Infinite Loops

Professor, Mathematician and Writer John A. Paulos joins the show to discuss math education, the power of puzzles, cognitive biases, and MUCH more! Important Links: John's Website John's Twitter Show Notes: Why Do People Hate Math? The Power of Posing Problems with Counterintuitive or Shocking Results Using Everyday Examples to Understand Math Concepts Systems Designed to Take Advantage of Innumeracy People's Ignorance of Randomness and Random Samples The Strange Power of Anchoring Bias Tradeoffs between Probability and Plausibility The Prisoner's Dilemma & Math Anxiety Improving the Monty Hall Problem Designing an Ideal Intro Math Course The Big Brother Aspect of Nudging John as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Innumeracy - Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences; by J.A. Paulos A Mathematician Plays the Stock Market; by J.A. Paulos A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper; by J.A. Paulos Statistics; by D.A. Freedman, R. Pisani, and R.A. Purves Thinking Fast and Slow; by Daniel Kahneman

Chris Wilcha is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and commercial director. His latest film, Flipside, which is co-executive produced by Jim and presented in association with Infinite Films (among others), opens in select US theaters tomorrow (May 31st, 2024). An ode to creative failure, abandoned projects, and rekindled passion, Flipside premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. Here's the full description: "When filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked at as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. FLIPSIDE documents his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. In the process, Wilcha captures This American Life icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie's ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and uncovers the unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive—a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of trying to live a creative life." Important Links: Flipside; a film by Chris Wilcha 32 Sounds; a film by Sam Green Show Notes: An Ode to Abandoned Projects How Flipside Got Made When Filmmaking Gets Personal Taking the Big Swings Bringing the Film to Life in the Editing Room "Life can only be understood backwards, but we must live it forwards" Meeting Uncle Floyd Working With Judd Apatow & the Coen Brothers; Balancing Art & Commerce Stylistic Choices & Following Your Obsession How Jim Got Into Music The Changing Landscape of Documentary Filmmaking How the Creative Industries Compare to Wall Street Chris' Favourite Unmade Documentaries Chris as Emperor of the World MORE!

"PHETASY IS a movement disguised as a company. We just want to make you laugh while the world burns." Bridget Phetasy is an entrepreneur, writer, podcast host, political commentator, burgeoning media mogul, and standup comedian. Over the past few years, her media company - Phetasy - has become an outlet for 100s of hours of social commentary filtered through her sharp and spiky worldview. She joins the show to discuss the comedic temperature in America today; the role of comedy in contemporary society; humour as a weapon; and MUCH more! Important Links: Bridget's Twitter The 'Beyond Parody with Bridget Phetasy' newsletter Bridget's Youtube channel Bridget's website Show Notes: Comedy as Dissidence Post-Trump Comedy America's Comedic Temperature A Tipping Point For Comedy Does The Rubber Band Snap Back? The Atomization of Culture The Coddling of the American Mind Fighting Political Peer Pressure The Anti-fragility of Normie-ville "Capitalism Always Wins" The Pendulum Swings The Cyclical Nature of Moral Panic Luxury Beliefs Humor as a Weapon The Societal Utility of Comedy MORE! Books Mentioned: Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art; by Lewis Hyde Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live in It; by Thomas de Zengotita Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community; By Robert D. Putnam

Porter Braswell is the Founder and CEO of 2045 Studio, an exclusive network for accomplished professionals of color. Porter is also the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the career advancement platform Jopwell, the host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Race at Work, and the author of two books, including 2019's Let Them See You. Porter joins the show to discuss how 2045 Studio is harnessing community to empower professionals of color to succeed, how to establish trust within a community, what he learned from Magic Johnson's mentorship, and MUCH more! Important Links: 2045 Studio Porter's LinkedIn Porter's Twitter Porter's Instagram Race at Work podcast O'Shaughnessy Ventures Invests in 2045 Studio Show Notes: The Significance of 2045 Bridging the Inclusion Gap Networks, Community & the Clubhouse The Opportunity To Be in the Majority Building the Right Kind of Partnerships The Importance of Human Capital Socratic Problem-Solving How to Establish Trust Within a Community The 2045 Approach to Networking Councils & Relationship-Building Surprising Lessons From Foundership Leveraging the Community Magic Johnson's Mentorship & the Advantages of the Athletic Mentality Why Porter Writes "Wouldn't it be so cool if I could always feel like I belong?" 2045's Long-Term Vision Porter as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Let Them See You: The Guide for Leveraging Your Diversity at Work; by Porter Braswell Yes, You Can: The Secrets Revealed for How to Get into and Succeed at America's Top Universities and Colleges; by Porter Braswell The Intelligent Investor; by Benjamin Graham

Grant Mitchell is a seasoned entrepreneur, operator, and investor in the areas of health, technology, and machine learning. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of Every Cure, where he uses AI to research rare diseases and conduct drug repurposing. Grant joins the show to discuss the use of AI in rare drug research, the role of translational scientists, neglected knowledge, and MUCH MORE! Important Links: Every Cure Website Dr. Grant's Twitter Dr. Grant's LinkedIn Show Notes: The Organizational Problem in Pharma The Power of Biomedical Knowledge Graphs The Traditional Pharma Approach to Drug R&D Risks in the World of AI-driven Drug Discovery The Limits of AI for Medical Use Biology's 'Ignorome' The Role of Translators Every Cure's Typical Supporters Neglected Latent Knowledge Grant as Emperor of the World MORE! Books/Essays Mentioned: The AI Revolution; by Tim Urban (Wait But Why) Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life; by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles

Author and friend-of-the-show Jimmy Soni returns to discuss the future of publishing, the changing world of book marketing, the courage of creative risk, and MUCH more! Important Links: Jimmy's website Jimmy's Twitter The Great Reshuffle Show Notes: Why Traditional Publishing is in Stasis A Case of Broken Incentives The Changing World of Book Marketing & the Case for Patience Talent Spotting & Creative Risk The Challenge of Self-Publishing Experiment, Experiment, Experiment Taylor Swift, Michael Jordan, and the Courage of Trying Something New Don't Be Trapped by the Opinions of Others Jimmy as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Founders; by Jimmy Soni A Mind at Play; by Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Invest Like The Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy How To Retire Rich; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Atomic Habits; by James Clear Psychology of Money; by Morgan Housel The Obstacle is the Way; by Ryan Holiday Trust Me, I'm Lying; by Ryan Holiday The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; by Daniel James Brown You Are a Badass; by Jen Sincero 11/22/63; by Stephen King

Arjun Khemani is a 17-year-old writer and podcaster who dropped out of high school to help lead support at Airchat, the social network co-founded by Naval Ravikant. As the host of the Arjun Khemani podcast, Arjun has spoken to a wide range of guests including David Deutsch, David Perell and Naval Ravikant. His Substack, Progress Good, "serves as a defense against the anti-Enlightenment tradition, exploring progress, rationality, and optimism." Arjun joins the show to discuss why education should be voluntary, the moral case for selfishness, the pessimism of ultimacy and MUCH more! Important Links: Arjun's Twitter Progress Good (Arjun's Substack) Show Notes: The Myth of the Good Old Days The Citadel of Science Generational Warfare Why Education Should Be Voluntary Misunderstanding Money Escaping the Altruism Trap: the Case for Selfishness Coercion & Moral Righteousness The Pessimism of Ultimacy The Hunt for Better Problems Arjun's Leap Into the Unknown Reimagining Education What's Next? Arjun as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson The Road to Serfdom; by Friedrich Hayek The Lessons of History; by Will & Ariel Durant Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour; by David R. Hawkins Deschooling Society; by Ivan Illich

