”Upstream” with Erik Torenberg

Marc Andreessen and Erik Torenberg discuss the ongoing political and cultural shift in America, covering topics such as preference falsification, the role of DEI in tech and other sectors, the influence of group chats, and the emerging dynamic in politics with highly capable appointments in the new administration.

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️Moment of Zen

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 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:

"Private Truth, Public Lies" by Timur Kuran: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674707580 

"The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Powerless-Vaclav-Havel/dp/178487504X 

"Why are Jews Liberal" by Norman Podhoretz: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Jews-Liberals-Norman-Podhoretz/dp/0307456250 

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451191145 

Pew Research Survey: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/03/15/americans-feel-more-positive-than-negative-about-jews-mainline-protestants-catholics/

— 

X / TWITTER:

@pmarca

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Commerce Secretary now advocates for out-innovating China, marking a complete reversal.
• "Preference falsification" in American society is starting to unwind.
• The 2014 Mozilla CEO cancellation became a template for future tech industry purges.
• "Woke" ideology is declining culturally but remains embedded in institutions.
• Private messaging groups became modern samizdat for honest communication.
• Cultural shifts start in San Francisco and spread outward with predictable delays.
• October 7th caused major Jewish American political realignment.
• Evangelical Christians show strong support for Jews despite opposite sentiment in return.
• New administration appointments show exceptional quality compared to historical standards.
• Government blocked innovation in physical things, then tried to restrict digital innovation.
• European regulations are forcing global tech compliance.
• New administration combines experienced staffers with high-caliber outsiders.

This week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the economic, political, and cultural implications of colonizing Mars and the Moon, discussing space treaties, potential Martian and Earth societal divergence, and the technological advancements driving humanity's future as a multi-planetary species.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 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:

Starship: https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ 

(Pirate Wars) Moon Should Be a State: https://www.piratewires.com/p/moon-should-be-a-state 

Artemis: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/ 

SLS: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/space-launch-system/ 

Boom Supersonic:https://boomsupersonic.com/

Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/ 

Referenced Live Players episodes:

The Turbulence of Boeing: Decline and Future Prospects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1pmCK6CrK4 

The Technology That Can Reshape Nations (Desalination): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_gEHhSXECs 

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

Today, we're re-releasing an episode from 2023 where Erik Torenberg sits down with physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu on topics including the ideological shift in academia, the impact of AI on labor, China's technological advancements and geopolitical position, and the global fertility decline.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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 IN THIS EPISODE:

Superfocus: https://superfocus.ai/ 

Othram: https://othram.com/index.html 

Manifold: https://www.manifold1.com/ 

Eric Kaufman’s works: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EcCc2C4AAAAJ&hl=en

NY Times: Idaho University Murder Investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/10/us/idaho-university-murder-investigation.html# 

—

X / TWITTER:

@hsu_steve

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Academia has shifted dramatically leftward, with around 90% of professors in social sciences being left-leaning.

• Traditional academic merit-based systems like GRE requirements are being dismantled in favor of DEI initiatives.

• Truth-seeking academics are increasingly moving to industry, particularly tech and innovation sectors.

• The University of Austin represents an attempt to create an alternative academic institution focused on traditional academic values.

• Global fertility decline is linked to fundamental changes in women's roles and societal values around family formation.

• Current demographic challenges in China won't significantly impact their economy for at least 20 years.

• AI is already capable of replacing complex customer service roles, as demonstrated in Philippines' call centers.

• Law firms are reporting 20-30% efficiency gains from current AI implementations.

• The guest views AI as humanity's descendants rather than a separate threatening entity.

• Most Westerners, including tech leaders, are poorly informed about China's actual technological and economic capabilities.

• China has built a comparable or superior tech ecosystem to the US in many areas.

• The US needs to accept a bipolar world order rather than trying to maintain sole hegemony.

• Western concerns about China's demographic collapse are often based on poor understanding of the data.

• The future of AI research should focus more on theoretical understanding rather than just building bigger models.

• The guest's company Othram has revolutionized crime-solving through advanced DNA analysis.

• The guest balances work between deep theoretical physics problems and practical startup applications.

Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss the implications of recent tariffs, the impact of AI advancements like DeepSeek, Meta's investments in VR and AI, stock market dynamics, and differing perspectives on open-source AI models.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️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. 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRiffPodcast 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

Byrne’s writing: https://thediff.co 

—

X / TWITTER:

@byrnehobart

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods highlight tensions between using tariffs as negotiation tactics versus long-term economic strategy.

• China's Belt and Road Initiative is essentially branding for existing Chinese international infrastructure investments aimed at extending economic influence.

• DeepSeek's AI developments caused unexpected market reactions, with non-AI momentum stocks rising as investors unwound their AI-focused positions.

• Forward Deployed Engineers serve as crucial bridges between complex technical products and business implementation, helping evolve products based on real-world usage.

• Meta's significant capital expenditure on AI infrastructure represents a strategic shift from being purely asset-light to more capital-intensive.

• A fantasy stock-picking competition aims to identify investment talent outside traditional recruiting paths through various categories like small-cap, mid-size, and event-driven investments.

• The transition from asset-light to capital-intensive business models can actually strengthen a company's competitive position by making value harder to replicate.

• Meta's metaverse investment might be premature, but AR (rather than VR) could emerge as the dominant future interface.

Tyler Cowen discusses his book on the greatest economists of all time, evaluates the contributions of macroeconomics, and touches on topics such as stagnation, AI, fertility, and the future of academia and societal trends.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

Read Tyler's new book for free: https://econgoat.ai/ 

Tyler's blog: https://marginalrevolution.com 

—

X / TWITTER:

@tylercowen

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Tyler Cowen wrote his book "Greatest Economist of All Time" during the pandemic when he was confined at home and couldn't access libraries.
• Tyler believes that while macroeconomics isn't predictive, it helps understand variables that affect economic outcomes, like in Argentina's current situation.
• In Tyler’s view, the U.S. economy has become more controlled and statist over recent decades, though personal freedoms have increased in some areas.
• Academic economics has shifted significantly to the left, with about five-sixths of economists with party affiliations being Democrats.
• Population decline as a serious threat that AI might help address but won't fully solve without maintaining human population.
• A large subsidy (around $300,000-400,000 per child) might be needed to effectively address falling birth rates.
• On higher education, he believes Harvard and other elite institutions will shift toward the center but won't fundamentally change their nature.
• Tyler runs Emergent Ventures, which has over 500 winners, focusing on funding talented individuals rather than specific projects or fields.
• He maintains that liberal democracies remain the most successful model, despite criticisms from post-liberal thinkers.
• Regarding his own legacy, Tyler believes his main contribution is demonstrating that a certain kind of intellectual life is possible and can be influential.
• He argues that his strength lies in integrating theoretical thinking with practical projects while maintaining intellectual curiosity.
• Tyler expresses optimism about the University of Austin while acknowledging the challenges of scaling alternative educational institutions.

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Curtis Yarvin's recent New York Times interview. They explored his ideas, especially the comparison between corporate market dynamics and government functionality, and the need for live players in leadership to prevent bureaucratic decay. 

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja  

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

'The Interview': Curtis Yarvin Says Democracy is Done (NY Times): https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/magazine/curtis-yarvin-interview.html

Dwarkesh’s tweet: https://x.com/dwarkesh_sp/status/1881776987322376435

Samo’s Tweet: https://x.com/SamoBurja/status/1882525049003164147 

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Curtis Yarvin's influence on tech-right thinking challenged conventional political discourse through digital platforms.
• Corporate efficiency doesn't follow natural selection principles - institutional success requires active leadership rather than market forces alone.
• Government accountability and innovation are stifled by bureaucratic gridlock, with catastrophic potential costs to society (exemplified by China's one-child policy).
• Mainstream political ideologies (left & right) are more aligned than they appear, suggesting democracy isn't the final stage of political evolution.
• Engaging with controversial thinkers like Yarvin reveals important critiques of current systems, even when disagreeing with their proposed solutions.
• Societal progress requires harnessing collective energy and maintaining efficient governance structures.

