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What if the same voice that helped you survive could also guide you toward your life's greatest purpose? In this deeply inspiring episode, I speak with Tricia Brouk—an award-winning director, speaker mentor, and former Silicon Valley executive—who shares how her spiritual journey helped her overcome profound challenges and discover deeper meaning beyond success. We dive into how listening to your inner voice can literally save your life, why feeling overwhelmed and disconnected is more common than you think, and how finding your life purpose can be the ultimate remedy for burnout. You'll hear:
Like it or not, more people are using artificial intelligence than ever. On this week's On the Media, hear about the AI arms race between the U.S. and China, and how the tech gets overhyped. Plus, a composer wrestles with a new AI music generator – which threatens his own job.[01:00] Brooke speaks with Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast and author of the newsletter Where's Your Ed At, about how tech moguls have gotten away with overhyping A.I. for years. Plus, the apparent race for AI supremacy between the U.S. and China.[18:09] Brooke continues the conversation with Ed Zitron, peeling back the facade to explore what generative A.I. can actually do.[29:51] Former OTM producer, and current composer and sound designer, Mark Henry Phillips, on how AI music generators could fundamentally upend his industry for good.Further reading:“Deep Impact,” by Ed Zitron“Godot Isn't Making it,” by Ed Zitron“Bubble Trouble,” by Ed Zitron On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.
Marc, Kim, and Ethan charge into Friday's Marc Cox Morning Show taking on Big Tech censorship after Facebook shuts down their livestream—Marc rips into Silicon Valley hypocrisy and teases powerhouse guests like Tanya J. Powers, Jim Carafano, and Dr. William Forstchen. The team exposes the government's hidden hand in weather manipulation and Biden's cognitive decline while torching NPR's bias and Senator Hawley's warning over AI deepfakes. Tanya reports on the anniversary of Trump's near-assassination, and Bob Onder dismantles Medicaid myths and Biden's health cover-up. William Forstchen delivers a chilling breakdown of America's vulnerability to an EMP attack in his bestselling One Second After, now being adapted for the big screen. Meanwhile, Missouri bans cell phones in classrooms, Kim crushes Baylor's woke backpedaling, and Joy Behar threatens to stop paying taxes—sparking a scathing civics lesson. From illegal immigration and transgender medical scandals to a Eureka community rally and the Queen of Hearts jackpot, it's a packed show that pulls zero punches.
It might not be what the UK is best known for, but is our burgeoning tech sector the answer to buoying up the British economy? And if so, what's standing in our way? This week, Jeremy Hunt is putting his case for the UK becoming home to the next Silicon Valley to Clare Barclay, President of Enterprise and Industry EMEA at Microsoft and Chair of the new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, and Rohan Silva, Chair of Founders Factory in Western Australia - and former advisor to David Cameron.In this special Daily T series inspired by his new book, Jeremy Hunt pitches his optimism and ideas to leading experts on how the UK can change the world for the better. From mass migration to leading the AI revolution, we ask, can we be great again?Producer: Rosie StopherExecutive Producer: Louisa WellsVideo Editors: Andy Mackenzie and Will WaltersStudio Operator: Meghan SearleOriginal music by Goss Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Senior White House reporter for The Washington Post Isaac Arnsdorf details his new book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America.Adam Becker examines his book More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if the path to healing your deepest wounds was also the key to discovering your life's purpose? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Regan Caruthers, a former Silicon Valley executive turned spiritual teacher, who shares her remarkable story of transformation—from trauma and corporate burnout to deep spiritual alignment. We talk about how she learned to listen to her still small voice, face overwhelming disconnection, and ultimately heal from trauma that began in childhood. Regan's journey is a testimony to how faith, inner strength, and spiritual discipline can help you overcome burnout and rediscover your calling. You'll learn:
01:04:11 – 01:05:42News Sites Locking Content to Fight AI ScrapingPublishers are walling off content behind paywalls to prevent AI models from scraping and repackaging their work. The tension between tech platforms and media outlets is framed as a struggle over fair compensation for content creation. 01:08:03 – 01:09:45Curtis Yarvin's Influence on Musk's America PartyElon Musk's consultation with Curtis Yarvin, a monarchist and critic of democracy, raises concerns about the ideological direction of his proposed third party. The segment critiques Yarvin's technocratic vision and Silicon Valley's shift toward authoritarian models. 01:24:38 – 01:25:58Grok AI Incident Escalates Concerns Over Speech ControlGrok's outburst, including racist and anti-Semitic remarks, leads to calls for stronger controls. The segment criticizes both the AI's behavior and the push to implement government-regulated speech enforcement through tech platforms. 01:29:03 – 01:30:39Free Speech vs. Censorship in the Age of AICritique is leveled at efforts to censor “hate speech” on platforms like X, arguing that free speech must include the right to offend. Attempts to bubble-wrap users from uncomfortable opinions are viewed as infantilizing and authoritarian. 01:58:36 – 02:07:12Trump's ‘Perfect War' Concept and Fallout Over Iran StrikeA commentary unpacks Trump's framing of the Iran attack as a theatrical “perfect war” and critiques his failure to fulfill promises on immigration, ending wars, and releasing Epstein files. The analysis argues the bombing strategy backfired by strengthening Iran internally and diminishing trust in U.S. diplomacy. 02:21:25 – 02:24:15MAGA Base Turns on Trump Over Epstein File Cover-UpMAGA supporters express betrayal after the DOJ denies Epstein kept a client list. Promised disclosures are abandoned, and visual symbols like burning MAGA hats signal backlash from the base. 02:29:33 – 02:31:30Memo Denies Epstein Blackmail Ring as Evidence DisappearsThe DOJ and FBI release a memo asserting no blackmail network existed, despite contradictions from earlier officials. A key minute of surveillance footage is missing, triggering renewed accusations of destruction of evidence. 02:34:48 – 02:39:54MAGA Loyalty Fractures Over Trump's Foreign Policy and Epstein HandlingTony Arterburn and others describe disillusionment in the MAGA base, citing Trump's support for Israel, failed vaccine policies, and Epstein-related secrecy. The sentiment grows that Trump supporters were misled and must reset their political expectations. 02:45:30 – 02:50:06U.S. Dollar Collapse, Global De-Dollarization, and BRICS ShiftThe conversation highlights the dollar's record decline and the rise of BRICS as a competing financial system. The segment argues the U.S. has lost global economic trust and can no longer use financial leverage as in the post-WWII era. 03:12:32 – 03:26:57Epstein Victim Speaks Out, Public Furious at Cover-UpA woman identifying as an Epstein victim accuses the U.S. government and Trump of betrayal after years of broken promises to release client information. The segment includes direct calls for accountability and sharply criticizes the DOJ's narrative that Epstein had no clients. Missing video footage and DOJ statements are called “stacked lies.” The public's frustration is described as a major turning point, with people across the political spectrum rejecting official explanations. 03:35:35 – 03:56:33RFK Jr. Sued Over COVID Vaccine Recommendations for Pregnant WomenRFK Jr. faces a federal lawsuit from major medical associations after removing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. Critics of the suit argue it is driven by pharmaceutical interests, note the plaintiff organizations' industry funding, and suggest the vaccine lobby fears public scrutiny. The segment argues that questioning vaccine recommendations empowers doctors and threatens the liability shield protecting manufacturers. 03:56:33 – 03:57:40COVID Profits and Medical Industry Incentives for HarmThe discussion shifts to how hospitals profited from ventilator use and COVID protocols, asserting that financial incentives encouraged lethal treatment. The claim is that lives were lost for profit, not health, and that both public and private actors knowingly engaged in mass harm. 03:57:40 – 03:59:19Public Funding, Ventilator Deaths, and Ongoing DistrustHospitals allegedly received large payments for ventilator use, contributing to high mortality. The segment stresses continued public skepticism, describing this as one of the largest crimes against humanity, with the government and healthcare industry implicated. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.