Eddy Elfenbein is an OG finance blogger, ETF manager, and FinTwit legend, with over 25 years of experience working in and around Wall Street. Eddy joins the show to discuss the story behind his longtime blog - Crossing Wall Street (CWS), the origins of his famous Buy List, his ETF journey, his philosophy as an investor, and much more! Important Links: Eddy's Twitter Eddy's Blog (Crossing Wall Street) Eddy's Substack The Myth of 1926 Show Notes: Origins of a Wall Street Blogger Bypassing the Gatekeepers Eddy's Buy List Many Paths to Stock Market Success The Last Sustainable Edge in Public Markets The Great Truths of Investing Stocks Don't Know You Own Them The Market and the Casino Debating Academic Finance Major League Buy List Down with Perma-Bears Unpacking ETFs The Next Avatar of Market Intelligence The Moat of the Stock Picker MORE! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy THE MISBEHAVIOR OF MARKETS: A Fractal View of Financial Turbulence; by Benoit Mandelbrot and Richard L Hudson Stocks for the Long Run; by Jeremy Siegel The Myth of 1926: How Much Do We Know About Long-Term Returns on U.S. Stocks?; by Edward F. McQuarrie Fama and French Three Factor Model Definition: Formula and Interpretation (Investopedia)

Friend-of-the-show Anna Gát returns to discuss… well… pretty much everything! On April 13th, O'Shaughnessy Ventures and Interintellect are co-hosting a Future of Publishing event at the beautiful Pratt Mansion in NYC. We're bringing together established publishers, online writers, new publishing houses, journalists, technologists, authors and more to rethink and reimagine how ideas are spread in our changing world. Confirmed speakers include Coleman Hughes, Tara Isabella Burton, Tamara Winter, Sahil Lavingia and many more! Here's the best part - we want YOU to be there! To buy in-person tickets and for more information on live-streaming, scheduling, speakers, and more, just follow this link. We hope to see you there! Important Links: Interintellect Anna's Twitter Anna's Website Interintellect Substack Show Notes: The Shock of Losing a Parent Interintellect & the Post-Tribe Internet How to Facilitate Better Conversations Surprising Salons Faker Spotting & the Temptations of Power Avoiding Audience Capture The Humanness of Casablanca Greatness, Co-Creation & Doing the Work Misconceptions About Leadership The Personality of Language What's Next for Anna Cities as Ideas Anna as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity; by David Graeber and Wengrow Adventures of a Bystander; by Peter Drucker Mating; by Norman Rush The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York; by Robert A. Caro Power vs. Force; by David R. Hawkins Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Number Sense: How the Mind Creates Mathematics; by Stanislas Dehaene Embers; by Sándor Márai The Hunger Games; by Suzanne Collins

The inimitable Visakan Veerasamy returns for a characteristically wide-ranging discussion… Important Links: Visa's Website Visa's Twitter Visa's Youtube Visa's Previous Episode Visa's Post-Episode Thread Show Notes: Life as a Dad A Conversation With David Deutsch Change, Courage, Curiosity & Creativity Possibility Space & the Problem of Wretchedness A Good Blog Post Can Change the World The Outdated Language of Counterculture Colliding Our Reality Tunnels Imperfection Breeds Creativity We Are Co-Creators Status Quo Soldiers The Power of Noticing Visa as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books & Articles Mentioned: Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy status quo soldiers lose in the long run; by Visakan Veerasamy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Thinker and The Prover; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Leonardo Da Vinci; by Walter Isaacson Ninety-five Theses; by Martin Luther Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; by Lewis Carroll The News: A User's Manual; by Alain de Botton Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man; by Marshall McLuhan Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour; by David R. Hawkins How I Accidentally Started The Sixties; by Howard Bloom One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson

Brendan McCord is the founder of Cosmos Institute — a non-profit dedicated to exploring the intersection of AI and philosophy. Brendan joins the show to discuss Cosmos' origins, the pursuit of philosophy as a technologist, the different schools of thought in AI, complex adaptive systems and MUCH more! Important Links: Brendan McCord's Reading List Cosmos Institute Substack Brendan's Twitter Show Notes: The Genesis of the Cosmos Institute Philosophy as a Quixotic Pursuit The Man of the System Dilemma Existential Risk & Scenario Agnosticism The AI Schools of Thought The Religious Nature of the E/Acc Movement What Tocqueville Can Teach Us About AI The Philosophy-to-Code Pipeline "Cars ignited the Sexual Revolution" and Other Unexpected Occurrences The Best Systems are Adaptive Heterogeneity & Resilient Systems Open Source and the US-China Situation Automation, Augmentation & Open-Ended Generation The Underrated Nuance of Russian Realism Cinematic Visions of the Future Great Talent & the Risk of the Tasmanian Devil Brendan as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Murray Rothbard, "For A New Liberty" David R. Hawkins, "Power vs. Force" Jung Chang, "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" Jung Chang, "Mao: The Unknown Story" Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, "The Gulag Archipelago" Arthur Koestler, "Darkness At Noon" Adam Smith, "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" Lewis Carroll, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" Lewis Carroll, "What the Tortoise Said To Achilles" Eliezer Yudkowsky, "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality" Marc Andreessen, "The Techno-Optimist Manifesto" Alexis De Tocqueville, "Democracy in America" 'Pericles's Funeral Oration' quoted in Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War". Plato, "Theaetetus" Plato, "The Republic" Nietzsche, "The Gay Science" C.P Snow, "The Two Cultures" Elinor Ostrom, "Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action" James M. Buchanan, "Freedom in Constitutional Contract: Perspectives of a Political Economist" Iain M. Banks, "Consider Phlebas" (Culture Series #1) Chen Qiufan and Kai-Fu Lee, "AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future" Christopher Buckley, "Thank You for Smoking" John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty"

Alex Komoroske has spent his career studying, writing about, and working in complex adaptive systems. He has published multiple essays on topics like Schelling points in organizations, why debate should be collaborative, and how to ensure resilient growth in harsh environments. Alex has also worked as a product manager and in corporate strategy at Google and Stripe. Alex joins the show to discuss how to escape busyness, why heroism is overrated, the different types of magic, and MUCH more! Important Links: Alex's Website Alex's Twitter Alex's LinkedIn Show Notes: The Parable of the Builder & the Gardener Against Heroism Noise is Good Complex Adaptivity All the Way Down Information Flow, Context Switching and Luck Surface-Area Escaping Busyness Paradigm Shifts & the Importance of Uncertainty The Self-Transcending Mindset The Power of Compression & The Virility of Memes Order From Chaos The Iterative Adjacent Possible Saruman & Radagast Magic The Illusion of Certainty Alex as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: The Magic of Acorns; by Alex Komoroske The Sarumans and The Radagasts; by Alex Komoroske The Iterative Adjacent Possible; by Alex Komoroske Crossing the Bridge of Nihilism; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Adult Development Primer; by Dimitri Glazkov The Mower against Gardens; by Andrew Marvell Being There; by Jerzy Kosinski Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment; by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony & Cass R. Sunstein Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century; by Howard Bloom Zorba the Greek; by Nikos Kazantzakis Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny; by Robert Wright The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction; by Christopher Alexander

