Uncovering the timeless principles that drive success.
Hosted by Shane Parrish (entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and author), the goal of each episode is simply to master the best of what other people have already figured out.
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Shane's Books: https://fs.blog/books
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Tobi Lütke: AI Agents, Better Decisions, and the Future of Work
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 01:05:48
Shopify founder and CEO Tobi Lütke joins Shane Parrish to discuss AI agents, better decision-making, and the future of work. He explains how he uses an AI council to examine his hardest decisions and why taste, judgment, and responsibility become more valuable as AI becomes more capable.
They go inside Shopify’s work with River, an AI colleague with memory, personality, and permission to challenge the CEO. They explore how to choose between several good options, why the best long-term decisions often lack immediate feedback, and why building something that lasts requires pruning and rebuilding.
Tobi also shares how he cultivates intuition, the affirmations he uses to change his own behavior, and why his kids must add “yet” when they say they can’t do something.
Enjoy!
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Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(3:46) The Case for Skeuomorphism
(5:16) How Bing's Chatbot "Sydney" Inspired Shopify's AI
(7:18) River: Shopify's Internal AI
(8:55) How to Encourage Osmosis Learning
(10:52) AI Dreaming and Self-Reflection
(11:53) How to Use AI for Strategic Decision Making
(14:11) The One Thing AI Cannot Do
(16:04) What AI is Making Worse at Shopify
(19:46) Predictions: Where AI is Headed Next
(21:55) The Future of AI-Powered Software
(24:40) Will CEOs Be Replaced with AI?
(27:54) Can Superintelligence Be Controlled?
(31:13) Critical Skills in AI Age
(34:22) Why Complex Solutions are Usually Wrong
(36:33) Conditions Needed for True Intuition
(38:02) The Optimal Path Doesn't Have Instant Feedback
(44:51) How Affirmations Can Shift Your Behavior
(50:44) The Inobvious Thing Hurting Companies
(52:37) Relationship Between Beauty and Creation
(56:23) How SpaceX Moves Forward By Subtraction
(1:00:24) Why Companies Need Refounding Events
(1:01:50) Use Books as Cheat Codes
(1:02:39) Three Books That Change Your Thinking
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Follow Tobi:
X: https://x.com/tobi
------
Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
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+ Members get the longer, extended version of this conversation, with additional content not included in the public release.Learn more: https://fs.blog/membership/
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Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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+LMNT: My go-to zero sugar electrolytes — get a free LMNT Sample Pack here: https://DrinkLMNT.com/TKP
------
*Note:* Shane and guests may hold positions in assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this conversation should be considered investment advice, financial guidance, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own due diligence or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
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What 12 Years of Failure Taught Steve Jobs About Success
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 01:03:52
We all know the Steve Jobs who came back in the late 1990s and saved Apple from becoming a footnote. And we've all heard the story of how, in 1985, he was pushed out of the company he'd created.
What we don't know is what happened in between.
Geoffrey Cain spent years reconstructing the decade Jobs spent outside Apple. NeXT spent years losing money. His co-founders left. His investors lost faith. His fortune nearly disappeared. At one point, he was a weekend away from shutting the company down.
Somewhere in those failures, Jobs learned how to become the leader Apple would eventually need.
This is Steve Jobs before he became Steve Jobs.
