Shows
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE141: The Bronze Age Collapse and History's Selective MemoryToday on Upstream, we’re sharing Erik Torenberg conversation with Samo Burja where they discuss the Bronze Age collapse, technological advancements in ancient civilizations, and the nuanced history of the Roman Empire, along with a detailed analysis of contemporary geopolitical dynamics, particularly focusing on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its implications for global power structures.
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST:
🎙️Live Players
Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Player...2025-05-151h 03
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE140: Why Industrial Revolutions StallToday on Upstream, we’re sharing Erik Torenberg conversation with Samo Burja on this week’s Live Players. They discuss the potential industrial revolutions in history, particularly in the Roman Empire and Song Dynasty China, their technological advancements, economic factors, and the reasons these revolutions didn't reach full fruition.
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📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:
🎙️Live Players
Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institut...2025-05-1045 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE136: Trump V2: Tariffs, American Dynamism, Higher Ed | Byrne HobartIn this episode, Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss the economic consequences of Trump's tariffs, OpenAI's recent innovations, and their implications for white collar work. They also explore the potential market shifts, the resilience of the US dollar as a reserve currency, and the state of elite higher education institutions like Harvard in the current geopolitical climate.—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, a...2025-04-201h 02
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE133: China’s Energy Problem w/ Samo BurjaToday on Upstream, we’re releasing a 2024 conversation between Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja. They discuss China's approach to energy security, exploring why China isn't pursuing energy independence despite significant oil production capability and the potential for further development.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies tha...2025-04-1157 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE132: AI Managers, US vs China Analysis, and AI Art w/ Byrne HobartToday on Upstream, we’re sharing an episode of The Riff (originally aired on April 1, 2025). Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart explore the shifting dynamics of global trade between China and the US, the potential for AI to replace senior rather than junior roles in the workplace, and the economic structure of live entertainment markets like StubHub.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-ho...2025-04-0551 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE130: Elon Musk’s Network Effects and Checking in on Chinese AI w/ Byrne HobartThis week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode of The Riff (originally aired on March 25, 2025) where Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss Don Jr.'s leveraging of the Trump brand, Dustin Moskovitz's departure to address AI risks, economic impacts of various policies, and geopolitical considerations with a focus on AI and China's tech ambitions.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —2025-03-2959 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE125: Palantir’s Politics, Elon’s Approach to DOGE, and AI’s Effects on Writing w/ Byrne HobartToday on Upstream, Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg dive into the wide-ranging effects of technological change on media and society. They cover the AI debate, blogging's social impact, AI's influence on search and data, the changing news industry, foreign aid cuts, and the rise of new tech elites.This episode originally aired on The Riff (March 11, 2025).—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/Turpen...2025-03-1356 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE123: Trump & The Game of Populism w/ Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the limitations of populist politics, the difficulty populists face in effecting change despite electoral wins, and the influence of digital democracy on modern governance. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Pla...2025-03-0656 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE120: Why Europe Matters for America’s Future w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the widespread interest in U.S. politics and its global influence, particularly in Western and European countries, the internet's role in synchronizing political and cultural norms, and potential changes in European political landscapes influenced by American ideologies and media.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 2025-02-2357 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE118: Ending Woke, Why Elon Wins, and A Return to Innovation w/ Marc Andreessen [Moment of Zen repost]Marc Andreessen and Erik Torenberg discuss the ongoing political and cultural shift in America, covering topics such as preference falsification, the role of DEI in tech and other sectors, the influence of group chats, and the emerging dynamic in politics with highly capable appointments in the new administration.—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Moment...2025-02-171h 45
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE117: The Future of Martian & Interplanetary Societies w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the economic, political, and cultural implications of colonizing Mars and the Moon, discussing space treaties, potential Martian and Earth societal divergence, and the technological advancements driving humanity's future as a multi-planetary species.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik...2025-02-1458 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE115: New Tariff Implications, DeepSeek and Open Source Analysis, and Meta’s Big Bets w/ Byrne HobartErik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss the implications of recent tariffs, the impact of AI advancements like DeepSeek, Meta's investments in VR and AI, stock market dynamics, and differing perspectives on open-source AI models.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik T...2025-02-061h 07
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE113: Reflections on Yarvin, Why the Right is Stuck, and Startups as Dictatorships w/ Samo BurjaIn this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss Curtis Yarvin's recent New York Times interview. They explored his ideas, especially the comparison between corporate market dynamics and government functionality, and the need for live players in leadership to prevent bureaucratic decay. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg...2025-01-3154 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE111: Samo Burja & Auren Hoffman on the Decline of Fertility Rates and Institutional TrustSamo Burja and Auren Hoffman discuss various topics including the Great Founder Theory, the decline of trust in elites, falling fertility rates, and the importance of exceptional individuals in shaping history and future societal structures. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the new...2025-01-231h 16