Cedric Chin is a writer, researcher and operator whose Commoncog newsletter is dedicated to finding useful, practical ways to accelerate business expertise. He joins us to discuss some of the most potentially transformative concepts he's uncovered, from the business expertise triad to naturalistic decision making. Important Links: Cedric's Website (Commoncog) Are You Ready for the Great Reshuffle? The Naturalistic Decision Making Podcast Wisdom Unleashed Show Notes: Commoncog's Rabbit-Holing Origins The Business Expertise Triad Quality Engineering & Process Control The Effectiveness of Naturalistic Decision Making Expectancy, Intuition & Investing How to Stay Open-Minded Trial & Error, Knowledge Shields & the Power of Reading Protocols & Pattern-Matching Cedric as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books and Articles Mentioned: The Tricky Thing About Creating Training Programs; by Cedric Chin The Business Expertise Series; by Cedric Chin The Oxford Handbook of Expertise; edited by Paul Ward, Jaan Maarten Schraagen, Julie Gore and Emile Roth Accelerated Expertise; by Robert R. Hoffman, Paul Ward, Paul J. Feltovich, Lia DiBello, Stephen M. Fiore and Dee H. Andrews The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success; by Will Thorndike Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon; by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr Understanding Variation: The Key to Managing Chaos; by Donald Wheeler The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Hound of the Baskervilles; by Arthur Conan Doyle What Works on Wall Street: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O'Shaughnessy

Devon Eriksen always wanted to be a writer. As a child, he was persuaded to abandon his aspirations in favor of a career in software engineering. Two decades later, he retired to finally fulfil his ambition to write imaginative hard-science fiction in the vein of authors like Asimov, Heinlein and Niven. He self-published his first novel, Theft of Fire, last year to an excellent reception. Devon joins the show to discuss why his book incorporates alien technology, the role of patronage in the digital era, his unusual approach to obtaining feedback, and MUCH more! Important Links: Theft of Fire; by Devon Eriksen Devon's Website Devon's Twitter Introducing: The Life of David Rhoiney Show Notes: Centralization & Institutional Corruption The Evolving Nature of Resource Constraints Why Theft of Fire Features Alien Technology The Musk Dynasty Architects vs Gardeners Editing, Feedback & Beta-Readers Audience Capture & Disagreeableness "Money is a measure of fu*ks given" Patronage & Intellectual Property in the Digital Era Permissionless Writing How to Become a High-Agency Character Devon as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: Theft of Fire; by Devon Eriksen The Ultimate Resource; by Julian Simon The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress; by Robert A. Heinlein The Population Bomb; by Paul R. Ehrlich Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr

Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder of Acumen, a nonprofit impact investment fund "changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas." As well as founding Acumen in 2001, Jacqueline is a public speaker and best-selling author. She also sits on multiple philanthropic boards. Her latest book Manifesto for a Moral Revolution, "reveals 12 leadership practices for anyone eager to build a better world." Jacqueline joins us to discuss how to create a high-trust society, the difference between moral righteousness and moral leadership, why the opposite of poverty is dignity, and MUCH more. Important Links: Acumen's Website Acumen Academy Jacqueline's Twitter Show Notes: Acumen's Origins A People-First Theory of Change Emerging Entrepreneurship in Africa Social Return on Investment and the Rise of Microfinance How to Create a High Trust Society The Blue Sweater The Path to Moral Leadership Defining Win-Win Solar Lights, the Adjacent Possible and the Rejection of Cynicism What Jacqueline is Most Excited For Jacqueline as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World; by Jacqueline Novogratz Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World; by Jacqueline Novogratz

Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of 9 books and over 100 scientific papers. A critic of what he sees as the scientific establishment's dogmatic dedication to materialism, he is perhaps best known for his theory of "morphic resonance," via which information and activity can be transferred across space and time. Rupert joins the show to discuss being branded a heretic, how to test for telepathy, his advice for young scientists, and MUCH more! Important Links: Rupert's Website Rupert's Banned TED Talk The Science Delusion; by Rupert Sheldrake A New Science of Life; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious?; by Rupert Sheldrake (Journal of Consciousness Studies) Show Notes: The Apostate of Scientism The Origins of Scientism How to Achieve a Phase Change in the Sciences Testing for Telepathy & Incentivizing Intuition Structural Resistance to Panpsychism When Science Gets Personal Loosening the Grip of Determinism Advice for Young Scientists Rupert as Emperor of the World MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The Science Delusion; by Rupert Sheldrake New Science of Life; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious?; by Rupert Sheldrake The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters; by Steven Pinker The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature; by Steven Pinker Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures; by Merlin Sheldrake The End of Faith; by Sam Harris The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a What the Tortoise Said to Achilles; by Lewis Carroll Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The (Mis)Behaviour of Markets: A Fractal View of Risk, Ruin and Reward; by Benoit B. Mandelbrot & Richard L. Hudson The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; by Thomas Kuhn

Friend-of-the-show Rob Henderson returns to discuss his powerful, moving and important debut book, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class (published TODAY). We discuss Rob's experience of the American foster care and adoption system, the life-changing impact of the military, the rise of Luxury Beliefs, the benefits of standardized testing, and MUCH more. Important Links: Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class (Amazon) The SAT is a pathway to more college diversity, not less; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) Rob Henderson: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way; by Rob Henderson (The Free Press) Rob's Substack Rob's Twitter Show Notes: Foster Care, Adoption & Social Mobility Structural Origins of the Foster System Why Early-Life Stability is Underrated How Ideas Can Change Outcomes The Life-Changing Impact of the Military Young Male Syndrome The Role of Intelligence in Governing Outcomes The Benefits of Standardized Testing Yale, Luxury Beliefs & the Rise of Identity Politics Are Luxury Beliefs a Political or Class Phenomenon? Trickle-Down Meritocracy Technology, Assortive Mating & Social Mobility Is the Overton Window Shifting on Campus? Rob as Emperor of the World Books and Articles Mentioned: Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class; by Rob Henderson The SAT is a pathway to more college diversity, not less; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) Rob Henderson: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way; by Rob Henderson (The Free Press) Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society; by Nicholas A. Christakis Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010; by Charles Murray Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World, by Tyler Cowen and Daniel Gross A Suitable Boy; by Vikram Seth The Son Also Rises; by Gregory Clark

Alec Stapp is the co-founder of the Institute for Progress, a non-partisan innovation policy think tank aiming to "accelerate scientific, technological and industrial progress while safeguarding humanity's future." He joins the show to discuss how to achieve change in the age of lobbying, why bipartisanship is underrated, why US immigration policy is so slow-moving and MUCH more! Important Links: IFP's Website Alec's Twitter IFP's Twitter Show Notes: Reimagining the Think Tank Progress is a Policy Choice Bipartisanship is Underrated Achieving Progress via Reframing Achieving Change in the Age of Lobbying Moonshot Projects and Incremental Change Ways to Enact Change Within Existing Institutions Governmental Embrace of Technology Reducing NIMBYism The Barbell Approach to Policy The Washington Mindset Reasons to be Optimistic Lessons From Other Countries Why Hasn't Immigration Policy Changed? Alec as Emperor of the World MORE! Books and Articles Mentioned: Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better; by Jen Pahlka The Proceduralist Fetish; by Nicholas Bagley The housing theory of everything; by Sam Bowman, John Myers & Ben Southwood

Essayist, tinkerer, and author Rohit Krishnan returns to discuss his book, Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers. Important Links: Strange Loop Canon (Rohit's Substack) Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers Rohit's Twitter Show Notes: Demystifying AI AI as a Fuzzy Processor Complexity & Determinism The Flash Crash Scenario Regulating AI Open Source, Closed Source & Big Brother Carving Through Bureaucracy Socially Adapting to AI Disruption The Centaur Model Integrated Information Theory & Consciousness Big Tech in the AI Era Are We Running Out of Data? Rohit as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers; by Rohit Krishnan

