Infinite Loops
Become a more nuanced thinker. In an era of uncertainty, the ability to think dynamically and avoid getting trapped in infinite loops of thought is more important than ever. Whether we’re discussing ancient Chinese philosophy, the history of finance, or cutting-edge advances in artificial intelligence, our host Jim O'Shaughnessy’s passion, experience, and eclectic range of interests, combined with our extensive research into our podcast guests, always result in surprising conversations which substantively engage with our guests’ ideas. Our aim: To equip you with the tools required to navigate through the Great Reshuffle that we are in. Let’s start exploring.
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Audrey Wisch — How to Cultivate Curious Kids (EP.226)
07/25/2024
Audrey Wisch — How to Cultivate Curious Kids (EP.226)
I’ve always tried to encourage curiosity in my three children and now six (!) grandchildren. My kids often reminisce about my default response to their childhood questions: pointing to the bookshelf that flanked our sofa and saying, “look it up in there!” Luckily, natural curiosity was never lacking in our household. Over the years, however, I have become increasingly frustrated when I hear about the stultifying, rote, curiosity-killing nature of our education system. It was a pleasure, therefore, to speak to , an impressive young founder who, after witnessing first-hand how kids’ curiosity was being crushed, decided to do something about it. She left Stanford University to build , a personalized service that matches children with university mentors. What started as a pandemic project has grown into something much bigger - Audrey and her co-founder were named to the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List in education, and Curious Cardinals has now delivered over 20,000 hours of mentorship to over 2,000 kids. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Audrey’s approach to education is a breath of fresh air, focusing on agency and empowerment, meeting kids where their interests lie, and harnessing the benefits of technology. I hope you enjoy our conversation! For the full transcript alongside bucketloads of other stuff designed to make you go; “Hmm, that’s interesting!” check out our . Important Links: Show Notes: The Classroom: Disengaging, Uninspiring and Regurgitating The Chicken Nugget Strategy: Learning Through Interests Are Attention Spans Shortening? Why Mentors Matter Rose, Bud, Thorn: How to Design an Effective Mentorship Session The Perks of Proximity The RBG Approach to Disruption Against a One-Size-Fits-All Approach Curiosity, Lifelong Learning & Openness to Change Shakespeare on Snapchat The Changing Role of Memory Prompting via Socratic Iteration; Tapping into the Why How Audrey Became Interested in AI Why the College System Restrains K-12 Progress Hiring for the Output vs Hiring for the Input Audrey as Empress of the World MUCH more! Books Mentioned: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness; by Jonathan Haidt Paper Belt on Fire: How Renegade Investors Sparked a Revolt Against the University; by Michael Gibson
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Matthew Ball — Into The Metaverse (EP.225)
07/18/2024
Matthew Ball — Into The Metaverse (EP.225)
Matthew Ball is the CEO of Epyllion, which makes angel investments, provides advisory services, and produces television, films, and video games. He’s also a Venture Partner at Makers Fund, Senior Advisor to KKR, Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, and sits on the board of numerous start-ups. Matthew is one of the sharpest and most original thinkers on the future of media and the Internet (i.e. The Metaverse). The fully revised and updated edition of his bestselling book releases next week. Important Links: Show Notes: Into The Metaverse AI and The Metaverse ‘AI Can Bend the Laws of Physics’ Human Engineering and the Human Brain Screens and Education The Reflexivity of AI Doomerism The Salvation of the ‘TV Species’ From Passive Media to Active Media ‘What’s An Appropriate Simulation?’ ‘We Don’t Outlaw Fire, We Train Firemen’ Applying the Precautionary Principle Media and the Metaverse: Three Stages of Competition The Enduring Value of Taste Hardware and AI: The Vergence-Accommodation Conflict The Emperor of the Metaverse MORE! Books Mentioned: ; by Matthew Ball ; by Matthew Ball ; by Joseph Henrich