01:04:11 – 01:05:42News Sites Locking Content to Fight AI ScrapingPublishers are walling off content behind paywalls to prevent AI models from scraping and repackaging their work. The tension between tech platforms and media outlets is framed as a struggle over fair compensation for content creation. 01:08:03 – 01:09:45Curtis Yarvin's Influence on Musk's America PartyElon Musk's consultation with Curtis Yarvin, a monarchist and critic of democracy, raises concerns about the ideological direction of his proposed third party. The segment critiques Yarvin's technocratic vision and Silicon Valley's shift toward authoritarian models. 01:24:38 – 01:25:58Grok AI Incident Escalates Concerns Over Speech ControlGrok's outburst, including racist and anti-Semitic remarks, leads to calls for stronger controls. The segment criticizes both the AI's behavior and the push to implement government-regulated speech enforcement through tech platforms. 01:29:03 – 01:30:39Free Speech vs. Censorship in the Age of AICritique is leveled at efforts to censor “hate speech” on platforms like X, arguing that free speech must include the right to offend. Attempts to bubble-wrap users from uncomfortable opinions are viewed as infantilizing and authoritarian. 01:58:36 – 02:07:12Trump's ‘Perfect War' Concept and Fallout Over Iran StrikeA commentary unpacks Trump's framing of the Iran attack as a theatrical “perfect war” and critiques his failure to fulfill promises on immigration, ending wars, and releasing Epstein files. The analysis argues the bombing strategy backfired by strengthening Iran internally and diminishing trust in U.S. diplomacy. 02:21:25 – 02:24:15MAGA Base Turns on Trump Over Epstein File Cover-UpMAGA supporters express betrayal after the DOJ denies Epstein kept a client list. Promised disclosures are abandoned, and visual symbols like burning MAGA hats signal backlash from the base. 02:29:33 – 02:31:30Memo Denies Epstein Blackmail Ring as Evidence DisappearsThe DOJ and FBI release a memo asserting no blackmail network existed, despite contradictions from earlier officials. A key minute of surveillance footage is missing, triggering renewed accusations of destruction of evidence. 02:34:48 – 02:39:54MAGA Loyalty Fractures Over Trump's Foreign Policy and Epstein HandlingTony Arterburn and others describe disillusionment in the MAGA base, citing Trump's support for Israel, failed vaccine policies, and Epstein-related secrecy. The sentiment grows that Trump supporters were misled and must reset their political expectations. 02:45:30 – 02:50:06U.S. Dollar Collapse, Global De-Dollarization, and BRICS ShiftThe conversation highlights the dollar's record decline and the rise of BRICS as a competing financial system. The segment argues the U.S. has lost global economic trust and can no longer use financial leverage as in the post-WWII era. 03:12:32 – 03:26:57Epstein Victim Speaks Out, Public Furious at Cover-UpA woman identifying as an Epstein victim accuses the U.S. government and Trump of betrayal after years of broken promises to release client information. The segment includes direct calls for accountability and sharply criticizes the DOJ's narrative that Epstein had no clients. Missing video footage and DOJ statements are called “stacked lies.” The public's frustration is described as a major turning point, with people across the political spectrum rejecting official explanations. 03:35:35 – 03:56:33RFK Jr. Sued Over COVID Vaccine Recommendations for Pregnant WomenRFK Jr. faces a federal lawsuit from major medical associations after removing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. Critics of the suit argue it is driven by pharmaceutical interests, note the plaintiff organizations' industry funding, and suggest the vaccine lobby fears public scrutiny. The segment argues that questioning vaccine recommendations empowers doctors and threatens the liability shield protecting manufacturers. 03:56:33 – 03:57:40COVID Profits and Medical Industry Incentives for HarmThe discussion shifts to how hospitals profited from ventilator use and COVID protocols, asserting that financial incentives encouraged lethal treatment. The claim is that lives were lost for profit, not health, and that both public and private actors knowingly engaged in mass harm. 03:57:40 – 03:59:19Public Funding, Ventilator Deaths, and Ongoing DistrustHospitals allegedly received large payments for ventilator use, contributing to high mortality. The segment stresses continued public skepticism, describing this as one of the largest crimes against humanity, with the government and healthcare industry implicated. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.
Katie speaks to Dylan Field - the CEO of Figma. The design software firm has filed to go public on the New York Stock Exchange with Dylan calling it the most ‘interesting, intense, and fun time'. Danny and Katie also talk about Linda Yaccarino resigning as CEO of X and discuss a so-called ‘Panda watch' creeping over Silicon Valley! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it take to build a $100 billion cybersecurity company in today's cloud-first, AI-infused world? And how do you balance relentless technological change with the practical realities of compliance, risk, and leadership? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Sumedh Thakar, CEO of Qualys, during his visit to the UK for the company's QSC conference. From starting out as one of Qualys' first engineers to leading the company through a new era of risk-centric cybersecurity, Sumedh brings a unique blend of technical insight and lived experience. We discuss why compliance remains such a challenge for enterprises, how the conversation is shifting from attack surfaces to risk surfaces, and why many businesses are overwhelmed by security signals but underwhelmed by strategic clarity. Sumedh shares his view on the growing importance of the Risk Operations Center (ROC) and how AI is complicating risk profiles in new and unpredictable ways. He also reflects on the future of cloud security and why the market remains wide open for innovation, even as it becomes more crowded. Beyond the tech, Sumedh opens up about his personal journey from Pune to Silicon Valley, how a threatened farm purchase changed his life, and why leadership is ultimately a game of time, trust, and communication. He leaves us with a powerful book recommendation, Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg, which he credits with transforming his leadership style and helping him build stronger relationships across the board. Are we thinking about risk in the right way or simply throwing money at the latest acronyms? And how do you build a meaningful legacy in cybersecurity without losing sight of the human side? Join the conversation and let me know what resonated with you most.
This week, we start with Oasis and end in Silicon Valley, via Tír na nÓg. We're talking about the economics of not dying, and how tech billionaires are pouring billions into that dream. From Oasis belting Live Forever to Irish mythology's take on eternal youth, we ask: why are we so obsessed with dodging death? We explore the surreal story of Brian Johnson, the tech bro spending $2 million a year trying to reverse ageing. Vegan diet, 100 supplements a day, teenage blood transfusions… all in an effort to achieve his goal of slowing his biological clock by 7.5 months every year. Meanwhile, he's founded a Don't Die movement with Discord channels, Blueprint protocols, and longevity summits. We dig into the money behind it all: the anti-ageing industry is already worth $70 billion and is projected to hit $140 billion by 2034. Google's Calico Labs, Bezos's $3 billion bet on Altos Labs, and a biotech unicorn called Cambrian Bio (valued at $1.8 billion) are all racing to crack the longevity code. What kind of world are we building? Is this the new Tír na nÓg, a fantasy only for the rich? We imagine a world where ageing is optional… but only if you can afford it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join the Cork Board Cadre by subscribing to the PPM Patreon (as a free or paid member) to access an extended cut of this ep with additional music breaks, the full episode notes, the complete catalog of immortal communoid scientific commentary, and the PPM community on Discord. Immensely grateful for your support:patreon.com/ParaPowerMapping In which Klonny sets out to begin mapping the rapidly consolidating PayPal Mafia Occupied Government and their brand of Palantir Apartheid White Governance (PAWG with South African characteristics lol), endeavoring to compare and contrast domestic deep political conditions with those of GLADIO and the Italian Years of Lead. Consider this the précis or prelims for an even lengthier investigation.Brief note: apologies the show has been in dormant stasis for about the last month. I have been recovering from walking pneumonia over the past three weeks, which majorly hamstrung my productivity, while simultaneously navigating various travels including a handful of days camping in 100 F degree heat while pneumococcal, tech issues (my phone and 5 years of data were completely wiped), and stressors born of pretty significant, prospective life changes that appear to be around the corner. Anyways, no woe is me, just feel I owed you all an explanation. I've stayed busy with my research during that time, but it was hard to manage the recording & editing process for a bit there. I am hopeful that this new episode will mark the beginning of a purple patch. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported the show and my efforts through thick & thin.Songs & Clips:| Peter Thiel & Ross Douthat interview | | Spirit Hz - "OPX" ( friend of the show, https://spirithz.bandcamp.com/ ) | | 2 MN lawmakers shot in apparent targeted incident - officials (ABC) | | Alex Karp - "Defending Democracy" edit (played for comedic & cautionary warning effect) | | Joe Lonsdale on Squawkbox (CNBC) - "Regime Change in Iran" | | US Navy Adm. William H. McRaven raves about Palantir | | Spitting Image - "I've Never Met a Nice South African" | | Spirit Hz - "Promis" | Incomplete reading list for this series (not to mention the texts I've been picking through since we spoke last):Daniele Ganser - NATO's Secret Armies: Operation GLADIO and Terrorism in Western EuropeRichard Cottrell - Gladio, NATO's Dagger at the Heart of Europe: The Pentagon-Nazi-Mafia Terror AxisPaul Williams - Operation Gladio: The Unholy Alliance between the Vatican, the CIA, and the MafiaStuart Christie - Stefano delle Chiaie: Portrait of a Black TerroristMax Chafkin - The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley's Pursuit of PowerAntony Loewenstein - The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the WorldHenrik Kruger - The Great Heroin Coup: Drugs, Intelligence, & International FascismScott Anderson & Jon Lee Anderson - Inside the League: The Shocking Expose of How Terrorists, Nazis, And Latin American Death Squads have Infiltrated the World Anti-Communist LeagueDavid Yallop - In God's NameMalcolm Harris - Palo AltoPeter Dale Scott - Cocaine PoliticsTim Shorrock - Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence OutsourcingDavid Alvarez - Spies in the VaticanDouglas Valentine - The Strength of the Pack (if our study of historic GLADIO gets there, a few of these will tie in with the earlier Monkey Morales series, bridging the gap between operatives like Stefano delle Chiaie and strategia della tensione theorist Yves Guerin-Serac slash deadly Aginter Press frontman and the OP 40 Cuban assassin set, Operation Condor, and the deployment of the same counterinsurgent tactics in America's backyard)
In this episode, we dive into the intriguing world of integration therapies within Silicon Valley's tech culture. Inspired by a Wall Street Journal article, we discuss how psychedelics are becoming mainstream among tech workers, leading to the rise of integration therapists. These professionals help individuals process their experiences with substances like ayahuasca and psilocybin, aiming to combat burnout and unlock creativity. We explore the therapeutic potential and unintended consequences of this trend, including the phenomenon of workers leaving the industry after profound experiences. Takeaways Psychedelics are becoming mainstream in Silicon Valley. Integration therapy is essential for processing psychedelic experiences. Many tech workers face existential crises after psychedelic use. Therapeutic use of psychedelics is viewed positively by some. Reflection is crucial for meaningful transformation. Journaling can enhance personal agency and clarity. Travel can provide new perspectives for personal growth. Integration helps sustain the benefits of transformative experiences. Companies can benefit from encouraging reflection among employees. The conversation around psychedelics is evolving and complex. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Psychedelics in Silicon Valley 02:09 The Role of Integration Therapies 05:57 Therapeutic Uses of Psychedelics 09:57 Moral Perspectives on Psychedelics 14:10 Transporting vs. Transformative Experiences 18:20 The Power of Journaling and Reflection 21:44 Encapsulation and Integration in Transformation 23:57 Conclusion and Reflections on the Discussion Read More: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/so-you-took-ayahuasca-the-therapist-will-see-you-now-eee7476b?st=8GRcX3&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink Register for a free pilot program with Feedback Now https://marketing-info.feedbacknow.com/free-pilot Learn more about Stone Mantel https://www.stonemantel.co Sign up for the Experience Strategist Substack here: https://theexperiencestrategist.substack.com
In the current tech landscape, everyone is experimenting with AI, but when it comes to finance, we tread more carefully. In this episode, CJ is joined by Amy Butte, the CFO of Navan, one of the most AI-forward travel and expense platforms in operation. Amy highlights how the company is weaving AI into its operating system, not just to summarize documents, but to manage financial workflows with real impact. With a career spanning Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Amy also discusses her journey from being the CFO of the New York Stock Exchange to her current role. She delves into her experiences as an audit chair and touches on the challenges and opportunities in building teams and navigating change. She also breaks down the dynamics of the build versus buy debate in the current tech space before sharing anecdotes about her unique experiences at the New York Stock Exchange and her perspectives on being a woman in leadership.—LINKS:Amy Butte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybutte/Navan: navan.com/RunthenumbersExtraordinary Women on Boards: https://www.ewobnetwork.com/CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222Mostly metrics: http://mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Preview and Intro02:59 Sponsor – MUFG | NetSuite | Pulley06:52 Conferences and Networking09:09 How Navan Has Implemented AI12:17 Whose Responsibility Is It To Drive AI Adoption14:50 The Risks Involved in Using AI in Finance15:50 Navan's New Bot “Miles”17:00 Sponsor – Brex | Aleph | RightRev | Navan22:31 The Operational and Financial Impact of Using AI at Navan23:36 CSAT Scores: Humans Versus Bots24:46 AI Within the Finance Department27:37 What an Audit Chair Does32:04 Using the Audit Chair Seat To Influence Business Outcomes33:33 Mentoring CFOs and Unlocking Opportunities As Audit Chair36:29 How To Become a Board Member or Audit Chair38:58 The Role of the Director Versus the Role of the Operator39:44 Building Teams and Empowering People48:48 Build Versus Buy in the Era of AI51:28 Partnering: Collaboration Versus Control53:07 A Story About the Security at the New York Stock Exchange55:36 Meeting the CEO of Merrill Lynch57:43 Leadership and Opportunities for Women in Finance1:00:37 Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Big Mistake1:01:31 Advice to Younger Self1:02:37 Finance Software Stack1:02:55 Craziest Expense Story—SPONSORS:MUFG is a global banking powerhouse that provides comprehensive banking services for VC-backed, PE-backed, and public companies with revenues starting at $40M. Accelerate your growth trajectory. Contact group head Bob Blee at bblee@us.mufg.jp to find out more.NetSuite is an AI-powered business management suite, encompassing ERP/Financials, CRM, and ecommerce for more than 41,000 customers. If you're looking for an ERP, head to https://netsuite.com/metrics and get the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning.Pulley is the cap table management platform built for CFOs and finance leaders who need reliable, audit-ready data and intuitive workflows, without the hidden fees or unreliable support. Switch in as little as 5 days and get 25% off your first year: pulley.com/mostlymetrics.Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus, they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Find out more at brex.com/metricsAleph automates 90% of manual, error-prone busywork, so you can focus on the strategic work you were hired to do. Minimize busywork and maximize impact with the power of a web app, the flexibility of spreadsheets, and the magic of AI. Get a personalised demo at getaleph.com/runRightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. For RevRec that auditors actually trust, visit rightrev.com and schedule a demo.Navan is the all-in-one travel and expense solution that helps finance teams streamline reconciliation, enforce policies automatically, and gain real-time visibility. It connects to your existing cards and makes closing the books faster and smarter. Visit navan.com/Runthenumbers for your demo.#Navan #AIFinance #FinancialTransformation #AuditChair #WomenInLeadership Get full access to Mostly metrics at www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe
Is Silicon Valley building the future or just trying to rule it?From Elon Musk's new political party to retail investors buying fake OpenAI stock, the startup world is getting weirder, faster.In this episode, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down a massive week in tech, politics, and startup culture. They unpack Elon Musk's launch of the “America Party,” the legality of Robinhood and SoFi offering access to OpenAI and SpaceX shares, YouTube's crackdown on mass AI content, Sequoia Capital's culture war PR disaster, and the impressive metrics behind Figma's upcoming IPO.In this episode, you will:Learn why Elon Musk is launching a political party—and how it could shake up US politicsUnderstand how Robinhood and SoFi are fractionalizing access to top private companies like SpaceXDiscover the legal and ethical questions behind tokenized startup sharesExplore YouTube's new policy to demonetize “AI slop” and what it means for creatorsHear why a Sequoia partner's tweet has triggered backlash in tech VC circlesReflect on the growing disconnect between Silicon Valley values and social responsibilityWhether you're a startup founder, tech enthusiast, or just trying to make sense of where innovation is heading, this episode is your insider's guide to the stories shaping the future of business.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/
The US president, Donald Trump, has made public the tariffs he intends to slap on imports from another group of countries, including Brazil, from the start of August. The chipmaker Nvidia has become the first company in the world to reach a market value of $4tn on Wednesday. David Harper hears from experts. And Donald Trump has said the United States is shifting from aid to trade in its relationship with Africa as he welcomed five presidents from the continent to the White House.Throughout the programme, David will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Zyma Islam, Senior Reporter at the Daily Star in Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Silicon Valley journalist and author Mike Malone in California in the USA.