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Chapters:
(0:51) Why Steve Jobs Was Pushed Out of Apple
(3:04) Steve Jobs' Failed Coup Attempt to Oust CEO
(4:33) The Failure of Macintosh II
(8:27) Starting NeXT Computers
(9:34) The Story Behind NeXT's Iconic Logo
(11:38) A Perfect Cube: The Impossible Design of NeXTcube
(13:50) What Movies Get Wrong About Steve Jobs
(14:02) The Ultimate Trait Steve Jobs Looked For in Hiring
(14:59) Decision Making By Intellectual Combat
(16:40) Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field
(17:25) The Flaw that Almost Destroyed Steve Jobs
(21:25) How NeXT Software Changed Computing Forever
(24:44) Steve Jobs' Self-Sabotages at NeXT
(25:02) Ross Perot and Steve Jobs
(28:48) How Pixar Saved Steve Jobs from Bankruptcy
(29:19) The Realization Steve Jobs Had at Rock Bottom
(31:49) The Last Ditch Effort to Save NeXT Computers
(38:55) Steve Jobs Gets His Revenge
(43:09) Larry Ellison's Friendship with Steve Jobs
(45:05) How Steve Jobs Brought Out the Best in His Employees
(48:08) The Lessons Steve Jobs Learned From Failure
(50:08) Bill Gates and Steve Jobs Rivalry
(51:44) The Funniest Steve Jobs/Bill Gates Moment
(53:43) Steve Jobs Takes Over As Apple CEO
(57:08) How Meeting Laurene Changed Everything
(59:01) Rapid Fire Questions
(59:21) How Steve Jobs Inspired His Team
(1:00:31) Steve Jobs Medical Treatment
(1:01:42) What We Can Learn from Steve Jobs
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Follow Geoffrey Cain:
X: https://x.com/geoffrey_cain
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
-----
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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Make Better Decisions by Fixing Yourself First
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 46:33
David Baszucki is the co-founder and CEO of Roblox, a platform built around a simple idea: give people the tools and incentives to create together.
In this short conversation we discuss how a health decision saved his son's life and how it changed how he eats, why bureaucracy compounds unless you actively destroy it, monitoring your mind before making decisions, and why the best products often improve by removing complexity.
It's time to listen and learn.
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Chapters:
(0:00) How Keto Can Help Treat Bipolar Symptoms
(2:38) Connection Between Physical and Mental Health
(3:58) Current Metabolic Routine
(4:40) How Your Metabolic State Affects Decision Making
(5:48) The Signs of a Great Product
(6:32) Bureaucracy is the Enemy of Progress (ALT: Why You Need to Destroy Bureaucracy)
(7:20) Giving Feedback that Actually Motivates
(7:50) The Key to Feedback is Tone
(8:44) The Email You Should Never Send
(9:53) Patterns in Bad Decision Making
(10:38) Principles of Good Decision Making
(11:19) Mental Models for Problem Solving
(11:56) The Gaming World Said the Avatar Was a Disaster. He Didn't Listen. (ALT: Why the Gaming World Hated the First Avatar)
(12:58) When Instinct and Data Disagree
(14:12) Roblox's Magic Decision Making Quadrant
(14:38) Inner Monologue of the Best CEOs
(15:36) Manufacturing Threats to Achieve Alpha
(16:08) Mistakes in Roblox History
(18:30) Biggest Generated Universe in World
(19:33) Roblox Community's Pushback on New Avatars
(20:20) Capital Allocation Strategy
(22:28) Building Incentives on Early Roblox
(24:31) Early Disagreements on API
(26:18) How Erik Cassel Supercharged Roblox
(27:05) The Economic Model that Almost Ruined Roblox
(31:43) How Robux Works
(32:22) Robux as Future Digital Currency
(33:34) What True Focus Looks Like
(35:14) How Roblox Uses AI
(36:11) Age Ban and Verification Policy
(38:29) Is Age Verification Slowing Growth at Roblox?
(38:56) Positioning and Optionality for Long Term Growth
(39:43) The Future of Immersive Gaming
(42:51) Reaction to Ready Player One
(43:48) Advice For To a 16-Year-Old Wanting to Start a Company
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
------
Follow David:
X: https://x.com/DavidBaszucki
------
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
+Applovin: Launch your first AppLovin campaign and grow your business: https://applovin.com/shane
+Matic: the robot vacuum that does it all—grab yourself a year of free bags here. http://maticrobots.com/shaneparrish
+HeyGen is a message-first AI video platform that helps people and AI agents turn ideas into professional video in minutes. Try for free at https://www.heygen.com/tkp
+LMNT: My go-to zero sugar electrolytes — get a free LMNT Sample Pack here: https://DrinkLMNT.com/TKP
NOTE: This episode discusses health and medical topics for informational purposes only. Shane and his guest are not medical professionals, and nothing in this conversation should be considered medical advice. Please do your own research and consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.
NOTE: Shane and guests may hold positions in assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this conversation should be considered investment advice, financial guidance, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own due diligence or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Mindset Behind Building a Great Little Business | Brad Jacobs
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 01:40:16
This summer, I’m revisiting one of my favorite episodes. If you haven’t heard it, now is the time. If you have, it’s a classic and worth listening to again.
