Infinite Loops

Nadia Asparouhova, author of "Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading," joins me for a fascinating exploration of why some ideas go viral while others—often the most important ones—resist transmission entirely. We dive into antimemes, Curtis Yarvin's journey from being canceled to becoming mainstream, St. Paul as history's ultimate memetic engineer, and why "Don't Mess with Texas" became a masterpiece of viral messaging. Plus her current research on advanced meditation techniques, internet dynamics, and MUCH MORE! Important Links: Nadia's Twitter Nadia's LinkedIn Personal Website Nadia's Substack: Monomythical Show Notes: Nadia's fall into the Antimemetics Rabbithole Girardian Theory vs. Antimemetics The Story of Curtis Yarvin How Subcultures Form and Coalesce Engineering Supermemes Why Maxims are Compressed Memes The History of Antimemes Truth Tellers and Meme Spreading Gaining Immunity from Memetic Viruses Nadia's Jhana Journey Nadia as Empress of the World Books Mentioned: Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading; by Nadia Asparouhova Virus of the Mind; by Richard Brodie There Is No Antimemetics Division; by qntm Steal This Book; by Abbie Hoffman Collective Illusions; by Todd Rose How to Change Your Mind; by Michael Pollan Thank You for Smoking; by Christopher Buckley Last Chance to See; by Douglas Adams

I'm joined today by two remarkable men I met through the O'Shaughnessy Fellowships and Grants program. Israel Balogun was homeless and illiterate until the age of 22. Now, he leads a Nigerian youth rehabilitation nonprofit for street kids and is building a self-sustaining village for 200 out-of-school children with the support of an OSV Fellowship. Miyoba Hamuhuma lost both parents by 12 and battled polio as a child. Now he runs Enlight Abilities, a Zambian organization advocating for inclusive education and economic dignity for children with disabilities and their families, backed by an OSV Grant. “Inspiring” is overused nowadays, but here, it barely does them justice. As well as digging into their stories, we explore how personal pain became public mission, how grassroots enablement beats top-down intervention, and why they believe rewriting destiny begins with changing who gets seen, who gets supported, and who gets to dream. 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: Israel Balogun's Akhin Foundation Israel Balogun's LinkedIn Miyoba Hamuhuma's Enlight Abilities Miyoba Hamuhuma's LinkedIn Show Notes: First Goodnight in 12 Years How OSV Helped to Build a Home for Street Kids The Street King – Reclaiming Agency The Dignity of Choice Microenterprise for the Mothers Rethinking the Street Kid Stigma Inclusion is Not a Luxury, It is a Necessity Trust over Control: We help the kids Lead We seek to enable and empower Emperors of the World $10 = 30 bricks = Home for a Street Child

Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, neuropsychiatrist and author of "The ESP Enigma," joins me for a mind-bending exploration of consciousness, savant abilities, and the limitations of materialist science. Trained at Johns Hopkins under a neurologist-turned-psychiatrist, Diane has spent decades investigating phenomena that challenge our fundamental assumptions about how the brain works. We dive deep into why the scientific establishment reacts so emotionally to consciousness research, her fascinating work with autistic savants, and why she believes the brain functions as a navigation tool for consciousness rather than its creator. This is one of those conversations that might just upgrade your entire worldview. 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: Personal Website The Telepathy Tapes Twitter LinkedIn Show Notes: Dr. Powell's Journey through Science Early Interest in Savants Filter Failure and Consciousness Why People Reject Obvious Data Why are Savants different from Neurotypical People? The Sheep Goat Effect in Parapsychology The Brain as a Navigational Tool Improving our own Intuition and Focus Dr. Diane's work on Twins Speculations in Post-Materialism Dr. Diane as Empress of the World Books Mentioned: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat; by Oliver Sacks The ESP Enigma; by Diane Hennacy Powell What Is Life? The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell; by Erwin Schrödinger Mind Over Back Pain; by Dr. John Sarno