José Andrés knows what it's like to work under pressure. From managing the chaos of restaurant kitchens, to running a global business empire, to helping feed people in disaster zones, the celebrity chef doesn't like to sit still, especially when it comes to food. On a special bonus episode of the Bold Names podcast, Andrés speaks to WSJ's Christopher Mims and Tim Higgins about his new book, why he's investing in lab-grown meat and his belief that good meals and “longer tables” are the cure for what ails us. Check Out Past Episodes: Booz Allen CEO on Silicon Valley's Turn to Defense Tech: ‘We Need Everybody.' This CEO Says Global Trade Is Broken. What Comes Next? How Zipline's Drones Are Taking Off in the U.S. and Rivaling Amazon What This Former USAID Head Had to Say About Elon Musk and DOGE Let us know what you think of the show. Email us at BoldNames@wsj.com Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Read Christopher Mims's Keywords column. Read Tim Higgins's column. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the secret to high-performing teams isn't hiring the smartest people, but creating the right environment? Vanessa Druskat, organizational psychologist and associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, reveals how emotionally intelligent teams outperform their competition through trust, collaboration, and psychological safety.Vanessa's research identifies nine specific norms that separate top-performing teams from average ones, clustered into three powerful categories: individual focus, continuous learning, and external awareness.In this episode, Vanessa shares real-world examples from Johnson & Johnson drug development teams, the Boston Bruins, and even crisis situations involving the FBI and CIA. She explains why stacking a team with emotionally intelligent individuals doesn't guarantee emotionally intelligent behavior, and how team norms—not personality traits—drive performance.You'll discover practical diagnostic tools to assess your team's emotional intelligence, learn why diverse teams need these skills more than others, and understand how virtual teams can build the same powerful dynamics. Vanessa also tackles the Silicon Valley skepticism around "touchy-feely" team building and reveals how her book "The Emotionally Intelligent Team" offers a roadmap for transformation.---Guy Kawasaki is on a mission to make you remarkable. His Remarkable People podcast features interviews with remarkable people such as Jane Goodall, Marc Benioff, Woz, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Bob Cialdini. Every episode will make you more remarkable.With his decades of experience in Silicon Valley as a Venture Capitalist and advisor to the top entrepreneurs in the world, Guy's questions come from a place of curiosity and passion for technology, start-ups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. If you love society and culture, documentaries, and business podcasts, take a second to follow Remarkable People.Listeners of the Remarkable People podcast will learn from some of the most successful people in the world with practical tips and inspiring stories that will help you be more remarkable.Episodes of Remarkable People organized by topic: https://bit.ly/rptopologyListen to Remarkable People here: **https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827**Like this show? Please leave us a review -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!Thank you for your support; it helps the show!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Amanda Northcutt is a six-time executive with 22 years of experience in consulting, startups, and marketing strategy. After leaving a high-paying Silicon Valley role, Amanda saw a gap: creators and subject matter experts with massive potential, but lacking the CEO-level operational expertise needed to scale. As co-founder and CEO of Level Up Creators and Level Up Creator School, Amanda now helps coaches and consultants build boutique, high-impact businesses that generate recurring revenue and generational wealth. On this episode we talk about: Amanda's journey from Silicon Valley to creator consulting—and why she left the tech world on her own terms The mission of Level Up Creators: helping experts and executives turn decades of business experience into thriving consulting and coaching firms Why most creators and consultants struggle with operations, productization, and scaling—and how Amanda's team bridges that gap The ideal client profile: business experts (typically 40–60 years old) seeking legacy, impact, and a business they love for the next decade How to productize services, escape the “time-for-money” trap, and build a business that fits your life goals The importance of targeting painful, pervasive, urgent, and expensive problems for a specific audience How to stand out in a saturated market by developing a proprietary methodology and building deep trust with your audience Why high-ticket, high-touch, low-volume offers are the fastest path to impact and income for most experts The power of partner marketing, niche podcast guesting, and relationship-based lead generation How to structure partnerships and collaborations for maximum leverage and mutual benefit The mindset shift required to start over in a new field and build credibility from scratch Top 3 Takeaways Productize and Specialize: Focus on solving urgent, expensive problems for a specific audience with a clear, proprietary methodology—don't try to be everything to everyone. Go High-Ticket First: Start with high-touch, high-value offers before expanding into lower-ticket products or communities; this maximizes your impact and income with fewer clients. Leverage Partnerships and Niche Media: Build relationships with peers, pursue partner marketing, and guest on niche podcasts to reach your ideal clients—don't chase only the biggest platforms. Notable Quotes “If you're selling vitamins instead of Vicodin, you are not going to make sales—especially in a tough economy.” “You should be spending 80% of your time on only the highest-leverage activities in your business.” “The most successful people are willing to humble themselves and start over in a new field—they don't care about losing status, they just want to do the work.” Connect with Amanda Northcutt: Website: welevelupcreators.com
In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Aubrey Amatelli, Founder and CEO of PayRio—the first payment provider focused exclusively on alternative medicine.Aubrey shared how her roots in Silicon Valley and a traditional finance career at JP Morgan eventually led her to launch PayRio, combining her passion for cannabis and her expertise in payments. She walked me through the complicated regulatory landscape that makes payment processing for cannabis so challenging and explained how PayRio uses creative, compliant workarounds like ATM rails and wallet tech to support dispensaries and e-commerce businesses.Aubrey also opened up about the emotional transition from corporate life to cannabis entrepreneurship, including the fear and eventual empowerment that came with “coming out” on LinkedIn. Aubrey discussed how her startup journey began with cold calls and a scrappy three-person team, and how PayRio has grown to serve both mom-and-pop dispensaries and multi-state operators alike.Let's drive all the way to San Francisco and dive into Aubrey Amatelli's bold leap from Wall Street to CBD tech in this episode of The First Customer!Guest Info:PayRiohttps://payrio.co/Aubrey Amatelli's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/aubreyamatelli/Connect with Jay on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/The First Customer Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcastThe First Customer podcast websitehttps://www.firstcustomerpodcast.comFollow The First Customer on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/
When it comes to the production of high-value food crops, California is, without question, a global leader. Plus, much of the state's thousands of acres of farmland lies within close proximity of Silicon Valley, where high-tech tools and solutions are endemic. And yet, many California farmers are struggling to continue their work, and agtech startups are increasingly looking beyond the state for customers and sectors to serve. So what gives? To answer this question, we asked Walt Duflock, Senior VP of Innovation at Western Growers Association on the show to help us connect the dots on why California's world-renowned ag and its state-of-the-art tech sectors are struggling to align. Policy plays a big role here, but shifting tides around agtech funding are also having an effect. For more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
Welcome to B The Way Forward Interludes - a series of conversations that don't necessarily fit in our regular season, but are just too good to not share. Dr. Timinit Gebru is one of the leading voices in AI research calling for more responsible and inclusive AI systems. Or, as she puts it - “a technological future that serves our communities instead of one that is used for surveillance, warfare, and the centralization of power by Silicon Valley.” As the Founder and Executive Director of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR), Timnit isn't just calling out the dangers of Big Tech's approach to AI - she and her colleagues are working to forge new approaches and new ways to imagine what our future can look like. In part 2 of our conversation, Timnit shares why the “Distributed” aspect of DAIR is so important, the kinds of projects they undertake that could never be done within the halls of Big Tech or Academia, and why the current method of designing LLM's flies in the face of core engineering principles. Plus, you all had a lot of questions about AI at our recent Responsible AI Forum by AnitaB.org - and Timnit has some answers for you. --- At AnitaB.org, our mission is to enable and equip women technologists with the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to thrive. Through innovative programs and initiatives, we empower women to chart new paths, better prepared to lead, advance, and achieve equitable compensation. Because when women succeed, they uplift their communities and redefine success on their terms, both professionally and personally. --- Connect with AnitaB.org Instagram - @anitab_org Facebook - /anitab.0rg LinkedIn - /anitab-org On the web - anitab.org --- Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services. --- B The Way Forward Is… Hosted and Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson. Produced by Avi Glijansky Associate Produced by Kelli Kyle Sound design and editing by Ryan Hammond Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski Additional Producing help from Faith Krogulecki Operations Coordination for AnitaB.org by Quinton Sprull. Creative Director for AnitaB.org is Deandra Coleman Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Frequency Machine Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions For more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org
What if your team's best innovation is stuck behind a lie - like “I'm not creative”? In this episode, Nicole Greer sits down with Melissa Dinwiddie, author of The Creative Sandbox Way: Your Path to a Full-Color Life, to smash that myth and uncover the truth: creativity is your birthright—and it's the key to building a vibrant, energized culture.Melissa shares her personal journey from self-doubt to singing jazz, thriving as an artist in Silicon Valley, and coaching leaders at Google, Facebook, and Salesforce. She introduces her 10 transformative guideposts to unlock innovation, break through fear, and help people across all industries build their own “Creative Sandbox.” Whether you lead a team, launch ideas, or build culture, this episode will give you the tools—and the mindset—to turn possibility into reality.Vibrant Highlights:[00:06:54] – The lie of “I'm not creative”—and how most people are wounded out of creativity in childhood.[00:25:48] – “Think Quantity, Not Quality”: Why messy first drafts and crappy pots are the secret to innovation.[00:29:38] – Tiny and daily wins: how 15 minutes a day changed Melissa's creative life—and can spark your next big thing.[00:33:21] – “Take the riskier path” — If you're not risking, you're not innovating. Even Coca-Cola took big swings![00:36:57] – Dismiss the Gremlins: How to spot the sneaky voices of fear and self-doubt—and send them off for a pedicure.[00:43:22] – Self-awareness + self-compassion = the key to everything good. (Golden formula alert!)Melissa's Book: https://a.co/d/76rgugOFREE Download - Impact Innovation Checklist: https://bit.ly/bvcpthankyouConnect with Melissa:Website: https://melissadinwiddie.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadinwiddie/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaDinwiddieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_creative_life/Also mentioned in this episode:Art & Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland: https://a.co/d/bJJ5Q9YTaming Your Gremlin by Rick Carson: https://a.co/d/arACGUqThe Human Condition by Thomas Keating: https://a.co/d/6wNXGqUSelf-Compassion by Kristin Neff: https://a.co/d/4tyG8IeListen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts! Learn more about Nicole Greer, The Vibrant Coach, at vibrantculture.com
National Security, Innovation, and Tariff Tension In today's episode of the AgNet News Hour, Nick Papagni and Josh McGill break down the latest headlines shaping agriculture in California and across the nation. From Washington D.C. to the fields of Salinas and the Central Valley, this episode covers some of the most urgent and transformative issues impacting farmers today. Leading the show is the USDA's unveiling of the National Farm Security Action Plan. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins rolled out a sweeping federal initiative designed to safeguard U.S. agriculture from foreign adversaries. The plan includes banning land purchases by foreign entities from countries of concern, cracking down on fraudulent nutrition programs, and protecting ag research and supply chains. Nick and Josh give their takes on what this means for California farmers and national ag resilience. Also in today's show: Tariff uncertainty continues to loom large as the Trump administration delays enforcement to August 1. The team breaks down the potential impacts of increased tariffs on 14 nations, including what the delay means for California growers trying to plan ahead in an already volatile global market. The hosts weigh the risks, opportunities, and why India's absence from the list might signal a positive development. In the spotlight interview, Nick and Josh sit down with Danny Bernstein, CEO of The Reservoir, a groundbreaking incubator for ag innovation. Bernstein discusses his team's work with major California growers like Taylor Farms and Driscoll's to create real-world testing grounds for tech startups. From automated harvesters to precision irrigation, the Reservoir is helping bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and farm fields—and giving smaller producers a seat at the innovation table. They also tackle major challenges like labor shortages, automation bans, and California's regulatory hurdles, with Bernstein emphasizing the need for inclusive, scalable solutions. Spider mites and hull rot? Todd Burkdoll from Valent USA closes the show with timely insights on how to protect your tree nuts with Quash and Zeal MVP.