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE109: Dating & Relationships Deep Dive w/ Noah Smith and Katherine Dee (Default Friend)This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode of Econ102. Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith talk with Katherine Dee (@default_friend) about dating in the 21st century, differences in dating markets, the impact of feminism, technology's influence on cultural creativity, societal shifts, and the state of online subcultures.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PO...2025-01-1654 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE107: How Desalination Could Create New Superpowers | Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the advancements in desalination technology, its current applications, and potential to address global water scarcity. They explore the technological and economic feasibility of large-scale desalination projects and their implications on geopolitics and environmental resilience.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide...2025-01-091h 01
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE106: The Man Who Wrote the Book on NVIDIAAuthor Tae Kim joins Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart to discuss his book 'The NVIDIA Way,' highlighting CEO Jensen Huang's transformation of Nvidia into a tech giant, the company's unique culture, and Nvidia's crucial strategic decisions.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️ The Riff with Byrne Hobart and Erik TorenbergByrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg dis...2025-01-0353 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE96: Rudyard Lynch and Samo Burja Talk The Left’s Future and Problems with ModernityToday on Upstream, Rudyard Lynch and Samo Burja discuss the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, the decline of French influence in Africa, the psychology of modernity, and the potential future of free versus controlled internet. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/d3195f8d-9dc3-4891-83d6-3354a83efbe9—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️Live PlayersSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and...2024-11-2157 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE88: The Fertility Apocalypse w/ Samo BurjaThis week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja explore the global demographic crisis, examining plummeting fertility rates worldwide and their potentially catastrophic implications for humanity's future. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/0d2557ac-2da6-4087-b6b4-b55f326b47fd —📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️ @LivePlayerswithSamoBurja Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and...2024-10-241h 00
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE85: Analyzing Everything with Byrne Hobart and Patrick McKenzieThis week on Upstream, we’re releasing a conversation between Patrick McKenzie and Byrne Hobart where they navigate the compelling terrains of in-app purchases and restaurant economics. They dive into the monetization strategies of video games and the influence of food delivery platforms like DoorDash on pricing and menu designs and explore the bridge between finance, technology, and human behavior through airport currency exchange models and the emerging role of AI in economic data processing.—🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPON...2024-10-121h 25
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE81: Status, Sacred, and Neglected Truths with Robin HansonIn this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg is joined by economist and futurist Robin Hanson. They dissect the intricacies of human motives, the psychology of status, and the profound impact of self-deception on behavior. Robin shares his revolutionary ideas for reforming academia and his pioneering work on prediction markets and his thoughts on the future of innovation amidst falling fertility rates.—🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPONSORS:💡 Level up your portfolio with access...2024-09-281h 21
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE80: Financial Plumbing with Patrick McKenzie and Erik TorenbergIn this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg interviews Patrick McKenzie (patio11) about the intricacies of the financial system, focusing on banking, money laundering, and regulatory compliance. They discuss several of Patrick’s essays from Bits About Money. Patrick discusses the three stages of money laundering - placement, layering, and integration - and how the financial system has been deputized to act as law enforcement. The conversation touches on the unintended consequences of strict regulations, including their impact on economic growth and financial inclusion.—🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders...2024-09-2651 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE79: How Civilizations Cycle & Collapse | Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchThis week on Upstream, we’re featuring a discussion between Samo Burja, Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg about the inherent differences between civilizations and their impact on history and politics. They explore the parallels and distinctions between ancient civilizations like Babylon and modern entities like Silicon Valley, the influence of Abrahamic religions, and how societal patterns challenge our current understanding. —🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPONSORS:💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO compa...2024-09-2156 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE78: Fertility, Healthy Humans, and Ending Genetic Disease w/ Noor Siddiqui, CEO of OrchidErik Torenberg is joined by Noor Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Orchid, to explore groundbreaking advancements in reproductive technology, especially the world's first whole genome embryo screening. They dive into genome sequencing, IVF, and the ethical implications of these technologies, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce the incidence of major diseases. Noor shares her journey of bringing Orchid's innovative solutions from research to market, along with the importance of polygenic scores and the evolving societal views on reproductive tech. —🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpen...2024-09-191h 05
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE77: Academic Fraud & the Spiritual Quest for Truth | Live Players w/ Samo Burja and Ben Landau-TaylorErik Torenberg and Samo Burja are joined by Ben Landau-Taylor, a Senior Analyst at Bismarck Analysis. Ben recently published an article in Palladium Magazine about the pervasive problem of fraud in academia. They discussed how fraudulent activities, particularly in medical research, often go undetected due to flawed peer review processes and institutional protectionism. They explore key cases, and possible solutions, including external watchdogs, intellectual authorities and regulatory bodies in maintaining academic integrity.—🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/—SPONSORS:2024-09-1457 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE52: Charting the Course of Biotech with Laura Deming, GP of Longevity Fund, and Will Eden of Sylvan ConsultingThis week on Turpentine VC, we’re releasing a conversation between Erik Torenberg, Laura Deming of The Longevity Fund and Will Eden of Sylvan Consulting (prior to that, with Thiel capital) focused on the past, present and future of biotech.Recorded in 2019, they discuss platform companies and the evolving biotech investment landscape, examining segments like therapeutics, cell and gene therapies. Will and Laura share insights on the historical waves of biotech, the FDA's role, and the intersections of biotech and tech investment strategies. They address challenges in evaluating biotech startups, the growth in longevity research since 2011, and th...2024-08-201h 22
