Podcasts about svb

This week on the CFO 4.0 Revisited series, host Hannah Munro is joined by Isaac Strulowitz, Alternative Investments CFO, who offers his unique perspective on risk management, providing valuable insights into how CFOs can protect their firms against unforeseen challenges, a conversation that remains as timely and essential as ever.In this episode, we cover:Isaac's first-hand account of navigating the SVB collapse and the proactive steps his team took to protect investor capital.Risk management strategies that have proven effective, such as creating redundancies, maintaining a robust disaster recovery plan, and evaluating all firm relationships for potential risks.The delicate balance a successful CFO must strike between budget management, operational duties, and strategic oversight.Isaac's concept of a "cockroach" company, one built to survive and continue functioning even after major crises.Links mentioned in this episodeExplore other CFO 4.0 Podcast episodes here.Subscribe to our Podcast!

Every day, billions of transactions settle between strangers who have no idea which bank the other uses. That lack of friction is not automatic. Nine-tenths of the money in daily circulation has been created by commercial banks, but it stays trustworthy only because central banks stand behind it, and keep the system in balance.In this week's episode Tim Phillips talks to Stephen Cecchetti (Brandeis University, CEPR) about what happens when new forms of digital money test that architecture. Cecchetti is one of the authors of the eighth Barcelona Report in The Future of Banking series, part of the Banking Initiative at IESE Business School, just published by CEPR as a free download.Will retail central bank digital currencies, tokenised deposits, and stablecoins upset the delicate balance of system that has been running for decades? Stablecoins, for example, do not create money, but they claim the status of money without the institutional guarantee that makes money trustworthy. Three jurisdictions — the US, the EU, and the UK — are each resolving the same underlying contradiction in different ways. None has fully resolved it.The research behind this episode:Niepelt, Dirk, Stephen G. Cecchetti, Hélène Rey, and Xavier Vives. 2026. Digital Money: The Future of Banking 8. London: CEPR Press. Available as a free download from CEPR.To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Stephen G. Cecchetti. 2026. “The digital money supply.” VoxTalks Economics (podcast). Assign this as extra listening. The citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About the guestStephen Cecchetti is the Rosen Family Chair in International Finance at Brandeis University, a Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and a Research Associate at the NBER. He was previously Economic Adviser and Head of the Monetary and Economic Department at the Bank for International Settlements, and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. His research spanning monetary policy, financial stability, and banking regulation has shaped both academic and policy debate over three decades. He blogs at moneyandbanking.com.Research cited in this episodeWalter Bagehot's lender of last resort doctrine. In Lombard Street: A Description of the Money Market (1873), Bagehot argued that a central bank under stress should lend freely against good collateral at a penalty rate. The prescription remains the intellectual foundation for how central banks manage runs and systemic crises. Cecchetti invokes it to make the point that no private substitute for a central bank backstop has ever proved durable, and that the doctrine is now, one hundred and fifty years on, being tested by instruments its author could not have imagined.Monetary uniformity, mobility, and elasticity. The three institutional conditions underpinning general acceptance of money, developed in analysis by the Bank for International Settlements and discussed extensively in the report. Uniformity means a pound is a pound regardless of which bank holds it. Mobility means claims move between users and institutions at low cost and settle with finality. Elasticity means the supply of money can expand when it is under stress. Together they explain why we accept a deposit at face value without doing any analysis of the bank that issued it; and together they identify exactly where new forms of digital money create institutional gaps.Silicon Valley Bank failure, March 2023. SVB's collapse illustrates both the lender of last resort functioning and the limits of no-bailout commitments. Cecchetti notes that SVB's liabilities were still trading at par on the Thursday before its Friday failure because the Federal Reserve stood behind them. He also notes that Circle, the issuer of USDC, held $3.3 billion of its reserves at SVB and was effectively bailed out in the resolution. The episode is one of two occasions in the past twenty years where money market fund-like instruments have been backstopped by the Federal Reserve under stress.Genius Act (United States). Principle-based stablecoin regulation expected to come into effect in the US around 2027. Under its provisions, only stablecoins issued by bank-affiliated issuers will have access to the Federal Reserve; only those will therefore have the institutional backing needed to function as money. Stablecoins issued by non-bank entities will not.Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA), European Union. The EU framework for crypto assets, which entered into force in 2024. For stablecoins, MiCA requires issuers to hold 30 to 60% of their reserves in bank deposits, with no provision for central bank backing. The stated rationale is to keep deposits within the banking system; Cecchetti notes this creates a different category of vulnerability and leaves the question of what happens under stress unresolved.Bank of England stablecoin proposal (United Kingdom). The Bank of England's approach differs from both US and EU frameworks by explicitly requiring large stablecoin issuers to hold significant reserve deposits at the Bank of England, making them in effect narrow banks with a direct central bank backstop. Cecchetti regards this as the most coherent of the three approaches in terms of institutional logic, though the same fundamental question applies: whether holding to that design under stress would be politically sustainable.Tether and the jurisdictional challenge. Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, is registered in El Salvador having previously operated out of the British Virgin Islands. Its tokens are held by users in multiple countries, traded on exchanges in multiple jurisdictions, and backed by US Treasury securities. Cecchetti uses this to illustrate why local regulation, however well-designed, is necessary but not sufficient; effective oversight of instruments that are genuinely global requires international standards and coordination.Fractional reserve banking and the goldsmith model. The institutional structure described in the episode has roots in mid-seventeenth century England, when goldsmiths began issuing more paper receipts than they had gold in their vaults. The goldsmiths became bankers; the paper became money; the vulnerability to runs became a structural feature of private money creation that persists today. Cecchetti uses the history to make the point that while technology changes how we store and transmit information, the underlying architecture of trust in private money is as old as Newtonian physics.More VoxTalks Economics episodesMaking banking safe, Stephen Cecchetti and Kermit Schoenholtz. Our financial system is supposed to be more resilient than before the global financial crisis, but that didn't save Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank or First Republic. So what went wrong?Related reading on VoxEUNew coins on the block: Digital currencies and the financial system. The authors of the Barcelona Report warn that “Digital money will be reliable only where sound institutions and robust technology come together.”

From helping scale Silicon Valley Bank across global markets to leading through one of the most dramatic moments in modern banking history, Elly Sherwin has seen leadership, growth, resilience, and marketing from every angle.In this episode, Elly shares what it was really like navigating the collapse of SVB, the transition into HSBC Innovation Banking, and why she ultimately chose to return to startup life as CMO of Fundament.We explore how modern B2B marketing is evolving, what it takes to drive predictable growth, how marketers can build stronger relationships with customers, and why empathy remains one of the most underrated business skills.

A new series on the podcast called 'First. Favourite. Wanted.' where the guest tells us their First, favourite and wanted item from their collecting perspective. This weeks guest is Lucy, a Coventry City fan and shirt collector who is a massive part of the SvB community.Shirts vs Boots 26.SATURDAY 6TH JUNE MATCHDAY HARINGEY BOROUGH FCCOLES PARK STADIUM LONDON.World Cup USA 94 Theme, we wanna see you go ALL IN!!!.The 6th match in the series will be raising money for the Haringey Borough FC Community Trust, with live 11 a side football as Shirts XI take on Team Boots to lift the Collectors Cup..FOOD, DRINKS, FOOTBALL STALLS, CHARITY RAFFLE, HALF TIME GAMES, MATCHDAY PROGRAMME, £3 ENTRY..ALL PROCEEDS TO CHARITY

Episode 429 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Lior Div, CEO & Co-Founder of 7AI. One of the most exciting parts of this platform shift to AI is watching elite, repeat founders get back into the arena. It's often these experienced builders who have the appetite and the playbook to swing for the fences and create a truly category-defining company. Lior is exactly one of those entrepreneurs. Along with his co-founder, Yonatan Striem-Amit, this duo is uniquely qualified to build the leading agentic AI security platform. They have deep expertise in the cybersecurity industry and… by the way, they've done this before with their prior unicorn, Cybereason. 7AI empowers enterprises to shift security tasks to AI agents. The company recently made waves across the entire tech ecosystem by announcing a massive $130 million Series A round of funding led by Index Ventures, with participation from Blackstone Innovations Investments, Greylock, CRV, and Spark Capital. To put that into perspective: a $130 million Series A is the largest Series A round in the history of the cybersecurity industry. It is exactly that type of aggressive funding, along with blue-chip investors, that creates market leaders. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: A discussion around the rapidly changing landscape of AI and how that affects cybersecurity. Lior's background story, including being part of Israel's elite Unit 8200 intelligence group and how he got involved in the cybersecurity industry. Scaling Cybereason, plus why he chose to build his companies in Boston. The background story of 7AI and all the details on the company & platform. The distinct operational differences between building a traditional software business versus building a native AI company. 7AI's aggressive growth plans ahead, a look inside their company culture, and what it takes to build a trusted brand in security. The most important skills someone needs to be a successful CEO. And more! This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Episode 428 of The VentureFizz #podcast features Mike Pappas, CEO & Co-Founder of Modulate. Is Boston the best place to build a voice AI company? Based on its rich history in this category, I would have to say 1000%. From the early days of ScanSoft and Dragon to SpeechWorks and Vlingo—all of which eventually fell under the voice juggernaut Nuance, which worked on the early days of Siri and was acquired by Microsoft—the pedigree in this city is unmatched. Add in players like Bose, Vivox, and the sizable presence of Amazon Alexa in the area, and it's clear: Boston is the voice capital of the world. Mike Pappas and his co-founder Carter Huffman are adding a massive new chapter to that legacy and thatis Modulate, a venture-backed voice intelligence company building AI models and APIs designed to understand real-world conversational audio at scale. Modulate is the company behind ToxMod, the world's most advanced proactive voice moderation platform. If you've played Call of Duty lately, you've likely interacted with their tech. And, the company recently launched a new product called Velma, the leading AI-platform for real-world voice intelligence. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: Mike's perspective on the shift from license-based to usage-based pricing models. Mike's background story—from his physics studies at MIT to his early career at Bridgewater Associates. Entering "startup land" at Lola and the critical hiring lessons he learned while working alongside Paul English. The founding of Modulate and the pivotal moment when they realized the tech they built was actually the solution to a massive safety problem in gaming which led to a relationship with Activision. All the details about ToxMod and Velma, including customer examples and use cases. Why their dataset is a "moat" that makes their technology uniquely defensible in the age of generic LLMs. Mike's advice for first-time founders on raising capital and building a high-performance culture. Plus, so much more! This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Marc Rubinstein joins Excess Returns to explain what private credit, bank earnings, insurance balance sheets, fintech growth, and arbitrage firms reveal about the modern financial system. The conversation covers why private credit risks may not be systemic in the traditional banking-crisis sense, but still matter for investors because of redemption gates, hidden leverage, opaque structures, incentive conflicts, and correlations that can spike when markets are under stress.Marc Rubinstein on Xhttps://x.com/MarcRubyNet Interesthttps://www.netinterest.co/In this episode, we discuss:Why the Fed says private credit redemption risks are limited and manageableWhat Blue Owl's redemption gates reveal about private credit liquidityHow post-2008 bank regulation pushed risk into private credit, hedge funds, trading firms, and exchangesWhy banks and private credit firms are both competitors and collaboratorsThe “layer cake” of leverage connecting banks, private credit, and borrowersHow HSBC's loss tied to Atlas and MFS highlights hidden credit risksWhy insurance companies have become increasingly tied to private creditWhy rapid growth can be dangerous in financial businessesWhat bank earnings show about the gap between weak consumer confidence and resilient spendingWhy post-mortem reports from SVB, Credit Suisse, and other failures reveal what investors could not see in real timeHow Revolut became one of the most interesting fintech stories in global bankingWhy Marc calls this a potential golden age of arbitrageWhat Jane Street, public BDC discounts, private asset valuations, and geopolitical fragmentation tell us about market structureWhy investors may still be too anchored to the 2008 banking playbookWhere Marc sees risk and opportunity in financials, banks, Europe, and non-bank financial institutionsTimestamps:00:00 Private credit, hidden risks, and correlation spikes05:03 Why Blue Owl became a private credit warning sign10:20 How private credit grew after the 2008 financial crisis15:30 Banks and private credit as financial “frenemies”19:44 HSBC, Atlas, MFS, and the layer cake of leverage24:11 Apollo, Athene, insurance assets, and private credit incentives29:20 Why higher rates have not broken more of the financial system33:40 Bank earnings, consumer confidence, and resilient spending37:20 Why “I don't know” can be a powerful signal from bank CEOs41:46 Revolut and the ambition to build a truly global bank47:38 Why growth can be dangerous in finance52:19 Private assets, public BDC discounts, and arbitrage opportunities56:34 What investors misunderstand about banks today59:31 How Marc would think about financials as a long-short investor

There is a long-standing stigma in venture capital that debt is a "company killer." This week on The Data Minute, Peter Walker sits down with Marshall Hawks, former SVB expert and author of “Venture Debt Deals,” to debunk the myths and explain why debt is often the smartest addition to a founder's equity mix.Marshall breaks down the tactical reality of how these deals actually get done, from the "sniff test" lenders perform during office visits to the critical differences between venture banks and private credit funds. He explains how founders can use debt to survive 15-year exit timelines while minimizing dilution, and shares the specific red flags that indicate a startup is becoming over-leveraged.Plus, Marshall offers a rare look at the "workout groups" that step in when things go wrong and explains why a company's General Counsel might not be the right person to lead a debt negotiation. Whether you are an early-stage founder or a late-stage operator, this episode is a definitive guide to capitalizing your business in a shifting market.Subscribe to Carta's weekly Data Minute newsletter: https://carta.com/subscribe/data-newsletter-sign-up/Explore interactive startup and VC data, with Carta's Data Desk: https://carta.com/data-desk/Chapters:00:16 – Intro: Marshall Hawks and the Venture Debt stigma01:10 – Why Marshall wrote "Venture Debt Deals"03:26 – Addressing the Paul Graham view: Is debt dangerous?06:40 – When (and when NOT) to touch venture debt09:14 – The "Insurance" Play: Why many founders never draw the capital10:48 – Venture Banks vs. Private Credit Funds13:00 – Understanding draw periods and interest-only terms17:34 – Why your lender wants to visit your office (The Sniff Test)22:28 – The market after March 2023: Life after SVB26:09 – The "Workout Group": What happens when things go sideways? 30:31 – Green flags: How to diligence your lending partner33:50 – The legal process: Why GC's need outside support37:13 – Hidden costs: Why the company pays everyone's legal fees42:31 – Using debt to survive 15-year exit timelines44:49 – Red flags: Debt service vs. opex ratios48:06 – Final advice: Fundraising is not successThis presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only.  This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2026 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.

What would happen to your company if its primary bank disappeared overnight?In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the hidden architecture of corporate banking relationships, treasury management, and liquidity strategy through the lens of one of the most important financial events of recent years: the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March 2023.For many companies, banking feels invisible during stable markets. Payroll clears, vendors get paid, credit remains available, and treasury operations quietly function in the background. But when a banking institution fails, companies suddenly discover that access to liquidity is not guaranteed. It is engineered through years of strategic banking relationships, diversification, and risk management.We explore how firms like Roku, Roblox, Etsy, and Circle were exposed to SVB's collapse, and why counterparty concentration risk became a matter of corporate survival almost overnight.