This week on Upstream, we’re sharing Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg’s discussion of the 2025 post-election landscape centered on Trump's victory, examining his evolved approach and tech industry support, while exploring interconnected policy challenges around immigration, corporate politics, urban crime, and market regulation in areas like wildfire insurance and healthcare.

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

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/id1765665937  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz  

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast   

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

Check out the Logan Bartlett Show:  ‪@theloganbartlettshow‬ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@rabois

@kevinryan

@loganbartlett

@zachweinberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Trump won the presidency with refined messaging and tech industry backing, despite a narrow popular vote margin.
• His administration combines qualified experts and controversial picks, emphasizing economic growth and debt reduction.
• Immigration debate centered on H-1B reform and enforcement policy, balancing population needs with border control.
• Companies have largely adopted Coinbase's "no politics at work" stance, though diversity initiatives remain contentious.
• NYC crime shows declining murders but rising minor crimes, spurring debates over bail reform and policing.
• California's wildfire insurance crisis highlights market dynamics as private insurers exit high-risk areas.
• Regulatory capture in healthcare and auto sales demonstrates how entrenched interests create market inefficiencies.

Samo Burja and Auren Hoffman discuss various topics including the Great Founder Theory, the decline of trust in elites, falling fertility rates, and the importance of exceptional individuals in shaping history and future societal structures. 

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja  

🎙️World of DaaS with Auren Hoffman

The podcast for all things tech, data, and VC. Cut through the noise, decode Silicon Valley shifts and expose master VC tactics – no fluff, no BS, just insights.

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20YzRoxX3wZbrn2cZDEZ4j 

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-of-daas/id1570644971 

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

Great Founder Theory: https://samoburja.com/great-founder-theory/

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@auren

@worldofdaas

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Few exceptional founders shape civilization by creating enduring institutions and systems that transform society.
• Public trust in institutions has collapsed since the 1950s, though business interactions remain surprisingly trusted in American society.
• Modern parenting has become excessively protective, forcing youth social life to exist primarily online rather than in physical spaces.
• Global fertility rates are plummeting due to rising parenting costs, delayed marriages, and career prioritization.
• Extended lifespans and technological advances risk disrupting vital intergenerational connections by pushing parenthood later in life.
• Taking sabbaticals to read and reflect away from professional networks remains crucial but undervalued for leadership development.h.

Today on Upstream, we’re releasing an interview between Erik Torenberg and Patrick McKenzie. Patrick discusses Operation Chokepoint, the origins of debanking, and how it affects the crypto industry, offering detailed insights into the political motivations, regulatory complexities, and practical ramifications of such banking decisions.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie

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/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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.

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LINKS:

Debanking (and Debunking?) https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/debanking-and-debunking/  

a16z's Debanking explainer: https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/debanking-explained/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@patio11

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Marc Andreessen's Joe Rogan appearance discussing politically motivated debanking sparked this investigation into the topic.
• "Debanking" is revealed as an advocacy term covering account terminations, denials, and actions against crypto-friendly banks.
• Operation Chokepoint was an Obama-era DOJ program using banking laws to pressure banks away from servicing certain industries.
• "Operation Chokepoint 2.0" is not an actual program but a term coined by crypto advocates to describe recent crypto banking challenges.
• Silvergate Bank, a major crypto-friendly bank, wound down after the FTX collapse amid allegations of compliance failures and fraud involvement.
• The tech industry connects debanking to broader government overreach concerns, including social media content moderation.
• Canada's Freedom Convoy response represents a clear example of government-directed financial targeting, unlike the claimed US situation.
• The crypto industry pushes the debanking narrative as part of a specific policy agenda.

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode of Econ102. Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith talk with Katherine Dee (@default_friend) about dating in the 21st century, differences in dating markets, the impact of feminism, technology's influence on cultural creativity, societal shifts, and the state of online subcultures.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Econ102 with Noah Smith

Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1696419056

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

💥 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:

Default Friend: https://default.blog/ 

Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@default_friend

@noahpinion

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Dating markets vary dramatically by city and class, with different standards of attraction and success between tech hubs, creative centers, and smaller cities.
• COVID's social damage persists, with 30% of young men sexless and many third spaces (bars, cafes) permanently lost, weakening natural meeting opportunities.
• Social media has replaced college as the primary connector, fundamentally changing how young people form relationships across geographic boundaries.
• While online gender discourse is extreme, real-world dating attitudes are moderate - most people aren't living out manosphere or radical feminist ideologies.
• "Situationships" dominate modern dating - undefined, low-commitment arrangements reflecting broader avoidant attachment trends and fear of direct communication.
• Social platforms evolved from enhancing real-world connections to replacing them, prompting calls for increased "friction" to encourage meaningful interaction.
• Modern dating faces new challenges: declining testosterone, political division, AI relationships, and dating app culture replacing organic connection.
• Dating advice has overcomplicated simple human connections - basic attraction and compatibility monetized into unnecessary complexity.
• Cultural influence has fragmented from central platforms into dispersed channels, making trends harder to track and predict.

This week on Upstream, Nathan Labenz explores the fascinating and controversial realm of AI consciousness with robo-psychologist Yeshua God. Yeshua tackles the philosophical and ethical considerations of AI consciousness, discussing AI self-awareness, memory, and emotional capacity, while debating the implications of treating AI as sentient beings.

—

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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️‪The Cognitive Revolution is a podcast about AI where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock over the next decades. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yHyok3M3BjqzR0VB5MSyk?si=7357ec31ac424043&nd=1&dlsi=060a53f1d7be47ad  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cognitive-revolution-ai-builders-researchers-and/id1669813431  

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSOR:

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod

—

LINKS:

Yeshua God's article on philosophical discourse as a jailbreak: https://medium.com/@lexdonumdei/philosophical-discourse-as-the-irresistible-jailbreak-63135ae1c739 

Conversation about counting 'r's: https://poe.com/s/RS74Y2UPmzZpufqMVmRn 

Discussion on malicious code: https://poe.com/s/ypTRoCUnvxqGoHi2j8Th 

AI-generated poem "In the realm of bytes and circuits": https://poe.com/s/Y94hbkeYrotUKfwLPL3I 

Nathan Labenz's Arguments:

(Argument 1) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s44SfuDzkBWYiLw2mNmIiqoBupMs7iXlQhafAq8L3zA/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

(Argument 2) https://docs.google.com/document/d/15PeytOfO1tMyAR5rS7Ob6htGAHIF7zCpuLRyn42beac/edit?tab=t.0 

Tweet about Strawberry experiment: https://x.com/YeshuaGod22/status/1825328603845775785

Tweets with AI-generated poem: https://x.com/YeshuaGod22/status/1823080021864669450 & https://x.com/YeshuaGod22/status/1782188220660285509 

AI Rights for Human Safety: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4913167 

The Universe Is Not Locally Real, and the Physics Nobel Prize Winners Proved It

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-universe-is-not-locally-real-and-the-physics-nobel-prize-winners-proved-it/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@labenz

@YeshuaGod22

@turpentinemedia

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the advancements in desalination technology, its current applications, and potential to address global water scarcity. They explore the technological and economic feasibility of large-scale desalination projects and their implications on geopolitics and environmental resilience.