For this milestone 200th (yes, TWO HUNDREDTH) episode of Infinite Loops, regular guest and Infinite Media head Liberty RPF joins writer & researcher Ed William to turn the tables on Jim O'Shaughnessy. Stay tuned for Jim's dream podcast guests, his advice to parents, a diabolical spin on his trademark closing question, and MUCH more! Important Links: Infinite Loops Substack Show Notes: Episode One: Tequila With Ramp Capital Taking Inspiration From My Dinner With Andre Would the Show Be Different if Monetized? "I would be doing this if I wasn't pressing publish" Jim's Definition of a Successful Episode Nerves & Jim's Appearance on Oprah Infinite Loops as a Serendipity Engine The Infinite Loops Team Jim's Dream Guests Controversiality & Being Distinctive Jim's Relationship With His Grandchildren We Are Winners of the Cosmic Lottery Why Aren't There More History-Focused Episodes? The Jim O'Shaughnessy Guide to Productivity: Silence, Journalling & Keeping Things Simple Advice to Parents What Has Jim Changed His Mind On in the Last 12 to 24 Months? Advice to Young People Who Doubt the American Dream When Will We See An Updated What Works on Wall Street? What Would a World of Abundance Look Like? Jim's Favorite Poem Jim as EVIL Emperor of the World MORE! Episodes Mentioned: Ramp Capital and Super Mugatu (Ep.01) Brian Muraresku (Ep. 57) David Rhoiney (Ep. 99) Will Storr (Ep. 122) Alex Danco (latest episode) (Ep. 156) Brian Roemmele (latest episode) (Ep. 168) Julie Fredrickson (Ep. 181) Ben Westhoff (Ep. 189) Guy Spier (Ep. 197) Books & Poems Mentioned: The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name; by ****Brian Muraresku How to Retire Rich: Time-Tested Strategies to Beat the Market and Retire in Style; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Invest Like the Best: Using Your Computer to Unlock the Secrets of the Top Money Managers; by Jim O'Shaughnessy What Works on Wall Street: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr Fentanyl, Inc.: how rogue chemists are creating the deadliest wave of the opioid epidemic; by Ben Westhoff One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson To His Coy Mistress; by Andrew Marvell The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock; by T. S. Eliot

Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim are the founders of Plymouth Street, which guides talented individuals through the US immigration process. Its aim is to accelerate innovation through faster and more transparent immigration services. Lisa & Minn join the show to discuss the pitfalls of the current system, how Plymouth Street is injecting agency into the immigration process, the importance of storytelling, and MUCH more! Important Links: Plymouth Street Lisa's LinkedIn Lisa's Twitter Minn's LinkedIn Minn's Twitter Show Notes: The Origins of Plymouth Street Problems With the Current US Immigration System Expanding Access to the O-1 Visa High-Skilled Immigration as a Bipartisan Issue The Importance of Storytelling From Anecdotal to Empirical; Coalition Building Injecting Agency Into the Immigration Process Scaling with Technology The Emotional Toll of the Immigration System Building the Right Team & Breaking Bad News Dealing With Negative Externalities Is America Open for Business? Augmenting Plymouth's Offering Remote Work vs In-Person What's Next? Lisa & Minn as Emperors of the World Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner

Alice Albrecht is the founder and CEO of re:collect, a company dedicated to "enhancing human intelligence by augmenting memory, perception, and synthesis utilizing AI." Alice started her career in psychology and academia, obtaining a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from Yale University. She joins the show to discuss how to become more creative, why she believes that nothing is true, how to boost evolution and MUCH more! Important Links: re:collect's Website Alice's Twitter Alice's LinkedIn How to Improve Your Creative Thinking Show Notes: Augmenting Human Creativity Collection Does Not Always Lead to Recollection Using re:collect to Connect Information How to Increase Your Creativity Different Phases of Creativity How AI Fits Into the Picture Harnessing Our Attention AGI & ASI Boosting Evolution re:collect's First Order Effects Nothing is True Convergence, Divergence & Collective Intelligence re:collect in Seven Years' Time From Academia to Entrepreneurship Alice as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Fabric of Reality: Towards a Theory of Everything; by David Deutsch The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich

Guy Spier runs the Aquamarine Fund, an "investment partnership closely modeled on the original Buffet Partnerships." He is also a podcast host, YouTube creator, author of The Education of a Value Investor and the host of the annual investment gathering VALUEx. He describes his life's project as "a quest for wealth, wisdom and enlightenment." Guy joins the show to discuss the differences between Switzerland and the US, how to unlock the British class system, what he learned from Warren Buffett, and MUCH more! Important Links: Guy's Website Guy's Twitter Guy's YouTube Channel 3Blue1Brown (YouTube Channel) Numberphile (YouTube Channel) Show Notes: The Differences Between New York, Switzerland & Paris Exploring the Dark Underbelly of New York Nightlife Psychedelics, Guns & Regulation The Advantages of Swiss Democracy Don't Short the United States The Branding Skill of the Royal Family Unlocking the Rules of the Class System Life Paths & Premeditation Luck, Opportunity & Non-Canonical Science Jim's Music Taste Mathematical Shenanigans Guy as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want and Getting It; by Henriette Anne Klauser Invest Like The Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Outside, the Sky is Blue: The story of a family told with searing honesty, humour and love; by Christina Patterson

Jared Dillian is a writer, strategist, financial expert, public speaker, and author of four books, including No Worries: How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life (out this month!). He joins us to discuss why you should never loan money to your friends or family, why the FIRE movement is a fast track to a miserable life, the hidden costs of being cheap, and MUCH more! Important Links: No Worries: How To Live a Stress-Free Financial Life Jared's Website Jared's Twitter Daily Dirtnap We're Gonna Get Those Bastards Jared Dillian Money Show Notes: From Coast Guard, to Wall Street, to Writer "I am not in the money business—I am in the happy business" The Awesome Portfolio Stop Worrying About Small Financial Decisions The Biggest Financial Decisions You Will Ever Make Keep Your Finances Separate From Your Partner; Never Loan Friends or Family Money To Make Money, You Have to Want Money Generational Attitudes to Money Being Wealthy vs Being Rich Blowing Up Your Identity Improving Financial Education Why Investing Should Be Hard The Hidden Costs of Being Cheap Why People Are Scared of Entrepreneurship The Worst Financial Decision Jared Has Ever Made Jared as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: No Worries: How To Live a Stress-free Financial Life; by Jared Dillian Those Bastards: 69 Essays on Life, Creativity, and Meaning; by Jared Dillian All The Evil of This World; by Jared Dillian Street Freak: Money and Madness at Lehman Brothers; by Jared Dillian Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!; by Robert T. Kiyosaki The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; by Stephen R. Covey

Writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and master of mental models, George Mack, returns to discuss the top 0.1% of ideas he's ever come across, from treating life as a video game to spotting high-agency individuals. Important Links: George's Twitter The Lindy Library Roy: A Life Well Lived (Rick and Morty) How to Spot High Agency People The Mack Meditation What is ignored by the media — but will be studied by historians? The Early-Late Razor Show Notes: Treating Life as a Video Game Finding the Important Metrics Embrace Momentum; Embrace Constraints How to Spot High Agency People How to Increase Your Agency The Mack Meditation & Silence as Alpha Why Pessimism vs Optimism is the Wrong Debate The Future of Media What is Ignored by the Media but will be Studied by Historians? The Reddit to Facebook Continuum George's Most Midwit Opinion Randomness & Feeding the Algorithm How to Retain Curiosity George as Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine; by Derren Brown What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Secret; by Rhonda Byrne Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid; by Douglas Hofstadter The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World; by David Deutsch