French President Emmanuel Macron is tonight being feted with a white tie dinner in the City of London. But is the "entente" not so "amicale" when it comes to migration? A Labour MP who wants tougher curbs to stop small boats crossing the Channel tells us talks between Britain and France to get a deal announced tomorrow are proving tough. Also tonight:It's a departure that's stunned Silicon Valley - why is the chief executive leaving Elon Musk's platform, X?A BBC investigation verifies a leaked recording in which Bangladesh's then-prime minister says she's authorised shoot-to-kill during violent protests against her. We have a special report.And the Iranian musician - banned from singing in her homeland - who fell in love with Flamenco, and now performs it in her native Farsi.
Welcome back to SED News, a podcast series from Software Engineering Daily where hosts Gregor Vand and Sean Falconer break down the latest stories in software engineering, Silicon Valley, and the wider tech industry. In this episode, Gregor and Sean dig into Meta's legal battle over AI training data, discuss the strategic implications of Meta's The post SED News: Data Land Grabs, Copyright Fights, and the Great AI Talent War appeared first on Software Engineering Daily.
The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
In today's episode, we dive into the latest predictions around AI-driven job displacement, highlighted by Ford CEO Jim Farley's blunt warning that AI could eliminate half of all white-collar jobs in the U.S. Farley's remarks at the Aspen Ideas Festival, echoed in a pointed Wall Street Journal article, underscore an emerging trend: executives outside Silicon Valley are increasingly acknowledging AI's profound workforce implications. We explore why Farley calls for urgent societal plans to support displaced workers, and what his comments signal for the broader conversation on AI and the future of work.Get Ad Free AI Daily Brief: https://patreon.com/AIDailyBriefBrought to you by:KPMG – Go to https://kpmg.com/ai to learn more about how KPMG can help you drive value with our AI solutions.Blitzy.com - Go to https://blitzy.com/ to build enterprise software in days, not months AGNTCY - The AGNTCY is an open-source collective dedicated to building the Internet of Agents, enabling AI agents to communicate and collaborate seamlessly across frameworks. Join a community of engineers focused on high-quality multi-agent software and support the initiative at agntcy.org - https://agntcy.org/?utm_campaign=fy25q4_agntcy_amer_paid-media_agntcy-aidailybrief_podcast&utm_channel=podcast&utm_source=podcast Vanta - Simplify compliance - https://vanta.com/nlwPlumb - The automation platform for AI experts and consultants https://useplumb.com/The Agent Readiness Audit from Superintelligent - Go to https://besuper.ai/ to request your company's agent readiness score.The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Subscribe to the newsletter: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Join our Discord: https://bit.ly/aibreakdownInterested in sponsoring the show? nlw@breakdown.network
Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/techishIn this episode of Techish, hosts Michael and Abadesi dive into the wild story of the tech con artist who is fooling Silicon Valley startups, exposing some big cracks in how the industry hires. They also break down the rise of AI addictions, the emotional pull of chatbots, and round off with Grammarly's acquisition of Superhuman.Chapters00:25 The Tech Swindler: The Greatest Catfish of a Generation?12:37 AI Addiction and Chatbot Dependency26:23 Grammarly Buys Superhuman - Little Tech vs. Big TechSponsored by TripleTen!Take TripleTen's career quiz to get a free personalized career consultation! https://tripleten.com/techishExtra Reading & ResourcesAn over-employed engineer was caught secretly working for multiple Silicon Valley startups at once—picking up salary offers of up to $200K per job [Fortune]Inside ‘AI Addiction' Support Groups, Where People Try to Stop Talking to Chatbots [404 Media]Grammarly acquires AI email client Superhuman [TechCrunch] Real Talk About MarketingAn Acxiom podcast where we discuss marketing made better, bringing you real...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show————————————————————Join our Patreon for extra-long episodes and ad-free content: https://www.patreon.com/techish Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@techishpod/Advertise on Techish: https://goo.gl/forms/MY0F79gkRG6Jp8dJ2———————————————————— Stay in touch with the hashtag #Techishhttps://www.instagram.com/techishpod/https://www.instagram.com/abadesi/https://www.instagram.com/michaelberhane_/ https://www.instagram.com/hustlecrewlive/https://www.instagram.com/pocintech/Email us at techishpod@gmail.com
Dave McClure, founder of Practical Venture Capital and co-founder of 500 Startups, dives deep into the growing role of secondaries in venture capital. Dave explains how today's longer startup cycles and liquidity droughts have created opportunities (and confusion) around secondary markets. He breaks down what secondaries actually are, how Practical VC operates, and key trends shaking up the system. With his trademark candor, Dave also shares hard truths for both founders and VCs navigating this next chapter of private markets.In this episode, you'll learn:[03:55] Dave's journey to becoming an investor[06:30] The early evolution of accelerators and why “lots of little bets” took off[09:50] How cloud, open source, and low CAC changed the startup funding game[12:49] Why startup liquidity timelines have doubled—and what that means for founders and LPs[14:56] What secondaries really are (hint: not just one thing)[19:31] Does venture's illiquidity attract the right kind of investors—or just the most patient?[22:06] The discipline of public markets vs. the opacity of private ones[26:37] What Practical VC looks for in a secondary opportunity (and the $50M–$100M revenue rule)[29:14] How Dave screens funds and companies for possible exits[33:37] What's exciting (and worrying) about secondaries, stablecoins, and emerging marketsThe nonprofit organization Dave is passionate about: New StoryAbout Dave McClureDave McClure is the founder of Practical Venture Capital, a firm focused on liquidity through venture secondaries. Previously, he co-founded 500 Startups, one of the world's most active early-stage venture funds. A PayPal alumni and self-described nerd turned investor, Dave has worked across engineering, marketing, and venture roles, investing in hundreds of startups globally. He's known for his honest insights and bold bets on opportunities before they're ‘cool'.About Practical Venture CapitalPractical Venture Capital is a Silicon Valley-based VC secondary firm providing liquidity to GPs, LPs, and founders through targeted secondary investments. Specializing in fund-level and company-level secondaries, Practical VC aims to shorten the venture capital time horizon by backing mature, revenue-generating companies with clear exit paths. The firm focuses on portfolios nearing liquidity and brings a flexible, creative approach to valuation, pricing, and structure.Subscribe to our podcast and stay tuned for our next episode.