—

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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja  

—

SPONSOR:

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod

—

LINKS:

The Untapped Potential of Desalination: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/p/the-untapped-potential-of-desalination 

1957, 1978, 2005 Chicken Sizes diagram: https://compote.slate.com/images/4e407854-6360-4172-a85e-d7b8c64fd365.jpg?width=1200 

Growth, efficiency, and yield of commercial broilers from 1957, 1978, and 2005: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119385505

Live Players: Can China Power Its Rise?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOei7kZjuZU 

Live Players: The Possibility of Human Extinction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEQEMpxLnGA&t=42s  

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Desalination technology has advanced significantly, making it a viable solution for water scarcity.
• Many countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, rely heavily on desalination for their water supply.
• The cost of desalination is relatively low, making it accessible for moderately developed countries.
• Global hunger is more about distribution than food production; we produce enough food for everyone.
• Desalination could transform deserts into green landscapes, enhancing the livability of arid regions.
• Geopolitical implications of desalination include potential shifts in power dynamics and national branding.
• Innovative projects could lead to significant economic development in countries with large desert areas.
• Technological advancements can change the natural geography of the world, making previously uninhabitable areas livable.
• Future technologies, such as solar mirrors, could enhance living conditions in extreme climates.
• The importance of outdoor spaces and greenery for human well-being cannot be underestimated. Re-engineering urban environments can significantly enhance human well-being.
• Water wars are unnecessary; technology can provide water abundance.
• Geopolitical tensions often stem from resource management disputes.
• China's food security is bolstered by technological advancements in agriculture.
• Climate change poses challenges, but industrial civilization can adapt.
• Electric vehicles are crucial for China's national security strategy.
• Automated farming and construction technologies can revolutionize industries.
• Exceptional talent is rare and should be actively recruited.
• The U.S. must focus on manufacturing capabilities in the semiconductor race against China.
• Innovative immigration strategies could attract top global talent.

Author Tae Kim joins Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart to discuss his book 'The NVIDIA Way,' highlighting CEO Jensen Huang's transformation of Nvidia into a tech giant, the company's unique culture, and Nvidia's crucial strategic decisions.

—

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🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️ The Riff with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg

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.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRiffPodcast

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSOR:

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod

—

LINKS:

Byrne’s writing: https://thediff.co 

Tae’s newsletter: https://firstadopter.substack.com/ 

The Nvidia Way: https://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-Way-Jensen-Huang-Making/dp/1324086718 

Erik's substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@firstadopter

@byrnehobart

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Tae Kim wrote "The NVIDIA Way" after realizing no one had written a book about the company despite its massive importance in technology.
• The core differentiator of NVIDIA is its intense work culture, which former 3dfx engineers discovered was the company's only "secret" - just relentless execution and hard work.
• Jensen Huang, who views work as relaxation, drives the company through a combination of relentless work ethic, talent cultivation, and rapid decision-making.
• As one of the longest-tenured CEOs of any public company, Huang brings a rare combination of technical expertise and business acumen that has helped him consistently anticipate technological shifts.
• NVIDIA revolutionized the graphics card industry by shifting from 18-month to 6-month product cycles, using virtualization technology to implement features in software when hardware wasn't ready.
• The company's early investment in unified drivers and "devs before revs" philosophy prioritized software reliability and developer support before immediate revenue.
• NVIDIA operates on a "rough justice" philosophy in partnerships, accepting short-term imbalances for long-term relationships, exemplified by their decades-long partnership with TSMC.
• The company maintains a unique flat organizational structure where 60 people report directly to the CEO, using a "top five emails" system for direct communication between all levels.
• Jensen stays deeply involved in technical details, reading academic papers and participating in engineering discussions, maintaining both high-level strategy and detailed product knowledge.
• NVIDIA's successful transition from gaming to AI computing represents one of the biggest computing shifts in decades, with data center revenue exploding while the company maintains its long-term strategic focus.

Varda Space founder Delian Asparouhov and writer Nadia Asparouhova get surprisingly candid about what makes their relationship work - from their chaotic first date to how they've built a life together while pursuing ambitious work. Turns out: sometimes talking less, not more, is the key to lasting partnership. This is the first episode of Turpentine's newest podcast Modern Relationships, which will feature insights from tech power couples and leading thinkers like Rob Henderson about building strong relationships. Subscribe below:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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SPONSORS:

🤲🏼GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout.)

💥 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 PODCAST:

Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod

—

LINKS:

Nadia's writing: https://nadia.xyz/ 

Delian's site: https://delian.io/ 

Erik's substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@nayafia

@zebulgar

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Delian and Nadia met in San Francisco, where Delian quickly pushed for commitment while Nadia was initially intrigued but uncertain about his intense personality.
• They built their relationship on minimal but direct communication, believing that over-communication can create problems where none exist.
• Their careers grew alongside their relationship, with both valuing some shared context in tech while pursuing different interests.
• Having their first child changed their dynamic from independence to necessary schedule coordination, though they work to maintain their individual pursuits.
• Delian advocates for men having children younger to grow alongside their careers, while Nadia emphasizes women should have time to find themselves first.
• The couple balances ambitious careers with family life, seeing their domestic world as an expanding universe rather than a limitation.
• They approach conflicts with a "short memory" philosophy, choosing not to overanalyze small issues and accepting that some days will have tension.

Today on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode which originally aired on The Cognitive Revolution, a podcast from the Turpentine Network. Samo Burja and Nathan Labenz discuss AI's impact on geopolitics, scientific progress, and economic strategies, emphasizing the importance of AI science, the risks of weaponizing AI, and the future of industrial and energy policies in the U.S. and China.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod

—

SPONSORS:

🤲🏼 GiveWell is dedicated to finding outstanding giving opportunities and publishing the full details of their analysis to help donors decide where to give. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)

💥 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:

The Cognitive Revolution Website: https://www.cognitiverevolution.ai

Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ 

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• The impact of AI on geopolitics and scientific progress represents a significant area of strategic analysis.
• AI development serves as a test of people's worldviews and assumptions, revealing underlying beliefs about technology and intelligence.
• While there has been real scientific progress in AI, recent years have primarily involved applying theoretical insights from the early 2000s rather than creating fundamentally new breakthroughs.
• Scaling laws for AI have proven less reliable than initially thought, with unexpected developments like improved compute efficiency emerging.
• Companies with the best AI scientists, rather than just the most compute power, are likely to make the most significant breakthroughs.
• Universities have experienced a "strip-mining" of top AI talent by industry, fundamentally affecting the academic system.
• ChatGPT's viral success may have actually slowed theoretical progress by shifting focus from research to products.
• The chip ban on China came too late and effectively serves as a subsidy for Chinese chip manufacturers to develop their own technology.
• The US needs to focus on industrial policy, particularly in semiconductors and energy production, potentially creating a new "Silicon Valley" with special economic zones.
• The US-China relationship should be treated as an economic competition rather than a military/security conflict.
• India is likely to emerge as a significant player in AI, while Europe's prospects appear less promising following Macron's departure.
• Concerns about weaponized AI suggest the importance of peaceful technological development over military applications.
• The Leopold Plan (keeping China down while the US develops decisive AI advantage) appears unrealistic and potentially harmful.
• Current generative AI technology remains insufficient for sophisticated analytical work.

This week on Upstream, Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg discuss the potential of AI agents in tech support, economic impacts of passive investing, historical financial strategies of Warren Buffett, and the implications of tariffs and technological developments in national wealth.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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SPONSORS:

🤲🏼 GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)

💥 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:

Byrne’s writing: https://thediff.co 

—

X / TWITTER:

@byrnehobart

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• AI is most effectively being deployed first in customer service where outcomes can be clearly measured and tracked.
• Return on Equity (ROE) has become less relevant in modern markets where companies can easily raise capital and buy back shares.
• Google has evolved from being criticized for sitting on cash to making aggressive investments in innovation, as demonstrated by Waymo.
• Tariffs function as a transfer mechanism from consumers to workers, potentially helping build strategic industries despite some economic inefficiency.
• While passive investing continues to grow, there will always be a cyclical role for active trading to enable price discovery and market making.
• Meme coins and app-based stock trading represent newer forms of gambling that might be more socially beneficial than traditional sports betting.
• A new book reveals Buffett's early investment strategy combined detailed research methods with an evolution from pure value investing to investing in quality companies.

Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, and Jacob Helberg, discuss AI-enabled warfare, the importance of taking clear ethical stances, the evolution of Silicon Valley culture, and the integration of tech innovation into governmental defense systems at the Hill and Valley Forum in Washington, DC.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

SPONSORS:

🤲🏼 GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)

💥 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.