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE70: Katherine Boyle on Religion, Journalism, and PolarizationIn this episode of Upstream, we revisit a 2020 conversation with Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle exploring the intersection of religion and media in this tech-driven world. Katherine discusses her Washington Post article on how San Francisco's tech advancements have largely bypassed religious institutions. They explore the factors behind this gap, the emergence of digital faith, and the decline of traditional religious affiliations. Katherine also shares her insights on the media landscape discussing the challenges and opportunities in subscription-based journalism and the potential for startups in both media and religion. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and...2024-08-0253 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE69: Balaji Srinivasan on the Rise of the Tech Counter ElitesLast week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "America First". They explore tech's influence on politics, ideological shifts, and international dynamics affecting global economics and policies. Balaji also provides a critical analysis of movements like the January 6th riots and contemplates the future of democracy.🔥 Apply to join ove...2024-07-261h 38
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE68: Tyler Cowen on Talent, the Importance of Stamina, and Predicting SuccessThis week on Upstream, we’re releasing a fascinating discussion with economist, professor, and bestselling author Tyler Cowen about how to find talented people. This was recorded in 2022 around the launch of his book 'Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World' co-authored with Daniel Gross. Tyler and Erik discuss strategies for assessing raw talent, recognizing late bloomers, and fostering an environment conducive to high achievers. They also cover the importance of understanding founder compatibility, building strong peer groups, and the role of mentorship in talent development.🔥 Apply to join over 400 found...2024-07-1951 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE67: A Deep Dive on René Girard with David GornoskiThis week on Upstream, we're releasing a 2019 interview with David Gornoski and Erik Torenberg on the Village Global podcast, offering a deep dive into René Girard's Mimetic Theory, exploring its far-reaching societal impacts and surprising connections to ancient rituals and myths. They unpack the concept of mimetic desire and the profound influence of Christianity on society, exploring how the anthropological impact of Jesus could transform personal and socio-political conflicts. David also provides a unique perspective on the evolution of ancient sacrifices and mythologies, juxtaposing them with modern societal issues.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the...2024-07-121h 19
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE66: Noah Smith on 2024 Election Strategy, American Civil Service, and Cash BenefitsIn this week’s episode of Upstream, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss America's future. They cover the 2024 presidential race, the Chevron ruling from the Supreme Court, and the polarization of the education system. Noah and Erik also discuss where wokeness goes from here, and the potential outcomes of integrating more conservatives into the civil service through initiatives like Project 2025. Noah also debunks the deep state myth and discusses the real issues surrounding Biden's age, questioning the influence of "political handlers" and the reality of a "deep state." 🐝 Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your...2024-07-0655 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE45: Sequoia Capital's Roelof Botha and Jacob Helberg on AI and National SecurityIn this episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with Sequoia Capital Managing Partner Roelof Botha and Jacob Helberg, author, Palantir advisor, and founder of the Hill and Valley Conference. They delve into the challenges and opportunities around AI against the backdrop of US-China tensions, the role the government has in fostering tech innovation, and the debate between open and closed source models.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Second Opinion - A new podcast for heal...2024-06-2552 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE64: Richard Hanania on Trump's Genius, Antisemitism, and Election PredictionsIn this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania discuss the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They also explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance. beehiiv: Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.The conversation also covers broader societal issues like the impact of religion, American Jews' political tendencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of America's socio-economic systems, and reflects on Elon Musk's political involvement...2024-06-221h 08
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE44: How Benchmark Invests in AI with Eric Vishria and Quilter Founder Sergiy NesterenkoIn today's episode, we discuss Benchmark's investment philosophy in the AI era with general partner Eric Vishria, and Sergiy Nesterenko, the Founder and CEO of Quilter. Sitting in for Erik Torenberg as host is AI Scout and Cognitive Revolution host Nathan Labenz. They cover the questions that Benchmark asks to determine whether a new company is solving an enduring or temporary problem, and the reasons why Benchmark hasn't invested in a foundational model to date. They also discuss the innovation behind Quilter's groundbreaking use of reinforcement learning to automate integrated circuit board designs. They delve into the importance of...2024-06-1853 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE63: Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl on Decentralized Governance, Politics, and HistoryIn 2019 Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl to talk about the future of a decentralized world. They cover decentralized governance, politics, voting, and more. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put...2024-06-141h 15
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE62: Mike Solana on Thinking Freely and What Tech Means for CultureIn 2020 Erik Torenberg sat down with Mike Solana, then VP at Founders Fund (now the Editor In Chief of Pirate Wires) to go deeper into his commitment to controversial ideas and freedom. He discusses the dynamics of America's culture wars, debating freedom vs. equality, the resurgence of Marxism, and the roots of anti-American sentiment. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talk...2024-06-071h 07
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE42: Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan on Why History Points to CryptoThis episode was initially recorded before a live audience in 2018. Erik Torenberg talks with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan about the history of money and centralization and why crypto has the potential to fulfill the promise of the internet. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.Balaji Srinivasan is a founder, investor, and author of The Network State.Naval Ravikant is an entrepreneur, investor, and former CEO of Angellist.🔥 Apply t...2024-06-041h 07
