Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder of Anthropic. Dario talks about the economics of AI development, the comparative advantage of AI companies like Anthropic, AI safety, and his stance on California's SB 1047 bill. They also discuss the impacts of AI on global power dynamics, competition between the US and China, and inequality in an AI-powered world. This episode was recorded this week on Turpentine’s show Econ 102. Check it out for more like this: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs?si=8fab4d65ddf5422a — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: turpentinenetwork.co — MORE RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — LINKS: Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/ Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/ — FOLLOW ON X: @noahpinion @eriktorenberg @anthropicAI @turpentinemedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (04:23) Dario's intellectual evolution (06:37) Is Google the Bell Labs of Al? (10:07) Economic moats in Al (12:35) Scaling hypothesis and Al's future (17:05) National security and Al (19:04) Leopold Aschenbrenner's essay (20:33) Al's impact on business models (26:30) Noah's big thesis  (29:32) Sponsors: Babbel | Brave (31:58) Al arms races? (36:17) Al's impact on labor and skill distribution (40:41) Sponsor: Squad (44:35) Future of Al and a hyperscaling world (41:42) A vision of radical abundance (49:55) Al safety and inequality (54:06) The SB 1047 debate (58:56) Rabbit alignment problem (01:01:25) Wrap

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez on Moment of Zen in August 2024 to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., why he listens to Balaji Srinivasan, and strategies for increasing global crypto adoption. Armstrong also touches on his venture into biotech with New Limit, the changing media landscape, and the future of economic freedom through decentralized technologies. -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast -- LINKS: Base: https://www.base.org/ Coinbase Developer Platform: https://cdp.coinbase.com/ New Limit: https://www.newlimit.com/ Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/ Stand With Crypto: https://standwithcrypto.org -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:28) Brian's Current Focus Areas at Coinbase (03:10) Coinbase's Move Towards Decentralization (05:09) Coinbase's Approach to Innovation (10:36) Thoughts on Mass Market Crypto Adoption (15:01) Sponsor: Babbel | Brave (17:44) Crypto's Implications Beyond Payments (23:54) Experiences with Crypto Regulation in DC (29:14) Sponsor: Squad  (30:42) Coinbase's Marketing Strategy (34:09) Measuring Economic Freedom and Crypto Adoption (43:08) Origins of New Limit Biotech Company (50:12) Challenges of Shifting from Crypto to Biotech (52:58) Reflections on Dan Romero's Contributions to Coinbase (55:18) Thoughts on Balaji Srinivasan (56:34) Balaji's Insights on Media Landscape (59:24) Wrap

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania discuss the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They also explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance. beehiiv: Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. The conversation also covers broader societal issues like the impact of religion, American Jews' political tendencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of America's socio-economic systems, and reflects on Elon Musk's political involvement and the rise of conspiratorial thinking in modern politics. We’re publishing this conversation across Moment of Zen and Upstream since the themes are highly relevant to both shows. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812 - 🎙️ History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD 🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:19) Silicon Valley's Surprising Support for Trump (01:20) Silicon Valley's Shift in Political Climate (03:32) Richard's Political Evolution and Disillusionment (04:27) Conservative and Liberal Ideologies (09:03) Human Capital and Political Dynamics (14:08) Sponsor: Squad | beehiiv | Babbel (14:16) Religion's Role in Society (35:25) Historical Context of Anti-Semitism (36:12) Comparing Prejudices: Gypsies, Asians, and Religious Differences (36:58) Rationalism vs. Conflict Theory (38:00) The Role of Villainy in Political Narratives (39:16) Conspiracies and Enlightenment Values (41:30) The Impact of Conspiratorial Thinking (49:43) Jewish Intellectual Influence (52:09) DEI and Meritocracy in Silicon Valley (53:56) America's Resilience and Future Challenges (56:07) Immigration Policies: US vs. Europe (1:01:44) Future of Political Parties Post-Biden and Trump (1:07:27) Wrap -- FOLLOW ON X: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/RichardHanania (Richard) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

In 2019 Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl to talk about the future of a decentralized world. They cover decentralized governance, politics, voting, and more. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812 - 🎙️ History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD 🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Listen to the 10X Capital Podcast: https://10xcapitalpodcast.com/ -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:53) RadicalxChange (02:20) Common ground and divergences (05:19) Role of choice and community (06:59) Voice vs. Exit (10:06) Future of governance and identity (16:52) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Babbel | Squad (19:25) Complexity of social systems (25:20) Social inequality and drug war (39:40) Technocracy and its implications (46:44) Economic models and social relations (56:34) Changes on property law (56:41) Quadratic voting and finance (01:01:21) Limitations of technology in the next century (01:04:19) Future of nation states and governance (01:10:53) Technocrats, empires, and incentives (01:15:07) Wrap

In 2020 Erik Torenberg sat down with Mike Solana, then VP at Founders Fund (now the Editor In Chief of Pirate Wires) to go deeper into his commitment to controversial ideas and freedom. He discusses the dynamics of America's culture wars, debating freedom vs. equality, the resurgence of Marxism, and the roots of anti-American sentiment. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812https://podcasts.apple.com/id1753399812 - 🎙️ History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD 🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @micsolana (Mike) @foundersfund @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:46) The Ethos of Founders Fund (01:37) Mike's Journey to Founders Fund (01:59) The Seasteading Institute and Anarcho-Capitalism (03:19) Evolution of Founders Fund (06:39) Hereticon: A Conference for Unorthodox Thinkers (11:46) Anatomy of Next: A Vision for the Future (13:42) Perception of Silicon Valley and Media (16:10) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad (18:44) Capitalism, Freedom, and Individualism (26:00) Technology and Society (33:39) A Journey Through Political Ideologies (34:50) The Power of Belief and Free Market Capitalism (36:06) Debating Nuclear Energy and Environmental Concerns (39:22) Rebranding Longevity and the Death Meme (40:43) The Future of AR, VR, and AI (45:21) Exploring Space and the UFO Phenomenon (50:13) Silicon Valley's Political Influence and Local Governance (56:02) Envisioning a Post-Scarcity World (58:25) The Culture of Trauma and Personal Responsibility (1:01:22) The Culture War and Anti-American Sentiment (1:09:10) Wrap

Todays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are — on the left and the right. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 102 with Noah Smith Every week, Noah Smith, economist and Noahpinion writer break down current events through the lens of economics — while keeping econ entertaining. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD 🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (01:05) Twitter Controversy: David Austin Walsh (04:30) Elite Overproduction and Academia (08:29) Affirmative Action and Racial Disparities (14:32) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad (17:07) Elite overproduction’s implications for politics and academia (22:29) Right-Wing muckrakers and progressive institutions (32:12) Misconceptions about Barack Obama (32:50) Mike Solana, Christopher Rufo, and other voices on the Right (35:33) Evolution of progressive and conservative labels (40:20) American Roots of Wokeness (56:53) The Future of Conservatism (1:01:41) Wrap This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

In this episode of Upstream, we're publishing a session recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in May 2024 hosted by Jacob Helberg, and featuring Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Senator Todd Young (R-IN). Khosla and Young dive straight into the most pressing national security concerns regarding the threat of AI. In this techno-economic race, the winner will have economic and military control over Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. AI is a technology capable of that much influence is described as being comparable to an atomic bomb. If AI is viewed through the lens of an atomic bomb, should the U.S. be forming a new Manhattan Project? Would you open source the Manhattan Project? 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj The HIll & Valley Podcast is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Catch all the 2024 Forum sessions and subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39s4MCyt1pOTQ8FjOAS4mi Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hill-valley/id1692653857 -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV |. SQUAD Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) The Urgency of AI in the Techno-Economic War (01:13) Exploring AI's Role in Modern Warfare and Global Influence (08:33) Sponsor: Beehiiv | Squad (11:34) The Global AI Supply Chain and National Security Concerns (17:23) Open Source vs. Closed Model Debate in AI Development (22:26) Closing Remarks