Brad Jacobs has built eight billion-dollar companies, completed more than 500 acquisitions, and created extraordinary returns for shareholders over four decades. Few people understand how great businesses are built better than he does.
This conversation is about the principles behind that success. Brad explains how he spots trends before they become obvious, why psychology matters as much as strategy, and how he thinks about acquisitions, hiring, capital allocation, decision-making, and building organizations that consistently outperform.
He also shares lessons from therapy, meditation, and decades of leadership that changed how he manages people and makes decisions.
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Chapters:
00:00 - Finding Every Opportunity to Make Money
02:03 - The Singularity & The Future of AI
04:14 - How to Think Rationally
05:40 - The Meta-Trend Driving the Future
07:50 - His Research Process
10:21 - How to Ask Better Questions
16:26 - Rearranging Your Brain for Success 20:55 - What Music & Math Teach Us About Business
30:59 - The Asymmetry of Leverage, Debt & Optionality
35:07 - The Psychology of Contrarian Bets
40:41 - Where True Confidence Comes From
50:19 - The Hidden Cost of Negative Feedback
56:12 - Core Lessons on Money & Wealth
58:11 - The M&A Playbook: How to Build an Empire
01:07:50 - The Exact Questions to Read Anyone Instantly
01:11:10 - The Reality of Board Meetings
01:16:55 - Frameworks for High-Stakes Decision-Making
01:23:35 - The Brutal Truth About Capital Markets
01:25:40 - Avoid Hiring This Type of Person
01:31:16 - Traits of the World’s Best Capital Allocators
01:33:53 - The Biggest Lesson of the Past Year
01:37:20 - Redefining Personal Success
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*Note:* Shane and guests may hold positions in assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this conversation should be considered investment advice, financial guidance, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own due diligence or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. -----
Follow Brad Jacobs:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradjacobsqxo/
QXO: https://www.qxo.com/
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
-----
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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+Matic: the robot vacuum that does it all—grab yourself a year of free bags here. http://maticrobots.com/shaneparrish
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John D. Rockefeller: The Principles Behind The Greatest Fortune in History
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 02:55:34
John D. Rockefeller became the richest man the world had ever known by thinking differently about business, competition, and family.
This episode isn’t just the story of Standard Oil. It’s about the principles that built one of history’s greatest business empires and what they can teach us today.
Along the way, you’ll see the rise of Standard Oil, the public backlash that made Rockefeller America’s most hated businessman, the breakup of his company, and the philanthropic legacy that continues to shape the world today.
Enjoy!
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Chapters:
(00:00) The Making of John D. Rockefeller
(04:56) The Search for Belonging
(07:33) Business Lessons From his Mother
(10:54) The Unlikely Lessons he Learned from His Father
(15:09) When Rockefeller Decided to Get Rich
(17:50) The Relentless Job Search
(21:21) Learning How to Run a Business
(29:49) The Power of a Good Reputation
(34:57) The American Oil Boom
(36:34) Rockefeller's Biggest Early Bet
(43:28) Rockefeller and Henry Flagler
(46:21) The One-Drop Difference
(49:22) Building Standard Oil’s Partnership
(53:06) How Rockefeller Used Leverage
(56:43) From Competition to Cooperation
(01:00:43) Why America Turned on Rockefeller
(01:08:54) The Cleveland Massacre
(01:17:41) Rockefeller’s Private Family Life
(01:25:45) Rockefeller and the Panic of 1873
(01:29:39) A Private Life, A Public Empire
(01:32:50) Standard Oil’s Pipeline War
(01:38:40) Creating the Standard Oil Trust
(01:42:37) The Fortress on Broadway
(01:48:07) The Backlash Against Standard Oil
(01:54:33) Ida Tarbell Takes On Rockefeller
(02:02:00) Rockefeller’s Failed Media Strategy
(02:14:31) How Standard Oil Stayed One Step Ahead
(02:16:06) Breaking Up Standard Oil Made Him Richer
(02:19:40) Why Rockefeller Gave It All Away
(02:26:28) The Weight of the Rockefeller Name
(02:28:52) Rockefeller's Hardest Goodbye
(02:34:22) Why Rockefeller Gave Away Dimes
(02:38:46) The Richest Man Couldn't Buy Time
(02:41:41) John D. Rockefeller’s Legacy
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
------
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
+CoinShares: Delivering Reason to Digital Asset Investing. https://coinshares.com/
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Inside Kaz Nejatian’s Fight to Save Opendoor
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 54:42
No company decides to fail. It drifts there one comfortable lie at a time.