Eric Jorgenson is (deep breath) an author, investor, writer, podcast host, online course creator, and the CEO of Scribe Media (breathe out). He joins the show to discuss the death of the marketing department, the changing nature of business-to-creator economics, the most impactful thing he learned from Balaji, the future of the publishing industry, and MUCH more! Important Links: Website Twitter Fund Scribe Media Money 20/20 Talk The Thinker and The Prover Jimmy Soni & Liberty RPF — Unleashing the Future of Publishing Show Notes: A Guide to Creator Economics The Death of the Marketing Department Creator x Business Partnerships Why Some People Are So Reluctant to Embrace the New Playbook How to Become More Open-Minded The Anthology of Balaji & the Curation-Author Effect How to Cultivate Good Taste & the Rise of Curation What Balaji Taught Eric About Technology How Eric Became CEO of Scribe Why Does Big Publishing Continue to Hold So Much Influence? Helping the World Make Great Books The Future of Books Eric as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness; by Eric Jorgenson The Anthology of Balaji: A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future; by Eric Jorgenson What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Invest Like the Best; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch

Arkady Kulik is a founding partner of rpv, a deep tech venture fund that aims to "drive tangible advancements in the well-being of humankind" by focusing on early, scientifically intensive ventures. He has over 15 years of experience in the IT sector as a C-level executive, a master's degree in physics, and an MBA from INSEAD. Arkady joins the show to discuss how to evaluate a deep tech deal, why more scientists don't become entrepreneurs, the ultimate goal of science, the two types of human motivation, and MUCH more! Important Links: rpv's Website rpv's Substack Arkady's LinkedIn Arkady's Twitter Show Notes: Judging Investments by Their Technology Readiness Level Bringing Scientific Expertise Into Venture Capital Scorecards & Dealbreakers: How rpv Analyzes a Deep Tech Opportunity Spotting the Early Red Flags How rpv Deploys Scientific Due Diligence Providing Feedback & Educating the Industry Self-Censorship, Ideology & the Scientific Method Why Don't More Scientists Become Entrepreneurs? The Ideal Composition of a Deep Tech Founding Team Science's Ultimate Goal Taking Progress for Granted The Two Types of Human Motivation How Neurotech Can Benefit Humanity Why Arkady is Less Bullish on Quantum Computing Incoming Deep Tech Developments MORE! Books Mentioned: Survive & Thrive: Entrepreneurship Frameworks That Work; by Paul Kewene-Hite The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves; by W. Brian Arthur One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson

Alex Lieberman is the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, the cofounder of Storyarb and the host of 60 Second Startup & Founder's Journal. Alex joins the show to discuss why hiring a Voice Editor contributed to Morning Brew's success, how to spot a writing unicorn, how he learned to follow his intrinsic motivation and MUCH more! Important Links: Alex's Twitter Founder's Journal Morning Brew The Great Reshuffle Will Storr on Infinite Loops The Best Stuff | Conscious Leadership Group Show Notes: The Rise of Morning Brew Finding Morning Brew's Voice Finding the Writing Unicorn Writing Nature vs. Writing Nurture Corporate Speak vs. Online Speak The Power of Self-Awareness Interviews & Talent Spotting Ideating, Doing & Premeditating Following the Intrinsics Finding Your Zone of Genius Building Storyarb Alex as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street, Fourth Edition: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America's Top Copywriters; by Joseph Sugarman The Tao Te Ching; by Laozi The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success; by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman & Kaley Klemp The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human, and How To Tell Them Better; by Will Storr Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind; by Andy Dunn

Tim Beiko, who runs the core protocol meetings for Ethereum, teams up with writer and consultant Venkatesh Rao to discuss their "Summer of Protocols" research program. This initiative brought together 33 researchers with a wide range of expertise to investigate protocols across several domains. Join us for an in-depth exploration of protocols: understanding what they are, their importance, why they can go wrong, and much more! Important Links: Summer of Protocols Protocolized Newsletter Venkatesh's previous episode Venkatesh's Website Ribbonfarm Venkatesh's Substack Venkatesh's Twitter Tim's Twitter Show Notes: Why We Should Care About Protocols Protocols, Narratives & World-Building The Three Preconditions of a Protocol "Civilization progresses by increasing the number of actions we can do without thinking about them." When Protocols Go Wrong More Protocols = Less Agency? Workplace Safety & Protocol Complexity How to Build Good Protocols; Building Protocol Literacy Why Aren't More People Talking About Protocols? How to Encourage Protocols-First Thinking Protocols Have Long Timelines Protocols in Fiction Protocol Hunting In Silico Determinism, Open Environments & Evolution How to Hack Protocols Agility Isn't Always the Answer Memory: The Most Valuable Asset in a Civilization Next Steps & How to Learn More MORE! Books & Essays Mentioned: The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom Hope Runners of Gridlock; by Simon de la Rouviere High Rise; by J.G Ballard The Drowned World; by J.G Ballard The Drought; by J.G Ballard A Burglar's Guide to the City; by Geoff Manaugh The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering; by Frederick Brooks In the Beginning Was the Command Line; by Neal Stephenson Slow Ideas; by Atul Gawande Nakatomi Space; by Geoff Manaugh Base Layers And Functional Escape Velocity; by Vitalik Buterin

Will Schoder is a video essayist who explores a diverse range of topics including psychology, meaning, re-enchantment, metamodernism, mortality, and satire. Initially known for his short-form videos, his latest series is a trilogy of fascinating long-form deep dives into the nature, foundations, and secrets of happiness. Will joins the show to share his insights on the evolving significance of curation, the future of the creator economy, how to obtain deep happiness and MUCH more. Important Links: Will's YouTube Channel Will's Twitter Eight Books That Changed My Life Rick and Morty – Finding Meaning in Life David Foster Wallace – The Problem With Irony The Attention Economy – How They Addict Us Every Story Is The Same The Happiness Trilogy: Part 1: What is Happiness? Part 2: The Foundations of Happiness Part 3: The Secret to Happier The moral roots of liberals and conservatives; Jonathan Haidt The Thinker and The Prover Show Notes: Short-Form vs Long-Form Videos The Righteous Mind The Internet as Liberator; the Rise of Curation Pushback & Pop Culture YouTube & the Rise of the TikTok Style Navigating the Attention Economy The Future of the Creator Economy Will's Hero's Journey Finding Deep Happiness Compression, Genetics & Environment Education vs. Entertainment The Free Energy Principle Filter Failure Will as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion; by Jonathan Haidt One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business; by Neil Postman The Shallows: How the Internet Is Changing the Way We Think, Read and Remember; by Nicholas Carr Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine; by Derren Brown Happiness: A Very Short Introduction; by Daniel M. Haybron The Pursuit of Unhappiness: The Elusive Psychology of Well-Being; by Daniel M. Haybron All The Light We Cannot See; by Anthony Doerr How To Change Your Mind; by Michael Pollan