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Bryan Caplan to discuss his new book about housing regulation. The conversation touches on political economy, fertility, crime, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:36) Why write "Build, Baby, Build"? (01:51) The value of graphic novels (05:00) Potential benefits of housing deregulation (11:50) Gentrification (15:20) Sponsor: Beehiiv (16:25) The best case in favor of housing regulation (21:40) Fertility rates (29:00) The political economy of housing regulation (35:59) The mechanics of housing regulation (45:51) Challenges of communicating in politics (51:22) Economic thought over time (56:13) Differences in beliefs between generations (58:48) Crime prevention (1:03:00) Bryan's next book (1:08:05) Wrap -- LINKS: Bryan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415 Bryan's Blog: https://www.betonit.ai/ -- X / TWITTER: https://x.com/bryan_caplan (Bryan) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book The Anxious generation. The conversation covers the effects of social media on teen mental health, culture, politics, education, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:13) Evolution of Jonathan's Work: From Moral Psychology to 'The Anxious Generation' (01:14) The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health (02:50) Exploring the Tragedy of the Modern Childhood (07:29) Addressing the Criticism and Pushback (12:08) The Unprecedented Effects of Social Media on Society (19:37) Adapting to Technological Changes and the Future of Childhood (20:20) The Dire State of Democracy in the Digital Age (27:01) How Technology Affects Liberals and Conservatives Differently (28:20) Unveiling the Research: The Rise of Anxiety and Depression (28:48) Breaking Down the Data: Gender, Politics, and Mental Health (30:48) The Protective Power of Religion and Community (31:32) Parenting Styles and Moral Values (32:07) Challenges for Progressive Organizations and the Democratic Party (32:42) Recommendations for a Healthier Childhood in the Digital Age (33:50) Addressing the Broader Issues Beyond Smartphones (34:35) The Role of Schools in Children's Mental Health (36:33) A Call for Intentional Community Building (37:34) Navigating the Public Health Crisis with Apolitical Solutions (40:41) Engaging with the Tech Industry: Critiques and Clarifications (41:01) The Debate on Content Moderation and the Need for Structural Changes (56:27) Wrap -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt (Jonathan) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode from Erik's podcast with Noah Smith, Econ 102. Noah breaks down the economies of the USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. For more like this, watch part 2 on Econ 102: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/52nuQvRmuTT7S6ilJoXDYr?si=bf6722824bd64bcf Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyzing-economies-england-france-germany-poland-turkey/id1696419056?i=1000650616668 -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:33) U.S. Economy: Trends and Concerns (08:31) Transition to China Economy: Massive Property Bust (15:58) Sponsor: beehiiv | Squad (22:06) Segue to Japan Economy: Key Hub of the Electronics Manufacturing (30:41) Korea Economic Struggles (33:35) South Korea's Technological Capabilities and International Relations (34:44) Exploring Taiwan's Economy and Challenges (36:52) Indonesia's Manufacturing Shift (38:25) Vietnam's Economic Strategy and Development Needs (41:01) India's Poverty Reduction and Infrastructure Investments (44:56) Pakistan Economic Mismanagement (49:08) Philippines: Underrated Investment Destination (50:03) Transition to Australia: The Progressive Utopia (52:32) Russia Economy at War (60:29) Wrap -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Noahpinion (Noah) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Nathan Labenz of The Cognitive Revolution podcast and Brian Chau, a machine learning engineer who recently founded the Alliance for the Future, talk about Brian's efforts in Washington, D.C. to influence AI policy based on informed AI optimism. After their conversation, Nathan and Erik chat about the AI landscape. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:42) Unpacking AI Optimism and Policy Perspectives (01:22) Exploring the Breadth of AI and Its Economic Implications (05:23) Debunking AI Doomsday Predictions (14:56) Sponsors: BeeHiiv | Squad (25:53) Navigating the Near-Term AI Landscape and Government Modernization (41:30) Exploring AI Regulation and Executive Orders (43:55) The Impact of AI on Startups and Economic Viability (45:36) AI Development and Regulatory Challenges (48:40) The Debate on AI Accountability and Regulation (59:02) Open Sourcing AI Models: Risks and Regulations (1:07:06) The Future of AI: Ethical, Social, and Regulatory Considerations (1:14:41) Reflections on AI Safety and the Path Forward -- Alliance for the Future: https://www.affuture.org/ Brian's article on research progress in AI: https://www.affuture.org/research/3-diminishing/ -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/psychosort (Brian) https://twitter.com/labenz (Nathan) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode from Turpentine’s show Live Players with Samo Burja. Erik and Samo discuss China’s universities and the future of China’s elites. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SamoBurja (Samo) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) - Episode Preview (00:00:57) - Universities as an example of US-China parallel evolution (00:02:53) - Academia during The Cultural Revolution (00:04:00) - The elite Chinese universities (00:06:00) - Signaling theory of education (00:06:30) - What the increase in educated leaders means for China’s ruling class (00:07:52) - China as America’s mirror (00:08:30) - China’s “woke” (00:11:29) - How Xi wants China to not fail in the same way the Soviets did (00:12:50) - Crackdown on university students (00:14:46) - Sponsor: Squad | Turpentine (00:15:00) - Rise of student activism in the US (00:19:05) - The translation of regional/ethnic inequalities into ideological ones (00:22:30) - The political ideological paradox generates an opportunity to organize young people (00:24:30) - Role of gender in divergent politics and the East Asian “woke” (00:27:12) - Chinese feminism (00:34:58) - The formation of elites in US and China (00:36:40) - Materialist focused education in China vs legal focused education in US (00:39:47) - Printing university degrees is like printing money by devaluing degrees (00:40:19) - Fight over Harvard Extension School (00:42:20) - Will American universities have as much power in the next 10 years as they do now? (00:46:05) - What positive and negative changes will China see in the near future? (00:47:00) - Silicon Valley in China (00:49:09) - The shift in leadership from businessmen to academia in China For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg sits down with Eoghan McCabe who opens up about his journey entering Silicon Valley, leading Intercom, shifting company culture, and becoming politically engaged. This episode offers a frank look at the complexities of building and scaling a tech company, coming back from personal and professional defeat, and what it will take — politically — to empower the next generation of techno-optimist builders. — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🛠️ Building an enterprise-ready SaaS app? WorkOS has got you covered with easy-to-integrate APIs for SAML, SCIM, and more. Join top startups like Vercel, Perplexity, Jasper & Webflow in powering your app with WorkOS. Enjoy a free tier for up to 1M users! Start now at https://bit.ly/WorkOS-TCR  — FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg @eoghan — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:48) San Francisco's tech scene  (02:11) Moving to San Francisco (03:32) Challenges and changes in San Francisco  (06:57) Political dynamics and tech's role  (11:43) Sponsors: WorkOS | Brave (14:08) Intercom's journey and leadership challenges  (20:02) Reinventing Intercom (22:10) Resetting company culture and values (24:49) Implementing performance management systems (28:33) Sponsors: Babbel | Squad (30:54) Dealing with setbacks and personal growth (32:49) The importance of therapy and self-care (35:55) Reflections on failure and growth (38:58) Eoghan's journey from apolitical to politically engaged (40:45) Views on capitalism, freedom, and the Western world (48:11) Navigating political discussions in the tech industry (50:27) Eoghan’s Vision for more positive tech media (51:02) Importance of inspiring young builders and innovators (53:16) Wrap

