A podcast about progress, philosophy, science, education, and the unconstrained human condition. www.arjunkhemani.com
My conversation with Ethan Thornton, founder of Mach Industries.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - Intro1:07 - Why Mach needs to exist3:16 - Early experiments5:07 - Dropping out of MIT8:36 - Raising $85 million at 19 years old11:20 - Decentralized vertical supply chains13:54 - The most important domain of the next century15:55 - Betting on hydrogen18:11 - Overview of Viper and Glide21:06 - Building feedback loops across teams25:29 - Facing regulatory hurdles28:19 - Knowing when to be risk tolerant29:54 - Time until China invades Taiwan31:45 - The future of warfare42:29 - Takeaways from the (unmanned) war in Ukraine48:23 - Biggest influences on Ethan's life49:37 - Mach's long-term planFollow me on X.Follow Ethan on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
My conversation with philosopher and author Peter Boghossian.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - The enlightenment5:51 - The dangers of moral relativism21:28 - Modern education is failing us31:14 - What's worth preserving in the West37:00 - Is wokeism filling the void left by atheism?38:04 - The spread of Islamism45:49 - Speech is not violence49:11 - Derangements of science52:48 - The myth of the framework56:34 - Why you should learn epistemology58:05 - The instinct to belong trumps what's true1:02:44 - Chasing likes versus pursuing truth1:05:08 - What is Peter most optimistic and most pessimistic aboutFollow me on X.Follow Peter on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
My conversation with Zooko, Nate Wilcox, and Sean Bowe about the Zcash protocol.Zooko is a cypherpunk who co-founded Zcash along with his brother, Nate Wilcox, and others. Sean Bowe is a cryptographer and engineer who has played a crucial role in the development of Zcash and has made significant contributions to advancements in zero-knowledge proofs, particularly zk-SNARKs, which underpin Zcash's privacy features.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn0:04 - Writing the first blog post on Bitcoin ever6:21 - Bitcoin's fundamental privacy flaw9:40 - Unstoppable private money12:19 - Will Zcash compete with Bitcoin as a store of value?14:24 - How many people are using Zcash?16:18 - Good security is good usability20:10 - Social credit systems and ubiquitous surveillance23:43 - Why Monero's privacy tech can't work35:21 - Integrating ZKPs into other blockchains39:51 - Privacy comes from money at rest, not from money in flight47:42 - Why did the price of ZEC fall so drastically in the beginning?51:49 - Zcash stablecoins? 55:50 - Quantum threats to Zcash1:02:50 - Encrypted love notes in the blockchain'1:07:07 - Privacy enabled cultural trends1:12:43 - Nate Wilcox1:14:38 - Why do you need privacy if you have nothing to hide? 1:16:16 - A brief history of Zcash1:22:42 - Why does Zcash have opt-in privacy?1:26:55 - Does Zcash still rely on a trusted setup?1:30:49 - Upgrading the Zcash protocol to Hybrid PoW/PoS1:40:50 - A bug that almost killed Zcash1:52:40 - Zcash's funding model2:09:09 - Why can't privacy be added as an L2?2:14:35 - Scaling Zcash and making it more interoperable2:23:16 - Shielded Labs2:24:39 - Nate's vision for Zcash2:27:53 - Sean Bowe2:32:53 - Censorship resistance is a spectrum2:35:26 - Will privacy coins be banned?2:37:49 - Privacy and scalability2:41:47 - Programmable money2:43:31 - Summary of Sean's contributions to the field of cryptography2:55:17 - Zcash might get privacy against quantum adversaries for free3:00:14 - Halo3:05:34 - What Sean's working on right now3:11:54 - What has influenced Sean's thinking in cryptography the most?3:13:36 - Being a high school dropout working in crypto3:15:08 - Zcash is just getting startedFollow me on X.Follow Zooko on X.Follow Nate on X.Follow Sean on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
My conversation with Naval Ravikant. Enjoy!Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - The Theory of Everything4:48 - How do you know what's true?7:51 - Groups search for consensus, individuals search for truth13:07 - We have never run out of a single resource15:25 - Are we destroying the Earth?17:48 - Marxism denies wealth creation21:28 - Regulation kills innovation27:05 - Degrowth and the fall of Western universities33:31 - Why the West is best35:47 - Federalism38:10 - Everyone wants to live forever41:44 - Humans are universal explainers43:25 - Collectivism vs. individualism50:44 - You cannot explain the universe without explaining humans55:02 - How David Deutsch's ideas have changed Naval's life1:02:31 - The scientific method isn't possible1:05:07 - The low-hanging fruit theory is a bad explanation1:08:19 - The biggest threats to Western civilizationFollow me on X.Follow Naval on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Deutsch in his lovely garden in Oxford a few months ago. Here's our conversation.