a casual drink with an experienced, wise, and honest friend. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Blog Twitter LinkedIn Ritholtz Wealth Management Show Notes: How Amateurs Win Managing Emotions When the Market Goes Down If You Can't Afford a Financial Advisor Yet… Notable Financial Innovations Barry’s Transition from a Trader to an Investor Varieties of Investor Personas What To Do When Randomness Derails Your Plans Finding Your Own Maintainable Processes Having Reliable Information Sources Barry As World Emperor Books Mentioned: How Not to Invest: The Ideas, Numbers, and Behaviors That Destroy Wealth - And How to Avoid Them; by Barry Ritholtz Winning the Loser’s Game; by Charley Ellis How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life; by Thomas Gilovich
Thu, March 20, 2025
Jason Carman — Filmmaking at the Frontier (EP.260)
The relentlessly prolific Jason Carman is making the films our culture needs: optimistic, inspiring and positioned at the frontiers of modern tech and science. In under two years, he has shipped more than 70 high-quality mini-documentaries exploring the startups shaping the future, racking up over 130,000 YouTube subscribers along the way. His new venture, Story Company, premiered “New Space”, its 100+ minute-long exploration of the modern space industry, to a packed San Francisco theater this year. Story Company has multiple projects in the pipeline, including a full-length sci-fi feature. Ultimately, he intends to create a new generation of sci-fi films: a Star Wars for the 21st century. I love Jason’s ambition, drive and enthusiasm (not to mention his filmmaking chops), which is why we awarded him a $100k O’Shaughnessy Fellowship last year. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Jason on X Story Company on X Story Company on Youtube Story Company’s Website “New Space” Frontier Film Jason’s Fellowship Show Notes: How Jason fell in love with filmmaking Laziness as an edge How to build a good team How to fix Hollywood Frontier Films: a new category of movie From science-fact to science-fiction Finding the right infinite loops The roots of the idea of America A Complete Unknown: Jason’s slideshow & Bob Dylan’s anti-authoritarianism Getting woo on Tenet’s Sator square How do you know when a movie is finished? The fragility of the artist We are all co-creators Jason as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: I Am a Strange Loop; by Douglas Hofstadter The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson The Hypomanic Edge: What Built America; by John D. Gartner The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams Movies Mentioned: New Space (directed by Jason Carman)
Thu, March 13, 2025
Anne-Laure Le Cunff — Experiment Your Way to a Better Life (EP.259)
My guest today is Anne-Laure Le Cunff, founder of Ness Labs and author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World . On paper, Anne-Laure had it all: top grades, a high-flying job at Google, and a life that seemed to hit all the markers of success. But something was off. No matter how “traditionally” successful she became, she felt… “empty.” So, she decided to do something about it. A neuroscience PhD, 100,000+ newsletter subscribers, and a newly published book later, she’s developed a new model of success — one built around conducting “tiny experiments” that help her build a life on her own terms. She joins me to discuss how we get trapped in cognitive scripts, the hidden dangers of productivity culture, how we can experiment our way to a better life and MUCH more! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Anne-Laure’s Twitter/X Ness Labs Tiny Experiments Book Show Notes: How do you know you are bored out? People who love us the most might turn out to be our biggest blockers Don't confuse activity with effectiveness We will do virtually anything to gain what is really an illusion of control The map is not the territory, the menu is not the meal. And yet, words are magic spells. The Winner’s Script and the Loser’s Script "You got to run at the top speed if you just want to stay in place.” Let go of the linear and replace it with the loop- a more cyclical approach for growth Can you sit alone in a room for 15 minutes? Procrastination is just a signal from your brain that something is not quite working right now We know nothing AI is a rocket ship for the mind In 100 years, nobody will remember you Books Mentioned: Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned; by Ken Stanley Thinking in Bets; by Annie Duke Collective Illusions; by Todd Rose Maybe Logic; by Robert Anton Wilson Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics; by Alfred Korzybski The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better; by Will Storr
Thu, March 06, 2025
Gabriel Kennedy — The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson (EP.258)
If you’ve heard me speak for more than five minutes you’ve probably caught me dropping a Robert Anton Wilson reference (or several). Wilson is one of the most interesting (and underappreciated) writers I’ve ever come across — a Nostradamus for modern times. I was delighted to sit down with Gabriel Kennedy, author of the excellent biography Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson . I could talk about this stuff for days, and we had a blast discussing Wilson’s ideas, influence and impact. Consider it a beginner’s guide to avoiding cosmic schmuckery. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson ; by Gabriel Kennedy The Thinker and the Prover ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Gabriel’s Substack Show Notes: The most interesting man of the last fifty years? How can we escape chapel perilous? The anti-determinist, rock & roll philosophy of Bob Wilson Tune in: a 30 minute masterclass on the influences, ideas and impact of Robert Anton Wilson How to avoid becoming a cosmic schmuck Who influenced Wilson the most? Why you should read Wilson Gabriel as World Emperor MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The Thinker and the Prover ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Chapel Perilous: The Life and Thought Crimes of Robert Anton Wilson; by Gabriel Kennedy Prometheus Unbound by Robert Anton Wilson Quantum Psychology: How Brain Software Programs You and Your World by Robert Anton Wilson The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea Cosmic Trigger Volume I: Final Secret of the Illuminati by Robert Anton Wilson The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science by Robert Anton Wilson Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson Quantum Psychology: How Brain Software Programs You and Your World by Robe
Thu, February 27, 2025
The Art of Retirement — Christine Benz (EP.257)
Christine Benz is the Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning at Morningstar, where she has spent over three decades helping investors navigate the complexities of financial planning. She is also the author of "How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement" and serves as the president of the John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy. Before focusing on retirement planning, Christine worked as a fund analyst, bringing a unique perspective that combines deep investment knowledge with practical financial wisdom. Christine joins the show to discuss why retirement isn't just about hitting your "magic number," how to overcome the psychological barriers to retirement spending, why keeping your inner circle vibrant is crucial for long-term happiness, the surprising power of lifetime giving, and MUCH more. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, " Hmm, that's interesting! ", check out our Substack. Important Links: Website Twitter LinkedIn Show Notes: Retirement Focus: Finances or Lifestyle? Bring Your Kids In The Loop Embrace the Challenges of Social Health A Day in The Life of a Retiree Defaulting People Into Saving Genesis of the FIRE Movement Horsemen of The Investment Apocalypse The Delicate Balance of Investment Buckets Dodging A Single Point of Failure How to Sniff Out Fishy Financial Advice The Saver vs the Investor Personality Type Keeping Up With Mr. Market Annuities: The Low-Risk Underdog Christine as World Emperor Books / Authors Mentioned: How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement; by Christine Benz The works of Jonathan Franzen
Thu, February 20, 2025
Luke Fehily — Ireland's Innovation Playbook (EP.256)
Luke Fehily is the Director of Innovation Policy at Progress Ireland — an independent think tank backed by the likes of the Collison brothers — that’s on a mission to connect Ireland to proven policy solutions from around the world. Before joining Progress Ireland, Luke cut his teeth in both public and private sectors, developing a unique perspective on how to navigate bureaucratic challenges while maintaining ambitious visions for change. His current work spans housing, infrastructure, and innovation policy, with a particular emphasis on meta-scientific approaches to research funding and development. In this episode we discuss why Ireland should embrace techno-optimism, how to beat the NIMBY challenge with win-win solutions, why young scientists need more research funding, and MUCH more. Plus, we even touch on drone coffee deliveries (happening now in Dublin) and the things needed to unleash Ireland's entrepreneurial spirit. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Progress Ireland Website Twitter LinkedIn Show Notes: The Irish GDP Boom The Origins of Progress Ireland The Path Past Bureaucratic Barriers Where the State Meets the Street How Bad Political Vibes Can Seep in Where the Creme De La Creme Goes in State Projects Innovation Amidst EU’s Strict Restrictions National EU Friction Densification Dilemmas Balancing Efficiency and Equity in Public Procurement How to Handle NIMBYs Pushing Past Infrastructural Comfort Zones Fostering Cultural Shifts What is Metascience? Recalibrating Success Metrics The Irish Brain Drain Books Mentioned: Where the State Meets the Street by Bernardo Zacka
Thu, February 13, 2025
Rudy Havenstein — How to Fix America’s Accountability Crisis (EP.255)
Rudy Havenstein is a writer and satirist known for his sharp critiques of America’s sprawling institutions and the elites who run them. He joins the show to discuss the accountability crisis in America — how it manifests across political life and, most importantly, what we can do to fix it. Important Links: Rudy’s Twitter Rudy’s Substack Show Notes: Why we should fear hyperinflation “The Fed is Congress’ drug dealer” The Great Financial Crash & America’s accountability crisis How to disagree agreeably How democracy REALLY works Why we should bring back Glass-Steagall The problem of cluelessness Solutions to the accountability crisis What has happened to investigative journalism? Why partisanship is overstated Rudy as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: Yellen: The Trailblazing Economist Who Navigated an Era of Upheaval; by Jon Hilsenrath Deterring Democracy; by Noam Chomsky The Rule of Nobody: Saving America from Dead Laws and Broken Government; by Philip K. Howard
Thu, February 06, 2025
Mark Daniel — How to Find a Kaleidoscopic Alien (EP.254)
Mark Daniel is the co-founder and managing partner of the investment firm Digital, whose portfolio extends across accelerated computing, gaming, crypto, social networking, AI, extended reality, cybersecurity, creator tools, spatial computing, and immersive learning. Back in 2013, he was also one of the very first recipients of a Thiel Fellowship. This was a fun one. Mark joins the show to discuss why podcasts are dangerous (😬), why content creators should have a 10 post limit, how he identifies kaleidoscopic aliens to invest in, and MUCH more. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Digital Mark’s Twitter Mark’s LinkedIn Show Notes: Why podcasts are dangerous Why content creators should be limited to 10 posts Advice is simple; life is hard How to find a kaleidoscopic alien How to win the great game Mania-immune investing Jim’s “I’m a sports guy” algorithm What beliefs would you die for? What have you unlearned in the past year? The fragility of morality Passion as a forcing function Movie recommendations: My Dinner With Andre & Elevator to Gallows Mark as World Emperor MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: How to Be Successful ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy How to Win Friends and Influence People; by Dale Carnegie
Thu, January 30, 2025
John Kennedy — The Hidden Crisis in American Education (EP.253)
John Kennedy, a director at the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation, is tackling an overlooked crisis in American education: air quality. With the ingenious use of a simple $60 box fan, he's on a mission to revolutionize the health and learning environments of students nationwide. It's mind-boggling how much low-hanging fruit there is here. The difference that clean air makes to health and brain capacity is enormous, and it's a surprisingly cheap problem to fix. In fact, as you'll hear about halfway through our conversation, I was so convinced by John and the Corsi-Rosenthal team's solution that I committed to offering him a $100k Fellowship on the spot. But our discussion went far beyond air quality. John shared fascinating insights into the future of education—how we can reorganize it from the ground up to produce happy, healthy, and high-agency adults ready for the challenges of the 21st century. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation John’s LinkedIn John’s Twitter Show Notes: Nobody gets to choose the air they breathe… Why has air quality been overlooked? When Jim got stranded up a mountain How do you scale a K-12 solution? What would it cost to put a Cori-Rosenthal box in every New York classroom? Surprise! Welcome to the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships What would a model 21st-century K-12 system look like? How to overcome systemic inertia Do Charter schools work? Why public schools can’t mimic private school innovations What exciting developments are happening in edtech? What does public school look like in 2044? John as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America; by George Packer
Thu, January 23, 2025
Michael Strong — Let’s Get Socratical (EP.252)
Michael Strong has spent decades quietly revolutionizing education by designing innovative schools and programs built around agency, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and creativity. He is the founder and CEO of The Socratic Experience, a virtual school that equips students for lifelong happiness and success through Socratic dialogue. Alongside his work in the US, he has educational consulting experience in multiple developing nations. And… he’s a fellow Minnesotan! Michael joins the show to discuss whether Socratic education can scale, the benefits of the Mormon model, why high agency is the default, and MUCH more! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Michael’s Substack Twitter The Socratic Experience Show Notes: One book a night and mental chess - a Minnesotan childhood. Can Socratic education scale? Are we entrenching a new elite? Why high agency is the default Creating new subcultures & the benefits of the Mormon model Experimenting our way to prosperity Tearing down the citadel, secret censorship & claiming the moral high ground Prediction markets & why we should be betting on our reputation The heroic tradition of reason Michael as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: Dr. Semmelweis vs. the World (Infinite Loops Substack) Ignore. Fight. Ridicule (Infinite Loops Substack) The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice; by Michael Strong Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World's Problems; by Michael Strong and John Mackey The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen; by Robert Epstein The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Hierarchy in the Forest: The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior; by Christopher Boehm Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions; by Todd Rose Can Gambling Save Science? Encouraging an Honest
Thu, January 16, 2025
Sahil Bloom — A Multitude of Wealth (EP.251)
Sahil Bloom, a prolific creator, founder and investor, has mastered the art of translating complex ideas about wealth and success into wisdom that resonates with millions. His newsletter, The Curiosity Chronicle, grew from just 100 readers to over 800,000 subscribers in three years - a testament to his ability to cut through the noise with clarity and insight. His upcoming book, "The 5 Types of Wealth," challenges our conventional understanding of what it means to be truly wealthy, arguing that financial success is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Here's what makes Sahil fascinating - he's built his empire not through traditional paths (he left his high paying private equity job), but by following his curiosity and sharing what he learns along the way. Today, we'll explore the frameworks that have helped him impact millions, why traditional definitions of success might be holding us back, and how Sahil’s relationship with time reshaped the way he thinks about wealth, wisdom, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Sahil’s Website Sahil’s Twitter Sahil’s Blog Show Notes: The Ripple Effect of spreading good ideas Sahil’s Origin Story The Finite Impermanence of Time Would you trade lives with Warren Buffett? The Loneliness Epidemic The Paradox of setting Big Goals and needing Small Steps to get there Why waking up at 5am can rewire your brain Why do people chase the wrong things? Jim and Sahil’s Memento Mori Factoring in the 5 Types of Wealth when making a decision What makes A Wonderful Life? Money As a Byproduct of Pursuing Purpose Sahil’s Message As World Emperor Books Mentioned: Zorba the Greek; by Nikos Kazantzakis Adventures of a Bystander; by Peter Drucker The Anxious Generation; by Jonathan Haidt Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu Collective Illusions; by Todd Rose The Psychology of Money; by Morgan Housel
Thu, January 09, 2025
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz — Who Makes the NBA? (EP.250)
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a data scientist and bestselling author, is known for his brilliant use of data to upend conventional wisdom - often with humorous, surprising, and occasionally shocking results. His latest book, Who Makes the NBA, uses data to interrogate some of basketball’s biggest questions, consistently yielding unexpected insights. Here’s the kicker - he wrote the entire book in just 30 days after discovering Code Interpreter. Unsurprisingly for a former quant, I had a blast chatting to Seth. Topics discussed include why so many NBA players are called Chris, whether basketball is due for a Moneyball moment, and why so many of us misunderstand the rags-to-riches story. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Seth’s Website Twitter Show Notes: Author, data scientist… comedian? Using Code Interpreter to write a book in 30 days The trait that makes it incredibly easy to become an NBA player Why the best NBA player in history isn’t who you think it is Is basketball due a Moneyball moment? Why are so many NBA players named Chris? What people get wrong about the rags-to-riches story The hidden magic of data storytelling Finding your audience The danger of glamour Keep it simple, stupid Why the standard interview sucks Doppelgangers & the power of A/B testing The overdue revolution in health data Why Google should be worried Stated vs revealed preferences The power of enormous data sets Seth as World Emperor Books Mentioned: Who Makes the NBA?: Data-Driven Answers to Basketball's Biggest Questions; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Don't Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are; by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
Thu, January 02, 2025
Julian Gough — The Egg and The Rock (EP.249)
Julian Gough sums up his career as follows: “ I just sit in my room and write.” Well, I think being an acclaimed children’s author, novelist, stage playwright, poet and top-ten Irish musician is a little more impressive than he’s letting on… Oh, and I didn’t even mention that he wrote the ending to the computer game Minecraft! His current project, The Egg and The Rock, puts all of this to shame. This book, which Julian is writing in public on Substack, seeks to do no less than redescribe the universe, arguing that is not some random, dead, purposeless sack of chemicals, but instead a living, evolving organism. Julian joins me to discuss why the arc of human evolution bends towards man-made black holes, the hidden catastrophe at the heart of materialist science, the strange life of subterranean ice aliens, and MUCH more! This was such an interesting conversation - I can’t wait for you to hear it. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Julian’s Website The Egg and The Rock Julian’s Twitter Show Notes: “ I just sit in my room and write” Why write a book in public? Materialism & science’s hidden catastrophe “The scientific method is in conflict with human nature” The faulty assumption at the heart of cosmology Big bangs, supermassive black holes & Darwinian evolution: A ~30 minute masterclass in cosmological natural selection “I'm predicting very, very large amounts of life in this universe” The strange life of subterranean ice aliens Could we spot man-made black holes? Bringing consciousness into physics Pulling back the curtain Julian as World Emperor MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Against Method: Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge; by Paul Feyerabend What the Tortoise Said to Achilles; by Lewis Carroll The Life of the Cosmos; by Lee Smolin What Is Life? The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell; by Erwin Schrödinger Isis Unveiled: A Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology; by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky The Bhagavad Gita Did the Universe evolve? ; by Lee Smolin <a href="https://philpapers.org/
Thu, December 26, 2024
Ben Reinhardt — Speculative Technologies (EP.248)
Ben Reinhardt is the founder of Speculative Technologies “ a nonprofit industrial research lab that’s working to unlock a wonderful, abundant future through technologies that don’t have a home in other institutions.” He has previously worked at NASA and Bay Area startups/VC firms, founded a startup building robotics for eldercare, and helped entrepreneurs start companies in Singapore. Oh, and he has a Ph.D. in space robotics from Cornell University and is one of the few people with a B.Sc . in history! Ben, who brings his expertise in emerging technologies to the OSV advisory council, joins the show to discuss why tech people don’t do philanthropy, when to trust a credential, why there aren’t more government moonshot programs, why academia is beholden to the new, and MUCH more! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Speculative Technologies Ben’s Twitter Ben’s LinkedIn Show Notes: Speculative Technologies: the four-stage roadmap How early VC funding can affect incentives From ‘eureka!’ to getting it out into the world Market failure & institutional consolidation Where are the moonshot programs? The skills needed to run a research program Why tech people don’t do philanthropy Turning philanthropy into a status game The hidden importance of materials & manufacturing When to trust a credential Agency & American culture Lean ideas vs. fat ideas Why academia is beholden to novelty Ben as World Emperor MORE! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street, Fourth Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Road; by Cormac McCarthy The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America; by John D. Gartner The Coffee Can portfolio ; by Robert G. Kirby
Thu, December 19, 2024
Jay Reno — Making A Point (EP.247)
My guest on Infinite Loops this week knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur from the time he was buying and selling things on eBay. Jay Reno claims he didn’t know what the word ‘arbitrage’ meant back then, but if you tug on the colourful threads of his career, you’d reveal the kind of tenacity and resourcefulness that allows special founders like him to repeatedly find value in places that have long been deserted by everybody else. If you listen in on today’s episode, it will become apparent why O’Shaughnessy Ventures invested in Jay and his current venture. Jay is the CEO and Founder of Pointhound, which helps people find amazing deals on flights and travel using their credit card points and miles. He’s also a partner at 645 ventures. Among other fun pursuits, he’s spent the last ten years building all sorts of cool things; like a same-day grocery delivery service, a craft coffee company, a restaurant and bar reservation app, and a furniture rental service for city dwellers. We spent our conversation talking about his advice for first-time founders; his learnings from building Pointhound; the whimsical world of credit card point programmes; his thoughts on consumer psychology; and much more! For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Jay’s Twitter Jay’s LinkedIn 645 Ventures Pointhound HQ Show Notes: How To Bring Your Idea To Life The Virtues of the Y-Combinator Model Picking the Right Investor Pointhound & The Points Game On Consumer Psychology and Trying New Things Removing the Invisible Barrier Product Cycles and User Feedback Slow Down to Speed Up The Common Pitfalls in Building Consumer Products The Credit Card Prestige Factor The Cashback Conundrum The Future of Pointhound Jay, The Emperor of The World Books & Articles Mentioned: My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla ; by Nikola Tesla Mistakes were Made. (And, Yes, by Me.) ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
Thu, December 12, 2024
Michael Garfield — Play the (Mind) Jazz (EP.246)
My guest today is Michael Garfield, a paleontologist, futurist, writer, podcast host and strategic advisor whose “mind-jazz” performances — essays, music and fine art — bridge the worlds of art, science and philosophy. This year, Michael received a $10k O’Shaughnessy Grant for his “Humans On the Loop” discussion series, which explores the nature of agency, power, responsibility and wisdom in the age of automation. This whirlwind discussion is impossible to sum up in a couple of sentences (just look at the number of books & articles mentioned!) Ultimately, it is a conversation about a subject I think about every day: how we can live curious, collaborative and fulfilling lives in our deeply weird, complex, probabilistic world. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Michael’s Website Humans On The Loop Twitter Future Fossils Substack Show Notes: What is “mind jazz”? Humans “ON” the loop? The Red Queen hypothesis and the power of weirdness Probabilistic thinking & the perils of optimization Context collapse, pernicious convenience & coordination at scale How organisations learn Michael as World Emperor MORE! Books, Articles & Podcasts Mentioned: The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves; by W. Brian Arthur Pharmako-AI; by K Allado-McDowell The Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century; by Howard Bloom The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom One Summer: America, 1927; by Bill Bryson Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There; by Lewis Carroll The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Scale Theory: A Nondisciplinary Inquiry; by Joshua DiCaglio Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders and the Rise of Social Engineering; by Malcolm Gladwell The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich Do Conversation: There's No Such Thing as Small Talk; by Robert Poynton Reality Hunger: A Manifesto; by David Shields The Time Falling Bodi
Thu, December 05, 2024
Max Meyer Launched a Print Magazine in 2024. Here’s Why. (EP.245)
My guest today is Max Meyer, the proprietor of Arena Magazine , a new quarterly publication exploring technology, capitalism and civilization. Arena’s aim? To “ make it okay to dream in public again.” Max and I discuss why he launched a print magazine in 2024, WTF happened to legacy media, the wisdom of Ratatouille and MUCH more. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Max’s Twitter Arena Magazine The New Needs Friends The Earthly Miracle of the Grocery Store Robert F. Kennedy announces the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Show Notes: What is going on with legacy media? Print advertising and the race to the bottom The collapse of trust in the media TikTok brain, news consumption & social media as a steam valve Bailouts & the appeal of the “zero interest fairyland” The wisdom of Ratatouille The decline of Presidential oratory American progress & the population bomb that didn’t go off Failure is a ladder The one rule of capitalism Long haul flights: Where’s our roast turkey? Why is Arena a physical magazine? Max as Emperor of the world MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Ultimate Resource; by Julian L. Simon The Population Bomb; by Dr Paul R. Ehrlich The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom How United Became an Airline ; by Andy Kessler (WSJ) This is Water ; by David Foster Wallace line.