Episode 426 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Natan Linder, CEO & Co-Founder of Tulip. There are very few entrepreneurs in Boston who have built multiple tech companies to a billion+ valuation (Tulip & Formlabs), but Natan is one of them. He is a “builder” in the truest sense of the word, focusing on building what he calls “important things” rather than just the latest “shiny object.” In our conversation, we have a discussion about Physical AI, meaning AI that lives outside of the digital domain in things like robotics and self-driving cars. Natan believes we are hitting a “ChatGPT moment” for the physical world, so it was interesting to hear his perspective on this trend. Tulip is the leader in frontline operations. They help companies of all sizes and industries equip their workforces with connected, composable, and intelligent tools. With Tulip's no-code platform, manufacturers can digitize processes, collect real-time data, and drive continuous improvement by using AI and without writing a line of code. The company recently announced a $120M Series D round of funding at a $1.3B valuation. In this episode of our podcast, we also cover: Chapters: 00:00 Intro - Natan Linder, Co-Founder & CEO, Tulip 03:30 The Physical-AI Moment 10:56 Natan Linder's Early Life and Curiosity 14:58 Early leadership role with Samsung 19:07 Getting involved with Rethink Robotics 25:34 Natan's thoughts on humanoid robots 28:55 Revolutionizing 3D Printing at Formlabs 33:49 Landing Mitch Kapor as an Investor in Formlabs & The "Elevator" Pitch Story 39:38 The Genesis of Tulip & Details of the Platform 50:31 Customer Use Cases 57:11 Tulip's Growth and Future Direction 01:04:30 Why Now Is a Good Time to Join Tulip 01:07:28 Boston is an Epicenter of Advanced Technology This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Finding Balance: Nils' Journey from Bunker to Bonfire Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-05-01-22-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en stilla vår kväll i Sverige.En: It was a quiet spring evening in Sverige.Sv: Dofterna av nyklippt gräs och vårblommor fyllde luften.En: The scents of freshly cut grass and spring flowers filled the air.Sv: Men djupt under marken hände något annorlunda.En: But deep underground, something different was happening.Sv: Nils befann sig i sin underjordiska bunker, omgiven av burkar med bönor, torkad frukt och flaskor med vatten.En: Nils was in his underground bunker, surrounded by cans of beans, dried fruits, and bottles of water.Sv: Ljuset där nere var svagt och svalt.En: The light down there was dim and cool.Sv: Till och med fågelkvitter från ovan mark nådde inte hit ner.En: Even the birdsong from above ground did not reach this far down.Sv: Nils tittade runt och inventerade sitt lager, kontrollerade listan han precis skrivit klart.En: Nils looked around and inventoried his stock, checking the list he had just finished writing.Sv: Han tänkte på världen utanför, nyheterna som gjort honom orolig.En: He thought about the world outside, the news that had made him anxious.Sv: ”Bättre att vara förberedd än sårbar”, sa Nils för sig själv, fast han mindes att Elsa ofta skrattade när han sa så.En: "Better to be prepared than vulnerable," Nils said to himself, although he remembered that Elsa often laughed when he said so.Sv: Elsa hade ett annat synsätt.En: Elsa had a different perspective.Sv: Hon älskade traditioner och den glädje de förde med sig.En: She loved traditions and the joy they brought.Sv: Just denna kväll tänkte hon på Valborgsmässoafton, den magiska natten där våren välkomnas med brasor och sång.En: This evening, she thought about Valborgsmässoafton, the magical night where spring is welcomed with bonfires and song.Sv: Hon kom ner för trappan till bunkern, hennes papper lyktor i handen gav ett varmt ljus i kontras till den kalla betongen.En: She came down the stairs to the bunker, her paper lanterns in hand providing a warm light in contrast to the cold concrete.Sv: "Varför sitter du här nere och bekymrar dig?"En: "Why are you sitting here worrying?"Sv: frågade hon och log.En: she asked, smiling.Sv: "Det är vår där uppe, folk samlas vid brasan, sjunger och firar.En: "It's spring up there, people are gathering around the bonfire, singing and celebrating.Sv: Kom, låt oss njuta av kvällen."En: Come, let us enjoy the evening."Sv: Nils skakade på huvudet.En: Nils shook his head.Sv: "Jag måste se till att vi har tillräckligt med förnödenheter.En: "I need to ensure we have enough supplies.Sv: Tänk om något händer?En: What if something happens?Sv: Jag kan inte slappna av."En: I can't relax."Sv: Elsa suckade och satte sig bredvid honom.En: Elsa sighed and sat next to him.Sv: "Att förbereda sig är bra, Nils, men inte på bekostnad av livet som händer nu.En: "Preparing is good, Nils, but not at the expense of life happening now.Sv: Kom ut, vi kan balansera det.En: Come out, we can balance it.Sv: Fira och sedan förbereda."En: Celebrate and then prepare."Sv: Nils, fortfarande tveksam, kände hur Elsas optimism delvis smittade av sig.En: Nils, still hesitant, felt Elsa's optimism partially rubbing off on him.Sv: "Kanske har du rätt," sa han till sist.En: "Maybe you're right," he finally said.Sv: "När man firar Valborg, finns det något extra i luften.En: "When you celebrate Valborg, there's something extra in the air.Sv: Kanske skulle lite frisk luft göra mig gott."En: Maybe some fresh air would do me good."Sv: Elsa log brett, och tillsammans började de upp för trappan mot markens färger och ljud.En: Elsa smiled broadly, and together they began to climb the stairs toward the colors and sounds of the surface.Sv: På vägen upp kände Nils solljuset mot sitt ansikte, firandets sånger och doften av vårvinden.En: On the way up, Nils felt the sunlight on his face, the songs of the celebration, and the scent of the spring breeze.Sv: När natten kom och lågor dansade mot himlen, kände Nils en ny känsla.En: When night came and flames danced against the sky, Nils felt a new sensation.Sv: En blandning av tillfredsställelse och frihet.En: A mix of satisfaction and freedom.Sv: Han visste nu att balans var nyckeln.En: He now knew that balance was key.Sv: Både förberedd och närvarande.En: Both prepared and present.Sv: En kvälls paus hade inte bara erbjudit honom glädje, utan en insikt om att leva i varje stund, utan att förlora sikten på framtiden.En: An evening pause had not only offered him joy but an insight into living in each moment without losing sight of the future.Sv: Detta skulle bli den första Valborg som gjorde honom till en bättre man, en mer balanserad man.En: This would be the first Valborg that made him a better man, a more balanced man.Sv: En man som, liksom Elsa, kunde se skönheten i både förberedelse och firande.En: A man who, like Elsa, could see the beauty in both preparation and celebration.Sv: När de sedan vandrade hemåt, hand i hand, var Nils förberedd – både i bunkern och i livet.En: As they then walked home, hand in hand, Nils was prepared—both in the bunker and in life. Vocabulary Words:quiet: stillascents: dofternafreshly: nyklipptunderground: underjordiskabunker: bunkerdim: svagtbirdsongs: fågelkvitterinventory: inventeradestock: lageranxious: oroligvulnerable: sårbartraditions: traditionerjoy: glädjebonfires: brasorpaper lanterns: papper lyktorcontrast: kontrassupplies: förnödenheterhesitant: tveksamoptimism: optimismextra: extrasunlight: solljusetcelebration: firandetssensation: känslasatisfaction: tillfredsställelsefreedom: frihetbalance: balansinsight: insiktmoment: stundbeautiful: skönhetenprepared: förberedd

Warum ist Deutschland im Doppel eigentlich nicht Weltspitze? Diese Frage stand zuletzt auch im Advantage Podcast im Raum – unter anderem diskutiert von Jannik Schneider und Daniel Masur. Gute Ansätze – aber aus meiner Sicht fehlt ein entscheidender Blick auf die Strukturen im deutschen Tennis.

In this episode, Michael explores one of the most overlooked risks in crypto today: Are stablecoins actually safe? As billions flow into stablecoins, most users don't realize the hidden layers of risk from custodians and intermediaries to complex yield strategies happening behind the scenes. This conversation breaks down the difference between centralized vs decentralized stablecoins, and why that distinction matters more than ever. From early Ethereum days to building in DeFi, Michael shares how crypto unlocks true financial sovereignty giving individuals the ability to opt out of fragile systems. Topics covered: • What inspired Michael to build in Ethereum • Peer-to-peer finance & financial sovereignty • What "resilience" and "anti-fragility" really mean • Stablecoins explained (simple breakdown) • Centralized vs decentralized stablecoins • Hidden risks in yield farming ("trust me bro" zone) • Why your stablecoin is "traveling" behind the scenes • Counterparty risk vs code-based trust • Silicon Valley Bank & real-world failures • Why optionality is the key to financial freedom • Liquity, BOLD & decentralized stablecoin design • The future of money, regulation & crypto systems The core idea: Not all dollars are equal. Not all stablecoins are safe. If you don't understand where your money is going, you're taking risks you didn't sign up for. Greenpill isn't just about building new systems. It's about building systems you can actually trust. greenpill.network vdao.org https://x.com/JoinVDAO https://x.com/greenpillnet https://x.com/svobodamichael https://x.com/LiquityProtocol Timestamps  00:00 – Introduction 00:11 – Michael's "why" & discovering Ethereum 01:36 – Peer-to-peer finance & removing intermediaries 02:29 – Journey into crypto & early DAO era 03:31 – Early crypto vs traditional finance mindset 04:22 – Ethereum community & early DeFi innovation 05:28 – Resilience, sovereignty & optionality 08:27 – Why financial independence matters 10:16 – Introduction to stablecoins 10:58 – What is a stablecoin (simple explanation) 12:00 – Centralized vs decentralized stablecoins 13:25 – The "trust me bro" risk zone 14:09 – On-chain vs off-chain backing explained 15:04 – Why decentralization matters in stablecoins 16:28 – Stablecoins for payments vs savings 17:04 – Risk comparison: CeFi vs DeFi 19:17 – Sovereignty, control & censorship resistance 21:05 – Why most stablecoins don't give real claims 21:29 – Human systems vs code-based systems 21:56 – Risks in centralized finance (SVB example) 23:05 – Optionality & monetary systems 25:25 – Regulatory risks & future scenarios 26:58 – Why decentralized stablecoins matter 27:47 – Pegging to the dollar explained 30:39 – Scalability limits of crypto-backed stablecoins 31:24 – Stablecoins as "last resort" money 32:12 – Risk & resilience in DeFi systems 33:14 – How to earn yield on stablecoins 35:39 – The "journey" your stablecoin takes 37:46 – Why chasing yield increases risk 38:32 – Terra Luna & unsustainable yields 39:48 – Where yield actually comes from 40:20 – Risk vs reward in DeFi 42:45 – Regulation vs code-based trust 43:11 – Understanding hidden dependencies 44:19 – Rehypothecation & hidden risks 47:34 – Who should use decentralized stablecoins 49:00 – Network states & financial systems 50:23 – Why stablecoin adoption is hard 52:38 – The idea of an "Ethereum-native dollar" 53:48 – Future of stablecoins & regulation 56:43 – Risks of over-regulation 59:08 – Why decentralized systems need support 01:00:03 – Stablecoins & Ethereum security 01:00:58 – Why this matters for Ethereum's future 01:01:46 – Aligning with crypto values 01:03:40 – The need for stronger community voice 01:05:24 – Final thoughts & closing

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Conquering Heights and Hearts: A Spring Adventure in Sweden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-04-22-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en klar och frisk vårmorgon på den svenska landsbygden.En: It was a clear and fresh spring morning in the Swedish countryside.Sv: Solens strålar bröt genom skogsdungen och fåglar sjöng glatt i taket av gröna löv.En: The sun's rays broke through the grove, and birds sang happily in the canopy of green leaves.Sv: Bäcken brusade svagt i bakgrunden medan Elin, Oskar och Lova började sin vandring.En: The brook murmured softly in the background while Elin, Oskar, and Lova began their hike.Sv: De skulle gå genom skogen för att nå det gamla utsiktstornet, ett ståtligt landmärke som stoltserade över landskapet.En: They would walk through the forest to reach the old observation tower, a magnificent landmark that proudly overlooked the landscape.Sv: Elin, alltid hungrig på äventyr, såg fram emot dagens utmaning.En: Elin, always hungry for adventure, looked forward to the day's challenge.Sv: Men djupt inom sig visste hon att tanken på att klättra upp i tornet fyllde henne med oro.En: But deep inside, she knew that the thought of climbing up the tower filled her with anxiety.Sv: Oskar märkte det och gav henne ett uppmuntrande leende.En: Oskar noticed this and gave her an encouraging smile.Sv: "Det kommer att gå bra," sa han med lugn röst.En: "It will be alright," he said calmly.Sv: Lova, med sin kamera redo, fnittrade och stannade var och varannan meter för att fotografera vårens blommor.En: Lova, with her camera ready, giggled and stopped every few meters to photograph the spring flowers.Sv: När de gick längs stigen började de prata om kvällens planer.En: As they walked along the path, they began to talk about the evening's plans.Sv: Valborgsmässoafton skulle firas med en tradi-tionell brasa vid foten av tornet.En: Valborgsmässoafton would be celebrated with a traditional bonfire at the foot of the tower.Sv: Oskar hade pratat så mycket om det hela veckan.En: Oskar had talked about it all week.Sv: Det var ett viktigt tillfälle att fira vinterns slut och hälsa våren välkommen.En: It was an important occasion to celebrate the end of winter and welcome spring.Sv: Plötsligt hördes ett mullrande ljud, och ett regn av tunga droppar började falla.En: Suddenly, a rumbling sound was heard, and a rain of heavy drops began to fall.Sv: Skogen blev blöt och lerig, och stigen blev hal.En: The forest became wet and muddy, and the path grew slippery.Sv: Elin och de andra stannade upp och diskuterade sina alternativ.En: Elin and the others stopped and discussed their options.Sv: “Ska vi fortsätta?” frå-gade Lova och kastade en blick mot himlen.En: “Should we continue?” asked Lova, casting a glance at the sky.Sv: Oskar, alltid den försiktige, föreslog att de skulle vänta en stund.En: Oskar, always the cautious one, suggested they wait a while.Sv: Men Elin, fast besluten att övervinna sin rädsla, skakade på huvudet.En: But Elin, determined to overcome her fear, shook her head.Sv: "Vi kan göra det," sa hon, och hennes beslutsamhet inspirerade de andra att fortsätta.En: "We can do it," she said, and her determination inspired the others to continue.Sv: Efter vad som kändes som timmar, bröt de äntligen genom träden och såg tornet torna upp sig framför dem.En: After what felt like hours, they finally broke through the trees and saw the tower looming before them.Sv: Det var majestätiskt och inbäddat i ett vackert grönt landskap med vida ängar och blåklockor i sina fötter.En: It was majestic and nestled in a beautifully green landscape with wide meadows and bluebells at its feet.Sv: Just då skingrades molnen, och solens gyllene strålar värmde deras ansikten.En: Just then, the clouds parted, and the sun's golden rays warmed their faces.Sv: Det var tecknet Elin behövde.En: It was the sign Elin needed.Sv: Med skakande ben började hon klättra tornets trappor.En: With trembling legs, she began to climb the tower's stairs.Sv: Oskar och Lova stod nedanför, ropade uppmunt-rande ord.En: Oskar and Lova stood below, shouting encouraging words.Sv: Sakta men säkert nådde Elin toppen.En: Slowly yet surely, Elin reached the top.Sv: Luften kändes friare där uppe, och hennes hjärta svämmade över av triumf.En: The air felt freer up there, and her heart swelled with triumph.Sv: Nedanför tändes en liten brasa, och människor började samlas för att fira Valborgsmässoafton.En: Below, a small bonfire was lit, and people began to gather to celebrate Valborgsmässoafton.Sv: Elin såg ut över vidderna, en känsla av överväldigande glädje och sinnesro infann sig.En: Elin looked out over the expanses, a feeling of overwhelming joy and peace washed over her.Sv: Hon hade övervunnit sin rädsla och nu, tillsammans med sina vänner, välkomnade hon våren med öppna armar.En: She had conquered her fear, and now, together with her friends, she welcomed spring with open arms.Sv: Traditionen och gemenska-pen fyllde henne med en ny uppskattning för livet och de enkla glädjeämnena det erbjöd.En: The tradition and community filled her with a new appreciation for life and the simple joys it offered.Sv: När elden sprakade och kvällen sakta sänkte sig över landskapet, blickade Elin ut över sin värld och visste att detta var början på en ny årstid – både i naturen och i hennes eget hjärta.En: As the fire crackled and the evening slowly descended over the landscape, Elin gazed out over her world and knew this was the beginning of a new season—both in nature and in her own heart. Vocabulary Words:grove: skogsdungencanopy: taketbrook: bäckenmurmured: brusadeobservation tower: utsiktstornetlandmark: landmärkeanxiety: oroencouraging: uppmuntrandegiggle: fnittradephotograph: fotograferaValborgsmässoafton: Valborgsmässoaftonbonfire: brasarumbling: mullrandeslippery: haldetermined: fast beslutenovercome: övervinnalooming: torna upp sigmajestic: majestätisktnestled: inbäddatmeadow: ängarbluebell: blåklockortrembling: skakandetriumph: triumfoverwhelming: överväldigandeexpanses: viddernapeace: sinnesroconquered: övervunnittradition: traditioncommunity: gemenskapenappreciation: uppskattning

**Folge #132 Rot is rot na-na, na, na-na UNCUT** Der Redaktionsplan platzt mit 19 Einträgen (ohne Spiel) aus allen Nähten. Ben-Luca wechselt so sicher, wie es keinen Diskussionsbedarf bei der roten Karte gibt und Nathan Claxton schreibt man immer noch mit t. 