This episode was initially recorded before a live audience in 2018. Erik talks with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan about the history of money and centralization and why crypto has the potential to fulfill the promise of the internet. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Squad:💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:30) Decentralization and Blockchain: A Deep Dive with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan (06:22) Personal Journeys into the World of Cryptocurrency (08:27) Debating Bitcoin vs. Blockchain: Perspectives and Predictions (12:22) Sponsors: Squad | Turpentine (14:33) The Social and Economic Implications of Blockchain Technology (19:55) Blockchain Beyond Money: Envisioning Future Applications (22:43) Crypto as a Social Phenomenon: Tribalism and Governance (28:10) Envisioning a Decentralized Future: Microeconomics and Global Impact (31:36) The Irony of Missing Out: Venture Capitalists and Karma (36:02) The Global Impact of Blockchain on Identity and Ownership (36:54) Navigating Regulations in a Decentralized Economy (38:29)The Role of Crypto in Redefining Wealth Distribution (40:05) Balaji and Naval's Vision (46:48) What Do Failure Models Look Like? (51:43) How Blockchain Can Provide New Career Opportunities, Not Just In Silicon Valley (53:33) The Potential and Challenges of Emerging Technologies (54:55) Identity in a Blockchain World (58:23) On Blockchain Intersecting With Other Emerging Technologies (59:57) What Types Of Players Are Going To Be The Big Winners And Losers? (1:00:56) Empowering the Next Generation of Builders (1:04:04) Visionary Ideas for Changing the World (1:05:41) Wrap -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/naval (Naval) https://twitter.com/balajis (Balaji) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co Music license: OYOCYNQ0XUH22PB8

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith for a deep dive on how AI will impact job markets, the social contract, and the role of the government. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD | BRAVE Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Squad:💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. Brave: Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:50) AI and the Future of Employment (03:57) The Intersection of AI, Robotics, and Biotech (05:00) Economic Disruption (06:40) Future of Jobs in an AI-Dominated World (08:27) AI's Impact on Economy (10:34) Pessimism Surrounding AI's Economic Impact (12:17) Comparative Advantage in the AI Era (13:50) AI Replacing Human Jobs (19:03) Sponsor: Squad | Brave (21:24) New Social Contract in the AI Era (34:38) Human Wages in an AI-Dominated Economy (39:36) Impact of AI on Job Market (41:45) Fear of AI Taking Over Human Jobs (47:51) Role of Government in AI Development (50:09) Potential Risks and Benefits of AI (53:15) Future of AI and Its Social Impact (58:38) Fear of Totalitarian States and AI (01:03:13) The Need for a Positive Vision for AI (01:11:03) Wrap up -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/noahsmith (Noah) https://twitter.com/Labenz (Nathan) https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by David Friedman for a deep dive on anarcho-capitalism, utilitarianism, and more. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more, Spotify Apple - Autopilot explores the adoption and rollout of AI in the industries that drive the economy and the dynamic founders bringing rapid change to slow-moving industries. From law, to hardware, to aviation, Will Summerlin interviews founders backed by Benchmark, Greylock, and more to learn how they're automating at the frontiers in entrenched industries. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YQZkKHN7EP2yWedAvSxBC?si=18377c69a2804333 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/autopilot-with-will-summerlin/id1738163836 -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (00:46) The Friedman Family's Intellectual Lineage (03:18) Market Failures and Government Intervention (06:11) Privatizating Everything (09:33) The Mechanics of Anarcho-Capitalism (12:47) Why David Isn't a Utilitarianism (16:33) Midroll: Brave | Turpentine (18:19) David's Moral Framework (23:36) Is Global Coordination Possible? (30:46) Privatizing Military and National Defense (32:54) Addressing Poverty in an Anarcho-Capitalist World (35:40) Competitive Dictatorship (40:54) Historical Precedents for Private Law (42:31) The Inefficiency of Governments (44:06) Coordination under Decentralization vs Centralization & Surveillance Capitalism (55:07) Law & Punishment under Anarcho-Capitalism (58:28) The Problems with Restorative Justice (01:07:31) Addressing Common Criticisms of Market Systems (01:14:41) Exploring the Moral Case for Economic Growth (01:16:26) Existential Risks from Global Warming, AI, Nanotech, and Biotech (01:18:49) The Market's Short-Term vs. Long-Term Dilemma (01:20:13) Utilitarian Thought Experiment (01:22:03) Income Sharing Agreements (01:26:20) Equality of Opportunity vs. Outcome (01:30:15) Why Do We Care about Equality? (01:47:40) Anarcho-Capitalism and Crypto (01:51:04) David's Legacy -- LINKS: David's Website: http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ -- X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) -- Upstream is a production from Turpentine Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Eul Jose Lacierda For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this special roundtable episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Brad Hargreaves (the founder of Common, co-founder of General Assembly, and writer of Thesis Driven) and Noah Smith (podcast host, economist and writer of Noahpinion). They discuss the future of real estate and housing in America, the impact of regulations, and the potential of new cities. 📖 RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 102 is Noah and Erik's podcast diving into the news, business, culture and society from the lens of economics. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056 Thesis Driven is a podcast hosted by Brad Hargreaves features conversations with the leading voices at the intersection of real estate, cities, innovation, and the built world. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thesis-driven-leader-series/id1724813949 **These shows are produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. _ SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. – Links: Noahpinion’s https://www.noahpinion.blog Thesis Driven https://www.thesisdriven.com/ – X / TWITTER: @bhargreaves (Brad) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @noahpinion (Noah) @TurpentineMedia (Turpentine) – TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (00:28) Understanding Real Estate Economics (01:34) Role of Technology in Real Estate (02:22) 2008 Financial Crisis and Real Estate (06:31) Role of Banks in Real Estate (10:14) Future of Real Estate and Housing (16:01) Sponsor: Brave | Turpentine (17:44) Impact of Regulations (24:51) Real Estate Architecture’s Evolution (29:48) Role of Developers in Real Estate (40:21) Challenges of Building State Capacity (51:53) Potential of New Cities (01:00:33) Success of New Urbanist Towns (01:01:53) Wrap

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Alex Blania, who, with Sam Altman, co-founded Tools for Humanity, the organizarion behind Worldcoin. Erik and Alex go deep on Worldcoin, AGI, and other future tech. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Sourcery by Molly O'Shea Sourcery by Molly O’Shea brings the conversations founders and investors have behind closed doors into the light. Subscribe for upcoming episodes with: Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Varda Space, and Chris Power of Hadrian. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ni3Tese9CtZa3oxpCjgTg YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SourceryVC -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- LINKS: Worldcoin: https://worldcoin.org/ -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:16) WorldCoin: From AI to Cryptocurrency (06:02) Solving the Proof of Identity Problem (10:11) The Orb: A Revolutionary Biometric Device for WorldCoin (12:53) Sponsor - Brave | (13:58) Turpentine Ad (14:36) Addressing Privacy Concerns and Misunderstandings of WorldCoin (15:50) WorldCoin as the Largest Financial Network (17:06) Navigating Controversies and the Future of WorldCoin (20:05) On Building WorldCoin (25:56) Engaging with Governments and the Global Landscape (28:29) Safeguarding WorldCoin and the Influence of Vitalik Buterin (31:10) Partnerships, Lessons from Sam Altman, and AGI's Future (38:06) Exploring Other Game-Changing Technologies (42:14) WrapX / TWITTER: @alexblania (Alex) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- Upstream is a production from Turpentine Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Eul Jose Lacierda

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Igor Kurganov, poker player and founder of Raising for Effective Giving. They discuss similarities between poker and Effective Altruism, the successes and failures of EA, and where EA should go next. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Investing City The Investing City Podcast helps you improve at investing, business, and life: learn from some of the brightest minds in business such as the CEO of Walmart, Morgan Housel, or billion-dollar fund managers. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7tV2EIrKXXUPxO0jpUaLlX Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-investing-city-podcast/id1448079153 -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- LINKS Raising for Effective Giving: https://reg-charity.org/ -- X / TWITTER: @IgorKurganov (Igor) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:01) Math, Poker and Igor’s Journey into Effective Altruism (03:40) The Evolution of Effective Altruism (05:15) Critiques and Challenges of Effective Altruism (08:00) Limitations and Misapplications of Effective Altruism (10:42) Effective Altruism’s Approach to AI Safety and Pandemic Risks (12:54) Igor on Criticisms and Misunderstandings of EA (17:17) Sponsor - Brave (18:19) The Balance between Centralization and Decentralization in Effective Altruism (24:41) Utilizing Philanthropy to Address Market Failure (26:41) Critique of Utilitarianism (29:29) The Influence of Politics in EA (40:13) Appreciating Effective Altruism (42:31) Will EA be Here to Stay? (47:24) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Eul Jose Lacierda