It Gets Late Early: Career Tips for Tech Employees in Midlife and Beyond
Is AI living up to the hype, or is it just another overblown bubble that's gonna pop? In this episode, Stephen Klein, a 66-year-old AI founder who is challenging the status quo in the world of artificial intelligence, joins me to expose what he believes is the truth about AI, from inflated promises to the real potential it holds for augmenting human intelligence. Trust me, this is what you won't be hearing in the headlines about AI. We jump into the much-hyped world of AI, and Stephen shares his no-holds-barred views on what's happening (and why speaking out is making him enemies in Silicon Valley). We discuss how many companies are rushing to market with products that aren't actually as groundbreaking as they claim, and how the industry itself often misleads us about AI's capabilities for their own benefit, leading with scary headlines about how all of us are being laid off because of AI.Stephen doesn't just talk about AI; he's actively shaping its future. But he's not just creating another automation tool. He's building AI that truly augments human intelligence, and that's where it gets interesting.Stephen's company, Curiouser.AI, is different. It focuses on creating AI that enhances our creativity and critical thinking, things that the industry is currently sidelining in favor of quick fixes and efficiency. He challenges the corporate culture surrounding AI and explains how the industry needs to move away from pure automation and toward true collaboration between humans and machines.We also jump into the wild world of LinkedIn, where Stephen's satirical posts challenge the hype surrounding AI and expose the industry's biggest players. If you've been confused about what this AI thing is all about or what to do, swept up in the AI frenzy or have doubts about where the industry is headed, this conversation will give you some powerful insights into what's really going on behind the scenes that you're unlikely to find in the typical media coverage.If you want to hear more from Stephen, check out his LinkedIn for more satirical insights and join the conversation on the future of AI!“I think that artificial intelligence is the single greatest innovation–invention–in the history of humanity, and I couldn't be more optimistic about where it's going.” ~ Stephen KleinIn This Episode:-An AI founder at 66-Creating AI that augments human intelligence-The misconceptions around ageism in tech-The impact of curiosity-driven AI on human creativity-Why people should be careful when using AI-AI's role in the future of work -How to deal with fear-The future of AI in business and ethics-The power of LinkedIn as a platform for your causeAnd much more!Resources:-Free Guide to LinkedIn Job Hunting for the 40+ Crew - https://www.itgetslateearly.com/job-guideConnect with Stephen Klein:-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbklein/-Website: https://curiouser.ai/Connect with Maureen Clough:-LinkedIn: maureenwclough - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenwclough/-Website:
Austrian diplomat Martin Rauchbauer takes center stage in our latest episode, sharing his journey as a pioneer in tech diplomacy. Rauchbauer's career, rooted in the rich diplomatic traditions of Austria, has led him to bridge the gap between diplomacy and the ever-evolving tech world. Through his initiative, Open Austria, Martin has established vital connections between Austria and the bustling innovation hub of Silicon Valley, addressing challenges from creative diaspora dynamics to complex geopolitical landscapes. Martin Rauchbauer is an Austrian-born senior diplomat and recognized expert in diplomacy, the arts, and tech governance. For over a decade, he has shaped the field of tech diplomacy—serving as Austria's first “Tech Ambassador” in Silicon Valley (2020–2021), and co-founding Open Austria, the official Austrian representation in San Francisco. Currently he is Executive Director of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in California and co-founder of the Tech Diplomacy Network. In this episode, you'll hear about: Martin Rauchbauer's pioneering role in tech diplomacy and the establishment of Open Austria in Silicon Valley Evolution of diplomacy with the rise of tech giants and the emergence of tech ambassadors The intersection of tech diplomacy with traditional diplomatic efforts, highlighting global cooperation needs Importance of fostering innovation, negotiating regulatory frameworks, and supporting startups internationally The role of arts and cultural diplomacy in bridging global divides and inspiring collaboration Digital humanism's emphasis on maintaining human dignity amid technological advancements Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinrauchbauer/ Website - www.tech-diplomacy.org www.djerassi.org https://www.amazon.com/End-History-Last-Man/dp/0743284550 Alcorn Immigration Law: Subscribe to the monthly Alcorn newsletter Sophie Alcorn Podcast: Episode 16: E-2 Visa for Founders and Employees Episode 19: Australian Visas Including E-3 Episode 20: TN Visas and Status for Canadian and Mexican Citizens Immigration Options for Talent, Investors, and Founders Immigration Law for Tech Startups eBook
Michelle Zatlyn is the Co-founder and President of Cloudflare, a global internet infrastructure that keeps the world safe and secure online operating 20% of the global web with over 4,000 employees.Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada, Michelle began her career studying chemistry, aiming to become a doctor. But a pivotal turning point during a hospital internship set her on a new path - one that eventually led to Silicon Valley.In this episode, Michelle shares the formative experiences that shaped her, the unexpected pivots in her career, and dives into the tough decisions she's had to make. She also unpacks the gritty realities of early-stage startup life, the challenges of scaling, and what it really takes to lead a high-growth tech company.Referenced:Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.comHarvard Business School (HBS): https://www.hbs.edu/Lee Holloway (Cloudflare co-founder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-holloway-159152/Matthew Prince (Cloudflare co-founder & CEO): https://www.linkedin.com/in/mprince/Project Honey Pot: https://www.projecthoneypot.org/Toshiba: https://www.toshiba.com/tai/WIRED Article about Lee Holloway: https://www.wired.com/story/lee-holloway-devastating-decline-brilliant-young-coder/Timestamps:(1:46) Growing up in Saskatchewan(6:04) The decision not to pursue medicine(9:51) Falling into business and technology(13:39) The first taste of entrepreneurship(16:27) Finding community and clarity at HBS(17:28) The “essay line” that guided her(19:28) Turning down LinkedIn to start Cloudflare(25:05) How to improve your decision-making(29:15) Choosing a meaningful mission(32:18) Being the non-technical founder(34:33) Early team challenges(38:24) The grind from 1 to 100M(41:32) Getting product-market fit(44:23) The slow burn of success(47:49) Being a founder impacts personal life(51:52) Raising up the next-gen tech leaders(54:12) The power of small teams and shared purpose
Peter Thiel is unlike any other Trump tech bro. As well as a wildly successful investor, he's seen as a thinker - the philosopher king of Silicon Valley. Thiel's acolytes in the tech world and Washington include vice-president JD Vance but his relationship with the Trump camp is complicated. And there are still questions about what, if anything, he wants with the president.In the final episode of this season of Tech Tonic, Murad Ahmed speaks to FT columnist Gillian Tett about Thiel's political philosophy, and to Tabby Kinder, the FT's West Coast financial editor, about his influence in Silicon Valley.Free to read:How Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley funded the sudden rise of JD VanceA time for truth and reconciliation (written by Peter Thiel)How a little-known French literary critic became a bellwether for the US rightPalantir's ‘revolving door' with government spurs huge growthThis season of Tech Tonic is presented by Murad Ahmed and produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane and the executive producer is Flo Phillips. Sound design by Sam Giovinco. Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music, Manuela Saragosa and Topher Forhecz are the FT's acting co-heads of audio.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's episode:We are getting the hose again, but only because we keep asking for itNarrative DisarmamentPerfect, unprovable stories as a test for fakeness / terrible, unprovable stories as an opening for greater scrutinyBuild Back Better, Big Beautiful Bill, Mike Johnson's Package, recissions, impoundment, and a plan coming togetherElon Musk says he's starting a political party but the proper number of parties is zeroTikTok layoffs, takedown attempts, and divestmentsElon follows Andrew Yang and Curtis Yarvin and Nick Land separates himselfA tragic flooding event in Texas leaves important questions that cannot and should not be ignoredThe 'young tech guy' at Rainmaker is a Peter Thiel protegeOn Peter Thiel being Silicon Valley's gay Harvey WeinsteinThe DOJ/FBI say there's nothing else to see about Jeffrey EpsteinSomething is happening behind the scenes with the Ellison family.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorLinks, articles, ideas - follow the info stream at t.me/veryreasonableHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comJoin the new information infrastructure - get Starlink: https://www.starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-1975306-67744-74Other ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site:https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/https://cancelcouture.comFollow the podcast info stream: t.me/veryreasonableYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can being "too smart" actually hold you back socially? In this episode of Social Intelligence, AJ Harbinger and Johnny Dzubak sit down with Anne-Laure Le Cunff—founder of Ness Labs and a former Googler turned neuroscience researcher—to explore the psychology of overthinking, social fatigue, and emotional connection for high performers. If you've ever felt drained after socializing, struggled to connect in unstructured conversations, or defaulted to overanalyzing instead of just vibing, Anne-Laure's insights will change how you see your brain—and your relationships. What to Listen For [00:00:00] Meet Anne-Laure: Neuroscience researcher, entrepreneur, and former Googler [00:02:01] What inspired Anne-Laure to walk away from Silicon Valley [00:04:02] The science of mental fitness: training your mind like a muscle [00:05:42] Why smart people often struggle in social settings [00:07:50] Overthinking vs. high thinking: what's the difference? [00:09:20] Anne-Laure's framework for emotional granularity [00:11:03] The hidden impact of unspoken emotions on your connections [00:12:42] How journaling and reflection sharpen your emotional vocabulary [00:14:35] Real-time self-awareness: catching yourself before you spiral [00:16:04] Why smart people default to logic instead of connection—and how to fix it [00:18:20] The loneliness trap of overperformance [00:20:03] How Anne-Laure blends neuroscience with self-compassion [00:22:01] The importance of emotional bandwidth and recovery [00:24:40] What socially intelligent people do differently after high-effort conversations [00:27:20] Tools for restoring your energy after social drain [00:29:00] Why connection doesn't mean constant performance [00:31:05] Anne-Laure's advice for other deep thinkers navigating real relationships A Word From Our Sponsors Tired of awkward handshakes and collecting business cards without building real connections? Dive into our Free Social Capital Networking Masterclass. Learn practical strategies to make your interactions meaningful and boost your confidence in any social situation. Sign up for free at theartofcharm.com/sc and elevate your networking from awkward to awesome. Don't miss out on a network of opportunities! Unleash the power of covert networking to infiltrate high-value circles and build a 7-figure network in just 90 days. Ready to start? Check out our CIA-proven guide to networking like a spy! Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince—where high-end essentials meet unbeatable prices. Upgrade your wardrobe today at quince.com/charm for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Shopify makes it easy to start, scale, and succeed—whether you're launching a side hustle or building the next big brand. Sign up for your $1/month trial at shopify.com/charm. Need to hire top talent—fast? Skip the waiting game and get more qualified applicants with Indeed. Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at Indeed.com/charm. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at mintmobile.com/charm Stop needlessly overpaying for car insurance. Before you renew your policy, do yourself a favor—download the Jerry app or head to JERRY.com/charm Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at www.rula.com/charm Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at theartofcharm.com/influence. Episode resources: https://anne-laure.net/ Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on LinkedIn Johnny on LinkedIn AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More than half of all Americans have used artificial intelligence tools recently, according to a study published by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures. And one in five people use it daily. Marketplace's Nova Safo spoke with Amy Wu Martin, a partner at Menlo Ventures, to learn how they're using it in their day-to-day lives.