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps1:01 - A tragic view of human history7:04 - Why did it take so long for civilization to arise?13:31 - Fallibilism21:32 - Cultural relativism denies improvement24:03 - Richard Dawkins and indigenous ways of knowing26:49 - Chemical scum that dream of distant quasars31:38 - The era of man37:55 - People are unlike any other force of nature42:51 - The dangers of regulating AI48:09 - Are we running out of resources?54:21 - Everything in existing educational theory is wrong1:11:30 - When David met Richard Feynman1:17:33 - Everyone is a Popperian1:20:16 - Only progress is sustainable1:26:00 - The biggest threat to Western civilizationFollow me on X.Follow David on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Julian Barbour is a renowned physicist known for his groundbreaking work on the nature of time. In his influential books, The End of Time and The Janus Point he explores the concept of a timeless universe, challenging traditional views. Samuel Kuypers is a theoretical physicist, currently located in Montréal, who is interested in the foundations of quantum theory and time.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work. You can also send me bitcoin to this address.Timestamps1:10 - The instant is not in time, time is in the instant6:27 - Time capsules and evidence of time passing9:22 - Newton's view of absolute time and space18:46 - Shape dynamics24:33 - Mathematics of variety37:51 - Newton's theory as a theory of creation56:23 - How shape dynamics relates to general relativity1:06:50 - Entropy and heat death of the universe1:28:13 - Free will and determinism1:33:22 - Carpe diem1:34:13 - Julian's interest in Shakespeare1:40:54 - Question from David Deutsch about quantum theory1:48:56 - Question from Brett Hall about general relativity and QT1:51:51 - Final remarks This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Click here to support my work. You can also send me bitcoin to this address.Nat Eliason is a writer and crypto insider with a wildly popular newsletter and podcast. He is the author of the book Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Timestamps0:49 - Ayn Rand6:40 - The transition from writing online to writing a book12:26 - Marketing Crypto Confidential16:43 - Writing for the modern world21:20 - Come for the money, stay for the tech26:49 - Decentralized social media30:19 - Don't be someone's exit liquidity!34:39 - The value of authenticity36:39 - The advantages of being pseudonymous39:19 - Constraints can help us be creative42:53 - Is note-taking valuable?46:02 - The future of work50:11 - Strava for writing53:49 - What idea sounds crazy today but will be mainstream in 5-10 years?1:01:00 - Why Nat doesn't use shampoo and other conventional health productsFollow Nat on X: http://x.com/nateliasonGet Nat's book Crypto Confidential: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0593714040 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Johan Norberg is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a writer who focuses on globalization, human progress and intellectual history. He is the author of In Defense of Global Capitalism, Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future, and The Capitalist Manifesto: Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it!Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work. You can also send me bitcoin to this address.Timestamps0:50 - How Johan changed his mind about human progress3:50 - Pro-human flourishing cannot be anti-environment5:33 - Alternative words to describe capitalism8:30 - Why is there so much economic illiteracy?12:36 - Despise poverty, not wealth or inequality16:41 - We are taxing what we want more of18:46 - Degrowth and the fall of western education25:21 - The concept of “needs” is often abused29:27 - How to have infinite growth on a finite planet33:08 - Elon Musk34:43 - Javier Milei and Argentina39:34 - Privatizing law and justice systems43:52 - Child labor49:52 - Advice for young peopleFollow Johan on X: http://x.com/johanknorberg This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Riva Tez is a philosopher, writer, and venture capitalist. She's the author of the blog Hard to Write.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it!Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:52 - Does crypto make anarcho-capitalism pragmatic?11:56 - Crypto is both technologically and morally superior20:08 - Ayn Rand's ideal world26:00 - Children are humans in their purest form30:03 - Having integrity in your beliefs33:17 - Creating a TV show of Atlas Shrugged36:33 - COVID radicalized a lot of people41:48 - Riva's toy store and philosophy class for kids44:37 - Epistemological anarchism46:49 - Objective beauty50:57 - AI, AGI, and AI safety57:25 - Distractions in the longevity movement1:04:30 - Why care about longevity (and hate the state)1:08:07 - Riva's childhood1:12:42 - There is more opportunity out there than anyone wants you to believeFollow Riva on X: http://x.com/rivatez This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Nicole Behnam is a founder and journalist. She is the creator of Beyond The Interview where she's interviewed people like Chris Voss, Konstantin Kisin, and Robert Greene.