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Liron Shapira to discuss the case against further AI development, why Effective Altruism doesn’t deserve its reputation, and what is misunderstood about nuclear weapons. Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We’re hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik’s personal team on other projects he’s incubating. He’s hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: https://eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE | SQUAD Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave’s private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- LINKS Pause AI: https://pauseai.info/ -- X / TWITTER: @liron (Liron) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro and Liron's Background (01:08) Liron's Thoughts on the e/acc Perspective (03:59) Why Liron Doesn't Want AI to Take Over the World (06:02) AI and the Future of Humanity (10:40) AI is An Existential Threat to Humanity (14:58) On Robin Hanson's Grabby Aliens Theory (17:22) Sponsor - Brave (18:20) AI as an Existential Threat: A Debate (23:01) AI and the Potential for Global Coordination (27:03) Liron's Reaction on Vitalik Buterin's Perspective on AI and the Future (31:16) Power Balance in Warfare: Defense vs Offense (32:20) Nuclear Proliferation in Modern Society (38:19) Why There's a Need for a Pause in AI Development (43:57) Is There Evidence of AI Being Bad? (44:57) Liron On George Hotz's Perspective (49:17) Timeframe Between Extinction (50:53) Humans Are Like Housecats Or White Blood Cells (53:11) The Doomer Argument (01:00:00) The Role of Effective Altruism in Society (01:03:12) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Eul Jose Lacierda For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Rob Henderson, psychologist and author of the newly released Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. They discuss dating, cancel culture, luxury beliefs, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. --- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj --- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: https://eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- LINKS Buy Rob's book: https://www.amazon.com/Troubled-Memoir-Foster-Family-Social/dp/1982168536 Rob's Newsletter: https://www.robkhenderson.com/ -- X / TWITTER: @robkhenderson (Rob) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:03) Rob Henderson's unlikely journey from foster care to academia (04:00) The importance of childhood stability (07:48) Upward mobility is not the ultimate goal (11:43) Sponsor | Brave (12:46) How to improve discussions around family and class (18:47) Understanding luxury beliefs (25:06) Why do dumb ideas capture smart people? (31:15) The impact of dating apps on relationships (38:01) How technology will affect relationships and gender dynamics (58:07) The future of higher education (01:10:03) How to improve foster care (01:12:50) Rob's time in the military (01:18:57) Rob's future goals -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Lyn Alden, an investment strategist known for her unique blend of engineering, tech, and finance expertise. They discuss her book Broken Money, macro trends, and her best advice in the face of an uncertain economic future.  Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. --- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj --- RELATED SHOW: 10x Capital Podcast Check out our show The 10x Capital Podcast with David Weisburd, where David talks to the investors behind the investors: https://10xcapitalpodcast.com/ --- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: https://eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | BRAVE Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- LINKS Buy Lyn's book: https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Money-Financial-System-Failing/dp/B0CG8985FR Lyn's website: https://www.lynalden.com/ -- X / TWITTER: @LynAldenContact (Lyn) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:30) Lynn's book 'Broken Money' (09:19) The rise and fall of monetary orders (14:18) How technology affects money (19:48) Sponsor | Brave (20:51) The effects of a global reserve currency (27:28) The future of the dollar (34:09) Inflation and interest rates (44:42) What are the interesting disagreements about Lyn's ideas? (47:22) The implications of national debt (51:34) What will the effects of Lyn's ideas be? (56:50) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with e/acc founder Bayeslord and writer Nadia Asparouhova to discuss the foundations and future of the e/acc movement. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. --- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors sharing their requests for startups they want to exist in the world, and also their stories of navigating the idea maze in different sectors so founders don’t have to reinvent the wheel anymore. The first episode is out now - we cover better dating apps, references as a service, and WeWork for productivity. Watch and Subscribe on Substack: https://requestforstartups.substack.com/p/receipt-based-dating-reference-checks Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/request-for-startups-with-erik-torenberg/id1728659822 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/739L1LR32QI2XyoZlRh5nv -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify - https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Bayeslord's and Nadia's article: https://www.piratewires.com/p/ethos-divine-age -- X / TWITTER: @bayeslord @nayafia (Nadia) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:40) Understanding the Perception of E/ACC (03:14) The Impact of E/ACC on Tech Culture (05:38) Nadia's Perspective on E/ACC (14:30) Evolution of Tech Culture (16:55) SPONSOR: SHOPIFY (29:55) Influence of Elon Musk on Tech Culture (45:07) Leadership in E/ACC (47:05) Understanding Journalistic Patterns & Social Dynamics (48:36) Impact of Social Media (49:40) Role of AI in Shaping the Future (50:50) Social Impact of Technology: A Critical View (52:44) Dichotomy of Tech: Good or Bad? (53:42) Evolution of Web 2.0 and Its Consequences (55:30) Future of AI and Potential Risks (57:31) Philosophy of E/ACC (01:26:14) The Future of E/ACC: Phase Two and Beyond -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode of Upstream, we’re releasing an interview from 2021 with Marc Andreessen, Sriram Krishnan, and Aarthi Ramamurthy. They discuss the higher education system's inefficiencies, high costs and lack of competition, and explore innovative education models including cohort-based learning and unbundling education components. Marc shares personal anecdotes about his college experience and emphasizes the need for tech and internet-based educational models to educational models to evolve and meet global demand. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast — SPONSORS: 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:37) Erik on lifelong learning (04:48) Challenges facing traditional higher education (08:34) Marc Andreessen’s college experience (12:31) Sponsors: Squad | Babbel | Brave (16:20) Alternative education models (18:57) MOOCs, Lambda and lifelong education (25:52) Indian education system vs. US education system (31:15) Wrap

On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with Tyler Cowen to discuss Harvard, AI, Javier Milei's legacy, the value of non-legibility in talent spotting, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- Listen to the 10X Capital Podcast: https://10xcapitalpodcast.com/ -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify - https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Read Tyler's new book for free: https://econgoat.ai/ Tyler's blog: https://marginalrevolution.com -- X / TWITTER: @tylercowen (Tyler) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:48) Tyler's new book GOAT: Who is the Greatest Economist of all Time and Why Does it Matter? (05:19) Javier Milei and dismantling bureaucracy (08:50) Who is the GOAT economist? (12:29) AI, economic growth, and fertility (16:58) Sponsor | Shopify (18:34) Policies for managing population decline (28:44) Emergent Ventures & talent spotting (31:59) The value of non-legibility (33:25) Predictions about Harvard (35:38) The Future of Higher Education (37:45) How Twitter and Harvard are related (40:22) How to think about group differences (43:43) Bronze Age Pervert on Nietzsche and postliberalism (46:45) Rawls's veil of ignorance (48:19) Tyler on his career and legacy (52:45) The future of the University of Austin (56:58) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, political scientist and writer Ricard Hanania returns to the show. Erik and Richard discuss wokeness, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the mythos of the modern right, Richard's upcoming debate with Curtis Yarvin, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify - https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Richard's Substack: https://substack.com/@richardhanania Tickets to Richard's debate with Curtis Yarvin: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yarvin-vs-hanania-monarchy-vs-democracy-moderated-by-anna-khachiyan-tickets-796276132347 -- X / TWITTER: @RichardHanania (Richard) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:31) Wokeness, DEI, and the removal of university presidents (06:44) How the Israel-Palestine conflict is affecting DEI (08:22) American sentiment towards Israel-Palestine (17:09) Sponsor | Shopify (18:46) Richard's foreign policy perspective on Israel-Palestine (23:02) Nietzschean Liberalism (25:39) How much truth can people take? (30:44) Technology as a spiritual north star (32:39) Reactionary feminism (38:34) Male status & birth rates (41:49) How important is IQ? (45:29) How to discuss difficult truths (48:00) Richard's debate with Curtis Yarvin (54:39) Understanding Effective Altruism -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, the tables are turned, and Erik is sitting in the guest seat. We're airing an episode the podcast Where It Happens hosted by Greg Isenberg. Greg and Erik discuss B2B creators, how to find profitable niches, how to monetize media businesses, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify - https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Greg's newsletter: https://www.gregisenberg.com/ Greg's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GregIsenberg -- X / TWITTER: @gregisenberg (Greg) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:54) The rise of the B2B creators (04:30) Are podcasts worth investing in? (09:40) How to spot a profitable niche (11:57) Podcast acquisitions and partnerships (15:55) Sponsor | Shopify (19:04) Why media businesses are undermonetized (29:29) Producers are going to overtake Creators (39:31) Is there enough room for B2B creators? (45:15) Businesses that are too good for Venture Capital (52:55) Steal Erik’s free start up ideas -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with theoretical physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu. They discuss political polarization in academia, the fertility crisis, AI, and more. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- SPONSORS: Beehiiv | Shopify Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Superfocus: https://superfocus.ai/ Othram: https://othram.com/index.html Manifold: https://www.manifold1.com/ -- X / TWITTER: @hsu_steve (Steve) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:21) Political polarization in academia (05:47) The decline of meritocracy in academia (10:00) Why can't academia change? (13:27) Truth-seeking in startups (20:36) Sponsor: Shopify (23:36) The fertility crisis (32:11) AI and labor (41:06) What industries are safe from AI automation? (44:05) AI Safety vs accelerationism (47:51) Understanding the rise of China (58:46) The future of the US/China relationship (01:00:41) How does Steve allocate his time? (01:04:41) Steve's suggestions for underexplored opportunities -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