Episode 423 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Sasha Hoffman, Partner at Remus Capital. I first met Sasha over ten years ago, when she was the Chief Operating Officer at Piaggio Fast Forward. VentureFizz helped cover the launch of Gita, the cargo carrying robot named Gita. Thus, this interview was long overdue and I was excited to interview Sasha as her career has been so prolific. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:46 Tips For Creating High Impact, Curated Events 17:33 Sasha's Background 20:59 Career Path: From Finance to Startups 22:09 Experience at Goldman Sachs 22:14 Joining Startup - Plastiq 26:03 Sasha's Time at Piaggio Fast Forward 29:09 Navigating Challenges During COVID at Uber 33:05 Insights on Loyalty Programs and User Retention 37:27 Transitioning to Venture Capital and Investing 40:42 The Future of AI and committing to Voice AI 44:02 Remus' "Say, See, Do" Thesis 45:14 Thoughts on OpenClaw and AI 49:19 EquipmentShare IPO and the Overall Market 51:00 Angel Investing 53:14 How to Get Started as an Angel Investor? 56:06 Balancing Work and Having Fun Traveling 01:01:01 Resources for travel deals and incentives This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Innoveren doe je niet alleen. Maar hoe werk je dan samen met partijen van buiten en wat levert dat eigenlijk op?In deze aflevering spreken Jeroen en Marijn met Esther Gons, innovatiestrateeg bij Next Amsterdam en co-auteur van het nieuwe boek Open Innovation Works. Esther helpt bedrijven en overheidsorganisaties met de vraag hoe je open innovatie niet alleen begrijpt, maar ook écht in de praktijk brengt.We hebben het over het verschil tussen gewone en open innovatie, waarom alignment het grootste struikelblok is, en hoe je voorkomt dat een samenwerking doodbloedt in contracten en NDA's, nog voor je ook maar één experiment hebt gedraaid.Esther neemt ons mee langs de verschillende 'engines' van open innovatie: van consortia en start-up accelerators tot de proof-out journey met een start-up. Ze legt uit hoe je als organisatie kiest welke vorm bij je past, en waarom leren altijd het primaire doel is, ook als je liever meteen resultaat wil zien.We bespreken ook hoe dit werkt binnen de overheid: waarom de SVB als ketenregisseur juist een goede positie heeft voor open innovatie, wat Platform Zero en Digicampus ons leren, en waarom 'we huren een expert in' zelden de oplossing is.In deze aflevering:Wat is open innovatie en wat is het nadrukkelijk niet?Waarom leren het hoofdproduct is van vroege innovatieDeath by contract: hoe je dat voorkomtHet dashboard uit het boek als startpunt voor alignmentHoe je stakeholders meeneemt — en welke nieuwe stakeholders open innovatie met zich meebrengtEcosysteemdenkens: de non-usual suspects in beeld brengenEsther GonsInnovatiestrateeg bij Next Amsterdam, co-auteur van The Corporate Startup, Innovation Accounting en Open Innovation Works.

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) reads his classic Bits About Money essay on why your bank deposit is not what you think it is. He explains the capital stack that makes deposits appear riskless while funding genuinely risky businesses, and why the "no questions asked" property of money took the United States roughly a hundred years to engineer.Patrick updates the essay with commentary on SVB's collapse, the Voyager collapse and emergency injunctions about the finer points of ACH plumbing, and the GENIUS Act's stablecoin interest ban. He argues that crypto keeps rediscovering the same hard truth: things that behave like deposits without being deposits eventually break. When they break, they will break other structures they have wormed into, and they will tend to have wormed into a lot, because deposits are extremely useful and are perceived to never break.–Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/your-bank-balance-isnt-in-the-bank/–Presenting Sponsors: Mercury, Meter, & GranolaComplex Systems is presented by Mercury—radically better banking for founders. Mercury offers the best wire experience anywhere: fast, reliable, and free for domestic U.S. wires, so you can stay focused on growing your business. Apply online in minutes at mercury.com.Networking infrastructure has a way of accumulating technical debt faster than almost anything else in IT. Meter handles the full stack (wired, wireless, and cellular) as a single integrated solution: designed, deployed, and managed end-to-end so there's only one vendor to call when something goes wrong. Visit meter.com/complexsystems to book a demo. If meetings consistently leave you with hazy action items and lost context, Granola handles the transcription so you can actually participate and gives you searchable notes afterward. Try it free at granola.ai/complexsystems with code COMPLEXSYSTEMS–Links:The alchemy of deposits: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/the-alchemy-of-deposits/ Deposit Insurance: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/deposit-insurance/ Gift Cards: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/gift-card-accountability-sink/ Debanking (and Debunking?) https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/debanking-and-debunking/ –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(00:20) Why revisit this essay now(02:03) Deposits are money(06:53) Heavily engineered structured products pretending to be simple(09:11) Credit card charge-offs as an underappreciated welfare program(10:16) Deposits as pink slime(13:08) Silicon Valley Bank and information sensitivity in the real world(19:06) Many things are quasi-deposits(20:00) Sponsors: Mercury | Meter(23:13) Many things are quasi-deposits (cont'd)(25:10) Voyager bankruptcy(32:29) How the FDIC resolves bank failures over weekends(34:49) Making the magic happen(35:13) The GENIUS Act and the stablecoin interest debate(40:31) Sponsor: Granola(47:45) Wrap

Venture debt might be the most misunderstood tool in startup finance. Ask ten founders to explain it, and you will get ten different answers, most of them wrong.In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen sits down with Marshall Hawks, a 16-year Silicon Valley Bank veteran who structured hundreds of venture debt deals, including for Airbnb, Twitch, and Fitbit. After SVB's collapse in 2023, Marshall stepped away to write the playbook founders had been missing: Venture Debt Deals: How to Fund Growth with Less Dilution.He breaks down what is actually happening in the 2026 venture debt market, including bigger facilities, new players in private credit, and what terms really look like today. They also get into when debt actually makes sense and when it does not, the biggest mistakes founders make on term sheets, and why the right lending partner matters more than squeezing out the lowest rate.If you want to grow faster without giving up more equity, or just understand how the full capital stack really works, this one is worth your time.Marshall's Early Lessons in Finance and Entrepreneurship (02:30)* Learning secured lending basics in his grandfather's Arkansas pawn shop* Reading people, judging value, and knowing what you don't know, including the cubic zirconia story* Growing up with a venture-backed CEO father who later became a VC, building empathy for foundersLife at SVB and the 2023 Collapse (08:24)* 16+ years, nine roles, including helping build SVB Canada* Inside the third-largest bank failure in U.S. history* The power of simply answering the phone during a crisisVenture Debt vs. Private Credit (15:58)* The key differences: venture banking (customer acquisition model) vs. private credit (deployed capital seeking returns)* Why banks offer smaller deals tied to revenue multiples, while private credit writes $50M–$150M+ checks* The role of warrants (equity kickers) in almost every venture debt dealWhat Lenders Actually Underwrite (20:58)* Why the cap table and investor syndicate matter more than financial models (models are always wrong)* How lenders assess whether a company can raise its next equity roundKey Case Studies and Lessons (23:53)* Airbnb: The energy you could feel walking into the office* Subtle signals Marshall looks for: office vibe, founder energy, and the “Airbnb Rhode Island office” effectClearco: A Cautionary Tale (28:03)* How Clearco used venture debt to scale rapidly and how over-leveraging nearly broke the company* The surprising role SVB's own failure played in saving Clearco* Why revenue-based financing models can become burdensome when revenue becomes less predictableThe State of the Venture Debt Market in 2026 (35:30)* Recorded $62 billion in volumes, recovered faster than expected* More choices than ever, including Stifel, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock, Apollo, KKR, and Blue Owl* AI companies largely do not need debt right nowBreaking Down Venture Debt Term Sheets for Founders (40:47)* Founders do not understand what motivates venture banks vs. private credit firms* Getting the right partner trumps any term sheet detail* Price and economics matter, but choosing the wrong lender is a disaster* The right lender can be meaningfully impactful as a company ramps up* Most founders think about terms first. They should think about their partner first.When to Start Building Lender Relationships (47:05)* It's never too early, meet lenders 6–12 months before you need capital* Most venture debt deals happen after an equity round closes (serial, not parallel)* Send regular updates to lenders just like you would to investorsHybrid Rounds: Will Venture Debt and Equity Merge? (49:37)* Traditional SaaS players are stuck. They need to incorporate AI to survive.* Inside rounds with debt and equity stapled together feel like bridge rounds to buy time.* Marshall's view: this will not become the norm.* Timing is wonky. Getting equity investors and lenders to work together is cumbersome.* Separate events work better: raise equity first, then raise debt.Marshall's Closing Advice for First-Time Founders (51:22)* Treat venture debt as a tool, not a silver bullet* Prioritize finding the right long-term partner over optimizing every last termAbout Marshall HawksMarshall Hawks spent 16 years at Silicon Valley Bank, where he originated and closed hundreds of venture debt deals with companies like Airbnb, Twitch, and Fitbit. Following SVB's collapse in 2023, he left banking to write Venture Debt Deals: How to Fund Growth with Less Dilution, the practical guide he wished every founder had before opening a term sheet. He now serves as an independent voice on venture debt, helping founders navigate the post-SVB landscape of banks, private credit, and alternative financing.Connect with Marshall Hawks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallhawks/Buy Venture Debt Deals: https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Debt-Deals-Growth-Dilution/dp/B0FZYQ53MWConnect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Uncovering Family Secrets: A Quest Through Gamla Stan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-04-09-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Mitt i påsktiden, när Gamla Stans smala gränder var täckta av färgglada dekorationer och doften av nybakade bullar fyllde luften, vandrade Lars och Annika genom de kullerstenslagda gatorna.En: In the middle of Easter time, when Gamla Stan's narrow alleys were covered in colorful decorations and the smell of freshly baked buns filled the air, Lars and Annika wandered through the cobblestone streets.Sv: De var där av en särskild anledning - att hitta en sällsynt bok som gömde en hemlighet om deras familj.En: They were there for a particular reason - to find a rare book that hid a secret about their family.Sv: Lars var alltid fascinerad av sin släkts historia.En: Lars was always fascinated by his family's history.Sv: Hans farmor och farfar hade ofta berättat berättelser från förr.En: His grandmother and grandfather had often told stories from the past.Sv: Men en del av den historien var fördold, och nyckeln till denna hemlighet troddes ligga i en gammal bok gömd i en av Gamla Stans bokhandlar.En: But part of that history was concealed, and the key to this secret was believed to lie in an old book hidden in one of Gamla Stan's bookstores.Sv: Annika, hans kusin, hade till en början varit skeptisk, men lockades av tanken att knyta närmare band till familjen.En: Annika, his cousin, had initially been skeptical but was drawn by the thought of forging closer family ties.Sv: Våren hade just anlänt, och solen värmde deras ansikten när de stannade framför en liten, nästan obemärkt bokhandel.En: Spring had just arrived, and the sun warmed their faces as they stopped in front of a small, almost unnoticeable bookstore.Sv: Ett gammalt träsnitt med slitet guldskrift bar namnet "Vid tidens rand".En: An old woodcut with worn gold lettering bore the name "Vid tidens rand."Sv: Uppspelta gick de in, ringande av skällan ovanför dörren.En: Excited, they went in, with the bell above the door ringing.Sv: Butikens insida var tyst och mystisk.En: The inside of the store was quiet and mysterious.Sv: Böcker radades upp på hyllor som sträckte sig nästan upp till taket.En: Books were lined up on shelves that stretched almost to the ceiling.Sv: Ett gammalt ekbord, täckt med antika kartor och dammiga manuskript, stod vid sidan.En: An old oak table, covered with antique maps and dusty manuscripts, stood to the side.Sv: Bakom disken satt en äldre man med allvarlig blick.En: Behind the counter sat an elderly man with a serious look.Sv: Han hälsade med ett lågt ”God dag” och betraktade dem noga.En: He greeted them with a low "Good day" and watched them closely.Sv: "Vi letar efter en särskild bok," sa Lars och kände hjärtat bulta.En: "We are looking for a particular book," said Lars, feeling his heart pound.Sv: "Den är viktig för vår familjs historia."En: "It is important for our family's history."Sv: Bokhandlaren, vars namn var Herr Lindqvist, höjde sitt buskiga ögonbryn.En: The bookseller, whose name was Herr Lindqvist, raised his bushy eyebrow.Sv: "Så, en bok med hemligheter," mumlade han.En: "So, a book with secrets," he muttered.Sv: "Men sådana skatter överlämnas inte lätt."En: "But such treasures are not handed over easily."Sv: Tiden var knapp.En: Time was short.Sv: Lars insåg att för att vinna Herr Lindqvists förtroende, behövde de öppna upp.En: Lars realized that to win Herr Lindqvist's trust, they needed to open up.Sv: Han började berätta om sin farmor och farfars resor, hur de överlevt krigstidens umbäranden och byggt upp sin familj från grunden.En: He began to talk about his grandmother and grandfather's journeys, how they had survived the hardships of wartime and built their family from scratch.Sv: Annika flikade in detaljer om familjens gamla gård som de alla samlades på några gånger om året.En: Annika added details about the family's old farm where they all gathered a few times a year.Sv: Herr Lindqvists ansikte mjuknade när han lyssnade på deras berättelse.En: Herr Lindqvist's face softened as he listened to their story.Sv: Efter en stund reste han sig, knackade på ett gammalt trägolv och en gömd lucka öppnade sig.En: After a while, he stood up, tapped on an old wooden floor, and a hidden hatch opened.Sv: "Följ med mig," sa han.En: "Follow me," he said.Sv: De följde honom nerför en smal, mörk trappa till ett litet rum.En: They followed him down a narrow, dark staircase to a small room.Sv: I cornern, täckt av en tjock dammlager, låg boken.En: In the corner, covered in a thick layer of dust, lay the book.Sv: Ett tummat, ålderstiget exemplar med gyllene bokstäver i titel.En: A worn, aged copy with golden letters in the title.Sv: När Lars och Annika öppnade boken, uppenbarades en dold släktsaga.En: When Lars and Annika opened the book, a hidden family saga was revealed.Sv: En berättelse om mod, kärlek och överlevnad som ingen av de nu levande hade känt till.En: A story of bravery, love, and survival that none of the living had known.Sv: Det var som att de upptäckte en ny del av sig själva.En: It was as if they discovered a new part of themselves.Sv: På väg ut från bokhandeln såg de på varandra med nyfunna band av förståelse och med en djupare uppskattning av varandra och deras gemensamma historia.En: On the way out of the bookstore, they looked at each other with newfound bonds of understanding and a deeper appreciation for each other and their shared history.Sv: Gamla Stans gator kändes nu lite mer som hemma, och familjeband kändes starkare än någonsin.En: The streets of Gamla Stan now felt a little more like home, and family ties felt stronger than ever. Vocabulary Words:narrow: smalacobblestone: kullerstenslagdafascinated: fascineradconcealed: fördoldinitially: till en börjanskeptical: skeptiskforging: knytaunnoticeable: obemärktwoodcut: träsnittmysterious: mystiskshelves: hyllorceiling: taketantique: antikamanuscripts: manuskriptelderly: äldrebushy: buskigaeyebrow: ögonbryntreasures: skattertrust: förtroendehardships: umbärandensoftened: mjuknadehatch: luckastaircase: trappalayer: lagersaga: släktsagabravery: modsurvival: överlevnadrevealed: uppenbaradesbonds: bandappreciation: uppskattning