Ben Westhoff is a best-selling investigative journalist focusing on culture, drugs, and poverty. Ben's book Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic was the culmination of a four-year investigation into the worst drug crisis in American history, an investigation that included Ben making an undercover visit to Chinese drug factories. His latest book, Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth tells the story of Ben's search for his little brother's killer. Ben is currently working on a documentary, Antagonist, about naltrexone, an opioid treatment medicine that some have called a "wonder drug." Ben joins the show to discuss the failure of the War on Drugs, the role played by Big Pharma, how he speaks to his children about drugs, what most Americans misunderstand about poverty, and MUCH more. Important Links: Ben's Website Drugs + Hip-Hop Newsletter Antagonist Documentary Teaser Show Notes: The Worst Drug Crisis in World History How China and Fentanyl Are Connected Why Can't the USA Stop This? The Failure of the War on Drugs; Better Solutions Vivitrol: a Wonder Drug? Finding Better Ways to Care For the Vulnerable Free Markets & Big Pharma How Ben Speaks to His Children About Drugs Innovation & Stigmatization How Harm Reduction Can Help What Has Happened to San Francisco? Could Decriminalization Work? Ben's Hunt For His Little Brother's Killer What Most Americans Misunderstand About Poverty; How Listeners Can Help How Ben's Documentary Can Help Ben as Emperor Of The World MORE! Books Mentioned: Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Created the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic; by Ben Westhoff Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search for Truth; by Ben Westhoff Original Gangstas: Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and the Birth of West Coast Rap; by Ben Westhoff Thank You For Smoking; by Christopher Buckley

AI researcher, memelord extraordinaire, and techno-optimist Roon joins the show to discuss coming up with the shape rotator vs. wordcel meme, what an AGI world could become, and why Tenet is Christopher Nolan's best movie. Important Links: Roon's Twitter Roon's Substack AGI Futures Show Notes: Shape Rotators Vs. Wordcels Why AGI is Possible AI in Science Fiction AGI Future #1: Neuralink Third Impact AGI Future #2: Simulation Theory AGI Future #3: Dumb Matter AGI Future #4: Balrog Awakened AGI Future #5: Ultra Kessler Syndrome AGI Future #6: The Tragedy of Taiwan AGI Future #7: For Dust Thou Art AGI Future #8: CEV Super Intelligence Why Tenet is Christopher Nolan's Best Movie Roon as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard Bloom The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; by Douglas Adams

Katherine Dee is a writer, journalist, and internet culture reporter. A contributor to publications such as UnHerd, Tablet, and Blaze Media, she is also the proprietor of the Default Wisdom Substack, where she writes about a wide range of topics, including internet history and culture, digital communities, millennial nostalgia, and online fandom. Katherine joins the show to discuss why you're never leaving Twitter, how to escape the nostalgia trap, whether it's possible to heal our attention spans, and MUCH more! Important Links: Default Wisdom Why You're Never Leaving Twitter; by Katherine Dee Everything I Know About Elite America I Learned From 'Fresh Prince' and 'West Wing'; by Rob Henderson Show Notes: Origin Story Why You're Never Leaving Twitter Art & Journalism in the Attention Economy Class, Wealth & Status How to Heal Our Attention Span Escaping the Nostalgia Trap Technology, Cultural Lag & Barriers to Entry Astroturfing vs. Organic Momentum Katherine as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It; by Will Storr Class: A Guide Through the American Status System; by Paul Fussell The novels of Donna Tartt The novels of Easton Ellis

The inimitable Derek Sivers returns for Part Two of our conversation. Important Links: Part One Website Twitter Still Too Soon to Tell & Other Songs Tech Independence Show Notes: Curiosity Starts With Dissatisfaction Defining Things By Their Opposites Counterbalancing Our Biases How To Reframe Your Problems Still Too Soon To Tell Alternate Pasts & Alternate Futures The Choice You Commit To Is The Best Choice Just Do The Thing What Next? Derek As Emperor Of The World MORE! Books Mentioned: Anything You Want; by Derek Sivers Hell Yeah Or No; by Derek Sivers How To Live; by Derek Sivers Your Music And People; by Derek Sivers William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs The God Problem: How a Godless Cosmos Creates; by Howard Bloom The Selfish Gene; by Richard Dawkins Awaken The Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Life; by Tony Robbins The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna What's Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies; by Tim Urban

Over the years, Derek Sivers has been a musician, circus performer, computer programmer, author, public speaker, and entrepreneur. In the 2000s, he sold his business, CD Baby, for $22 million and gave the proceeds to charity. Derek has optimized his life "for creating and learning" and spends as much of his time as he can (often 12 hours a day, 6 days a week) passionately pursuing his interests. Known for his ability to compress complex ideas into succinct insights, he has written four books and is currently working on his fifth. This conversation was so much fun that Derek immediately asked to return for a sequel, which we will be releasing this Thursday (26 October). Stay tuned! Important Links: Website Twitter There's No Speed Limit Ideas Are Just A Multiplier Of Execution The Thinker and The Prover Keep It Simple, Stupid (Infinite Loops Substack) Show Notes: Don't Be AC/DC. Be Miles Davis. Does It Have To Be This Way? Rebranding Laziness Time Is A Multiplier From Idea To Execution Useful Not True When Simple Gets Hard How Derek Found Agency By Accepting Blame Cultivating Insatiable Curiosity More! Books Mentioned: Anything You Want; by Derek Sivers Hell Yeah Or No; by Derek Sivers How To Live; by Derek Sivers Your Music And People; by Derek Sivers Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Two Cultures; by C.P. Snow Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There; by Lewis Carroll The Cosmic Trigger trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life; by Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics; by Tim Marshall Au Contraire!: Figuring Out the French; by Gilles Asselin and Ruth Mastron Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour; by Kate Fox

John Fio is an inventor and entrepreneur who has bootstrapped four products that have collectively generated hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. He joins the show to discuss why ideas are harder than execution, what he learned from being Justin Bieber's intern, what most people get wrong about Kanye West, why magic is real, and what the success of Barbie and Taylor Swift can tell us about the future. Enjoy! Important Links: Twitter LinkedIn MoonPals Fio Creations Show Notes: From Bieber's Intern to Moon Pals Ideas Are Harder Than Execution Kickstarting Gravity Blankets How to Have a Good Idea Kanye West & the Creative Process The Wizard & the Warrior Magic is Real Social Situations Are a Departure From the Truth Moon Pals, Barbie, Taylor Swift & the Dawn of a New Paradigm Long Tails, Curation & Good Taste John as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism, by Howard Bloom. The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Two Cultures; by C.P. Snow

James Pethokoukis is a policy analyst, official CNBC contributor, and Dewitt Wallace Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also the creator and writer of the Faster, Please! newsletter, which is dedicated to "discovering, creating, and inventing a better world through technological innovation, economic growth, and pro-progress culture." James joins the show to discuss his new book, The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised. Important Links: Faster, Please! The Conservative Futurist WTF Happened In 1971? Tinkered Thinking — White Mirror The Great Reshuffle Bono On Nuclear Energy Our World in Data Show Notes: What Happened to America? Up Wing vs. Down Wing Thinking AI as a General Purpose Technology; Regulatory Capture Technological Proficiency & Problem Solving How to Reframe Tomorrow "Be Like the Blade of Grass" Green Shoots of Optimism AI as a Lifelong Learning Instructor We Are the Economy Three Policies That Could Change the Future James as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised; by James Pethokoukis The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision Of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom

Bojan Tunguz is a senior systems software engineer at NVIDIA, quadruple Kaggle grandmaster, former top 10 Amazon reviewer, and former physicist. He joins the show to discuss the problems that LLMs can't solve, the speed of AI progress, why he homeschools his kids, how to win Twitter, and more! Important Links: Twitter Substack 40 AI Use Cases Show Notes: Becoming a Kaggle Grandmaster Hyper-Competitive Learning From Physics to Data Science How Natural Language Processing Has Evolved The Problems That LLMs Can't Solve The Future of the Centaur Model AI as a Creativity Extender Why Bojan is Homeschooling His Kids The AI Feedback Flywheel How Quickly Will Different Sectors Be Transformed By AI? Disruption vs. Destruction Is AGI possible? AI Use Cases: Mental Health & Elder Care How to Win Twitter Why Bojan Became a Top 10 Amazon Reviewer Bojan's Favorite Books Bojan's Current Side-Project Bojan As Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Lolita; by Vladimir Nabokov The work of Haruki Murakami The work of Milan Kundera The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature; by Steven Pinker Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition have Failed; by James Scott

