Michael Gibson & Danielle Strachman — The 1517 Rebellion (EP.279)
Release Date: 08/14/2025
Tomás Pueyo — Explaining the World Through Geography, History and Data (EP. 297)
Infinite Loops
Tomás Pueyo, the French-Spanish engineer and writer behind the successful "Uncharted Territories" Substack, joins us to dismantle the invisible forces that shape our history and future. We cover why humans are horrible at understanding exponential change, the geographical advantages of the U.S, why the Luddites might have been right, the "social media politician" of the future, why education is mostly signaling, and how air conditioning and mosquito eradication could change the destiny of nations. Important Links:
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Annie Duke — Why We Make the Wrong Decisions (Ep. 296)
Infinite Loops
Annie Duke — former professional poker player, decision strategist, and bestselling author — joins us for a deep conversation about why smart people so often make bad decisions. Annie explains why misinterpretation is more dangerous than misinformation, why data is often true but misleading, and how our brains are wired for certainty in a probabilistic world. From real-world media examples to investing, health decisions, and AI-generated insights, this episode explores how explanations feel satisfying — even when they’re wrong. Important links: Substack: Annie's website: ...
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Jimmy Soni — The Publishing System is Broken (EP. 295)
Infinite Loops
Jimmy Soni, CEO and editor in chief of Infinite Books, is back on Infinite Loops. We discuss what’s broken in traditional publishing and how we’re fixing it. We also dig into Jimmy’s forthcoming book on Kobe Bryant, why the world needs more “problem authors,” and why our goal is to make our authors millionaires. We explore why most industries optimize for prestige instead of outcomes, how digital distribution has reshaped attention, and why authors — and creators more broadly — have more leverage than they realize. Important Links: Infinite Books: https://www.infinitebooks.com/...
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Guy Spier — Wealth, Wisdom & Enlightenment (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)
Infinite Loops
Happy Holidays! We’re taking a short break from new episodes this week so you can focus on finishing that Christmas dinner. We’ll be back next Thursday with something new. In the meantime, why not tuck into this conversation with Guy Spier from January 2024, which remains one of my favorites. Enjoy! _________________ 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...
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Vik Muniz — The Art of Perception (EP.294)
Infinite Loops
What if the invention that truly made us human wasn’t the wheel, language, or even agriculture — but art? In this episode of Infinite Loops, we sit down with internationally renowned artist Vik Muniz to explore a radical and deeply human idea: that art — the ability to represent the world — may be humanity’s most important invention after fire. Born in São Paulo and now collected by major museums around the world, Muniz reflects on his own life journey — from growing up in a Brazilian favela to redefining what art can be — and explains why the artwork is only ever half complete....
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Marc Dennis — Painting the Punchline (EP.293)
Infinite Loops
Artist Marc Dennis joins Jim O'Shaughnessy to explore the intersection of hyper-realism, humor, and the "meta-narrative." Marc shares his incredible non-linear journey—from accidentally starting a forest fire at age seven to becoming a tenured professor and eventually betting it all to become a full-time artist with no plan B. They discuss why the "key to failure" is trying to please everyone, how humor acts as a survival mechanism, and the crucial difference between perception and reality. Marc also offers a masterclass on intention, explaining why he plants hidden stories within his...
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Ariel Meyerowitz — Navigating the Art World (EP. 292)
Infinite Loops
Professional art advisor Ariel Meyerowitz joins Jim O'Shaughnessy to demystify the complex world of art. Ariel provides an essential guide for aspiring collectors, explaining where to begin, how to develop your eye, and why buying what you love is the most important first step. They explore the inner workings of galleries, auctions, and art fairs, contrasting the emotional value of art with the often-fickle investment market. Ariel also shares her philosophy on patronage, the psychology of collecting, and the profound, stress-reducing impact of living with art. This conversation is a perfect...
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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...
info_outlineMichael Gibson and Danielle Strachman, co-founders of 1517 Fund, join the show to discuss their rebellion against higher education, why universities stifle creativity, why IQ doesn't correlate with innovation, and how betting on "misfit toys" is the way to go—plus we explore Girardian mimesis, the perishable nature of creativity, the laziness of pessimistic storytelling and MORE!
I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack.
Important Links:
Show Notes:
- Why 1517 Fund Rebels Against Higher Education
- Giving Individuals a Shot
- “It’s cool to be building stuff, it’s not cool to be a Thiel Fellow”
- The ‘ATM Founder’ and ‘Rich Too Early’ Syndrome
- The Power of Predictive Character Traits
- Flipping Credentialist Thinking
- "How do we become Spielberg? How do we do something truly great?"
- Simple Memes and Powerful Narratives
- Avoiding a Monoculture of Misfits
- The Incestuous Universities Scene
- Choosing Your Own Path
- People Contain Multitudes
- Michael and Danielle as World Emperor and Empress
Books & Essays Mentioned:
- A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age; by Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman
- Collective Illusions: Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions; by Todd Rose
- "A Gift for My Daughter"; by Harry Browne (Full text available here)
- Paper Belt on Fire; by Michael Gibson
- The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation; by Jon Gertner
- The Right Stuff; by Tom Wolfe
- The Status Game; by Will Storr
- The Two Cultures; by C.P. Snow
- What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy
- White Mirror: Stories; by Tinkered Thinking
- Zero to One; by Peter Thiel
- The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley; by Jimmy Soni
- Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar; by Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman
- How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World; by Harry Browne