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Nat Eliason — Crazy, Crypto, Confidential (EP.224)
07/11/2024
Nat Eliason — Crazy, Crypto, Confidential (EP.224)
Nat Eliason is a writer with a keen interest in writing about challenging and revealing things. His debut book, Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance (out July 9th, 2024), charts his personal odyssey into Crypto’s Get-Rich-Quick underbelly. Nat joins the show to discuss the highs and lows of the cryptocurrency market, the lessons learned from his financial adventures, the psychological effects of bubbles, crypto’s cutting-edge developments, and MUCH more! Important Links: Show Notes: Making A Lot of Money, As Fast as Possible The Peer Pressure of Crypto Markets The Psychological Effects of Diamond Hands Signs of Peak Speculation How Bitcoin Has Carried the Crypto Story Ethereum’s Innovations The Emergence of Stablecoins What Makes USD A Reserve Currency? The Crazy Anonymity of Crypto Projects The Two Options of Getting Into Crypto Imagining the Money Pile What Nat Couldn’t Keep in the Book Nat’s Next Career as a Novelist Nat as Emperor of the World MORE! Books Mentioned: Influence; by Robert Cialdini
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Noor Siddiqui — A Thiel Fellow’s Guide to Having Healthy Babies (EP.223)
07/04/2024
Noor Siddiqui — A Thiel Fellow’s Guide to Having Healthy Babies (EP.223)
Noor Siddiqui is currently building Orchid, a reproductive technology company that measures genetic predisposition to disease and provides embryo screening for couples going through IVF. Noor joins the show to discuss the ambitious culture of the West Coast, getting into the Thiel Fellowship, her personal reasons for starting Orchid, the sacred act of reproduction and why it must be made safe, her belief in children as the future, and MUCH more! Important Links: Show Notes: The Ambitious Culture of San Francisco The East Coast Aversion to Risky Ambition The Intimate Origin Story of Orchid What Orchid Has Built The History and Controversy Around Reproductive Technology Surprising Aspects of Orchid’s Technology Benefits of Saliva Testing Making Our Own Genetic Luck Noor’s Predictions for the Field Advances in Embryonic Freezing Why Noor Values Clear Writing Noor as Empress of the World MORE! Books/Essays Mentioned: ; by Paul Graham ; by Peter Thiel
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The Fourth Way - Mastering The Self (EP.222)
06/27/2024
The Fourth Way - Mastering The Self (EP.222)
The Fourth Way is a pseudonymously run Youtube channel and Twitter page dedicated to the path of psychological and spiritual growth and self-improvement. Built around the philosophy of two thinkers - George Gurdjieff and Peter Ouspensky - the ultimate aim of the Fourth Way is “to assist individuals in achieving a higher state of consciousness and self-awareness which can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.” Tune in to this week’s episode to learn about the four ways of being; how to befriend your centers; the keys to the universe; and MUCH more! Important Links: Show Notes: Memetic Alchemy Introducing The Fourth Way The Best Time To Start Is Now The Four Ways of Being Waking Sleep Befriending Your Centers Keys To The Universe The Law of Octaves Indoctrination as Hypnosis The Fourth Way Curriculum The Search for Mystery Don’t Forget To Self-Remember Life Is Movement A Pitch for The Fourth Way Don’t Go With The Flow The Fourth…Emperor Of The World Books Mentioned: ; by Peter Ouspensky ; by Peter Ouspensky ; by ****George Gurdjieff ; by George Gurdjieff ; by George Gurdjieff ; by Herman Hesse ; by Thoth The Atlantean
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Mona Sobhani — A Neuroscientist’s Journey From Materialism to Beyond (EP.221)
06/20/2024
Mona Sobhani — A Neuroscientist’s Journey From Materialism to Beyond (EP.221)