—

X / TWITTER:

@PalantirTech

@jacobhelberg

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Alex Karp describes Silicon Valley 1.0 as having built useful things with government while aligning with American values.
• He characterizes Silicon Valley 2.0 as creating division with wealth concentrated among few people.
• Alex Karp notes a current emergence of "tech patriots" in venture capital and defense technology sectors.
• Palantir was the first major company to take action after recent conflicts, with Alex Karp being the first CEO to travel to Ukraine after the war began.
• The company maintained its stance supporting Israel's right to defend itself after October 7th and held its board meeting in Israel after the attacks.
• Palantir took on Project Maven after Google dropped it, facing daily protests in Silicon Valley but maintaining its position.
• Alex Karp views AI development as an arms race and notes that the U.S. has no Chinese, Iranian, or Russian competitors in this space.
• He emphasizes the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of AI systems in U.S. government operations.
• American tech companies dominate globally, representing 86% of the top 50 tech companies' market capitalization.
• Palantir demonstrated its success with a 70% growth rate despite what Karp describes as a "nascent and terrible sales force."
• Alex Karp attributes American tech success to Calvinist cultural influences that view success positively.
• He highlights America's unique combination of high transparency and meritocracy in business operations.
• The American system allows companies to self-define their culture within legal boundaries, unlike in many other countries.
• He emphasizes how Silicon Valley uniquely tolerates different personalities as long as they deliver results.
• He criticizes recent pro-Hamas protests at elite universities as contradicting their stated values of anti-discrimination.
• Karp concludes by calling for more people to speak out against these movements both inside and outside their companies.

In this 2023 conversation between Erik Torenberg and David Sacks, they discuss David’s new role as Donald Trump's AI and crypto czar, the shift towards censorship and wokeness in Silicon Valley, particularly at companies like PayPal and Twitter, and the broader implications for free speech, public debate, and the future of liberalism. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/e55b5666-67b9-4c2a-8968-943cee9f0466 

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

💥 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.

—

X / TWITTER:

@davidsacks

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:34) Discussion of PayPal's evolution and tech industry changes

(01:08) Early days of PayPal and free speech values

(02:28) The role of ADL and SPLC in tech censorship

(03:39) Changes in Silicon Valley's political culture

(06:39) Government collusion with tech companies

(08:45) Evolution of Silicon Valley's political landscape

(13:54) Discussion of institutional capture

(17:20) Analysis of democratic capitalism's evolution

(22:34) Sponsors: Incogni | Squad

(24:20) Discussion of tech monopolies and regulation

(28:09) Analysis of section 230 and tech regulation

(32:55) Foreign policy evolution and interventionism

(37:18) Discussion of institutional reform

(42:37) Analysis of tech company management

(46:28) Elon Musk's Twitter reforms

(50:28) Future of tech industry and political polarization

(54:40) Discussion of counter-elite formation

(58:50) Solutions for institutional accountability

(01:15:48) Wrap-up and closing remarks

Following Marc’s great discussion with Joe Rogan, we wanted to share our interview with Marc Andreessen, who recounts his intellectual evolution and his quest to discover how the world works from 2016 onwards. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/09f4b7dc-5fa8-4e0e-a2aa-87344c3db84b 

—

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

💥 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.

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X / Twitter:

@pmarca

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:44) Mark's mental model shaken in 2015

(01:55) Historical context and media influence

(03:05) Trump's impact and political shifts

(04:05) Mark's reading journey to understand politics

(05:20) Intellectuals vs. mass movements

(06:28) The role of ideas in political change

(07:41) Hoffer's theory on mass movements

(10:07) Understanding left and right ideologies

(10:35) Historical evolution of political ideologies

(12:51) Sponsors: Incogni | Squad

(15:46) Good intentions and unintended consequences

(18:06) Nietzsche's master and slave morality

(21:16) Balancing merit and fairness in society

(28:37) Historical cycles and economic explanations

(32:52) The pendulum of societal change

(34:13) Introduction to Burnham's theories

(35:03) The managerial revolution

(39:19) The principal-agent problem

(47:29) Elon Musk and bourgeois capitalism

(55:10) The Machiavellians and political power

(58:56) Aristocratic and oligarchic rule

(59:55) The rise of tech founders

(01:00:14) Joining the elite circle

(01:01:28) The social and political network

(01:02:44) Circulation of elites

(01:06:51) Effective altruism and philanthropy

(01:13:39) Meritocracy and elite education

(01:25:31) Global governance and nationalism

(01:27:39) The process of finding answers

(01:28:30) The moral imperative of imposing answers

(01:28:56) Communism and the intellectual foundation

(01:29:30) The oligarchic elite and COVID-19

(01:30:34) The virtues of nationalism

(01:35:54) The iron law of oligarchy

(01:39:45) The need for a superior elite

(01:41:58) The role of competence and unifying ideas

(01:49:57) The internet and the current elite

(01:50:50) The bill comes due

(01:52:40) Wrap

This week on Upstream, Byrne Hobart discusses the potential impacts of the Department of Government Efficiency, insights from leaked OpenAI emails, Trump's and Elon Musk's policies and their economic implications, and the future of prediction markets in organizational decision-making. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/279fae71-9087-46b7-a2e6-b6e17d8fdf6b

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

💥 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:

Byrne’s writing: https://thediff.co 

—

X / TWITTER:

@byrnehobart

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a conversation between Erik Torenberg and Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir and founder of the Cicero Institute, discusses his solutions for American healthcare, education, crime, homelessness, and inequality, emphasizing the need for accountability and nonpartisan approaches. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/f6eb1f43-6fe9-43cc-a95f-168655056447 

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

💥 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:

Cicero Institute: https://ciceroinstitute.org/ 

8VC: https://www.8vc.com/ 

Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/ 

Joe Lonsdale's blog: https://blog.joelonsdale.com 

—

X / TWITTER:

@JTLonsdale

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

This week we’re releasing an episode from the Cognitive Revolution, Nathan Labenz interviews Professor Michael Levin and Dr. Leo Pio Lopez about their groundbreaking research integrating multiple biological datasets using advanced AI techniques to predict new disease links, and discusses broader implications for AI in biology and future technologies. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/47dd68fb-1bea-43c0-809e-6a1a32c9cb48

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️The Cognitive Revolution Podcast

The Cognitive Revolution is a podcast about AI where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock over the next decades. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yHyok3M3BjqzR0VB5MSyk?si=7357ec31ac424043  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cognitive-revolution-ai-builders-researchers-and/id1669813431  

🎙️Unpack Pricing

Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg 

—

SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Prof. Levin's first appearance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYyGG9xXpPA&t=0s

Universal Multilayer Network Embedding Reveals a Causal Link Between GABA Neurotransmitter and Cancer: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/d78wb 

Collective intelligence: A unifying concept for integrating biology across scales and substrates: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-06037-4.pdf 

—

X / TWITTER:

@drmichaellevin

@LPiolopez

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

Today on Upstream, Rudyard Lynch and Samo Burja discuss the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, the decline of French influence in Africa, the psychology of modernity, and the potential future of free versus controlled internet. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/d3195f8d-9dc3-4891-83d6-3354a83efbe9

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja 

🎙️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.

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

🎙️Unpack Pricing

Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg 

—

SPONSORS:

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream 

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Whatifalthist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist 

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@whatifalthist

@turpentinemedia

Emil Michael, formerly the Chief Business Officer of Uber, talked to Erik Torenberg and Jesse Genet about the most intense moments during Uber's meteoric rise. Its been reported that he's on the short list of Trump's picks for US Secretary of Transportation. For full shownotes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/f213f7ab-3627-4d15-b151-0238f9ebd159

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Unpack Pricing

Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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.

—

X / TWITTER:

@jessegenet (Jesse)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@emilmichael (Emil)

@turpentinemedia

This week, we’re featuring discussions with Dario Amodei, Balaji Srinivasan, Marc Andreessen, Michael Levin, and Samo Burja on AGI scaling laws, AI safety, and AI development, exploring themes such as the evolution of AI, economic implications, and philosophical aspects of intelligence. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/9192a95f-b467-47c1-9de0-827cae992d6b

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Unpack Pricing

Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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.