Episode 422 of The VentureFizz Podcast features David Fialkow, Co-Founder & Managing Director of General Catalyst. Entrepreneur, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and Oscar winner - those are just a few of the words that describe David's legendary career. As you'll hear from this interview, he emphasizes the importance of storytelling, which he originally learned from filmmaking, but it goes beyond making a compelling documentary. It is an often-overlooked but essential skill for every entrepreneur. Whether you are hiring, winning over customers, or raising capital, being able to align everyone with your mission through a powerful narrative is critical for success. Most of you are likely familiar with General Catalyst. They are one of the top VC firms in the world, having backed a "Who's Who" of tech giants including Stripe, Anduril, Circle, Airbnb, HubSpot, Snap, Canva, and Discord - just to name a few. In this interview, we cover a lot of ground, plus David shares lots of stories and interesting advice along the way, such as: What it's like to win an Oscar and making impactful documentary films. David's thoughts on the Boston tech scene. His long standing partnership with Joel Cutler (which I didn't know they met when they were seven years old) and the details on their entrepreneurial initiatives in the travel industry including building the largest tour & cruise business in the U.S. The story of how a donation to Children's Hospital led him to compete in the Ironman triathlon with just 90 days to train. How General Catalyst got started during the 2001 VC winter after dot-com bubble burst. The firm's myopic focus on founders and their approach to building a firm with long term, intergenerational value. Investing in pillar Boston companies like HubSpot, Circle, ITA Software, KAYAK, and others… and their thought process around expanding the firm to the West Coast. The importance of surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. And so much more! Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Valborg Revelations: The Secret That United Family Memories Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-04-01-07-38-19-sv Story Transcript:Sv: När den mjuka vårvinden rörde vid träden i Stockholms skärgård, anlände Elin, Johan och Astrid till familjens sommarhus.En: When the gentle spring breeze touched the trees in the Stockholms skärgård, Elin, Johan, and Astrid arrived at the family's summer house.Sv: Det var ett litet hus med vita paneler, omgivet av björkträd och tallar.En: It was a small house with white panels, surrounded by birch and pine trees.Sv: Havet glittrade i fjärran, och fåglarna sjöng sina vårmelodier.En: The sea shimmered in the distance, and the birds sang their spring melodies.Sv: Elin gick långsamt runt huset, andades in den svala luften.En: Elin walked slowly around the house, inhaling the cool air.Sv: Hon mindes somrar med hennes nu bortgångna föräldrar.En: She remembered summers with her now-deceased parents.Sv: Deras skratt och sånger värmde hennes hjärta som vårsolen.En: Their laughter and songs warmed her heart like the spring sun.Sv: Men hon bar på en hemlighet, en hemlighet om huset hon aldrig delat med någon.En: But she carried a secret, a secret about the house she had never shared with anyone.Sv: Johan stod vid trädäcket och fixade med båten.En: Johan stood by the deck, working on the boat.Sv: Han var alltid praktisk och realistisk.En: He was always practical and realistic.Sv: Hans röst bar en ton av bitter cynism, särskilt när det gällde familjeminnen.En: His voice carried a tone of bitter cynicism, especially when it came to family memories.Sv: Med honom var Astrid, alltid glad och energisk, redo att återuppliva gamla traditioner.En: With him was Astrid, always cheerful and energetic, ready to revive old traditions.Sv: "Det är Valborg", sa Astrid med ett leende som såg ut som vårsol.En: "It's Valborg," said Astrid with a smile that looked like the spring sun.Sv: "Vi måste ha en brasa!"En: "We must have a bonfire!"Sv: Hennes entusiasm var smittsam, men Johan suckade.En: Her enthusiasm was contagious, but Johan sighed.Sv: "Är det inte lite barnsligt?"En: "Isn't it a bit childish?"Sv: mumlade Johan och tittade bort.En: muttered Johan, looking away.Sv: Elin såg på dem båda, önskade sig harmoni den här helgen.En: Elin looked at them both, wishing for harmony this weekend.Sv: När kvällen närmade sig, förberedde de brasan på stranden.En: As evening approached, they prepared the bonfire on the beach.Sv: Elin kände spänningen mellan Johan och Astrid.En: Elin felt the tension between Johan and Astrid.Sv: Hon visste att hon behövde göra något.En: She knew she needed to do something.Sv: Så när elden började knastra under den mörknande himlen, tog Elin ett djupt andetag.En: So when the fire began to crackle under the darkening sky, Elin took a deep breath.Sv: "Jag har något att berätta", började hon med rösten stadig.En: "I have something to tell," she began, her voice steady.Sv: Båda vände sig mot henne.En: Both turned to her.Sv: "Det var pappa som byggde huset... men inte ensam.En: "It was dad who built the house... but not alone.Sv: Han hade en vän, någon viktig för honom, någon vi aldrig talat om."En: He had a friend, someone important to him, someone we never talked about."Sv: "Vem?"En: "Who?"Sv: frågade Johan, plötsligt nyfiken.En: asked Johan, suddenly curious.Sv: Elin log svagt.En: Elin smiled faintly.Sv: "Astrids pappa.En: "Astrid's dad.Sv: De arbetade tillsammans, skapade detta hem för oss alla."En: They worked together, creating this home for all of us."Sv: Astrid tog ett steg närmare, tårar glittrade i hennes ögon.En: Astrid took a step closer, tears shimmering in her eyes.Sv: Det var en sanning som plötsligt kunde förena dem alla.En: It was a truth that could suddenly unite them all.Sv: "Jag visste inte det", sade Johan tyst.En: "I didn't know that," said Johan quietly.Sv: "Jag borde ha vetat det."En: "I should have known."Sv: Elin fortsatte.En: Elin continued.Sv: "Det är dags att släppa de gamla spänningarna.En: "It's time to let go of the old tensions.Sv: Vårt förflutna är gemensamt, och det är också vår framtid."En: Our past is shared, and so is our future."Sv: I det ögonblicket släppte något inom Johan.En: At that moment, something released within Johan.Sv: Han kramade Astrid, och Elin kände en tyngd lyftas från hennes axlar.En: He hugged Astrid, and Elin felt a weight lift from her shoulders.Sv: Elden värmde deras hjärtan, och nattens mörker blev en bakgrund för nytt ljus.En: The fire warmed their hearts, and the darkness of the night became a backdrop for new light.Sv: Medan stjärnorna glänste ovanför och natten fortsatte, fortsatte deras skratt och samtal.En: As the stars twinkled above and the night continued, their laughter and conversations carried on.Sv: Elin kände en djup ro, och för första gången på länge accepterade hon sitt förflutna, inte som en börda, utan som en del av henne.En: Elin felt a deep peace, and for the first time in a long while, she accepted her past, not as a burden, but as part of her.Sv: De tre stod där, förenade under Valborgsnattens magi, där minnen och löften dansade tillsammans med flammorna, och en ny början spirade sakta i deras liv.En: The three stood there, united under the magic of the Valborg night, where memories and promises danced together with the flames, and a new beginning slowly blossomed in their lives. Vocabulary Words:gentle: mjukabreeze: vårvindentouched: rördeshimmered: glittradeinhale: andades indeceased: bortgångnasecret: hemlighetlaugh: skrattcynicism: cynismenthusiasm: entusiasmcontagious: smittsammutter: mumlaharmony: harmoniapproached: närmade sigtension: spänningcrackle: knastracurious: nyfikenfaintly: svagtunite: förenaquietly: tystrelease: släppteweight: tyngdbackdrop: bakgrundtwinkle: glänstepeace: roaccept: accepteraburden: bördamagic: magipromise: löftenflames: flammorna

"Companies designing for agents, not humans, are going to get a lot of lift."ClickHouse started as an internal tool at Yandex. Today it's the database Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta and Tesla all run on.In this episode, CEO Aaron Katz joins Lukas Biewald to talk about how he turned an open source project into a $15B company, why he acquired LangFuse knowing it could cost him customers, and what he's actually building for the agent era.Snowflake, Datadog and Databricks all come up. He doesn't shy away.Connect with us here:Aaron Katz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-katz-5762094ClickHouse: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clickhouseinc/Lukas Biewald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbiewald/Weights and Biases: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wandb/00:00 Trailer00:57 The Origin Story: From Yandex to ClickHouse Inc.04:43 Building ClickHouse Cloud & Raising $300M10:36 Growing Up Around Xerox PARC12:51 Salesforce, Mark Benioff & the Dot-Com Bust15:32 Cloud Skeptics vs. AI Skeptics | History Repeating18:05 Building a Modern Go-To-Market Playbook21:57 The SaaS Crash, Agents & the Future of Infrastructure27:09 The Datadog Love-Hate Story35:21 Hardest Moments: Russia, SVB & Sleepless Nights43:16 Outro

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Spring Showdown: Elin's Easter Chess Challenge Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-03-26-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: I det soliga klassrummet på Stockholms gymnasium började vårens strålar smyga sig in genom fönstren.En: In the sunny classroom at Stockholms gymnasium, spring's rays began to sneak in through the windows.Sv: Det var april, och påsken närmade sig.En: It was April, and Easter was approaching.Sv: Träden utanför bar små, gröna knoppar, och luften kändes friskare.En: The trees outside bore small, green buds, and the air felt fresher.Sv: Det var tid för schackklubbens möte och ett särskilt påskturnering anordnades.En: It was time for the chess club's meeting, and a special Easter tournament was organized.Sv: Schackbrädan stod redo på det långa bordet, och bitarna var noggrant placerade.En: The chessboard stood ready on the long table, and the pieces were carefully placed.Sv: I hörnet satt Elin, försiktigt samlad, med blicken fäst på brädet.En: In the corner sat Elin, carefully composed, with her gaze fixed on the board.Sv: Elin älskade schack, den tysta kampen av strategier och beslut.En: Elin loved chess, the silent battle of strategies and decisions.Sv: Men lika mycket som hon älskade spelet, tyckte hon att det var svårt att öppna sig för andra.En: But as much as she loved the game, she found it hard to open up to others.Sv: Hon var tyst och tillbakadragen, rädd för att framstå som tråkig.En: She was quiet and withdrawn, afraid of appearing boring.Sv: Ibland undrade hon om någon skulle förstå henne.En: Sometimes she wondered if anyone would understand her.Sv: Idag hade hon trots allt bestämt sig för att delta i turneringen.En: Today, she had decided to participate in the tournament despite everything.Sv: När de andra spelarna började anlända, dök Lukas upp.En: As the other players started arriving, Lukas appeared.Sv: Han var en ny medlem i klubben och såg ut att dela Elins passion för spelet.En: He was a new member of the club and seemed to share Elin's passion for the game.Sv: Snart började den intensiva matchen mellan Elin och Lukas.En: Soon, an intense match between Elin and Lukas began.Sv: Det var hennes första spel för dagen, och hon var nervös.En: It was her first game of the day, and she was nervous.Sv: Deras match blev snabbt fokus för hela klubbens uppmärksamhet.En: Their match quickly became the focus of the entire club's attention.Sv: Flytt för flytt, drag för drag, de båda spelarna var jämnt matchade, och Elin kände adrenalin pirra under huden.En: Move by move, play by play, the two players were evenly matched, and Elin felt adrenaline tingling under her skin.Sv: Lukas, helt fokuserad, flyttade sin dam med ett självsäkert studerande leende.En: Lukas, completely focused, moved his queen with a confidently studious smile.Sv: Elin, som satt mitt emot, stirrade på brädet.En: Elin, sitting opposite, stared at the board.Sv: Hon älskade utmaningen och den ordlösa kommunikationen som schack erbjöd.En: She loved the challenge and the wordless communication that chess offered.Sv: Hennes tankar flödade fram och tillbaka, precis som spelarna som samlats runt dem.En: Her thoughts flowed back and forth, just like the players gathered around them.Sv: Slutligen avgjorde Lukas matchen med en briljant strategi.En: Finally, Lukas decided the match with a brilliant strategy.Sv: Istället för att känna nederlag kände Elin sig upplyft och nyfiken.En: Instead of feeling defeated, Elin felt uplifted and curious.Sv: Efter turneringen, som Lukas hade vunnit, tog Elin mod till sig.En: After the tournament, which Lukas had won, Elin gathered her courage.Sv: Hon närmade sig Lukas.En: She approached Lukas.Sv: "Bra spel," sade hon, försöker att låta neutral.En: "Good game," she said, trying to sound neutral.Sv: Lukas skrattade, "Tack, du också!En: Lukas laughed, "Thanks, you too!Sv: Du är verkligen en svår motståndare."En: You are indeed a tough opponent."Sv: Samtalet som följde visade sig vara både lätt och fångande.En: The conversation that followed turned out to be both easy and captivating.Sv: Lukas delade Elins kärlek för strategispel och hade dessutom ett intresse för natur och film.En: Lukas shared Elin's love for strategy games and also had an interest in nature and film.Sv: Den eftermiddagen, medan vårsolen sjönk och lämnade gyllene skuggor över rummet, insåg Elin att hon hade tagit ett av sina största möjliga risker.En: That afternoon, as the spring sun set, leaving golden shadows across the room, Elin realized she had taken one of her biggest possible risks.Sv: Hon hade mött någon som kunde vara både en vän och en rival.En: She had met someone who could be both a friend and a rival.Sv: Både hon och Lukas bestämde sig för att träffas utanför schackklubben.En: Both she and Lukas decided to meet outside of the chess club.Sv: Med varje nytt kapitel började Elin förstå värdet i att öppna sig för världen.En: With each new chapter, Elin began to understand the value in opening up to the world.Sv: Det visade sig att de mest tensiva matcherna, omfamnade av en vårbris, kunde leda till djup förståelse och nya samband.En: It turned out that the most tense matches, embraced by a spring breeze, could lead to deep understanding and new connections. Vocabulary Words:sneak: smyga sigbore: barbuds: knopparcomposed: samladwithdrawn: tillbakadragengaze: blickenadrenaline: adrenalintingling: pirraintense: intensivamatched: matchaderival: rivaluplifted: upplyftcurious: nyfikencaptivating: fångandestudious: studerandeembraced: omfamnadebrilliant: briljantstrategies: strategierdecisions: beslutchessboard: schackbrädanplaced: placeradetournament: turneringopponent: motståndareunderstanding: förståelserisk: riskermatch: matchfocused: fokuseradstrategy: strategiopportunity: möjlighetconnection: samband

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Spring Surprises: Discovering Friendship at Vasamuseet Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-03-23-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var påsk i Stockholm, och Vasamuseet levde upp med besökare som var lika ivriga att se det ståtliga skeppet.En: It was Easter in Stockholm, and the Vasamuseet buzzed with visitors eager to see the magnificent ship.Sv: Det skira vårvädret spred en härlig doft av blommor utanför museets väggar, och ljuset från vårsolen strömmade in genom de stora fönstren.En: The delicate spring weather spread a lovely scent of flowers outside the museum's walls, and the light from the spring sun streamed in through the large windows.Sv: Lina var där för att samla den sista informationen till sin forskning om skeppets historia.En: Lina was there to gather the last bit of information for her research on the ship's history.Sv: Hon var konsthistoriker och hade ett stort intresse för maritim historia.En: She was an art historian with a great interest in maritime history.Sv: Men hon gömde en rädsla inom sig.En: But she harbored a fear within her.Sv: Tänk om hon inte skulle hinna färdigt?En: What if she wouldn't finish in time?Sv: Hennes vän och kollega, Erik, följde henne runt på museet.En: Her friend and colleague, Erik, accompanied her around the museum.Sv: Han älskade även han historien och kände något speciellt för Lina, något som han inte riktigt vågat avslöja.En: He also loved history and felt something special for Lina, something he hadn't quite dared to reveal.Sv: Tillsammans med dem var Svea, en entusiastisk guide med stora drömmar om att bli kurator.En: Joining them was Svea, an enthusiastic guide with big dreams of becoming a curator.Sv: Mitt i deras rundvandring, medan Lina antecknade noggrant, snubblade hon och vred om foten.En: In the middle of their tour, while Lina was taking notes diligently, she stumbled and twisted her ankle.Sv: Hon kände genast den skarpa smärtan.En: She immediately felt the sharp pain.Sv: Hennes tanke var bara en: "Hur ska jag kunna avsluta min forskning med denna skada?"En: Her only thought was: "How will I be able to finish my research with this injury?"Sv: Erik såg på henne med oro.En: Erik looked at her with concern.Sv: "Lina, du ser inte ut att må bra.En: "Lina, you don't look well.Sv: Behöver du hjälp?"En: Do you need help?"Sv: frågade han försiktigt.En: he asked cautiously.Sv: Lina bet sig i läppen och kämpade med beslutet.En: Lina bit her lip and wrestled with the decision.Sv: Det var så mycket kvar att göra, så lite tid, men smärtan i ankeln gjorde sig konstant påmind.En: There was so much left to do, so little time, but the pain in her ankle was a constant reminder.Sv: Till slut bestämde hon sig för att be om hjälp.En: In the end, she decided to ask for help.Sv: "Erik, Svea," sa hon med en suck, "jag kan inte göra det här ensam.En: "Erik, Svea," she said with a sigh, "I can't do this alone.Sv: Kan ni hjälpa mig med att samla in den sista informationen?"En: Can you help me gather the final information?"Sv: Både Erik och Svea nickade bestämt.En: Both Erik and Svea nodded resolutely.Sv: De satte genast igång att skriva ner anteckningar och fotografera olika delar av skeppet, medan Lina vilade sin fot så gott det gick på en av bänkarna i museet.En: They immediately began writing down notes and photographing different parts of the ship, while Lina rested her foot as best she could on one of the museum's benches.Sv: När museet snart skulle stänga, hade de tillsammans fått ihop det material Lina behövde.En: As the museum was about to close, they had gathered the material Lina needed.Sv: Erik och Svea log, och när Lina tittade upp på dem, kände hon sig oerhört tacksam.En: Erik and Svea smiled, and when Lina looked up at them, she felt immensely grateful.Sv: På väg ut från museet, lutade hon sig på Eriks arm.En: On the way out of the museum, she leaned on Erik's arm.Sv: Hon insåg att hon inte behövde känna sig stark ensam.En: She realized that she didn't need to feel strong alone.Sv: Det var okej att be om hjälp.En: It was okay to ask for help.Sv: Med vårens värme i ryggen och solskenet som lekte över vattnet, visste Lina att hon lärt sig något viktigt den dagen.En: With the warmth of spring at her back and the sunshine playing over the water, Lina knew she had learned something important that day.Sv: Forskningen hade inte bara fått ett lyckligt slut, hon hade också funnit en närmare vänskap med Erik och Svea.En: The research had not only come to a happy conclusion, but she had also found a closer friendship with Erik and Svea.Sv: Och någonstans inombords, kände Lina sig lättad.En: And somewhere inside, Lina felt relieved.Sv: Hon log lite hemlighetsfullt för sig själv.En: She smiled a little secretively to herself.Sv: Ibland kommer oväntad hjälp när man minst anar det, och överraskar genom att ge mer än bara svar på frågor om ett gammalt skepp.En: Sometimes unexpected help comes when you least expect it, and surprises by giving more than just answers to questions about an old ship. Vocabulary Words:Easter: påskbuzzed: levde uppmagnificent: ståtligadelicate: skirascent: doftspread: spredstreamed: strömmadegather: samlaresearch: forskningmaritime: maritimharbored: gömdereveal: avslöjaenthusiastic: entusiastiskcurator: kuratortour: rundvandringdiligently: noggrantstumbled: snubbladetwisted: vred omsharp: skarpaankle: ankelncautiously: försiktigtwrestled: kämpadereminder: påmindrequest: beresolutely: bestämtphotographing: fotograferamaterial: materialleaned: lutadesunshine: solskenetrelieved: lättad