Julie Fredrickson is a former founder and the Managing Partner of Chaotic Capital, an "early stage fund for companies that adapt our lives and systems to the opportunities that chaos brings." She joins the show to discuss the Great Weirding, becoming a playable character, how the market provides a muse, the power of preparation, and more! Important Links: Website Twitter LinkedIn Chaotic Capital The Great Weirding; by Venkatesh Rao The Thinker and The Prover Show Notes: Julie's Origin Story The Difference Between Hippies and Tech "Circumstances change. Humanity does not. Plan accordingly." The Great Weirding The Myth of the Perfect Past How to Become a Playable Character The Weirdo Lighthouse The Power of Showing Up How Julie Assesses Founders Talent Doesn't Matter The Market is the Muse "In the beginning, there was the word" Preference Falsification vs. Revealed Preferences Julie's Revealed Preferences "Prepare, and the opportunity will come" Silicon Valley Is an Idea, Not a Place The Open-Source Ethos Julie as Empress of the World Books Mentioned: Bad Predictions: 2000 Years of the Best Minds Making the Worst Forecasts; by Laura Lee The History of the Peloponnesian War; by Thucydides Republic; by Plato American Cycles of History: According to the Fourth Turning Generational Theory and The Boomer Soul 1946-2022; by William H. Van Marter Jr. William Blake vs the World; by John Higgs Julie, or the New Heloise; by Jean-Jacques Rousseau The End of History and the Last Man; by Francis Fukuyama The Peripheral; by William Gibson Neuromancer; by William Gibson The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human, and How To Tell Them Better; by Will Storr Class: A Guide Through the American Status System; by Paul Fussell What Works on Wall Street: The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Singularity Sky; by Charles Stross Marxism and Modernism; by Eugene Lunn The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom

Danny Miranda's ambition is to sell out Madison Square Gardens for a live edition of his podcast. Now, on episode 402 (and counting), he is getting closer to that goal every week. He joins the show to discuss the art of interviewing, why he's attracted to the light, his favorite questions, and more. Important Links: Danny's Twitter Danny's Website Wisdom Unleashed Show Notes: Fancy a phone call? The power of human interaction What Danny has learned from 397 podcasts The Art of Interviewing Finding "the thing" How has Danny changed deciding his aim was to sell out Madison Square Garden? Danny's research process "I'm attracted to the light" When did things go wrong? Podcasting as idea collecting In-person vs Zoom The ability to speak to anyone in the world Danny's favorite questions The different types of podcast Why podcasts are like the printing press for audio The importance of connection What will podcasting look like in 2034? Always Be Closing Danny as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: How to Win Friends and Influence People; by Dale Carnegie Hidden Genius; by Polina Marinova Pompliano The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu Jim's "Exploring the Dark" Reading List: Meditations; by Marcus Aurelius Heart of Darkness; by Joseph Conrad The Human Animal: A Personal View of the Human Species; by Desmond Morris Exploring the Shadow: Understanding and Addressing the Dark Side of the Human Psyche; by John C. Friel and Linda D. Friel (Article) Man's Search for Meaning; by Viktor E. Frankl The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious; by Carl Jung Memories, Dreams, Reflections: An Autobiography; by Carl Jung Beyond Good and Evil; by Friedrich Nietzsche The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil; by Philip Zimbardo Meeting the Shadow: Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature; edited by Connie Zweig and Jeremiah Abrams

Dror Poleg is an author, speaker, and researcher investigating technology's impact on the way people work, live, and invest. He joins us to discuss the relationship between AI and remote work, how cities are going to change, the internet's role as a matching engine, and MUCH more! Important Links: Dror's Website Dror's Twitter Our Great Reshuffle Series The Once and Future Liberalism; by Walter Russell Mead The Great Online Game; by Packy McCormick Show Notes: The relationship between AI & remote work How remote work & AI will change our cities What cities will succeed in the new world? Remote work vs. Back to the office Uncertainty & the death of the "job" How to cure zero-sum thinking The economy doesn't need us all to be ambitious How work is going to change How AI will transform professions' scalability; the internet as a matching engine How Dror uses AI Unbundling ideas from execution The value of Twitter The tragedy of the uncommon The great online game UBI & the need for new social systems Dror as emperor of the world. MORE! Books Mentioned: Rethinking Real Estate: A Roadmap to Technology's Impact on the World's Largest Asset Class; by Dror Poleg After Office: A Survival Guide For Cities, Humans And Companies; by Dror Poleg The Longer Long Tail: How Endless Choice is Creating Unlimited Demand; by Chris Anderson

Our previous episode with Trung & Rob included the bombshell reveal that Rob had never watched Apocalypse Now. Nearly one year later, Rob and Trung make their triumphant return to the show to discuss the themes of the film, the lessons aspiring creators can draw from its troubled production history, the role of the Vietnam War in American cinema, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Rob's Substack Rob's Twitter Trung's Substack Trung's Twitter Our previous episode with Trung & Rob Show Notes: Rob's homework assignment The two endings of Apocalypse Now Coppola's disastrous production process Should Willard have taken Kurtz' place? Draft dodgers: fear of death, or fear of social judgment? Different perspectives of American Empire The memory industry: Vietnam in film When condemning backfires The thin veneer of civilization Willard's moral injury Is pacificism sustainable? Art as a response to social conditions Telling the story vs romanticizing it Be careful what you wish for: The McKenna take When Jim was Jedpilled When Rob was Jedpilled The creative process: feeding the black box, becoming the vessel, and summoning the muse George Lucas' version of Apocalypse Now Cut scenes and time travel Trung & Rob as Emperors of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Enlightenment Trilogy; by Jed McKenna Heart of Darkness; by Joseph Conrad The Lucifer Principle; by Howard Bloom Howard Bloom hierarchies The Sympathizer; by Viet Thanh Nguyen The War of Art; by Steven Pressfield Moby-Dick; by Herman Melville The Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu The Creative Act: A Way of Being; by Rick Rubin Films, TV Shows & Podcasts Mentioned: Apocalypse Now; directed by Francis Ford Coppola Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse; directed by Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper & Eleanor Coppola The Vietnam War; directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Platoon; directed by Oliver Stone The Wolf of Wall Street; directed by Martin Scorcese Wall Street; directed by Oliver Stone The Social Network; directed by David Fincher Born on the Fourth of July; directed by Oliver Stone The Deer Hunter; directed by Michael Cimino A Clockwork Orange; directed by Stanley Kubrick Patton; directed by Franklin J. Schaffner Full Metal Jacket; directed by Stanley Kubrick Saving Private Ryan; directed by Steven Spielberg The Godfather & The Godfather Part II; directed by Francis Ford Coppola The Matrix; directed by the Wachowskis Rick and Morty Do We Get To Win This Time? Tetragrammation with Rick Rubin