Todd Rose, co-founder and CEO of Populace and author of books including "Collective Illusions" and "The End of Average," joins the show to discuss the science behind collective illusions and their impact on society. We explore why so many Americans self-silence, the dangers of conformity, and how one person can spark change. Todd and I are simpatico on… pretty much everything! So this was a fun one. 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: Website Twitter Collective Illusions The End of Average Show Notes: Are We Living in the Truman Show? The Danger of Self-Silencing How to Know What People REALLY Think Why We Are Suckers For Groupthink Social Media: Why Bots Are Everywhere Why Persuasion is the Wrong Strategy for Fighting Collective Illusions There is More Social Trust in America Than You Think How We Can Fight Collective Illusions The Human Need to Be Understood Steelmanning & the Popperian Solution The Role of Fiction The Dawn of a New Era? Todd as World Emperor Books Mentioned: Collective Illusions; by Todd Rose The End of Average; by Todd Rose The Power of the Powerless (essay); by Václav Havel Troubled; by Rob Henderson The Idea Factory; by Jon Gertner Theory of Moral Sentiments; by Adam Smith The Wealth of Nations; by Adam Smith White Mirror; by Tinkered Thinking The Guns of August; by Barbara Tuchman

Aerospace investor and York Space Systems chairman Chuck Beames joins me for a fascinating discussion on the commercial space revolution and the future of satellite security. A retired Air Force colonel with over 20 years experience as a space and intelligence officer, Chuck brings unparalleled expertise to our conversation about what many are calling "the second space race”. We explore how America can leverage her free-market strengths, why ‘zero trust' protocols could revolutionize cybersecurity, the military origins of GPS, and why Space Force needs a streamlined procurement approach. 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: Chuck's Twitter Chuck's Forbes Contributor Page The SmallSat Alliance Show Notes: The Second Space Race The Zero Trust Approach and ‘Secure By Design' GPS as a Military Technology The Space Force is dealing with Multiple Complex Adaptive Systems New Paradigms in Satellite Design What VCs and Bankers Need to know about the Space Community Wargaming with AIs and Humans Laser Spoofing and Adversarial AIs Establishing Supply Chain Sovereignty Open Organizational Cultures Chuck's Lessons from Woodworking The Job of an Executive Chairman Chuck as World Emperor

Strategy consultant turned writer Natasha Joukovsky joins me to discuss why bourgeois comfort is more conducive to writing than you think, why choice-plots make for better fiction, the eyerolling prevalence of manufactured nonchalance, our shared distaste for Atlantis Bahamas, 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: Natasha's Website Natasha's Substack The Portrait of a Mirror Show Notes: “You can do everything, just not at the same time” It's Recursion All the Way Down Pretending to Read vs Actually Reading Manufactured Nonchalance as a Status Signal Counter-Signalling, Fake-Famous & Jim's Cursed Trip to Atlantis Bahamas On No-Choice Plots & Writing in Service of Beauty The Self-Deception of Status Hunting Why Bourgeois Comfort is More Conducive to Art Than You Think Natasha's Next Book “We don't do auctions” Natasha as World Empress Books Mentioned: The Portrait of a Mirror; by Natasha Joukovsky The novels of Jane Austen Status Anxiety; by Alain de Botton The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (poem); by T.S. Eliot Class: A Guide Through the American Status System; by Paul Fussell Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas R. Hofstadter Ulysses; by James Joyce Metamorphosis; by Franz Kafka Beloved; by Toni Morrison In Search of Lost Time (Remembrance of Things Past); by Marcel Proust Collective Illusions; by Todd Rose The Status Game; by Will Storr Anna Karenina; by Leo Tolstoy The Theory of the Leisure Class; by Thorstein Veblen A Little Life; by Hanya Yanagihara