Thu, November 28, 2024
Parmita Mishra — How to Think About Biology (EP.244)
Parmita Mishra is a computational biologist and the founder & CEO of Precigenetics , a company aiming to become a rocket to precision medicine. Parmita is deeply knowledgeable about cutting-edge biology, particularly epigenetics — how behavior and environment can affect gene function without altering genetic code. Her passion for advancing our understanding of diseases is inspiring (and contagious: OSV is an investor in Parmita’s company!) In our conversation, Parmita and I discuss everything from the curious case of male baldness to how her parents have saved 50,000 lives. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, highlights, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: LinkedIn Twitter Website Precigenetics Twitter Preciginetics launch post Show Notes: Explaining epigenetics to a golden retriever The curious case of male pattern baldness How to think about biology: start from first principles & beware binary thinking The lens you look through determines what you see The problem of data collection in biology Why the FDA needs to change its approach Why we still don’t understand the human brain Garry Tan’s advice: “Get an idea. Get a co-founder.” What’s been surprising about foundership? Failure is a ladder Obsession & how Parmita’s parents have saved 50,000 lives The most surprising things about America Parmita as World Empress Books Mentioned: What is Life?; by Erwin Schrodinger I should have loved biology ; by James Somers Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America; by John D. Gartner
Thu, November 21, 2024
Luis Seco — On Mathematical Beethovens, Decentralized Education & the Voyage to the Human Brain (EP.243)
Professor Luis Seco is a mathematician, educator, and investor. Among many other titles and achievements, he is the Professor of Mathematics at the University of Toronto, Director of the quant research hub Risklab, Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the Fields Institute, and co-founder of the asset management firm Sigma Analysis & Management Ltd. Got all that?! This one was really fun, and not just because Luis is a fellow quant. We discuss how maths resembles Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the future of the ‘metaversity’, the most important lesson Luis gives his students, why investing isn't what it used to be, and much more. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Website Twitter YouTube Show Notes: What Luis learned from the Beethoven of mathematics “Mathematics is the language computers speak” The role of community in an increasingly confusing world Lifelong education & the voyage to the human brain Why to teach is to be human Timebinding & social media as a steam valve What matters more - content or communication? Math as a social science: quantifying risk in a nonlinear world From paper, to numbers, to images: The changing nature of data Why the future of education lies in decentralization Swarm solutions & why we’re in the century of collaboration Metaversities & the case for bringing your kids to work Why managing money is now based on words, not numbers Luis as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams The Two Cultures; by C.P. Snow Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig Manhood of Humanity; by Alfred Korzybski How to Win Friends and Influence People; by Dale Carnegie The Myth of 1926: How Much Do We Know About Long-Term Returns on U.S. Stocks? ; by Edward F. Mcquarrie
Thu, November 14, 2024
Anthony Pompliano — How to Live an Extraordinary Life (EP.242)
Anthony Pompliano — investor, entrepreneur, and media powerhouse — returns four years and 228 episodes later to discuss his new book, How To Live an Extraordinary Life , a collection of 65 heartfelt letters to his two children. At just 36, Anthony has already invested in circa 200 companies, served in Iraq with the U.S. Army, built and sold multiple businesses, and created one of the world’s largest independent media platforms. You don’t accomplish all that without learning a thing or two, and in this episode we dig into his hard-earned insights — from the uniting traits of the world’s smartest people, to the luxury of pessimism, to why luck isn’t real. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: How To Live an Extraordinary Life Website Twitter The Pomp Letter Anthony’s Previous Episode Show Notes: The hidden power of “I don’t know” Why Anthony started writing letters to his children Today is practice for tomorrow Carve your ethics in stone, but your opinions in sand How bad positioning poisons decision-making Are there any parts of the book Anthony no longer believes in? What unites the smartest people in the world Why luck isn’t real The luxury of pessimism Power laws everywhere! Anthony as Emperor of the World MORE! Books, Articles & Podcasts Mentioned: Adventures of a Bystander; by Peter F. Drucker The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance; by Josh Waitzkin How Will You M
Thu, November 07, 2024
Sajith Pai — Exploring Indus Valley (Ep.241)
There’s a quote I heard a long time ago that goes something like this - “India has consistently disappointed both the optimists and the pessimists”. It is equal parts pithy and profound, and does a somewhat passable job of summarising the multitudes contained in 21st century India. It’s a quote that was brought to life for me numerous times in my conversation with this week’s guest on Infinite Loops - Sajith Pai. Sajith is a GP at Blume Ventures, one of India’s largest homegrown VC firms. He's known for his prolific writing and sharp frameworks that have become part of Indian startup canon over the past decade. In 2018, he swapped a long-time career as a media executive for one as a venture capitalist. This changing of lanes, relatively late in his professional life, has given him a refreshingly nuanced perspective on the Indian startup ecosystem (which he’s bestowed with the moniker of ‘Indus Valley’, as a nod to both Silicon Valley as well as the Indus Valley Civilisation, one of the cradles of the ancient world and the ancestral civilisation of the Indian people). His most compelling insight? That India isn't the monolithic 1.5-billion-person market that many Westerners believe. Instead, it's three distinct "countries" hiding in plain sight. There's India One: 120 million affluent, English-speaking urbanites (think the population of Germany) who love their iPhones and Starbucks. Then comes India Two: 300 million aspiring middle-class citizens who inhabit the digital economy but not yet the consumption economy. Finally, there's India Three: a massive population with a similar demographic profile to Sub-Saharan Africa, that’s still waiting for its invitation to join India’s bright future. ‘India 1-2-3’ is one amongst many pearls of wisdom that Sajith gifted me over our conversation, that also touched on India as a "digital welfare state", India as a ‘low trust society’; the emergence of a new class of ‘Indo-Anglians’; how cultural nuances in India shape everything from app design to payment systems; and much, much more. Whether you're an investor, founder, or just curious about where the next decade of innovation might come from, this conversation is your crash course to understanding India in the 21st century. Sajith likes to say that ‘India is not for beginners’. Well, if you are a beginner on India, this week you’re in luck. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Sajith’s website Sajith’s Twitter Sajith’s Substack Blume VC’s Indus Valley Annual Report 2
Thu, October 31, 2024
Scott Aaronson — Quantumania (EP.240)
My guest today is Scott Aaronson, a theoretical computer scientist, OG blogger, and quantum computing maestro. Scott has so many achievements and credentials that listing them here would take longer than recording the episode. Here's a select few: Self-taught programmer at age 11, Cornell computer science student at 15, PhD recipient by 22! Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin. Director of UT Austin's Quantum Information Center. Former visiting researcher on OpenAI's alignment team (2022-2024). Awarded the ACM prize in computing in 2020 and the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics (under 40 category) in 2018. … you get the point. Scott and I dig into the misunderstood world of quantum computing — the hopes, the hindrances, and the hucksters — to unpack what a quantum-empowered future could really look like. We also discuss what makes humans special in the age of AI, the stubbornly persistent errors of the seat-to-keyboard interface, and MUCH more. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, some highlights from Scott’s blog, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Shtetl-Optimized (Scott’s blog) My Reading Burden On blankfaces Show Notes: So much reading. So little time. The problem of human specialness in the age of AI It’s always the same quantum weirdness Why it’s easy to be a quantum huckster Quantum progress, quantum hopes, and quantum limits Encryption in a quantum empowered world Wielding the hammer of interference Scientific discovery in a quantum empowered world Bureaucracy and blank faces Scott as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Fifth Science; by ****Exurb1a The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams
Thu, October 24, 2024
Danny Crichton — Player of Games (EP.239)
Danny Crichton is a man of many talents. He’s got a background in computer science, has worked in the worlds of foreign policy, was a managing editor at Techcrunch, and now serves as Head of Editorial at Lux Capital. As Lux’s de-facto games master, Danny also devises their Riskgames : strategic simulations that immerse players in complex scenarios reflecting real-world challenges and dynamics. These games – whose players include senators, major generals, congressmen and, think-tank CEOs – include scenarios like ‘Hamptons at the Cross-Roads’ (that deals with climate change and maritime security) and ‘Powering Up’ (that deals with China’s global EV dominance). Danny and I discuss the origins of Riskgaming and the lessons he’s learned in high-stakes games with tech founders and government officials. Plus, we riff on our shared Minnesotan roots, and discuss ways to combat the uncertain fog of war in our careers. I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Danny's Twitter Danny's LinkedIn Danny's Personal Website Lux Securities Newsletter The Riskgaming Initiative Show Notes: Origins of Riskgaming The Different Play Styles between Technologists and Policymakers One-off games vs. Iterative games The Game Theoretic Foundations of Riskgaming It’s All About Tough Decisions Parable of the First Mover Disadvantage The Importance of Incentives Why Insurance Companies are Obsessed with Truth in the Market How AIs Can Cut Through Bureaucratic Slog How Danny Builds Scenarios Why Riskgaming Teaches Better Decision Making Danny’s Thoughts on Intellectual Humility Danny and Jim’s Minnesotan Heritage Danny’s experience launching TechCrunch+ Facing the Fog of War The Importance of Agility Danny as Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places; by Paul Collier
Thu, October 17, 2024
Yuk Chi Chan — On Rockets, Dog Years & Robotic Space-Snakes (EP.238)
My guest today is the human Swiss Army Knife, Yuk Chi Chan, who has packed more into the last decade than many people do in a lifetime. Yuk Chi is the founder of Charter Space, the first British space company to graduate from the Techstars Space Accelerator. Before that, he served as an officer in the Singapore army (hmm, so maybe I should have described him as a Singaporean Army Knife) and practiced as a space lawyer (it’s funny how much cooler being a lawyer becomes when you preface it with the word “space”). Suffice to say, Yuk Chi knows a lot about space. We had a blast discussing how ‘ownership’ of territory really works, why the sector impacts our daily lives FAR more than we think, and the mind-boggling mission of an intrepid robotic space snake. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: LinkedIn Substack Twitter Charter Website Charter Twitter Show Notes: Yuk Chi Chan: The human Swiss Army Knife The strangely antiquated tools of the space industry Military training, problem-solving, and reframing the challenge The single most important trait in a co-founder Unlearning, cyclical culture, and robotic space snakes The labyrinthine world of space insurance Who owns space? The angry man on Yuk Chi’s shoulder Why Yuk Chi measures his life in dog years Space insurance as Zeno’s Paradox Why the space industry is WAY more ubiquitous than you think Yuk Chi as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said; by Philip K. Dick Ubik; by Philip K. Dick
Thu, October 10, 2024
Dan Shipper — I, Writer (EP.237)
“Ignoring what is obvious incurs a huge cost. It requires you to go about your day numbing yourself to the reality of who you are and what you want—which is a waste of time for you and everyone around you. By contrast, admitting what is obvious is freeing and motivating. But it’s terrifying to do it. Sometimes the most obvious truths about ourselves are hard to see because the consequences of those truths seem so dire.” Those are the opening lines of one of my favourite essays I’ve read in the last year, written by this week’s guest on Infinite Loops - Dan Shipper. Dan is the Co-founder and CEO of Every , a media company that wants to be an intellectual lighthouse amidst the tempest that is the Age of AI. Every began life in 2020 as a bundle of digital newsletters (almost like a centralised version of Substack with more of an editorial flourish). These days, it’s blossomed into an ecosystem of colourful newsletters, podcasts, courses, and software products, all oriented around the unpacking of a single question - “What comes next?” Every is already one of my go-to destinations for all things interesting. It’s less brain food than brain buffet (the kind of buffet that serves fresh blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup). In our conversation, Dan shares his thoughts on everything from AI companions; his approach to erecting the Every ‘Pyramid’; his playbook for building new media companies; the idea of LLMs as mirrors for humanity; and using content to ‘find your people’. What I love about him is how candidly and thoughtfully he talks about his journey to discover his own truth. His realisation that he didn’t need to hang up his boots as a writer in order to become a founder is something that particularly hit home for me. Dan Shipper is also my underdog pick to eventually wrest the title of Infinite Loops Emperor from reigning clubhouse leader Alex Danco. By which I mean to say, this is most certainly not the last time Dan joins us on the show, so you may as well get to know him better. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack . Important Links: Dan’s Twitter Dan’s writing on Every Dan’s personal website Show Notes: Dan’s Superhero Origin Story Writers as Founders What Would You Pay To Do? The Every Pyramid The New Media Playbook How T
Thu, October 03, 2024
Dr. Gena Gorlin — How to Build a Builder (EP.236)
My guest today is Dr. Gena Gorlin, a psychologist specializing in the unique needs of the ultra-ambitious. Unlike many in her field. Gena doesn’t aim to simply lift the floor of her clients’ ambitions — she wants to raise the ceiling. In this episode, she breaks down the “Builder Mindset” - a way of thinking that empowers people to live to healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives. Over on our Substack , we dig deeper into Gena’s ideas, exploring the perils of perfectionism, the allure of complacency, and why psychological perfection might be more achievable than you think. Important Links: Gena’s Website Building the Builders (Gena’s Substack) Gena’s Twitter Show Notes: The Unique Needs of the Ultra Ambitious Death is the Default The Rigid Authoritarianism of Your Inner Drill Sergeant The Sweet, Stagnant Embrace of the Zen Master Agency & the Enlightenment Historical Ignorance as a Bottleneck Human Beings as the Base Unit of Action Fight, Flight or Freeze How to Build a Builder Perfectionism is not Perfect What to Do When Surrounded by C Players Persistence, Passion & Personality Reframing FTW Gena as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America; by John D. Gartner
Thu, September 26, 2024
Nir Eyal — How To Become An Indistractable Force (EP.235)
“Most people don’t want to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that distraction is always an unhealthy escape from reality.” My latest guest, Nir Eyal , writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology , technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. In our conversation, Nir gives it to us straight. Distraction is killing us, and stopping us from reaching our full potential. In a world that is constantly conspiring to keep us distracted, Nir provides an alternative: we can take back control. We can regain our agency. All of these ideas are presented in his book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (co-authored with Julie Li). This book is a clear guide to understanding the psychology behind our impulses and is chock-full of great anecdotes and peer-reviewed studies to help you better manage your time, and your life. Nir’s framework is not only interesting, it is practical, so I suggest you check out our Substack , where you’ll find the episode transcript and some actionable takeaways. I also encourage you to buy Nir’s excellent book and start applying his strategies to your own life. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! Important Links: Nir’s personal blog Nir’s LinkedIn Nir’s Twitter Nir’s YouTube channel Nir’s Habit Tracking Tool Nir’s Schedule Maker Tool Show Notes: What Being Indistractable Is All About Etymology of the Word Distraction The Strong Pull of Internal Triggers The Tyranny of the To-Do List The Difference Between High Performers and Low Performers The Dangers of Labelling Ourselves Using the Psychology of Identity Using Self-Determination Theory to Diagnose Distraction The Perils of Snowplow Parenting Believe the Good Science Nir as Emperor of the World Books / Articles Mentioned: Indistractable ; by Nir Eyal (+ bonus content
Thu, September 19, 2024
Alex Danco — Finding Mystery in the Margin (EP.234)
As the saying goes, only three things in life are certain: death, taxes & Alex Danco. Armed with sizzling hot takes on the sad death of Twitter likes and a new secret weapon in the form of his catchphrase-turned-episode theme (“ Without mystery, there is no margin ”), Alex returns for his eighth episode. Despite our intentional lack of preparation, somehow this ended up as one our most cohesive conversations yet. As usual, we’ve included links and an episode transcript over on our Substack , where we’ve also made the foolhardy attempt to distil one overriding theme from eight episodes of fiercely unstructured, defiantly unplanned, proudly meandering conversation. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco Website: https://alexdanco.com/ Previous episode: https://www.infiniteloopspodcast.com/alex-danco-on-self-delusion-sancho-panza-safe-words-seinfeld-ep156/ Show Notes: What the fuck is going on? & the sad death of Twitter likes Where are the journalists? Without mystery, there is no margin Why aesthetics are underrated Friction is good, actually Make things to gain agency Empowering small firms to access the mysterious margin Everything is positioning How to learn effectively Alex as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Gervais Principle, Or The Office According to “The Office” ; by Venkatesh Rao The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
Thu, September 12, 2024
Mike Maples, Jr. — How To Become a Pattern-Breaking Founder (EP.233)
Mike Maples, Jr., co-founding partner of the VC firm Floodgate, is the veteran seed investor behind some of the 21st-century’s great success stories, including Twitter, Twitch, and Applied Intuition. His book, Pattern Breakers (co-authored with Peter Ziebelman), articulates a new model of foundership, one built on the simple premise that transformative startups upend rather than improve current practices. My company, OSV, is built around my belief that the collapse of the old models presents enormous opportunities to those savvy enough to seize them, so I had a blast quizzing Mike on the nuts and bolts of pattern-breaking foundership, from finding true believers to waging asymmetric war on the status quo. If Mike’s theory sounds as interesting to you as it did to me, check out our Substack , where we’ve distilled some pattern-breaking insights and shared the episode transcript. I also encourage you to buy Mike’s excellent book. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! Important Links: Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future ; by Mike Maples, Jr & Peter Ziebelman Twitter Substack (Starting Greatness) Floodgate LinkedIn Show Notes: Seagull mode: an unexpected founder paradigm How to wage asymmetric war on the present Evading the comparison trap Finding your people: how to build a movement Why we should continually seek the truth The customer isn’t always right, but the ones living in the future are Why disagreeableness is undervalued How to fix a pitch Franckendeck Don’t use jargon as a substitute for clear thinking How to find the true believers How to live in the future How founders are like trainspotters Why wanting to be a founder is a bad reason to start a company Reading habits of a pattern-breaker The unreliability of memory Mike as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A story; by Richard Bach The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform The World; by David Deutsch What Works in Wall Street; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Poor Charlie’s Almanac: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles
Thu, September 05, 2024
Ben Orlin — Math As Universal Language (EP.232)
As a former quant with six grandkids, my spidey-senses started tingling as soon as I heard about Ben Orlin’s mission to make math fun. A native of St.Paul, Ben is a math educator and popularizer who is known for his “Math With Bad Drawing” blog and book series. Today’s conversation revolves around his excellent, original new book Math for English Majors: A Human Take on the Universal Language , which reframes math as a language, complete with nouns, verbs and grammar. Like any mathematician worth his salt, Ben loves games, which he sees as ‘puzzle engines’. No wonder then that our conversation meandered and unfolded like a satisfying puzzle, touching upon rich concepts. We discussed making sense of sampling through fantasy towns where 70% of inhabitants are lawyers (not a town I’d like to be in), threw in a bit of Lewis Carroll to discuss the assumptions built into propositional logic (sometimes it really is turtles all the way down) and pitied the Welsh kids learning how to count (keep listening to know what that means). I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! For more thoughts on the episode, the full transcript, and bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go; “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Ben’s Blog Ben’s Twitter <a href= "https://0bdcf674.streaklinks.com/CGlZHFh_f12NVNY3
Thu, August 29, 2024
Gurwinder Bhogal's Guide to Modern Survival (EP.231)
“We have created for ourselves a world that we didn't evolve for.” Gurwinder Bhogal is, for my money, one of the most independent, original and insightful thinkers you’ll find in our corner of the internet. He returns to discuss how willpower and good old-fashioned human agency can help us reclaim our mental sovereignty and escape the “ constant avalanche of concerns that are being vomited over us through our laptop screens, our phones, our TV screens, and in conversations.” For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Gurwinder's Substack Gurwinder's Twitter Gurwinder’s previous Infinite Loops appearance Show Notes: “We have created for ourselves a world we didn’t evolve for” The dogged persistence of our stubborn beliefs Gamification; generational differences in agency The societal impact of the education system’s changing priorities How to zombify a population Skin in the game: Gurwinder’s guide to reclaiming agency LLMs, bullshit, and the atomization of culture How to play better games Willpower is the bottleneck Gurwinder as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: Why Everything is Becoming a Game ; by Gurwinder Bhogal Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know; by Adam Grant The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements; by Eric Hoffer Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest ; by Jonathan Haidt ( After Babel ) America’s Colleges Are Reaping What They Sowed ; by Tyler Austin Harper (T he Atlantic ) Joe Biden and the Common Knowledge Game ; by Ben Hunt ( Epsilon Theory) The Emperor’s New Clothes; by Hans Christian Andersen Futarchy Details ; by Robin Hanson ( Overcoming Bias ) The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna The Weirdest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologic
Thu, August 22, 2024
Julia Sonnevend — Charming! (EP.230)
Professor Julia Sonnevend believes that charm is one of the defining political trends of our era. In her latest book, she argues that charm will do no less than “ shape the future of democracy worldwide ,” exploring how it is weaponized by politicians ranging from Jacinda Arden to Kim Jong Un. In our episode, you will discover why charm has emerged as a political force and how to innoculate yourself when you encounter it in the wild. Julia and I also dig into the five components of a charming interaction, a tantalizing prospect for those of you who want to dabble in the dark arts yourself… For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Charm: How Magnetic Personalities Shape Global Politics Julia’s website Julia’s Twitter Show Notes: Why social scientists are scared of charm The beer test of political leadership Can charm be manufactured? How humor affects charm The five building blocks of charm Does writing a book about charm make you immune to charm? Suspicion of seduction Is personality damaging politics? The true arbiter of authenticity How to encourage students to think critically How global iconic events are constructed Historical villains & the banality of evil Charming or not-charming: a speed-round The transitory nature of the charm offensive The benefits of taking a moment Julia as Empress of the World
Thu, August 15, 2024
Bilawal Sidhu — How to Unite Reality With Imagination (EP.229)
As a proud owner of the exceedingly rare “two-digit” designation on CompuServe (the internet’s precursor), I’ve always been an early adopter of new tech. I was, therefore, particularly excited to speak to Bilawal Sidhu, a one-man corporation whose prolific output outpaces many creators put together. Since he was 11, Bilawal has been passionate about using cutting-edge tech to create videos that unite reality with his imagination. He made his bones as a product manager at Google, but after his short-form videos generated millions of views on social media, he decided to go all-in on his creative projects, including this video showing ‘shadow aliens’ invading Miami Mall, which racked up 11M views in 24 hours (!) on TikTok. Bilawal is also an adept rune-reader in the tech industry — his Creative Digest newsletter and YouTube channel offer insights and analysis on tech and market developments, while his TEDAI podcast broke the recent Helen Toner x OpenAI story. If you’re a creator curious about the opportunities presented by cutting-edge tech, you’re gonna love this episode. For the full transcript and bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go, “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Bilawal’s Website (includes links to all social channels) What Does “Rat Park” Teach Us About Addiction? (Psychiatric Times) Show Notes: Aliens at the Miami Mall & the deep fake arms race How to unite reality with imagination The three waves of content democratization & the incoming content tsunami Artisan vs organic content Creation by proxy Climbing up the adoption curve Bilawal’s idea-to-execution creation process Remix culture & co-creation Competing visions of an AI-infused feature Finding an economic model that benefits indie creators Sovereign AI & being long human creativity Bilawal as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom The Ultimate Resource; by Julian L. Simon
Thu, August 08, 2024
Luca Dellanna — How to Play (and Win) Long Term Games (EP.228)
When Luca Dellanna speaks, I listen. Unlike many of the other management, productivity and behavioral gurus out there, Luca is ruthlessly committed to providing actionable, tangible advice that is rooted in the messy, chaotic reality of daily life. This conversation, my second with Luca, revolves around his excellent new book, Winning Long-Term Games: Reproducible Success Strategies to Achieve Your Life Goals . Why should you care? Because long-term strategies consistently deliver better results. In other words, being able to identify, play, and win long-term games is, quite literally, the secret to success. With examples ranging from NASA janitors to Stonehenge spray painters, we discuss how to successfully identify reproducible long-term strategies and how to persuade others to get on board with them. We also explore how hypotheticals can be an insanely powerful tool for ensuring our short-term actions remain consistent with our long-term goals (and yes, before you ask, my beloved premeditation makes an appearance). I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! For more thoughts on the episode, the full transcript, and bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go; “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Winning Long-Term Games: Reproducible Success Strategies to Achieve Your Life Goals Luca’s Website Luca’s Twitter Luca’s Previous Episode Five Counterintuitive Truths We Learned From Luca Dellanna Show Notes: The Tale of the Three Bricklayers Tighten Up Those Feedback Loops The Perils of Short-Term Thinking How to Signal Long-Term Intentions Reproducibility is King The Mighty Power of the Humble Hypothetical Concretizing the Abstract Goldilocks Solutions Extracting Tangible Benefits From Stratospheric Objectives Intuition & Luck in Long-Term Games Risk of Tactic vs Risk of Strategy; Flexible North Stars Build Your Own Long-Term Company Tesla’s Risky Success Luca as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Winning Long-Term Games: Reproducible Success Strategies to Achieve Your Life Goals ; by Luca Dellanna The WEIRDest People i
Thu, August 01, 2024
Ateet Ahluwalia — The Many Bosses of a Venture Capitalist (EP.227)
Let me introduce you to the four horsemen of the investment apocalypse: Fear. Greed. Hope. Ignorance. Notice anything? Three of four are emotions. I’ve long argued that effective investing is far more about emotional control than technical know-how (although the latter certainly helps!) By hook or by crook, the best investors can find a way to tame their pesky emotional impulses and overcome that primal urge to respond impulsively to panic, passion, or pride. My guest, the razor-sharp Ateet Ahluwalia, is a veteran trader and investor who has spent well over 15 years at the coalface, from trading at Goldman at the dawn of the financial crisis to his current role as founder and managing director of the venture capital firm Island Green Capital Management. As you’ll hear from our conversation, Ateet has built an insanely deep understanding of the emotional constitution required to succeed in finance and venture capital, which informs his approach to risk management, hiring, investing, due diligence, and everything in between. I hope you enjoy our wide-ranging conversation, whose implications extend well beyond investing. For episode takeaways, a full transcript, and various other goodies, check out our Substack . Important Links: The Thinker and The Prover ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Ateet’s LinkedIn Island Green Capital Management Show Notes: Why Venture Capitalists Should Shun the Glory “In a changing world, playing it safe is one of the riskiest things you can do." Risk: Why Size Matters The Emotional Constraints of Investing How to Find Out What Someone Really Wants The Purifying Power of Mistakes Pick up the Phone! Being Humbled by the Market Public vs Private Investing Why Hit Rates Matter Assessing the Macro Position Bullshitting, Question-Dodging, and Other Red Flags The Many Bosses of the Venture Capitalist Be a Painkiller Ateet as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist; by Brad Feld & Jason Mendelson Financial Intelligence: A Manager’s Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean; by Karen Berman, Joe Knight & John Case Adventures of a Bystander; by Peter F. Drucker
Thu, July 25, 2024
Audrey Wisch — How to Cultivate Curious Kids (EP.226)
I’ve always tried to encourage curiosity in my three children and now six (!) grandchildren. My kids often reminisce about my default response to their childhood questions: pointing to the bookshelf that flanked our sofa and saying, “ look it up in there! ” Luckily, natural curiosity was never lacking in our household. Over the years, however, I have become increasingly frustrated when I hear about the stultifying, rote, curiosity-killing nature of our education system. It was a pleasure, therefore, to speak to Audrey Wisch , an impressive young founder who, after witnessing first-hand how kids’ curiosity was being crushed, decided to do something about it. She left Stanford University to build Curious Cardinals , a personalized service that matches children with university mentors. What started as a pandemic project has grown into something much bigger - Audrey and her co-founder were named to the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in education, and Curious Cardinals has now delivered over 20,000 hours of mentorship to over 2,000 kids. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Audrey’s approach to education is a breath of fresh air, focusing on agency and empowerment, meeting kids where their interests lie, and harnessing the benefits of technology. I hope you enjoy our conversation! For the full transcript alongside bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go; “ Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our Substack . Important Links: Curious Cardinals LinkedIn Twitter Show Notes: The Classroom: Disengaging, Uninspiring and Regurgitating The Chicken Nugget Strategy: Learning Through Interests Are Attention Spans Shortening? Why Mentors Matter Rose, Bud, Thorn: How to Design an Effective Mentorship Session The Perks of Proximity The RBG Approach to Disruption Against a One-Size-Fits-All Approach Curiosity, Lifelong Learning & Openness to Change Shakespeare on Snapchat The Changing Role of Memory Prompting via Socratic Iteration; Tapping into the Why How Audrey Became Interested in AI Why the College System Restrains K-12 Progress Hiring for the Output vs Hiring for the Input Audrey as Empress of the World MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness; by Jonathan Haidt Paper Belt on Fi
Thu, July 18, 2024
Matthew Ball — Into The Metaverse (EP.225)
Matthew Ball is the CEO of Epyllion, which makes angel investments, provides advisory services, and produces television, films, and video games. He’s also a Venture Partner at Makers Fund, Senior Advisor to KKR, Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, and sits on the board of numerous start-ups. Matthew is one of the sharpest and most original thinkers on the future of media and the Internet (i.e. The Metaverse). The fully revised and updated edition of his bestselling book "The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet" releases next week. Important Links: Matthew’s website Matthew’s Twitter Show Notes: Into The Metaverse AI and The Metaverse ‘AI Can Bend the Laws of Physics’ Human Engineering and the Human Brain Screens and Education The Reflexivity of AI Doomerism The Salvation of the ‘TV Species’ From Passive Media to Active Media ‘What’s An Appropriate Simulation?’ ‘We Don’t Outlaw Fire, We Train Firemen’ Applying the Precautionary Principle Media and the Metaverse: Three Stages of Competition The Enduring Value of Taste Hardware and AI: The Vergence-Accommodation Conflict The Emperor of the Metaverse MORE! Books Mentioned: The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet ; by Matthew Ball The Streaming Book ; by Matthew Ball The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous ; by Joseph Henrich
Thu, July 11, 2024
Nat Eliason — Crazy, Crypto, Confidential (EP.224)
Nat Eliason is a writer with a keen interest in writing about challenging and revealing things. His debut book, Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance (out July 9th, 2024) , charts his personal odyssey into Crypto’s Get-Rich-Quick underbelly. Nat joins the show to discuss the highs and lows of the cryptocurrency market, the lessons learned from his financial adventures, the psychological effects of bubbles, crypto’s cutting-edge developments, and MUCH more! Important Links: Nat’s Website Nat’s Twitter Nat’s YouTube Show Notes: Making A Lot of Money, As Fast as Possible The Peer Pressure of Crypto Markets The Psychological Effects of Diamond Hands Signs of Peak Speculation How Bitcoin Has Carried the Crypto Story Ethereum’s Innovations The Emergence of Stablecoins What Makes USD A Reserve Currency? The Crazy Anonymity of Crypto Projects The Two Options of Getting Into Crypto Imagining the Money Pile What Nat Couldn’t Keep in the Book Nat’s Next Career as a Novelist Nat as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Influence; by Robert Cialdini
Thu, July 04, 2024
Noor Siddiqui — A Thiel Fellow’s Guide to Having Healthy Babies (EP.223)
Noor Siddiqui is currently building Orchid, a reproductive technology company that measures genetic predisposition to disease and provides embryo screening for couples going through IVF. Noor joins the show to discuss the ambitious culture of the West Coast, getting into the Thiel Fellowship, her personal reasons for starting Orchid, the sacred act of reproduction and why it must be made safe, her belief in children as the future, and MUCH more! Important Links: Noor’s Personal Website Noor’s Twitter Noor’s Linkedin Orchid’s Website Show Notes: The Ambitious Culture of San Francisco The East Coast Aversion to Risky Ambition The Intimate Origin Story of Orchid What Orchid Has Built The History and Controversy Around Reproductive Technology Surprising Aspects of Orchid’s Technology Benefits of Saliva Testing Making Our Own Genetic Luck Noor’s Predictions for the Field Advances in Embryonic Freezing Why Noor Values Clear Writing Noor as Empress of the World MORE! Books/Essays Mentioned: What You Can't Say ; by Paul Graham Secrets (from Zero To One) ; by Peter Thiel
Thu, June 27, 2024
The Fourth Way - Mastering The Self (EP.222)
The Fourth Way is a pseudonymously run Youtube channel and Twitter page dedicated to the path of psychological and spiritual growth and self-improvement. Built around the philosophy of two thinkers - George Gurdjieff and Peter Ouspensky - the ultimate aim of the Fourth Way is “to assist individuals in achieving a higher state of consciousness and self-awareness which can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.” Tune in to this week’s episode to learn about the four ways of being; how to befriend your centers; the keys to the universe; and MUCH more! Important Links: The Fourth Way Youtube channel The Fourth Way on Twitter Show Notes: Memetic Alchemy Introducing The Fourth Way The Best Time To Start Is Now The Four Ways of Being Waking Sleep Befriending Your Centers Keys To The Universe The Law of Octaves Indoctrination as Hypnosis The Fourth Way Curriculum The Search for Mystery Don’t Forget To Self-Remember Life Is Movement A Pitch for The Fourth Way Don’t Go With The Flow The Fourth…Emperor Of The World Books Mentioned: The Fourth Way ; by Peter Ouspensky In Search of the Miraculous ; by Peter Ouspensky Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson ; by ****George Gurdjieff <a href= "https://www.amazon.in/Search-Being-Fourth-Way-Consciousness/dp/161180082X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2MH7F2PH2QYMA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1vkGQd50C3YheuIYWS-zt3uHiCbltO-gfAr0kuSC9I58jxMMSrrve1FYLvLacUfc_ONO7pqo2pzuxRIjHCVZyMrzlNK3pjCU9Nn_3jePyXG8BEly6tksFJpSfuBPaRp9rKaWR4_PhvkU2xSuAQQhD8RAOD0NL2tdOgC8iQXB6A5qwzywPs5BpjzmDsLcsg6nr8GVZT5ZV7O6fZ9GjV50Ig
Thu, June 20, 2024
Mona Sobhani — A Neuroscientist’s Journey From Materialism to Beyond (EP.221)
Mona Sobhani, Ph.D. is a cognitive neuroscientist, researcher, and author. In 2022 she published her first book, Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist's Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe, which documents her “ transformation from diehard materialist to open-minded spiritual seeker.” Mona joins the show to discuss blowing open the box of materialism, why anecdotes are scientifically underrated, what she learned from studying decades of research into psi-phenomena, how quantum science is transforming the way we think about consciousness, and MUCH more! Important Links: Mona’s Twitter Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist's Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe ; by Mona Sobhani Cosmos, Coffee & Consciousness (Mona’s Substack) Life Will Be the Death of Me Podcast with Chelsea Handler (Ep. 19): People on the Other Side with Laura Lynne Jackson Infinite Potential: The Life & Ideas of David Bohm Prophetic AI Show Notes: Mona’s Journey Beyond Materialism Anecdotes are Scientifically Underrated; Research Into Psi Phenomena How Mona Deals With Her Colleagues’ Skepticism The Persuasiveness of Personal Experience Psychic Phenomena & the Scientific Method Blowing Open the Box of Materialism How Quantum Science is Transforming How We Think About Consciousness Transcendent Technology Psychedelics as a Bridge What’s Next for Mona Bringing Humanity Back Into Science Mona as Empress of the World MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist's Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe ; by Mona Sobhani The Radical Ideas of Psychedelic Research 2.0 ( Pt.1 ; Pt.2 ); by Mona Sobhani Many Lives, Many Masters: The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives; by Dr. Brian Weiss The New Inquisition: Irrational Ration
Thu, June 13, 2024
Ellen Fishbein — Make Art, Not Noise (EP. 220)
Described by David Perell as “ like Rick Rubin for writing, ” Ellen Fishbein is an author and writing coach and the founder of Altamira Studio, an independent publisher specializing in short-form books. She joins the show to discuss how traditional publishing disrespects intelligent readers, her advice for aspiring authors, what she’s learned from Shakespeare’s sonnets, and MUCH more! Important Links: Altamira Studio Writing.coach Muse By Mail Ellen’s Website Ellen’s Twitter Show Notes: The Caves of Altamira The New Book Deal Using Shakespeare’s Sonnets as a Writing Guide The Author’s Compass The Storytelling Magic of Herman Hesse Zero to One & Writing as Personal Communication How Traditional Publishing Disrespects Smart Readers How the Legacy Publishing System Results in Regression to the Mean AI in the Writing Process Cutting Out the Middle Man Muse By Mail Advice for Aspiring Authors Writing Coaching & Working with Big Publishers Ellen as Empress of the World MORE! Books, Articles & Films Mentioned: The New Book Deal ; by Ellen Fishbein Future of Publishing: 10 High-Conviction Views ; by Ellen Fishbein What makes Zero to One a masterpiece ; by Ellen Fishbein Have you found your “bible”? ; by Ellen Fishbein ASK ARISTOTLE ; by Vishal Sharma and William Jaworski MEMES MAKE MILLIONS ; by Jason Levin SPACEFARING : A contribution to Earth’s archives; by Ellen Fishbein The Glass Bead Game; by Hermann Hesse Hesse's Demian: The Story of a Boyhood; by Hermann Hesse Siddharta; by Hermann Hesse Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future; by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy How to Retire Rich: Time-Tested Strategies to Beat the Market and Retire in Style; by Jim O’Shaughness
Thu, June 06, 2024
John A. Paulos — Avoiding Innumeracy (EP. 219)
Professor, Mathematician and Writer John A. Paulos joins the show to discuss math education, the power of puzzles, cognitive biases, and MUCH more! Important Links: John’s Website John’s Twitter Show Notes: Why Do People Hate Math? The Power of Posing Problems with Counterintuitive or Shocking Results Using Everyday Examples to Understand Math Concepts Systems Designed to Take Advantage of Innumeracy People’s Ignorance of Randomness and Random Samples The Strange Power of Anchoring Bias Tradeoffs between Probability and Plausibility The Prisoner’s Dilemma & Math Anxiety Improving the Monty Hall Problem Designing an Ideal Intro Math Course The Big Brother Aspect of Nudging John as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Innumeracy - Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences; by J.A. Paulos A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market; by J.A. Paulos A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper; by J.A. Paulos Statistics; by D.A. Freedman, R. Pisani, and R.A. Purves Thinking Fast and Slow; by Daniel Kahneman
Thu, May 30, 2024
Chris Wilcha — Flipside (EP.218)
Chris Wilcha is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and commercial director. His latest film, Flipside, which is co-executive produced by Jim and presented in association with Infinite Films (among others), opens in select US theaters tomorrow (May 31st, 2024). An ode to creative failure, abandoned projects, and rekindled passion, Flipside premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews . Here’s the full description: “When filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked at as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. FLIPSIDE documents his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. In the process, Wilcha captures This American Life icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and uncovers the unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive—a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of trying to live a creative life.” Important Links: Flipside ; a film by Chris Wilcha 32 Sounds ; a film by Sam Green Show Notes: An Ode to Abandoned Projects How Flipside Got Made When Filmmaking Gets Personal Taking the Big Swings Bringing the Film to Life in the Editing Room "Life can only be understood backwards, but we must live it forwards” Meeting Uncle Floyd Working With Judd Apatow & the Coen Brothers; Balancing Art & Commerce Stylistic Choices & Following Your Obsession How Jim Got Into Music The Changing Landscape of Documentary Filmmaking How the Creative Industries Compare to Wall Street Chris’ Favourite Unmade Documentaries Chris as Emperor of the World MORE!