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE61: Noah Smith on Wokeness, Right Wing Muckrakers, and Class vs IdentityTodays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are — on the left and the right.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 10...2024-05-311h 00
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE41: Do VCs Add Value? With Parker Conrad and Parker ThompsonToday's episode of Turpentine VC is a throwback to a conversation Erik Torenberg recorded with Parker Conrad and Parker Thompson that debates how much "value-add" investors can offer founders, issues around the misalignment between investors and founders, and the underdiscussed factors that influence VC deals. Parker Conrad is the co-founder and CEO of Rippling (and co-founder/CEO of Zenefits) and Parker Thompson is a current partner at SAX Capital (formerly Partner at Angellist). The conversation was recorded in 2018. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to s...2024-05-281h 09
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE51: How We Build More Housing with Brad Hargreaves & Noah SmithIn this special roundtable episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Brad Hargreaves (the founder of Common, co-founder of General Assembly, and writer of Thesis Driven) and Noah Smith (podcast host, economist and writer of Noahpinion). They discuss the future of real estate and housing in America, the impact of regulations, and the potential of new cities.📖 RECOMMENDED PODCAST:Econ 102 is Noah and Erik's podcast diving into the news, business, culture and society from the lens of economics. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056Thesis Dri...2024-03-221h 00
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE28: Andreessen Horowitz GP Chris Dixon on Crypto, AI, and Web3In this episode Chris Dixon, GP at a16z Crypto, joins Erik Torenberg along with cohosts Dan Romero and Antonio Garcia Martinez to discuss his recent book Read Write Own: The Next Era of the Internet, how he thinks AI and crypto will collide, and why Web3 consumer hasn’t taken off yet. This conversation with Chris was recorded for the Moment of Zen podcast and goes several levels deeper on Chris' crypto/web3 thesis than most of his book tour.---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of...2024-02-271h 21
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE27: Compound’s Michael Dempsey on Thesis-Driven vs Founder-Driven InvestingIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Michael Dempsey, Managing Partner at Compound, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss thesis-driven vs founder-driven investing, Compound’s AI thesis, company building opportunities, ways to win at venture, advice for emerging managers, and much more.---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and mo...2024-02-2058 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE26: Insights from IVP: Inside One of Silicon Valley’s Best Growth FirmsIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Somesh Dash, General Partner at IVP, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss how IVP differentiates itself, winning late stage deals, team construction, why venture capital in 2024 looks like private equity in 2008, the future of IVP, and much more.---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the...2024-02-1355 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE45: Bayeslord and Nadia Asparouhova on Effective AccelerationismOn this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with e/acc founder Bayeslord and writer Nadia Asparouhova to discuss the foundations and future of the e/acc movement.Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of...2024-02-091h 30
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE44: Tyler Cowen on Harvard, the GOAT Economist, and Ending StagnationOn this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with Tyler Cowen to discuss Harvard, AI, Javier Milei's legacy, the value of non-legibility in talent spotting, and more.Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the...2024-02-0256 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE24: Building a Multi-Billion-Dollar Asset Management Firm with CoVenture's Ali HamedIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Ali Hamed, Partner at CoVenture, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the advantages of investing across asset classes, CoVenture’s inflection points, the importance of being liked in venture, and asset classes Ali hopes to invest in in the future. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite:http://netsuite.com/turpentine---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour...2024-01-3057 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE43: Richard Hanania on Wokeness, Israel-Palestine, and the Mythos of the Modern RightThis week on Upstream, political scientist and writer Ricard Hanania returns to the show. Erik and Richard discuss wokeness, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the mythos of the modern right, Richard's upcoming debate with Curtis Yarvin, and more.Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the...2024-01-2659 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE23: Tomasz Tunguz on the Theory Behind Theory VenturesIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Tomasz Tunguz, General Partner at Theory Ventures, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss the Theory Ventures model, the coming contraction in investable VC dollars, the parallels between PE and VC, and much more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/turpentine---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, ea...2024-01-2352 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE42: Erik Torenberg on the Evolution of MediaThis week on Upstream, the tables are turned, and Erik is sitting in the guest seat. We're airing an episode the podcast Where It Happens hosted by Greg Isenberg. Greg and Erik discuss B2B creators, how to find profitable niches, how to monetize media businesses, and more.Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in...2024-01-191h 01
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE22: Phin Barnes on Unbundling VCIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Phin Barnes, co-founder of The General Partnership, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss Phin’s idea of building a YC for emerging fund managers, the sweat equity model, and building the General Partnership. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/turpentine---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Viki...2024-01-161h 21
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE41: Steve Hsu on the Future of EverythingIn this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with theoretical physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu. They discuss political polarization in academia, the fertility crisis, AI, and more.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify...2024-01-121h 05