More than half of all Americans have used artificial intelligence tools recently, according to a study published by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures. And one in five people use it daily. Marketplace's Nova Safo spoke with Amy Wu Martin, a partner at Menlo Ventures, to learn how they're using it in their day-to-day lives.
Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Leap Academy—one of the fastest-growing professional education companies in America. With a track record that includes helping lead a $300 million exit, scaling a startup to $15 million in annual revenue, and raising nearly $1 million from top Silicon Valley investors, Ilana brings deep experience in both corporate and startup worlds. Her journey is defined by bold leaps, learning from failure, and empowering others to build careers with multiple streams of income and real fulfillment. On this episode we talk about: – Ilana's first entrepreneurial hustle at age four—and her early lessons in value (and parental panic) – The story behind raising $800,000 in weeks, only to be ousted by her co-founder and left with nothing – How hitting rock bottom led to a period of personal and professional crisis—and the steps she took to rebuild her momentum – The power of action over analysis: why doing—even when you don't know what to do—creates clarity and new opportunities – Redefining career success: the shift from a single-track “scripted” career to a dynamic, experimental “portfolio career” – How Ilana built Leap Academy from a small experiment into a multi-million dollar business and top-charting podcast – The importance of failure, resilience, and hunger in founders—and why she bets on entrepreneurs who've been through adversity – Frameworks for evaluating new ventures, both as a founder and investor – How Leap Academy helps mid-to-late career professionals reinvent themselves, build multiple income streams, and thrive in an ever-changing world – The future of professional education, corporate partnerships, and the rise of coaching and community-driven learning Top 3 Takeaways 1. Action Creates Clarity: When you don't know what to do, start doing something—momentum and results follow action, not the other way around. 2. Portfolio Careers Are the Future: Building multiple streams of income and diverse professional experiences is the new path to wealth, fulfillment, and resilience. 3. Failure Fuels Growth: The best founders and leaders are those who've faced—and learned from—major setbacks, not just those with a string of successes. Notable Quotes – “The clarity came from the momentum, not just thinking about it or dreaming about it—the doing created the result.” – “Look at your career as a series of experiments, not a single direction for the next 20 or 30 years. That takes all the fear away.” – “The biggest cost is always the money we're not making—the cost of inaction is higher than the cost of failure.” Connect with Ilana Golan: – Website: leapacademy.com – Portfolio Careers: portfoliocareer.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Segment 1 with Dave Whorton starts at 0:00. The “Get Big Fast” startup era is crumbling. Sky-high valuations, zero profits, and a fixation on rapid scaling have left businesses fragile and the economy unstable. It's time for entrepreneurs to skip the funding rounds and rethink how they approach growth.In his new book "Another Way - Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last", former Kleiner Perkins Venture Capitalist Dave Whorton lays out a path forward. After seeing firsthand the risks of speculative growth, he rejected the Silicon Valley unicorn obsession he helped fuel, and now helps entrepreneurs thrive better in our volatile times.Segment 2 with Marcelo Barros starts at 20:28.Phishing attacks are forever changing and getting more creative. What do we need to know as small business owners and how should be educate our team?Marcelo Barros is the Global Director of Hacker Rangers. He is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience and a strong interest in cybersecurity. As the Global Markets Leader at Hacker Rangers, a gamification company, he spearheads the company's expansion into markets outside of Brazil. Before this position, Marcelo dedicated 17 years to IBM, where he worked in cybersecurity, sales, and management, delivering solutions and achieving outcomesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.
John Corcoran is a recovering attorney, an author, and a former White House writer and speechwriter to the Governor of California. Throughout his career, John has worked in Hollywood, the heart of Silicon Valley, and ran his boutique law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, catering to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Since 2012, John has been the host of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, where he has interviewed hundreds of CEOs, founders, authors, and entrepreneurs, including Peter Diamandis, Adam Grant, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Marie Forleo. John is also the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that connects B2B businesses with their ideal clients, referral partners, and strategic partners. They help their clients generate ROI through their done-for-you podcast service. In this episode… It's easier than ever to create content, but standing out and building meaningful relationships remains a major challenge. How can B2B leaders and entrepreneurs use podcasting and AI tools to drive growth, deepen connections, and establish thought leadership in today's noisy landscape? John Corcoran tackles this challenge by sharing specific tools and strategies that have proven effective. He explains how ChatGPT can be transformed into personalized AI coaches across multiple life areas, using uploaded documents and tailored prompts to enhance its utility. John also outlines how podcasting can serve as a relationship-building mechanism, whether reconnecting with past contacts like Ed O'Keefe or converting existing content into multi-platform episodes. Additionally, he shares a simple yet powerful method for boosting YouTube engagement through paid views and follow-up emails, which helps elevate guest exposure and strengthens ongoing partnerships. Tune in to this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast as Chad Franzen interviews John Corcoran, Co-founder of Rise25, about leveraging AI and podcasting for business growth. John dives into AI productivity hacks, how to repurpose content effectively, and why guest interviews build lasting credibility. He also touches on using podcasting to rekindle professional relationships, the benefits of tools like Gemini and Veo 3, and his top podcast recommendations in the investment and wellness spaces.
Rich Hagberg, often referred to as “Silicon Valley's CEO Whisperer, psychologist and co-author of Founders Keepers, has advised over 1,000 executives and founders. In this conversation, he outlines why most startup leaders fail, and what the data reveals about those who succeed. Some key insights include: “Founders, overwhelmingly, are visionary evangelists… but they're not particularly good at execution.” Hagberg's research shows that unsuccessful founders often score low on execution and relationship-building. They resist structure, delay key hires, and react impulsively under stress. “You can change your behavior to some degree, but it's very hard to change your fundamental personality.” Hagberg encourages founders to identify three to four behaviors they can realistically improve, such as delegation, feedback seeking, and stress management. “You need to go from being a doer to a facilitator of doing.” Scalable leadership requires building teams that complement the founder's own gaps and letting go of tasks that dilute impact. “Startups are almost a Darwinian survival of the fittest… the unsuccessful ones are more impulsive and reactive.” Stress and poor self-regulation directly impact team trust and decision quality. Founders who succeed tend to manage energy deliberately and maintain self-awareness. “If we had to zero in on one thing that is the biggest differentiator, it's adaptability. You never have permanent product-market fit.” Hagberg shares why openness to feedback and reflection is often more predictive of long-term success than IQ or charisma. “I realized I was creating a culture that reflected my strengths and weaknesses. If I was going to make the company better, I had to grow as a leader.” This conversation is for founders, investors, and operators who want to understand the behavioral patterns that quietly shape success or failure in startups. It delivers clear, evidence-based insights into what it takes to lead effectively as complexity scales. Get Rich's new book here: https://shorturl.at/YsQcl Founders, Keepers: Why Founders Are Built to Fail, and What it Takes to Succeed Here are some free gifts for you: Overall Approach Used in Well-Managed Strategy Studies free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/OverallApproach McKinsey & BCG winning resume free download: www.firmsconsulting.com/resumepdf Enjoying this episode? Get access to sample advanced training episodes here: www.firmsconsulting.com/promo
We're continuing our series called Make A Difference! It's all about leveraging what we have to make an eternal difference.This week, our friend Joe Jewell from Vintage Church in Livermore shares about the freedom that we have in Jesus.GET CONNECTED + PRAYERNew to EDEN? We'd love to pray for you, too! Let us know at https://eden.church/connectLEARN ABOUT EDEN CHURCHEDEN is a startup church in Silicon Valley. Learn more at https://eden.churchFIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIAFB:https://www.facebook.com/edenthechurchIG:https://www.instagram.com/edenthechurch/GIVE TODAYhttps://eden.church/give
(0:00) Intro(1:30) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel(2:16) Start of interview(3:09) Jack's origin story(4:11) The Accounting Foundation. His time at PriceWaterhouse (1987-1992)(5:45) His Startup/Executive Journey. Electronics for Imaging => Apptitude => NetRatings => Atheros => Qualcomm(12:15) Transitioning to Board Service. His start with Silicon Labs (2013)(12:26) His time as CFO at GoPro (2014-2016)(13:55) His focus on boards since 2016 (~10 public boards, ~15 overall since)(14:41) Differences between public and private company board service.(18:55) The Current IPO Landscape plus staying private for longer vs going public.(24:45) Founder Dynamics in Governance and the Dual-Class Share Debate. "In general, I don't like dual-class shares (...) I blame the banks for this." His experience at Casper and ThredUp. "I don't believe in sunset provisions above 7 years. Frankly, I think 3 years is long enough"(32:10) Navigating Shareholder Activism. His experience with Mellanox (sold to NVIDIA for $6.9B) and Box (won proxy fight).(37:27) His support for Classified Boards(40:27) AI and Semiconductor Future. His board position at NatCast, a non-profit entity designated to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) by the Department of Commerce. Reference to his TEDx talk: "Why Technology is Not Silicon Valley's Real Innovation" (2016)(48:40) Geopolitical Challenges in Tech(53:04) The Importance of Risk Planning by the board (downside plans, "defcon processes", etc)(54:54) Books that have greatly influenced his life:The Goal, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt (1984)Good to Great, by Jim Collins (2001) (55:49) His mentors:Chuck Robel, from Price WaterhouseIrwin Federman, the Chairman of MellanoxBill Elmore, Founder Foundation CapitalAndy Rappaport, August Capital(57:39) Quotes that he thinks of often or lives his life by.(59:12) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that he loves.(01:00:41) The living person he most admires.Jack Lazar has more than 30 years of Silicon Valley experience with a focus on finance and operations. He currently serves on the boards of Astera Labs (ALAB), Box (BOX), GlobalFoundries (GFS), and Resideo (REZI). He also consults with a variety of private companies, including Tonal, where he is chair of the board. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License
John D Rockefeller built his fortune refining oil and founding Standard Oil. A pioneer of the U.S. business trust, he helped shape the structure of the modern corporation. His influence lives on in companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, and in institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation. But not everyone saw him as a visionary. President Theodore Roosevelt branded the Rockefeller family a “malefactor of great wealth,” and Rockefeller's monopoly helped spark America's first antitrust laws. To some, he was a ruthless robber baron; to others, a generous philanthropist who gave away over $500 million. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng unpack the contradictions of Rockefeller's empire. Can great giving make up for great power?Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast exploring the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before inviting you to make up your own mind: are they good, bad or just another billionaire?