Episode 419 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Chip Hazard, General Partner at Flybridge. Before we get into the details of Chip's career, I have to call out a random fun fact: Chip is the only VC with his own action figure, yes – it's true. There's a DreamWorks animated movie called Small Soldiers. The lead character is named Chip Hazard, voiced by Tommy Lee Jones. As you'll hear in this episode, there's a great story suggesting that the character's name was actually inspired by Chip himself, which absolutely makes sense once you hear the story. But beyond the fun facts, as you'll hear, Chip has a major leg up on most investors because he's successfully navigated multiple platform shifts – from the internet and mobile to the cloud and now AI. What's impressive is that Chip and the team at Flybridge saw this latest AI shift coming long before the hype. For proof, you just have to look at his blog post titled “Applied AI: Beyond the Algorithms” which he published all the way back in 2019. Chip has backed some of the most impactful companies in tech, like MongoDB back when it was still called 10Gen. Today, it's a public company with a $20B+ dollar market cap, and Chip still serves on the board. His portfolio also includes Nasuni which was valued at $1.2 billion following a strategic investment led by Vista Equity Partners in 2024. If you aren't familiar with Flybridge, they are a seed-stage firm investing in ambitious founders leveraging the power of AI. Last September, they announced their latest fund, a $100M seventh fund. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 04:15 A movie character named after Chip in Small Soldiers 05:39 The Current AI Platform Shift & Patterns he has seen 09:48 Decades of blogging experience and how they stayed ahead of the curve 11:23 Chip's background 12:49 Stanford and Athletics 14:00 How Chip got his career started 15:29 Discovering Venture Capital and Landing at Greylock 19:27 A Walk Through His Investments at Greylock 24:50 Starting Flybridge 28:18 The Details about Flybridge 29:46 What gets you to the point of saying YES to entrepreneurs 32:20 Company storytelling at the seed stage 34:11 Investing in MongoDB 36:46 Key Decisions for MongoDB 42:38 Investing in Nasuni 43:41 Other company investments 46:05 Why They Invested in VoiceRun 48:38 Details on xfactor ventures 51:12 Advice for Entrepreneurs on Conducting Due Diligence on Investors 53:01 How VCs Handle an Investment Post-IPO 55:12 Three apps Chip can't live without 57:08 Podcast Recommendations Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Winter's Silent Reconciliation: A Journey of Healing Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-03-02-08-38-20-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Kylan bet i kinderna när Lukas, Astrid och Jonas stod på kajen i Stockholm och väntade på båten.En: The cold bit their cheeks as Lukas, Astrid, and Jonas stood on the dock in Stockholm, waiting for the boat.Sv: Det var sent på vintern och vinden svepte över den frusna viken.En: It was late winter, and the wind swept across the frozen bay.Sv: De var på väg till en liten ö i skärgården, morfars älsklingsplats.En: They were on their way to a small island in the archipelago, grandfather's favorite place.Sv: Där skulle de sprida hans aska i havet, som han alltid hade älskat.En: There, they would spread his ashes in the sea, which he had always loved.Sv: Lukas såg ut över det glittrande vattnet, tankfull.En: Lukas looked out over the shimmering water, thoughtful.Sv: Han höll kameran i handen.En: He held the camera in his hand.Sv: Det var många år sedan han sist hade varit tillsammans med sin bror Jonas.En: It had been many years since he last spent time with his brother Jonas.Sv: Det fanns en tystnad mellan dem, en tyngd av osagda ord och gamla missförstånd.En: There was a silence between them, a weight of unsaid words and old misunderstandings.Sv: Astrid, deras kusin, log försiktigt mot dem båda.En: Astrid, their cousin, smiled gently at them both.Sv: Hon försökte medla och skapa en bro mellan bröderna.En: She was trying to mediate and build a bridge between the brothers.Sv: Snart kom båten, en liten färja som skulle ta dem ut mot deras mål.En: Soon the boat came, a small ferry that would take them toward their destination.Sv: De steg ombord, och Jonas kastade en snabb blick mot Lukas.En: They boarded, and Jonas cast a quick glance at Lukas.Sv: Ett försök till ett leende, kanske.En: An attempt at a smile, perhaps.Sv: Öarna de passerade var tysta, klädda i vintervitt och omgivna av iskalla vågor.En: The islands they passed were silent, dressed in winter white and surrounded by icy waves.Sv: Solen sken svagt på horisonten, en påminnelse om att våren snart skulle komma.En: The sun shone faintly on the horizon, a reminder that spring would soon arrive.Sv: Båten närmade sig ön, en avlägsen plats som morfar hade talat om med värme och kärlek.En: The boat approached the island, a distant place that grandfather had spoken of with warmth and love.Sv: Det var dit de nu reste för att hedra hans minne.En: It was there they now traveled to honor his memory.Sv: När de steg iland, kände Lukas hur tystnaden blev tyngre.En: As they disembarked, Lukas felt the silence grow heavier.Sv: Han hade tänkt länge på vad han skulle säga.En: He had thought for a long time about what he would say.Sv: Det svåraste var att hitta rätt tid.En: The hardest part was finding the right moment.Sv: Han tog ett djupt andetag och gick bredvid Jonas.En: He took a deep breath and walked beside Jonas.Sv: "Jonas," började han, vände sig och såg sin bror i ögonen.En: "Jonas," he began, turning to look his brother in the eyes.Sv: "Jag vill prata."En: "I want to talk."Sv: Jonas stannade, hans axlar sjönk lite.En: Jonas paused, his shoulders sinking a bit.Sv: De började gå ner mot vattnet, och Lukas fortsatte.En: They began to walk down toward the water, and Lukas continued.Sv: "Det finns så mycket jag ångrar.En: "There is so much I regret.Sv: Vi har låtit så mycket komma mellan oss."En: We've let so much come between us."Sv: Jonas tittade ner i marken.En: Jonas looked down at the ground.Sv: "Ja, jag vet.En: "Yes, I know.Sv: Det är svårt att prata om."En: It's hard to talk about."Sv: Lukas stannade och väntade tills Jonas mötte hans blick igen.En: Lukas stopped and waited until Jonas met his gaze again.Sv: "Men vi måste.En: "But we have to.Sv: För vår egen skull, och för morfars."En: For our own sake, and for grandfather's."Sv: Deras ord började flyta lättare.En: Their words began to flow more easily.Sv: Det var som om den stilla vintern i skärgården lyssnade på deras bekännelser.En: It was as if the still winter in the archipelago listened to their confessions.Sv: Det dämpade ljudet av havets rörelser gav dem ett utrymme att släppa taget.En: The muted sound of the sea's movements gave them room to let go.Sv: När de nådde platsen där de skulle sprida askan, stod de alla tre tillsammans.En: When they reached the place where they would spread the ashes, they all stood together.Sv: Astrid öppnade urnan försiktigt, och vinden tog med sig askan ut över vattnet.En: Astrid carefully opened the urn, and the wind carried the ashes out over the water.Sv: Tårar blandades med det kyliga vädret när Lukas och Jonas slutligen förstod vikten av deras samtal.En: Tears mixed with the chilly weather as Lukas and Jonas finally understood the importance of their conversation.Sv: Vägen tillbaka till båten kändes lättare.En: The way back to the boat felt lighter.Sv: Lukas kände en värme i sitt bröst.En: Lukas felt a warmth in his chest.Sv: En uppvaknande känsla av att den familjeband han nästan hade förlorat återigen kunde knytas samman.En: An awakening feeling that the family ties he had almost lost could be joined together again.Sv: Tillsammans med sin bror, och med Astrid som stöd, var han redo att börja en ny resa.En: Together with his brother, and with Astrid as support, he was ready to begin a new journey.Sv: De återvände till Stockholm med ett lugn över sig, solen nu lite starkare på himlen.En: They returned to Stockholm with a calm over them, the sun now a little stronger in the sky.Sv: Puppar hade spruckit, och livet kunde fortsätta.En: Cocoons had burst, and life could continue.Sv: I det ögonblicket visste Lukas att morfar skulle vara stolt över dem.En: In that moment, Lukas knew that grandfather would be proud of them.Sv: Det glitrande vattnet berättade en historia om förlåtelse och ny början.En: The shimmering water told a story of forgiveness and new beginnings. Vocabulary Words:bit: betdock: kajenfrozen: frusnaashes: askashimmering: glittrandethoughtful: tankfullunsaid: osagdamediate: medladestination: målfaintly: svagtdistant: avlägsendisembarked: steg ilandgaze: blickconfessions: bekännelsersound: ljudmovements: rörelserurn: urnanmeaningful: viktreturn: återvändecalm: lugnburst: spruckitforgiveness: förlåtelseawakening: uppvaknandeties: familjebandsupport: stödjourney: resaisland: öwaves: vågorapproached: närmade sigreminder: påminnelse

#gardening  #podcast #gardentalk #vegetablegarden  #radio #influencer #gardentip #gardentalkradio #backyardgarden Email your questions to Gardentalkradio@gmail.com Or call 1-800-927-SHOW Segment 4:Garden questions & answers   Sponsors of the show for 2026Beetlegone of https://beetlegone.com/Pomona pectin of https://pomonapectin.com/Dripworks of https://www.dripworks.com/Natural green products of https://www.natgreenproducts.com/ use promo code freeship4meany size No More Bugs!Rescue of https://rescue.com/Jung Seeds of https://www.jungseed.com/category/talk-gardening use code 15GT26 to save 15% off ordersWind River Chimes of https://windriverchimes.com/Wisconsin Greenhouse Company of https://wisconsingreenhousecompany.com/Summit Chemical of https://summitchemical.com/Iv organics of https://ivorganics.com/  Use radio10 to save 10% off your orderSoilmoist.com of https://www.soilmoist.com/products/soil-moist.phpDavid J Frank of https://davidjfrank.com/ Timber Pro Coatings of https://timberprocoatingsusa.com/products/internal-wood-stabilizer/Azure Standard of  https://www.azurestandard.com/  Use code Use Promo Code: JOEYANDHOLLY15 applied at checkout to get 15% off for new customers who open an account for the first time and place a minimum order of $100 or more, shipped to a drop location of their choice.Durable green bed https://durablegreenbed.com/Corba head hand tools https://www.cobrahead.com/ use code soil for 10% your order at checkout valid once per customer Soil Savvy https://www.mysoilsavvy.com/Weed Wrench  https://www.weed-wrench.com/home us code JOEYat check out to save $10.00 on your order MYRootmaker of https://myrootmaker.com/  Us coupon code Radio26 at checkout and save 10% of your orderHarney & Sons Fine Teas of https://www.harney.com/Soil Diva of https://soildiva.net/ use code Use code radio15 to toget 15% off your order Scrusher of https://www.scrusher.com/ Use code nomoredirt5 to  5% off + Free Shipping at checkoutScrubby soap  of www.scrubbysoap.com Get 10% off your order by using code SOAP at check  outJanco green house of  https://jancogreenhouse.com/index.htmlFleximounts of fleximounts.com Use code “C730” to get $30 on C7MAX chair  Use code "YTE730" for $30 off E7 Pro deckDigzs of https://www.digzgardening.com/Neptunes harvest of https://www.neptunesharvest.com/Rubio Monocoat USA of https://www.rubiomonocoatusa.com/  Get 10% OFF DuroGrit when using code JOEY at checkout The Green Gro of https://thegreengro.com/Brome of https://store.bromebirdcare.com/Mrs. wages of https://www.mrswages.com/Mantis of https://mantis.com/products/tillers/Milkweed balm of https://milkweedbalm.com/ use code Gardening at checkout and get 20% off your order Biogents of https://us-shop.biogents.com mosquito trap systemsAmazon #Influencer page with products we use and trust from gardening to camping, household goods and even cat stuff. Over 500 items list  https://www.amazon.com/shop/thewisconsinvegetablegardener?ref=ac_inf_hm_vp

Episode 415 of The VentureFizz #podcast features Parker McKee, Partner at Pillar. “When you work really hard… good things come out on the other side.” - Parker McKee. Parker is a perfect example of this mindset - a mantra that I firmly believe in. When Parker has a goal in his sights, he's going to put in the time to get there. He's proven this time and time again, and the results speak for themselves. In athletics, he spent countless hours in his parents' backyard honing his lacrosse skills, which ultimately led him to the D1 level at the University of Michigan, where he served as a co-captain. Professionally, once he discovered a passion for investing and startups, he set his sights on venture capital. Through relentless networking, he landed an internship at .406 Ventures. Later, after pitching his own startup idea to Jamie Goldstein, he stayed on the radar and eventually joined the team in the early days of Pillar, where he has risen to the role as a Partner in the firm. Pillar is a pre-seed and seed-stage VC firm that invests in technical breakthroughs to overcome the world's greatest challenges. Last year, the firm announced their latest fund that being a $175M Fund IV. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: * The current state of venture investing in the AI era. * Parker's background and what playing D1 lacrosse at Michigan taught him about the rewards of hard work. * How he broke into the industry with an internship at .406 Ventures. * The story of how he pitched an app idea to Jamie Goldstein while still in college, and how that relationship eventually led to his role at Pillar. * An inside look at a "junior-level" role in venture capital and how he learned the ropes by simply "being in the market." * His current investment focus and the details behind his investment in OpenHands, alongside Menlo Ventures. * What he expects out of a first meeting and his best advice for a successful pitch. * The biggest lesson he's learned so far in the world of venture capital. * And so much more! Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

Episode 414 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Lou Shipley, CEO, board director, lecturer, investor, and now author. Every company has an entrepreneur behind it. It sounds obvious, but we often fall into the trap of thinking those founders are all 20-somethings building tech startups. The data says otherwise. Research from MIT Sloan found that the average age of a successful, high-growth founder is actually 45 years old. For most, it takes decades of “real-world” reps to build the grit and experience necessary to take that leap of faith. That's why Unlikely Entrepreneurs, the new book that Lou co-authored with Patricia Favreau is such an essential read. It includes local entrepreneurs like Bill Warner of Avid or the founders of Spoiler Alert, alongside truly unexpected success stories, ranging from a sustainable sausage brand and an online casket company to Katie Couric Media. In this episode, we cover: * What led Lou and Patricia down the path of writing Unlikely Entrepreneurs. * Lou's background story and what athletics taught him about being a CEO. * How a cold call to Bill Warner, the founder of Avid, changed his career trajectory. * His journey through various leadership roles at startups like WebLine, Reflectent, and Turbonomic. * How he helped build Black Duck Software into a market leader by repositioning the product and the company's culture. * The importance of teaching sales and his advice around building out your GTM function. * Why relationships are the ultimate form of currency for your success. * And so much more! Purchase Unlikely Entrepreneurs on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Unlikely-Entrepreneurs-Lou-Shipley/dp/1394345895/ref=sr_1_1 Podcast Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by one of the strongest longtime supporters of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors and $44B in loans as of Q4 2025 – SVB delivers expert guidance, specialized products and a team that knows the innovation economy inside and out. Learn more at SVB.com.