I've said before that one of the best parts of hosting Infinite Loops is the chance to connect with people who consistently make me think differently — and few do that quite like Tiago Forte. Tiago Forte joins Infinite Loops for the first time, and within minutes we closed the door on his best-selling “Building A Second Brain” and were off to the races: from digitizing 50,000+ words of personal data to build an AI-powered life coach, to the emotional intelligence hiding inside envy, to the surprising lessons he learned walking through a tiny historical museum in Coconut Grove. We also dig into the messy magic of identity shifts, how fit dads triggered a personal transformation, and why letting go of productivity-as-performance might be the most productive thing you can do. Plus: the power of NotebookLM, building AI-native systems of self-awareness, and why the future will belong to those who embrace the one-way door. 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: Tiago Forte's Website Tiago Forte on X Tiago Forte on LinkedIn Tiago Forte's Annual Reviews Building A Second Brain Book The PARA Method Book I Replaced my $700/hour Coach with NotebookLM — Here's What Happened (YouTube) What I Learned About the Future By Reading 100 Science Fiction Books Show Notes: Closing the Door on Second Brain The Power of the Annual Review Tiago's Family: Incredibly Vibrant, Visual, Auditory Incorporating AI Into Work & Life Joe Hudson: Mentorship and Emotional Intelligence Miami: The Most Introspective Place on Earth Irreversible Decisions Archival Material: Underrated Forcing Function The Future of Book Publishing The Hard Truth on Performance Reviews AI Skepticism & Building Moats AI-First Mentality for Early Adopters Learning From Sci-Fi Books Cumulative Cultural Evolution Tiago as Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: Building A Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential; by Tiago Forte The PARA Method: Simplify, Organize, and Master Your Digital Life; by Tiago Forte How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain; by Lisa Feldman Barrett Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World; by Anne-Laure Le Cunff Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned; by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine; by Candace B. Pert What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Beginning of Infinity; by David Deutsch One Summer: America, 1927; by Bill Bryson White Mirror; by Tinkered Thinking The Forever War; by Joe Halderman

Author, speaker, founder, investor and behavioral design maestro Nir Eyal joins me for his second appearance on the show. Today, we dig into Nir's first book, “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products.” We also discuss the difference between coercion and persuasion, AI's use case as our personal Jiminy Cricket 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: 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 Makes Silicon Valley's Tech Products So Sticky? The Morality of Manipulation The Perils of Legalized Gambling Twitter is for Journalists and Nerds AI for Behavioural Design Believing in our own Agency On Labels and Limiting Identities Pills Don't Teach Skills The Power of an Internal Locus of Control Escaping Discomfort & Getting Hooked AI as a Self-Directed Personal Tutor Nir As Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products; by Nir Eyal Influence; by Robert Cialdini Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life; by John Kaag

Nathan Baschez is the cofounder and CEO of Lex, an AI word-processor. He also cofounded Every, was the first employee at Substack AND co-created Product Hunt. Suffice to say, Nathan knows a thing or two about building on the internet. He joins the show to discuss how AI is changing writing, why it's time to rethink the article, the rise of solo founders 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: Lex Twitter Substack LinkedIn Show Notes: Lex: Your Spotter In the Writing Gym Letting People Into Your Creative Process Collaboration-as-a-Service Creation Is Fundamentally About Choices What Will Become of the AI Holdouts? AI Is Like the Internet In 1995 Can AI Unfuck the Government? Blindspots While Working In Organizations Rethinking The ‘Article' As A Medium Memes Are Dense Information Packets It's Time for Solo Founders Why Learning About Cumulative Cultural Evolution Is Vital What's Next for Lex? Writing As A Way To Design Thoughts Nathan As World Emperor Books Mentioned: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life; by George Saunders The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter; by Joseph Henrich

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

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 with Andre; directed by Louis Malle Letters from Iwo Jima; directed by Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby; directed by Clint Eastwood Fawlty Towers (TV show) Absolutely Fabulous (TV Show)

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

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

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) Flow (directed by Gints Zilbalodis) My Dinner With Andre (directed by Louis Malle) Star Wars (directed by George Lucas) A Complete Unknown (directed by James Mangold) Tenet (directed by Christopher Nolan) Dune: Part Two (directed by Denis Villeneuve)