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - Nicole's relationship with her parents and books4:45 - On being a red carpet host9:57 - Clubhouse14:34 - How Naval spoke at one of Nicole's events18:03 - Leverage social media19:45 - NFTs26:32 - Cults, communities, and influencing people30:51 - Ray Peat34:36 - What would your Oscar's speech be?Follow Nicole on X: http://x.com/NicoleBehnam This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Niklas Anzinger is the founder of Infinita VC and Vitalia. He is also the host of the Podcast.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:32 - Building Vitalia and Infinita VC6:05 - The parallels between longevity and crypto17:35 - How to convince people that living longer is a worthy goal22:54 - Network societies30:35 - Curating your early community35:22 - The benefits of making organ trade legal39:23 - Master of Business Creation43:46 - The madness of air travel regulation48:51 - Privatizing the base layer of society + closing remarksFollow Niklas on X: http://x.com/NiklasAnzinger This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Ashley St. Clair is the Operations Manager at Babylon Bee and author of the children's book Elephants Are Not Birds. This interview was recorded on Airchat.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:19 - The immigration crisis in the US11:08 - DEI and Mark Cuban14:29 - Anti-humanism and Gen Z18:17 - The rise of Christian nationalism22:32 - Elon freeing the bird27:47 - What the birth control pill represents33:07 - Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom35:16 - Should you go to college?38:37 - Elephants Are Not BirdsFollow Ashley on X: http://x.com/stclairashley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Matthew Lysiak is an investigative journalist and author of Fiat Food: Why Inflation Destroyed Our Health and How Bitcoin Fixes It.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:49 - Why Matthew wrote Fiat Food5:29 - Restructuring the American diet after the gold standard11:25 - The Seventh-day Adventist Church16:09 - The word “science” has become a shield against criticism18:19 - On eating everything in moderation21:04 - The CPI significantly downplays the effect of inflation25:53 - The benefits of eating sound good 28:54 - How could a transition to the Bitcoin standard look like?32:50 - Freedom and raising free children36:21 - Advice for starting the carnivore diet and closing remarksFollow Matthew on X: http://x.com/MatthewlysiakGet Fiat Food from The Saif House: http://thesaifhouse.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Farbood Nivi is the founder of Grockit (acquired by Kaplan in 2013). He has been biohacking for 25 years. Recently, he became one of the first 200 people in the world to receive Follistatin gene therapy.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:39 - Biohacking for 25 years7:23 - Follistatin gene therapy11:15 - Farbood's protocol and results after taking follistatin15:38 - The FDA's job is not to keep you alive and healthy20:58 - Próspera and other startup cities24:13 - Effective accelerationism29:27 - On living forever33:40 - The nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I'm an effective altruist and I'm here to help”44:40 - Action is always selfish50:53 - Tips for the average person to get started with biohacking57:00 - The importance of mobility and flexibility1:02:14 - Steve Jobs and following your heartFollow Farbood on X: http://x.com/farbood This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Jeremy Shearmur is a fellow emeritus in philosophy at the Australian National University. He is the author of Hayek and After and The Political Thought of Karl Popper. He also worked as assistant to Karl Popper for eight years.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Read the full transcript on Substack. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:00 - The commonalities (and differences) between Austrian economics and Popperian epistemology14:34 - Young Popper's socialism25:35 - The sociology of philosophy29:20 - Two different aspects to Popper's approach to teaching36:11 - The situation at the Institute for Humane Studies at GMU45:45 - Popper's personality, work ethic, and other interests52:11 - Against the self-expressionist theory of art56:24 - Why the ideas of Popper and Hayek aren't mainstream1:10:03 - Anarcho-capitalism1:23:02 - Closing remarksIf you are interested in Jeremy's Zoom based conferences on Karl Popper's work, you can contact him at: jeremy.shearmur@fallowfield.info This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