Thu, May 23, 2024
Bridget Phetasy — Comedy is Dead, Long Live Comedy (EP.217)
“PHETASY IS a movement disguised as a company. We just want to make you laugh while the world burns.” Bridget Phetasy is an entrepreneur, writer, podcast host, political commentator, burgeoning media mogul, and standup comedian. Over the past few years, her media company - Phetasy - has become an outlet for 100s of hours of social commentary filtered through her sharp and spiky worldview. She joins the show to discuss the comedic temperature in America today; the role of comedy in contemporary society; humour as a weapon; and MUCH more! Important Links: Bridget’s Twitter The ‘Beyond Parody with Bridget Phetasy’ newsletter Bridget’s Youtube channel Bridget’s website Show Notes: Comedy as Dissidence Post-Trump Comedy America’s Comedic Temperature A Tipping Point For Comedy Does The Rubber Band Snap Back? The Atomization of Culture The Coddling of the American Mind Fighting Political Peer Pressure The Anti-fragility of Normie-ville “Capitalism Always Wins” The Pendulum Swings The Cyclical Nature of Moral Panic Luxury Beliefs Humor as a Weapon The Societal Utility of Comedy MORE! Books Mentioned: Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art ; by Lewis Hyde Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It ; by Thomas de Zengotita Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community ; By Robert D. Putnam
Thu, May 16, 2024
Porter Braswell — Building the Future of Leadership (EP.216)
Porter Braswell is the Founder and CEO of 2045 Studio, an exclusive network for accomplished professionals of color. Porter is also the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the career advancement platform Jopwell, the host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Race at Work , and the author of two books, including 2019’s Let Them See You . Porter joins the show to discuss how 2045 Studio is harnessing community to empower professionals of color to succeed, how to establish trust within a community, what he learned from Magic Johnson’s mentorship, and MUCH more! Important Links: 2045 Studio Porter’s LinkedIn Porter’s Twitter Porter’s Instagram Race at Work podcast O'Shaughnessy Ventures Invests in 2045 Studio Show Notes: The Significance of 2045 Bridging the Inclusion Gap Networks, Community & the Clubhouse The Opportunity To Be in the Majority Building the Right Kind of Partnerships The Importance of Human Capital Socratic Problem-Solving How to Establish Trust Within a Community The 2045 Approach to Networking Councils & Relationship-Building Surprising Lessons From Foundership Leveraging the Community Magic Johnson’s Mentorship & the Advantages of the Athletic Mentality Why Porter Writes “Wouldn't it be so cool if I could always feel like I belong?” 2045’s Long-Term Vision Porter as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Let Them See You: The Guide for Leveraging Your Diversity at Work ; by Porter Braswell Yes, You Can: The Secrets Revealed for How to Get into and Succeed at America's Top Universities and Colleges ; by Porter Braswell The Intelligent Investor; by Benjamin Graham
Thu, May 09, 2024
Grant Mitchell — The Potential of AI Drug Repurposing
Grant Mitchell is a seasoned entrepreneur, operator, and investor in the areas of health, technology, and machine learning. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Every Cure, where he uses AI to research rare diseases and conduct drug repurposing. Grant joins the show to discuss the use of AI in rare drug research, the role of translational scientists, neglected knowledge, and MUCH MORE! Important Links: Every Cure Website Dr. Grant’s Twitter Dr. Grant’s LinkedIn Show Notes: The Organizational Problem in Pharma The Power of Biomedical Knowledge Graphs The Traditional Pharma Approach to Drug R&D Risks in the World of AI-driven Drug Discovery The Limits of AI for Medical Use Biology’s ‘Ignorome’ The Role of Translators Every Cure’s Typical Supporters Neglected Latent Knowledge Grant as Emperor of the World MORE! Books/Essays Mentioned: The AI Revolution ; by Tim Urban (Wait But Why) Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life; by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
Thu, May 02, 2024
Jimmy Soni — The Courage of Creative Risk (EP.214)
Author and friend-of-the-show Jimmy Soni returns to discuss the future of publishing, the changing world of book marketing, the courage of creative risk, and MUCH more! Important Links: Jimmy’s website Jimmy’s Twitter The Great Reshuffle Show Notes: Why Traditional Publishing is in Stasis A Case of Broken Incentives The Changing World of Book Marketing & the Case for Patience Talent Spotting & Creative Risk The Challenge of Self-Publishing Experiment, Experiment, Experiment Taylor Swift, Michael Jordan, and the Courage of Trying Something New Don’t Be Trapped by the Opinions of Others Jimmy as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Founders; by Jimmy Soni A Mind at Play; by Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Invest Like The Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy How To Retire Rich; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Atomic Habits; by James Clear Psychology of Money; by Morgan Housel The Obstacle is the Way; by Ryan Holiday Trust Me, I'm Lying; by Ryan Holiday The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; by Daniel James Brown You Are a Badass; by Jen Sincero 11/22/63; by Stephen King
Thu, April 25, 2024
Arjun Khemani — The Hunt for Better Problems (EP. 213)
Arjun Khemani is a 17-year-old writer and podcaster who dropped out of high school to help lead support at Airchat, the social network co-founded by Naval Ravikant. As the host of the Arjun Khemani podcast, Arjun has spoken to a wide range of guests including David Deutsch, David Perell and Naval Ravikant. His Substack, Progress Good, “ serves as a defense against the anti-Enlightenment tradition, exploring progress, rationality, and optimism. ” Arjun joins the show to discuss why education should be voluntary, the moral case for selfishness, the pessimism of ultimacy and MUCH more! Important Links: Arjun’s Twitter Progress Good (Arjun’s Substack) Show Notes: The Myth of the Good Old Days The Citadel of Science Generational Warfare Why Education Should Be Voluntary Misunderstanding Money Escaping the Altruism Trap: the Case for Selfishness Coercion & Moral Righteousness The Pessimism of Ultimacy The Hunt for Better Problems Arjun’s Leap Into the Unknown Reimagining Education What’s Next? Arjun as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson The Road to Serfdom; by Friedrich Hayek The Lessons of History; by Will & Ariel Durant Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour; by David R. Hawkins Deschooling Society; by Ivan Illich
Thu, April 18, 2024
Eddy Elfenbein — On Crossing Wall Street (EP. 212)
Eddy Elfenbein is an OG finance blogger, ETF manager, and FinTwit legend, with over 25 years of experience working in and around Wall Street. Eddy joins the show to discuss the story behind his longtime blog - Crossing Wall Street (CWS), the origins of his famous Buy List, his ETF journey, his philosophy as an investor, and much more! Important Links: Eddy’s Twitter Eddy’s Blog (Crossing Wall Street) Eddy’s Substack The Myth of 1926 Show Notes: Origins of a Wall Street Blogger Bypassing the Gatekeepers Eddy’s Buy List Many Paths to Stock Market Success The Last Sustainable Edge in Public Markets The Great Truths of Investing Stocks Don’t Know You Own Them The Market and the Casino Debating Academic Finance Major League Buy List Down with Perma-Bears Unpacking ETFs The Next Avatar of Market Intelligence The Moat of the Stock Picker MORE! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O’Shaughnessy THE MISBEHAVIOR OF MARKETS: A Fractal View of Financial Turbulence; by Benoit Mandelbrot and Richard L Hudson Stocks for the Long Run; by Jeremy Siegel The Myth of 1926: How Much Do We Know About Long-Term Returns on U.S. Stocks?; by Edward F. McQuarrie Fama and French Three Factor Model Definition: Formula and Interpretation ( Investopedia )
Wed, April 10, 2024
Anna Gát — We Digress (EP. 211)
Friend-of-the-show Anna Gát returns to discuss… well… pretty much everything! On April 13th, O’Shaughnessy Ventures and Interintellect are co-hosting a Future of Publishing event at the beautiful Pratt Mansion in NYC. We’re bringing together established publishers, online writers, new publishing houses, journalists, technologists, authors and more to rethink and reimagine how ideas are spread in our changing world. Confirmed speakers include Coleman Hughes , Tara Isabella Burton , Tamara Winter , Sahil Lavingia and many more! Here’s the best part - we want YOU to be there! To buy in-person tickets and for more information on live-streaming, scheduling, speakers, and more, just follow this link . We hope to see you there! Important Links: Interintellect Anna’s Twitter Anna’s Website Interintellect Substack Show Notes: The Shock of Losing a Parent Interintellect & the Post-Tribe Internet How to Facilitate Better Conversations Surprising Salons Faker Spotting & the Temptations of Power Avoiding Audience Capture The Humanness of Casablanca Greatness, Co-Creation & Doing the Work Misconceptions About Leadership The Personality of Language What’s Next for Anna Cities as Ideas Anna as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity; by David Graeber and Wengrow Adventures of a Bystander; by Peter Drucker Mating; by Norman Rush The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York; by Robert A. Caro Power vs. Force; by David R. Hawkins Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Number Sense: How the Mind Creates Mathematics; by Stanislas Dehaene Embers; by Sándor Márai The Hunger Games; by Suzanne Collins
Thu, April 04, 2024
Visakan Veerasamy — Expanding Our Possibility-Space (EP. 210)
The inimitable Visakan Veerasamy returns for a characteristically wide-ranging discussion… Important Links: Visa's Website Visa's Twitter Visa's Youtube Visa’s Previous Episode Visa’s Post-Episode Thread Show Notes: Life as a Dad A Conversation With David Deutsch Change, Courage, Curiosity & Creativity Possibility Space & the Problem of Wretchedness A Good Blog Post Can Change the World The Outdated Language of Counterculture Colliding Our Reality Tunnels Imperfection Breeds Creativity We Are Co-Creators Status Quo Soldiers The Power of Noticing Visa as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books & Articles Mentioned: Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy status quo soldiers lose in the long run ; by Visakan Veerasamy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Thinker and The Prover ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Leonardo Da Vinci; by Walter Isaacson Ninety-five Theses; by Martin Luther Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; by Lewis Carroll The News: A User’s Manual; by Alain de Botton Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man; by Marshall McLuhan Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour; by David R. Hawkins How I Accidentally Started The Sixties; by Howard Bloom One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson
Thu, March 28, 2024
Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology
Brendan McCord is the founder of Cosmos Institute — a non-profit dedicated to exploring the intersection of AI and philosophy. Brendan joins the show to discuss Cosmos’ origins, the pursuit of philosophy as a technologist, the different schools of thought in AI, complex adaptive systems and MUCH more! Important Links: Brendan McCord’s Reading List Cosmos Institute Substack Brendan’s Twitter Show Notes: The Genesis of the Cosmos Institute Philosophy as a Quixotic Pursuit The Man of the System Dilemma Existential Risk & Scenario Agnosticism The AI Schools of Thought The Religious Nature of the E/Acc Movement What Tocqueville Can Teach Us About AI The Philosophy-to-Code Pipeline “Cars ignited the Sexual Revolution” and Other Unexpected Occurrences The Best Systems are Adaptive Heterogeneity & Resilient Systems Open Source and the US-China Situation Automation, Augmentation & Open-Ended Generation The Underrated Nuance of Russian Realism Cinematic Visions of the Future Great Talent & the Risk of the Tasmanian Devil Brendan as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Murray Rothbard, “For A New Liberty” David R. Hawkins, “Power vs. Force” Jung Chang, “Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China” Jung Chang, “Mao: The Unknown Story” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “The Gulag Archipelago” Arthur Koestler, “Darkness At Noon” Adam Smith, “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Lewis Carroll, “What the Tortoise Said To Achilles” Eliezer Yudkowsky, “Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality” Marc Andreessen, “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto” Alexis De Tocqueville, “Democracy in America” ' Pericles's Funeral Oration' quoted in Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War”. Plato, “Theaetetus” Plato, “The Republic” Nietzsche, “The Gay Science” C.P Snow, “The Two Cultures” Elinor Ostrom, “Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action” James M. Buchanan, "Freedom in Constitutional Contract: Perspectives of a Political Economist” Iain M. Banks, “Consider Phlebas” (Culture Series #1) Chen Qiufan and Kai-Fu Lee, “AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future” Christopher Buckley, “Thank You for Smoking” John Stuart Mill, “On Liberty” <!-- notionvc: a17d125c-48ff-4a32-8de0-911f747b
Thu, March 21, 2024
Alex Komoroske — Complex Adaptivity All The Way Down (EP. 208)
Alex Komoroske has spent his career studying, writing about, and working in complex adaptive systems. He has published multiple essays on topics like Schelling points in organizations, why debate should be collaborative, and how to ensure resilient growth in harsh environments. Alex has also worked as a product manager and in corporate strategy at Google and Stripe. Alex joins the show to discuss how to escape busyness, why heroism is overrated, the different types of magic, and MUCH more! Important Links: Alex’s Website Alex’s Twitter Alex’s LinkedIn Show Notes: The Parable of the Builder & the Gardener Against Heroism Noise is Good Complex Adaptivity All the Way Down Information Flow, Context Switching and Luck Surface-Area Escaping Busyness Paradigm Shifts & the Importance of Uncertainty The Self-Transcending Mindset The Power of Compression & The Virility of Memes Order From Chaos The Iterative Adjacent Possible Saruman & Radagast Magic The Illusion of Certainty Alex as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: The Magic of Acorns ; by Alex Komoroske The Sarumans and The Radagasts ; by Alex Komoroske The Iterative Adjacent Possible ; by Alex Komoroske Crossing the Bridge of Nihilism ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Adult Development Primer ; by Dimitri Glazkov The Mower against Gardens; by Andrew Marvell Being There; by Jerzy Kosinski Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment; by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony & Cass R. Sunstein Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century; by Howard Bloom Zorba the Greek; by Nikos Kazantzakis Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny; by Robert Wright The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction; by Christopher Alexander
Thu, March 14, 2024
Cedric Chin — Accelerating Business Expertise (EP. 207)
Cedric Chin is a writer, researcher and operator whose Commoncog newsletter is dedicated to finding useful, practical ways to accelerate business expertise. He joins us to discuss some of the most potentially transformative concepts he’s uncovered, from the business expertise triad to naturalistic decision making. Important Links: Cedric’s Website (Commoncog) Are You Ready for the Great Reshuffle? The Naturalistic Decision Making Podcast Wisdom Unleashed Show Notes: Commoncog’s Rabbit-Holing Origins The Business Expertise Triad Quality Engineering & Process Control The Effectiveness of Naturalistic Decision Making Expectancy, Intuition & Investing How to Stay Open-Minded Trial & Error, Knowledge Shields & the Power of Reading Protocols & Pattern-Matching Cedric as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books and Articles Mentioned: The Tricky Thing About Creating Training Programs ; by Cedric Chin The Business Expertise Series ; by Cedric Chin The Oxford Handbook of Expertise; edited by Paul Ward, Jaan Maarten Schraagen, Julie Gore and Emile Roth Accelerated Expertise; by Robert R. Hoffman, Paul Ward, Paul J. Feltovich, Lia DiBello, Stephen M. Fiore and Dee H. Andrews The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success; by Will Thorndike Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon; by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr Understanding Variation: The Key to Managing Chaos; by Donald Wheeler The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Hound of the Baskervilles; by Arthur Conan Doyle What Works on Wall Street: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
Thu, March 07, 2024
Devon Eriksen — Theft of Fire (EP. 206)
Devon Eriksen always wanted to be a writer. As a child, he was persuaded to abandon his aspirations in favor of a career in software engineering. Two decades later, he retired to finally fulfil his ambition to write imaginative hard-science fiction in the vein of authors like Asimov, Heinlein and Niven. He self-published his first novel, Theft of Fire , last year to an excellent reception. Devon joins the show to discuss why his book incorporates alien technology, the role of patronage in the digital era, his unusual approach to obtaining feedback, and MUCH more! Important Links: Theft of Fire ; by Devon Eriksen Devon’s Website Devon’s Twitter Introducing: The Life of David Rhoiney Show Notes: Centralization & Institutional Corruption The Evolving Nature of Resource Constraints Why Theft of Fire Features Alien Technology The Musk Dynasty Architects vs Gardeners Editing, Feedback & Beta-Readers Audience Capture & Disagreeableness “Money is a measure of fu*ks given” Patronage & Intellectual Property in the Digital Era Permissionless Writing How to Become a High-Agency Character Devon as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: Theft of Fire; by Devon Eriksen The Ultimate Resource; by Julian Simon The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress; by Robert A. Heinlein The Population Bomb; by Paul R. Ehrlich Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr
Thu, February 29, 2024
Jacqueline Novogratz - Manifesto for a Moral Revolution
Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder of Acumen, a nonprofit impact investment fund “changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas.” As well as founding Acumen in 2001, Jacqueline is a public speaker and best-selling author. She also sits on multiple philanthropic boards. Her latest book Manifesto for a Moral Revolution , “ reveals 12 leadership practices for anyone eager to build a better world.” Jacqueline joins us to discuss how to create a high-trust society, the difference between moral righteousness and moral leadership, why the opposite of poverty is dignity, and MUCH more. Important Links: Acumen’s Website Acumen Academy Jacqueline’s Twitter Show Notes: Acumen’s Origins A People-First Theory of Change Emerging Entrepreneurship in Africa Social Return on Investment and the Rise of Microfinance How to Create a High Trust Society The Blue Sweater The Path to Moral Leadership Defining Win-Win Solar Lights, the Adjacent Possible and the Rejection of Cynicism What Jacqueline is Most Excited For Jacqueline as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World; by Jacqueline Novogratz Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World; by Jacqueline Novogratz
Thu, February 22, 2024
Rupert Sheldrake — On Scientism, Morphic Resonance and the Extended Mind (EP. 204)
Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of 9 books and over 100 scientific papers. A critic of what he sees as the scientific establishment’s dogmatic dedication to materialism, he is perhaps best known for his theory of “morphic resonance,” via which information and activity can be transferred across space and time. Rupert joins the show to discuss being branded a heretic, how to test for telepathy, his advice for young scientists, and MUCH more! Important Links: Rupert’s Website Rupert’s Banned TED Talk The Science Delusion ; by Rupert Sheldrake A New Science of Life ; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals ; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious? ; by Rupert Sheldrake (Journal of Consciousness Studies) Show Notes: The Apostate of Scientism The Origins of Scientism How to Achieve a Phase Change in the Sciences Testing for Telepathy & Incentivizing Intuition Structural Resistance to Panpsychism When Science Gets Personal Loosening the Grip of Determinism Advice for Young Scientists Rupert as Emperor of the World MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The Science Delusion; by Rupert Sheldrake New Science of Life; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious?; by Rupert Sheldrake The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters; by Steven Pinker The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature; by Steven Pinker Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures; by Merlin Sheldrake The End of Faith; by Sam Harris The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a What the Tortoise Said to Achilles; by Lewis Carroll Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The (Mis)Behaviour of Markets: A Fractal View of Risk, Ruin and Reward; by Benoit B. Mandelbrot & Richard L. Hudson The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; by Thomas Kuhn
Tue, February 20, 2024
Rob Henderson — Troubled (EP. 203)
Friend-of-the-show Rob Henderson returns to discuss his powerful, moving and important debut book, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class (published TODAY). We discuss Rob’s experience of the American foster care and adoption system, the life-changing impact of the military, the rise of Luxury Beliefs, the benefits of standardized testing, and MUCH more. Important Links: Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class (Amazon) The SAT is a pathway to more college diversity, not less ; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) Rob Henderson: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way ; by Rob Henderson (The Free Press) Rob’s Substack Rob’s Twitter Show Notes: Foster Care, Adoption & Social Mobility Structural Origins of the Foster System Why Early-Life Stability is Underrated How Ideas Can Change Outcomes The Life-Changing Impact of the Military Young Male Syndrome The Role of Intelligence in Governing Outcomes The Benefits of Standardized Testing Yale, Luxury Beliefs & the Rise of Identity Politics Are Luxury Beliefs a Political or Class Phenomenon? Trickle-Down Meritocracy Technology, Assortive Mating & Social Mobility Is the Overton Window Shifting on Campus? Rob as Emperor of the World Books and Articles Mentioned: Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class ; by Rob Henderson The SAT is a pathway to more college diversity, not less ; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) Rob Henderson: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way ; by Rob Henderson (The Free Press) Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society; by Nicholas A. Christakis Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010; by Charles Murray Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World, by Tyler Cowen and Daniel Gross A Suitable Boy; by Vikram Seth The Son Also Rises; by Gregory Clark
Thu, February 15, 2024
Alec Stapp — Progress is a Policy Choice (EP. 202)
Alec Stapp is the co-founder of the Institute for Progress, a non-partisan innovation policy think tank aiming to “accelerate scientific, technological and industrial progress while safeguarding humanity’s future.” He joins the show to discuss how to achieve change in the age of lobbying, why bipartisanship is underrated, why US immigration policy is so slow-moving and MUCH more! Important Links: IFP’s Website Alec’s Twitter IFP’s Twitter Show Notes: Reimagining the Think Tank Progress is a Policy Choice Bipartisanship is Underrated Achieving Progress via Reframing Achieving Change in the Age of Lobbying Moonshot Projects and Incremental Change Ways to Enact Change Within Existing Institutions Governmental Embrace of Technology Reducing NIMBYism The Barbell Approach to Policy The Washington Mindset Reasons to be Optimistic Lessons From Other Countries Why Hasn’t Immigration Policy Changed? Alec as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better; by Jen Pahlka The Proceduralist Fetish ; by Nicholas Bagley The housing theory of everything ; by Sam Bowman, John Myers & Ben Southwood
Thu, February 08, 2024
Rohit Krishnan — Demystifying AI
Essayist, tinkerer, and author Rohit Krishnan returns to discuss his book, Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers. Important Links: Strange Loop Canon ( Rohit ’s Substack) Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers Rohit ’s Twitter Show Notes: Demystifying AI AI as a Fuzzy Processor Complexity & Determinism The Flash Crash Scenario Regulating AI Open Source, Closed Source & Big Brother Carving Through Bureaucracy Socially Adapting to AI Disruption The Centaur Model Integrated Information Theory & Consciousness Big Tech in the AI Era Are We Running Out of Data? Rohit as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers; by Rohit Krishnan
Thu, February 01, 2024
Jim O’Shaughnessy — Turning the Tables
For this milestone 200th (yes, TWO HUNDREDTH) episode of Infinite Loops, regular guest and Infinite Media head Liberty RPF joins writer & researcher Ed William to turn the tables on Jim O’Shaughnessy. Stay tuned for Jim’s dream podcast guests, his advice to parents, a diabolical spin on his trademark closing question, and MUCH more! Important Links: Infinite Loops Substack Show Notes: Episode One: Tequila With Ramp Capital Taking Inspiration From My Dinner With Andre Would the Show Be Different if Monetized? “I would be doing this if I wasn’t pressing publish” Jim’s Definition of a Successful Episode Nerves & Jim’s Appearance on Oprah Infinite Loops as a Serendipity Engine The Infinite Loops Team Jim’s Dream Guests Controversiality & Being Distinctive Jim’s Relationship With His Grandchildren We Are Winners of the Cosmic Lottery Why Aren’t There More History-Focused Episodes? The Jim O’Shaughnessy Guide to Productivity: Silence, Journalling & Keeping Things Simple Advice to Parents What Has Jim Changed His Mind On in the Last 12 to 24 Months? Advice to Young People Who Doubt the American Dream When Will We See An Updated What Works on Wall Street? What Would a World of Abundance Look Like? Jim’s Favorite Poem Jim as EVIL Emperor of the World MORE! Episodes Mentioned: Ramp Capital and Super Mugatu (Ep.01) Brian Muraresku (Ep. 57) David Rhoiney (Ep. 99) Will Storr</a
Thu, January 25, 2024
Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business (EP.199)
Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim are the founders of Plymouth Street, which guides talented individuals through the US immigration process. Its aim is to accelerate innovation through faster and more transparent immigration services. Lisa & Minn join the show to discuss the pitfalls of the current system, how Plymouth Street is injecting agency into the immigration process, the importance of storytelling, and MUCH more! Important Links: Plymouth Street Lisa ’s LinkedIn Lisa ’s Twitter Minn ’s LinkedIn Minn ’s Twitter Show Notes: The Origins of Plymouth Street Problems With the Current US Immigration System Expanding Access to the O-1 Visa High-Skilled Immigration as a Bipartisan Issue The Importance of Storytelling From Anecdotal to Empirical; Coalition Building Injecting Agency Into the Immigration Process Scaling with Technology The Emotional Toll of the Immigration System Building the Right Team & Breaking Bad News Dealing With Negative Externalities Is America Open for Business? Augmenting Plymouth’s Offering Remote Work vs In-Person What’s Next? Lisa & Minn as Emperors of the World Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge:
Thu, January 18, 2024
Alice Albrecht — On Creativity, Connection & Convergence
Alice Albrecht is the founder and CEO of re:collect, a company dedicated to “ enhancing human intelligence by augmenting memory, perception, and synthesis utilizing AI. ” Alice started her career in psychology and academia, obtaining a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Yale University. She joins the show to discuss how to become more creative, why she believes that nothing is true, how to boost evolution and MUCH more! Important Links: re:collect’s Website Alice ’s Twitter Alice ’s LinkedIn How to Improve Your Creative Thinking Show Notes: Augmenting Human Creativity Collection Does Not Always Lead to Recollection Using re:collect to Connect Information How to Increase Your Creativity Different Phases of Creativity How AI Fits Into the Picture Harnessing Our Attention AGI & ASI Boosting Evolution re:collect’s First Order Effects Nothing is True Convergence, Divergence & Collective Intelligence re:collect in Seven Years’ Time From Academia to Entrepreneurship Alice as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Fabric of Reality: Towards a Theory of Everything; by David Deutsch The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich
Thu, January 11, 2024
Guy Spier — Wealth, Wisdom & Enlightenment
Guy Spier runs the Aquamarine Fund, an “investment partnership closely modeled on the original Buffet Partnerships.” He is also a podcast host, YouTube creator, author of T he Education of a Value Investor and the host of the annual investment gathering VALUEx. He describes his life’s project as “ a quest for wealth, wisdom and enlightenment .” Guy joins the show to discuss the differences between Switzerland and the US, how to unlock the British class system, what he learned from Warren Buffett, and MUCH more! Important Links: Guy’s Website Guy’s Twitter Guy’s YouTube Channel 3Blue1Brown (YouTube Channel) Numberphile (YouTube Channel) Show Notes: The Differences Between New York, Switzerland & Paris Exploring the Dark Underbelly of New York Nightlife Psychedelics, Guns & Regulation The Advantages of Swiss Democracy Don’t Short the United States The Branding Skill of the Royal Family Unlocking the Rules of the Class System Life Paths & Premeditation Luck, Opportunity & Non-Canonical Science Jim’s Music Taste Mathematical Shenanigans Guy as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner Write It Down, Make It Happen
Thu, January 04, 2024
Jared Dillian — How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life
Jared Dillian is a writer, strategist, financial expert, public speaker, and author of four books, including No Worries: How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life (out this month!). He joins us to discuss why you should never loan money to your friends or family, why the FIRE movement is a fast track to a miserable life, the hidden costs of being cheap, and MUCH more! Important Links: No Worries: How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life Jared’s Website Jared’s Twitter Daily Dirtnap We’re Gonna Get Those Bastards Jared Dillian Money Show Notes: From Coast Guard, to Wall Street, to Writer “I am not in the money business—I am in the happy business” The Awesome Portfolio Stop Worrying About Small Financial Decisions The Biggest Financial Decisions You Will Ever Make Keep Your Finances Separate From Your Partner; Never Loan Friends or Family Money To Make Money, You Have to Want Money Generational Attitudes to Money Being Wealthy vs Being Rich Blowing Up Your Identity Improving Financial Education Why Investing Should Be Hard The Hidden Costs of Being Cheap Why People Are Scared of Entrepreneurship The Worst Financial Decision Jared Has Ever Made Jared as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: No Worries: How To Live a Stress-free Financi
Thu, December 28, 2023
George Mack — The Game of Life (EP.195)
Writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and master of mental models, George Mack, returns to discuss the top 0.1% of ideas he’s ever come across, from treating life as a video game to spotting high-agency individuals. Important Links: George’s Twitter The Lindy Library Roy: A Life Well Lived (Rick and Morty) How to Spot High Agency People The Mack Meditation What is ignored by the media — but will be studied by historians? The Early-Late Razor Show Notes: Treating Life as a Video Game Finding the Important Metrics Embrace Momentum; Embrace Constraints How to Spot High Agency People How to Increase Your Agency The Mack Meditation & Silence as Alpha Why Pessimism vs Optimism is the Wrong Debate The Future of Media What is Ignored by the Media but will be Studied by Historians? The Reddit to Facebook Continuum George’s Most Midwit Opinion Randomness & Feeding the Algorithm How to Retain Curiosity George as Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine; by Derren Brown What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Secret; by Rhonda Byrne Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by David Deutsch
Thu, December 21, 2023
Eric Jorgenson — on Publishing, Progress & Reinventing the Playbook
Eric Jorgenson is ( deep breath) an author, investor, writer, podcast host, online course creator, and the CEO of Scribe Media ( breathe out ). He joins the show to discuss the death of the marketing department, the changing nature of business-to-creator economics, the most impactful thing he learned from Balaji, the future of the publishing industry, and MUCH more! Important Links: Website Twitter Fund Scribe Media Money 20/20 Talk The Thinker and The Prover Jimmy Soni & Liberty RPF — Unleashing the Future of Publishing Show Notes: A Guide to Creator Economics The Death of the Marketing Department Creator x Business Partnerships Why Some People Are So Reluctant to Embrace the New Playbook How to Become More Open-Minded The Anthology of Balaji & the Curation-Author Effect How to Cultivate Good Taste & the Rise of Curation What Balaji Taught Eric About Technology How Eric Became CEO of Scribe Why Does Big Publishing Continue to Hold
Thu, December 14, 2023
Arkady Kulik — Bridging Science & Entrepreneurship
Arkady Kulik is a founding partner of rpv, a deep tech venture fund that aims to “ drive tangible advancements in the well-being of humankind ” by focusing on early, scientifically intensive ventures. He has over 15 years of experience in the IT sector as a C-level executive, a master’s degree in physics, and an MBA from INSEAD. Arkady joins the show to discuss how to evaluate a deep tech deal, why more scientists don’t become entrepreneurs, the ultimate goal of science, the two types of human motivation, and MUCH more! Important Links: rpv’s Website rpv’s Substack Arkady ’s LinkedIn Arkady ’s Twitter Show Notes: Judging Investments by Their Technology Readiness Level Bringing Scientific Expertise Into Venture Capital Scorecards & Dealbreakers: How rpv Analyzes a Deep Tech Opportunity Spotting the Early Red Flags How rpv Deploys Scientific Due Diligence Providing Feedback & Educating the Industry Self-Censorship, Ideology & the Scientific Method Why Don’t More Scientists Become Entrepreneurs? The Ideal Composition of a Deep Tech Founding Team Science’s Ultimate Goal Taking Progress for Granted The Two Types of Human Motivation How Neurotech Can Benefit Humanity Why Arkady is Less Bullish on Quantum Computing Incoming Deep Tech Developments MORE! Books Mentioned: Survive & Thrive: Entrepreneurship Frameworks That Work; by Paul Kewene-Hite The Nature of Technol
Thu, December 07, 2023
Alex Lieberman — On Voice, Unicorns & Intrinsic Motivation
Alex Lieberman is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, the cofounder of Storyarb and the host of 60 Second Startup & Founder’s Journal. Alex joins the show to discuss why hiring a Voice Editor contributed to Morning Brew’s success, how to spot a writing unicorn, how he learned to follow his intrinsic motivation and MUCH more! Important Links: Alex ’s Twitter Founder’s Journal Morning Brew The Great Reshuffle Will Storr on Infinite Loops The Best Stuff | Conscious Leadership Group Show Notes: The Rise of Morning Brew Finding Morning Brew’s Voice Finding the Writing Unicorn Writing Nature vs. Writing Nurture Corporate Speak vs. Online Speak The Power of Self-Awareness Interviews & Talent Spotting Ideating, Doing & Premeditating Following the Intrinsics Finding Your Zone of Genius Building Storyarb Alex as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street, Fourth Edition: T
Thu, November 30, 2023
Venkatesh Rao & Tim Beiko — The Summer of Protocols
Tim Beiko, who runs the core protocol meetings for Ethereum, teams up with writer and consultant Venkatesh Rao to discuss their “Summer of Protocols” research program. This initiative brought together 33 researchers with a wide range of expertise to investigate protocols across several domains. Join us for an in-depth exploration of protocols: understanding what they are, their importance, why they can go wrong, and much more! Important Links: Summer of Protocols Protocolized Newsletter Venkatesh’s previous episode Venkatesh's Website Ribbonfarm Venkatesh's Substack Venkatesh's Twitter Tim’s Twitter Show Notes: Why We Should Care About Protocols Protocols, Narratives & World-Building The Three Preconditions of a Protocol "Civilization progresses by increasing the number of actions we can do without thinking about them.” When Protocols Go Wrong More Protocols = Less Agency? Workplace Safety & Protocol Complexity How to Build Good Protocols; Building Protocol Literacy Why Aren’t More People Talking About Protocols? How to Encourage Protocols-First Thinking Protocols Have Long Timelines Protocols in Fiction Protocol Hunting In Silico Determinism, Open Environments & Evolution How to Hack Protocols Agility Isn’t Always the Answer Memory: The Most Valuable Asset in a Civilization Next Steps & How to Learn More MORE! Books & Essays Mentioned: The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom Hope Runners of Gridlock; by Simon de la Rouviere High Rise; by J.G Ballard The Drowned World; by J.G Ballard The Drought; by J.G Ballard A Burglar's Guide to the City; by Geoff Manaugh The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering; by Frederick Brooks In the Beginning Was the Command Line; by Neal Stephenson Slow Ideas ; by Atul Gawande Nakatomi Space ; by Geoff Manaugh Base Layers And Functional Escape Velocity ; by Vitalik Buterin
Thu, November 23, 2023
Will Schoder — On Curation, Consumption & Compression
Will Schoder is a video essayist who explores a diverse range of topics including psychology, meaning, re-enchantment, metamodernism, mortality, and satire. Initially known for his short-form videos, his latest series is a trilogy of fascinating long-form deep dives into the nature, foundations, and secrets of happiness. Will joins the show to share his insights on the evolving significance of curation, the future of the creator economy, how to obtain deep happiness and MUCH more. Important Links: Will’s YouTube Channel Will’s Twitter Eight Books That Changed My Life Rick and Morty – Finding Meaning in Life David Foster Wallace – The Problem With Irony The Attention Economy – How They Addict Us Every Story Is The Same The Happiness Trilogy: <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f0ilA4tjJ0&list=PLqWJ5SmDyFKWsQiZZd49g21QnEWdP9BNw&index=1&pp=iAQB" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D5f0ilA4tjJ0%26list%3DPLqWJ5SmDyFKWsQiZZd49g21QnEWdP9BNw%
Thu, November 16, 2023
Ben Westhoff — Fentanyl, Inc.