On today's Upstream, Erik interviews Itay Vinik to get an overview of the markets and current macro environment, learn frameworks for adjusting an investing strategy based on rising or falling interest rates, and debunk common investment myths. They cover the Federal Reserve's role in a globalized economy, discuss the strategies that stabilize markets, and evaluate different asset classes during economic shifts. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. Itay Vinik is the Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Equi (https://www.equi.com/), an alternative investment platform that brings investment strategies to accredited investors. - RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj – We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. – SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. SHOPIFY: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg – X / TWITTER: @vinikitay @eriktorenberg @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia – TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (04:57) Understanding Alternative Investments (12:21) The Impact of Interest Rates on Investments (14:00) Sponsors: Shopify (17:59) Understanding the Role of the Fed (23:52) Investing Strategies for Different Economic Conditions (33:52) Debunking the Inverse Correlation of Stocks and Bonds (35:44) Stock Market vs. Real Economy (42:24) Predicting a Potential Recession (42:34) The Fed's Track Record and the Possibility of a Rate Hike (44:03) The Consequences of Increasing Rates (44:50) Understanding Quantitative Easing and Tightening (47:10) The Role of the Fed in Money Creation (01:10:19) The Impact of Globalization on the Fed's Decisions (01:13:22) Understanding China's Currency Manipulation (01:14:37) The Debate on Passive vs Active Investing (01:20:09) The Power of Real Estate in Wealth Creation This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

On today's Upstream, we're sharing a recent episode where Balaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss the future of AI: polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. This episode is a feed drop of The Cognitive Revolution, where Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview builders on the edge of AI and explore its dramatic shift over the next decades. Listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts: https://www.cognitiverevolution.ai/ - RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj – SPONSOR : Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. SHOPIFY: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg – X / TWITTER: @labenz (Nathan) @balajis (Balaji) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod (Upstream) @TurpentineMedia @CogRev_Podcast (Cognitive Revolution) -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:41) Exploring the Concept of AI in the Context of Evolution (02:34) Technical Aspects of AI and its Future (05:25) Challenges in AI: Time Varying and Rule Varying Systems (05:54) AI in Practical Utility and Jobs (07:11) AI Progress and Uncertainties in the Near Future (08:17) AI and the Concept of Generative Intelligence (08:25) Adversarial Input (10:36) Sponsor: Shopify (25:11) Offense and Defense (25:48) Sponsor: Shopify (40:49) Impact on Blue America (45:39 AI Regulation and the Concept of Software FDA (48:45) The Future of AI (49:00) The Role of AI in the Tech Industry (50:18) Exploring the Potential of AI Technology (53:57) The Mathematical Constraints of AI (55:23) The Future of AI: Cryptography and Chaos (57:16) The Impact of AI on Human Evolution (57:19) The Practical Difficulties of AI Implementation (01:02:34) The Future of AI: Amplified Intelligence (01:05:11) The Future of AI: Man-Machine Symbiosis (01:09:09) The Future of AI: Polytheistic AI (01:17:53) Amplified Intelligence Revisited (01:29:02) The Future of AI: The Impact on Blue America (01:30:14) AI in Healthcare (01:30:34) The Role of Human Intelligence in AI Development (01:31:24) The Impact of AI on Job Market and Environment (01:32:27) The Role of AI in Robotics and Training (01:33:50) The Actuator Concept in AI (01:35:06) The Impact of AI on Cryptography (01:37:54) Data Analysis (01:41:00) The Role of AI in Bridging Different Modalities (01:45:28) The Future of AI in a Global Context (01:59:56) The Future of AI in a Tribal Perspective (02:04:26) The Future of AI in a Global Perspective

This week, in a departure from Upstream's usual format, Erik sits downs with friends Nick DeWilde, Sean Linehan, and Justin Mares to exchange startup ideas in a new format called "Request for Startups." Please note that this episode contains some vulgar humor and won't be for everyone. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Live Players with Samo Burja Join host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as they analyze the mindsets of today's most intriguing business leaders, investors, and innovators through the lens of their bold actions and contrarian worldviews. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of the development of technology, business, political power, culture and more. Listen to Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers. -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- X / TWITTER: @jwmares (Justin) @seanlinehan (Sean) @nick_dewilde (Nick) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Preview (01:25) Intro (02:03) Fake jobs for rich families (06:59) Ending San Fransisco burglaries (10:50) Better prenups (13:13) Brunch x Benihana (15:44) Sponsor: Shopify (19:40) Fit Club (24:40) Justin's story from being a janitor at LA Fitness (26:49) Generative AI applications (37:26) Holistic fertility treatment (42:31) Combining workspaces with other services (44:58) Retraining software engineers (47:15) Quora for people (49:57) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Graham Bessellieu For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode, Erik sits down with Noor Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Orchid. They discuss Orchid's recent breakthrough in embryo whole genome sequencing, the fertility crisis, parenting, dating, and more. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Live Players with Samo Burja Join host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as they analyze the mindsets of today's most intriguing business leaders, investors, and innovators through the lens of their bold actions and contrarian worldviews. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of the development of technology, business, political power, culture and more. Listen to Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers. -- SPONSOR: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- LINKS Orchid: https://www.orchidhealth.com/ -- X / TWITTER: @noor_siddiqui_ (Noor) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Preview (01:06) Intro (01:26) What is Orchid? (04:13) Genome sequencing for embryos: What Orchid has accomplished (07:00) The breakthrough that enabled Orchid's genome sequencing (08:32) The impact and significance of the polygenic risk score (11:59) What is IVF (15:19) Sponsors: Shopify (20:04) Concerns and stigmas around reproductive technology (26:10) On the Gattaca future where parents create perfect children (27:54) Moral panic around longevity (30:32) Anything that can improve things can be used in very hostile ways (33:30) What are the norms around having kids going to be 30-40 years from now (36:55) Noor's thoughts on declining fertility rates (42:13) Matchmaking and dating (48:21) Is the decline of men a real thing? (50:20) Increasing fertility rates, moving the culture, and the negative effects of fertility collapse (1:07:37) Trying out Orchid and how the test works (1:09:16) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Graham Bessellieu For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