"Media Empires" | The Business of Newsletters, Podcasts, Creators, and Data AcquisitionBootstrapping a Media Company in 2024 | Where It Happens with Erik TorenbergToday’s episode is a special one – Erik Torenberg and Greg Isenberg discuss the future of B2B creators, monetizing media and the venture of Turpentine on Greg’s podcast “Where It Happens.” Erik shares his vision for 'audience in a box' services, explores how channels can be expanded for creators, the future of niche B2B creators, and the importance of building infrastructure that facilitates growth. Media Empires is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Eri...2024-01-0958 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE21: Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian on Reinventing Venture with Seven Seven SixIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and Seven Seven Six, joins Erik Torenberg to discuss how Seven Seven Six is a “tech company that deploys venture capital”, the lack of internal metrics in venture, and how he plans to reinvent venture using software. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite:http://netsuite.com/turpentine---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in und...2024-01-0956 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE40: Develop Your Personal Investing Strategy with Itay VinikOn today's Upstream, Erik interviews Itay Vinik to get an overview of the markets and current macro environment, learn frameworks for adjusting an investing strategy based on rising or falling interest rates, and debunk common investment myths. They cover the Federal Reserve's role in a globalized economy, discuss the strategies that stabilize markets, and evaluate different asset classes during economic shifts. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.Itay Vinik is the Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Equi (https://www.equi.com/), an alternative investment platform that...2024-01-051h 20
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE20: Katherine Boyle on Building a16z’s American Dynamism PracticeIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg speaks to Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz leading the firm’s American Dynamism fund. They discuss why Katherine and a16z started the American Dynamism practice and what they hope to accomplish. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite:http://netsuite.com/turpentine---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will...2024-01-031h 16
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE39: Balaji Srinivasan and Nathan Labenz on AI's Future, Human-AI Symbiosis, and AI ControlOn today's Upstream, we're sharing a recent episode where Balaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss the future of AI: polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period.This episode is a feed drop of The Cognitive Revolution, where Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview builders on the edge of AI and explore its dramatic shift over the next decades. Listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts: https://www.cognitiverevolution.ai/-2023-12-292h 10
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE19: Union Square Venture’s Rebecca Kaden on How the Firm Develops Their ThesesIn this episode of Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg sits with Rebecca Kaden, Managing Partner at Union Square Ventures. They discuss USV's partnership-driven model, different venture strategies, whether automation in venture is imminent, and what USV looks for in investors. If you need an ecommerce platform, check out our sponsor Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.---RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season w...2023-12-2652 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE38: Holiday Special: Request for StartupsThis week, in a departure from Upstream's usual format, Erik sits downs with friends Nick DeWilde, Sean Linehan, and Justin Mares to exchange startup ideas in a new format called "Request for Startups." Please note that this episode contains some vulgar humor and won't be for everyone.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China...2023-12-2249 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE37: Noor Siddiqui on embryo screening, the fertility crisis, and parentingIn this episode, Erik sits down with Noor Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Orchid. They discuss Orchid's recent breakthrough in embryo whole genome sequencing, the fertility crisis, parenting, dating, and more.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.Subscribe on Spotify...2023-12-151h 07
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE36: Beff Jezos on doxxing, e/acc, and why crypto will save AIBeff Jezos, the anonymous co-founder of the effective accelerationism movement (also known as "e/acc") recently had his identity revealed by Forbes reporters. He gives the inside story to Erik Torenberg, Antonio Garcia Martinez, Dan Romero, his e/acc cofounder Bayeslord, and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz. Make informed decision for high impact donations with GiveWell, which is offering Upstream listeners donation matching up to $100. To claim your match, go to https://www.givewell.org ➡️ pick “Podcast” and enter "Upstream with Erik Torenberg" at checkout.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Er...2023-12-081h 28
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE35: Samo Burja on Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George SorosIn this episode, Erik sits down with Samo Burja, political scientist and founder of Bismarck Analysis. They discuss Samo's term "live player" and today's live players, including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George Soros.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--RELATED PODCASTJoin host Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg as...2023-12-0157 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE15: Redpoint's Logan Bartlett on Carving Out a Spot in VentureToday we're joined by Logan Bartlett of Redpoint to dive into Redpoint's approach to venture, trends and predictions for the VC ecosystem, and a breakdown of the strategies and craft of the asset class's most consequential players. Cloud Infrastructure for all your needs: do more and spend less with Oracle. Take a free test drive of OCI at https://oracle.com/turpentine---Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors (including Dan) sharing their requests for startups they want to exist in the world, and also...2023-11-281h 00
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE34: Byrne Hobart on Sam Altman, Meta vs Google, and Effective AltruismIn this episode, Erik is joined by Byrne Hobart, author of tech and finance newsletter The Diff, to discuss Sam Altman's ousting from OpenAI, Microsoft's role in the story, and the new competitive landscape for AI companies.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--RELATED PODCASTEvery week investor and writer of the...2023-11-2456 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE33: The Untold History of Nuclear Energy with Packy McCormick and Julia DeWahlToday on Upstream we’re dropping a special episode of Age of Miracles which dives into the rise and fall of nuclear power in the 20th century, and what we can learn about pushing nuclear into the 21st century.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--RELATED PODCASTTo hear the next episodes of...2023-11-171h 01
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE14: A Deep Dive into Thrive Capital's Investment StrategyToday we're joined by Kareem of Thrive Capital for one of the most extensive conversations we've had on the show—we cover the core insight that drove Thrive to invest in late-stage companies like Stripe and Slack, how they approach thinking about fund size and timing, the benefits of a concentrated portfolio, and more. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentine---SPONSORS:🧲 Learn why Craft, Bedrock, NEA and 100s more trust Harmonic’s data to source deals. Harmonic is the most complete...2023-11-151h 04