Ben Westhoff is a best-selling investigative journalist focusing on culture, drugs, and poverty. Ben’s book Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic was the culmination of a four-year investigation into the worst drug crisis in American history, an investigation that included Ben making an undercover visit to Chinese drug factories. His latest book, Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth tells the story of Ben’s search for his little brother’s killer. Ben is currently working on a documentary, Antagonist, about naltrexone, an opioid treatment medicine that some have called a “wonder drug.” Ben joins the show to discuss the failure of the War on Drugs, the role played by Big Pharma, how he speaks to his children about drugs, what most Americans misunderstand about poverty, and MUCH more. Important Links: Ben’s Website Drugs + Hip-Hop Newsletter Antagonist Documentary Teaser Show Notes: The Worst Drug Crisis in World History How China and Fentanyl Are Connected Why Can’t the USA Stop This? The Failure of the War on Drugs; Better Solutions Vivitrol: a Wonder Drug? Finding Better Ways to Care For the Vulnerable Free Markets & Big Pharma How Ben Speaks to His Children About Drugs Innovation & Stigmatization How Harm Reduction Can Help What Has Happened to San Francisco? Could Decriminalization Work? Ben’s Hunt For His Little Brother’s Killer What Most Americans Misunderstand About Poverty; How Listeners Can Help How Ben’s Documentary Can Help Ben as Emperor Of The World MORE! Books Mentioned: Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic; by Ben Westhoff Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth; by Ben Westhoff Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap; by Ben Westhoff Thank You For Smoking; by Christopher Buckley
Thu, November 09, 2023
Roon — On Shape Rotators, AGI & Tenet
AI researcher, memelord extraordinaire, and techno-optimist Roon joins the show to discuss coming up with the shape rotator vs. wordcel meme, what an AGI world could become, and why Tenet is Christopher Nolan’s best movie. Important Links: Roon’s Twitter Roon’s Substack AGI Futures Show Notes: Shape Rotators Vs. Wordcels Why AGI is Possible AI in Science Fiction AGI Future #1: Neuralink Third Impact AGI Future #2: Simulation Theory AGI Future #3: Dumb Matter AGI Future #4: Balrog Awakened AGI Future #5: Ultra Kessler Syndrome AGI Future #6: The Tragedy of Taiwan AGI Future #7: For Dust Thou Art AGI Future #8: CEV Super Intelligence Why Tenet is Christopher Nolan’s Best Movie Roon as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard Bloom The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams
Thu, November 02, 2023
Katherine Dee — On Attention, Astroturfing and the Nostalgia Trap
Katherine Dee is a writer, journalist, and internet culture reporter. A contributor to publications such as UnHerd, Tablet, and Blaze Media, she is also the proprietor of the Default Wisdom Substack, where she writes about a wide range of topics, including internet history and culture, digital communities, millennial nostalgia, and online fandom. Katherine joins the show to discuss why you’re never leaving Twitter, how to escape the nostalgia trap, whether it’s possible to heal our attention spans, and MUCH more! Important Links: Default Wisdom Why You’re Never Leaving Twitter ; by Katherine Dee Everything I Know About Elite America I Learned From ‘Fresh Prince’ and ‘West Wing’ ; by Rob Henderson Show Notes: Origin Story Why You’re Never Leaving Twitter Art & Journalism in the Attention Economy Class, Wealth & Status How to Heal Our Attention Span Escaping the Nostalgia Trap Technology, Cultural Lag & Barriers to Entry Astroturfing vs. Organic Momentum Katherine as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr Class: A Guide Through the American Status System; by Paul Fussell The novels of Donna Tartt The novels of Easton Ellis
Thu, October 26, 2023
Derek Sivers (Part Two) — Just Do The Thing
The inimitable Derek Sivers returns for Part Two of our conversation. Important Links: Part One Website Twitter Still Too Soon to Tell & Other Songs Tech Independence Show Notes: Curiosity Starts With Dissatisfaction Defining Things By Their Opposites Counterbalancing Our Biases How To Reframe Your Problems Still Too Soon To Tell Alternate Pasts & Alternate Futures The Choice You Commit To Is The Best Choice Just Do The Thing What Next? Derek As Emperor Of The World MORE! Books Mentioned: Anything You Want; by Derek Sivers Hell Yeah Or No; by Derek Sivers How To Live; by Derek Sivers Your Music And People; by Derek Sivers William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom The Selfish Gene; by Richard Dawkins Awaken The Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Life; by Tony Robbins The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies; by Tim Urban
Tue, October 24, 2023
Derek Sivers (Part One) — How to Become a Picasso [BONUS EPISODE]
Over the years, Derek Sivers has been a musician, circus performer, computer programmer, author, public speaker, and entrepreneur. In the 2000s, he sold his business, CD Baby, for $22 million and gave the proceeds to charity. Derek has optimized his life “for creating and learning” and spends as much of his time as he can (often 12 hours a day, 6 days a week) passionately pursuing his interests. Known for his ability to compress complex ideas into succinct insights, he has written four books and is currently working on his fifth. This conversation was so much fun that Derek immediately asked to return for a sequel, which we will be releasing this Thursday (26 October). Stay tuned! Important Links: Website Twitter There’s No Speed Limit Ideas Are Just A Multiplier Of Execution The Thinker and The Prover Keep It Simple, Stupid (Infinite Loops Substack) Show Notes: Don’t Be AC/DC. Be Miles Davis. Does It Have To Be This Way? Rebranding Laziness Time Is A Multiplier From Idea To Execution Useful Not True When Simple Gets Hard How Derek Found Agency By Accepting Blame Cultivating Insatiable Cur
Thu, October 19, 2023
John Fio — The Wizard & The Warrior
John Fio is an inventor and entrepreneur who has bootstrapped four products that have collectively generated hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. He joins the show to discuss why ideas are harder than execution, what he learned from being Justin Bieber’s intern, what most people get wrong about Kanye West, why magic is real, and what the success of Barbie and Taylor Swift can tell us about the future. Enjoy! Important Links: Twitter LinkedIn MoonPals Fio Creations Show Notes: From Bieber’s Intern to Moon Pals Ideas Are Harder Than Execution Kickstarting Gravity Blankets How to Have a Good Idea Kanye West & the Creative Process The Wizard & the Warrior Magic is Real Social Situations Are a Departure From the Truth Moon Pals, Barbie, Taylor Swift & the Dawn of a New Paradigm Long Tails, Curation & Good Taste John as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism, by Howard Bloom. The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Two Cultures; by C.P. Snow
Thu, October 12, 2023
James Pethokoukis — The Conservative Futurist
James Pethokoukis is a policy analyst, official CNBC contributor, and Dewitt Wallace Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also the creator and writer of the Faster, Please! newsletter, which is dedicated to “discovering, creating, and inventing a better world through technological innovation, economic growth, and pro-progress culture.” James joins the show to discuss his new book, The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised. Important Links: Faster, Please! The Conservative Futurist WTF Happened In 1971? Tinkered Thinking — White Mirror The Great Reshuffle Bono On Nuclear Energy Our World in Data Show Notes: What Happened to America? Up Wing vs. Down Wing Thinking AI as a General Purpose Technology; Regulatory Capture Technological Proficiency & Problem Solving How to Reframe Tomorrow “Be Like the Blade of Grass” Green Shoots of Optimism AI as a Lifelong Learning Instructor We Are the Economy Three Policies That Could Change the Future James as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised; by James Pethokoukis The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision Of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
Thu, October 05, 2023
Bojan Tunguz — From Physicist to Grandmaster
Bojan Tunguz is a senior systems software engineer at NVIDIA, quadruple Kaggle grandmaster, former top 10 Amazon reviewer, and former physicist. He joins the show to discuss the problems that LLMs can’t solve, the speed of AI progress, why he homeschools his kids, how to win Twitter, and more! Important Links: Twitter Substack 40 AI Use Cases Show Notes: Becoming a Kaggle Grandmaster Hyper-Competitive Learning From Physics to Data Science How Natural Language Processing Has Evolved The Problems That LLMs Can’t Solve The Future of the Centaur Model AI as a Creativity Extender Why Bojan is Homeschooling His Kids The AI Feedback Flywheel How Quickly Will Different Sectors Be Transformed By AI? Disruption vs. Destruction Is AGI possible? AI Use Cases: Mental Health & Elder Care How to Win Twitter Why Bojan Became a Top 10 Amazon Reviewer Bojan ’s Favorite Books Bojan ’s Current Side-Project Bojan As Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Lolita; by Vladimir Nabokov The work of Haruki Murakami The work of Milan Kundera The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature; by Steven Pinker Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition have Failed; by James Scott
Thu, September 28, 2023
Julie Fredrickson — “Circumstances change. Humanity doesn't. Plan accordingly.”
Julie Fredrickson is a former founder and the Managing Partner of Chaotic Capital, an “early stage fund for companies that adapt our lives and systems to the opportunities that chaos brings.” She joins the show to discuss the Great Weirding, becoming a playable character, how the market provides a muse, the power of preparation, and more! Important Links: Website Twitter LinkedIn Chaotic Capital The Great Weirding ; by Venkatesh Rao The Thinker and The Prover Show Notes: Julie’s Origin Story The Difference Between Hippies and Tech “Circumstances change. Humanity does not. Plan accordingly.” The Great Weirding The Myth of the Perfect Past How to Become a Playable Character The Weirdo Lighthouse The Power of Showing Up How Julie Assesses Founders Talent Doesn’t Matter The Market is the Muse “In the beginning, there was the word” Preference Falsification vs. Revealed Preferences Julie’s Revealed Preferences “Prepare, and the opportunity will come” Silicon Valley Is an Idea, Not a Place The Open-Source Ethos Julie as Empress of the World Books Mentioned: Bad Predictions: 2000 Years of the Best Minds Making the Worst Forecasts; by Laura Lee The History of the Peloponnesian War; by Thucydides Republic; by Plato American Cycles of History: According to the Fourth Turning Generational Theory and The Boomer Soul 1946-2022; by William H. Van Marter Jr. William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs Julie, or the New Heloise; by Jean-Jacques Rousseau The End of History and the Last Man; by Francis Fukuyama The Peripheral; by William Gibson Neuromancer; by William Gibson The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human, and How To Tell Them Better; by Will Storr Class: A Guide Through the American Status System; by Paul Fussell What Works on Wall Street: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Singularity Sky; by Charles Stross Marxism and Modernism; by Eugene Lunn The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
Thu, September 21, 2023
Danny Miranda — Attracted to the Light
Danny Miranda ’s ambition is to sell out Madison Square Gardens for a live edition of his podcast. Now, on episode 402 (and counting), he is getting closer to that goal every week. He joins the show to discuss the art of interviewing, why he’s attracted to the light, his favorite questions, and more. Important Links: Danny ’s Twitter Danny ’s Website Wisdom Unleashed Show Notes: Fancy a phone call? The power of human interaction What Danny has learned from 397 podcasts The Art of Interviewing Finding “the thing” How has Danny changed deciding his aim was to sell out Madison Square Garden? Danny ’s research process “I’m attracted to the light” When did things go wrong? Podcasting as idea collecting In-person vs Zoom The ability to speak to anyone in the world Danny ’s favorite questions The different types of podcast Why podcasts are like the printing press for audio The importance of connection What will podcasting look like in 2034? Always Be Closing Danny as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: How to Win Friends and Influence People; by Dale Carnegie Hidden Genius; by Polina Marinova Pompliano The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu Jim’s “Exploring the Dark” Reading List: Meditations; by Marcus Aurelius Heart of Darkness; by Joseph Conrad The Human Animal: A Personal View of the Human Species; by Desmond Morris Exploring the Shadow: Understanding and Addressing the
Thu, September 14, 2023
Dror Poleg — The Future of Work
Dror Poleg is an author, speaker, and researcher investigating technology’s impact on the way people work, live, and invest. He joins us to discuss the relationship between AI and remote work, how cities are going to change, the internet’s role as a matching engine, and MUCH more! Important Links: Dror ’s Website Dror ’s Twitter Our Great Reshuffle Series The Once and Future Liberalism ; by Walter Russell Mead The Great Online Game ; by Packy McCormick Show Notes: The relationship between AI & remote work How remote work & AI will change our cities What cities will succeed in the new world? Remote work vs. Back to the office Uncertainty & the death of the “job” How to cure zero-sum thinking The economy doesn’t need us all to be ambitious How work is going to change How AI will transform professions’ scalability; the internet as a matching engine How Dror uses AI Unbundling ideas from execution The value of Twitter The tragedy of the uncommon The great online game UBI & the need for new social systems Dror as emperor of the world. MORE! Books Mentioned: Rethinking Real Estate: A Roadmap to Technology’s Impact on the World’s Largest Asset Class; by Dror</spa
Thu, September 07, 2023
Trung Phan & Rob Henderson — Apocalypse Now
Our previous episode with Trung & Rob included the bombshell reveal that Rob had never watched Apocalypse Now. Nearly one year later, Rob and Trung make their triumphant return to the show to discuss the themes of the film, the lessons aspiring creators can draw from its troubled production history, the role of the Vietnam War in American cinema, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Rob’s Substack Rob’s Twitter Trung’s Substack Trung’s Twitter Our previous episode with Trung & Rob Show Notes: Rob’s homework assignment The two endings of Apocalypse Now Coppola’s disastrous production process Should Willard have taken Kurtz’ place? Draft dodgers: fear of death, or fear of social judgment? Different perspectives of American Empire The memory industry: Vietnam in film When condemning backfires The thin veneer of civilization Willard’s moral injury Is pacificism sustainable? Art as a response to social conditions Telling the story vs romanticizing it Be careful what you wish for: The McKenna take When Jim was Jedpilled When Rob was Jedpilled The creative process: feeding the black box, becoming the vessel, and summoning the muse George Lucas’ version of Apocalypse Now Cut scenes and time travel Trung & Rob as Emperors of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna Heart
Thu, August 31, 2023
Frederik Gieschen — On Agility, Agreeableness, Alchemy & the Arena
"Who is America’s best-known banker? That would be Jamie Dimon. But who is the richest? That would be Andy Beal, with an estimated net worth of $9 billion." Friend-of-the-show Frederik Gieschen joins us for an impromptu conversation about his article on the life and work of Andy Beal, the richest banker in America. Important Links: High Roller: Lessons from America’s Richest Banker Frederik’s Twitter Frederik’s Substack Frederik’s previous episode The Internet Contrarian Show Notes: The Arena, the Maze, and the Labyrinth Why do myths endure? “You can’t do a good deal with a bad person” America’s richest banker: the Andrew Beal story Agreeableness, contrarianism, and accountability Thinking like a banker vs. thinking like an investor The random buzz generator: How to fight linear thinking The alchemy of success Bubbles: When heterogeneity becomes homogeneity “The higher you rise in a hierarchy, the less good the information you get.” Deterministic vs. probabilistic thinking The difference between being an investor and being in the investing business The return of Andrew Beal The importance of agility MORE! Books Mentioned: The Cosmic Trigger trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson Aesop’s Fables; by Aesop Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; by James Nestor The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time; by Michael Craig What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life; by Alice Schroeder
Thu, August 24, 2023
Dr. Julie Gurner — Ultra Successful
Dr. Julie Gurner is a doctor of psychology and executive performance coach to top percentile executives, primarily in finance and technology. She is also the proprietor of the Ultra Successful newsletter, which delivers a weekly challenge pulled from global business leaders and designed to ” help you unleash your power.” Dr. Gurner joins the show to discuss the merits of being unreasonable, why your business should not be your identity, why niceness is overrated, and more! Important Links: Substack Twitter Website Show Notes: Dr. Gurner’s origin story How forensic psychology experience can help executive coaching Leaning into the 1% Why psychological tests are flawed The common traits of successful founders High performance & bottlenecks Why your business should not be your identity Data vs. emotion How Dr. Gurner applies her strategies in her own life Don’t be nice Be unreasonable Social validation is not important How can you improve someone’s communication skills? How Dr. Gurner would teach executive coaching The “no Plan B” mentality Can high energy be detrimental? How to unpack charisma How to turn down work Dr. Gurner’s greatest satisfaction How has leadership changed in the last 20 years? Dr. Gurner as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Art of War; by Sun Tzu
Thu, August 17, 2023
Todd Goodwin — “Revelation is not Resolution”
Board Certified hypnotist & Goodwin Hypnosis founder Todd Goodwin joins us for his second appearance to discuss why we should treat the mind like a garden, why revelation is not the same as resolution, why labels can be counterproductive, and much more! Important Links: Goodwin Hypnosis Goodwin Hypnosis’ YouTube Todd’s first episode Luca Dellanna’s episode Our episode on Dr John Sarno Show Notes: Treating the symptoms vs treating the cause Gardening the mind “Revelation is not resolution” Why aren’t hypnosis & NLP more popular? Could Todd’s work be filmed? Why labeling conditions can be counterproductive Clearing the emotional charge from traumatic memories Top-down vs. Bottom-up solutions Hypnosis as a way of reclaiming agency How we are shaped by childhood experiences Why we need a more compassionate criminal system MORE! Books Mentioned: Healing Back Pain; by John E. Sarno
Thu, August 10, 2023
Luca Dellanna — On Survival, Signals & Success
Why is hard work a form of laziness? Why should we be wary of short-term success? How can imagining parallel worlds help us make better decisions? Author, management advisor, and researcher Luca Dellanna joins us to discuss these questions and more! Important Links: Luca’s Website Luca’s Twitter Show Notes: Ergodicity: survival is king Why sample size matters The two types of competitors Teaching by signaling The parallel worlds approach to decision-making Racing to the bottom Why working hard can be a form of laziness The three things managers should prioritize Why desiring change isn’t enough Fighting avoidance with actionable small steps “Mixed values produce mixed results” Thinking by writing What Luca has learned from living in multiple countries Luca as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder; by Nassim Nicholas Taleb What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Ergodicity: Definition, Examples, And Implications, As Simple As Possible; by Luca Dellanna The Control Heuristic: The Nature of Human Behavior; by Luca Dellanna 100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late; by Luca Dellanna Ta
Thu, August 03, 2023
Jack Butcher — Reality is the Boss
Designer, entrepreneur and Visualize Value founder Jack Butcher joins us for his second appearance on the show to discuss how to get closer to reality, the differences between the US & the UK, whether vision can be taught, and MUCH more! Important Links: Jack’s Twitter Visualize Value Jack’s first appearance on the show How to Get Rich The Great Reshuffle Show Notes: Jack’s origin story Productizing Visualize Value Ideas vs experience Fighting fear with experience Differences between the US & the UK “The buck stops here” “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit” How to transcend language Can you teach vision? The internet as a variance amplifier How to communicate clearly Get closer to reality Jack’s Twitter X Logo Jack as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner The Illuminatus! Trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment; by Jed McKenna
Thu, July 27, 2023
Dan Runcie — The Future of Music
Dan Runcie is the Founder of Trapital, a company focused on music, media, and entertainment. Trapital’s output includes a podcast, weekly newsletter, and deep-dive essays breaking down trends in the music industry. Dan joins us for his second appearance on the show to discuss how AI will transform the music industry, whether the age of the superstar is over, how artists become billionaires, and MUCH more! Important Links: Dan’s Twitter Trapital Dan’s first appearance on the show Show Notes: Can the music industry embrace AI? What will happen to music when AI gets better? Will some genres be quicker to adapt than others? How streaming algorithms are improving Are AI playlists the death of DJs? How artists can game the algorithm How artists can use the music industry’s Pareto distribution Artists become millionaires selling music, and billionaires selling product Will we see the end of record companies? Will Bowie Bonds die? Are we going to see the end of the superstar? Ads & audiences Spotify vs YouTube vs TikTok Can newcomers displace the incumbents? Will the streamers dominate podcasting? What’s next? Dan as Emperor of the World MORE!
Thu, July 20, 2023
Dr. William Zeng — Towards a Quantum Future
Dr. William Zeng is founder and President of the Unitary Fund, a non-profit dedicated to developing the quantum ecosystem to benefit the most people. He previously led initial development of Rigetti Computing’s quantum cloud platform, and is co-inventor of the Quil quantum instruction language. He was named to Forbes’ 30 under 30 in the Science category for his work on quantum computing. Dr. William was one of the first recipients of an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship, which is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and access to OSV’s network of founders, investors and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. Dr. William is using his fellowship grant to study how emerging quantum technologies can explore foundational questions in quantum mechanics. Important Links: The O’Shaughnessy Fellowships The Unitary Fund Will’s Twitter A possibilities no-go theorem on the Wigner’s friend paradox Show Notes: An introduction to quantum computing Regular computers vs quantum computers The impact of simulating quantum systems How quantum computing can transform risk analysis What does a quantum world look like? Encryption & risk The benefits of an open-source ecosystem Wigner’s Friend experiments, agency & objective reality "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” “Technology is an integration of body and mind” The laws of physics What’s next? MORE! Books Mentioned: How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival The science fiction of Greg Egan The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Historical Ontology; by Ian Hacking
Thu, July 13, 2023
Jack Raines — The Authentic Path
Jack Raines is an online writer and LinkedIn provocateur, whose newsletter Young Money has already amassed 30,000 readers. Jack joins the show to discuss the importance of travel, the upsides of authenticity, risk, luck, and much, much more! Important Links: Jack's Twitter Young Money Show Notes: Jack’s origin story Optionality and opportunity costs Hostel hopping The healthy life Grindset and hustle culture LinkedIn pranks Slamming the door on opportunities Work culture and the Great Reshuffle The luck of being alive today Crypto skepticism Quantifying risk Jack’s three favourite places in the world The default path is not your destiny
Thu, July 06, 2023
Richard Craib — How to Open Source Finance
Richard Craib is the Founder & CEO of Numerai, a new kind of hedge fund where data scientists around the world collaborate to predict equity returns using artificial intelligence. Richard joins the show to discuss Numerai’s origins, how it embraces the spirit of open source, why it has its own cryptocurrency and MUCH more! Important Links: Numerai Richard’s Twitter Show Notes: The genesis of Numerai How and why Numerai gives away its dataset Getting users to put skin in the game How Numerai scores users; becoming comfortable with the process Size limits & leverage Reactions to Numerai Numerai’s cryptocurrency How Numerai differs from Quantopian Data, optimization & LLMs “Monopolize intelligence, monopolize data, monopolize money, and decentralize the monopoly” What could go wrong? Numerai’s relationship with its data scientists Could Numerai’s model work in any other industries? What could go wrong? “Life is long” MORE!