Beff Jezos, the anonymous co-founder of the effective accelerationism movement (also known as "e/acc") recently had his identity revealed by Forbes reporters. He gives the inside story to Erik Torenberg, Antonio Garcia Martinez, Dan Romero, his e/acc cofounder Bayeslord, and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz. Make informed decision for high impact donations with GiveWell, which is offering Upstream listeners donation matching up to $100. To claim your match, go to https://www.givewell.org ➡️ pick “Podcast” and enter "Upstream with Erik Torenberg" at checkout. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: LIVE PLAYERS Join host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as they analyze the mindsets of today’s most intriguing business leaders, investors, and innovators through the lens of their bold actions and contrarian worldviews. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the development of technology, business, political power, culture and more. Listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers. -- SPONSORS: SHOPIFY Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- X / TWITTER: @BasedBeffJezos (Beff) @bayeslord (Bayeslord) @dwr (Dan) @antoniogm (Antonio) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (02:23) The inside story (05:28) How did Beff's identity get revealed by these reporters? (12:27) Why should journalists get to decide who gets to be anon? (16:13) Beff's academic background in quantum computing (18:33) Why Beff started the anon account (20:52) Sponsor: Shopify (22:30) What's next for e/acc (27:37) Overcentralization of AI (29:56) Where the alpha is (35:42) Sponsor: Givewell (42:12) Decels and the rebellion (48:37) Why is big tech so bad & 2024 elections (51:00) AI Leaderboards (53:44) Crypto and AI crossover (58:08) Decentralizing the AI supply chain (01:04:24) Hardware & Extropic technology (01:09:24) Utility of e/acc (01:14:52) What is the e/acc gospel (01:22:20) What is the near term for AI? -- Upstream is a production from Turpentine Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Michelle Poreh For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode, Erik sits down with Samo Burja, political scientist and founder of Bismarck Analysis. They discuss Samo's term "live player" and today's live players, including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George Soros. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RELATED PODCAST Join host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as they analyze the mindsets of today's most intriguing business leaders, investors, and innovators through the lens of their bold actions and contrarian worldviews. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of the development of technology, business, political power, culture and more. Listen to Live Players: https://link.chtbl.com/liveplayers. -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- X / TWITTER: @SamoBurja (Samo) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:50) What are "live players?" (05:05) Samo’s worldview (10:35) Reflections on the energy transition (15:35) Sponsor: Shopify (18:40) Sam Altman as a live player (22:25) OpenAI’s culture vs Microsoft’s culture (25:45) Sam Altman vs Elon Musk vs Peter Thiel (30:35) Sponsor: Oracle (32:40) Understanding different perspectives on capitalism (33:45) The role of live players in society (38:05) Can we train live players? (43:20) The evolution of live players (48:10) Philanthropists as live players: Bill Gates, the Kochs, etc (55:50) The paradox of open society advocates -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Graham Bessellieu For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

In this episode of Upstream, we revisit a 2020 conversation with Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle exploring the intersection of religion and media in this tech-driven world. Katherine discusses her Washington Post article on how San Francisco's tech advancements have largely bypassed religious institutions. They explore the factors behind this gap, the emergence of digital faith, and the decline of traditional religious affiliations. Katherine also shares her insights on the media landscape discussing the challenges and opportunities in subscription-based journalism and the potential for startups in both media and religion.  🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - 🎙️ History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj — SPONSORS: 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. — LINKS: Silicon Valley has digitized everything but religion. Will that change? - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/05/21/silicon-valley-has-digitized-everything-religion-will-that-change/ Pew Research Forum : https://www.pewresearch.org/ In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace - https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/  — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:26) Katherine’s Article on the Washington Post About Religion and Technology (02:47) The Decline of Religious Affiliation in the US and Europe (04:27) Polarization and Secularization (07:55) Media's Role in Polarization (11:26) SPONSORS: Squad | Babbel (14:12) The New York Times Controversy (21:56) The Role of Independent Journalists (23:41) The Fairness Doctrine and Media Fragmentation (27:25) Subscription Models in Journalism (32:11) The Evolution of Media (35:10) SPONSOR: Brave (45:59) Corporations and Political Stances (49:32) Billionaires and Media Ownership (51:34) Investing in Media and Religion Startups (55:19) Wrap

In this episode, Erik is joined by Byrne Hobart, author of tech and finance newsletter The Diff, to discuss Sam Altman's ousting from OpenAI, Microsoft's role in the story, and the new competitive landscape for AI companies. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RELATED PODCAST Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff. -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- X / TWITTER: @ByrneHobart (Byrne) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:00) Non-obvious thoughts about governance and legal structures (03:45) Could the board have found out something about Sam? (04:40) Tech’s online coordination and choosing sides (06:25) Why haven’t the OpenAI board shared their reasoning? (12:20) Are they going to bring Sam back? (15:10) What should OpenAI’s pivot be? (17:30) Sponsor: Shopify (20:30) Analyzing Microsoft's moves and the sweetheart deal (23:50) Satya's succession plans (27:15) OpenAI's unique governance structure (30:00) Sponsor: Oracle (32:15) Why Byrne is long Microsoft (40:10) What explains Microsoft's turnaround? (42:15) Meta and Google (48:10) Which of these companies Byrne would short: Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft (50:20) Was this a coup from the Effective Altruism movement? -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Graham Bessellieu For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

Today on Upstream we’re dropping a special episode of Age of Miracles which dives into the rise and fall of nuclear power in the 20th century, and what we can learn about pushing nuclear into the 21st century. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- RELATED PODCAST To hear the next episodes of Age of Miracles, a narrative show that explores the complex industries that will play an important role in creating an abundant future for humanity, subscribe at https://link.chtbl.com/ageofmiracles or check out the series on YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@age-of-miracles -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries.From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg -- X / TWITTER: @packym (Packy) @juliadewahl (Julia) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (00:50) Erik introduces Age of Miracles (03:03) Two narratives of nuclear energy (06:43) Nuclear’s early history and rise (12:26) The start of the fall (15:20) Sponsors: Shopify | Oracle (23:08) Five key factors that led to nuclear’s decline (23:30) Factor #1: the AEC (29:00) Factor #2: good old-fashioned economics (30:30) Sponsor: Shopify (34:21) Factor #3: regulation (46:25) Factor #4: the environmentalists (54:05) Factor #5: the nuclear disasters (57:53) Recap of the historical lessons (1:02:49) Wrap -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Sam Kaufman Editor: Graham Bessellieu For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