David Deutsch is the author of The Fabric of Reality and The Beginning of Infinity. He works on fundamental issues in physics, particularly the quantum theory of computation and information, and constructor theory. He is known as the father of quantum computing for his contributions to the field. He is an advocate of Taking Children Seriously, a new, non-paternalistic view of children.Topics we discuss are well captured by the timestamps below.Watch on YouTube or X. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform. Read the full transcript below. Follow me on X for updates on future episodes.Click here to support my work.Timestamps0:22 - Happiness is a state of continually solving one's problems4:54 - Both free-will and the self exist12:06 - The principle of optimism17:28 - Any ultimate explanation is a bad explanation20:22 - The origins of Taking Children Seriously25:33 - Why children are the most coerced members in society31:33 - Anarcho-capitalism This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
If you would like to support this podcast, click here.Max More is a philosopher, futurist, and former CEO of Alcor Life Extension Foundation. He is currently Director of Communications at Biostasis Technologies. Max wrote the first definition of “Transhumanism” in its modern sense.TIMESTAMPS0:45 - Why Max changed his last name to “More”2:45 - Max's early life and interest in cryonics and life extension8:00 - Extropian philosophy and Transhumanism9:15 - Cryonics explained26:06 - Hardest challenges in achieving indefinite lifespan33:16 - Humans don't like uncertainty 35:55 - We need more progress in AI39:05 - Climate change is massively exaggerated46:24 - Pancritical Rationalism and Karl Popper52:21 - Proactionary principle56:58 - Max's book on cryonics and final remarksEPISODE LINKSMax's website: https://www.maxmore.comMax's Substack: https://maxmore.substack.comArjun's X: https://x.com/arjunkhemaniArjun's Substack: https://arjunkhemani.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
If you would like to support this podcast, click here.Bitcoin donations at: bc1q3vajy7e79080uzg5j7watdtl2h7ktqx9l7x8w8Tom Hyde is a geologist with degrees in geoscience and natural hazards. In addition to his academic background, Tom has a keen interest in the scientific and philosophical works of Karl Popper and David Deutsch, as well as in libertarianism, climate and risk, gender theory, aesthetics, anti-aging, and pro-natalism, among other topics.TIMESTAMPS0:39 - Why a larger population is good for the world11:18 - The morality of immortality25:11 - Anarchism and why wealth inequality may be good for the poor38:01 - Degrowth is disastrous49:05 - Animal consciousness56:31 - The infinite gender theory1:07:40 - Final remarks and recommendationsEPISODE LINKSTom's Substack: http://tomhyde.substack.comTom's Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomhyde_Arjun's Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniArjun's newsletter: https://arjunkhemani.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
If you would like to support this podcast, click here.Bitcoin donations at: bc1q3vajy7e79080uzg5j7watdtl2h7ktqx9l7x8w8Per Bylund is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at Oklahoma State University and a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute. His latest book, How to Think about the Economy: A Primer, serves as an introduction to economic reasoning and aims to improve economic literacy.TIMESTAMPS0:04 - Why economic illiteracy is so prevalent5:25 - Individualists trying to spread their ideas in a collectivist manner9:25 - The role of the entrepreneur12:27 - The primacy of theory in the social sciences25:07 - The irrationality of “social entrepreneurship”32:17 - Cospaia34:52 - Javier Milei39:13 - The greatest economic fallacy41:50 - The effects of taxes43:55 - What advice would Per give his 17 year old self?45:35 - Could we have cured cancer in the 60s?49:49 - Final remarksEPISODE LINKSPer's Twitter: x.com/perbylundDownload Per's latest book for free here: mises.org/primerArjun's Twitter: x.com/arjunkhemaniArjun's newsletter: arjunkhemani.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Support this podcast: buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniDavid D. Friedman is an anarcho-capitalist economist, author of ‘The Machinery of Freedom', and son of Milton Friedman.TIMESTAMPS0:44 - 50 years of The Machinery of Freedom3:35 - What is a government?9:22 - How law could be produced and enforced in an anarcho-capitalist society12:00 - Laws produced by the market will be biased toward freedom14:27 - Is David an anarchist for pragmatic or ethical reasons?15:41 - Strategy18:19 - Governments evolving into private firms and science-fiction25:43 - India, capitalism, and the West32:51 - The rights of youth, education, and the StateLINKSDavid's website: daviddfriedman.comDavid's Substack: daviddfriedman.substack.com Arjun's Twitter: x.com/arjunkhemaniArjun's newsletter: arjunkhemani.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Support this podcast at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniJim O'Shaughnessy is the founder and CEO of O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC. He also serves as the executive chair of the board of directors at Stability AI and is the host of the Infinite Loops podcast.TIMESTAMPS0:27 - The future of AI and Jim's investment in Stability AI 4:51 - The Beginning of Infinity and the ideas of David Deutsch12:32 - The perils of labeling things and the illusion of certainty17:35 - Thinking probabilistically vs. deterministically23:14 - The education system and Synthesis School29:38 - $100,000 OSV fellowships35:43 - The Great Reshuffle and the movie industry51:09 - We have more natural resources today than we did in the past56:46 - Does Jim want to live forever?1:02:08 - Final remarksJIM'S LINKS* Twitter: https://twitter.com/jposhaughnessy* O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC: https://www.osv.llcARJUN'S LINKS* Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemani* Blog: https://arjunkhemani.com* Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