Thu, June 29, 2023
Brian Roemmele - The Wisdom Keeper
The scientist, researcher, analyst, connector, thinker, and doer Brian Roemmele joins us for his second Infinite Loops appearance to discuss the decline of wisdom and how we can save it, why LLMs are the modern version of Plato’s cave, we need locally run AI models and MUCH more! Important Links: Brian’s Twitter ReadMultiplex.com 40 AI Use Cases: How Many Did You Know About? Brian’s first Infinite Loops appearance Show Notes: Why LLMs are the modern version of Plato’s cave AI as Promethean fire Why we need locally run AI models AI use cases & the Nedd Ludd story The decline of wisdom Creating a wisdom keeper Loneliness & abandonment “How To Have A Conversation With Your Local Documents” History is written by the victors; using wisdom to define our future The tragedy of lost knowledge You are loved and you are not alone MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Cycles: The Science of Prediction; by Edward R. Dewey and Edwin F. Dakin The Iliad; by Homer The Odyssey; by Homer The Epic of Gilgamesh The Bible The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size; by Tor Norretranders The Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell
Thu, June 22, 2023
Dr. Pippa Malmgren — Why Leadership Has Gone Wrong
Dr. Pippa Malmgren is an economist, founder, keynote speaker & award-winning author. She served President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and on the National Economic Council. She was responsible for financial market issues during the Enron crisis, and was responsible for assessing terrorism risks to the economy after 9/11. She has also advised the US Cabinet. Dr. Pippa’s most recent book, the Infinite Leader, won the International Press Award for the Best Book on Leadership for 2021. Dr. Pippa joins the show to discuss why leadership has gone wrong, what she thinks of the recent UFO news, why we’re already in World War III, and a whole lot more! Important Links: Dr. Pippa’s website Dr. Pippa’s Substack Dr. Pippa’s Twitter Show Notes: Why leadership has gone wrong Worldbuilding & the difference between management and leadership Why leaders always stay too long Balancing trust vs truth Confidence vs competence Balance, surfing & Taoism Numbers, stories & UFOs Reality belief systems: "It's not only stranger than we think, it's stranger than we can think.” How psychedelics impact how we understand reality What Pippa would include in her leadership academy Bailouts, inflation & CBDCs We are already in World War III Creating a hug movement MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Infinite Leader: Balancing the Demands of Modern Business Leadership; by Chris Lewis & Dr. Pippa Malmgren The Leadership Lab: Understanding Leadership in the 21st Century; by Chris Lewis & Dr. Pippa Malmgren Signals: How Everyday Signs Can Help Us Navigate the World's Turbulent Economy; by Dr. Pippa Malmgren Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life; by Rory Sutherland Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders; by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Rig Veda Prometheus Rising; by Robert Anton Wilson Wholeness and the Implicate Order; by David Bohm Orthodoxy; by G. K. Chesterton mgren is an economist, founder, keynote speaker & award-winning author. She served President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and on the National Economic Council. She was responsible for financial market issues during the Enron crisis, and was responsible for assessing terrorism risks to the economy after 9/11. She has also advised the US Cabinet. Dr. Pippa’s most recent book, the Infinite Leader, won the International Press Award for the Best Book on Leadership for 2021. Dr. Pippa joins the show to discuss why leadership has gone wr
Thu, June 15, 2023
Ethan Mollick — How AI Changes Everything
Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. He also leads Wharton Interactive, an effort to democratize education using games, simulations, and AI. When Ethan started his Substack One Useful Thing in November last year, he was planning on writing about a different management paper every post. Then, in Ethan’s words, the arrival of ChatGPT turned him from “an AI-skeptic to an AI-believer.” Over the last few months, Ethan has been explaining the rapid developments in the AI industry, documenting how he has incorporated AI into his teaching, and providing practical guides to how we can use AI in our daily lives. Important Links: Ethan’s Substack Ethan’s Twitter 40 AI Use Cases: How Many Did You Know About? Show Notes: From AI skeptic to AI believer AI is already disruptive Unexpected AI use cases AI is not a search engine Prompt crafting is not the future Is the centaur model the future? How will AI impact education? Will AI accelerate entrepreneurship? The politics & geopolitics of AI How to get unique results using AI Using AI to explore liminal spaces Speed-running the adoption curve Can you teach curiosity? The complex relationship between corporations and AI use We have agency over our future MORE! Books Mentioned: The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology; by Raymond Kurzweil The Iliad; by Homer
Thu, June 08, 2023
Chen Qiufan — AI 2041: 10 Visions of Our Future
Chen Qiufan (AKA Stanley Chan) is an award-winning science fiction writer, screenwriter, creative producer, and columnist. He is the president of the World Chinese Science Fiction Association and the founder of the content development studio Thema Mundi. Chen joins the show to discuss his latest novel, AI 2041: Ten Visions for the Future , which he co-wrote with former Google China president Kai-Fu Lee. Part science fiction, part science forecasting, over ten short stories AI 2041 imagines the different ways, good and bad, that AI will impact our society. The central thesis? AI will transform our lives, but we remain masters of our fate. Important Links: Qiufan’s Website Qiufan’s Twitter Show Notes: Qiufan’s sci-fi influences When did the third wave of AI begin? Why is modern sci-fi so dystopian? How AI is going to impact education Hidden biases & the objective function Deep fakes & narrative collapse Accelerationism, balance & Daoism Do we need real jobs? Happiness is a byproduct Living in a post-scarcity society What’s next? MORE! Books Mentioned: AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future; by Kai-Fu Lee & Chen Qiufan Bullshit Jobs: A Theory; by David Graeber Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek; by Manu Saadia Waste Tide; by Chen Qiufan
Thu, June 01, 2023
Todd Goodwin — Hypnosis: Separating Myth From Reality
Todd Goodwin is the founder of Goodwin Hypnosis, a hypnosis center based in North Carolina. He is a Board Certified Fellow of the National Guild of Hypnotists, a designation earned by only one in every 500 hypnotists. As well as working with thousands of clients since opening Goodwin Hypnosis in 2007, Todd has co-facilitated hypnosis certification courses, created a book and accompanying 30-day hypnosis system designed to stop people from smoking, and given numerous presentations on hypnosis to physicians, students, and medical staff. Todd joins the show to discuss some of the common myths & misconceptions around hypnosis. Important Links: Goodwin Hypnosis Goodwin Hypnosis’ YouTube The Thinker and the Prover Our episode on Dr John Sarno The Six Stage Model of Behaviour Change Show Notes: Hypnosis in our everyday lives Why isn’t hypnosis more widely used? “I don’t want someone in my head” “I can’t be hypnotized” Targeting the root causes of behavior Tension between the conscious & the unconscious How secondary gains can obstruct progress How to clear root fear Using language to elicit change Be curious about yourself; remember that you are worthy of love MORE! Books Mentioned: Healing Back Pain; by John E. Sarno <span styl
Tue, May 30, 2023
Nat & Martha Sharpe — The Conflict between Agency & Community
Nat & Martha Sharpe have been a creative team for over a decade. Nat was a film school graduate and Martha a storytelling enthusiast. They fell in love while filming a musical parody of "Beowulf" with their friends. After another comedy and two documentaries, they started having children. Focus shifted from art to survival. Together, they learned to code, got off food stamps, and traveled around America in an RV. Today, Nat and Martha homeschool their 5 kids and are eager to explore alternative education, expand their comfort zones, and—as always—make movies. Nat & Martha were the first recipients of an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship, which is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and access to OSV’s network of founders, investors and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. Nat & Martha are using their fellowship grant to study and make documentary films of alternative childhood education schools. Important Links: The O’Shaughnessy Fellowships Nat & Martha’s Website Nat & Martha’s Twitter Nat & Martha’s O’Shaughnessy Fellowship Application Video Nat & Martha’s YouTube Channel OSV’s investment in Synthesis School Show Notes: Nat & Martha’s origin story How education is connected to community “Kids want to survive, they want to thrive, they want to learn” Education vs indoctrination Screen time isn’t the problem & why unschooled children become entrepreneurs The magic blue bus Finding the others What caused the rise in helicopter parenting? The conflict between agency & community It can be hard to give people money Learning by doing; in-demand learning How can we monetize the best teachers in the world? How AI is going to transform education What’s next? MUCH more! Books Mentioned: One Summer: America, 1927; by Bill Bryson
Thu, May 25, 2023
Jason Crawford — The Roots of Progress
Jason Crawford is the founder & president of The Roots of Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a new philosophy of progress for the 21st century. Jason has written well over 100 essays on the history of technology and the philosophy of progress, and given numerous talks and interviews on the same. He joins the show to discuss whether humans deserve progress, how to make progress cool, the two types of optimism, and more! Important Links: The Roots of Progress Jason’s Website Jason’s Twitter Discourse on the Arts and Sciences; by Jean-Jacques Rousseau Triumph of the Nerds Why I’m a proud solutionist Show Notes: Why do we need progress studies? Are humans conditioned to resist progress? Increasing the burden of safety What the Roots of Progress is seeking to achieve How can we make progress cool? Pessimism of the intellect; optimism of the will Do we deserve progress? Progress & politics Steelmanning the case against progress How can we defend against bad actors? Calibrating our approach to risk MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Frankenstein; by Mary Shelley Erewhon; by Samuel Butler Darwin Among The Machines; by Samuel Butler The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Ultimate Resource; by Julian L. Simon The Collapse of the Common Good: How America's Lawsuit Culture Undermines Our Freedom; by Philip K. Howard The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams The Jungle; by Upton Sinclair One Summer: America, 1927; by Bill Bryson
Thu, May 18, 2023
David Pinsof — Everything is Bullshit
David Pinsof is an evolutionary social scientist and a co-creator of the game Cards Against Humanity. He holds a PhD in Psychology from UCLA, where he studied the evolutionary origins of political bullshit , and has written a handful of academic papers, one of which has been cited 152 times and another of which was quoted in the New York Times . David is the author of the ‘Everything Is Bullshit’ Substack, which aims to poke holes in the stories we tell ourselves. He joins the show to discuss why happiness & morality are bullshit, the difference between bullshit & lying, why we conceal the status monkey, and more! Important Links: David’s Twitter David’s Substack; Everything is Bullshit Cards Against Humanity The Execution Hypothesis; by Richard Wrangham Discordianism Our podcast with George Mack Our podcast with Will Storr Show No
Tue, May 16, 2023
Dylan O’Sullivan — Essayful
Dylan O’Sullivan is a writer and media specialist based in Cork, Ireland. Dylan’s work has been published in magazines such as The Spectator and Areo. He is also the creator of Essayful, a Substack dedicated to becoming “a new home for writing.” Following his participation in David Perell’s Write of Passage course last year, Dylan joined us as an intern at O’Shaughnessy Ventures. He joins the show to discuss the problem with traditional education, the blurry border between fiction & nonfiction, how AI is going to impact writing, why Ireland has such cultural influence, and more! Important Links: Dylan’s Twitter Essayful Write of Passage Show Notes: Losing the O’s The collapse of the old institutions An introduction to Essayful "There's nothing new under the sun.” The blurry border between fiction & nonfiction Rebuilding the Tower of Babel A book as a living thing How is AI going to impact writing? Why Dylan took Write of Passage Why are academic papers so hard to read? Why does Ireland have such cultural influence? What’s next? More! Books Mentioned: Old God’s Time; by Sebastian Barry Unflattening; by Nick Sousanis The Island of Saints and Scholars; Sean McMahon Ulysses; by James Joyce
Thu, May 11, 2023
John Sills — The Human Experience
After starting his career on a market stall in Essex, John Sills has spent the last twenty-five years working to make the world a better place for customers. John is the Managing Partner at the customer-led growth company The Foundation, and his writing has also been featured in publications such as The Guardian and Management Today. He joins the show to discuss his thought-provoking and timely new book The Human Experience: How to make life better for your customers and create a more successful organization. Important Links: John’s Website John’s Twitter John’s Substack Show Notes: John’s time working on an Essex market stall Human vs functional customer experience What’s blocking the human experience? Why do leaders stay away from the frontline? Escaping Vogonization Does the human experience scale? The benefits of starting from first principles Why companies should empower their staff The link between curiosity, creativity & customer experience Why aren’t companies changing & why aren’t more startups disrupting? Are frictionless customer experiences desirable? The myth of customer loyalty Tech upgrades & immersion MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Human Experience: How to make life better for your customers and create a more successful organization; by John Sills The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom The Customer Copernicus: How to be Customer-Led; by Charlie Dawson The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams
Thu, May 04, 2023
Billy Oppenheimer — On Curiosity, Creativity & Conceptual Ancestors
Billy Oppenheimer is a researcher for Ryan Holiday. He is also known for his viral long-form tweets and Six at 6 on Sunday newsletter. Billy is insatiably curious. He is a master at drawing lessons from anecdotes from the worlds of sports, music, comedy, business, and more. He joins the show to discuss how to cultivate good taste, whether everything is a remix, why he learns through introjection, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Six at 6 on Sunday Billy’s Twitter Billy’s website Our episodes with David Senra ( 1 , 2 ) 'A Bicycle of the Mind' - Steve Jobs on the Computer Our episode with Edward Rooster To His Coy Mistress; by Andrew Marvell Kubla Khan; by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Show Notes: Focus on doing the thing SIX at 6’s origin story Learning through introjection Developing taste & cultivating curiosity “People don’t have ideas, ideas have people” How Billy practices his scales Fiction vs non-fic
Thu, April 27, 2023
Jimmy Soni & Liberty RPF — Unleashing the Future of Publishing
Friend-of-the-show (and new O’Shaughnessy Ventures team member) Liberty RPF joins Jim and fellow friend-of-the-show Jimmy Soni to discuss the current state of the publishing industry and the new opportunities emerging for current and aspiring authors. Important Links: Jimmy’s Website Jimmy’s Twitter Liberty’s Newsletter Liberty’s Twitter 10 Reasons Why I’m Publishing My Next Book on Substack Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time Show Notes: How has the publishing industry changed? Reinventing the audiobook The living book Towards new book pricing models Why the traditional publishing industry is becoming unsustainable The tragedy of unwritten books A rejection from a traditional publisher is meaningless What do traditional publishers do well? The importance being invested in the success of a product Leveraging AI & other tools in the writing process Why the publishing industry is successful Increasing the power of individual creators Change, prestige & disruption Playing the right kind of status games Aligning quality with meritocracy MUCH more! <st
Thu, April 20, 2023
Alex Danco — On Self-Delusion, Sancho Panza, Safe Words & Seinfeld
Alex Danco returns for his seventh (yes, SEVENTH) appearance on Infinite Loops to discuss, as usual, pretty much everything other than the topics we had prepared in advance. This week, we discuss: The two types of lawyers, what Alex learned from reading Don Quixote, Elon the Reply Guy, the psychology of Seinfeld, the best Wall Street Movies, and much more. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco Website: https://alexdanco.com/ Newsletter: https://danco.substack.com/ Show Notes: The two kinds of lawyers Medicine, placebo, Don Quixote & theatre Heroes, villains & main characters Elon the Reply Guy Safe words, scams & narrative collapse Self-deception is multiplayer The psychology of Seinfeld To what extent are great innovations already baked into the systems? Margin Call: The two schools of thought The best Wall Street movies MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Theory And Practice Of Gamesmanship Or The Art Of Winning Games Without Actually Cheating; by Stephen Potter Don Quixote; by Miguel de Cervantes The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard K. Bloom Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships; by Eric Berne Mendel's Dwarf; by Simon Mawer The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine; by Michael Lewis The Bonfire of the Vanities; by Tom Wolfe The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron; by Peter Elkind & Bethany McLean
Thu, April 13, 2023
Gurwinder Bhogal — Certainty is the Death of Thought
Gurwinder Bhogal is a writer and programmer who writes about the myriad ways in which technology and psychology conspire to fool us and how we can withstand the covert assault on our senses. Gurwinder is known for his epic Twitter ‘Megathreads’ which set out a series of powerful concepts for understanding the world. He joins the show to discuss our tendency to narrativize information, how to overcome the bandwidth tax, why Wikipedia is the world’s largest source of misinformation, and MUCH more! Important Links: Megathread: Feb 7, 2020 (53,000 likes) Megathread: Feb 11, 2022 (62,000 likes) Megathread: March 18, 2023 (most recent) Gurwinder's Substack Gurwinder's Twitter The Toxoplasma of Rage Show Notes: Megathreads & the Woozle effect AI, the Encyclopedia Disinformatica, and cultivating a garden of Mithridates Capturing the nuance between dishonesty and lying The Toxoplasma of Rage Overcoming the bandwidth tax Brandishing the golden hammer; why we can’t comprehend large numbers Tribalism & intersubjectivity The purity spiral Are we facing a lost generation? We are programmed to like complex explanations Narrativizing information “Certainty is the death of thought” Climbing the thinking ladder </
Thu, April 06, 2023
Ed Latimore — The Difference Between Being Liked and Being Respected
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Ed Latimore back for his second Infinite Loops appearance. Ed is a best-selling author, former professional heavyweight boxer, competitive chess player, Physics graduate, father, and husband. He joins us to discuss stoicism, progress & pain, demonstrating authenticity, being liked vs. being respected, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Ed’s Twitter Ed’s website Ed’s Substack Ed’s first Infinite Loops appearance Show Notes: New child; new house; new book How Ed’s new book has developed Humor and progress Understanding addiction Being liked vs being respected “Stoicism found me” Is progress possible without pain? “Humans are very bad at the future” Demonstrating authenticity Being cast as a father figure What’s next for Ed Ed’s three step process for self-improvement “I don't think any situation has ever gotten worse because someone has good manners.” Books Mentioned: The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs who Shaped Silicon Valley; by Jimmy Soni The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance; by Josh Waitzkin Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds; by David Goggins The Subtle Art of Not
Thu, March 30, 2023
Edward Rooster — I Did My Best. I Gave My All. I Was Here.
Edward Rooster is one of our favourite writers. His themes include the future, mythology, time and history. He has written two books, Box of Stars and Harvest, and he is currently working on a third. Edward joins the show to discuss embracing uncertainty, avoiding becoming Icarus, unsticking yourself from time, and MUCH more! Important Links: Edward’s Mirror Edward’s Substack Edward’s Typeshare Edward’s Twitter The Days Dad Started Over Leaving Eternity’s Parking Lot You Do Not Have to Be Perfect Looking Back from the Future Show Notes: The Days Dad Started Over: Why Edward started writing Edward’s book writing process Unsticking yourself from time Sources of storytelling inspiration Embracing uncertainty Avoiding the content trap The ‘create you own adventure’ approach to writing [Finding inspiration in music] Storytelling & common knowledge Writing as found art Not as much matters as we think it does <
Thu, March 23, 2023
Venkatesh Rao — The Art of Gig
Venkatesh Rao is a writer, consultant, and author. He has been writing about indie consulting for years and has recently published The Art of Gig, Volumes 1 & 2, which together take an in-depth look at the gig economy. Venkatesh joins the show to discuss tragic luck, becoming slightly nonsensical, the advantages of mediocrity, and a whole lot more! Important Links: Venkatesh's Website Venkatesh's Blog Venkatesh's Substack Venkatesh's Twitter The Art of Gig The Art of Gig: our synthesis The Gervais Principle Show Notes: Origins of The Art of Gig Paycheck People Learning how to take risks Is there a risk-taking gene? The case for fixed-point futurism Finding meaning Personality types, narrative, and becoming a courageous thinker Don’t get tragically lucky Generational agency Sparring, pressure and meaning-making Be slightly nonsensical Teaching others to appreciate randomness Towards infinite games; be mediocre Understanding divergentism MUCH more
Thu, March 16, 2023
Ananyo Bhattacharya — John von Neumann: The Man from the Future
Ananyo Bhattacharya is the author of The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann , a brilliant biography of one of the most prolific and influential scientists to have ever lived. He joins the show to discuss von Neumann’s contributions to quantum physics, game theory, the Manhattan Project, and much more! Important Links: Ananyo’s Twitter The Man from the Future Show Notes: How did John von Neumann even exist? Would von Neumann’s discoveries have happened without him? The Martians of Hungary The migrant mentality Innovation in the face of extinction Science, genius & the herd mentality Von Neumann’s contribution to quantum physics Game theory, Minimax and zero-sum games von Neumann: quant in the streets; romantic in the sheets The eccentricity of brilliance Von Neumann and the Manhattan Project The godfather of the open-source movement Von Neumann as a project manager How writing the book changed Ananyo’s understanding of von Neumann Ananyo’s next projects MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann; **by **Ananyo Bhattacharya The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom Theory of Games and Economic Behaviour; by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern
Thu, March 09, 2023
Michael Breitenbach — On Crypto, AI & Cynicism
Michael Breitenbach is Senior Vice President within the Chief Investment Office at Bank of America Global Wealth and Investment Management, where he is responsible for leading development of quantitative infrastructure and machine learning models for evaluating both internally and externally covered investment offerings. He is also the man behind an extremely popular anonymous Twitter account that many of you will be familiar with (see if you can guess which one…) Michael joins the show to discuss the FTX fallout, the current state of the crypto industry, the rise of AI compliance, and MUCH more! Important Links: Michael’s LinkedIn Michael’s (personal) Twitter Show Notes: FTX: grift or systemic failure? The decline of old media AI compliance & regulation Crypto: use cases, privacy & regulation The end of privacy Dealing with new and better problems Scale vs anti-scale Cynicism can be a comparative advantage Against binary thinking Time binding & cultural evolution Consider taxation Books Mentioned: The Power Law: Venture Capital and the Art of Disruption; by Sebastian Mallaby Time-Binding: The General Theory; by Alfred Korzybski
Thu, March 02, 2023
Visakan Veerasamy - On Creativity, Introspection & Being a Good Reply Guy
Visakan Veerasamy is a prolific thinker, writer & creator. As well as being the author of the books ‘Introspect’ and ‘Friendly Ambitious Nerd’, he is known for weaving huge, interconnected Twitter threads and for his mission to build “the greatest social graph of friendly, ambitious nerds that the world has ever seen.” Important Links: Visa's Website Visa's Twitter Visa's Youtube Show Notes: The origins of Friendly Ambitious Nerd “The most heroic thing you can do is not hate yourself” Confronting the minotaur Introspection & Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Overriding human OS Humor is the cure How to demonstrate the power of humor Dealing with judgment & criticism Responding to requests for help Enforcing a no-assholes rule "Focus your time and energy on what you want to see more of” “School is bullshit” Question defaults & screw around MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It; by Will Storr The Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell Shantaram; by Gregory David Roberts The Art of War; by Sun Tzu The Tao Te Ching; by Laozi The Lord of the Rings; by J. R. R. Tolkien
Thu, February 23, 2023
David Senra & Liberty RPF — Unleashing the Scenius
Friends-of-the-show David Senra & Liberty RPF return for a characteristically wide-ranging conversation. Enjoy! Important Links Founders Podcast Founders on Colossus David’s Twitter Liberty’s Substack Liberty’s Twitter David Bowie Predicts the Impact of the Internet on Newsnight Show Notes: David’s lunch with Sam Zell Optimizing for freedom Information can build a fortune Persist, persist, persist Burning the ships Customising education Where are the Teddy Roosevelt’s of today? Embracing our evangelical side “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” Fighting fear of technological development Is anything truly ‘new’? "Properly understood technology is just a better way to do something” Towards positive sum games How to cultivate voluntary engagement Unleashing the scenius Finding better explanations Risk-taking and the origins of the USA The explore and create framework Read biographies MUCH more! Books Mentioned: Am I Being Too Subtle?: Straight Talk From a Business Rebel; by Sam
Thu, February 16, 2023
Dwarkesh Patel — Podcasting, Talent & Innovation
Dwarkesh Patel is the host of The Lunar Society podcast, where he interviews scientists, historians, economists, intellectuals, & founders about their ideas. He also writes about tech, progress, talent, science, and the long-term over at his Substack . Dwarkesh has been described as “one of the best young podcasters alive”, and his Substack has been praised by the likes of Jeff Bezos, Paul Graham and Tyler Cowen. Important Links: The Lunar Society Dwarkesh’ Twitter The Mystery of the Miracle Year Popularizers are intellectual market makers Scouting talent as buying options Show Notes: How to become a better podcaster The importance of curiosity Disagreement & problem solving “Computer programs are written by humans for other humans to read, and only incidentally for computers to execute” The difference between podcasting & essay writing Investing in public and private companies; human OS Premeditation & decision-making The mystery of the miracle year How much innovation is baked into the cake? How to cultivate young talent AI & education The importance of intellectual market makers Scouting talent as buying options Interviewing Sam Bankman-Fried Effective altruism & virtue signalling
Thu, February 09, 2023
David Ha — AI & Evolution: Learning to do More with Less
David Ha is the Head of Strategy at Stability AI, and one of the top minds working in AI today. He previously worked as a research scientist in the Brain team at Google. David is particularly interested in evolution and complex systems, and his research explores how intelligence may emerge from limited resource constraints. He joins the show to discuss the advantages of open-source models, modelling AI as an emergent system, why large language models are bad at maths and MUCH more! Important Links: David’s website David’s Twitter Teaching Machines to Draw (2017) Weight Agnostic Neural Networks (2019) Show Notes: Why David joined Stability AI The advantages of open-source models We cannot predict the inventions of tomorrow Making memes with generative AI The centaur approach to AI An introduction to large language models The relationship between complex systems and resource constraints Large language models are bad at maths Modelling AI as an emergent system Understanding different perspectives MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective; by Kenneth Stanley and Joel Lehman
Thu, February 02, 2023
Jesse Michels — American Alchemy
Jesse Michels is an investor at Thiel Capital and the creator and host of ‘American Alchemy’, a Youtube channel dedicated to highlighting the most heretical thinkers and ideas of our time. He joins the show to discuss the transmission theory of consciousness, whether mushrooms are aliens, the reawakening of the Boomers and MUCH more! Important Links: American Alchemy Jesse’s Twitter Show Notes: The modern-day Robert Anton Wilson Why Jesse started American Alchemy The transmission theory of consciousness Why mushrooms may have catalysed human civilisation Paradigm shifts and heretical thinking Are mushrooms aliens? Nixon, psychedelics & brainwashing The reawakening of the Boomers AGI, qualia & quantum physics AI, learned helplessness & Twitter The power of curiosity Reality is a compressed version of something much larger. MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Half-Life of Facts: Why Everything We Know Has an Expiration Date; by Samuel Arbesman The User Illusion: Cutting Consciousness Down to Size; by Tor Norretranders Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Immortality Key : The Secret History of the Religion with No Name; by Brian C. Muraresku The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties; by Tom O’Neill Weird Scenes Inside the Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream; by David McGowan Prometheus Rising; by Robert Anton Wilson Quantum Psychology: How Brain Software Programs You & Your World; by Robert Anton Wilson The Cosmic Trigger trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson Communion: A True Story; by Whitley Strieber
Thu, January 26, 2023
Mark Nelson — Nuclear Power: Change the Memes, Change the Future
Mark Nelson is the Managing Director of Radiant Energy Group, a consultancy which advises governments, nonprofits and industry about nuclear energy. He joins the show to discuss Chernobyl the memes vs Chernobyl the molecules, introducing nuclear festivals, adopting an abundance mindset, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Mark’s Twitter Radiant Energy Group Mark’s LinkedIn Show Notes: Why does the nuclear industry have a confidence problem? Electricity deaths vs nuclear deaths Chernobyl the memes vs Chernobyl the molecules How do we create better nuclear memes? Bureaucracy and the precautionary principle Steelmanning the case against nuclear power Recency bias, human OS and high visibility events The story of Three Mile Island Introducing nuclear festivals Wind and solar is not essential for the grid Take memes seriously Disambiguating nuclear weapons from nuclear power Tying financial needs with energy needs Escaping Mad Max How can we encourage an abundance mindset? Bipartisan enthusiasm for nuclear power MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch
Thu, January 19, 2023
Sam McRoberts — The Grand Redesign
Author, CEO of VUDU Marketing and digital nomad Sam McRoberts returns for his second appearance on Infinite Loops. This week, Sam and Jim discuss Sam’s latest book ‘The Grand Redesign’. Part science-fiction, part operating manual for upgrading human OS, ‘The Grand Redesign’ touches on a number of recurring Infinite Loops themes, and is available for free online (see ‘Important Links’ section below). Important Links: The Grand Redesign Sam’s Twitter Sam’s Substack The Thinker and The Prover Tinkered Thinking’s winning entry to our ‘White Mirror’ competition Show Notes: Why Sam wrote the book Is the Watcher a reliable narrator? Interfering with complex systems An overview of Social OS Why we need White Mirror The kindness pledge Incentives and the Cobra Effect How do we break the Shannon limit? Jim’s movie idea Improving the political and legal system The opportunities of AI Optimising our system for flourishing Finding the hidden geniuses Sam’s solutions; reaching the tipping point Sam’s hopes for the book MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Grand Redesign; by Sam McRoberts The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play I
Thu, January 12, 2023
Cliff Asness — FTX, Hedge Funds and the Value Spread
Cliff Asness is the Founder, Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer at AQR Capital Management. Prior to co-founding AQR Capital Management, he was a Managing Director and Director of Quantitative Research for the Asset Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. Cliff joins the show to discuss FTX, AMC , why hedge funds aren’t hedging, the role of index funds and a whole lot more. Important Links: Cliff’s Twitter Cliff’s Blog AQR Capital Management Do Hedge Funds Hedge? Show Notes: Cliff’s take on FTX and crypto The AMC saga HODL and the MOASS Finding the right media format for substantive investment conversations Thoughts on the value spread “We don’t want a world where markets are perfect” Hedge funds aren’t hedging The role of index funds Never override a model “Study statistics and stick to your principles” Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
Thu, January 05, 2023
Ben Tossell — Opportunities in AI
Ben Tossell writes Ben’s Bites, a daily newsletter on AI that’s read by over 15,000 others from Google, a16z, Sequoia, Amazon, Meta and more. He previously founded Makerpad, a no-code education side which was acquired by Zapier in March 2021. Important Links: Ben’s Newsletter Ben’s Twitter Show Notes: Ben’s journey into AI The importance of ease of use How AI will impact our lives Ben’s hackathon Balancing originality and usefulness Why Ben is wary of providing strategic advice Achieving ground-up change with AI Interaction between the AI industry and the governments How Ben wants AI to be used Following your curiosity Making the world more competitive MUCH more!