VLOG Jan 29 On Luigi Mangione, NY wants July 1 trial. On Diddy, Clayton Howard files, v 50 Cent. Today Alexander bros trial Day 3, Hampton Horrors: https://matthewrussellleeicp.substack.com/p/extra-in-us-v-alexander-brothers-632. Federal Reserve says no docs on SVB conflict. 3 habeas. UNSG @AntonioGuterres lies at noon

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Navigating Stormy Seas: A Journey of Courage and Connection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-01-23-08-38-19-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en kall vinterdag i Stockholms skärgård.En: It was a cold winter's day in the Stockholms skärgård.Sv: Isiga vindar vaggade båten som Axel och Maja reste med.En: Icy winds rocked the boat that Axel and Maja traveled with.Sv: Snön började sakta falla, och horisonten blev grå.En: Snow began to slowly fall, and the horizon turned gray.Sv: Axel höll fast vid rodret medan Maja stod vid sidan av båten och tog bilder med sin kamera.En: Axel held the helm tightly while Maja stood at the side of the boat taking pictures with her camera.Sv: De var på väg mot en avlägsen ö, där tystnaden rådde och tiden verkade stå still.En: They were on their way to a remote island where silence reigned and time seemed to stand still.Sv: Axel älskade att utforska nya platser, känna kylan i vinden och doften av saltvatten.En: Axel loved exploring new places, feeling the chill in the wind and the scent of saltwater.Sv: För Maja var resan viktig på ett annat sätt.En: For Maja, the journey was important in a different way.Sv: Hon ville stå öga mot öga med sin rädsla för isolering.En: She wanted to face her fear of isolation.Sv: När de närmade sig ön, började himlen att mörkna.En: As they approached the island, the sky began to darken.Sv: Axel såg molnen tjockna och visste att en storm var på väg.En: Axel saw the clouds thicken and knew a storm was on the way.Sv: "Vi borde kanske vända," sade han tveksamt.En: "Perhaps we should turn back," he said hesitantly.Sv: Men Maja, med ett leende, sa: "Jag litar på dig.En: But Maja, with a smile, said, "I trust you.Sv: Vi klarar det här."En: We can handle this."Sv: Axel kände värmen i hennes ord och bestämde sig för att fortsätta.En: Axel felt the warmth in her words and decided to continue.Sv: Snart blev vinden starkare.En: Soon the wind grew stronger.Sv: Snön föll tätt och snabbt, och sikten blev nästan obefintlig.En: Snow fell thick and fast, and visibility became nearly nonexistent.Sv: Båten kämpade mot vågorna, men Axel höll modet uppe.En: The boat battled against the waves, but Axel kept his courage up.Sv: "Det finns en stuga på ön," ropade han över stormens brus.En: "There's a cabin on the island," he shouted over the roar of the storm.Sv: "Vi kan ta skydd där."En: "We can take shelter there."Sv: När de äntligen nådde stranden var de genomfrusna.En: When they finally reached the shore, they were frozen through.Sv: De lämnade båten och skyndade sig till en gammal fiskarstuga.En: They left the boat and hurried to an old fisherman's cabin.Sv: Inuti fann de eldstaden täckt av aska.En: Inside, they found the fireplace covered in ash.Sv: Axel skrapade bort aska, tände en eld, och snart spred sig värmen i rummet.En: Axel scraped off the ash, lit a fire, and soon warmth spread through the room.Sv: Ute rasade stormen vidare.En: Outside, the storm raged on.Sv: Inne i stugan var det lugnt, men Maja kände en stigande oro.En: Inside the cabin, it was calm, but Maja felt rising anxiety.Sv: "Tänk om stormen inte slutar?"En: "What if the storm doesn't stop?"Sv: viskade hon.En: she whispered.Sv: Axel lade en hand på hennes axel och sa lugnt: "Den slutar alltid.En: Axel placed a hand on her shoulder and said calmly, "It always stops.Sv: Jag lovar."En: I promise."Sv: Natten gick långsamt.En: The night passed slowly.Sv: De båda kämpade mot oron och rädsla.En: They both battled against worry and fear.Sv: Men när gryningen bröt igenom, hade stormen avtagit.En: But when dawn broke through, the storm had subsided.Sv: Solen glittrade på den snötäckta landskapet och reflekterades på isiga ytor.En: The sun glittered on the snow-covered landscape and reflected on icy surfaces.Sv: På vägen tillbaka styrde Axel båten med större säkerhet.En: On the way back, Axel steered the boat with greater confidence.Sv: Han hade lärt sig att lita på sina instinkter, sin uthållighet.En: He had learned to trust his instincts, his endurance.Sv: Maja stod bredvid honom och såg ut över det vackra vinterlandskapet, med känslan att hon kunde möta vilken ensamhet som helst, så länge de var tillsammans.En: Maja stood beside him and looked out over the beautiful winter landscape, with the feeling that she could face any loneliness, as long as they were together.Sv: När de kom tillbaka till fastlandet, andades båda djupt.En: When they returned to the mainland, they both took a deep breath.Sv: De hade överlevt stormen, och fann en ny styrka inom sig.En: They had survived the storm and found a new strength within themselves.Sv: De tittade på varandra, fyllda med ett nytt band.En: They looked at each other, filled with a new bond.Sv: Skärgårdens rofyllda skönhet hade gett dem en oförglömlig lektion.En: The archipelago's peaceful beauty had given them an unforgettable lesson.Sv: Trots vinterkylan, kände de hjärtan fyllda av värme och tillförsikt.En: Despite the winter cold, they felt their hearts filled with warmth and confidence.Sv: I skärgårdens tysta omfamning hade de upptäckt mer än det vilda och vackra.En: In the archipelago's silent embrace, they had discovered more than the wild and beautiful.Sv: De hade upptäckt sig själva.En: They had discovered themselves. Vocabulary Words:rocked: vaggadehelm: rodretreigned: rådderemote: avlägsenhorizon: horisontenisolation: isoleringthicken: tjocknahesitantly: tveksamtcourage: modroar: brusfrozen: genomfrusnascraped: skrapadeash: askaraged: rasadeanxiety: orosubsided: avtagitglittered: glittradeicy: isigavisibility: siktenendurance: uthållighetembrace: omfamningshelter: skyddcabin: stugasnow-covered: snötäcktashore: strandenfisherman's: fiskarstugacalmly: lugntinstincts: instinkterbond: bandconfidence: tillförsikt

Richard Berner is the former director of the Office of Financial Research and was a counselor of the Treasury Secretary. In Richard's first appearance on the show, he discusses a career that included public service and Wall Street, the fragility of global liquidity, the implications of fiscal dominance, the expansion of private credit, the 2023 SVB banking turmoil, and much more. Check out the transcript for this week's episode, now with links. Recorded on January 7th, 2025 Subscribe to David's Substack: Macroeconomic Policy Nexus Follow David Beckworth on X: @DavidBeckworth Follow the show on X: @Macro_Musings Check out our Macro Musings merch! Subscribe to David's new BTS YouTube Channel  Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:57- Dick's Career 00:07:46 - Fragility of Global Liquidity 00:17:29 - Post-GFC Regulations 00:25:29 - Fiscal Dominance 00:36:23 - Private Credit 00:48:09 - Banking Turmoil of 2023 01:01:149 - Outro

Is the Federal Reserve's independence a pillar of democracy or a convenient shield that allows elected officials to duck their responsibilities? This week on Capitalisn't, we confront a shift in Washington after the Justice Department served subpoenas on the Fed. Joining the conversation is Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Paul Tucker, who complicates the definition of central bank autonomy. If monetary policy is a "latent instrument of taxation," should it be shielded from the King—the executive branch—and reclaimed by the legislature? We explore the provocative argument that the Fed has become dangerously wary of its relationship with Congress, acting as a self-governing entity rather than a delegated authority. Does the U.S. model, where the Fed defines its own version of price stability, explain the accountability gap we see when supervisory failures like the SVB collapse result in zero consequences for leadership?Finally, we address an unsettling mystery regarding the global financial system. If Fed independence is truly degrading, why are the markets so strangely sanguine? Are global investors simply anesthetized by the AI boom, or does the dollar's global monopoly allow the U.S. to decay without paying an immediate price? We debate whether the market has ceased to be a barometer for institutional health and instead become a tool for protecting shareholder rents—failing to interpret a "catastrophic forecast" until it is already too late.Tucker is also the author of "Unelected Power: The Quest for Legitimacy in Central Banking and the Regulatory State" & "Global Discord: Values and Power in a Fractured World Order". Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Cold Collaboration: A New Year Design Breakthrough Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-01-01-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Emil och Sofia satt vid ett litet bord i hörnet av det mysiga kaféet på Södermalm, Stockholm.En: Emil and Sofia sat at a small table in the corner of the cozy café on Södermalm, Stockholm.Sv: Kaféet var fyllt med ett svagt sorl av samtal och doften av nybryggt kaffe.En: The café was filled with a gentle murmur of conversations and the scent of freshly brewed coffee.Sv: Utanför föll snöflingor mjukt mot marken, och ett tunt lager av vit snö täckte trottoarerna.En: Outside, snowflakes fell softly to the ground, and a thin layer of white snow covered the sidewalks.Sv: Det var nyårsdag, och fastän de flesta var lediga, måste Emil och Sofia arbeta.En: It was New Year's Day, and although most people were off work, Emil and Sofia had to work.Sv: Deras projekt hade en tajt deadline, och de ville ha det klart till presentationen.En: Their project had a tight deadline, and they wanted it ready for the presentation.Sv: Emil, en noggrann grafisk designer, drömde om att starta sin egen designfirma.En: Emil, a meticulous graphic designer, dreamed of starting his own design firm.Sv: Sofia, en energisk projektledare, kämpade med att balansera arbete och privatliv.En: Sofia, an energetic project manager, struggled with balancing work and private life.Sv: De arbetade flitigt på sina laptops.En: They worked diligently on their laptops.Sv: Båda visste att denna design vore avgörande.En: Both knew that this design would be crucial.Sv: Emil ville bevisa sig själv och sitt värde.En: Emil wanted to prove himself and his worth.Sv: Sofia ville säkerställa att projektet var klart i tid, men också att hon kunde hantera sin tid bättre det kommande året.En: Sofia wanted to ensure the project was finished on time, but also that she could manage her time better in the coming year.Sv: Men plötsligt uppstod problem.En: But suddenly, problems arose.Sv: I misstag hade de kommunicerat fel detaljer.En: By mistake, they had communicated the wrong details.Sv: Designen passade inte kundens krav, och de hade inte mycket tid kvar.En: The design did not meet the client's requirements, and they didn't have much time left.Sv: Spänningen steg mellan dem.En: Tension rose between them.Sv: Emil såg på Sofia och visste att de behövde agera snabbt.En: Emil looked at Sofia and knew they needed to act quickly.Sv: "Vi måste fixa detta tillsammans," sa han bestämt.En: "We have to fix this together," he said firmly.Sv: Sofia nickade, även om hon vanligtvis var den som höll i tyglarna.En: Sofia nodded, even though she was usually the one who held the reins.Sv: "Okej, vi gör det," svarade hon och insåg att hon behövde lita mer på Emils designexpertis.En: "Okay, let's do it," she replied, realizing she needed to trust more in Emil's design expertise.Sv: De arbetade hela natten, löste problem, och lyfte fram de bästa delarna av varandra.En: They worked through the night, solving problems and bringing out the best in each other.Sv: Emil kompromissade, medan Sofia lärde sig att delegera mer.En: Emil compromised, while Sofia learned to delegate more.Sv: De kombinerade sina styrkor, och när morgonen kom, var projektet klart.En: They combined their strengths, and when morning came, the project was completed.Sv: Deras chef var imponerad.En: Their boss was impressed.Sv: "Fantastiskt jobb!"En: "Fantastic job!"Sv: sa han glatt.En: he said happily.Sv: Presentationen gick bättre än väntat och projektet godkändes med applåder.En: The presentation went better than expected and the project was approved with applause.Sv: När de lämnade kaféet, reflekterade Emil och Sofia över det gångna dygnet.En: As they left the café, Emil and Sofia reflected on the past day.Sv: Emil kände sig säkrare än någonsin om sina förmågor.En: Emil felt more confident about his abilities than ever.Sv: Han började planera sitt nästa steg mot en egen designfirma.En: He began planning his next steps toward his own design firm.Sv: Sofia insåg att hon behövde bättre balans och funderade på att omstrukturera sin roll.En: Sofia realized she needed better balance and considered restructuring her role.Sv: Det var en ny början för dem båda, och i vinterkylan kändes deras framtid lite varmare och ljusare.En: It was a new beginning for them both, and in the winter cold, their future felt a little warmer and brighter. Vocabulary Words:murmur: sorlmeticulous: noggranndeadline: deadlineenergetic: energiskbalance: balanseraprivate: privatrequirements: kravtension: spänningreins: tyglarconfidence: förtroendecompromise: kompromissadelegate: delegeraimpressed: imponeradpresentation: presentationapplause: applåderreflected: reflekteradeabilities: förmågorconsidered: funderarestructuring: omstruktureracozy: mysigbrew: bryggastruggled: kämpadecrucial: avgörandearose: uppstodfirm: bestämtexpertise: expertiscombine: kombineraapproved: godkändesfantastic: fantastisktbeginning: början