This episode was recorded on Airchat. Learn more at getairchat.com.Logan Chipkin is a writer. You can purchase his recently published fantasy novel, Windfall here.Follow Logan on Twitter @ChipkinLogan and on Airchat @logan.TIMESTAMPS0:33 - A brief history of Austrian economics9:15 - Is economics a science?14:12 - How to think about the state21:05 - The problem with welfare statism30:05 - Constructor Theory and Austrian economics33:12 - Economic creationism41:20 - Consumerism: does capitalism rob us of meaning from our lives?52:14 - Fiat, sound, hard, and easy monies55:49 - The history of money: the fall of Rome1:01:47 - Attributes of a sound money1:05:59 - History of money: the Renaissance1:12:06 - History of fiat money: the gold standard1:15:17 - History of fiat money: World War I1:18:48 - History of fiat money Post World War II1:23:13 - Market feedback as criticism1:32:56 - Bitcoin1:52:51 - Constructor Theory2:04:07 - Recommended reading and final remarksLINKSSupport my work: buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniTwitter: twitter.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Yaron Brook is an objectivist philosopher, podcaster, and author. He's also the chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute. Support the podcast at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniTIMESTAMPS0:30 - What makes humans different3:50 - Christian atheists8:05 - Inequality good?12:25 - AGI Doomerism21:46 - Aliens23:37 - Bad philosophy in popular movies26:29 - The education system28:37 - Epistemology and The Beginning of Infinity40:58 - Advice for young peopleYARON'S LINKS* Twitter: https://twitter.com/yaronbrook* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yaronbrookARJUN'S LINKS* Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemani* Blog: https://arjunkhemani.com* Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Lulie Tanett is a writer and expositor of ideas of applied critical rationalism. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting it at: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniWe talk about:* Lulie's untypical childhood and the parenting philosophy she was raised under* What psychology and the social sciences can learn from epistemology* Mindfulness tied to Critical Rationalism* The constraints of creativity* And much more!TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Lulie's childhood and Taking Children Seriously9:30 - Why social science isn't science11:35 - Evolutionary psychology 14:15 - Foundations of psychology: not neurology, but epistemology15:35 - Meme theory17:39 - What's needed for consciousness?19:54 - AGI21:14 - Criticism Scheduling and Privacy29:35 - Tying mindfulness and meditation to Critical Rationalism45:05 - Constraints help creativity50:27 - Non-coercive schools52:53 - Critical Rationalism community + recommendations by LulieMENTIONED IN THE EPISODE* The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch* Episode 10 of Do Explain with David Deutsch on The Primacy of Ideas* Lulie's recent appearance on the Do Explain podcast [The Chapman Series, Pt.5]* David Deutsch on the ‘Fun Criterion' with Lulie Tanett* Increments podcast* Lulie's post on Alexander TechniqueLULIE'S LINKS* Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/reasonisfun* Website: https://www.lulie.co.uk/ARJUN'S LINKS* Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemani* Blog: https://arjunkhemani.com* Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Nat and Martha are filmmakers. In February 2023, they won a fellowship through O'Shaughnessy Ventures to explore alternative education. Support this podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniTIMESTAMPS0:00 - Preview and intro1:16 - Nat and Martha's background (making movies)6:20 - Living on the road in an RV for a whole year11:47 - “you can just do stuff”15:30 - Winning $100,000 fellowship through O'Shaughnessey Ventures22:36 - Education, homeschooling/unschooling, “follow the fear”, gaps in knowledge, socialization, authority, Taking Children Seriously57:11 - Winning the social media gameNAT & MARTHA'S LINKS Website: https://natandmartha.