Sun, January 01, 2023
O’Shaughnessy Ventures is Here (EP.140)
We’ve landed. After 3 months of stealth mode, sneak-peeks, and surprise announcements, we have finally hit launch day. In this special episode of Infinite Loops, hosted by Patrick O’Shaughnessy, Jim chats through the rationale behind founding OSV, the positive impact he wants it to have on the world, and the ways you can get involved. Important Links: OSV’s Website Jim’s Twitter Show Notes: The origins of OSV Why OSV does not invest third parties’ money The story of Jim’s investment in Stability AI What has surprised Jim the most about the world of AI What OSV will look like on 1 January 2023: the four verticals Assembling the OSV team OSV’s objective function Where the majority of Jim’s energy will be directed How you can get involved with OSV
Thu, December 29, 2022
Tom Morgan & Brett Andersen — Intimations of a New World Worldview
Tom Morgan returns for his third appearance on Infinite Loops with Jim, Infinite Loops’ own Ed William and special guest Brett Andersen, an evolutionary psychology PhD student at the University of New Mexico. We discuss the implications of the ideas presented in Brett’s fantastic essay ‘Intimations of a New Worldview’, whether the rise of anti-heroes is a challenge to Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the influence of conscious vs unconscious design, and much more. Important Links: Intimations of a New Worldview Brett’s Substack Brett’s Twitter Tom’s blog Tom’s Twitter Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Show Notes: Objective vs subjective morality Complexity as a precondition Biological complexification Complexification and social selection Relevance realisation Jordan Peterson’s ‘Maps of Meaning’ and the metamyth The optimal path and the process of creation The cognitive purpose of supernatural beliefs Mapping a response to the meaning crisis Quantum entanglement and consciousness Practical implications of Brett’s theory Cultural evolution Conscious vs unconscious design There is an underlying flow of things <span style
Thu, December 22, 2022
Brom Rector — Investing in Psychedelics
Brom Rector is the founder of Empath Ventures, a VC fund that in invests in early-stage psychedelics startups. Prior to founding Empath, Brom sent several years as a portfolio manager and quantitative researcher. Brom joins the show to discuss the current state of the psychedelics industry, the lessons learned founding a VC fund, the differences between psychedelics and cannabis, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Empath Ventures Brom’s LinkedIn Brom’s Twitter The Brom Podcast Show Notes: How Brom became interested in psychedelic investing Psychedelics and the mental health epidemic Depoliticising psychedelics Empath Ventures’ business model How we can scientifically improve psychedelics The influence of hippie culture A contrarian view on Big Pharma The potential benefits of ibogaine The differences between cannabis and psychedelics Do some people not react to psychedelics? Brom’s thoughts on microdosing Lessons learned from founding a VC company The benefits of Rule 506(c) Books Mentioned: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection; by John E. Sarno MD
Thu, December 15, 2022
Johnathan Bi — René Girard and the Philosophy of Innovation
Ahead of the release of the next episode of his lecture series on René Girard, Johnathan Bi returns for his second appearance on the show. He and Jim discuss Girard, prestige, innovation, AI, and much more. Enjoy! Important Links: Johnathan’s website Johnathan’s Twitter Johnathan’s lecture series with David Perell Our research note on Johnathan Johnathan’s first appearance on the show Show Notes: The Girardian notion of prestige What proof is there for mimesis? The difference between mimesis and status signalling Philosophical critiques of Girard Girard on innovation Historical understandings of innovation A conversation between a pessimist and an optimist AI, progress and the panopticon Could we ban innovation? Books Mentioned: The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr The Alchemy of Finance; by George Soros The Laws of Imitation; by Gabriel Tarde When These Things Begin: Conversations with Michel Treguer; by René Girard The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Invention of Improvement: Information and Material Progress in Seventeenth-Century England; by Paul Slack Zero to One:
Thu, December 08, 2022
Rohit Krishnan — Unleashing Curiosity
Rohit is a VC and essayist who writes fascinating, thought-provoking essays on complexity, progress, innovation and technology over at Strange Loop Canon . He joins the show for a second time to discuss the lessons learned from the FTX meltdown, why there isn’t a philosophy of business, creating an AI picture book, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Rohit’s Twitter Rohit’s Substack Our research note on Rohit Show Notes: What can VCs learn from FTX? FTX, hubris and good manners “Don’t let anyone push you into a decision that you don’t want to make” Signing up to the right narratives Why you can’t beat the market Why isn’t there a philosophy of business? Markets, desire and innovation How AI allows us to talk to machines in our language The complexities of the AI sentience debate How AI unlocks new outlets for creativity The need for positive stories The three components of innovation “Curiosity is a shit starter” Finding new ways to create community Openness and experimentation MUCH more! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom Unflattening; by Nick Sousanis <span st
Thu, December 01, 2022
Julia Bonafede — A Deep Dive into Deep Reinforcement Learning
Julia is the co-founder of Rosetta Analytics Inc, “an alternative asset manager that is pioneering the use of advanced artificial intelligence to build and actively manage liquid investment strategies.” Prior to co-founding Rosetta, Julia served as President of Wilshire Consulting and was a member of Wilshire’s Board of Directors and Consulting Investment Committee. Julia joins the show to take a deep dive into deep reinforcement learning and Rosetta’s pioneering work using AI as the basis of its investment strategies. Important Links: Rosetta Analytics Julia’s LinkedIn Show Notes: Julia’s journey from Wilshire to Rosetta Defining deep reinforcement learning AI and non-linear thinking Using adaptive models Overcoming the human need for ‘why’ Pitching deep reinforcement learning models to new investors Telling positive stories about AI; improving our discourse “Wake up and look for the joy”; “overcoming fear is the biggest barrier to success” Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy - What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny; by William Strauss and Neil Howe
Thu, November 24, 2022
Liberty RPF — On Creation and Curation
Creator and curator Liberty RPF returns for his second appearance on Infinite Loops. He and Jim discuss the art of curation, the opportunities and risks of AI, the curse of creativity, the future of learning, and MUCH more!
Thu, November 17, 2022
Lulu Cheng Meservey — Going Direct: What Founders can learn from K-Pop, Crypto, and the Early Christians
Title: Description: Lulu Cheng Meservey is the Chief Communications Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Activision Blizzard. She joins Infinite Loops to provide us with a masterclass in communications for startups. A must-listen for current and aspiring founders. Important Links: • Lulu’s Twitter • Lulu’s Substack Show Notes: • Why people write hit pieces • The insurgency framework • How to access your audience’s neural real estate • How to develop a spontaneous elevator pitch • Tips for becoming better at reading the room • Speak directly and take the hits • Defining business objectives • Learning from other industries • Personalising your message • Overcoming resistance to the unknown, what Christianity can teach us about comms • Escaping corporate jargon • How comms resembles rugby • Taking ownership of comms • Moving to a new model of comms • “Don’t let things happen to you. Go and happen to things.” Books Mentioned: • The Network State: How To Start a New Country; by Balaji S. Srinivasan • The Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell
Thu, November 10, 2022
Tinkered Thinking: White Mirror
“With enough curiosity, self-confidence is irrelevant.” Tinkered Thinking is a writer, artist, author and creator. He is also the worthy winner of our ‘ White Mirror ’ competition. His writing includes a series of ‘Lucilius Parables’, short stories dispersed throughout time and space designed to help readers reconceptualise their experience of being alive. He joined the show to discuss writing, technology, curiosity, optimism and MUCH more! Important Links: Website Twitter The Lucilius Parables, Volume I The Lucilius Parables, Volume II The Century of the Self: Happiness Machines - Adam Curtis Show Notes: The origin of Lucilius Why write short stories? Fear and human nature Technology, progress and optimism Where is the positive poetry of today? The momentum metric How to rebrand Guatemala White Mirror Choose your disposition The power of curiosity The question as a concept Hope grows foolish with no doing Books Mentioned: The Lucilius Parables, Volume I; by Tinkered Thinking The Lucilius Parables, Volume II; by Tinkered Thinking The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultim
Thu, November 03, 2022
Edward Slingerland: Trying Not to Try
Edward Slingerland is a University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. He has authored a number of books, including ‘Trying Not to Try’ and ‘Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization’. He joins the show to discuss the paradox of effortless action, the history of Chinese philosophy, the benefits of alcohol, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Edward’s Twitter Edward’s Website Drunk Trying Not to Try Show Notes: The paradox of trying not to try Western equivalents to wu-wei The difference between wu-wei and flow How to cultivate wu-wei How technology makes it harder to find wu-wei Why were Confucianism and Daoism so successful? Utilitarianism, China and the panopticon The right amount of rationality, choking Shutting down the prefrontal cortext The evolutionary origins of our love of alcohol The power of psychedelics Ecological niches, cooperation, creativity and honesty An alternative model of honesty Stop pushing so hard, go walk in the woods Books Mentioned: Trying Not to Try: The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity; by Edward Slingerland Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization; by Edward Slingerland The Dao De Jing; by Laozi </spa
Thu, October 27, 2022
Jeremiah Lowin — Make Original Mistakes
Jeremiah Lowin is the founder & CEO of Prefect, a dataflow automation company. Jeremiah joins Jim for his second appearance on Infinite Loops to discuss executing, storytelling, artificial intelligence and, of course, puns. Important Links: Prefect.io Disney Research Hub The story of the fake statue of Venus Show Notes: Slack, puns and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Planning, executing and the story of Prefect in 2022 Why naming things is a superpower If you can’t pivot, you’re dead Make original mistakes AI, storytelling, deep fakes and open source Books Mentioned: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch
Thu, October 20, 2022
Herbert Lui — Creative Doing
Herbert is a writer and editorial director who has been writing online since he was 15. He is the editor of 'The World According to Kanye' and has written for publications such as Forge, TIME and Quartz. Herbert joins the show to discuss his book 'Creative Doing: 75 Practical Exercises to Unblock Your Creative Potential in Your Work, Hobby, or Next Career', and to share some practical, actionable methods of harnessing the creative impulses that lie inside us all. Important Links: Herbert’s Twitter Herbert’s Website Creative Doing Show Notes: “Think less; do more” Adapting to social media “Don’t make the bad the enemy of the good” “Doing is thinking” The strongest case for thinking over doing The role of the subconscious in the creative process The Madman and the Judge What initial steps can an aspiring creator take? Is there such a thing as natural creativity? “Quality is a word smart people use to procrastinate” Unifying the Madman and the Judge Why do societies try to crush creativity out of people? Why we are all creative Books Mentioned: Creative Doing: 75 Practical Exercises to Unblock Your Creative Potential in Your Work, Hobby, or Next Career; by Herbert Lui Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned: The Myth of the Objective; by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman The Love Song of J. Alfred Profrock; by T.S. Eliot The I Ching Tao Te Ching; by Laozi
Tue, October 18, 2022
Emad Mostaque — The Future of AI
Emad Mostaque is the founder and CEO of Stability AI, the company behind Stable Diffusion. Emad joins Stability AI’s recently announced Executive Chair of the board of directors Jim O’Shaughnessy to discuss the future of AI, the benefits of open source software, and much more. Important Links: Stability AI Stable Diffusion Launch Announcement Stability AI’s Twitter Emad’s Twitter Jim’s announcement as Executive Chair Show Notes: The open vs closed AI debate How will open AI lead to better outcomes for AI safety? How will AI allow us to to solve previously unsolvable problems? How AI can transform education AI and storytelling What is ‘clean’ data? Can AI technology increase IQs across the entire world? The future: optimism, pessimism, jobs, AI alignment and the panopticon Why closed AI is a bad business model Anticipating and defending against future problems What two ideas would you like to give everyone in the world? Books Mentioned: The WEIRDest People in the World; by Joseph Henrich
Thu, October 13, 2022
David Senra — Pick The Right Heroes
“To get me stop, they’re going to have to pry the microphone out of my cold dead hand”. Hot on the heels of his hugely popular appearance on ‘Invest Like The Best’, David Senra joins a marathon episode of Infinite Loops to discuss obsession, education, optimism, podcasting, and so much more. Unsurprisingly, this one is not to be missed. Important Links: Founders Podcast Founders on Colossus David’s Twitter David’s Substack Runnin’ Down a Dream - Bill Gurley Show Notes: David’s grandfather, refugees, and risk-taking Why reading history raises our ambition Obsession and genetics Why founders are the most important people in the world Our failing education system “To get me to stop, they’re going to have to pry the microphone out of my cold dead hand” “Don’t do anything that somebody else can do” Societal responses to change, predicting the future The benefits of small teams “Plan B should be to make plan A work” Optimism, risk and the bridge of nihilism Why you need to start a podcast “History doesn’t repeat, human nature does” AI and art The internet is the greatest variance amplifier in history “You can’t fake passion” <span style="color: #
Thu, October 06, 2022
Liz Wallenstein + Dr Michael Donnino — The Mind-Body Connection
Dr Michael Donnino is the founder/director of the Psychophysiologic Research Group, and the first person in the country to complete a residency/fellowship program leading to board certification in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and critical care. Liz Wallenstein is a licensed mental health counselor who has trained in, among other areas, the methodology of ‘TMS Mind Body-Connection’. Liz and Dr Michael join the show to discuss the profound influence of Dr John Sarno on their lives, and the potentially transformational power of ‘Mind-Body’ therapies. Important Links: The Mind-Body Group Michael’s Twitter Liz’s Website Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection Show Notes: Introductions to Dr. Sarno The relationship between our emotional and physical reactions Reasons to be hopeful Emotions and conditioning A response to the sceptics The societal costs of chronic pain Mental health: moving beyond diagnostic labels Long COVID and mind-body syndrome The future of psychophysiological research What does the medical community think of mind-body syndrome? Doing the inner work that’s needed to heal The future of mind-body treatments The importance of sincerity Books Mentioned: Your Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma; by Bessel van der Kolk; Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Med
Thu, September 29, 2022
Kyla Scanlon — Cultivating Vibes
The brilliant Kyla Scanlon returns for her second appearance on Infinite Loops. As well as being a prolific creator, curator and writer, Kyla is the founder of the financial education company Bread. Kyla joins the show to discuss the vibecession, her plans for Bread, the creator economy, and much more. Important Links: Kyla’s website Kyla’s Twitter Kyla’s TikTok Kyla’s Instagram Kyla’s Substack Kyla’s Youtube Show Notes: Losing control of the meme Everything is vibes Inflation is a tax Are vibes top-down or bottom-up? Making complicated information fun The importance of having thick skin The benefits of free markets Do governments have vibes? How do you cultivate good vibes? The creator economy Bread's mission Education is broken Advice for upcoming content creators Against credentialism Open AI vs closed AI How can you change your models? What is your favourite medium? What would be the most surprising development over the next 12 months? Books Mentioned: <
Fri, September 23, 2022
The IPO is Dead, Long Live the Faux-P-O
Welcome to another episode of everyone’s favorite ramshackle financial podcast. Shane is out this week so we’ve got Mr. Kurtis in the hot seat. Big billionaire news this week as the founder of the puffy financial bro vest company Patagonia decides to give away his three billion dollar fortune. That’s nice of him. Speaking of nice billionaires, we’ve got the Adobe acquisition of Figma for a cool $20 billion. AJ has some thoughts about the transaction and how it will impact employees who have stock options. This one is priceless. Links Ethereum switches to proof-of-stake consensus after completing The Merge Ethereum completes the “Merge,” which ends mining and cuts energy use by 99.95% Bank of America to offer zero-down payment mortgages in certain Black and Hispanic communities | CNN Business Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company How about that $20B Figma-Adobe deal? PayPal Mafia Lands Another Hit With Adobe’s $20 Billion Figma Acquisition Want to know more about working with BrooklynFI, contact us here
Thu, September 22, 2022
Trung Phan + Rob Henderson — Talking Television
Is this the greatest crossover event in history? Fresh from their individual appearances on Infinite Loops, Trung Phan and Rob Henderson join forces to discuss TV, film, and why Rob still hasn’t seen Apocalypse Now. Important Links: Rob’s Substack Rob’s Twitter Trung’s Substack Trung’s Twitter Show Notes: Hearts of Darkness: one of the craziest stories in Hollywood history The beginning of TV’s golden age Breadth or depth? The two paths to prestige TV What TV can teach you about elite America The two ways of watching prestige TV How TV shows program us The decline of event TV Recurring themes and HumanOS Succession and signalling The Great Reshuffle and Substack The 70s: one of the worst American decades of all time What will TV be like in 10 years’ time? Challenge yourself with art Broaden your content horizons Books Mentioned: Heart of Darkness; by Joseph Conrad Unflattening; by Nick Sousanis The Iliad; by Homer The Odyssey; by Homer The Da Vinci Code; by Dan Brown Infinite Jest; by David Foster Wallace TV Shows and Films Mentioned:
Thu, September 15, 2022
Nick Gillespie — The Lou Reed of Libertarianism
Nick Gillespie is the host of the Reason Interview and an editor at large at Reason. Nick is one of the most interesting libertarian thinkers in America, and has been described by the New York Times as being to libertarianism “what Lou Reed is to rock ‘n’ roll, the quintessence of its outlaw spirit". Important Links: Nick’s Substack Nick’s Twitter Nick’s Podcast Reason Show Notes: Is libertarianism dead? Saying what you think The case for rational optimism Labels and empathy President Nixon, the Great Reshuffle, Bitcoin Bureaucracy and responsiveness The rapidly changing world Prohibition and legalisation Why America does not have enough immigration The enfranchising power of social media Obscenity and moral panics Empathy with the dispossessed And MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What’s Wrong with America; by Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch The Rational Optimist; by Matt Ridley The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams The Population Bomb; by Paul Ehrlich The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy; by Joseph Schumpeter
Thu, September 08, 2022
Will Storr—The Status Game
Will Storr is an award winning journalist and author. His book ‘The Status Game’ transforms our understanding of human nature by demonstrating how our unconscious desire for status ultimately drives our behaviour. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wstorr?s=21&t=ZdtIqP9eE3_a5qZocDjEXQ Website: https://willstorr.com The Science of Storytelling: https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com Show Notes: Will’s origin story The strange case of David Irving The fundamental nature of status games The Stanford prison experiment and dominance games The status games played by cults Luxury beliefs Why we are all moral hypocrites The importance of being funny Social status and socioeconomic status Human OS and the education system How status seeking leads to the “very best of human nature” The murderous nature of reputation destruction The post WW1 humiliation of Germany Loaded magazine Finding the true reason behind seemingly crazy beliefs The value of religion Trading status Spreading humility Why we could be wrong about our closest beliefs Books Mentioned: The Unpersuadables: Adventures with the Enemies of Science; by Will Storr The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard Bloom The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloo
Thu, September 01, 2022
Vitaliy Katsenelson—Soul In The Game
Vitaliy Katsenelson is the CEO of a value investment firm IMA, author of two books on investing, and a recently published non-investing book named “Soul In The Game”. Known for his uncommon common sense, Forbes magazine called him "The New Benjamin Graham." Vitaliy loves to read, listen to classical music, play chess, and write about life, investing, and music. Important Links: Blog: https://contrarianedge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vitaliyk Twitter: https://twitter.com/vitaliyk IMA: https://imausa.com/ Favorite classical music website: https://myfavoriteclassical.com/ “The Gateway Drug to Classical Music” Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1tfsohjLty6IK2b2B8AGE0 Show Notes: Coming to America from Soviet Russia How movies shape perception Two frameworks to understand the mind Programming yourself with the words you use The Thinker and the Prover Abracadabra—I create as I speak Four modes of communication Not letting an idea become your identity Writing about both sides of the argument Reality is nuanced Depersonalize your arguments A mathematical formula to determine outcomes Table cloth model of investing Event, Judgement, Reaction framework Reframing your worries away Is the USA still the best place to be for talented people? Elon Musk’s distinctiveness <span style="color: #33333
Thu, August 25, 2022
Dennis McKenna—Rebooting Yourself with Psychedelics
Dennis McKenna is the founder of the McKenna Academy and has conducted research in ethnopharmacology for over 40 years. He is a founding board member of the Heffter Research Institute, and was a key investigator on the Hoasca Project, the first biomedical investigation of ayahuasca. Important Links: McKenna Academy: https://mckenna.academy/ ESPD 55 (Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs): https://espd55.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DennisMcKenna4 ICEERS (International Center for Ethno-botanical Education, Research, and Service): https://www.iceers.org/ Show Notes: ESPD 55 conference Goals of the McKenna Academy How psychedelics affect our relationship with nature Bridging the gap between ancestral and moderns scientific knowledge Psychedelics on the safety scale Nixon’s war against drugs Fear of persecution in the medical community LSD being really responsible for the birth of modern neuroscience DMT reopening the door to clinical research Using psilocybin for end of life applications Psychedelics are not just “band-aids” Dissipation of knowledge among indigenous tribes Reality hallucination Therapeutic utility of psychedelics Future of psychedelic research Making psychedelics more accessible Protecting endangered plants Forming alliances with indigenous communities Books Mentioned: The Immortality Key; by Brian Muraresku How
Thu, August 18, 2022
David Perell—Write to Find Yourself
David Perell is prolific writer and online educator, who runs a writing school called “Write of Passage”. David also hosts the “The North Star Podcast” featuring interviews with writers, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Important Links: Website: https://perell.com/ Writing School: https://writeofpassage.school/ Friday Finds Links: https://perell.com/friday-finds-links/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_perell Show Notes: Origins of “Write of Passage” Writing leads to thinking David’s ever expanding portfolio Live the life that you teach Applying lessons from Disneyland to a writing course Four Seasons of writing education Ana’s success with David’s course Writing as a career transition Average course cohort age Building a personal monopoly Advice for an aspiring creator Dive into the work of the people you admire Managing fear of creating in public The network age Building a product for high-schoolers Finding your tribe on the internet Going against the trend with long-form essays Checklists and prescriptions The cover band strategy for investing Building an internet native education system Schools stifling creativity The Never-Ending Now Books Mentioned: Zero to One; by
Thu, August 11, 2022
Shreyas Doshi—Making of a Great Leader
Shreyas Doshi is a startup advisor who has formerly worked in the product teams of tech firms like Stripe, Twitter, Google, Yahoo. He regularly writes about product, strategy, org psychology, leadership, and life! Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/shreyas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyasdoshi Show Notes: Shreyas’s childhood Operating with the owner mindset The LNO framework Getting good at leveraging time The antithesis principle Having a great manager Individual vs. group decision making “Apple Pie” positions Beware of certainty theater Social media: A global intelligence network Minimizing your opportunity costs The issue with following the rubric Lessons from school at the workplace Learning to unlearn Tao Te Ching on leadership Being an invisible leader Tight vs. weak grip And MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr The Status Game; by Will Storr Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu
Thu, August 04, 2022
Alex Danco—Where the Circle Begins, or Ends
Our recurring guest (who rarely recurs these days), Alex Danco, comes back for his sixth appearance on Infinite Loops! Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco Website: https://alexdanco.com/ Newsletter: https://danco.substack.com/ Show Notes: Our planned, but unplanned conversations Pink Floyd were philosophers From Heraclitus, to Lao Tzu, to Gita, to Deutsch Where does decision making come from? Projection 101 Can you versus can’t you read people’s mind Jim throwing big fancy words like “Phylogenetic inertia” Corn: The apex predator Self-serving nature of memetic theory The Mirror Philosophy What is a “creator”? Communication theory by Gregory Bateson The Founding Murderer Consequences of eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge "The most entertaining outcome is the most likely.” Hot media vs. Cool media The Wire, and dumb Stringer The state of accreditation Balancing mystery with transparency Knowing pop culture as a status symbol And MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr The Status Game; by Will Storr Happy; by Derren Brown The Selfish Gene; by Richard Dawkins Steps to
Thu, July 28, 2022
Johnathan Bi — Girard, Desire, and Modernity
Johnathan Bi started out getting trained in Mathematics, and then eventually went on to study Philosophy and Computer Science at Columbia. He hosts a lecture series on René Girard’s Mimetic Theory and is also a founding member of Lonsdale Investment Technology. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnathanBi Lecture series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qu6vBebwwg Website: https://johnathanbi.com/ Lonsdale Investment Technology: https://www.longterm.com/ Show Notes: Becoming pessimistic with age Humiliation always comes back to bite you How Jonathan got introduced to Buddhism and Girard Why Jonathan left academia The driving human emotion Has modernity ignored the “spirit”? Girard’s apocalyptic predictions Wild, wild west of capitalism The mystery with the discovery of the skull What does eugenics say about science? Science becoming dictatorial Buddhism figuring out the inner telescope Physical vs. metaphysical desires Mimesis in asset valuation Price to magic ratio Nietzsche's will of power Is delusion bad? Can internet lead to greater violence? “The Buddhist Solution” Girard—A rescuer of spirit And MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Status Game; by Will Storr <span style="color: #333
Thu, July 21, 2022
Dan McMurtrie — On Markets and Policy
Dan McMurtrie is the Portfolio Manager at Tyro Partners, an asset management firm for institutions and HNWIs; and the General Partner at Anchorless Bangladesh, an early stage venture fund focused on Bangladeshi startups. Links: Dan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperMugatu Tyro Partners: https://www.tyropartners.com/ Anchorless Bangladesh: https://www.anchorless.vc/ Coolworks: Jobs in Great Places: https://www.coolworks.com/ Show Notes: Are we in the schadenfreude part of the market cycle? Going back to the fundamentals Solving the agency problem Taking concentrated beta risk Having clarity around your goals The behavioral risk in investing Do not get married to your investment thesis It’s always you vs. you Investing is about understanding other people's mistakes Societal costs of stablecoins being unstable Compatibility of social media and representative democracy Issues with the current US Govt. administration Number one existential risk for US currently Risks of information overload Improving education about commerce Dopamine manipulators Leadership vs. Stakeholder management America vs China for policy changes US legal immigration system And MUCH more!