Kaz Nejatian took over Opendoor when it was just months away from bankruptcy and set out to rebuild it from the ground up. What happened next shocked everyone.
Most turnaround stories are told years later, by the winner, after the ending is already known. That’s why they always sound clean and polished. This one doesn’t have an ending yet, and it’s anything but clean and polished. Kaz takes us inside while it’s still happening.
We discuss why great companies drift away from reality, why truth has to matter more than feelings, and how competent people who don’t believe in the mission quietly destroy an organization.
He shares the principles behind rebuilding culture, eliminating bureaucracy, making faster decisions, using AI to flatten management, and creating teams that move with speed and ownership.
One of the key things I learned in this conversation is that the comfortable lies that sink a company are the same ones that sink a career.
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Chapters:
(0:00) How Opendoor Came Back from the Dead
(1:32) How Mismanagement Causes Atrophy
(4:28) The Blueprint that Changed Opendoor
(5:33) Rewriting the Book on Company Turnarounds
(5:57) The People You Hire Is the Company You Build
(6:31) Be a Nuclear Bomb of Truth
(7:52) How to Change a Losing Company Culture
(8:07) Commit to Truth Over Feelings
(8:33) The Most Dangerous Kind of Employee
(9:13) Key Principles to Turning Around a Company
(11:59) Meetings Are a Bug in the System
(12:30) Why It's Rude to Not Disagree
(13:05) Say the Thing Culture
(15:04) How AI Is Supercharging Opendoor
(18:16) Most Powerful Mental Models
(22:50) Why Remote Workplaces Don't Succeed
(24:56) How Opendoor Killed Distractions
(26:09) The Key to Being a Market Maker
(35:20) How Companies Fall Off Course Over Time
(37:24) The Power of Speaking Simply
(43:27) Turnaround Lessons for Life
(51:10) Excellence Is Capacity to Take Pain
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
------
Follow Kaz Nejatian:
X: https://x.com/nejatian
------
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
+Applovin: Launch your first AppLovin campaign and grow your business: https://applovin.com/shane
+Matic: the robot vacuum that does it all—grab yourself a year of free bags here. http://maticrobots.com/shaneparrish
+HeyGen is a message-first AI video platform that helps people and AI agents turn ideas into professional video in minutes. Try for free at https://www.heygen.com/tkp
+LMNT: My go-to zero sugar electrolytes — get a free LMNT Sample Pack here: https://DrinkLMNT.com/TKP
------
Note: Shane and guests may hold positions in assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this conversation should be considered investment advice, financial guidance, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always do your own due diligence or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Mindset That Unlocks Your Full Potential | Dr. Gio Valiante
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 • Duration 01:09:16
Steve Cohen and Jack Nicklaus shared the same performance coach. For the next hour, he’s yours too.
Dr. Gio Valiante is the world’s leading performance psychologist.
We discuss why most people never reach their potential, how confidence and fear shape performance, and what separates those who consistently excel from those who stay stuck.
He shares practical strategies for building better habits, overcoming self-imposed limits, staying focused under pressure, and creating the conditions for long-term success.
If you’ve ever felt capable of more, this episode will help you understand what’s holding you back and what to do about it.
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Chapters:
(0:00) Why most people underperform and the central governor hypothesis.
(4:46) Why lasting change starts with behavior rather than thinking.
(7:52) The difference between mastery motivation and ego-driven motivation.
(11:24) Flow states, presence, and learning to enjoy the everyday work of excellence.
(14:28) Practical techniques for developing presence and reducing distraction.
(18:16) Why environment and systems have a greater impact on performance than goals alone.
(26:33) What interview questions reveal about confidence, motivation, and character.
