Visakan Veerasamy - On Creativity, Introspection & Being a Good Reply Guy (EP.149)
Release Date: 03/02/2023
Jimmy Soni — The Courage of Creative Risk (EP.214)
Infinite Loops
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: 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...
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Arjun Khemani — The Hunt for Better Problems (EP. 213)
Infinite Loops
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!...
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Eddy Elfenbein — On Crossing Wall Street (EP. 212)
Infinite Loops
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 - (CWS), the origins of his famous Buy List, his ETF journey, his philosophy as an investor, and much more! Important Links: 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...
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Anna Gát — We Digress (EP. 211)
Infinite Loops
Friend-of-the-show Anna Gát returns to discuss… well… pretty much everything! On April 13th, and 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 , , , and many more! Here’s the best part - we want YOU to be there! To buy in-person tickets and for more information on...
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Visakan Veerasamy — Expanding Our Possibility-Space (EP. 210)
Infinite Loops
The inimitable Visakan Veerasamy returns for a characteristically wide-ranging discussion… Important Links: 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...
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Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology
Infinite Loops
Brendan McCord is the founder of — 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: 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...
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Alex Komoroske — Complex Adaptivity All The Way Down (EP. 208)
Infinite Loops
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: Show Notes: The Parable of the Builder & the Gardener Against Heroism Noise is...
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Cedric Chin — Accelerating Business Expertise (EP. 207)
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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: (Commoncog) 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 &...
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Devon Eriksen — Theft of Fire (EP. 206)
Infinite Loops
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: ; by...
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Jacqueline Novogratz - Manifesto for a Moral Revolution
Infinite Loops
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...
info_outlineImportant Links:
- The origins of Friendly Ambitious Nerd
- “The most heroic thing you can do is not hate yourself”
- Confronting the minotaur
- Introspection & Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Overriding human OS
- Humor is the cure
- How to demonstrate the power of humor
- Dealing with judgment & criticism
- Responding to requests for help
- Enforcing a no-assholes rule
- "Focus your time and energy on what you want to see more of”
- “School is bullshit”
- Question defaults & screw around
- MUCH more!
- Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy
- Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy
- The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr
- The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It; by Will Storr
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces; by Joseph Campbell
- Shantaram; by Gregory David Roberts
- The Art of War; by Sun Tzu
- The Tao Te Ching; by Laozi
- The Lord of the Rings; by J. R. R. Tolkien