"Who is America's best-known banker? That would be Jamie Dimon. But who is the richest? That would be Andy Beal, with an estimated net worth of $9 billion." Friend-of-the-show Frederik Gieschen joins us for an impromptu conversation about his article on the life and work of Andy Beal, the richest banker in America. Important Links: High Roller: Lessons from America's Richest Banker Frederik's Twitter Frederik's Substack Frederik's previous episode The Internet Contrarian Show Notes: The Arena, the Maze, and the Labyrinth Why do myths endure? "You can't do a good deal with a bad person" America's richest banker: the Andrew Beal story Agreeableness, contrarianism, and accountability Thinking like a banker vs. thinking like an investor The random buzz generator: How to fight linear thinking The alchemy of success Bubbles: When heterogeneity becomes homogeneity "The higher you rise in a hierarchy, the less good the information you get." Deterministic vs. probabilistic thinking The difference between being an investor and being in the investing business The return of Andrew Beal The importance of agility MORE! Books Mentioned: The Cosmic Trigger trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson Aesop's Fables; by Aesop Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art; by James Nestor The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time; by Michael Craig What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life; by Alice Schroeder

Dr. Julie Gurner is a doctor of psychology and executive performance coach to top percentile executives, primarily in finance and technology. She is also the proprietor of the Ultra Successful newsletter, which delivers a weekly challenge pulled from global business leaders and designed to "help you unleash your power." Dr. Gurner joins the show to discuss the merits of being unreasonable, why your business should not be your identity, why niceness is overrated, and more! Important Links: Substack Twitter Website Show Notes: Dr. Gurner's origin story How forensic psychology experience can help executive coaching Leaning into the 1% Why psychological tests are flawed The common traits of successful founders High performance & bottlenecks Why your business should not be your identity Data vs. emotion How Dr. Gurner applies her strategies in her own life Don't be nice Be unreasonable Social validation is not important How can you improve someone's communication skills? How Dr. Gurner would teach executive coaching The "no Plan B" mentality Can high energy be detrimental? How to unpack charisma How to turn down work Dr. Gurner's greatest satisfaction How has leadership changed in the last 20 years? Dr. Gurner as Empress of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: The Art of War; by Sun Tzu

Board Certified hypnotist & Goodwin Hypnosis founder Todd Goodwin joins us for his second appearance to discuss why we should treat the mind like a garden, why revelation is not the same as resolution, why labels can be counterproductive, and much more! Important Links: Goodwin Hypnosis Goodwin Hypnosis' YouTube Todd's first episode Luca Dellanna's episode Our episode on Dr John Sarno Show Notes: Treating the symptoms vs treating the cause Gardening the mind "Revelation is not resolution" Why aren't hypnosis & NLP more popular? Could Todd's work be filmed? Why labeling conditions can be counterproductive Clearing the emotional charge from traumatic memories Top-down vs. Bottom-up solutions Hypnosis as a way of reclaiming agency How we are shaped by childhood experiences Why we need a more compassionate criminal system MORE! Books Mentioned: Healing Back Pain; by John E. Sarno

Why is hard work a form of laziness? Why should we be wary of short-term success? How can imagining parallel worlds help us make better decisions? Author, management advisor, and researcher Luca Dellanna joins us to discuss these questions and more! Important Links: Luca's Website Luca's Twitter Show Notes: Ergodicity: survival is king Why sample size matters The two types of competitors Teaching by signaling The parallel worlds approach to decision-making Racing to the bottom Why working hard can be a form of laziness The three things managers should prioritize Why desiring change isn't enough Fighting avoidance with actionable small steps "Mixed values produce mixed results" Thinking by writing What Luca has learned from living in multiple countries Luca as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder; by Nassim Nicholas Taleb What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Ergodicity: Definition, Examples, And Implications, As Simple As Possible; by Luca Dellanna The Control Heuristic: The Nature of Human Behavior; by Luca Dellanna 100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late; by Luca Dellanna Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu

Why is hard work a form of laziness? Why should we be wary of short-term success? How can imagining parallel worlds help us make better decisions? Author, management advisor, and researcher Luca Dellanna joins us to discuss these questions and more! Important Links: Luca's Website Luca's Twitter Show Notes: Ergodicity: survival is king Why sample size matters The two types of competitors Teaching by signaling The parallel worlds approach to decision-making Racing to the bottom Why working hard can be a form of laziness The three things managers should prioritize Why desiring change isn't enough Fighting avoidance with actionable small steps "Mixed values produce mixed results" Thinking by writing What Luca has learned from living in multiple countries Luca as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Antifragile: Things that Gain from Disorder; by Nassim Nicholas Taleb What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Ergodicity: Definition, Examples, And Implications, As Simple As Possible; by Luca Dellanna The Control Heuristic: The Nature of Human Behavior; by Luca Dellanna 100 Truths You Will Learn Too Late; by Luca Dellanna Tao Te Ching; by Lao Tzu

Designer, entrepreneur and Visualize Value founder Jack Butcher joins us for his second appearance on the show to discuss how to get closer to reality, the differences between the US & the UK, whether vision can be taught, and MUCH more! Important Links: Jack's Twitter Visualize Value Jack's first appearance on the show How to Get Rich The Great Reshuffle Show Notes: Jack's origin story Productizing Visualize Value Ideas vs experience Fighting fear with experience Differences between the US & the UK "The buck stops here" "The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit" How to transcend language Can you teach vision? The internet as a variance amplifier How to communicate clearly Get closer to reality Jack's Twitter X Logo Jack as emperor of the world MORE! Books Mentioned: The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a Lot Of) Success in America; by John Gartner The Illuminatus! Trilogy; by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea The Psychology of Money, by Morgan Housel Spiritually Incorrect Enlightenment; by Jed McKenna

Dan Runcie is the Founder of Trapital, a company focused on music, media, and entertainment. Trapital's output includes a podcast, weekly newsletter, and deep-dive essays breaking down trends in the music industry. Dan joins us for his second appearance on the show to discuss how AI will transform the music industry, whether the age of the superstar is over, how artists become billionaires, and MUCH more! Important Links: Dan's Twitter Trapital Dan's first appearance on the show Show Notes: Can the music industry embrace AI? What will happen to music when AI gets better? Will some genres be quicker to adapt than others? How streaming algorithms are improving Are AI playlists the death of DJs? How artists can game the algorithm How artists can use the music industry's Pareto distribution Artists become millionaires selling music, and billionaires selling product Will we see the end of record companies? Will Bowie Bonds die? Are we going to see the end of the superstar? Ads & audiences Spotify vs YouTube vs TikTok Can newcomers displace the incumbents? Will the streamers dominate podcasting? What's next? Dan as Emperor of the World MORE!

Dr. William Zeng is founder and President of the Unitary Fund, a non-profit dedicated to developing the quantum ecosystem to benefit the most people. He previously led initial development of Rigetti Computing's quantum cloud platform, and is co-inventor of the Quil quantum instruction language. He was named to Forbes' 30 under 30 in the Science category for his work on quantum computing. Dr. William was one of the first recipients of an O'Shaughnessy Fellowship, which is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and access to OSV's network of founders, investors and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. Dr. William is using his fellowship grant to study how emerging quantum technologies can explore foundational questions in quantum mechanics. Important Links: The O'Shaughnessy Fellowships The Unitary Fund Will's Twitter A possibilities no-go theorem on the Wigner's friend paradox Show Notes: An introduction to quantum computing Regular computers vs quantum computers The impact of simulating quantum systems How quantum computing can transform risk analysis What does a quantum world look like? Encryption & risk The benefits of an open-source ecosystem Wigner's Friend experiments, agency & objective reality "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." "Technology is an integration of body and mind" The laws of physics What's next? MORE! Books Mentioned: How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival The science fiction of Greg Egan The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch Historical Ontology; by Ian Hacking