Mona Sobhani, Ph.D. is a cognitive neuroscientist, researcher, and author. In 2022 she published her first book, Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist's Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe, which documents her “transformation from diehard materialist to open-minded spiritual seeker.” Mona joins the show to discuss blowing open the box of materialism, why anecdotes are scientifically underrated, what she learned from studying decades of research into psi-phenomena, how quantum science is transforming the way we think about consciousness, and MUCH more! Important Links: ; by Mona Sobhani (Mona’s Substack) Life Will Be the Death of Me Podcast with Chelsea Handler (Ep. 19): Show Notes: Mona’s Journey Beyond Materialism Anecdotes are Scientifically Underrated; Research Into Psi Phenomena How Mona Deals With Her Colleagues’ Skepticism The Persuasiveness of Personal Experience Psychic Phenomena & the Scientific Method Blowing Open the Box of Materialism How Quantum Science is Transforming How We Think About Consciousness Transcendent Technology Psychedelics as a Bridge What’s Next for Mona Bringing Humanity Back Into Science Mona as Empress of the World MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: ; by Mona Sobhani The Radical Ideas of Psychedelic Research 2.0 (; ); by Mona Sobhani Many Lives, Many Masters: The true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives; by Dr. Brian Weiss The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy; by Michael Polanyi The Two Cultures; by C. P. Snow The Fabric of Reality: Towards a Theory of Everything; by David Deutsch The work of Dean Radin The Common Basis of Memory and Consciousness: Understanding the Brain as a Write-Read Head Interacting With an Omnipresent Background Field’ by Joachim Keppler How To Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence; by Michael Pollan What the Tortoise Said to Achilles; by Lewis Carroll
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Ellen Fishbein — Make Art, Not Noise (EP. 220)
06/13/2024
Ellen Fishbein — Make Art, Not Noise (EP. 220)
Described by David Perell as “like Rick Rubin for writing,” Ellen Fishbein is an author and writing coach and the founder of Altamira Studio, an independent publisher specializing in short-form books. She joins the show to discuss how traditional publishing disrespects intelligent readers, her advice for aspiring authors, what she’s learned from Shakespeare’s sonnets, and MUCH more! Important Links: Show Notes: The Caves of Altamira The New Book Deal Using Shakespeare’s Sonnets as a Writing Guide The Author’s Compass The Storytelling Magic of Herman Hesse Zero to One & Writing as Personal Communication How Traditional Publishing Disrespects Smart Readers How the Legacy Publishing System Results in Regression to the Mean AI in the Writing Process Cutting Out the Middle Man Muse By Mail Advice for Aspiring Authors Writing Coaching & Working with Big Publishers Ellen as Empress of the World MORE! Books, Articles & Films Mentioned: ; by Ellen Fishbein ; by Ellen Fishbein ; by Ellen Fishbein ; by Ellen Fishbein ; by Vishal Sharma and William Jaworski ; by Jason Levin : A contribution to Earth’s archives; by Ellen Fishbein The Glass Bead Game; by Hermann Hesse Hesse's Demian: The Story of a Boyhood; by Hermann Hesse Siddharta; by Hermann Hesse Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future; by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy How to Retire Rich: Time-Tested Strategies to Beat the Market and Retire in Style; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Cave of Forgotten Dreams; Directed by Werner Herzog
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John A. Paulos — Avoiding Innumeracy (EP. 219)
06/06/2024
John A. Paulos — Avoiding Innumeracy (EP. 219)
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: 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: Statistics; by D.A. Freedman, R. Pisani, and R.A. Purves Thinking Fast and Slow; by Daniel Kahneman
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Chris Wilcha — Flipside (EP.218)
05/30/2024
Chris Wilcha — Flipside (EP.218)
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 . 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: ; a film by Chris Wilcha ; 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!