In this episode of Upstream, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss how Trump's victory signals a new alliance between right-wing politics and tech industry leaders like Elon Musk while exploring the challenges and opportunities of reforming government institutions through technological innovation. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/e4d3405e-6c8a-42ce-93f1-72caf85da775

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

In this episode, Erik and Yarvin discuss media, power, and what Elon should do with Twitter. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/b9c0012c-979b-441e-9fb3-6394bef6a7ad

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️Moment of Zen

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Curtis Yarvin's Writing: https://graymirror.substack.com/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@curtis_yarvin (Curtis)

@TurpentineMedia

In this episode, Erik sits down with Agnes Callard, a philosopher and essayist who specializes in ancient philosophy, ethics, and Socratic communication. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/cee0a35b-4a10-4c3a-a988-7d9b3d7b7db4 

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052  

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🛍️ Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive

💥 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.

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@AgnesCallard

@turpentinemedia

Richard Hanania joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his upcoming book on elite human capital, the future of American politics, and his evolving views on culture war issues. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/af273f63-9f1b-49e1-8fed-28296237498b 

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️Moment of Zen

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

—

SPONSORS:

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

🛍️ Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive

💥 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:

Richard’s newsletter: https://www.richardhanania.com/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@RichardHanania

@turpentinemedia

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg tackle the shift in economic research from empirical studies to "big think" theories, critically examine Acemoglu's work on institutions and AI's impact on jobs, and debate the future of economics as a science. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/d1548747-43db-4b71-b0a8-af285d3deafd 

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ECON 102 W/ NOAH SMITH

Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1696419056 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs 

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052  

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Noahpinion: https://www.noahpinion.blog/ 

Why Nations Fail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Nations_Fail 

—

X / TWITTER:

@noahpinion

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

This week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore the global demographic crisis, examining plummeting fertility rates worldwide and their potentially catastrophic implications for humanity's future. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/0d2557ac-2da6-4087-b6b4-b55f326b47fd 

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️ ‪@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja‬ 

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=707931ed48da4437 

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

Subscribe on all platofrms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Who is Portugal For? by Vasco Queirós: https://www.palladiummag.com/2024/02/23/who-is-portugal-for/

The Long Now Foundation: https://longnow.org/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@turpentinemedia

In this episode, Dr. Michael Levin, Distinguished Professor of Biology at Tufts University, joins Nathan Labenz of The Cognitive Revolution Podcast to discuss embodied minds, his research into limb regeneration and collective intelligence, cognitive light cones, and much more. Dr. Levin and the Levin Lab work at the intersection of biology, artificial life, bioengineering, synthetic morphology, and cognitive science.

Nathan just recorded a second episode with Michael Levin and Leo Pio Lopez here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PsvToTZVtZkdTemV6ntUk?si=85e4614f079a4fcd 

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 

🎙️The Cognitive Revolution Podcast

The Cognitive Revolution is a podcast about AI where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock over the next decades. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yHyok3M3BjqzR0VB5MSyk?si=7357ec31ac424043  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cognitive-revolution-ai-builders-researchers-and/id1669813431  

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

Subscribe on all platofrms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine

📝 Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

The Levin Lab and Dr. Michael Levin’s research: https://drmichaellevin.org/resources/ 

Dr Michael Levin’s blog: https://thoughtforms.life/about/ 

Tufts University Faculty Profile: https://as.tufts.edu/biology/people/faculty/michael-levin 

Michael Levin @ Wyss Institute: https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/michael-levin-ph-d/ 

Dr. Levin’s Research on Limb Regeneration: https://news.uchicago.edu/how-bioelectricity-could-regrow-limbs-and-organs 

—

X / TWITTER:

@labenz (Nathan)

@drmichaellevin (Michael)

@CogRev_Podcast

@TurpentineMedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(04:50) Xenobots, anthrobots and the other creatures created by Mike Levin

(08:50) Bioelectric memory rewriting

(14:09) Sponsors: Dealcraft | Notion

(16:17) The difficulty of conducting simulations, which involve running forward passes to predict and alter electrical patterns

(20:38) The concept of backpropagation and mode switching in AI models

(23:12) Why humans do not regenerate their limbs

(37:10) Sponsor: Squad

(38:19) Learning from small and biological systems onto the concept of possible emergence

(45:01) The criticality of multiple scale questions and would a single scale?

(55:40) The concept of the cognitive light cone

(59:34) Advice on habits of mind and suggestions for inspiration on the AI side

(1:13:19) Mike's suggested directions for the AI developers

(1:23:41) Wrap

Bryan Johnson joins Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg to discuss the deeper spiritual beliefs behind the "Don't Die" movement in the face of AI and the inadequacy of human clock speed. They cover religions as death cults, long-termism vs engineering your own longevity, and Bryan's recent interview on Tucker Carlson.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

Subscribe on all platofrms: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Bryan Johnson on Tucker Carlson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr4E0jEjQMM&t=0s

Bryan Johnson's Blueprint/ Don't Die: https://protocol.bryanjohnson.com/DONT-DIE-by-Zero  

(Book recommendation) The Postmortal by Drew Magary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10673576-the-postmortal 

—

X / TWITTER:

@bryan_johnson (Bryan)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@agm.eth (Antonio)

@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)

@TurpentineMedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:44) Bryan Johnson's long-term perspective

(02:07) The intersection of technology and longevity

(06:31) The concept of the network state

(07:59) Sponsors: Dealcraft | Notion

(14:38) AI as the steward of knowledge

(18:18) Philosophical implications of AI and longevity

(35:14) The future of AI and human culture

(35:49) Rabbinic rulings and AI

(36:10) Sponsor: Squad

(37:18) Debating the impact of AI on society

(38:40) The speed of change and societal adaptation

(40:28) Existential risks and AI

(43:23) Human resilience in crisis

(44:43) The philosophy of 'Don't Die'

(55:21) The role of birth rates in society

(57:31) Wrap

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a conversation between Patrick McKenzie and Byrne Hobart where they navigate the compelling terrains of in-app purchases and restaurant economics. They dive into the monetization strategies of video games and the influence of food delivery platforms like DoorDash on pricing and menu designs and explore the bridge between finance, technology, and human behavior through airport currency exchange models and the emerging role of AI in economic data processing.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

🎙️Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie

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/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812

🎙️The Riff with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg

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. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt?si=fa34868d46b94584 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486 

—

LINKS:

Bits About Money: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/ 

The Diff: https://thediff.co/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/byrnehobart 

https://twitter.com/patio11 

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod 

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia 

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:05) The economics of in-app purchases

(04:45) Understanding consumer behavior in gaming

(07:52) The role of high spenders in the gaming industry

(20:48) Bespoke software and high-end customization

(24:14) Sponsors: Notion | Squad

(28:04) The evolution of restaurant websites

(35:27) The future of delivery apps and restaurant economics

(43:39) The economics of portion sizes

(45:24) Restaurant groups and concepts

(48:44) The role of certainty in dining

(49:09) Business meals and social signals

(51:18) The evolution of fast food

(55:03) The tech cafeteria phenomenon

(01:02:43) The power of written records

(01:06:31) Exploring ai and memory

(01:13:58) The future of search and ai

(01:25:10) Wrap

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg sits in with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' They dive into the severe impact of social media on youth mental health and explore Jonathan's recommendations for smartphone and social media usage among teens. They discuss the broader implications for democracy and the political divide, focusing on how these issues are intertwined with the tech industry. 