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Embrace the Chaos: Elin's New Year Eve Discovery in Gamla Stan Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-12-30-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Kylan bet i kinderna när Elin gick längs de snötäckta gatorna i Gamla Stan.En: The cold bit into her cheeks as Elin walked along the snow-covered streets of Gamla Stan.Sv: Det var nyårsafton och julmarknaden fylldes av flytande folkmassor.En: It was New Year's Eve, and the Christmas market was filled with flowing crowds.Sv: Elin hade en lista i handen och beslutsamhet i hjärtat.En: Elin had a list in her hand and determination in her heart.Sv: Julklapparna hade varit svåra att hitta och nu var det bråttom.En: The Christmas presents had been difficult to find, and now it was urgent.Sv: Johan, hennes bror, följde henne med ett konstant leende.En: Johan, her brother, followed her with a constant smile.Sv: "Ta det lugnt, Elin," skrattade Johan när de gick förbi en stuga som sålde varm glögg.En: "Take it easy, Elin," laughed Johan as they walked past a stall selling hot glögg.Sv: "Vi har tid.En: "We have time.Sv: Kanske borde vi börja med lite dryck för att värma oss?"En: Maybe we should start with a drink to warm us up?"Sv: Elin nickade och de bestämde sig för en paus.En: Elin nodded, and they decided on a break.Sv: Doften av glögg och pepparkakor skapade en varm atmosfär.En: The scent of glögg and pepparkakor created a warm atmosphere.Sv: Det var precis vad hon behövde.En: It was exactly what she needed.Sv: När de satt med sina rykande koppar, hörde de en vänlig röst.En: As they sat with their steaming cups, they heard a friendly voice.Sv: "Början på ett bra år börjar med en lugn själ," sade en äldre kvinna vid bordet bredvid.En: "The beginning of a good year starts with a calm soul," said an elderly woman at the next table.Sv: Det var Astrid, en lokal invånare.En: It was Astrid, a local resident.Sv: Hon log mot dem bakom runda glasögon.En: She smiled at them from behind round glasses.Sv: Astrid började berätta historier från sina många nyårsaftnar i Stockholm.En: Astrid began to tell stories from her many New Year's Eves in Stockholm.Sv: Hon delade minnen av enkla gåvor, små men med kärlek, och de betydelsefulla stunderna de skapade.En: She shared memories of simple gifts, small but filled with love, and the meaningful moments they created.Sv: Elin lyssnade, fascinerad av Astrids visdom.En: Elin listened, fascinated by Astrid's wisdom.Sv: "Ibland," sade Astrid, "är det tanken bakom och inte gåvan själv som gör den speciell."En: "Sometimes," said Astrid, "it's the thought behind the gift, not the gift itself, that makes it special."Sv: Med nya perspektiv reste sig Elin.En: With new perspectives, Elin stood up.Sv: Johan gav henne en uppmuntrande knuff.En: Johan gave her a supportive nudge.Sv: "Nu hittar vi gåvorna!"En: "Now let's find the gifts!"Sv: Marknaden var nu än mer livlig.En: The market was now even more lively.Sv: Färggranna ljus glittrade från stugornas tak.En: Colorful lights glittered from the roofs of the stalls.Sv: Elin började känna sig lugnare.En: Elin began to feel calmer.Sv: Vid torgets hjärta, mitt i den mest kaotiska delen av marknaden, stannade Elin plötsligt.En: At the heart of the square, in the most chaotic part of the market, Elin suddenly stopped.Sv: Där, i ett litet bås, hittade hon små handgjorda korgar, perfekt för teälskande mor och en vacker islykta som Johan skulle uppskatta.En: There, in a small booth, she found little handmade baskets, perfect for their tea-loving mom, and a beautiful ice lantern that Johan would appreciate.Sv: Hon valde även en handmålad kopp till sin far.En: She also chose a hand-painted cup for her dad.Sv: Allt kändes rätt.En: Everything felt right.Sv: Med klapparna i handen och ett leende på läpparna gick Elin tillbaka till Johan.En: With the presents in hand and a smile on her lips, Elin went back to Johan.Sv: "Jag tror faktiskt att vi har hittat det vi letade efter," sade hon.En: "I actually think we've found what we were looking for," she said.Sv: När de lämnade marknaden kände Elin en stor ro inom sig.En: As they left the market, Elin felt a great peace within her.Sv: Hon hade lärt sig att omfamna kaoset och de små, imperfekta stunderna.En: She had learned to embrace the chaos and the small, imperfect moments.Sv: När årets sista timmar räknades ner visste hon att det nya året skulle börja på bästa sätt – fylld med kärlek och enkla glädjeämnen.En: As the last hours of the year counted down, she knew that the new year would start in the best way – filled with love and simple joys.Sv: Nyårsaftonen var nu i full blom och Elin kände sig redo att fira, omgiven av dem hon älskade.En: New Year's Eve was now in full bloom, and Elin felt ready to celebrate, surrounded by those she loved. Vocabulary Words:bit: betcheeks: kindernasnow-covered: snötäcktadetermination: beslutsamheturgent: bråttomconstant: konstantstall: stugascent: doftensteaming: rykandefriendly: vänligelderly: äldreresident: invånareround: rundafascinated: fascineradthought: tankensupportive: uppmuntrandelively: livligbooth: båshandmade: handgjordaappreciate: uppskattahand-painted: handmåladembrace: omfamnachaos: kaosetcounted down: räknades nerbloom: blomfilled: fylldcrowds: folkmassornudge: knuffglittered: glittrademeaningful: betydelsefulla

Jamie Merchant, the author of Endgame, joins us to talk about the current chaos. Start with the spectacle and you miss the structure. We step past the daily outrage to map Trumpism as a regime built by a new insurgent fraction of capital—tech oligarchs, private equity, and venture investors—who are eager to smash norms, rewrite rules, and route public money through tariffs, defense contracts, and boutique industrial policy. Their rise squeezes out the old asset-management establishment, pushes it toward the Democrats, and locks the opposition into a politics of “normality” that cannot mobilize the base or contest power.We trace the media's role in this shift: a long slide from public-service reporting to algorithmic engagement that rewards emotional spikes and partisan framing. Biden's term tried to stabilize the system with CHIPS, infrastructure, and managed globalization, but even light-touch AI regulation, the SVB collapse, and worker pushback inside tech drove Valley elites rightward. Meanwhile, the stock market's euphoria masks a real economy straining under a profitability crisis. AI's massive data-center build may juice capex and energy demand, but unless it raises productivity broadly, we're sitting on a bubble that deepens monopoly dynamics without delivering shared growth.Zooming out, we argue we're living through a new state-capitalist era with less capacity: the government takes bigger stakes, centralizes power in the executive, and leans on tariffs as revenue, even as planning expertise and administrative muscle erode. The postwar managerial state—Keynesian levers, technocratic confidence, public legitimacy—is gone. That's why policy-first left populism keeps hitting a wall. Without a living, rooted class subject, electoral surges can't endure. We sketch a different route: rebuild working-class civil society—mutual aid, cultural institutions, education, and cross-sector networks that bridge immigrants, service workers, industrial remnants, and professionals. Strategy begins where the regime is weakest: in the social substrate it can't manage or monetize.Hear candid takes on the investor realignment behind Trumpism, the AI bubble loop, why Democrats are structurally stuck, and how to make organizing matter when the state can't—or won't—govern for the whole. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review to help others find the show.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian

Episode 408 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Matt Fates, Partner at Innospark Ventures. Did you know that the first modern venture capital firm was started right here in the Boston area? It's true. Back in 1946, Georges Doriot founded the American Research and Development Corporation (ARDC), marking the birth of an industry that has fueled the entrepreneurial dream for nearly 80 years. Matt Fates entered the industry during the “Internet 1.0” era, a time when VC firms were just beginning to gain major visibility. Over the course of his career, he has invested in over 100 companies. Through those investments, he has developed a deep expertise in data-driven enterprise and infrastructure startups—experience that has perfectly positioned him for the current massive shift toward AI. Innospark Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in AI-native companies solving previously intractable problems across healthcare, life sciences, and the enterprise. In this episode of our podcast, we cover: 00:00 Intro 02:22 VentureFizz OG 03:42 How to Land a Job in Venture Capital 07:49 Matt's Background 13:05 Getting into Investment Banking in the Tech Industry 16:22 Transition to Venture Capital 21:07 Dartmouth MBA 24:05 Experience at Ascent Venture Partners 28:59 Details of Innospark 30:39 Foundational Knowledge in AI and Machine Learning 32:41 Area of Focus for Investments at Innospark 37:04 Recent Investments for Innospark 43:36 The State of the Boston Startup Scene 46:51 The Anti-Portfolio - Missed Investments 49:04 Rapid Fire Questions 50:09 Personal Interests Episode Sponsor: As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: A Christmas Miracle: The Letter That Changed Everything Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-12-19-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en gång vintern i Gamla Stan, en tid då snöflingor dansade som små lysande stjärnor i luften.En: Once upon a time, it was winter in Gamla Stan, a time when snowflakes danced like small shining stars in the air.Sv: På den trånga gatan stod Gamla Stans Bageri, en varm och välkomnande plats mitt i den kalla, historiska staden.En: On the narrow street stood Gamla Stans Bageri, a warm and welcoming place in the midst of the cold, historic town.Sv: Doften av nybakat bröd och kanelbullar spred sig genom luften och lockade förbipasserande att stanna till.En: The aroma of freshly baked bread and cinnamon buns spread through the air, enticing passersby to stop.Sv: Sven, bageriets ägare, älskade sitt jobb.En: Sven, the bakery's owner, loved his job.Sv: Han var alltid försiktig och noggrann med allt han gjorde.En: He was always careful and meticulous in everything he did.Sv: Maja, hans assistent, var däremot alltid ute efter något spännande.En: Maja, his assistant, on the other hand, was always looking for something exciting.Sv: Hon längtade efter äventyr, särskilt under den festliga julperioden.En: She longed for adventure, especially during the festive Christmas season.Sv: En kall decembermorgon, just när första julkunderna hade börjat strömma in, hände något ovanligt.En: One cold December morning, just as the first Christmas customers had begun to flow in, something unusual happened.Sv: Ett brev, adresserat felaktigt, hade levererats till bageriet.En: A letter, incorrectly addressed, had been delivered to the bakery.Sv: Maja plockade upp det från golvet där brevbäraren av misstag hade tappat det.En: Maja picked it up from the floor where the mailman had accidentally dropped it.Sv: Hon kände ett pirr av nyfikenhet i magen.En: She felt a twinge of curiosity in her stomach.Sv: Bör vi öppna det?En: Should we open it?Sv: tänkte hon.En: she thought.Sv: Sven, som alltid följde reglerna, skulle troligtvis vilja returnera det direkt.En: Sven, who always followed the rules, would likely want to return it immediately.Sv: Men Maja kunde inte motstå frestelsen.En: But Maja couldn't resist the temptation.Sv: Med försiktighet öppnade hon brevet.En: With caution, she opened the letter.Sv: Inuti fanns en djup och sorglig berättelse.En: Inside was a deep and sorrowful story.Sv: Ett hjärtskärande bekännelsebrev där någon bad om förlåtelse och en ny chans att få kontakt med en älskad.En: A heartbreaking confession letter where someone was asking for forgiveness and a new chance to connect with a loved one.Sv: Maja läste brevet för Sven, som blev rörd av textens ärlighet och desperata känsla.En: Maja read the letter to Sven, who was moved by the honesty and desperate feeling of the text.Sv: "Vi måste ge detta till den rätta mottagaren," sa Maja ivrigt.En: "We must give this to the rightful recipient," said Maja eagerly.Sv: "Det kan förändra någons liv!"En: "It could change someone's life!"Sv: Sven tvekade.En: Sven hesitated.Sv: Det var utanför hans trygghetszon.En: It was outside his comfort zone.Sv: Men han såg hur passionerat Maja talade, och kanske var det också den magiska julstämningen som påverkade honom.En: But he saw how passionately Maja spoke, and perhaps it was also the magical Christmas spirit affecting him.Sv: Han insåg då något viktigt: ibland kräver livet att vi tar risker för att något underbart ska hända.En: He then realized something important: sometimes life requires us to take risks for something wonderful to happen.Sv: "Ska vi ge oss ut och leta efter mottagaren tillsammans?"En: "Shall we go out and look for the recipient together?"Sv: föreslog han till slut.En: he finally suggested.Sv: Med julgranens ljus blinkande i bageriets fönster, gav sig Sven och Maja ut i vinternatten.En: With the Christmas tree lights blinking in the bakery's window, Sven and Maja ventured out into the winter night.Sv: De var fast beslutna att leverera brevet och kanske sprida lite julglädje på vägen.En: They were determined to deliver the letter and perhaps spread a little Christmas joy along the way.Sv: När de till slut fann den rätta personen att överlämna brevet till, kändes det som en julmirakel.En: When they finally found the right person to hand the letter to, it felt like a Christmas miracle.Sv: Deras handling värmde hjärtan och tände en gnista glädje i den kalla vinternatten.En: Their act warmed hearts and sparked a joy in the cold winter night.Sv: Sven hade upptäckt att ibland är det värdigt att lämna bekvämlighetszonen.En: Sven had discovered that sometimes it's worth leaving the comfort zone.Sv: Tillsammans hade de visat att även små handlingar kan ha stor betydelse och att äventyr faktiskt kan hittas även i en varsam bagares liv.En: Together, they had shown that even small actions can have a big impact and that adventure can indeed be found in a cautious baker's life.Sv: Och när julen kom, fanns det en ny sorts värme och belåtenhet i Gamla Stans Bageri, tack vare äventyret som började med ett litet, men betydelsefullt brev.En: And when Christmas came, there was a new kind of warmth and satisfaction in Gamla Stans Bageri, thanks to the adventure that started with a small but significant letter. Vocabulary Words:snowflakes: snöflingornarrow: trångawelcoming: välkomnandeamidst: mitt ienticing: lockadecareful: försiktigmeticulous: noggrannlonged: längtadefestive: festligaflow: strömmaincorrectly: felaktigttwinge: pirrcuriosity: nyfikenhetreturn: returneratemptation: frestelsensorrowful: sorgligheartbreaking: hjärtskärandeconfession: bekännelseforgiveness: förlåtelserecipient: mottagarenhesitated: tvekadecomfort zone: trygghetszonrealized: insågventure: ge sig utdeliver: levererasparked: tändediscovered: upptäcktsatisfaction: belåtenhetadventure: äventyrsignificant: betydelsefullt

In this episode of Tank Talks, Matt Cohen is joined by Samir Kaji, CEO and Co-Founder of Allocate, to break down the explosive growth of private market investing and why trillions in new capital are about to reshape the entire wealth ecosystem. Fresh off a $30.5M Series B, Samir unpacks how Allocate is building the missing infrastructure connecting fund managers, RIAs, and the next generation of investors, solving the painful workflows, broken data pipes, and manual processes still holding the industry back. From intelligent deal discovery and auto-filled subscriptions to AI-powered diligence and portfolio personalization, Samir explains how technology will unlock access, efficiency, and liquidity at scale for both advisors and allocators.He also dives deep into the current venture cycle, the AI valuation frenzy, and the widening gap between mega-funds and emerging managers. Samir gives an unfiltered look at where the real opportunities lie, why liquidity is the next trillion-dollar unlock, how secondaries will redefine private markets, and what investors should be watching heading into 2030. If you want to understand where private markets, wealth management, and alternative investing are truly headed, this episode is essential listening.The Origin Story: 25 Years Watching the Market Shift (03:09)* Samir's work at SVB and First Republic observing the decline of IPOs* Cloud computing's impact on fund proliferation* Early signs that private markets needed new infrastructure* How HNWIs and family offices began demanding access decades before the rails existedWhy Allocate Exists & What It Actually Solves (07:04)* The fragmented “dark forest” problem of GP RIA connectivity* Why wealth advisors can't scale alt allocations using PDFs and lawyers* The three pillars of AllocateHow Advisors Use Allocate to Scale 10x Without Adding Headcount (14:18)* Auto-filled subs, KYC, allocation setup, client mapping* Helping advisors serve all 150 clients, not just the top 20%* Improving revenue while slashing operational dragUnlocking Liquidity: The Biggest Missing Piece of Private Markets (21:16)* Why secondaries are essential for opening the wealth channel* Borrowing against private fund positions* How tech will reduce massive bid-ask spreads* Why liquidity options will double alt allocations from 5% → 10-30% over timeAI's Real Role in Private Markets (25:20)* AI as the intelligence layer for discovery, diligence & personalization* Uploading 10 fund decks → receiving full breakdowns in minutes* Why workflows, not chatbots, will unlock trillions* Execution, payments & portfolio modeling going from days to secondsThe State of Venture Capital in 2025 (32:17)* Why today's market is “the extreme Tale of Two Cities”* AI startups raising at insane velocity vs. great non-AI companies starving* Why 90% of AI companies won't justify valuations* Seed funds getting squeezed by mega-funds writing “option checks”* How emerging managers can still win (go earlier or niche down hard)Founder Discipline, Revenue per Head, & the New Efficiency Era (40:06)* Revenue-per-employee as the new defining KPI* Why scarcity birthed a healthier generation of founders* Companies going from 5 → 50 → back to 20 employees* Running lean with AI as leverage instead of headcountAbout Samir KajiSamir Kaji is the Co-Founder and CEO of Allocate, a platform revolutionizing how investors access and manage private market investments. With a career in venture banking spanning over two decades at Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic, Samir has an unparalleled view of the venture capital and private equity landscapes. He is also a Kauffman Fellow, the host of the Venture Unlocked podcast, and a personal investor in companies like Carta and Reddit. He remains dedicated to Allocate's mission of making the private markets as transparent and responsible as the public markets.Connect with Samir Kaji on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samirkajiVisit the Allocate website: https://allocate.co/Connect with Matt Cohen on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/matt-cohen1Visit the Ripple Ventures website: https://www.rippleventures.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tanktalks.substack.com