Balaji Srinivasan returns to Upstream for an unfiltered conversation about recent events: SBF's conviction and the conflict in the middle east. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries.From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff -- X / TWITTER: @balajis (Balaji) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod @turpentinemedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:20) Why should we still care about the SBF story (05:17) An uncensored Twitter exposed the crimes (08:25) Why the system got an F on SBF (11:30) Why the network succeeded over the state (15:10) Sponsors: Shopify | GiveWell (18:00) Actual crimes vs political crimes (20:00) Did the press coverage force the indictment? (22:00) Why didn’t the state move faster if all the pieces were there? (29:30) Political fallout (30:30) Sponsor: Oracle (40:00) Progressive Muslim alliance (42:40) Pro Middle Eastern tech (47:50) Support for anti-Israel is where support for gay marriage was in 2000s (48:20) TikTok is global public opinion minus India and China (50:35) Should America intervene in the Middle East? (52:30) The six regimes (55:30) War with China (57:00) Retribalization of society   This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Erik is joined by Sam Lessin, General Partner at the early-stage VC firm Slow Ventures, essayist, and former VP of Product at Facebook. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- SPONSORS: Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/upstream  Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream  -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00:00) Episode Preview (00:01:00) On Screenshot Essays, writing, and being OK with being wrong (00:03:54) Sam’s thesis on the factory system of venture capital (00:07:18) What does venture look like when the factory line is over? (00:10:10 Sam’s bearishness on YC and a16z (00:-) What are the best firms going to look like in the future? (00:15:08) Sponsor: GiveWell | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (00:17:47) The future state of company building and venture (00:19:16 On the fake unicorns in the past decade and what the next 10 years of unicorns might look like (00:23:15) The biggest factors of luck in life and company building (00:24:29) Sam’s thesis on constellation software (00:28:01) Thoughts on the studio model of venture (00:30:20) Team Shares and why that’s Sam’s most bullish investment (00:33:06) Sponsors: Vanta (00:34:31) Why Sam is bullish on crypto (00:39:47) The different models of finance and investing in creators (00:43:11) Sam’s advice for future investors in 2040 (00:46:16) Is the LP landscape going to change significantly? (00:48:10) On consumer social (00:50:20) On VC firms and indexing (00:52:54) Lower variance founders (00:57:16) Kardashians and the future of media / celebrity (00:58:48) Sam on Balaji’s protech and anti-journalist class (00:59:50) What could have made Twitter a $100b company? (1:02:17) How can we represent social capital on the internet? (1:03:48) On the end of capitalism (1:07:24) Slow Ventures today and where they expect to go in the future This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Erik Torenberg sits down with Aaron Ginn, the CEO and co-founder of Hydra Host and the co-founder of the Lincoln Network (now Foundation for American Innovation). They discuss tech and politics, US-China relations, the GPU revolution, and foreign policy predictions. Upstream is proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream Upstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co – We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.  – SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTA Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC.  Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream   – Timestamps: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:55) Aaron's background (07:23) Aaron's journey on his moral idea maze (11:30) Innovation and progress in the human experiment (15:09) Sponsors: Mercury | Vanta (17:15) Can a right wing parallel economy for everything happen? (19:51) NVIDIA versus the public cloud (28:55) Status of GPUs 6 months to a year from now (34:19) Kinetic interaction with China (42:05) GPUs: Foreign policy concerns and predictions (51:20) Comparison of Biden's and Trump's foreign policy  – LINKS: Hydra Host: https://hydrahost.com/ Book: The Terrible Truth About Liberals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terrible_Truth_About_Liberals  – X/ Twitter Aaron @aginnt Erik: @ErikTorenberg Upstream : @upstream__pod -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Erik Torenberg sits down with Michael Guimarin, a Silicon Valley operator and educator who helps people hone their information diets, to discuss the divide between institutions and networks and how to shift from consensus to resonance. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream Upstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. – SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTA Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream – LINKS: Michael's newsletter: https://theinfodiet.com/ (Course is currently sold out) – TWITTER: Michael: @MichaelGuimarin Erik: @ErikTorenberg Upstream : @upstream__pod – TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (02:10) How decisionmaking outcomes are based on information inputs (04:40) How we understand reality is defined by generational access to technology (05:45) Economics of distributing information (08:50) Michael Guimarin's approach vs Jordan Hall or Daniel Schlac (10:41) Before Google: Consensus (11:00) After Google: Resonance (13:50) Framework: The four estates (16:35) Sponsors: Mercury | Vanta (18:35) The divide between institutions and networks (21:00) Why humans can't predict step changes (25:00) Painting a future which links authority and responsibility (29:00) Where Michael differs from Balaji on decentralization (33:20) Sponsor: NetSuite (34:25) Shifting from consensus to resonance (36:00) The timeline for resolving these issues is over two generations (40:00) Longevity (45:25) The information diet as a war (48:15) Artificial Intelligence (50:50) Do we concede too easily when we get power over institutions? (01:01:00) A top 1% to the top .001% information diet: emotional mastery (01:05:00) How should you adjust the inputs? (01:07:30) Information trillionaires

Writer and political scientist Richard Hanania is back on Upstream to discuss Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican establishment, the sexual revolution, immigration, and his ideological differences with Curtis Yarvin. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream Upstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co – SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTA Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream – RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff – TWITTER: Richard: @RichardHanania Erik: @ErikTorenberg Upstream : @upstream__pod – TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (02:12) Attempted cancellation (05:00) Gender Differences (07:45) Racial Profiling (15:30) Law and Culture: How should conservatives reorient their approach (20:00) Sponsors: Mercury | Vanta (26:15) Richard’s views on dismantling the administrative state (31:00) Are the elites governing the US doing a bad job on public health and law enforcement? (34:15) Sponsor: NetSuite (35:15) Where Richard overlaps with classical liberalism (37:00) How Richard thinks of the Republican establishment (42:35) Richard’s perspective on the recent Bari Weiss debate on the impact of the sexual on women. (48:00) How to increase fertility and the quality of the population (53:00) Richard’s evolution on immigration (58:00) Should a country determine its demographics? (01:02:00) How important is inequality? (01:05:30) Debating Curtis Yarvin (01:16:00) What comes after liberalism – and who cares? (01:21:00) Balaji’s Gray tribe

Robin Hanson, economist, author ,and futurist, sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss Robin’s ideas about status, truth, and the obstacles for innovation. Upstream is proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream Upstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co – SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTA Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream – RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff  – TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Preview (05:38) How Robin developed his theory of the Sacred (09:07)The Sacred binds people together (17:17) Elites  (19:00) Sponsors: Mercury | Vanta (37:20) Gossip networks (38:00) Sponsor: NetSuite (39:13) Proposal to fix academia (45:37) Falsehoods (01:05:12) Double agents in our minds (01:08:36) What is cringe? (01:12:31) Therapy (01:17:02) How falling fertility will affect innovation (01:23:49) Social change strategies for reviving fertility rates -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co. Producer: Natalie Toren Editor: Graham Bessellieu For inquiries about guests or sponsoring the podcast, please email natalie@turpentine.co

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and one of the most influential venture capitalists of the last decade, sits down with Erik for Turpentine VC. They shed light on how Ben thinks about firm-building and where the future is going. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream -- Subscribe to Turpentine VC to hear upcoming episodes with top VC minds: Alfred Lin of Sequoia, Elad Gil, and partners at Benchmark: https://www.podpage.com/turpentinevc/ -- Join our free newsletter to get Erik's top 3 insights from each episode every week: https://turpentinevc.substack.com/ -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTA Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream -- TIMESTAMPS: (01:00) Episode Preview (03:55) Ben on what allows the legendary VC firms to be great for multi-decades (05:05) a16z’s unique product-first, investor-second approach (06:20) YC as a16z’s closest spiritual analog (09:40) Ben on why venture firms should stay private (11:40) How a16z scaled their fund sizes to market opportunities (12:40) Why a16z chose to go bigger than Benchmark or USV on fund size (14:20) “Spreadsheet” VCs vs. people-first VCs (16:00) a16z’s customer-focused strategy (17:28) The firm’s unique approach to governance (17:50) Sponsor: Mercury, Vanta (19:55) Shared economics and centralized control (21:20) Ben’s view on the future of venture (24:00) How Ben thinks about riding trends like AI, crypto, etc. (27:00) a16z’s AI strategy (32:00) Will a16z expand into multi-asset firms like BlackRock? (33:00) How a16z thinks about their LPs differently from other firms (35:28) Sponsor: NetSuite (38:00) Peacetime vs. Wartime VCs -- LINKS: Why Software Is Eating the World: https://a16z.com/why-software-is-eating-the-world/ -- X / TWITTER: @bhorowitz (Ben) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @TurpentineVC