Thu, July 14, 2022
George Mack — Marketing, Mental Models, and Technology
Description: George Mack is a creator who writes about the intersection of mental models, marketing, and technological tools and tactics. His marketing agency “Multiply” has helped grow some of the fasted growing businesses in the world backed by VCs like Stripe, YC, Sequoia, and LVMH. George’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/george__mack George’s newsletter: https://emailoctopus.com/lists/6d23df04-dff2-11ea-a3d0-06b4694bee2a/forms/subscribe Multiply Marketing: https://www.multiply.marketing/ Show Notes: Specific knowledge and technology Rise of TikTok Bringing people closer to tech Regulation slowing down tech innovation High agency filters A self-made teenage billionaire? New forms of education Word of mouth 2.0 The best marketer doesn’t look like a marketer Elon’s 21 second pause Optimizing for luck The smart friend razor Superpower in being weird How to build a porn site Assess others to assess yourself The issue with personality tests Advice to the young Books Mentioned: Zero to One; by Peter Thiel Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Bhagavad Gita
Thu, July 07, 2022
Ian Cassel — All Great Things Start Small
Ian Cassel is the founder of MicroCapClub, a community where hundreds of investors have discussions on US and Canadian microcap companies. They also help you become better investors with educational content covering investing strategies, intelligent fanatic CEOs, great investors, and more. Ian is also Founder and CIO at Intelligent Fanatics Capital Management, whose goal is to own the smallest, most illiquid, least institutionally owned, misunderstood businesses that are run by intelligent fanatics. Ian’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/iancassel MicroCapClub: https://microcapclub.com/ Intelligent Fanatics Capital Management: https://if.capital/ Show Notes: Microcaps are boons for quants How Ian fell in love with microcaps Managing other people’s money Advantages and risks of microcap investing Profitability, scarcity, and great stories The top-down and bottom-up investment framework Not being limited by minimum market caps Being a hands-on investor Turnovers in microcap portfolios PE taking over microcap firms Increasing the flywheel of serendipity Preparing to be effortless Not getting into arguments with people with made up minds Being honest about your investment approach The “mute” button hack Identifying bad management Importance of base rates Educating about microcaps Optimism beats pessimism Do macroeconomic factors really matter? What is chasing you? Books Mentioned: <span
Thu, June 30, 2022
Paul Millerd — The Pathless Path
After working at McKinsey and getting an MBA from MIT, Paul Millerd was succeeding well on a path that “made sense”. However, things started changing when he had a health crisis, which ended up with him embarking on a pathless path. Since 2017, he’s been tinkering with multiple side-hustles, writing newsletters, creating podcasts, traveling, and helping others join the pathless path. Paul’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd Paul’s newsletter: https://boundless.substack.com/ ‘The Pathless Path’ book: https://think-boundless.com/the-pathless-path/ Show Notes: Having fun paying bills Jumping off your fitness landscape The first few years of being self-employed Connecting with the subconscious self Internet as an off-ramp How to stir up curiosity Lessons from DJing The social construct of retirement Internet economy requires showing up daily Design for liking your life Tinkering Embracing laziness Luxury of doing what you want The shift from cynicism to optimism Societal progress over the last decades What’s next for Paul? Books Mentioned: The Pathless Path; by Paul Millerd The Body Keeps The Score; by Bessel van der Kolk
Thu, June 23, 2022
David Chilton — The Wealthy Barber
Dave Chilton is a Canadian author, investor, and a venture capitalist who has appeared on television in the Canadian version of Dragons’ Den. In 1989, he released his book ”The Wealthy Barber” which went on to sell an astonishing two million copies in Canada. You can follow Dave on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wealthy_barber and buy his book at https://www.amazon.com/THE-WEALTHY-BARBER/dp/B000SAI072 Show Notes: How Dave met Jim Signs of curiosity “The Wealthy Barber” TV show Twitter as a global intelligence network Capital Camp and Rethinking Private Equity Getting good at taking criticism Dave’s approach to writing “The Wealthy Barber” The decline in business travel Starting new businesses at 60 Helping out authors with book publishing “The Chilton Method” web-series Power laws in podcasting Inviting Jim’s kids to Infinite Loops How to react if your passport gets pickpocketed Living in the moment Building a healthy relationship with your kids The natural love for trivia Collecting art Anecdotal info in the world of big data Still using a Blackberry Books Mentioned: The Wealthy Barber; by Dave Chilton What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Invest Like the Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Psychology of Money; by Morgan Housel The Immortality Key; by Brian Muraresku
Thu, June 16, 2022
Meb Faber — Two Quants Walk into a Bar
Meb Faber is co-founder and the Chief Investment Officer of Cambria Investment Management, author of multiple books , and host of “The Meb Faber Show” podcast. You can follow Meb on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MebFaber and know more about him and his work at https://mebfaber.com/ Show Notes: Replicating the Yale endowment Why investors won’t follow advice Importance of writing down your investment plan The challenges of buy and hold Learning from your losses Out of favor strategies A dividend strategy without dividends The branding issue with buybacks Harsh book reviews Investing in international markets Are we in an expensive downtrend? Stated vs. Actual preference Not betting on merely sentiment Robinhood with an educational spin
Thu, June 09, 2022
Trung Phan — On Smart Threads and Dumb Memes
Trung T. Phan is a creator in the tech, business, and media space. His Twitter threads are full of knowledge and humor, and he also co-hosts the “Not Investment Advice” podcast. Follow Trung on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TrungTPhan and subscribe to his newsletter at https://trungtphan.com/subscribe/ Show Notes: Trung’s Vietnamese origins Humor in your talent stack Asymmetric returns of creating content online The power of memes Getting a CFA Going back to writing movie scripts Succeeding in the creator economy How to acquire people’s attention Creating content on LinkedIn and Facebook The importance of traveling Donald Trump’s popularity in SE Asia History is not black or white Steve Jobs with the Picasso How a Microsoft guy catalyzed the iPad Musk’s space meeting with Bezos Not letting complacency set in Putting historical dates into perspective Structuring speech to persuade Jim not dissing Plato Making Ted Lasso likable in 157 seconds And MORE! Books Mentioned: The Status Game; by Will Storr The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch Virus of the Mind; by Richard Brodie The Republic; Plato
Thu, June 02, 2022
Jimmy Soni — Make Things, and Be Playful
Jimmy Soni is an author whose work focuses on people who create and build interesting things—whether theories, carousels, or companies. His books include “The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley”, “A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age”, and more! You can follow Jimmy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jimmyasoni and go through his work on https://jimmysoni.com/ Show Notes: The joy of curiosity How memes spread The Great Reshuffle How internet changed the publishing industry Parallels between early days of PayPal and Bitcoin Money as an information system Appreciating the micro-level decisions Three new things about Elon The Elon Effect How the PayPal founders brought the best out of people The unknown names who were critical to PayPal Claude Shannon’s financial decisions Wealth is a byproduct of the devotion to the craft Books Mentioned: The Founders; by Jimmy Soni A Mind at Play; by Jimmy Soni Virus of the Mind; by Richard Brodie The Sovereign Individual; by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg What Works on Wall Street; Jim O'Shaughnessy
Thu, May 26, 2022
Peter Saddington — Love of Learning
Peter Saddington is a man of many talents. He’s a software developer, founder, author, VC, and writes “The Agile VC” newsletter which covers Inside Startups, Venture Capital, and Life! You can connect with Peter on Twitter at https://twitter.com/agilepeter and subscribe to his newsletter at https://theagilevc.substack.com/ Show Notes: Being exceptionally useful Holding nothing close to the vest Mastering the inner self Peter’s childhood Financial future of our world Antifragility of Bitcoin Mining cryptocurrencies Infinite Loop’s NFT journey The future of NFTs How Peter got censored on YouTube The rise of Substack Jim’s business ideas for the new world The unfair advantage of a physical connection Fixing your house before fixing the world Most important skills to have for a young person Manifestation is about taking action
Thu, May 19, 2022
Ben Hunt — Preserving the Physical Metaverse
Ben Hunt is the creator and primary author of Epsilon Theory, and co-founder and CIO at Second Foundation Partners. Epsilon Theory is a newsletter that examines markets through the lenses of game theory and history. Over 100,000 professional investors and allocators across 180 countries read Epsilon Theory for its fresh perspective and novel insights into market dynamics. You can follow Ben on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EpsilonTheory and read Epsilon Theory here: https://www.epsilontheory.com/ Show Notes: Neurolinguistic hard reset Ben’s days at Harvard Why Klaus Schwab is a raccoon Human beings are social animals How language impacts and limits us The cost of the Metaverse How the nudging state is rewiring us Does narrative follow price, or is it the inverse? Traders respond to stories everyday How technology can fight the nudging state. NOAH: An ark of stories on the blockchain Books Mentioned: The WEIRDest People in the World; by Joseph Henrich How the Irish Saved Civilization; by Thomas Cahill
Mon, May 16, 2022
Brian Feroldi — Spreading Financial Wellness
Brian Feroldi is the author of the book “Why Does The Stock Market Go Up?: Everything You Should Have Been Taught About Investing In School, But Weren't”. His mission statement is “To Spread Financial Wellness”, and he does exactly that in this episode of Infinite Loops! You can connect with Brian on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrianFeroldi and get his book from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Why-Does-Stock-Market-Everything/dp/1735066168/ Show Notes: Brian’s first exposure to the stock market The power of mission statements Personal finances over investments Paying off your mortgage early Finding high-quality companies (Business) Momentum investing Brian’s Investment Checklist Importance of narratives in investments strategies 99% of great investing is doing nothing On being wrong, and learning from mistakes DCA’ing into index funds Capitalism is brutal Knowing Tom Engle Books Mentioned: Why Does The Stock Market Go Up?; by Brian Feroldi The Tao Jones Averages; Bennett W. Goodspeed How To Retire Rich; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Intelligent Investor; by Benjamin Graham The Psychology of Money; Morgan Housel Just Keep Buying; Nick Maggiulli
Thu, May 12, 2022
Tracy Alloway — Understanding Financial Crises
Tracy Alloway is the co-host of the Odd Lots podcast and a managing editor at Bloomberg Markets. You can follow Tracy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/tracyalloway and listen to her podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1te7oSFyRVekxMBJUSethH Show Notes: Financial crisis hindsight Being obsessed with risk and systemic stability Historical parallels to the crisis of ‘08 Macro vs. micro bullshitting Why people refuse to say “I don't know” Victorian chicken bubble Tales of forensic accounting NFTs being used to launder money? NFTs’ path to success Insights from collapse of previous civilizations Understanding the Human OS Fair Wages for Robots Praise for Citi’s Matt King and Credit Suisse’s Zoltan Pozsar
Thu, May 05, 2022
Nick Maggiulli — Just Keep Buying
Nick Maggiulli is a financial educator, author of the blog “Of Dollars and Data”, and the newly released book “Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways To Save Money And Build Your Wealth.” In this episode, we talk with Nick about the robust empirical research that has gone behind the insights and ideas presented in his new book! You can follow Nick on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dollarsanddata and buy his book at https://ofdollarsanddata.com/justkeepbuying/ Show Notes: Coming up with title of the book The save-invest continuum Is buying a house a good investment? Debt: Good or bad? On being shaped by our experiences One path the wealth creation? 2020 vs 2021 as an investment year Handling emotions during a bear market Importance of diversification The ideal asset allocation The Great Reshuffle The argument against stock picking Negative yield bonds Lump sum vs. DCA Index investors or momentum investors Life as a growth, and value stock Books Mentioned: Just Keep Buying; by Nick Magguilli Security Analysis; Benjamin Graham The Intelligent Investor; Benjamin Graham Influence; by Robert Cialdini
Thu, April 28, 2022
William Green — Lessons for Life and Investing
William Green is a journalist and author of the book “RICHER, WISER, HAPPIER: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life.” — a book that draws on hundreds of hours of interviews with many of the world’s super-investors to demonstrate that key insights for building wealth apply to life as well. You can follow William on Twitter https://twitter.com/williamgreen72 and get his book at https://www.amazon.com/Richer-Wiser-Happier-Greatest-Investors/dp/1501164856 Show Notes: From Journalism to Investing Obsessiveness required to play and win a game Behavioral biases Role of patience in investing Stoicism, and dealing with uncertainty Reading authors like Henry James Saying YES to serendipity Being present in the moment Delaying gratification “When I fall, I shall rise” Getting out of your own way Staying away from the games that don't suit you How body posture can affect you psychologically Giving pleasure to your creator Not knowing the truth Books Mentioned: Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and in Life; by William Green Happy: Why More Or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine; by Derren Brown
Thu, April 21, 2022
10-K Diver — Finance For Everyone
As Chamath Palihapitiya put it back in April 2021, 10-K Diver is “one of the best fintwit accounts on Twitter.” 10-K Diver loves breaking down complex financial topics and helping people understand them via engaging Twitter threads. You can follow 10-K Diver on Twitter at https://twitter.com/10kdiver and read all his threads at https://10kdiver.com/twitter-threads/ Show Notes: Curating aggressively Is there a long term plan? Reasoning from the first principles Volatility tax Do markets have a memory? Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) Mental models for investing Premeditating Jim’s GIF game Is it a Lindy or a turkey? The ‘Money Concepts’ show Benefits and pitfalls of leverage What’s next for the 10-K diver? Books Mentioned: Reminiscences of a Stock Operator; by Edwin Lefèvre Happy; by Derren Brown
Thu, April 14, 2022
Morgan Housel — The Best Story Wins
Morgan Housel comes back for his second episode and Infinite Loops’ 100th episode! Morgan is a financial writer and author of the bestselling book “Psychology of Money” — having sold more than a million copies worldwide! You can follow Morgan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/morganhousel , and read his blog at https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/ Show Notes: Morgan’s role at Collaborative Fund Marketing that isn’t “forced” Good product is good marketing When perception becomes reality Feedback to Morgan’s book The power of stories Understanding finance vs. Experiencing it Writing is thinking Not a great age for middlemen Promises of crypto Should volatility be considered as risk? Morgan’s next book Disconnect between the ideal and the practical Change in Morgan’s life after his book’s success Happiness is not about money Raising children into great adults Interviews should be conversations, not interrogations On luck and humility Books Mentioned: Psychology of Money; by Morgan Housel
Thu, April 07, 2022
Dr. David Rhoiney — “Designed to Fit Out”
Dr. David Rhoiney is a Robotic Surgeon, but his talent stack also includes being a cryptologist, financial educator, writer, public speaker, web developer, former Division One Basketball player and sprinter, and more! Phew... However, he did not come from a background of privilege. He started out homeless, and the only bread winner of his struggling family from a very young age. So how did he change his life? One word: Perseverance. Dr. David is now on the path of helping others change their own lives, and shares one of most inspiring stories we have heard till date. We are grateful to be able to share his life's journey with you. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. You can contact Dr. David on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FiSurgi and subscribe to his newsletter at https://surgifi.substack.com/ Show notes: David’s childhood Managing to stay away from Foster care Going through a GI bleed An academic turnaround Becoming a submariner Four years of cryptology Getting into medical school Introduction to financial literacy Origins of SurgiFi On always being kind and helpful David’s Talent Stack Advice to the young Motivating people to learn Never going back to poverty Being an autodidact Poverty is NOT chosen Ideas to improve financial literacy in the world
Thu, March 31, 2022
Douglas A. Boneparth — Building the Web 2.0 to 3.0 Bridge
Douglas A. Boneparth is the President at Bone Fide Wealth, Founder at CryptoDrip, and co-author of the book ‘Millennial Money Fix’. Follow Douglas on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/dougboneparth , CryptoDrip at https://twitter.com/cryptodripxyz and know more about Bone Fide Wealth here: https://bonefidewealth.com/ Show Notes: Writing a book with your spouse "Killing your darlings" Humor as a marketing strategy Generating leads with Twitter and SEO Scaling a financial planning business Demystifying financial jargon Dealing with the 2020 crisis Doug's introduction to Bitcoin The Web 2.0/Web 3.0 bridge Crypto Drip: A coffee-based NFT collection Trusting the trust-less system Gamestop-AMC saga Responsibilities of a fiduciary Earning the Right to Invest How NOT to suck on Twitter Books Mentioned: The Millennial Money Fix; by Douglas A. Boneparth and Heather Boneparth
Thu, March 24, 2022
Steve Begleiter — Private Equity, Poker, and Military History
Steven Begleiter is a Managing Director of Flexpoint Ford. Prior to joining Flexpoint Ford in 2008, Steve was a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns & Co. He is also a professional Poker player who claimed the 6th place in World Series of Poker 2009, winning $1.59M Show Notes: Culture at Bear Stearns The liquidity crisis that ended Bear Stearns Evolution of Financial Services Importance of having a ‘thesis’ for your investments The Rise of Private Equity Where is PE headed to? Investing lessons from a Poker career Role of luck in life and Poker Psychology at the poker table How micro-expressions can give your game away Historical perspective to the Russia-Ukraine crisis Importance of reading military history
Thu, March 17, 2022
Jake Taylor — Getting Better at Decision Making
Jake Taylor is the CEO of Farnam Street Investments and author of the book ‘The Rebel Allocator’, a book that help readers make better investment and business decisions. You can find Jake on Twitter at https://twitter.com/farnamjake1 and get his book from https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Allocator-Jacob-Taylor/dp/173268832X Show Notes: Iron Law of Economic Survival Trade-offs between profit and brand Capturing intangible value Products as signalling devices Journalytic — Getting better at decision making Reducing the friction around journalling Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey Shortening the brain’s feedback loop The Great Reshuffle The Thinker and The Prover Cheng versus Ch'i Plato’s cave analogy for business decision making What makes a good decision maker? Books Mentioned: The Rebel Allocator; by Jake Taylor The Wealthy Barber; by Dave Chilton The Nature of Value; by Nick Gogerty The Genius of the Beast; by Howard Bloom Happy; by Derren Brown
Thu, March 10, 2022
Alex Danco — What is Web 3.0 All About?
Our recurring guest Alex Danco of Spotify, err.. Shopify returns to Infinite Loops for his fifth appearance to discuss all things Web 3! Follow Alex on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco and read his essays at https://alexdanco.com/ Show Notes: Was it un-Canadian for Canada to pass the Emergency Act? Was the MAGA movement monarchist? Social meaning of NFTs What NFTs are not Catholicism — The original blockchain Code that can make commitments Wallets are the new web browsers What really is censorship Blockchains tell you what to ignore Porting from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 NFTs as human readable format of a smart contract Why gamers end up as good decision makers How to identify an extremely online person
Thu, March 03, 2022
Rohit Krishnan — Ideas for the Future
Rohit Krishnan is a VC and essayist who writes the ‘Strange Loop Canon’ newsletter in which he tries to understand the ever increasing complexity of our world. You can follow Rohit on Twitter at https://twitter.com/krishnanrohit and subscribe to his newsletter at https://www.strangeloopcanon.com/ Show Notes: Douglas Hofstadter’s Strange Loop Memory as an unreliable narrator Are we seeing a decline in eccentricity? The Great Reshuffle We need more Thiel-style patrons Why do big companies suck at innovation? Importance of failure Reducing the cost of failure Universal Basic Income/Dividend Maximizing EV vs. Maximizing hit rate Are governments inefficient? Fragility of jobs World in 2050 Books Recommended: Gödel, Escher, Bach; by Douglas Hofstadter I Am a Strange Loop; by Douglas Hofstadter The Misbehavior of Markets; by Benoit Mandelbrot and Richard L. Hudson
Thu, February 24, 2022
Sam McRoberts — Screw the Zoo
Title: Description: Sam McRoberts is the CEO of VUDU Marketing, an SEO agency and author of the book ‘Screw the Zoo’, a book that helps you “escape from your cage, free your mind, and take over the world.” You can contact Sam on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sams_Antics and get his book at https://screwthezoo.com/ Show Notes: Life as a digital nomad Role of video games in children’ education The Great Unwashed Running an SEO consultancy Jed McKenna — A fictional character? Being kind to everyone Importance of curation in social media Bot infestation in Twitter Free will vs. Nature of reality Surrender comes after enlightenment, not before Memory as a latticework Shannon Limit Love as detachment Perseverance and survivorship bias The Original Sin Another dark age? To mute, or to block? Virtual Reality and Robots Psychedelics Books Recommended: The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch Cloud Atlas; by David Mitchell Screw the Zoo; by Sam McRoberts
Thu, February 17, 2022
Rick Doblin and Amy Emerson — Demystifying Psychedelics
Rick Doblin in the Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). MAPS is a leading organization in the USA supporting psychedelic and marijuana research since 1986. You can follow Rick on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/RickDoblin . Amy Emerson is the CEO of the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAPS. You can learn more about MAPS and donate at https://maps.org/ Show Notes: Rick’s journey from Construction to Psychedelics How Amy met Rick and started working together How psychedelic research was hampered for decades MDMA therapy for police officers and Navy Seals Cultural shift in the perception of psychedelics Has internet made it easier or difficult to spread propaganda? Legitimate concerns agains advancements in psychedelic research MDMA: A euphoric, or psychedelic? Man-made vs. Natural psychedelics Psychedelics are NOT magic cure-all pills MDMA treatment for childhood trauma? Alternative forms of treatment like sound therapy, VR, hypnotism Why donate to MAPS Books Mentioned: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; by Ken Kesey Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge; by Jeremy Narby How to Change Your Mind; by Michael Pollan The Immortality Key; by Brian Muraresku Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The Body Keeps the Score; by Bessel van der Kolk Happy; by Derren Brown The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch
Mon, February 14, 2022
Lily Francus and Jesse Livermore — Understanding Financial Bubbles
Lily Francus is a risk theorist and a quantitative researcher at Moody’s. She is also the author of the ‘Midnight on the Market Momentum’ newsletter. Find Lily on her Twitter at https://twitter.com/nope_its_lily and read her newsletter at https://nopeitslily.substack.com Jesse Livermore is an OSAM research partner and a recurring guest at Infinite Loops. You can connect with him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Jesse_Livermore and read more about his work at http://www.philosophicaleconomics.com/ Show notes: Why all the recent focus on bubbles? How the era you grow up in shapes your investment philosophy Intrinsic and Extrinsic value How leverage impacts pricing What is a bubble? And how to identify if you’re in one Role of uncertainty in arbitraging What makes a bubble pop How bubbles set a new floor price Do we have enough short sellers? Time arbitrage Information arbitrage in a hyper-connected world Are we currently in a financial bubble? Implications of pseudonymity Is there a free will?
Thu, February 10, 2022
Zachary Resnick — Bitcoin SV, Music, and Poker
Zachary Resnick is the Managing Partner and co-founder at Unbounded Capital, a trumpet player and composer, and a poker enthusiast. We speak with Zach about: Scaling issues with BTC Why isn't Bitcoin SV the prominent Bitcoin? The best use-cases for Bitcoin SV Can Bitcoin SV survive a govt. attack? Jazz music, Poker, and much more! Follow Zachary on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/TrumpetisAwesom and know more about Unbounded Capital at https://unboundedcapital.com/
Thu, February 03, 2022
Dave Nadig — Decoding the Metaverse
Dave Nadig is the CIO & Director of Research for ETF Trends and ETF Database. However, our conversation with Dave takes a curious turn and instead of ETFs, we end up discussing about: • Tokenizing everything • Left vs. Right brain thinking • Working on the limitations of Web 3.0 • Role of psychology in asset valuation • And MUCH more! Follow Dave on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DaveNadig and know more about ETF Trends at https://www.etftrends.com
Thu, January 27, 2022
Louisa Nicola — Neuroscience for Your Physical & Financial Health
Louisa is a Neuroscientist & Neurophysiologist, and a performance advisor to pro athletes, teams & portfolio managers. Our discussion with Louisa includes: The origin of Neuro Athletics Goal setting done right How light and melatonin affects sleep Impact of sleep on your cognitive abilities Ice baths, sauna, performance myths And MUCH more! Know more about Louisa’s firm “Neuro Athletics” at www.neuroathletics.com.au and read her newsletter at https://neuroathletics.substack.com
Thu, January 20, 2022
Sahil Lavingia — From Web 2.1 to Web 3
In this episode of Infinite Loops we have Sahil Lavingia with us. Sahil is the founder and CEO of Gumroad, and author of the book “The Minimalist Entrepreneur”. The rise, and fall, and rise of Gumroad Physical vs. Digital Communities Befriending ‘volatility’ Applications of Web 3 And MUCH more! Follow Sahil on Twitter at https://twitter.com/shl and buy his book from Amazon at amzn.to/2ZnIGOl
Thu, January 13, 2022
Tren Griffin — Welcome to the Tren-verse: Stories on Life and Business
Tren Griffin returns to what is his third appearance on Infinite Loops — with a series of stories on business, investing, and life! Why Gates didn’t write an autobiography How “rude” QnAs can be helpful Having a purpose in life Keeping business separate from the personal And MUCH more! Follow Tren on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/trengriffin ) and read his blog at: https://25iq.com/
Thu, January 06, 2022
Frederik Gieschen — Learning and Failing in Public
Frederik is the author of the “Neckar’s Insecurity Analysis” newsletter where he writes about great investors, innovators, masters of the inner game. We talk about: Trying to “fit in” The Great Reshuffle Destroying your ideas and starting afresh Synthesizing knowledge And MUCH more! Follow Frederik on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NeckarValue and subscribe to his newsletter at neckar.substack.com
Thu, December 30, 2021
Thomas J Bevan — Avoiding the Middle Ground
Thomas J Bevan is an author and essayist. He pens The Commonplace newsletter which includes workshops on writing, movie reviews, and essays on life. We talk about: Starting a commonplace Striking a balance between the physical and digital Not defining growth with metrics The Soaring 20s Social Club And MUCH more! Follow Thomas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thomasjb3van and subscribe to his newsletter at https://thomasjbevan.substack.com/
Mon, December 27, 2021
Nicholas Gruen — Rethinking Democracy with Juries
Nicholas Gruen is a widely published policy economist, entrepreneur and commentator. He has advised Cabinet Ministers, sat on Australia’s Productivity Commission and founded Lateral Economics and Peach Financial. We discuss: Fast foodification of Democracy Isegoria, or equality of speech Pros and Cons of a citizen jury How citizen juries help in nuanced policy discussions Using philanthropy for political experiments And MUCH more! Follow Nicholas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NGruen1 and read his essays at https://clubtroppo.com.au
Thu, December 23, 2021
Lisa Feldman Barrett — Why does the brain exist?
Lisa is a Neuroscientist, psychologist, and author of the books "Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain" and "How Emotions are Made". We talk about: How expressing your emotions can help you control them Why democracy might not be great for brain's body budgeting Brain myths that deserve to die The replication crisis in Psychology And MUCH MORE! Follow Lisa on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LFeldmanBarrett and know more about her research and writings at https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/
Thu, December 16, 2021
Diane Macedo — The Sleep Fix
Diane Macedo is a news anchor at ABC News and author of the newly-released book "The Sleep Fix". Diane helps us understand many sleep disorders and their solutions, and other topics like: Are 'Insomnia' and 'Sleep deprivation' the same? Sleep efficiency Journaling to help you sleep How effective are sleep aids? And MUCH more! Follow Diane on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dianermacedo and purchase her book at https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/thesleepfix
Mon, December 13, 2021
Erik Hoel — Exploring Consciousness
Erik Hoel is a neuroscientist and an author. Erik often writes about the intersection of humanities and science, and his debut novel "The Revelations" is a tale of science, murder, and consciousness. Our discussion with Erik includes topics like: Are humans really "conscious"? Different theories of consciousness Neural pruning in babies How emotions drives scientific progress Accepting the flaws in each of us And MUCH more! Follow Erik on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/erikphoel and read more about his work at https://www.erikphoel.com/
Thu, December 09, 2021
Jay Sanguinetti — Neuro Technologies to Enhance Cognition
Jay is a scientist in Tucson, AZ. He was trained in philosophy, neuroscience, and cognitive psychology, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona on the neural processes of conscious and unconscious visual perception. Our discussion with Jay includes topics like: Using ultrasound to cure depression Power of placebos Mindfulness practices Dealing with Complex Adaptive Systems And MUCH more! Follow Jay on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JaySanguinetti and read more about his research on his website: https://www.jaysanguinetti.com/
Mon, December 06, 2021
Jesse Livermore — Future of Money, Education, and Health
Jesse Livermore (pseudonym), a Research Partner at OSAM, is back to Infinite Loops for his second appearance to talk about: Payments in the Metaverse Crypto regulation Incentives of governments vs. corporations Rise of online education Universal Basic Income Follow Jesse on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Jesse_Livermore ), and check out his writing here http://www.philosophicaleconomics.com/ .
Thu, December 02, 2021
Matt Clifford — The Rise of Modernity
Matt is the Co-founder & CEO at Entrepreneur First, and Co-founder & NED at Code First Girls. We talk with Matt about: Internet in an era of "dampened variance" Increasing democratic participation Bull and Bear case for creativity What Matt looks for in people before investing Role of geography in entrepreneurship And MUCH more! Follow Matt on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/matthewclifford and subscribe to his newsletter at http://tib.matthewclifford.com/
Thu, November 25, 2021
Ana Lorena Fabrega — Gamification of Learning
Ana is a former teacher, an edu-preneur, and the Chief Evangelist at Synthesis School. We have a very intriguing discussion with Ana around: Idea and implementation of Synthesis School Increasing engagement and ownership among students Problems with the traditional education system How schools crush creativity Beginning of the end of the existing educational system And MUCH more! Follow Ana on Twitter at https://twitter.com/anafabrega11 , subscribe to her newsletter at https://afabrega.com/newsletter , and try out the Synthesis experience at https://synthesis.is/oshag
Thu, November 18, 2021
Kyla Scanlon — When Financial Education Meets Entertainment
Kyla Scanlon is known for her humorous videos on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, covering topics like monetary policy, crypto, economics, etc. Our discussion with Kyla revolves around: Building your CV online Financial Education in 2021 Web 3.0 and Bitcoin Supply-chain Crisis Importance of the analog in the digital era And MUCH more! Follow Kyla's TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@kylascan , and subscribe to her newsletter around the nuances of human behavior at https://kyla.substack.com/
Thu, November 11, 2021
Tom Morgan — All you Need is Love?
Tom Morgan, Director of Communications & Content at The KCP Group, joins us for his second appearance at Infinite Loops to discuss: The trillion-to-one ratio of attention "Love" as a compass for growth Religions and Traditions Enlightenment vs. Adulthood And MUCH more! Follow Tom on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/tom_morganKCP and read his brilliant essays at https://thekcpgroup.com/insights
Thu, November 04, 2021
Rory Sutherland — Effective Communication: Jesters & Saints
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group, joins us for an almost unprecedented third appearance on Infinite Loops. Our discussion with Rory centers on: The marketing of Saint Paul and religious leaders. Humor as a vehicle for effective messaging. The advantages and drawbacks of remote work. “Category” vs. “brand” advertising. And MUCH more! Follow Rory on Twitter at twitter.com/rorysutherland and get his must-read book 'Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life' from Amazon.com
Thu, October 28, 2021
LibertyRPF — The Great Reshuffle & Decline of Gatekeepers
LibertyRPF is an anonymous Twitter account researching and writing his fascinating insights on Substack. Our discussion with LibertyRPF revolves around: The Decline of Gatekeepers Why Liberty started his newsletter Liberty’s investment process The role of social media in society And MUCH more! Follow LibertyRPF on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/libertyrpf ) and read his work here: https://www.libertyrpf.com/
Thu, October 21, 2021
Max Arbitrage — Technological Advancements in Healthcare
Max Arbitrage (pseudonym) is a doctor who is great at deconstructing complex health related issues and ideas down to the layman's understanding. We discuss: mRNA vaccine technology Medical Insurance in the USA Increasing abstraction in the world Importance of non-information and focus And MUCH more! Follow Max on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/max_arbitrage !