Fluent Fiction - Swedish: A Winter's Symphony: Love Unfolds at a Stockholm Café Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-11-30-08-38-20-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Det var en klar och kall vintermorgon i Stockholm.En: It was a clear and cold winter morning in Stockholm.Sv: Snön täckte gatorna som ett vitt, mjukt täcke.En: The snow covered the streets like a white, soft blanket.Sv: I den livliga företagsdistriktet mitt i stan, där folk skyndade fram med bestämda steg, låg ett litet mysigt kafé.En: In the bustling business district in the middle of town, where people hurried along with determined steps, lay a small cozy café.Sv: Ljusslingor prydde fönstren, och doften av nybakade saffransbullar fyllde luften.En: Strings of lights adorned the windows, and the scent of freshly baked saffron buns filled the air.Sv: Inne på kaféet satt Johan ensam vid ett hörnbord, hans näsa djupt begraven i en bok.En: Inside the café sat Johan alone at a corner table, his nose deeply buried in a book.Sv: Johan jobbade som marknadsanalytiker.En: Johan worked as a marketing analyst.Sv: Han trivdes för det mesta med sitt eget sällskap, men bakom hans bok var hans blick ibland vilsen och en aning ensam.En: He mostly enjoyed his own company, but behind his book, his gaze was sometimes lost and slightly lonely.Sv: Vid ett bord intill satt Astrid, en projektledare med ett alltid glatt sinne.En: At a nearby table sat Astrid, a project manager with an always cheerful disposition.Sv: Astrid såg livet som fullt av möjligheter och letade efter någon som delade hennes intresse för de små glädjeämnena i livet, som klassisk musik.En: Astrid saw life as full of opportunities and was looking for someone who shared her interest in the small joys of life, like classical music.Sv: Astrid lade märke till den tyste mannen med boken flera gånger tidigare.En: Astrid had noticed the quiet man with the book several times before.Sv: "Hej," sa hon en dag med ett varmt leende när deras blickar möttes.En: "Hello," she said one day with a warm smile when their eyes met.Sv: Johan tittade upp, något förvånad.En: Johan looked up, somewhat surprised.Sv: "Hej," svarade han blygt.En: "Hello," he replied shyly.Sv: De började prata, först om arbetet men snart om musik.En: They began to talk, first about work but soon about music.Sv: Båda var oförklarligt dragna till den tidlösa skönheten av klassisk musik.En: Both were inexplicably drawn to the timeless beauty of classical music.Sv: Johan kände hur hans reserverade fasad började smälta när Astrid pratade om sin senaste upplevelse på en konsert.En: Johan felt how his reserved facade started to melt as Astrid talked about her latest experience at a concert.Sv: Hennes entusiasm var smittsam.En: Her enthusiasm was contagious.Sv: Dagarna gick, och varje gång Johan såg Astrid på kaféet kände han en starkare dragning till henne.En: Days went by, and every time Johan saw Astrid at the café, he felt a stronger attraction to her.Sv: Men han var rädd för att släppa någon så nära inpå, rädd för att bli sårad igen.En: But he was afraid to let someone so close, afraid of getting hurt again.Sv: En dag, under en paus, bestämde sig Johan för att ta ett första modigt steg.En: One day, during a break, Johan decided to take a first brave step.Sv: Han stirrade ner i sin kopp, samlade modet och sa, "Vill du... följa med mig till en klassisk musikkonsert?"En: He stared down into his cup, gathered his courage, and said, "Would you like to... join me for a classical music concert?"Sv: Astrids ögon lyste upp.En: Astrid's eyes lit up.Sv: "Ja, gärna!"En: "Yes, I'd love to!"Sv: svarade hon utan tvekan och med ett varmt leende som lyste upp hela rummet.En: she responded without hesitation and with a warm smile that lit up the entire room.Sv: Vid konserten satt de sida vid sida i den stämningsfulla salongen.En: At the concert, they sat side by side in the atmospheric auditorium.Sv: Ljuset dämpades, och orkestern började spela.En: The lights dimmed, and the orchestra began to play.Sv: Johan kände hur all osäkerhet sakta försvann.En: Johan felt all his insecurities slowly fade away.Sv: Mitt under den rörande symfonin vände han sig mot Astrid och log ett genuint, varmt leende.En: In the midst of the moving symphony, he turned to Astrid and gave her a genuine, warm smile.Sv: De höll varandras händer, och i det ögonblicket kändes världen mindre ensam.En: They held each other's hands, and in that moment, the world felt less lonely.Sv: När konserten var slut och de gick ut på de snöiga gatorna, hand i hand, visste Johan att något väsentligt hade förändrats inom honom.En: When the concert ended and they walked out onto the snowy streets, hand in hand, Johan knew that something fundamental had changed within him.Sv: Han hade vågat vara sårbar och i gengäld hade han fått en äkta och lovande koppling.En: He had dared to be vulnerable, and in return, he had gained a genuine and promising connection.Sv: Johan och Astrid lämnade konserten med en gemensam förståelse.En: Johan and Astrid left the concert with a mutual understanding.Sv: De skulle utforska detta band de delade, en anteckning i livet faktiskt värd att uppleva.En: They would explore this bond they shared, a note in life truly worth experiencing.Sv: Och så, medan Stockholm förberedde sig för jul ibland gnistrande snöflingorna, började deras gemensamma berättelse, som ett mjukt pianostycke med en hoppfull melodi.En: And so, as Stockholm prepared for Christmas amidst the sparkling snowflakes, their shared story began, like a gentle piano piece with a hopeful melody. Vocabulary Words:blanket: täckebustling: livligadetermined: bestämdacozy: mysigtadorned: pryddescent: doftenburied: begravnaanalyst: analytikergaze: blickcheerful: glattdisposition: sinneopportunities: möjlighetertimeless: tidlösafacade: fasadentusiasm: entusiasmcontagious: smittsaminexplicably: oförklarligtreserved: reserveradeattraction: dragningvulnerable: sårbarmutual: gemensampromising: lovandebond: bandatmospheric: stämningsfullaauditorium: salonginsecurities: osäkerhetsymphony: symfonigenuine: genuintfundamental: väsentligtsparkling: gnistrande

Chris DuPont, a seasoned MedTech engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Galen Data, which was acquired by Matrix One in late 2024. With a background in aerospace software from NASA and a career dedicated to medical device connectivity, Chris shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at starting a cloud platform with just $600, scaling it into an FDA compliant infrastructure solution and navigating both technical and financial risk.In this episode, we dive into the unexpected similarities between outer space and inner space, how “Twiddler Syndrome” inspired a connected care solution and why the future of SaMD relies on proactive, cybersecure, cloud native design. Chris opens up about managing through the SVB collapse, regulatory war stories from his days at Cyberonics, and what he learned about entrepreneurship that no incubator can teach. From minimal viable features to medical-grade quality systems, this episode is packed with real lessons from a founder who's seen it all.Timestamps[00:01:05] From Space Station Freedom to Inner Space: NASA to MedTech[00:02:56] Launching Galen Data with Just $600[00:06:21] Why They Built Their Own Incubator[00:08:36] Fundraising in a Non-VC Town (Houston)[00:11:33] The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse and Business Risk[00:16:25] Twiddler Syndrome and the Birth of a Connected Platform[00:19:35] Cybersecurity and Compliance in the Cloud[00:22:20] FDA Approval Without Reimbursement: A Regulatory War Story[00:24:32] Why Not Every Feature Deserves to Ship[00:29:13] “You Can't Fake Science”: Betting on Yourself in MedTechConnect with Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dupont-38b5ba15/Learn more about MatrixOne - https://matrixone.health/ Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ ⁠Follow Karandeep on YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwal⁠Subscribe to the Podcast

The former bank regulator who invented deposit networks just revealed why SVB's collapse was inevitable—and why the solution that could have saved them is finally being rebuilt. Gene Ludwig ran the OCC during the Clinton administration, created a half-trillion-dollar market solving a problem his Aunt Betty faced riding buses between banks, then watched his invention fail to save Silicon Valley Bank because the technology, economics, and incentives were fundamentally broken. Now he's partnered with Paolo and ModernFi to build what could become America's eighth systemically important financial utility: a bank-owned consortium that's signing 25 institutions per week and racing to protect the 4.8 trillion in uninsured deposits that make the next crisis inevitable. Resources:Follow Gene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-ludwig/Follow Paolo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolombertolotti/Follow David on X: https://x.com/dhaber Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.  Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rapid growth as a community bank – Five Star's strategies for using fintech to expand their customer. Detailed Summary: This episode of the Finovate Podcast features DJ Kurtze, Executive Vice President and Bay Area President of Five Star Bank, discussing the community bank's impressive growth trajectory and unique positioning in the competitive San Francisco market. Five Star Bank is a $4.6 billion community bank headquartered in Rancho Cordova with nine branches and two administrative offices, serving real estate communities, small to medium-sized businesses, nonprofits, agriculture, and governmental entities. Founded 25 years ago by real estate developers Buzz Oates and Frank Ramos, the bank has maintained a remarkable 20% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years through organic growth strategies rather than acquisitions. Kurtze joined Five Star after the collapse of Signature Bank in March 2023, bringing his team over to capitalize on opportunities created by the banking sector disruptions involving SVB, First Republic, and Signature Bank. The conversation explores Five Star's competitive advantages, which center on hiring exceptional senior bankers who understand their clients' businesses and providing direct access to decision-makers with speed and certainty of execution. The bank positions itself as "technology first," implementing advanced systems both for customer-facing services and internal operations. This technological focus, combined with their flat organizational structure and lack of legacy systems from acquisitions, allows them to operate at a 40% efficiency ratio and quickly implement customer feedback and new product offerings. The bank's approach to fintech partnerships emphasizes working with vendors who have proven track records with financial institutions and can provide plug-and-play solutions compatible with existing core banking systems. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Five Star's specialized approach to nonprofit banking, which requires understanding unique cash flows, funding structures, and the sophisticated needs of experienced C-suite executives and board members who often come from successful business backgrounds. The bank provides advanced fraud prevention tools, insured cash sweep products for higher FDIC insurance limits, and creative lending solutions including tax-exempt financing. Kurtze closes by highlighting how community banks have advantages in fraud prevention through personal relationships and direct banker-client communication, allowing them to identify unusual transactions and protect clients more effectively than larger institutions despite having smaller technology budgets. More info: Five Star Bank: https://www.five-starbank.com/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-star-bank-california/ DJ Kurtze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dj-kurtze-449b3934/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #Finovate #FiveStarBank #communitybank #nonprofitbanking #digitalbanking #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #bank #banks #security #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #innovation #startup #banking

Episode 404 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Ben Sesser, CEO & Co-Founder of BrightHire. Well this is a first… It's common to time my podcast interview around a milestone for a company like a funding announcement. But, this is the first time that in the span between my interview with the founder to the publishing date that the company announced its acquisition. Last week, BrightHire announced that the company has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Zoom. It certainly is a combination that makes a lot of sense. BrightHire is an interview intelligence platform. We saw its influence firsthand this past summer when VentureFizz hosted a series of AI job searching events. Talent acquisition leaders consistently mentioned BrightHire as the most-adopted application—a signal that immediately led me to reach out to Ben for this interview. As Ben shares, when they started, "interview intelligence" was a brand new category in hiring, and they faced plenty of doubters. But fast-forward to today, and much like the success of companies like Gong for sales teams, BrightHire's value is now obvious. But isn't that the case for all great companies in hindsight? BrightHire's investors include Flybridge, Index Ventures, 01 Advisors, Zoom Apps Fund, and others. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:48 State of Hiring in the AI Era 06:51 Ben's Background Story 19:40 Getting Started in the Tech Industry 25:26 Origin Story of BrightHire 33:06 Creating a New Category 35:31 The Value of Video in the Hiring Process 41:17 BrightHire Screen - New AI Screening Platform 45:51 Experience of Raising Capital 48:36 Biggest Lessons Learned 50:22 Common Mistakes Companies Make When Hiring 51:57 Lightening Round Questions Episode Sponsor: As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.

Episode 403 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Nick Ornitz and Shannon Kay, Co-Founders of Topline Pro. Make something people want is the motto behind Y Combinator. It sounds simple, yet so many founders miss this fundamental requirement. Topline Pro is a perfect case study in getting it right. They didn't fall victim to early false positives; instead, they listened, experimented, and successfully pivoted to solve a true, massive problem for an underserved market. Topline Pro is building AI that empowers local home service pros to grow and scale their businesses. They provide a critical platform to help with the marketing, sales, and operations of running a business in the trades, allowing these business owners to focus on their craft. The company recently announced a $27M Series B funding round led by Northzone, with new participation from Tactile Ventures, and Industry Ventures, alongside continued support from existing investors Forerunner Ventures, Bonfire Ventures, TMV, Flybridge, and BBG Ventures. In this interview, we dive into: * The inspirational backstory of Nick and Shannon and how they decided to build a company together after meeting at HBS. * Their initial concept called Dwelling, the "false positive" they experienced, and the strategic pivot. * Their time at Y Combinator and how early access to GPT opened their eyes to the potential of AI. * The value that Topline Pro is providing customers and the exciting opportunities ahead following their Series B. * Growth plans, hiring goals, and the culture they're building at Topline Pro. * Advice for non-AI native companies that are starting to build out their own AI strategy. * And so much more! Episode Sponsor: As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.

Joe Kelly is the co-founder and CEO of Unchained. In this latest episode, Joe shares his story and Alaskan roots that shaped a deep respect for self-sufficiency—an experience he now applies to the digital frontier. In this episode, Joe joins The Bitcoin Frontier to share why Unchained is launching a new miniseries, The Last Free Americans, how self-custody became his life's work, and why the conservation movement offers a powerful analogy for protecting financial freedom. We dig into the frontier phases of new assets and ideas, the role of ETFs as a bridge (not the destination), and how policies like developer protections and “keep your coins” language can ring-fence essential rights.SUPPORT THE PODCAST: → Subscribe → Leave a review → Share the show with your friends and family → Send us an email: podcast@unchained.com → Learn more about Unchained: https://unchained.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast → Book a free call with a bitcoin expert: https://unchained.com/consultation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastTIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Intro: The Last Free Americans and what's at stake with self-custody1:06 – Alaska, boats, and learning self-sufficiency2:54 – Conservation mindset: preserving wilderness and preserving peer-to-peer money4:03 – From accounts to keys: the “aha” of sending bitcoin yourself5:39 – Seeing the water we swim in: intermediaries, fees, and privacy tradeoffs8:03 – Frontiers and phases: from prospectors to politics—how new assets mature10:57 – Gold rush parallels: excess, scams, and integration into the mainstream12:55 – National parks as a model: ring-fencing what matters for future generations15:00 – “The last free Americans”: a proud warning about peer-to-peer rights17:02 – Building Unchained on bitcoin's assumptions, not fiat rails19:16 – ETFs as a useful bridge vs. living the peer-to-peer experience21:03 – Who are today's “John Muirs”? Gear, guidance, and making self-custody approachable23:42 – Beyond one bill: culture, developer protections, and keep-your-coins language26:34 – Free speech, code, and the very American fight for financial privacy27:34 – Short memories: SVB, protests, and why self-custody matters before the next shock29:16 – What to expect from the series and the intellectual adventure of bitcoinWHERE TO FOLLOW US: → Unchained X: https://x.com/unchained  → Unchained LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unchainedcom  → Unchained Newsletter: https://unchained.com/newsletter → Joe Kelly's Twitter: https://x.com/josephkelly  → Timot Lamarre's Twitter: https://x.com/TimotLamarre 

Does it feel like we packed in a decade of progress this year in digital health? We think so. Today, Halle and Steve break down the biggest digital health stories of the moment, from funding trends to AI rivalries and new rules shaping the future of care.We cover:

Episode 400 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Rylan Hamilton, CEO & Co-Founder of Blue Water Autonomy. Episode 400! It's another milestone episode. On November 2, 2017, I published the first episode of The VentureFizz Podcast. My first 11 episodes were an experiment where I interviewed talent acquisition leaders. Christina Luconi was my first guest. Thank you Christina! After seeing the potential, I pivoted to interviewing mainly founders & investors in Boston and NYC. I want to send out shout-out to all the people who have taken the time to share their stories with me and the VentureFizz audience. It has been a pleasure to interview all of you. For Episode 400, I wanted to interview someone who not only has had extraordinary background but someone who is also still building. Interviewing Rylan for this milestone episode was a no-brainer. Rylan's professional career has been one of exploration and not just one linear path. From graduating from Harvard to enlisting in the Navy as an Engineering Officer for surface warfair, to Harvard Business School, to being the first employee at RunMyErrand which later became TaskRabbit, to learning warehouse robotics at Kiva Systems which ended up being the 2nd largest acquisition by Amazon at the time, to starting his own warehouse robotics company called 6 River Systems which was acquired by Shopify for $450M… to now… working on his latest startup, which no doubt is his biggest swing which is Blue Water Automony… a startup building autonomous ships for the open ocean. The company recently announced a $50M Series A round of funding led GV. This is shortly after announcing a $14M seed round of funding earlier this year back in April. In this interview, we cover how Rylan's service in the armed forces helped shape his career, his full background story, plus all the chapters along the way, to all the details about Blue Water Authonomy and how this company is disrupting and re-energizing the ship industry in the United States, and so much more. Episode Sponsor: As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.

More than two dozen bills dedicated to Making Community Banks Great Again have passed House Financial Services Committee. Panel Chair French Hill handicaps which will have the most impact and what is most likely to be enacted. He also discusses the latest on the crypto market structure bill, how regulators can help banks in the fight against fraud, where the payments sector will be in five years, why he wants to end the Fed's dual mandate, the prospects for housing legislation and unfinished business after the fall of SVB in 2023.