Erik Torenberg sits down with Jon Askonas to look at the impact of disruptive technology in important areas like the media, religion, culture, and politics. Jon is an assistant professor of politics at Catholic University, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a writer for publications like The New Atlantis and Compact. We are proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream -- Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Mercury | Vanta  Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/upstream -- TIMESTAMPS: (01:00) Episode Preview (03:00) Jon’s thesis: The end of consensus reality (04:20) What people have underestimated and overestimated since the 70s (06:00) What comes after the nation state? (07:00) The role of military technology in the next era (09:45) What inputs are most important in determining a country’s dominance (11:00) Countering Bali’s theory of the decline of the US dollar (13:00) What has happened to our consensus reality?  (16:49) Sponsors: Mercury, Vanta, and NetSuite (18:50) Social Media is a red herring. The internet itself was the disruptor (21:30) Why solving the problems of social media won’t return the world to sanity (26:20) Fragmentation is a good thing (29:25) 2nd order effects of AI (30:30) E/acc vs EA  (32:50) Creating a religion out of AI (40:00) The problem with conservatives and technology (46:25) Conservatives ignoring the culture (52:00) Future of the right? (57:00) How do we make sense of a world where we can’t determine a fact? (59:10) Believing science, experts, and Sam Harris -- X/ TWITTER: Erik’s Twitter: @eriktorenberg Jon’s Twitter: @JonAskonas Podcast Twitter: @Upstream__Pod -- This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "America First". They explore tech's influence on politics, ideological shifts, and international dynamics affecting global economics and policies. Balaji also provides a critical analysis of movements like the January 6th riots and contemplates the future of democracy. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - 🎙️ History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj — SPONSORS: 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🐝 Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:29) The Rise of the Tech Counter Elite (06:15) Global Influence and the Tech Center (12:49) The Tech Counter Elite vs. Traditional Elites (19:10) Democratic Party's Internal Struggles (27:13) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv (37:31) Conspiracy Theories and Political Divides (39:19) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave (41:51) Meta Organisms and Human Coordination (51:26) Media Manipulation and Political Narratives (01:10:56) Economic and Political Shifts (01:37:04) Economic Collapse and Future Predictions (01:40:05) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Balaji Srinivasan joins Erik Torenberg and Moment of Zen co-host Dan Romero to share his new theory of the Tribal Lens, why cognitive territories will gain increasingly more power than land-defined territories, why the US is no longer a beacon in the world, and Balaji strategy to fix San Francisco. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen -- Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Mercury | Vanta Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/zen -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:30) Episode Preview (09:55) Cloud Cartography: If you don't control the cognitive territory. you don't control the lands (14:44) Sponsors: Mercury, NetSuite (18:30) Why people don't take the internet seriously? (23:00) The US is not a nation state (25:10) A civilization state (26:00) Why Americans should learn about India's history / India and the US are converging (33:25) Why a civil war doesn't seem realistic to people now (40:00) Where else should a talented person move? (41:20) Asia is the new global center, (48:20) Internet first, not America first (01:03:25) Software vs. Hardware (01:05:25) Elon and the Grey Strategy (01:17:15) Israel is looking away from the US for partners (01:20:25) The Tribal lens integrates both domestic and foreign politics (01:21:25) Will blue always win? (01:24:25) Making sense of the China meltdown story (01:36:15How to fix San Francisco (01:51:25) Irrationality is an advantage (02:06:25) Dan and Erik debrief -- X / Twitter @balajis (Balaji) @dwr (Dan) @eriktorenberg (Erik) @MOZ_Podcast

In this episode of Upstream, Emad Mostaque, founder of Stability AI, and Sam Lessin, GP of Slow Ventures and former VP Product at Facebook, discuss how paradigm shifting AI will be for different sectors of the global economy, whether startups or incumbents have the edge, and whether AI is actually a good investment for Venture Capital. Topics covered in this debate span: the attention and information economy, SaaS markets, how AI-created entertainment will impact society and our relationships, porn, and AI disruption of highly-regulated industries. Erik Torenberg and The Cognitive Revolution AI podcast host Nathan Labenz serve as moderators, asking questions towards the end. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen -- Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Mercury | Vanta Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Looking to give your startup a competitive edge? Meet Mercury: https://mercury.com/ Mercury is banking for ambitious companies—a modern partner that can provide you with the tools and resources you need to turn your startup into the best version of itself. It’s software built to help you scale, with safety and stability, when you need to — whether you're a team of two, or a team of 1,000. Join more than 100,000 startups on Mercury, the powerful and intuitive way for ambitious companies to bank. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Choice Financial Group and involve bank and trust members FDIC. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/zen -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: (01:00) Episode Preview (03:20) AI as an extender rather than a deck shuffler (07:45) Is AI a disruptive or sustaining innovation?  (09:13) What is intelligence? (11:47) The attention and information economy (16:43) Storytelling, the stock market, and the economy (18:13) Sponsors: Mercury, Vanta, NetSuite (25:30) Startups vs incumbents (27:40) Disrupting highly-regulated industries (28:47) AI in education: an AI tutor for every child (31:40) AI as StackOverflow 2.0 for engineers (33:45) Regulatory Arbitrage (36:20) The oracle problem (38:00) Apple as the weakest live player in AI (42:15) AI in communities and the future of social media (43:00) Replika on Valentine’s Day and AI-generated porn (50:10) How does the market for inference shape up? Inference vs. cloud (52:30) What are the most likely incumbents to be disrupted? (53:25) Will big tech continue to opensource?  (55:30) Birth rate in US in the future given AI (57:00) Can any AI leader sustain high gross margins in the future? (58:00) Stability’s business model

Erik Torenberg sits down with Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican presidential candidate rapidly rising in the polls. Vivek recorded this interview with us in late march. Given the attention from his performance at the first GOP debate this week, we decided to re-run it. We go deeper on many of the soundbites that have been popping up this summer, including his ideas about the culture war, affirmative action, and climate science. We also cover his ambitious transformation from Silicon Valley founder to political candidate, and discuss his radical policy proposals. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com. -- Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Vanta Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/zen -- X/TWITTER: Erik's Twitter: @eriktorenberg Vivek's Twitter: @VivekGRamaswamy Podcast Twitter: @Upstream__Pod Erik's Substack: eriktorenberg.substack.com -- TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Episode Preview (03:03) When Vivek set his sights on running for president (09:02) Vivek’s presidential platform: Affirmative action, Climate, Fed, Drug crisis  (15:35) Sponsors: Vanta, NetSuite (16:36) Where Vivek overlaps/differs with Silicon Valley: free speech, DEI, SVB (24:19) How Vivek conceptualizes a meritocracy (30:25) How to remove politics from corporations (41:00) Silicon Valley should empathize more with the rest of the country? (42:24) Cultural otherness (55:06) Defining “woke” (56:22) What’s it like to run a presidential campaign This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

Samuel Hammond is a Canadian-born, DC-based senior economist for the Foundation for American Innovation, a think tank focused on bridging the cultures of Silicon Valley and DC. His research focuses on innovation and the institutional impact of disruptive technologies. He is an unconventional thinker and writer (Substack: https://www.secondbest.ca/) who participates in nuanced dialogue with different thinkers across economics, tech, policy, and philosophy. In this conversation we discuss Sam’s views on AI, mental models for his worldview, polarization, and how political influence really works. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen -- Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Vanta Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all ecommerce in the US. And Shopify's the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy's, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one ecommerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you're selling, Shopify's got you covered. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/torenberg. -- Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more. With Vanta, you can save up to 400 hours and 85% of costs. Vanta scales with your business, helping you successfully enter new markets, land bigger deals, and earn customer loyalty. Bonus? Upstream listeners get $1000 off Vanta. Just go to https://www.vanta.com/zen -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST:  Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. Subscribe to “The Riff” with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg: https://link.chtbl.com/theriff -- LINKS: thefai.org https://www.secondbest.ca/ -- X/ TWITTER: @hamandcheese @joinfai @eriktorenberg (Erik) @upstream__pod -- TIMESTAMPS (01:00) Episode Preview (03:00) How Sam characterizes his worldview (07:25) The great founder theory (11:47) Between AI safety concerns and e/acc beliefs, here does Samuel fall on AI? (15:24) What would Sam say to libertarians? (16:00) Sponsor: NetSuite (18:11) What can we learn from Mormonism about AI risks and regulations ?(21:19) AI is leveling the playing field (25:00) Instead of libertarian, AI is communitarian (27:10) Lessons of Mormonism for adapting to technological revolutions (30:00) Do right or left beliefs qualify as a religion, with their own institutions? (40:57) Humanism, grey goo, and why waste is good (44:40) Mental model for government dysfunction (48:09) The think tank ecosystem and how influence really works in DC? (50:53) Samuel’s interesting disagreements with: Balaji Srinivasan, Robin Hanson, Tyler Cowen, Bryan Caplan (52:27) What’s the best argument for pluralism? (52:48) Ezra Klein and Chris Caldwell actually make the same argument about polarization This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.