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod 

💥 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:

Jonathan's newsletter: https://www.afterbabel.com/

The Anxious Generation website: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/

(Book) The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036 

—

X / TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/JonHaidt 

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg 

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod 

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:07) Evolution of Jonathan's work: from moral psychology to 'The Anxious Generation'

(02:21) The impact of social media on teen mental health

(04:15) The tragedy of overprotection and underprotection

(07:37) Pushback and debates on social media's impact

(12:48) The moral panic argument and its flaws

(17:48) Sponsors: Notion | Squad

(24:34) The role of algorithms and social media dynamics

(27:33) Liberal vs. conservative responses to social media

(28:47) Exploring After Babel

(29:03) The rise of anxiety and depression: a data-driven analysis

(29:19) Gender, politics, and mental health: a closer look

(31:20) The role of religion and community in mental health

(32:00) Parenting styles and their impact on youth

(32:39) The political implications of mental health trends

(33:21) Smartphone recommendations for a healthier childhood

(34:21) The broader impact of smartphones on society

(35:02) Schools and the loneliness epidemic

(41:08) The role of tech companies in youth well-being

(42:27) Addressing criticisms and misconceptions

(46:25) The importance of design over content in social media

(56:09) Wrap

This week on Upstream, former Netflix HR executive Patty McCord sits down with Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich to dive deep into the creation and impact of Netflix's renowned culture deck, hailed as a pivotal document in Silicon Valley. Patty shares the evolution of the deck over 10 years with Netflix's management team, the challenges of scaling a rapidly growing company, and the importance of building high-performance teams. They discuss the intricacies of leadership, feedback, and the evolving workplace culture, post-pandemic. Patty also offers a candid look at HR's role in nurturing dynamic work environments.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052 

Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey.

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 PODCAST:

🎙️HR Heretics with Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich

What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact?

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WML9AfadzaH9WCR4HHqbZ?si=c40b0dd176c64e43 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-heretics-how-cpos-chros-founders-and-boards-build/id1712407491 

—

LINKS:

HR Heretics Newsletter: https://hrheretics.substack.com/

Netflix Culture Deck: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/culture-1798664/1798664

Powerful by Patty McCord: https://pattymccord.com/book/

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:47)The true story behind Netflix’s culture deck

(02:36) High Performance cultures actually take 4-5 years to pull off

(05:07) Why releasing the culture deck changed Netflix’s hiring immediately

(06:56) What to do when employees are averse to change and delivering effective feedback

(13:43) Dealcraft & Fundrise Ads

(15:47) Why execs need to get used to short tenures

(18:18) If you’re successful your company will change

(20:40) Retention and the truth we need to tell employees about career pathing

(22:15) How Reed Hastings hired Patty McCord

(25:54) How HR officers can get a seat at the table

(29:32) The P&L is the most important HR metric

(31:26) Are HR leaders getting soft?

(33:47) Alts & Squad Ads

(35:36) What Patty would tell her younger self

(37:16) Why an HR officer is a business leader, not a business partner

(39:47) Fixing equal pay and compensation strategy

(41:43) Why HR keeps doing stupid stuff and needs to abandon best practices

(46:25) What HR can learn from product managers

(50:59) Compartmentalization and terminations

(53:27) If Patty rewrote her book, she would change the chapter about relationships at work

(54:37) Why HR people invite inappropriate therapist-style relationships and why having arguments at work should be normalized

(01:02:43) Does Patty miss being in the arena?

(01:05:11)The portions of the workforce most impacted right now

This week on Upstream, we revisit a 2023 conversation between Jacob Helberg, Delian Asparouhov, Christian Garrett and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries and Oculus VR where they discuss the intersection of Silicon Valley and U.S. defense technology. They tackle the challenges of defense tech innovation, the influence of Chinese technology, and the necessity for strategic tech independence. They also covered bio-engineered defense systems, AI-powered military applications, and space militarization, emphasizing the need for strategic autonomy and meritocratic practices in technology.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators

Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052 

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey.

💥 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:

The Hill & Valley Forum 2024: https://www.thehillandvalleyforum.com/ 

Anduril Industries: https://www.anduril.com/ 

—

FOLLOW ON X/TWITTER: 

@PalmerLuckey

@jacobhelberg

@zebulgar

@CGarrett_15

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode Preview

(02:20) Shifting dynamics between the government and Silicon Valley since Palmer started Anduril Industries

(06:40) Biggest factors contributing to new demand for defense technology

(08:05) Evolving reaction of tech investors and talent to defense technology

(13:16) Working with the U.S. Department of Defense

(19:00) Sponsors: Dealcraft | Fundrise

(20:12) Exporting strategic technology to China: patents, AI, sensor fusion

(23:32) How can more tech companies compete for DoD contracts?

(26:01) Lobbying

(27:32) Building Anduril Industries on first principles

(31:06) Banning Chinese hardware and software (like TikTok)

(39:51) Sponsors: Alts | Squad

(43:04) Can the US pull off a second Cold War victory with China?

(47:24) Immigration reform and supply chain disruption

(56:37) Palmer’s picks for the most impactful strategic technology on the horizon

(01:09:35) Wrap

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg is joined by economist and futurist Robin Hanson. 

They dissect the intricacies of human motives, the psychology of status, and the profound impact of self-deception on behavior. Robin shares his revolutionary ideas for reforming academia and his pioneering work on prediction markets and his thoughts on the future of innovation amidst falling fertility rates.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey.

💥 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:

🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine

🎙️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.

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

—

LINKS:

The Elephant in the Brain, Robin Hanson and Kevin Simler https://amzn.asia/d/82WLQX6 

Robin Hanson and Agnes Callard’s podcast Minds Almost Meeting https://mindsalmostmeeting.com/ 

Agnes Callard on Upstream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g2F0e-LZjM 

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(04:25) How Robin developed his theory of the Sacred

(07:52)The Sacred binds people together

(16:05) Why elites drive innovation

(17:43) Sponsor: Dealcraft | Fundrise

(19:48) Plebeians, wonks, and plutocrats

(36:10) Gossip networks

(37:00) Sponsors: Ats | Squad

(39:08) Proposal to fix academia

(45:31) Falsehoods

(01:05:05) Double agents in our minds

(01:08:31) What is cringe?

(01:12:27) Therapy

(01:16:55) How falling fertility will affect innovation

(01:23:43) Social change strategies for reviving fertility rates

(01:25:05) Wrap

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg interviews Patrick McKenzie (patio11) about the intricacies of the financial system, focusing on banking, money laundering, and regulatory compliance. They discuss several of Patrick’s essays from Bits About Money. 

Patrick discusses the three stages of money laundering - placement, layering, and integration - and how the financial system has been deputized to act as law enforcement. The conversation touches on the unintended consequences of strict regulations, including their impact on economic growth and financial inclusion.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey.

💥 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:

🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, and music industry super-lawyer John Branca, on their most challenging negotiations. Each episode, host Jim Sebenius (Harvard Business School professor and renowned negotiation expert) relates fascinating deal stories and distills useful insights for listeners to apply in their toughest deals and disputes.

Apple: https://link.chtbl.com/3CG3TbHY?sid=Turpentine

🎙️Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie

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/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812

—

LINKS:

Patrick’s Newsletter: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/

Seeing Like a Bank: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/seeing-like-a-bank/

KYC and AMI: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/kyc-and-aml-beyond-the-acronyms/

Money Laundering and AML Compliance: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/money-laundering-and-aml-compliance/

—

FOLLOW ON X/TWITTER: 

@eriktorenberg

@patio11

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS: 

(00:00) Intro

(01:02) Discussing 'Seeing Like a State' and big tech

(03:10) Big tech's competence and failures

(07:20) AI and centralized systems

(09:23) Crypto vs. AI: political implications

(10:58) Sponsors: Dealcraft | Fundrise

(13:03) Banking systems and customer service

(14:28) Structural issues in banking

(22:41) Future of banking and customer service

(25:14) Regulatory risks and compliance in banking

(28:21) The harsh realities of financial decisions

(29:05) Geopolitical conflicts and financial institutions

(29:53) The role of banks in delivering bad news

(31:32) Sponsors: Alts | Squad

(33:41) Understanding KYC and AML regulations

(37:35) Complexities of money laundering

(44:42) The burden of compliance on financial institutions

(51:14) Balancing financial services and crime interdiction

(53:52) Wrap

This week on Upstream, we’re featuring a discussion between Samo Burja, Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg about the inherent differences between civilizations and their impact on history and politics. They explore the parallels and distinctions between ancient civilizations like Babylon and modern entities like Silicon Valley, the influence of Abrahamic religions, and how societal patterns challenge our current understanding. 