Mon, October 18, 2021
Alex Danco — On Social Hierarchies [BONUS EPISODE]
Our recurring guest, Alex Danco, returns to Infinite Loops for his fourth appearance to discuss: Books on social hierarchies Expensive in time vs. money Schooling in Canada vs. the USA The Great Reshuffle Long term impact of COVID And MUCH more! Follow Alex on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco and read his amazing essays at https://alexdanco.com/
Thu, October 14, 2021
Robert Plomin — How DNA Makes Us Who We Are
Robert Plomin is a psychologist and geneticist best known for his work in twin studies and behavior genetics. He is also the author of several books on genetics, including "Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are". Our discussion with Robert revolves around: Evolution of Behavioral Genetics Role of IQ in relationships How valuable are expensive schools? Genetics of criminal behavior The flaw with most parenting books And MUCH more! Read more about Robert Plomin here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Plomin and buy his book "Blueprint" here: https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-How-Makes-afterword-Press/dp/0262537982/
Bonus · Mon, October 11, 2021
Tim Urban — Live on Twitter Spaces [BONUS EPISODE]
This episode is a recording of a special live conversation we had with Tim Urban of Wait But Why on Twitter Spaces! After a discussion with Jim, we had a QnA session with the audience as well. Our discussion revolves around: The Wait But Why book The Great Filter Left vs. Right ideologies Twitter as an intelligence network Live Q&A session Follow Tim on Twitter at https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy and read his popular blog here: https://waitbutwhy.com/
Thu, October 07, 2021
Kevin Zatloukal — Machine Learning And Its Applications
Kevin is a Computer Scientist, part-time lecturer at Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, and research partner at OSAM. Our discussion with Kevin revolves around: What is Machine Learning (ML)? Biases in ML algorithms Application of ML in medicine, markets, and sports Parallels in Fantasy Sports and Investing And MUCH more! Follow Kevin on his Twitter at https://twitter.com/kczat and read OSAM's research articles at: https://osam.com/Commentary
Thu, September 30, 2021
Perth Tolle — Investing in Freedom
Perth Tolle is the Founder at Life + Liberty Indexes. Their indexes focus on human rights, economic freedoms, emerging markets, etc. In this episode, we talk about: Wall Street titans on China Freedom-weighted index funds Different countries on the freedom scale Freedom stocks — Overvalued or undervalued? Problems with US's mainstream media and MUCH more! Follow Perth on her Twitter at https://twitter.com/Perth_Tolle and know more about Life + Liberty Indexes here: https://www.lifeandlibertyindexes.com/
Thu, September 23, 2021
Tobias Carlisle — Philosophy of the Markets
Tobias is founder and managing director of Acquirers Funds LLC, where he also serves as portfolio manager of the firm's deep value strategy. He is also author of the books "The Acquirer's Multiple " and "Deep Value". Our discussion with Tobi revolves around: Stock market fall of early 2021 Valuing digital businesses Quantitative and Value Investing Learning from ancient philosophers Separating the message from the messenger And MUCH more! Follow Tobias on his Twitter at: https://twitter.com/Greenbackd and know more about Acquirers Funds here: https://acquirersfunds.com/
Thu, September 16, 2021
Adam Robinson & Bill Brewster — Disproving Your Thesis
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we have not one but two phenomenal guests: Adam Robinson and Bill Brewster! Adam is the co-founder of "The Princeton Review," an author, a rated chess master, and advisor to hedge funds. Bill is the host of "The Business Brew" podcast, a long-form podcast focusing on how investors can improve their decision making. We talk about: Choosing your words carefully How reliable are memories? Chess: Intuitive or Rational? Managing the Shannon Limit Walking with the data and much more! Learn more about Adam on his website: https://iamadamrobinson.com/ and listen to Bill's podcast here: https://www.podpage.com/the-business-brew/
Thu, September 09, 2021
Rob Henderson — Evolution of Social Hierarchies
In this edition of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Rob Henderson. Rob is a veteran and a PhD candidate in Psychology, at the University of Cambridge. We talk about: Growing up in foster care and overcoming a "tough" childhood Role of a military stint in early adulthood Luxury beliefs Role of media in shaping identities America's export of cultural ideas and MUCH more! Follow Rob on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robkhenderson and read his essays about the many aspects of human behavior here: https://www.robkhenderson.com/
Thu, September 02, 2021
Packy McCormick — The Great Online Game
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we speak with Packy McCormick, author of the Not Boring newsletter. We discuss many aspects of the Great Reshuffle like: UBI with crypto Designing new money How to increase crypto adoption Will NFTs go mainstream? Future of work and workspaces And MUCH more! Follow Packy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/packyM and subscribe to his newsletter at https://www.notboring.co/
Thu, August 26, 2021
Chris Williamson — Embracing Your Weirdness
Chris Williamson is the host of the Modern Wisdom podcast, a YouTuber, TEDx Speaker, and an ex-professional Party Boy! We have a wide ranging discussion with Chris in this episode of Infinite Loops, including topics like: The need to explore different ideas Impact of The Great Reshuffle Genetic Behaviorism Cultural difference in US vs UK Getting good at 'Networking' And a LOT more! Follow Chris on his Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ChrisWillx and listen to his podcast on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaH-gZIVC432YRjNVvnyCA
Thu, August 19, 2021
Tom Morgan — Curation in the Age of Information Abundance
In this episode of Infinite Loops we have Tom Morgan with us. Tom is the Director of Content and Communications at the The Knall/Cohen/Pence Group and a stellar knowledge curator. We speak about: Following your interests Operating in complex adaptive systems Winner-take-all effects in the creator economy Rethinking 'Education' Flaws in binary thinking And a LOT more! Follow Tom on his Twitter here: https://twitter.com/tomowenmorgan and read his articles at: https://thekcpgroup.com/resources
Thu, August 12, 2021
Massimo Marinelli — Premier League Economics & Sports Investing
Marinelli is an Executive Board Member at Aser Ventures, the majority owner of Premier League team Leeds United Football Club. Massimo is also on the Leeds United Board of Directors. In this episode, we speak about: · The economics of soccer and the Premier League · Aser’s decision to invest in Leeds United · Differences in EPL & NFL finances · COVID's impact on sporting events · Merchandising and Social Media in sports · The role of content in sport finances · And a LOT more! Know more about Massimo here: https://aser.com/aser/massimo-marinelli-to-join-leeds-united-board-of-directors/
Thu, August 05, 2021
Linda Lebrun — The Substack Economy
In this episode of Infinite Loops we speak with Linda Lebrun, Director of Finance & Investing Writer Recruitment at Substack. We talk about: Writing and earning on Substack Going from 'Platform owning people', to 'People owning platforms' The end state of publishing Tips for new writers Getting good at cold outreach And a LOT more! Follow Linda on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SubstackLinda and kick start your own Substack here: https://substack.com/investing-and-business
Thu, July 29, 2021
Johnny Nelson — Past, Present, and Future of Social Media
In this episode of Infinite Loops we speak with Johnny Nelson, @generativist, on the state of Social Media and the Internet. We discuss about: Managing your attention Algorithms: Good or bad? Censorship on social media What will make people adopt a new social platform? Is history an accurate predictor of the future? And a LOT more! Follow Johnny on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/generativist and read his essays here: https://generativist.falsifiable.com/
Thu, July 22, 2021
Brian Muraresku — Unravelling History's Best Kept Secret
In this episode of Infinite Loops we speak with Brian Muraresku, New York Times Best Selling author of "The Immortality Key: the Secret History of the Religion with No Name". We discuss: Role of women in early Christianity Mysticism of the ancient wine The political war on drugs The rise of Archeochemistry Classical education in the 21st century And a LOT more! Know more about Brian and his work from his website: https://www.brianmuraresku.com/ and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrianMuraresku
Thu, July 15, 2021
Dan Rasmussen — Crises Investing
In this episode of Infinite Loops we speak with Dan Rasmussen, founder and CIO of Verdad Advisers. We discuss: Bubbles vs. Crises Investing in Emerging Markets Identifying when "value investing" works, and when it doesn't Theory vs. Practice And a LOT more! Follow Dan on Twitter at https://twitter.com/verdadcap and learn more about Verdad Advisers here: https://verdadcap.com/
Thu, July 08, 2021
Denise Shull — Making Intuition Work For You
In this episode of Infinite Loops we speak with Denise Shull, a Performance and Strategy advisor and Founder at The Rethink Group. We talk about: Role of emotions in trading and investing Could Daniel Kahneman be wrong? Imprinting and Emotional Granularity Standing up for yourself (Denise vs. Billions) And a LOT more! Follow Denise on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DeniseKShull and learn more about The Rethink Group here: https://therethinkgroup.net/
Thu, July 01, 2021
Rory Sutherland — Behavioral Science, Marketing, and Persuasion
Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group, comes back for his second appearance at Infinite Loops! We discussed various marketing strategies and behavioral tics, including: In-group vs. Out-group Fractal nature of behavioral science Pricing heuristics "Woke" persuasion Barbra Streisand effect, Canada, And a LOT more! Follow Rory on Twitter at twitter.com/rorysutherland and get his must-read book 'Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life' from Amazon.com
Thu, June 24, 2021
Alex Danco — Everyone's Job is World Building
As our recurring guest, Alex Danco of Shopify returns to Infinite Loops for the third time! We talk about: Age of Scarcity vs. Abundance Everyone's job is World Building Early days of the Internet 'The Office' — and it's parallels with the real world Hierarchies in corporate and cultural America and a LOT more! Follow Alex on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco and read his amazing essays at https://alexdanco.com/
Thu, June 17, 2021
Litquidity — Up Close with the Meme King of Wall Street
In this episode of Infinite Loops we unravel the mystery around the Meme King of Wall Street — Litquidity Capital! We talk about: Meme-ing: As a finance insider and outsider Wall Street's culture Current state of financial education Growing the "Liquidity" brand Elon Musk's meme game And a LOT more! Follow Litquidity on Twitter at https://twitter.com/litcapital and sign up for their newsletter at: https://execsum.co/
Thu, June 10, 2021
Jack Butcher — Productizing Value
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Jack Butcher, creator of Visualize Value — "The operating system for value creators". We talk about: Journey from employment, to consulting, to entrepreneurship. Productizing yourself Building a brand Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome Process vs. Goals And a LOT more! Follow Jack on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jackbutcher and get Visualize Value products from https://shop.visualizevalue.com/
Thu, June 03, 2021
Luke Burgis — What Drives Human Desire?
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Luke Burgis, author of the book 'Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life'. We talk about: Needs vs. Desire The current state of social media 'Celebristan' and 'Freshmanistan' How to identify fake "experts" Scapegoating and Mimetic Violence And a LOT more! Follow Luke on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lukeburgis and get his newly-released book 'Wanting' from: https://lukeburgis.com/wanting/
Thu, May 27, 2021
Michael S. Falk — A Passionate Advocate For Economic Growth
For this episode of Infinite Loops, Michael S. Falk, CFA and partner at the Focus Consulting Group joins us. We talk about: Different careers in Finance Succession Planning Michael's books on sustainable economic growth ALS Luck, Resilience, Gratitude, and a LOT more! Follow Michael on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MSFalk and get his books from Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Work-Future-Michael-Falk/dp/1704375827
Thu, May 20, 2021
Tren Griffin — Flipping The Script
In this unique episode of Infinite Loops, Tren Griffin returns to the podcast, but this time as the co-host. Tren asks Jim a series of thought-provoking questions that cover topics like (Jim got a few questions to Tren as well): The importance of asking "why" Treating failures as lessons How writing helps in detecting blind-spots in your thinking Courage, and to go all-in! Munger, Buffett, Gates, Jobs, and A LOT more! Follow Tren on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/trengriffin ) and read his blog at: https://25iq.com/
Thu, May 13, 2021
Paul Craven — Behavioral Science & Decision Making
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Paul Craven, an expert in behavioral biases and decision making. In this conversation we discuss: What behavioral science is Building trust and relationships Temporal discounting and reframing Managing emotions in investing Surviving is winning And A LOT more! Follow Paul on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/CravenPartners ) and his website https://www.paulcraven.com/
Thu, May 06, 2021
Jeremiah Lowin — Embracing Uncertainty
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we speak with Jeremiah Lowin, CEO at Prefect. In this conversation we cover: Overcoming inertia When information challenges your beliefs Choosing the right words for expression Narratives and decision-making Building a culture that appreciates uncertainty And A LOT more Follow Jeremiah on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/jlowin ), and learn more about Prefect at https://www.prefect.io/
Thu, April 29, 2021
Jesse Livermore – What Now?
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with OSAM Research Partner Jesse Livermore (pseudonym). In this conversation we chat: MMT and valuations Bitcoin: Bull & Bear Cases Transactional valuation Intrinsic valuation Managing future crises And MUCH more Follow Jesse on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Jesse_Livermore ), and check out his writing here ( http://www.philosophicaleconomics.com/ ).
Thu, April 22, 2021
Daniel Jeffries – Questioning Everything
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Daniel Jeffries, futurist and author. Daniel’s newest book is Mastering Depression and Living the Life You Were Meant to Live . In this conversation we chat: The multiverse Why Dan wrote his newest book Mimetic desires and human behavior Questioning everything And MUCH more Follow Daniel on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Dan_Jeffries1 ), check out his writing ( https://medium.com/@dan.jeffriescheck ), and find his new book here .
Thu, April 15, 2021
Howard Lindzon – The Larry David of Finance
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Howard Lindzon, Founder & General Partner at Social Leverage, and Founder of StockTwits. In this conversation we chat: Why Howard is Larry David The reasons he launched a SPAC How SPACs differ from Venture Capital His thoughts on FinTech & Crypto And MUCH more Follow Howard on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/howardlindzon ), and check out his website ( https://howardlindzon.com/ )
Thu, April 08, 2021
Joe Weisenthal - Rapid Fire
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Joe Weisenthal, Executive Editor of Digital News at Bloomberg. In this fun and thought-provoking conversation we chat: • NFTs • Bitcoin Believers and its viability • MMT • Robinhood • And MANY more sensitive subjects Follow Joe on Twitter ( Twitter.com/thestalwart ).
Thu, April 01, 2021
Bill Brewster – Asking Tough Questions
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Bill Brewster, investor and host of The Business Brew podcast. In this conversation we covered: How Bill’s investment career took shape. The tragic story of Bill’s relative. Important questions on Robinhood. Investor education. Gambling vs. Investing. And MUCH more. Follow Bill on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/BillBrewsterSCG ) and check out Bill’s podcast ( https://www.podpage.com/the-business-brew/ )
Thu, March 25, 2021
Josh Wolfe - Inventing The Future
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Josh Wolfe, co-founder and managing partner at Lux Capital. In this conversation we covered: The acceleration of technological change. Inflation, the dollar, and crypto. Macro and geopolitical risk. Lux’s portfolio companies And MUCH more Follow Josh on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/wolfejosh ) and check out Lux Capital ( https://luxcapital.com/ )
Thu, March 18, 2021
Alex Danco - Makes A Scene
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Alex Danco of Shopify. In this wide-ranging discussion we cover: How to create a scene Great scenes and movements from history The Canadian startup market The Pepsi/Coke blind taste test And MUCH more Follow Alex ( https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco ) on Twitter, and read his blog here http://alexdanco.com/ .
Thu, March 11, 2021
Anna Gat – Learning Through Discussion
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Anna Gat, Founder and CEO of Interintellect. In this conversation we covered: Power of conversation The Salons that Anna runs The importance of framing Communication differences in genders Fostering human connection And MUCH more Follow Anna on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/TheAnnaGat ) and check out Interintellect ( www.Interintellect.com )
Thu, March 04, 2021
Max Arbitrage – Healthcare, Investing & Biology
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with the man behind anonymous Twitter account Max Arbitrage. Max is an investor, entrepreneur, and top mind in the health care industry. In this conversation we covered: Game theory and modern markets Deterministic vs. probabilistic thinking Max’s entrepreneurial ventures Fixing what sucks in an industry The perils of status games And MUCH more Follow Max on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/max_arbitrage ).
Thu, February 25, 2021
Lily Francus – Options, Passive & Speculation
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Lily Francus, an independent quantitative researcher and creator of the NOPE indicator. In this conversation we covered: Lily’s dive into the world of options Her popular whitepaper and subsequent NOPE indicator The power of Twitter for networking and insights Retail participation in the options markets GameStop madness And MUCH more Follow Lily on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/nope_its_lily ) and check out her writing ( https://nopeitslily.substack.com/ ).
Thu, February 18, 2021
Polina Marinova – The Profile
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Polina Marinova, founder, and author of The Profile newsletter, which covers the masters and experts within various industries. In this conversation we covered: Polina’s decision to leave Fortune The business aspect of content creation Lessons learned from profiling the greats How The Profile has evolved over time Developing an alter ego And MUCH more Follow Polina on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/polina_marinova ) and check out her newsletter ( https://readtheprofile.com/ ).
Thu, February 11, 2021
Naufal Sanaullah – Macro, Psychology & Charity
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Naufal Sanaullah, Chief Macro Strategist at EIA All Weather Alpha Partners. In this wide-ranging discussion we cover: How Naufal navigated markets at the start of COVID-19. Leveraging Twitter for mentorship The Momentum Factor and Goldman’s Baskets Positive and negative impacts of the internet Naufal’s charitable work And much more.
Thu, February 04, 2021
Tim Urban - Exploring Ourselves
In this episode we spoke with Tim Urban, founder and writer at Wait But Why? In this super episode Jim and Tim discuss: • The story of us • Managing and taming our biases • Flat earthers and how we’re no different • Overcoming our outdated mental hardware • and MUCH more. Follow Tim on Twitter (Twitter.com/waitbutwhy) and check out his site ( waitbutwhy.com )
Thu, January 28, 2021
Jason Zweig – Psychology, History & Writing
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Jason Zweig of The Wall Street Journal , where he writes his famous The Intelligent Investor column. Jason is also the author of Your Money and Your Brain , and the editor of the revised edition of Benjamin Graham''s The Intelligent Investor. In this discussion we cover: The power of writing to learn. Why humans never learn from their mistakes. Jason’s path into markets out of college. The lessons we can learn from the past. And much more Follow Jason on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/jasonzweigwsj ) and check out his website ( https://jasonzweig.com ).
Thu, January 21, 2021
Mayor Francis Suarez – The Miami Elevator Pitch
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami. In this wide-ranging discussion we cover: The mass business migration to Miami Leveraging Twitter as a public official The elevator pitch for moving to Miami Why the Mayor is so optimistic about Miami’s future Jim and Jamie’s post-episode discussion And much more Follow Mayor Suarez ( https://twitter.com/FrancisSuarez ) on Twitter.
Thu, January 14, 2021
Dan Runcie – The Business of Hip-Hop & Music
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Dan Runcie, author of the popular newsletter Trapital, which focuses on hip-hop business trends. Our conversation covers: Apple vs. Spotify Music as an investment asset Unique revenue streams for innovative artists The economics of hip-hop Opportunities for artists in Tiktok and other new apps And MUCH more Follow Dan ( https://twitter.com/RuncieDan ) on Twitter, and check out his newsletter https://trapital.co/ .
Thu, December 31, 2020
Brian Roemmele – The Intelligence Amplifier
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Brian Roemmele, aka “The Voice Expert”. Our long and in-depth conversation covers: The rise of Voice systems like Alexa The future of voice, AI, and knowledge Brian’s exciting invention Intelligence Amplification And MUCH more Follow Brian ( https://twitter.com/BrianRoemmele ) on Twitter, and check out his website http://voicefirst.expert/ .
Thu, December 24, 2020
Pete Weishaupt – The Golden Age for Creators
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Pete Weishaupt. Our conversation with Pete covers: Starting an e-commerce business Running cheap experiments How to leverage Twitter Behavioral economics And much more Follow Pete ( https://twitter.com/peteweishaupt ) on Twitter, and read his blog here https://maverickmedia.substack.com/ .
Thu, December 17, 2020
Alex Danco – Shopify, SPACs & Status
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Alex Danco of Shopify. In this wide-ranging discussion we cover: Alex’s first 6 months at Shopify Social Capital & SPACs How Twitter has changed status networks The rise of e-commerce Can Founders Lie? And much more Follow Alex ( https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco ) on Twitter, and read his blog here http://alexdanco.com/ .
Thu, December 03, 2020
Tren Griffin- Escaping Gravity
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Tren Griffin, Senior Director at Microsoft and author of the popular business and investing blog 25iq . In this wide-ranging discussion we cover: Base rates and ‘escaping gravity’ Living a rewarding life. Entrepreneurship and risk-taking The importance of becoming an ‘Editor’ And much more Follow Tren ( https://twitter.com/trengriffin ) on Twitter, and read his blog here 25iq .
Thu, November 19, 2020
Josh Brown & Brian Portnoy – “How I Invest My Money”
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Josh Brown & Brian Portnoy, authors of the newly released book How I Invest My Money . In this discussion, we cover: How Brian and Josh invest personally. Highlighted stories from some of the 25 contributing authors. The concept of “Funded Contentment” How money can be wielded as a weapon Behavioral biases and money Roasting Jamie… and much more Follow Josh ( https://twitter.com/ReformedBroker ) and Brian ( https://twitter.com/brianportnoy ) on Twitter, and their new book here How I Invest My Money: Finance Experts Reveal How they Save, Spend, and Invest .
Thu, November 05, 2020
Michael Batnick – The Irrelevant Investor
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Michael Batnick, Director of Research at Ritholtz Wealth Management. In this conversation, we cover: Michael’s journey to Ritholtz Wealth Management His terrible experiences in the insurance industry Breaking into finance How the Ritholtz Wealth Management business has grown And much more Follow Michael on Twitter at https://twitter.com/michaelbatnick , and find his blog here The Irrelevant Investor .
Thu, October 22, 2020
James Clear – Constructing Habits & Systems
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with James Clear, author of the bestselling book Atomic Habits . In this fascinating discussion, we cover: Maintaining habits amid COVID-19 The importance of time horizons Writing as an antidote to confusion The steps for forming atomic habits And much more Follow James on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JamesClear , and find his book here Atomic Habits .
Thu, October 15, 2020
Annie Duke – How to Decide
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Annie Duke, former professional poker player, decision-making expert, and best-selling author. Her latest book is How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices , which was released this week. In this conversation, we cover: COVID-19 and decision-making Resulting and the 2016 election What drove Annie to write her new book Writing as a powerful tool for testing your knowledge And MUCH more. Follow Annie on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AnnieDuke , and find her new book here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593418484?tag=randohouseinc13176-20 .
Thu, October 08, 2020
Adam Townsend (Pt. 2) – The Sale
In this episode of Infinite Loops we invited Adam Townsend back on to speak exclusively about Sales, and why it is so important. In this conversation, we cover: Extreme salesmanship What you cannot learn from Sales books The sales we don’t even realize we’re making The right and wrong approaches to selling And MUCH more. Follow Adam on Twitter at https://twitter.com/adamscrabble .
Thu, September 24, 2020
Brent Beshore – Boring Businesses, COVID-19, and Doing Better
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Brent Beshore, CEO and Founder of Permanent Equity. In this conversation, we cover: What Brent has learned since making his first deal. How COVID-19 has impacted the businesses in Brent’s portfolios The importance of time horizons The lasting changes from COVID-19 Finding the right partners and teams in business You can follow Brent on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/BrentBeshore ) and learn more about Permanent Equity here ( https://www.permanentequity.com/about-our-firm )
Thu, September 10, 2020
Ron Howard – The Past, Present and Future of Entertainment
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with legendary actor, documentarian, Co-Founder of Imagine Entertainment, and academy award winning director Ron Howard. In this wide ranging discussion, we cover: The pressure and thrill of directing a Beatles documentary How the movie industry has evolved, and the impact of COVID-19 How documentaries differ from traditional movie making The future of entertainment and how streaming changes things And MUCH more Enjoy!
Thu, September 03, 2020
Phil Pearlman: Westerners Discuss the Tao (“Don't Suck”)
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Phil Pearlman. We discuss: What Phil has learned from studying the Tao The narratives you tell yourself The most important rule: Don’t suck How marketing & finance has evolved over Phil’s career And MUCH more… Follow Phil on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/ppearlman ) to stay up to date on all of his exciting projects.
Thu, August 20, 2020
Tyrone Ross: Giving Back, Empowerment, and Gratitude
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Tyrone Ross. We discuss: Tyrone’s inspiring journey Empowering youth through financial literacy The power of gratitude Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies And MUCH more… Follow Tyrone on Twitter ( twitter.com/tr401 ) to stay up to date on all of his exciting projects.
Thu, July 23, 2020
Rory Sutherland: Human Behavior, Innovation, and Alchemy
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Rory Sutherland, Author of Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life , and Vice-Chairman of Ogilvy Group UK. We discuss: The relationship between marketing and innovation. Human psychology and behavioral economics. The importance of framing. “Stated” preferences and “Revealed” preferences Follow Rory on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/rorysutherland ) and check out his books here ( https://www.amazon.com/Rory-Sutherland/e/B07L3WRSWM?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000 )
Thu, July 09, 2020
Bronwyn Williams: Self Sovereignty, Futurism, and The State
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Bronwyn Williams. We discuss: What being a ‘futurist’ means Accelerating trends as a result of COVID-19 Geopolitics and the African continent Technology and economic development The future of governance Follow Bronwyn on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/bronwynwilliams ) and check out her website here ( https://whatthefuturenow.com/ )
Thu, July 02, 2020
Anthony Pompliano: Building a Brand, Moats, and Bitcoin
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Anthony Pompliano. We discuss: Building a personal brand and business The Bitcoin landscape Moats and innovation The power of Twitter for networking And much more… Follow Pomp on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/APompliano ) and check out his website here ( https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyPompliano )
Thu, June 25, 2020
Adam Townsend: Wall Street, Policy, and Wealth Generation
In this super episode of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Adam Townsend. We discuss: Adam’s illustrious career on Wall Street Wealth extraction Extreme salesmanship Adam’s COVID-19 blog Chinese foreign and domestic policy And MUCH more… Follow Adam on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/adamscrabble ) and check out his website here ( https://www.adamtownsend.me/ ).
Thu, June 18, 2020
Chris Sommers - Adventures at Sea
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Chris Sommers, CEO at Unhedged. We discuss: Sailing the world for 4 years without knowing how to sail Chris’ experience at Greenlight Capital Shorting Lehman’s stock in 2008 And much more… Follow Chris on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/QuisitiveInvest ) and learn more about Unhedged here ( https://www.unhedged.com/ ).
Thu, June 04, 2020
Eric Jorgenson: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Eric Jorgenson, Product Strategist at Zaarly, and author of the Almanack of Naval Ravikant . We discuss: Who is Naval Ravikant? The key lessons from Naval’s writing and career What made Eric want to write this book? Wealth, happiness, and leverage And much more… You can follow Eric on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/EricJorgenson ) and learn more about his new book here ( https://www.navalmanack.com/ ).
Thu, May 28, 2020
Ed Latimore: Lessons from Boxing, Sobriety, and Building Mental Fortitude
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Ed Latimore, a former professional heavyweight boxer (13-1-1) and full-time author that writes about getting sober, forgiveness, and self-improvement. We discuss: The path to sobriety and lessons learned Ed’s extraordinary boxing career What Ed dubs the ‘manosphere’ The importance of transparency and grit And much more… You can follow Ed on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/edlatimore ), and follow his writing at ( https://edlatimore.com/ ).
Thu, May 21, 2020
Christie Hamilton: Institutional Investing, Due Diligence During COVID-19, and Advocacy
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Christie Hamilton, Head of Investments at the $2 billion Children’s Health Medical Center of Dallas. We discuss: Misconceptions about institutional investing The importance of transparency Due diligence during COVID-19 The traits of a good mentor and mentee And much more… You can follow Christie on Twitter( https://twitter.com/ROIChristie ), and can donate to Children’s Health here ( https://www.childrens.com/get-involved/donate )
Thu, May 07, 2020
Dan McMurtrie: Pandemic Investing, Venture Capital, and Frontier Markets
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Dan McMurtrie, Founder & CEO of Tyro Partners, and Partner at Anchorless Bangladesh. In this in-depth discussion, we cover: Disastrous double dates Navigating uncertain markets in a COVID-19 world Succumbing to behavioral biases in volatile times The investment opportunity in frontier markets Companies that Anchorless is working within Bangladesh The future of asset management You can follow Dan on Twitter( https://twitter.com/SuperMugatu ), and learn more about Anchorless here ( https://www.anchorless.vc/ )
Fri, May 01, 2020
Chris Arnade: Seeking Respect in Backrow America
In this episode of Infinite Loops, we spoke with Chris Arnade, author of the bestselling book Dignity: Seeking Respect in Backrow America. We discussed: Why Chris left Wall Street to document ‘back row America’. How Wall Street has changed over the years Why Chris’s work triggers certain crowds of people The importance of McDonald's to American communities The lessons he’s learned from traveling around America’s lower-income communities. And more… If you’d like to order Chris’ book, you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Seeking-Respect-Back-America/dp/0525534733
Thu, April 23, 2020
Morgan Housel – The Psychology of Money
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Morgan Housel, a Partner at the Collaborative Fund. Our conversation covered: The content of Morgan’s upcoming book Whether money is the ‘last taboo’ Money as a hierarchal system What shapes the role of money in different societies Investor psychology and self-inflicted problems If you’d like to pre-order Morgan’s book, you can find more information here: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness/dp/0857197681
Thu, April 09, 2020
Michael Green: Evolving Market Structures and COVID-19
In this episode of Infinite Loops we spoke with Michael Green, Partner & Chief Strategist at Logica Capital Advisers. In a wide-ranging discussion that could have lasted the rest of the day, we covered: The passive narrative, and its impact on market structure. Vanguard and Blackrock’s lobbying efforts. Target Date Funds and their increasing dominance. COVID-19 and the government’s response. The power of language. Michael’s recent paper: Policy in a World of Pandemics, Social Media, and Passive Investing (linked below) And much more. You can find Michael’s paper here: https://www.logicafunds.com/policy-in-a-world-of-pandemics
Thu, March 26, 2020
Liz Hall - An Outsider’s Perspective
Our guest this week is Liz Hall, an investor who burst onto Financial Twitter with a hundred tweet thread on her ‘hot takes’ in finance. In this episode, we discuss: Her unique background and introduction to investing. The power of narrative and emotion in investing. The importance of dispassionate analysis. Capital allocation. And much more. You can find Liz’s super thread here: https://twitter.com/LAForeverHall/status/1205981236960714754?s=20
Thu, March 12, 2020
Madelaine D’Angelo - Quantifying the Art Market
Our guest this week is Madelaine D’Angelo, Co-founder and CEO of Arthena, the first quantitative investment firm for art assets. The firm uses hundreds of thousands of data points to identify the factors (artist, year of creation, gallery displays, etc.) that are predictive of future returns. In this wide-ranging conversation, Jim, Jamie, and Madelaine discuss: Value & Momentum factors in the art market. Arthena’s models. The problems with repeat sales data. Portfolio construction and exit strategy. The nuances of investing in art assets. Biggest misconceptions about art investing. For more information, check out https://arthena.com/ .
Thu, February 27, 2020
Jim Chanos – Financial Frauds and Manias: Past, Present, Future
Our guest this week is renowned short-seller Jim Chanos, founder, and president of Kynikos Associates. Over the course of his long and successful career, Jim has publicly bet against companies like Enron, which Barron’s deemed the “market call of the decade, if not the past 50 years.” While many know him for these famous shorts, fewer know that Jim is also a passionate historian, and is a firm believer in the notion that history can act as a useful guide for investors today. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss: How Jim started his career in finance The Mississippi Bubble How past financial frauds and manias can be useful for modern investors Tesla Lessons from the Great Financial Crisis Jim’s financial history course at Yale and Wisconsin Theranos And much, much more… we hope you enjoy.
Mon, November 25, 2019
RampCapital and SuperMugatu
In this episode, we sit down with two of the most prominent anonymous accounts on Financial Twitter, Ramp Capital and Super Mugatu . Enjoy this wide ranging conversation, and peak behind the curtain of anonymous Twitter.
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