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@natandmarthaTwitter: https://twitter.com/natandmartha ARJUN'S LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Airchat: https://www.getairchat.comTIMESTAMPS0:24 - The nature of knowledge1:01- Constraints of progress6:31 - The finite speed of light is not a problem13:36 - “Any system that doesn't get its feedback from free markets or nature eventually gets corrupted.” — Naval19:54 - Knowledge creation leads to wealth creation25:44 - Free willRELEVANT LINKSNaval on Airchat: https://www.getairchat.com/navalBrett on Airchat: https://www.getairchat.com/bretthallKeith on Airchat: https://www.getairchat.com/welivetoserveArjun on Airchat: https://www.getairchat.com/arjunKnowledge | Airchat: https://www.getairchat.com/arjun/knowledgeArjun's Twitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniSupport this podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Don Watkins is a fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He is the coauthor, along with Yaron Brook, of Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand's Ideas Can End Big Government and Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality.Support this podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniTIMESTAMPS0:39 - On a quest for the best life that you can achieve4:02 - Happiness without morality or morality without happiness5:27 - The interests of humans are at harmony7:58 - Sacrifice is not good for you and the world12:24 - Love is selfish17:12 - Are soldiers sacrificial?19:15 - The Fountainhead23:33 - Communicating counter-culture ideas33:58 - Epistemology47:25 - Wealth, progress and happiness1:01:52 - Closing remarksDON'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/donswritingWebsite: https://www.donswriting.comARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Danny Miranda is the host of The Danny Miranda Podcast where he's interviewed people like Bryan Johnson, Morgan Housel, Gary Vaynerchuck, David Perell, Jim O'Shaughnessy, Sam Parr, Anthony Pompliano, Derek Sivers, among many others.If you enjoy the podcast, the best way to support it is by sharing it. And if you have the means, please consider buying me a coffee.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - 7-year-old Danny taking over the New York Times2:17 - Thoughts on creating content5:09 - The desire to be normal8:22 - Danny's entire process of creating a podcast 22:25 - Seeing no results22:09 - Twitter is invaluable26:51 - You gotta go where the people are35:10 - On podcasting and the future41:10 - Books and podcasts Danny likes46:53 - Gary Vaynerchuck and optimism52:18 - People Danny admires and closing remarksDANNY'S LINKSPodcast: https://linktr.ee/heydannymirandaTwitter: https://twitter.com/heydannymirandaARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Support this podcast using this link: buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniJames Pierce is a writer, executive coach and a philosopher. TIMESTAMPS0:50 - How modern psychology weakens the mind and how to conquer anxiety4:15 - Perspective and “direct observation”8:25 - Shoulds, prescriptions, and inexplicit knowledge15:58 - Sincere questions17:59 - Why James doesn't meditate, the sense of sense, and enlightenment21:05 - The ultimate cause for all relationship problems26:20 - Peace33:30 - Insincere questions36:40 - FreedomJAMES' LINKSWebsite: james-pierce.comTwitter: twitter.com/jimmpierceARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: arjunkhemani.comBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
If you'd wish to support this podcast, click here.David Perell is a writer, podcaster and founder of the course Write of Passage. We talk about David's new writing course for high schoolers, why he thinks the Internet is the best thing that happened to education, writing online and effective ways to do so, how to tackle long term goals, ChatGPT and more!TIMESTAMPS0:30 - The problem David is trying to solve with his new writing course for high schoolers6:10 - What David would do and how he would go about writing on the Internet if he were a 15 year old today16:30 - The Internet is the best thing that ever happened to education and “the paradox of abundance”22:57 - Arjun's current school experience28:25 - The tragedy of school killing curiosity31:26 - A novel and important idea that David wants to write more about 36:29 - How to write a book39:10 - “Is ChatGPT a part of your writing routine?”DAVID'S LINKSWebsite: perell.comTwitter: twitter.com/david_perellWrite of Passage Liftoff: liftoff.schoolARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comSupport the podcast using this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Andrew Kirby is a YouTuber with over 600,000 subscribers who became financially free at age 22 by synthesizing content on the Internet.We talk about the path Andrew takes to attain financial freedom at age 22, how to write good cold DMs, entrepreneurship, misconceptions around money, The Beginning of Infinity and Andrew's most influential books, the pursuit of creation, happiness and much more!Listen on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyTIMESTAMPS0:00 - Andrew's backstory // his entrepreneurial childhood4:50 - How Andrew became financially free at 22 // being a permission-less apprentice9:15 - The shortcut to writing good Cold DMs 12:18 - What Andrew invests in13:24 - Understanding is the purest form of power // Andrew's big goals15:42 - Money can be boiled down to solving people's problems 19:15 - Say yes to everything at first, then say no // how to prioritize22:30 - BOOKS! 