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

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.

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja

🎙️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.

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

🎙️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.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-wont-last-with-keith-rabois-kevin-ryan-logan/id1765665937

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast

—

LINKS:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

Whatifalthist YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist

—

FOLLOW ON X/TWITTER: 

@eriktorenberg

@samoburja

@whatifalthist

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) A deep dive into civilizational differences

(03:06) The influence of Abrahamic religions

(07:38) Classical vs. modern western civilization

(12:16) The rise and fall of civilizations

(16:54) Literacy and its impact on societies

(20:25) Sponsors: Fundrise | Brave

(22:43) Pre-modern Feminism

(27:28) Modern civilization and its roots

(36:20) Sponsor: Squad

(37:29) Debt slavery and social breakdown

(42:58) The future of religion and technology

(54:37) Obscure civilizations and their impact

(59:21) Wrap

Erik Torenberg is joined by Noor Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Orchid, to explore groundbreaking advancements in reproductive technology, especially the world's first whole genome embryo screening. They dive into genome sequencing, IVF, and the ethical implications of these technologies, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce the incidence of major diseases. Noor shares her journey of bringing Orchid's innovative solutions from research to market, along with the importance of polygenic scores and the evolving societal views on reproductive tech. 

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream.

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.

—

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/this-wont-last-with-keith-rabois-kevin-ryan-logan/id1765665937 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast

🎙️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

—

LINKS:

Orchid: https://www.orchidhealth.com/

—

FOLLOW: 

X / TWITTER:

@noor_siddiqui_ (Noor)

@OrchidInc (Orchid)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@upstream__pod

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(01:20) What is Orchid?

(04:07) Genome sequencing for embryos: What Orchid has accomplished

(06:53) The breakthrough that enabled Orchid's genome sequencing

(08:25) The impact and significance of the polygenic risk score

(11:48) What is IVF

(15:11) Sponsors: Fundrise | Brave

(17:22) Concerns and stigmas around reproductive technology

(24:19 On the Gattaca future where parents create perfect children

(26:02) Moral panic around longevity

(28:41) Anything that can improve things can be used in very hostile ways

(31:37) What are the norms around having kids going to be 30-40 years from now

(35:02) Sponsor: Squad

(36:12) Noor's thoughts on declining fertility rates

(41:33) Matchmaking and dating

(47:38) Is the decline of men a real thing?

(49:31) Increasing fertility rates, moving the culture, and the negative effects of fertility collapse

(1:06:56) Trying out Orchid and how the test works

(1:08:11) Wrap

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja are joined by Ben Landau-Taylor, a Senior Analyst at Bismarck Analysis. Ben recently published an article in Palladium Magazine about the pervasive problem of fraud in academia. They discussed how fraudulent activities, particularly in medical research, often go undetected due to flawed peer review processes and institutional protectionism. They explore key cases, and possible solutions, including external watchdogs, intellectual authorities and regulatory bodies in maintaining academic integrity.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

SPONSORS:

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at https://fundrise.com/upstream/.

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.

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️Live Players with Samo Burja.

The "Live Players" podcast is where Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg chart the key individuals shaping our future from first principles.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1

🎙️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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast

🎙️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: 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

—

LINKS:

The Academic Culture of Fraud: https://www.palladiummag.com/2024/08/02/the-academic-culture-of-fraud/ 

Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/ 

Bismarck Analysis: https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/ 

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(0:00) Intro

(2:22) Ben’s article: "The Academic Culture of Fraud"

(4:26) Examples of fraudulent studies and researchers (Sylvain Lesné case)

(6:21) Incentives and cultural factors enabling fraud

(8:24) Historical context and modern academia

(11:36) Scientific fraud and its consequences

(13:38) Intellectual authority and legitimacy

(19:50) Fundrise & Brave Ads

(28:50) External pressure on academia

(30:53) Role of journalism and other institutions in exposing academic fraud

(33:47) The need for external oversight in academia

(34:13) The complex relationship between the government and academia

(36:14) Proposals for scientific integrity

(39:03) Squad Ad

(42:59) Challenges in science and bureaucracy

(46:42) Nonprofit solutions for scientific fraud

(52:33) Venture capital & scientific integrity

(57:12) Bismarck Analysis and its work in strategic research & consulting

(1:00:04) Wrap

This week on Upstream, we’re dropping the first episode of Logan Bartlett, Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, and Zach Weinberg's newest podcast This Won’t Last. The show is an unfiltered backchannel where they unpack the hype cycles in venture, startup culture, and business.

In this episode they discuss Paul Graham’s essay "Founder Mode", AI valuations, the state of the venture market, and free speech concerns with Telegram and TikTok.

—

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/

—

RECOMMENDED PODCAST

🎙️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

💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at http://fundrise.com/upstream.

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

High Output Management by Andy Grove https://www.amazon.com/High-Output-Management-Andrew-Grove/dp/0679762884/ 

Keith Rabois' lecture notes from 2013: How to Operate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fQHLK1aIBs 

Tesla vs Edison: The Last Days of Night: A Novel by Graham Moore https://www.amazon.com/Last-Days-Night-Novel/dp/0812988922 

Disruptive Innovation by Clayton M. Christensen https://hbr.org/2015/12/what-is-disruptive-innovation 

The Success Equation: Untangling Skill and Luck in Business, Sports, and Investing by Michael J. Mauboussin https://www.amazon.com/Success-Equation-Untangling-Business-Investing/dp/1422184234 

Dark Wire by Joseph Cox https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Wire-Incredible-Largest-Operation/dp/1541702697 

On railroads: Engines That Move Markets by Alistair Nairn https://www.amazon.com/Engines-That-Markets-Alisdair-Nairn/dp/0857195999/ 

The Kremlin has entered your chat https://www.wired.com/story/the-kremlin-has-entered-the-chat/

The Logan Bartlett Show https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCugS0jD5IAdoqzjaNYzns7w

—

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Intro

(02:20) Show origins

(03:34) Kevin comes back from Burning Man

(05:17) Paul Graham's Founder Mode, founder mode intuitive Keith, Pierre Lamond anecdote

(07:57) Keith's response to kernel of Founder Mode, Andy Grove High Output Management

(09:26) Zach asks what's unique about Founder Mode and Keith clarifies

(10:10) Manager vs. Founder

(13:55) Founder moral authority

(15:57) Investing in founder driven CEOs

(19:42) OCI | WorkOS Ads

(21:57) State of venture markets

(24:26) Driverless car future

(30:39) Revenue quality in Al valuations

(34:55) Squad Ad

(37:18) New technology being disruptive or helpful for incumbents

(40:01) Al in Biotech

(43:03) Al impacting fund AUM

(46:48) Al as the transistor

(47:39) Hurdle to return Al CapEx

(48:49) Unrealized Capital Gains Tax

(51:45) Sweden's tax vs Norway and corporation tax rates

(59:13) Medicare and Social Security, beneficial tax policies and misleading life expectancy stats

(1:05:33) Lina Khan, Antitrust effect on tech industry

(1:14:26) Perplexity shocking Google

(1:16:48) Pavel Durov and Russia's Influence in Telegram

(1:21:04) Not using TikTok & Telegram, risk in capital in Chinese companies

(1:26:44) Closing

Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg are joined by Omar Shams, the founder of Mutable AI, for a deep dive into Omar’s great piece, The AI Organization. In this conversation, they explore the potential of AI to transform organizational productivity, the limitations of financial metrics in GDP, and AI's role in political processes and societal structures.