Are you sure your startup should be raising venture capital?Most founders assume VC is the goal—but for many, it's the wrong fuel entirely. In this episode, we bust that myth wide open.Join Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad as they sit down with Amir Shevat, General Partner at Darkmode Ventures (ex-Google, Slack, Twitter), to unpack the seven most damaging mistakes founders make when raising early-stage capital. With over 65 investments under his belt and a front-row seat to the inner workings of Silicon Valley, Amir offers a brutally honest, insider view into what separates fundable startups from fundraising disasters.In this episode, you will:Discover why some startups should never raise VC in the first placeLearn how to avoid “dumb money” and pick the right investorsAvoid cap table disasters that scare away future capitalUnderstand the dangers of under- or over-raising and how to size your roundSpot red flags in investor side letters that could poison your futureMaster the art of time-boxing your raise and managing investor timelinesBuild stronger investor relationships—even when they say “no”This is a must-listen for any founder preparing to raise capital—or wondering if they should at all.The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/ Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/ Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/ Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/#VC #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #Funding #TheStartupPodcast #SiliconValley #TechStartup
Episode overview: Bernard Laurendeau has a mission: to stop African business leaders from asking for "patient capital." The Ethiopian-French management consultant, now operating from Tokyo, believes this standard pitch fundamentally misunderstands how global investment works and fails African markets. It's a contrarian stance from someone who's spent 15 years advising Fortune 50 clients and building institutions across three continents. After co-founding Arifpay, Ethiopia's first licensed Payment System Operator, and serving as senior advisor to Ethiopia's jobs creation commission, Laurendeau has repositioned himself in Japan's corporate heartland with Laurendeau & Associates and Enkopa Lab. From his Tokyo base, Laurendeau delivers what he calls "execution horsepower" to both African governments and Japanese corporations seeking African market entry. His client portfolio spans Google and Cisco to UAE's Ministry of Finance, applying strategic frameworks honed at BNP Paribas to emerging market challenges. Key insights: - On financial sovereignty: Despite supporting fintech innovation, Laurendeau advocates fiercely for African countries maintaining control over their financial services infrastructure. - On Japanese business culture: Japanese organisations bring uncompromising quality standards to everything—"there's no such thing as downgrading." Whilst this limits their market share compared to Chinese competitors offering multiple price points, it creates superior knowledge transfer opportunities for African partners. - On data-driven decisions: Investors don't want to "think long-term"—they want confidence in their decisions. Laurendeau's experience with big data analytics in Silicon Valley informs his approach to providing real-time, actionable intelligence rather than outdated World Bank reports. - On innovation vs infrastructure: African entrepreneurs risk becoming "lazy" by chasing trendy technologies whilst neglecting "boring" fundamentals - On institutional building: African countries need people willing to do "Gov-preneurship": embedding with governments to build policies, institutions, and strategic frameworks. Most leaders are "lonely" and welcome diaspora expertise, contrary to corruption narratives. - On execution over ideology: Management consulting in emerging markets requires output orientation, not retainer relationships. Clients want expert advice immediately, not consultant armies producing fancy acronyms and quadrant analyses. Notable moments: 1. Why Laurendeau switched from mechanical and aerospace engineering (ENSTA France, Georgia Tech) to management consulting after realising security clearance barriers would limit his US career prospects 2. His observation that at Africa-focused investment conferences in Japan, "people were talking about Africa...with no Africans in the room" 3. Reflections on Arifpay achieving profitability and dividend distribution, proving African fintech could build sustainable, high-performing teams rapidly 4. His frank assessment that young Africans show more "thirst" for knowledge and change than their counterparts in developed economies, despite having fewer resources The contrarian take: Laurendeau's most provocative insight challenges the "patient capital" narrative that dominates African investment discourse. Rather than asking investors to adopt longer time horizons, he argues African markets should provide the confidence and data quality that enables rapid decision-making. Image credit: Enkopa Lab
In the second half of her conversation with independent scholar Jared Morningstar, Sr. Ilia Delio explores how religion might evolve in light of today's ecological and cultural disruptions. Drawing from Islamic philosophy, metamodernism, and process thought, Ilia and Jared consider what it means to reimagine religion in a world shaped by uncertainty, pluralism, and accelerating technology.Together they ask: Can an ecological worldview renew religious imagination? What is metamodernism, and how might it offer a new spiritual framework for global society? And as science and tech continue to dominate cultural life, does religion still hold something essential?Later in the episode, they explore the worldviews influencing Silicon Valley—and whether all religious perspectives offer equal value in shaping our future.ABOUT JARED MORNINGSTAR"Almost everything worthwhile which has accumulated in any religious tradition was, in its own time, a striking ingression of fresh creativity—a creativity, of course, in contact with the self-same wellspring of inspiration at the root of the founding moments of the tradition in question.”Jared Morningstar is an independent scholar with academic interests in philosophy of religion, Islamic studies, comparative religion, metamodern spirituality, and interfaith dialogue. His work in these areas seeks to offer robust responses to issues of inter-religious conflict, contemporary nihilism, and the "meaning crisis," among other things. Jared graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2018 with degrees in religion and Scandinavian studies and currently works for the Center for Process Studies and the Psychedelic Medicine Association. At the Center for Christogenesis we are in the midst of our June fundraiser. Your support empowers us to offer transformative resources, host thought-provoking events, and build a global community of seekers dedicated to co-creating a more unified, compassionate world. If our content nourishes you, please consider making a contribution. Visit christogenesis.org/donate to learn more and give. If this podcast has stirred something in you—opened up new ways of thinking or helped you feel more connected—we warmly invite you to support the Center for Christogenesis. Visit christogenesis.org/donate to make a one-time gift or become a sustaining member. Your generosity enables us to grow, deepen these conversations, and welcome more voices into this transformative dialogue. Thank you for being part of this journey.Support the showA huge thank you to all of you who subscribe and support our show! Support for A Hunger for Wholeness comes from the Fetzer Institute. Fetzer supports a movement of organizations who are applying spiritual solutions to society's toughest problems. Get involved at fetzer.org. Visit the Center for Christogenesis' website at christogenesis.org/podcast to browse all Hunger for Wholeness episodes and read more from Ilia Delio. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for episode releases and other updates.
Award-winning director Pete Chatmon joins the Filmmaker Mixer to talk about building a career behind the camera with style, vision, and purpose. Known for his work on hit series like The Flight Attendant, Insecure, Silicon Valley and Yellowjackets, Pete has directed over 65 episodes of television across comedy and drama. He shares insights into balancing tone, elevating scripts, and finding longevity in an ever-changing industry.We also dive into his indie roots with Premium starring Zoe Saldana.Whether you're a filmmaker, a TV junkie, or someone chasing a creative life, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom from one of TV's most versatile directors.
We're back with part two of Hard Fork Live (see last week's episode for part one). This week, Patrick Collison, Stripe's chief executive, joins us onstage for a wide-ranging conversation about how Silicon Valley could unleash greater progress, from building new housing to curing diseases, and why he believes prestige television is a waste of time. Then, after a quick costume change, Kathryn Zealand, the chief executive of Skip, joins us to talk about her company's robot pants. We test them out live on a StairMaster. Finally, we end the show by taking questions from audience members.Guests:Patrick Collison, Co-founder and C.E.O. of StripeKathryn Zealand, Founder and C.E.O. of Skip We want to hear from you. Email us at hardfork@nytimes.com. Find “Hard Fork” on YouTube and TikTok. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.