Adam Moskowitz — The Way of the Cheesemonger (EP.291)
Infinite Loops
is the King of Cheese—but his path to the throne was anything but straight. In this delicious episode of Infinite Loops, Adam shares his wild journey from a failed rap career and a battle with addiction to becoming one of the most influential figures in cheese and the host of . Whether you are a foodie, a creator battling gatekeepers, or just someone who loves a good comeback story, this episode will remind you to bet on yourself—and maybe eat some better cheese while you’re at it. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and...
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Todd Rose — Escaping the Trap of the Standard Path (EP.290)
Infinite Loops
From a 0.9 GPA in rural Utah to the faculty of Harvard, Todd Rose’s life is a testament to the idea that the "standard path" is a myth. In this return appearance on Infinite Loops, Todd opens up about the gritty, unvarnished reality of his origin story—a journey that includes ten minimum wage jobs, a stint administering enemas for a living, and the life-changing intervention of a department secretary named Marilyn Diamond. We dive deep into the "Dark Horse" mindset and why the pursuit of fulfillment, rather than the pursuit of excellence, is actually the most reliable driver of success....
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George Mack — The Game of Life (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)
Infinite Loops
Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief break from new episodes to spotlight a golden oldie from the Infinite Loops archive. This conversation from December 2023 remains one of my favorites. Fresh episodes return next week, but first, enjoy this conversation with the inimitable George Mack. _________________ 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: (Rick and Morty) Show Notes: Treating Life...
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Michael Perry — Improbable Mentors and the Art of Midwestern Storytelling (EP. 289)
Infinite Loops
What happens when a shy farm kid from rural Wisconsin who never dreamed of being a writer becomes one of America's most beloved storytellers? Michael Perry joins Infinite Loops to share his remarkable journey from cleaning calf pens to pitching scripts at Universal Studios, all while maintaining his day job as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in his hometown. This conversation is a masterclass in authentic storytelling, practical wisdom, and the power of staying true to your roots while navigating an industry that often values credentials over character. Perry shares unforgettable stories about...
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Kenneth Stanley — The Trap of the Objective (EP.288)
Infinite Loops
Ken Stanley – AI researcher and author of "Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned" – joins me to explore why ambitious objectives can blind us to the stepping stones that make breakthroughs possible. Ken is the inventor of the novelty search algorithm and co-creator of Picbreeder, a crowdsourced evolutionary art experiment that has led to important insights about our objective-obsessed culture. This conversation covers everything from why vacuum tubes had to come before computers, how the path you take to success matters more than the success itself, the "fractured entangled representation"...
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Elle Griffin — Rethinking Ownership and the Future of Work (EP. 287)
Infinite Loops
Writer, editor, and founder of The Elysian, Elle Griffin joins me on Infinite Loops to discuss her vision for participatory capitalism, a world where ownership, reputation, and creativity are shared more broadly across society. We explore the evolution of capitalism from the industrial era to the networked age, how broad-based ownership could rebuild the middle class, why optimism is revolutionary, and how storytelling shapes our collective imagination. We also discuss how reputation is becoming a new form of capital and how writers can become architects of meaning in a world reshaped by AI...
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Jay Yang — The Power of Permissionless Action (EP. 286)
Infinite Loops
What if the biggest barrier between you and your dreams isn't talent, connections, or luck— but simply the belief that you need permission to act? Jay Yang joins Infinite Loops to challenge one of the most limiting assumptions of our time: that opportunities must be handed to us rather than created by us. At just 16, Jay cold-emailed the CEO of Beehiiv with a concrete plan that led to an internship. At 17, he sent Noah Kagan a 19-page audit of his email funnel with ready-to-ship assets, ultimately becoming head of content and helping put "Million Dollar Weekend" on the New York Times...
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Jeff Bussgang — The Experimentation Machine (EP.285)
Infinite Loops
Jeff Bussgang — entrepreneur, venture capitalist, Harvard Business School professor, and co-founder of Flybridge Capital — joins Infinite Loops to explore how AI is transforming the operating systems of startups. We dive into Jeff’s framework from his new book The Experimentation Machine, why AI compresses the cost and time of learning, how to distinguish 10X founders and 10X joiners, and why execution velocity matters more than tech moats in the age of AI. One of the most important things Jeff and I discuss is why discernment and taste may be the most valuable human skills of the...
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Dan Wang — China, US and our Collective Future (EP.284)
Infinite Loops
Dan Wang, author of "Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future," joins me to explore why China builds while America blocks, how lawyers strangled U.S. infrastructure, and why Connecticut trains run slower than they did in 1914. Dan lived through China's trade war, Zero COVID, and the exodus of 15,000+ Chinese millionaires, giving him unique insight into both superpowers' pathologies. This conversation covers everything from why ribbon-cutting ceremonies matter for societal optimism to how lawyers morphed from deal-makers to obstructionists after the 1960s. We explore California's...
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Alex Danco — Speeches and Spells for the Kings and Priests (EP.283)
Infinite Loops
It’s Alex Danco’s landmark 10th appearance on Infinite Loops! He joins the show to discuss his move from Shopify to a16z (where he'll be building out their editorial operations), the power dynamics between VCs and founders (the kings and priests of our era), communication theory and the power of speechwriting, Reagan's rhetorical genius, authentic weirdos, America's hypomanic DNA, the unexpected similarities between American and Chinese culture, and why listeners who haven't read any recommended books after 10 episodes are wasting their time. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I...
info_outlineAuthor 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 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