30:45 - Creating for yourself vs. creating for others34:37 - Happiness and the meaning of lifeANDREW'S LINKSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewKirbysTwitter: https://twitter.com/IAmAndrewKirbyARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comSupport the podcast using this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Chiara is a quantum physicist and research fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. Her research interests are at the foundations of physics. Together with David Deutsch she is the pioneer of constructor theory, a new mode of scientific explanation which expresses physical laws in terms of counterfactuals, i.e. what can and cannot happen.She is the author of The Science of Can and Can't subtitled “A Physicist's Journey Through the Land of Counterfactuals” which is all about constructor theory and its implications.We talk about Chiara's lovely childhood that led to her developing an interest in fundamental physics, people being a force of nature, knowledge, instrumentalism, reductionism, information having physical properties, updates on constructor theory, productive constraints and more!Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.TIMESTAMPS1:40 - Chiara's childhood and why she came to do what she does today11:44 - Man, a force in nature & what makes knowledge resilient21:45 - In an information-less universe / why information and knowledge are physical (not abstract) entities26:00 - Explanatory and non-explanatory knowledge28:45 - How constructor theory has been received by the physics community so far33:28 - Bad philosophy / instrumentalism and reductionism45:17 - Constraints are good!51:50 - Why Chiara isn't on Twitter + closing remarksLINKS* https://constructortheory.org* https://www.chiaramarletto.comSupport the podcast using this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemaniARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Charlie Jungheim (aka Hermes of Reason) makes really cool videos about Critical Rationalism following the works of Karl Popper and David Deutsch. He's a musician and comedian.In a fun and wide-ranging conversation, we talk about mixing comedy with intellectual stuff, our lives being transformed by the works of David Deutsch, how meditation links to epistemology, then Mars and more!TIMESTAMPS0:45 - Charlie's INCREDIBLE content around critical rationalism (comedy mixed with intellectual stuff)6:17 - Most intellectual heroes are dead. Ours isn't.11:55 - Deep ideas can take a while to penetrate (plus isn't “being a Deutschian” ironic?)18:33 - Things David Deutsch changed Charlie's mind about (plus “your problem is the biggest problem in the world”)24:50 - Linking meditation and epistemology, and Mars38:25 - Barriers to creativity and productive constraints48:25 - The meaning of lifeCHARLIE'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/hermesofreasonYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDCrUxqE3ThHrmLYsuM9fLQARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.comBuy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/arjunkhemani This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Michael Strong is the founder of a virtual school called The Socratic Experience, made for children aged 8-19 where they get a personalized and purpose-driven education cultivated to develop their unique genius. He is one of the most experienced designers of innovative school programs in the United States. In our conversation, we talk about Michael's vision for education in 20 years, deschooling society, Socratic questioning, the future of education and much more!Listen on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyTIMESTAMPS0:49 - Michael's vision for education5:03 - Ivan Illich's book Deschooling Society 8:00 - How to eliminate the need for credentialing 11:55 - Adding something to the education system won't help14:52 - Non-coercive boundaries for children 17:58- The Socratic method of questioning 27:08 - Gamifying learning29:32 - Reading + the difference between teaching and learning34:50 - How to scale alternative education so that it becomes the norm? + closing remarksMICHAEL'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/flowidealismThe Socratic Experience: https://socraticexperience.comARJUN'S LINKSTwitter: https://twitter.com/arjunkhemaniBlog: https://arjunkhemani.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Jason is the founder of The Roots of Progress, where he writes and speaks about the history of technology and the philosophy of progress. Previously, he spent 18 years as a software engineer, engineering manager, and startup founder.We talk about the need to study progress, tackle the question of whether progress makes humans any happier, optimism and solutionism, and some more.Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.TIMESTAMPS:0:38 - Why we need a new philosophy of progress3:54 - “Almost nothing about progress is linear…”9:56 - Why bother making any progress in the first place?16:18 - Understanding and “obeying” laws of nature18:01 - Does progress make us happy? Are we on an intergenerational hedonic treadmill?27:52 - Optimism and solutionism35:15 - What's your message for people living a thousand years from now?JASON'S LINKS: The Roots of Progress: https://rootsofprogress.orgTwitter: https://twitter.com/jasoncrawford This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