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Bridget Phetasy — Comedy is Dead, Long Live Comedy (EP.217)
05/23/2024
Bridget Phetasy — Comedy is Dead, Long Live Comedy (EP.217)
“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: 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: ; by Lewis Hyde ; by Thomas de Zengotita ; By Robert D. Putnam
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Porter Braswell — Building the Future of Leadership (EP.216)
05/16/2024
Porter Braswell — Building the Future of Leadership (EP.216)
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: 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: ; by Porter Braswell ; by Porter Braswell The Intelligent Investor; by Benjamin Graham
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Grant Mitchell — The Potential of AI Drug Repurposing
05/09/2024
Grant Mitchell — The Potential of AI Drug Repurposing
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: 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: ; by Tim Urban (Wait But Why) Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life; by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
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Jimmy Soni — The Courage of Creative Risk (EP.214)
05/02/2024
Jimmy Soni — The Courage of Creative Risk (EP.214)
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 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
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Arjun Khemani — The Hunt for Better Problems (EP. 213)
04/25/2024
Arjun Khemani — The Hunt for Better Problems (EP. 213)
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 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
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Eddy Elfenbein — On Crossing Wall Street (EP. 212)
04/18/2024
Eddy Elfenbein — On Crossing Wall Street (EP. 212)
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 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 Fama and French Three Factor Model Definition: Formula and Interpretation ()
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Anna Gát — We Digress (EP. 211)
04/10/2024
Anna Gát — We Digress (EP. 211)
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 live-streaming, scheduling, speakers, and more, . We hope to see you there! Important Links: 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
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Visakan Veerasamy — Expanding Our Possibility-Space (EP. 210)
04/04/2024
Visakan Veerasamy — Expanding Our Possibility-Space (EP. 210)
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 Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy ; by Visakan Veerasamy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch ; 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
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Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology
03/28/2024
Brendan McCord — AI and the Philosophy of Technology
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 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”
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Alex Komoroske — Complex Adaptivity All The Way Down (EP. 208)
03/21/2024
Alex Komoroske — Complex Adaptivity All The Way Down (EP. 208)
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 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: ; by Alex Komoroske ; by Alex Komoroske ; by Alex Komoroske ; by Jim O’Shaughnessy ; 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
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Cedric Chin — Accelerating Business Expertise (EP. 207)
03/14/2024
Cedric Chin — Accelerating Business Expertise (EP. 207)
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 & Error, Knowledge Shields & the Power of Reading Protocols & Pattern-Matching Cedric as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books and Articles Mentioned: ; by Cedric Chin ; 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
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Devon Eriksen — Theft of Fire (EP. 206)
03/07/2024
Devon Eriksen — Theft of Fire (EP. 206)
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 Devon Eriksen 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
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Jacqueline Novogratz - Manifesto for a Moral Revolution
02/29/2024
Jacqueline Novogratz - Manifesto for a Moral Revolution
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: 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
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Rupert Sheldrake — On Scientism, Morphic Resonance and the Extended Mind (EP. 204)
02/22/2024
Rupert Sheldrake — On Scientism, Morphic Resonance and the Extended Mind (EP. 204)
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: ; by Rupert Sheldrake ; by Rupert Sheldrake ; by Rupert Sheldrake ; 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
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Rob Henderson — Troubled (EP. 203)
02/20/2024
Rob Henderson — Troubled (EP. 203)
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: (Amazon) ; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) ; by Rob Henderson (The Free Press) 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: ; by Rob Henderson ; by Rob Henderson (The Boston Globe) ; 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
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Alec Stapp — Progress is a Policy Choice (EP. 202)
02/15/2024
Alec Stapp — Progress is a Policy Choice (EP. 202)
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: 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 ; by Nicholas Bagley ; by Sam Bowman, John Myers & Ben Southwood
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Rohit Krishnan — Demystifying AI (EP. 201)
02/08/2024
Rohit Krishnan — Demystifying AI (EP. 201)
Essayist, tinkerer, and author Rohit Krishnan returns to discuss his book, Building God: Demystifying AI for Decision Makers. Important Links: (Rohit’s Substack) 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
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Jim O’Shaughnessy — Turning the Tables (EP. 200)
02/01/2024
Jim O’Shaughnessy — Turning the Tables (EP. 200)
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: (Ep.01) (Ep. 57) (Ep. 99) (Ep. 122) (latest episode) (Ep. 156) (latest episode) (Ep. 168) (Ep. 181) (Ep. 189) (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
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Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business (EP.199)
01/25/2024
Lisa Wehden and Minn Kim — America is Open For Business (EP.199)
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: 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
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Alice Albrecht — On Creativity, Connection & Convergence (EP.198)
01/18/2024
Alice Albrecht — On Creativity, Connection & Convergence (EP.198)
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: 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
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Guy Spier — Wealth, Wisdom & Enlightenment (EP.197)
01/11/2024
Guy Spier — Wealth, Wisdom & Enlightenment (EP.197)
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: (YouTube Channel) (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
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