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE32: Balaji on SBF and the Israel-Hamas WarBalaji Srinivasan returns to Upstream for an unfiltered conversation about recent events: SBF's conviction and the conflict in the middle east.--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.--SPONSORS:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful...2023-11-101h 01
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE13: How Benchmark Thinks About Venture in 2023This week's episode of Turpentine VC features Benchmark GPs Sarah Tavel and Eric Vishria. We discuss ideas that are central to Benchmark's beliefs in firm-building, including why platform teams exist to help the general partners more so than founders themselves. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentine---SPONSORS:🧲 Learn why Craft, Bedrock, NEA and 100s more trust Harmonic’s data to source deals. Harmonic is the most complete startup database, finding new companies as soon as they incorporate and tracking them through...2023-11-071h 26
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE12: An Inside Look Into Sequoia's Strategy & Operations, with Alfred LinErik is joined by Alfred Lin, partner at Sequoia Capital for over 13 years, and investor in Airbnb, Doordash, Houzz, and more legendary Silicon Valley companies. We dive into the unique ways which Sequoia operates as a firm in this episode: why they don't actually track A-U-M, why they launched the Sequoia Capital Fund, the decision-making behind creating Sequoia Arc, and more. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentine---SPONSORS:🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in jus...2023-10-3158 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE30: Aaron Ginn on the Moral Idea Maze, the GPU Revolution, and US-China RelationsErik Torenberg sits down with Aaron Ginn, the CEO and co-founder of Hydra Host and the co-founder of the Lincoln Network (now Foundation for American Innovation). They discuss tech and politics, US-China relations, the GPU revolution, and foreign policy predictions. Upstream is proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstreamUpstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co–We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, He...2023-10-2755 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE11: Ann Miura-Ko Breaks Down How to Build A Venture Firm in 2023On episode eleven of Turpentine VC, Ann Miura-Ko—co-founding partner at Floodgate—sits down with Erik Torenberg to dive deep into the core fundamentals of VC partners talk about behind close doors, including how to identify inflection points to give you an edge when starting a fund, muscles Floodgate has built in the -1 to 0 space, the true opportunities in AI, and more. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentine---SPONSORS:🧲 Learn why Craft, Bedrock, NEA and 100s more trust Harmonic’s data to s...2023-10-2446 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE29: Sense-Making, a Top 1% Information Diet, and Generation Warfare with Michael GuimarinErik Torenberg sits down with Michael Guimarin, a Silicon Valley operator and educator who helps people hone their information diets, to discuss the divide between institutions and networks and how to shift from consensus to resonance. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstreamUpstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head...2023-10-201h 14
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE10: No Process, High Conviction — The Iconoclastic Founders Fund DNATrae Stephens, General Partner at Founders Fund, joins Erik Torenberg to chat through how the firm's focus on independent thinking and debate culture, and counterintuitive lack of true process, has been key in helping them build an enduring fund. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentineWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, ch...2023-10-1750 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE28: Richard Hanania Returns | Trump, the Sexual Revolution, and ImmigrationWriter and political scientist Richard Hanania is back on Upstream to discuss Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican establishment, the sexual revolution, immigration, and his ideological differences with Curtis Yarvin. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstreamUpstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTAHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an...2023-10-061h 25
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE9: Sam Lessin and Seth Rosenberg Debate: Will AI Favor Incumbents or Start-Ups?Sam Lessin, General Partner at Slow Ventures, and Seth Rosenberg, General Partner at Greylock, debate what the effects of AI on incumbents and the next wave of AI-first products will look like. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentineWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.---2023-10-0344 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE27: Robin Hanson on Elites, Experts, and the Truths We ResistRobin Hanson, economist, author ,and futurist, sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss Robin’s ideas about status, truth, and the obstacles for innovation. Upstream is proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstreamUpstream is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MERCURY | VANTAHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox...2023-09-291h 24
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE8: How Roger Ehrenberg Nets 10x Fund ReturnsRoger Ehrenberg of IA Ventures joins Erik on episode 8 of Turpentine VC to talk about his contrarian and opinionated view of how seed funds should operate, and how that's allowed him to generate 10x fund returns. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentineWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.co...2023-09-2640 min
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingE7: How Floodgate Differentiated Again From Thousands of Seed FirmsThis week, Erik is joined by Mike Maples, Jr, co-founder of Floodgate, a storied seed firm that's invested in Lyft, Okta, Twitch, and Twitter, to name a few unicorn portcos. If you’re looking to improve your sourcing, tracking, and due diligence, check out: https://synaptic.com/turpentineWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.---SP...2023-09-1953 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE25: Jon Askonas on 2nd Order Effects of AI, the Media Ecology of Reality, and ConservatismErik Torenberg sits down with Jon Askonas to look at the impact of disruptive technology in important areas like the media, religion, culture, and politics. Jon is an assistant professor of politics at Catholic University, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a writer for publications like The New Atlantis and Compact. We are proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream--Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Mercury | Vanta Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial periodShopify is t...2023-09-151h 02