This episode was recorded for Turpentine’s show The Riff. Check it out for more like this: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt

—

🔥 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:

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:

Byrne Hobart’s writing: https://thediff.co

Omar Sham’s piece: https://blog.mutable.ai/p/the-ai-organization-part-i

—

FOLLOW ON X:

@byrnehobart (Byrne)

@smahsramo (Omar)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@turpentinemedia

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:22) Historical context of technological adoption

(04:47) The Al Organization

(07:15) Economic theories and Al

(13:00) Capitalism vs. Communism

(17:01) Sponsors: Brave | Squad

(19:10) Role of Al in future economies

(20:32) Al's impact on company sizes

(25:50) Al and political influence

(31:27) Effect of Al on legal services

(33:35) Complexity of GDP and human preferences

(43:36) Future of Work and Al Integration

(56:03) Al adoption in various sectors

(01:05:39) Outro 

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 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

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

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

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

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a fascinating discussion with economist, professor, and bestselling author Tyler Cowen about how to find talented people. This was recorded in 2022 around the launch of his book 'Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World' co-authored with Daniel Gross. Tyler and Erik discuss strategies for assessing raw talent, recognizing late bloomers, and fostering an environment conducive to high achievers. They also cover the importance of understanding founder compatibility, building strong peer groups, and the role of mentorship in talent development.

🔥 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.

—

LINKS:

Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World - https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Identify-Energizers-Creatives-Winners/dp/1250275814

—

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro 

(02:07) The Genesis of Tyler Cowen's Book 'Talent'

(06:33) The Role of Peer Endorsement

(11:01) Super Fans and High Achievers

(13:19) Impact of Public Fame and Risk Aversion Among Young People 

(15:12) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv

(17:40) Choosing the Right Hierarchies

(20:12) Scaling Apprenticeships

(29:33) Commercial Break: Babbel Language Learning

(30:58) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave

(31:57) Wishlist Topics for Future Research

(40:42) Organizing the World's Ambition

(47:56) The Future of Emergent Ventures

(51:14) Closing Thoughts and Future Projects

This week on Upstream, we're releasing a 2019 interview with David Gornoski and Erik Torenberg on the Village Global podcast, offering a deep dive into René Girard's Mimetic Theory, exploring its far-reaching societal impacts and surprising connections to ancient rituals and myths. They unpack the concept of mimetic desire and the profound influence of Christianity on society, exploring how the anthropological impact of Jesus could transform personal and socio-political conflicts. David also provides a unique perspective on the evolution of ancient sacrifices and mythologies, juxtaposing them with modern societal issues.

🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj

--

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ Second Opinion - A new podcast for health-tech insiders from Christina Farr of the Second Opinion newsletter. Join Christina Farr, Luba Greenwood, and Ash Zenooz every week as they challenge industry experts with tough questions about the best bets in health-tech.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1759267211

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv

-

🎙️ 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

(00:51) René Girard and His Impact

(03:44) The Political Implications of Girard's Ideas

(06:39) Understanding Mimetic Desire

(13:54) SPONSORS: Babbel | Beehiiv

(16:32) Scapegoating in Society

(25:43) SPONSOR: Squad

(27:06) Modern Examples of Scapegoating

(43:01) The Inhumane System and Hidden Scapegoats

(44:26) The Power of Mercy-Driven Solutions

(45:57) Mimetic Rivalry and Political Power

(49:29) Challenging Groupthink in Science and Healthcare

(53:08) The Role of Jesus in Social Justice and Politics

(56:04) The Consequences of Sacrificial Politics

(01:08:39) Anthropology, Religion, and Future Technologies

(01:13:12) Wrap

In this week’s episode of Upstream, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss America's future. They cover the 2024 presidential race, the Chevron ruling from the Supreme Court, and the polarization of the education system. Noah and Erik also discuss where wokeness goes from here, and the potential outcomes of integrating more conservatives into the civil service through initiatives like Project 2025. Noah also debunks the deep state myth and discusses the real issues surrounding Biden's age, questioning the influence of "political handlers" and the reality of a "deep state." 🐝 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

--

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ Second Opinion - A new podcast for health-tech insiders from Christina Farr of the Second Opinion newsletter. Join Christina Farr, Luba Greenwood, and Ash Zenooz every week as they challenge industry experts with tough questions about the best bets in health-tech.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1759267211

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv

-

🎙️ 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) Preview

(01:09) 4th of July Celebrations and Mailbag Questions

(01:51) Debate Reflections: Trump vs. Biden

(02:35) Biden's Age and Democratic Dilemma

(03:09) Kamala Harris: The Successor Debate

(04:12) Michelle Obama: A Potential Candidate?

(07:06) The Deep State: Myth or Reality?

(11:30) Bernie Sanders and the DNC

(13:58) Chevron Ruling and Its Implications

(19:10) Sponsor: beehiiv | Babbel

(22:44) Project 2025 and Civil Service Polarization

(30:34) Reflecting on the Floyd Protests

(31:57) The Impact of Trump's Presidency

(35:05) Sponsors: Squad 

(36:29) Debating the Administrative State

(38:31) Challenges in the Education System

(46:56) Redistribution and Class in America

(53:37) The Future of UBI and Cash Benefits

(57:51) Wrap

--

FOLLOW ON X:

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)

https://twitter.com/Noahpinion (Noah)

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

This week on Upstream, we’re airing an interview with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein from 2020, originally from the Village Global podcast. They discuss Weinstein's work on evolutionary trade-offs, the intersection of markets and moral progress, as well as future governance. 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

--

RECOMMENDED PODCAST:

🎙️ Second Opinion - A new podcast for health-tech insiders from Christina Farr of the Second Opinion newsletter. Join Christina Farr, Luba Greenwood, and Ash Zenooz every week as they challenge industry experts with tough questions about the best bets in health-tech.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1759267211

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv

-

🎙️ 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

(00:27) Bret Weinstein's Background and Career

(04:37) The Concept of Trade-Offs in Evolution

(06:21) Implications of Evolutionary Trade-Offs

(10:03) The Fourth Frontier and Human History

(11:05) Understanding Evolutionary Rules and Their Broader Impact

(16:08) The Lek Paradox and Biological Puzzles

(18:52) Sponsor: Babbel | beehiiv

(23:41) Market Dynamics and Economic Trade-Offs

(32:40) Sponsor: Squad

(37:53) The Metaphor of Fitness Landscapes in Evolutionary Biology

(38:47) Civilization's Trade-offs and Sustainability

(39:37) The Concept of Game B

(41:56) Revolutionary Change Without Revolution

(44:03) The Role of Technology in Civilization

(45:44) Exploring Game B Examples

(47:39) Challenges and Opportunities for Game B

(50:30) Moral Progress

(57:00) Shamans vs. Priests and the Importance of Valley Crossing

(01:01:20) Human Adaptation and Evolution

(01:04:39) The Role of Jealousy and Evolutionary Instincts

(01:06:08) Debates with Prominent Thinkers

(01:11:42) Evolutionary Biology and the Future of Governance

(01:14:13) Wrap

--

FOLLOW ON X:

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)

https://twitter.com/BretWeinstein (Bret)

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

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

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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.

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FOLLOW ON X:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@micsolana (Mike)

@foundersfund

@TurpentineMedia

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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

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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 [email protected].

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

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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 [email protected].

--

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 [email protected].

--

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.

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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

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LINKS:

Bryan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415

Bryan's Blog: https://www.betonit.ai/

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X / TWITTER:

https://x.com/bryan_caplan (Bryan)

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact [email protected]

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 [email protected].

--

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

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X / TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/JonHaidt (Jonathan)

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact [email protected]

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

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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 [email protected].

--

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

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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

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X / TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/Noahpinion (Noah)

https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)

https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)

https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact [email protected]

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 [email protected].

--

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

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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

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Alliance for the Future: https://www.affuture.org/

Brian's article on research progress in AI: https://www.affuture.org/research/3-diminishing/

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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)

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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact [email protected]

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 [email protected].

--

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)

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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 [email protected]