(31:47) Why overcoming adversity often reveals a person's greatest strengths.
(32:46) Rebuilding confidence by focusing on small wins instead of chasing big recoveries.
(38:55) The psychology of confidence and the four sources of self-efficacy.
(47:14) How self-talk shapes beliefs, behavior, and long-term performance.
(50:04) Why fear of rejection and the need to belong influence our decisions.
(53:35) Identity, self-discovery, and the importance of moving beyond childhood conditioning.
(1:03:20) Definition of success and the experiences that bring lasting fulfillment.
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Follow Dr. Gio Valiante
X: https://x.com/GioValiante
------
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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+HeyGen is a message-first AI video platform that helps people and AI agents turn ideas into professional video in minutes. Try for free at https://www.heygen.com/tkp
+Matic: the robot vacuum that does it all—grab yourself a year of free bags here. http://maticrobots.com/shaneparrish
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How to Repair and Nourish Your Gut | Dr. Giulia Enders
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • Duration 55:42
Dr. Giulia Enders has changed the way millions of people think about the human body.
As a physician, microbiome researcher, and bestselling author, she has spent years studying the surprising role the gut plays in everything from digestion and immunity to mood, sleep, metabolism, and long-term health.
In this conversation, Giulia explains how your gut shapes your health, how stress quietly damages it, what ultra-processed foods are doing to you, and what your body’s been trying to tell you all along.
This episode is packed with practical advice you can use right away. You’ll understand your body better and leave with a simple framework for improving your health, without complicated diets, expensive supplements, or extreme interventions.
If you’ve ever wondered why you feel the way you do, this conversation is a great place to start.
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Timestamps:
(00:00) How A Thriving Gut Can Unlock Your Health
(02:23) Foods to Eat to Improve Gut Health
(07:57) The Link Between Your Gut and Immune System
(09:28) How to Get Prebiotics in Your Food
(10:22) Why Fiber is Key to a Healthy Gut
(10:47) How Cooling Starches Can Help You Lose Weight
(12:48) Why Fiber Reduces Your Risk of Cancer
(14:13) How Sugar Causes Inflammation
(15:40) Are Some Sugars Better than Others?
(16:25) What Your Poop Is Telling You
(17:53) Healthy vs Unhealthy Poop
(20:01) How to Rebuild the Gut After Antibiotics
(22:08) Warning Signs You Should See a Doctor
(23:11) The Best Position for Pooping
(26:26) Constipation: Causes & Solutions
(28:06) Importance of Chewing
(31:07) How Long Does it Take to Heal Your Gut?
(34:25) Why Dopamine is Driving Your Bad Cravings
(36:40) Three Things to Watch Out for on Ingredients List
(36:56) Effect of Alcohol on Gut
(37:55) Is Caffeine Bad for Your Gut?
(39:56) Impact of Snacking on Gut and Metabolism
(41:28) Do Gut Cleanses Work?
(43:07) Are Supplements Worth It?
(44:59) The Benefits of Walking After a Meal
(49:29) The Number One Thing to Change for Better Gut Health
(49:51) Why Sanitizer Isn't the Best Approach to Hygiene
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
------
Follow Dr. Giulia Enders
X: https://x.com/giulia_enders
Check out Dr. Giulia’s Books:
Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ: https://a.co/d/0hqm72mN
Organ Speak: What It Really Means to Listen to Our Bodies: https://a.co/d/07ClmNVu
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Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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Check out the Granola Notes
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Mental Models That Change How You Think | Bill Gurley
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • Duration 01:02:19
Bill Gurley spent years on Wall Street, built his career as a partner at Benchmark, worked through Uber’s hypergrowth era, and now serves on the board of the Santa Fe Institute, where he studies complexity and systems thinking.
In this episode, Bill shares the mental models he returns to most, including systems thinking, second- and third-order effects, and the importance of understanding both the bedrock of your field and the bleeding edge.
He explains what separates great founders, why storytelling and product instincts matter, how he uses AI across different models, and what he sees coming in open source, China, stablecoins, tokenization, payments, and venture capital.