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE24: Balaji Srinivasan on Social Tribalism, Cloud Cartography, Internet ValuesBalaji Srinivasan joins Erik Torenberg and Moment of Zen co-host Dan Romero to share his new theory of the Tribal Lens, why cognitive territories will gain increasingly more power than land-defined territories, why the US is no longer a beacon in the world, and Balaji strategy to fix San Francisco. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen--Please support our sponsors: Beehiiv | Shopify | Mercury | VantaShopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial periodShopify is the global commerce platform that helps...2023-09-082h 11
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE23: Emad Mostaque and Sam Lessin Debate Whether AI is a Good Investment for VCIn this episode of Upstream, Emad Mostaque, founder of Stability AI, and Sam Lessin, GP of Slow Ventures and former VP Product at Facebook, discuss how paradigm shifting AI will be for different sectors of the global economy, whether startups or incumbents have the edge, and whether AI is actually a good investment for Venture Capital. Topics covered in this debate span: the attention and information economy, SaaS markets, how AI-created entertainment will impact society and our relationships, porn, and AI disruption of highly-regulated industries. Erik Torenberg and The Cognitive Revolution AI podcast host Nathan Labenz serve as moderators...2023-09-0159 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE22: Vivek Ramaswamy on his Presidential Run, Intellectually Oppressive Culture, OtherismErik Torenberg sits down with Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican presidential candidate rapidly rising in the polls. Vivek recorded this interview with us in late march. Given the attention from his performance at the first GOP debate this week, we decided to re-run it. We go deeper on many of the soundbites that have been popping up this summer, including his ideas about the culture war, affirmative action, and climate science. We also cover his ambitious transformation from Silicon Valley founder to political candidate, and discuss his radical policy proposals. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://w...2023-08-2558 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE21: Sam Hammond on AI, e/acc, and Institutional DisruptionSamuel Hammond is a Canadian-born, DC-based senior economist for the Foundation for American Innovation, a think tank focused on bridging the cultures of Silicon Valley and DC. His research focuses on innovation and the institutional impact of disruptive technologies. He is an unconventional thinker and writer (Substack: https://www.secondbest.ca/) who participates in nuanced dialogue with different thinkers across economics, tech, policy, and philosophy. In this conversation we discuss Sam’s views on AI, mental models for his worldview, polarization, and how political influence really works. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.co...2023-08-1859 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE20: Martin Shkreli on Public Vilification, Lessons from Prison, and Getting Back in the ArenaBiotech founder and investor Martin Shkreli joins Erik Torenberg and his co-host Jesse Genet on In The Arena podcast to dissect his controversies and crises through the lens of leadership. Martin goes deep into the leadership decisions and regulatory environment that led to him serving time in prison, the lessons he took away about tech and founding startups, and how he believes there is a hero’s journey arc up ahead. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/upstreamIn The Arena is a part of the Turpentine podca...2023-08-111h 24
"Turpentine VC" | Venture Capital and InvestingIntroducing: Turpentine VCOn Turpentine VC, host and venture capitalist Erik Torenberg delves deep into the art and science of building successful venture firms through conversations with the world’s best investors and operators. Hear about insider strategies on decision-making, investment theses, and building firms for the long term—from the ground-level, VC to VC. Guests in season 1 include Ben Horowitz of a16z, Mamood Hamid and Ilya Fushman of Kleiner Perkins, and Alfred Lin of Sequoia.We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chie...2023-08-0502 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE19: Economist Bryan Caplan on Non-conformity, Sex, Feminism and HomeschoolingBryan Caplan is a writer and professor of economics at George Mason University, as well as the author of four books, including The myth of the Rational Voter, and The Case Against Education. His upcoming book is on Feminism. In this conversation, we talked about Bryan's views on sex and relationships, innovative approaches to boost birth rates, homeschooling, and his theories on what actually divides the left and the right. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and...2023-08-041h 13
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE18: Marc Andreessen on AI, Religion, SF, Longevity, and the NPC MemeMarc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz sits down with Erik Torenberg and his Moment of Zen co-hosts Dan Romero and Antonio Garcia Martinez to discuss AI, religion, San Francisco politics, Eric Voegelin, and life extension. Subscribe to Moment of Zen: https://link.chtbl.com/mozIf you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/upstream--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and mor...2023-07-281h 24
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE17: Noah Smith's Reflections on Biden's First Term, Foreign Policy, and Industrial Policy - Econ 102 with Noah SmithWe're excited to introduce Upstream listeners to Econ 102 from Turpentine. In episode 1, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the highs and lows of Biden's first term, Biden's policies in comparison to previous presidents and other leaders, as well as China - its real estate sector, industrial and manufacturing industries, and its views on tech. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMSubscribe to Econ 102 at the podcast platform of your choice: https://link.chtbl.com/Econ102Econ 102 is a part of the Turpentine...2023-07-2151 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE16: Agnes Callard on Dark Empathy, Being Straussian vs Being Sincere, and Philosophical ProgressIn this episode, Erik sits down with Agnes Callard to discuss her views on disagreement and progress, her inclination to question and operate outside of accepted societal structures, and why empathy is not always positive. Agnes Callard is a philosopher and essayist who specializes in ancient philosophy, ethics, and Socratic communication. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMUpstream is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn about sponsorships, email Erik@turpentine.co or head to www.turpentine.coRECOMMENDED PODCAST: 2023-07-141h 18
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE15: Richard Hanania on Vivek Ramaswamy, Affirmative Action, and the Winning Agenda for 2024Erik sits down with writer and political scientist Richard Hanania. This extended discussion encompasses Richard’s intellectual education and views on how the world works, including affirmative action, the dynamic divide between conservatives and liberals, government overreach, geopolitics, and intellectual contemporaries worth reading. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta: https://www.vanta.com/1000--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a li...2023-07-072h 16