In this episode, I talk to Chris Turner. A tech entrepreneur turned education entrepreneur who founded Moonrise, a co-learning space for kids. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.We talk about the problem with school, bad explanations around learning, the hard (yet exciting) problem Moonrise is solving, Taking Children Seriously and much more.This was a very fun and insightful conversation! Hope you find it so to.TIMESTAMPS0:30 - How Chris came from the startup world to the alt-education space8:55 - School does serve a function in society12:15 - Structure without coercion is good for creativity17:11 - Moonrise: a co-learning space for kids24:08 - Why the Internet didn't really revolutionize the education system29:41 - Do you learn by immersion?31:47 - Bad explanations about learning33:59 - Should we revolutionize the education system or make changes incrementally?38:55 - Problem of people being “uneducated” and on credentials and proof of work47:35 - Taking Children Seriously and closing remarksChris' links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/_cturnerMoonrise website: https://www.moonrise.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Jay is one of the coolest people I've met1:56 - What's wrong with the school system and how to escape it5:48 - Growing up in an entrepreneurial family and dropping out8:18 - Become more valuable by learning high value skills10:45 - Voids create value / why Jay wants to change the way education is done13:20 - Digital Nomad and filming a documentary in the Arctic Circle21:10 - The most profound thing Jay learned from traveling to 57 countries 24:30 - All morality is localized / every idea is open to criticism 29:31 - How you do one thing is how you do everything30:20 - What “home” means to a digital nomad / I'm a citizen of the world39:21 - Next steps for Jay 44:00 - Biggest mentors in Jay's life + books / closing remarksIn this podcast I speak with Jay Topp.He's like one of the coolest people I've ever met.* Jay is 22 years old from the Gold Coast, Australia.* He's a Digital Nomad who's stepped foot in 57 countries. He calls himself a “citizen of the world”.* He dropped out of school when he was 16 at a time when he started earning more than his teachers while helping his family scale their business.* His agency, Lion Social helps scale businesses from ideation to seven figures and has had a couple of great success stories.* He's an excellent musician.* He's been working on a documentary on “Digital Nomads living in the Arctic circle” which releases later this year.* His mission is to play a meaningful role in the revolution of education.WHAT WE TALK ABOUT* We talk about the flaws in the education system and how Jay escaped it.* Jay shares the most profound thing he learned upon traveling to 57 countries.* We explore who digital nomads are and the reasons why Jay is creating a documentary about them situated in a very unique place.* Jay shares what “home” means to him.* And much more.Jay's links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayt0pp/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzevubxwGHCx7aVbKPTOxjg This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Links* Aastha Jain* Live Longer World podcast* Feynman Kids Program* Blog post by Aastha: Contra Elon Musk on Lifespan ExtensionTimestamps1:05 - An important question: should we stop aging?3:27 - What if people don't change their minds?5:35 - It's in human nature to go against nature7:14 - Contra Elon Musk on Lifespan Extension15:20 - Greater chance for statism if a generation extends indefinitely?18:26 - Population and pessimism25:26 - Doesn't death give life meaning?34:56 - The importance of desire and changing our neurochemistry41:15 - How far we've come in the field of longevity49:40 - “I just want to live long enough until we defeat death” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
This was a very fun conversation with Sarah on the manner in which children are generically raised and why that is not helpful, the importance of Taking Children Seriously and raising a child without coercion, fallibilism, the growth of knowledge, problem-solving, her inspiration for founding Taking Children Seriously and much more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
Brett's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToKTeacherBrett's blog: https://bretthall.orgBrett's podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmP5H2rF-ER33a58ZD5jCig This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.arjunkhemani.com
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