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

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 Robert Anton Wilson The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot From Ritual to Romance by Jessie L. Weston Finnegans Wake by James Joyce Science and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics by Alfred Korzybski On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen Paradox; by John S. Bell How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival by David Kaiser Character Analysis by Wilhelm Reich Man Meets Dog by Konrad Lorenz

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

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

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

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 (

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

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 Consensus; by Robin Hanson Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life; by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Hothouse Earth: An Inhabitant's Guide; by Bill McGuire Think in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts; by Annie Duke The Ultimate Resource; by Julian L. Simon Keep Your Identity Small; by Paul Graham

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

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

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 The Great Filter - Are We Almost Past It?; by Robin Hanson

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

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

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 Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture; by William Irwin Thompson The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Designing Neural Media; by K Allado-McDowell Pace Layering: How Complex Systems Learn and Keep Learning; by Steward Brand Losing Humanity: The Case against Killer Robots; by Bonnie Docherty What happens with digital rights management in the real world?; by Cory Doctorow The Evolution of Surveillance Part 1: Burgess Shale to Google Glass; by Michael Garfield An Introduction to Extitutional Theory; by Jessy Kate Schingler 175 - C. Thi Nguyen on The Seductions of Clarity, Weaponized Games, and Agency as Art; Future Fossils with Michael Garfield

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.

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

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

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 Measure Your Life?: A thought-provoking approach to measuring life's success; by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karren Dillon Rules for a Knight; by Ethan Hawke The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War; by Robert J. Gordon Why Writing Letters to Your Kids Is the Best Gift You Can Give Them as Adults; by Polina Pompliano Shane Parrish on the Clear Thinking podcast Lucky vs, Repeatable; by Morgan Housel What Kind of Lucky Are You?; by Jim O'Shaughnessy

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 2024 Show Notes: The Three Indias Navigating India in the 21st century India as a ‘low trust' society Touring ‘India 2' The States and the Union Caste and Class in Modern India Governance and the Government Brain Drain The English Tax The Rise of the Indo-Anglians I, Writer On Media and Markets India as a Digital Welfare State The Virtues of Leapfrogging Sajith, The Emperor of the World Books and Articles Mentioned: The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid; by C. K. Prahalad Supercommunicators; by Charles Duhigg Career Advice; by Scott Adams The Indus Valley Report 2024; by Blume VC

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

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

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

“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 To Find Your People Our AI Mirrors From Explanation Problems to Engineering Problems On Intuition From The Knowledge Economy To The Allocation Economy The Reluctance To AI Adoption AI Companions Dan, The Emperor of The World Books and Articles Mentioned: Admitting What Is Obvious; by Dan Shipper *The Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century; by* Howard Bloom Against Explanations; by Dan Shipper The Trial of Socrates; by I. F. Stone The WEIRDest People in the World; by ****Joseph Heinrich The Three Musketeers; by Alexandre Dumas

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

“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) Nir's articles on Timeboxing, Values, FOMO and Wage slavery Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life; by Peter Gray

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

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 T. Munger; by Charles T. Munger

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 Ben's LinkedIn Show Notes: A Mathematician's Obsession The Language of Algebra What the Tortoise Said to Achilles The Concrete and the Abstract Games As Puzzle Engines We're not Built to Understand Base Rates Why We Always Think About Samples Incorrectly Randomness and Wikipedia Rabbit-holing Counting in Different Languages The Concept of Zero Negatives as the Mathematical Language of Opposites Mathematical Escape Rooms Why Is the World Comprehensible? Discussing Infinity on Infinite Loops The Deep Mathematics of Music Ben As Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: Math for English Majors: A Human Take on the Universal Language; by Ben Orlin Math with Bad Drawings: Illuminating the Ideas That Shape Our Reality; by Ben Orlin Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea; by Charles Seife Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain; by Oliver Sacks

“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 (The 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 Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich

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

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

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 in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder; by Nassim Nicholas Taleb The Infinite Game: How Great Businesses Achieve Long-Lasting Success; by Simon Sinek

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

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 Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University; by Michael Gibson

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

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

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