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE12: Tim Urban on Liberalism, Heresy, and EqualityErik Torenberg sits down with Tim Urban, writer of the popular blog Wait But Why, and author of the 2023 book What’s Our Problem? where he offers a framework for thinking about our chaotic political landscape. In this discussion, Erik and Tim discuss liberalism, why heresy is important, and the notion of equality. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMUpstream is part of the Turpentine Network. You can learn more at turpentine.co--We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Er...2023-06-091h 02
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE11: Katherine Boyle on Building Companies, Families, and CareersErik Torenberg sits down with Katherine Boyle, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz where she invests in companies that promote American dynamism. Erik and Katherine discuss the private sector versus the public sector, the American dream in conflict with the rise of therapeutic culture, and how to reinstill a love of public service. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMIf you enjoyed this podcast you listen to Katherine's recent Moment of Zen episode next, where she discusses founder mentality, Twitter, SpaceX, and more ( https://link.chtbl.com...2023-06-021h 22
"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg[Bonus Episode] Moment of Zen w/ Mike Solana, Erik Torenberg and Dan RomeroWe're excited to introduce Upstream listeners to Moment of Zen, a weekly podcast hosted by Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez, and additional guests. This episode features special guest Mike Solana, Editor in Chief of Pirate Wires (https://www.piratewires.com/) in conversation with Erik and Dan. They cover the recent AI congressional hearings, The Culture War's evolution, Twitter under Elon, and much more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMLISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO "MOMENT OF ZEN"Podcast: https://link.cht...2023-05-261h 36
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE9: Benedict Evans on AI, Web3, VR and the Future of TechErik sits down with independent analyst Benedict Evans for a wide-ranging discussion of predictions and frameworks spanning the vast realm of technology - where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what really matters. AI scout and podcast host Nathan Labenz (The Cognitive Revolution) joins for the last 20 minutes to deepen the discussion on AI. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss...2023-05-191h 22
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE8: Samo Burja on America's Future, China, AI, and the New Global OrderErik sits down with political scientist Samo Burja ( @SamoBurja ) who founded Bismarck Analysis, a consulting firm that analyzes institutions (ranging from governments to companies). Samo is one of the most interesting and wide-ranging thinkers today. In this episode, they discuss the current state and future state of America, China, Russia, Ukraine, energy, the US dollar, AI, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM--RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Every week investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik...2023-05-121h 00
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE7: How Andrew Yang Would Cure American PoliticsAndrew Yang is a former founder of Venture for America and former candidate for president of the United States. Yang is now focused on introducing a third party to our two-party political system. He sits down with Erik to talk about why politics is broken and how to fix it, the current political landscape gearing into the 2024 elections, an inside look as to what's actually involved in running for president, and reflections on what he would've done differently. We also talk about universal basic income, fixing California, and fixing media polarization. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, ch...2023-05-0558 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE6: Vivek Ramaswamy on Running for President in 2024 and His Message to Silicon ValleyVivek Ramaswamy is a 2024 Republican presidential candidate who founded biotech company Roivant Sciences, now public. He has written books about what he sees as the excesses of woke capitalism and started an asset management firm called Strive, meant to be a right-wing competitor with BlackRock. With his presidential campaign, Vivek challenges conventional orthodoxy on several core issues, including affirmative action and climate change. Regardless of what you may think about his policies or him, it's worth understanding how he stands to influence our upcoming election and inject his views into the mainstream. If you’re looking for an ERP pl...2023-04-291h 01
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE3: Ezra Klein on Supply-side Progressivism, Polarization, and What Silicon Valley Misses About PoliticsEzra Klein, journalist, political analyst, and podcaster, sits with Erik Torenberg to go deeper into the intellectual movement of supply-side progressivism and what Silicon Valley misses about politics. This conversation was recorded in early February 2023, but is even more relevant today. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAM--TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Preview of Ezra discussing Elon Musk(02:16) Unpacking supply side liberalism and the abundance agenda(07:55) Contrasting Ezra’s Buildism with Marc Andreessen and Tyler Cowen(12:20) Why w...2023-04-071h 20
"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player AnalysisOpenAI's GPT-4 Discussion with Nathan Labenz and Erik TorenbergIn this episode, hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg delve into the exciting and concerning aspects of GPT4, the latest large multimodal model from OpenAI. Nathan, who was a Red Teamer for GPT4, shares his experience working with the model, using it for real-life scenarios, and how he found it to be human-level rather than human-like intelligence. Nathan also highlights some of its fundamental weaknesses and limitations and shares the most concerning elements of GPT4. They end the episode pondering the arrival of GPT5 and whether we are in AI's "goldilocks moment."We're hiring...2023-03-281h 24
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE1: Marc Andreessen on His Intellectual Journey the Past Ten YearsMarc Andreessen of a16z sits with Erik Torenberg to go deeper into his intellectual and political journey, and his quest to find out how the world works. Upstream with Erik Torenberg is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: turpentine.co. Check out Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(04:25) How much has Marc changed vs the world changed?
(07:55) How much do ideas matter? Who drives society — the elite or the masses?
(10:56) People respond to interests more than id...2023-03-241h 33
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergTrailer: This is Upstream with Erik TorenbergUpstream is where Erik Torenberg interviews the world's most foundational thinkers to map the constellation of ideas that matter across tech, culture, and politics. You'll hear topics here first, and in the mainstream months later.Ask yourself, what’s upstream of what you believe?Interviewed for this season of Upstream: Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, Ezra Klein, Balaji Srinivasan, Katherine Boyle, Joe Lonsdale, and more luminary thinkers who are changing the world. Follow the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Email feedback to the show to info@turpentine.co---...2023-03-2402 min