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Key Mental Models
(02:02) Investing Journey and Key Players
(05:21) Knowing the Bedrock of the Industry
(08:50) Obsessive Learning in Founders
(10:04) The Silent Edge
(11:44) Surprising AI Use
(13:13) The Future of AI Models
(14:17) Global AI Regulation
(18:12) Impacts of AI on Investing
(19:53) Are There Limitations on Training AI Models?
(23:04) Would You Sit in the Back Seat While Your Tesla Drives?
(24:15) Non-Consensus Opinions
(24:53) Are We Overfunding this Buildout?
(29:40) The Role of Retail Investors and Tokenization
(34:26) What is a Stablecoin?
(37:58) Competitive Mode: Visa and Mastercard
(39:55) AI and Debt Analysis
(45:05) The Craft of Storytelling and Writing
(48:07) Founder Advantage: Product Instinct
(50:12) Real World Lessons from Working With Uber
(52:10) Inside Benchmark’s Success
(59:42) What is Success for You?
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Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
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Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
Follow Bill Gurley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgurley/
X: https://x.com/bgurley?lang=en
Check out Runnin’ Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love
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Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
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Check out the Granola Notes
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You Don’t Need To Innovate To Be Successful | FarmVille Creator
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 • Duration 01:10:28
Mark Pincus is the creator behind Farmville and Words with Friends. He built Zynga into one of the biggest gaming companies in the world and helped shape the early era of social products on the internet.
In this conversation, he breaks down how great founders spot winning ideas early, why most startups build the wrong thing, and how products become part of people’s daily lives.
He shares lessons from building Zynga, missing the opportunity behind social networking before Facebook took off, navigating platform risk during Zynga’s explosive growth, and rebuilding his confidence after major failures.
You’ll learn how to test ideas faster, what separates products people try from products people love, how to avoid “death by compromise” as a founder, and why the best builders stay obsessed with what users actually want.
+ Members get the longer, extended version of this conversation, with additional content not included in the public release. Join Now.
+ +Pre-order Life at the Speed of Play: Launch Products People Love!
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Timestamps:
(00:00) The Principles of Great Products
(01:34) How to Test if Your Idea Has "Heat"
(04:02) Falling Out with His Father
(06:14) Early Career Fails
(09:27) The Presentation that Kicked him out of Bain
(12:04) The Book of Life System for Making Strategic Decisions
(17:56) Why Your Instincts are Good and Your Ideas are Bad
(22:29) Copying is the Key to Great Product Design
(23:22) System for Building Great Products
(24:05) How to Use "Proven Better New" to Build Ideas
(27:39) Why Deconstruction Leads to Better Products
(29:33) All Founders Go Through This
(35:14) How Zynga Changed Social Gaming
(37:25) Pitching Zynga to Steve Jobs
(40:36) The Fatal Mistake Founders Make
(41:24) The Fight Between Peter Thiel and Sequoia
(43:03) The Explosion of Farmville
(45:45) Zynga's Near-Death Experience on Facebook
(48:36) Why Failure Machines Reveal Your Best Ideas
(49:28) The Thing that Almost Killed Words with Friends
(53:05) Why the Minimum Viable Product Approach is Hurting You
(54:03) Building Fast is More Important than Building Right
(56:19) How Zynga Missed Their Instagram Moment
(58:50) Your Company Should Be a Democratic Dictatorship
(1:02:25) How to Build a Meritocracy in Your Company
(1:03:44) Jeff Bezos' Invaluable Management Trick
(1:05:25) Bezos Hack: Scaling Leadership with Tech Assistants
------
Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter
------
Follow Shane Parrish:
X: https://x.com/shaneparrish
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/farnamstreet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-parrish-050a2183/
Follow Mark Pincus
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpincus/
X: https://x.com/markpinc
------
Thank you to the sponsors for this episode:
+CoinShares: Delivering Reason to Digital Asset Investing. https://coinshares.com/
+Granola AI, The AI notepad for people in back-to-back meetings: https://www.granola.ai/shane
Check out the Granola Notes
+HeyGen is a message-first AI video platform that helps people and AI agents turn ideas into professional video in minutes. Try for free at https://www.heygen.com/tkp
+LMNT: My go-to zero sugar electrolytes — get a free LMNT Sample Pack here: DrinkLMNT.com/TKP
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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