Shows
Obviously The FutureThe Bull Case for Elite Universities with Matthew RascoffWhat is the current state of college admissions? What social good do elite universities offer society, and how are they trying to do it better?We discuss the state of elite universities with Matthew Rascoff, the Vice Provost for Digital Education at Stanford University. Matthew is one of the most innovative administrators in the industry and a leader who puts ideas into action. He is pioneering new digital models to bring credit-bearing Stanford classes to lower-income high schools across the US. With digital learning, Matthew is reaching upstream to build more effective bridges fo...2024-05-0837 min
Obviously The FutureThe Power of Story: Turning fiction into reality with Damien WalterWhat is the role of story in technology and humanity? Is Elon Musk one of the greatest storytellers of our generation? Damien Walter is a "rockstar critic" in science fiction and fantasy. He runs a 30,000+ member Science Fiction community and hosts the popular Science Fiction podcast and YouTube channel, where he explores the myths underpinning our society through modern entertainment. ‘Story is the physics of the human world.’We discuss Damien's reaction to Marc Andreessen's Techno-Optimist Manifesto and explore the future of storytelling, AI, and education. Damien's thou...2023-12-131h 00
Obviously The FutureThe New Era of Entrepreneurial Storytellers with Wesley WangHow do you make a feature film as a high school student? What is the role of school when you demonstrate excellence outside the classroom?Wesley Wang is a filmmaker, an 11-time national chess champion, and a sophomore at Harvard. His first significant film, nothing, except everything, a coming-of-age short movie that has won many awards and gone viral on YouTube with 2.7 million views. We talk about Wesley's approach to learning and building his career in film. He treats every film like a startup and constantly improves his skills and products. At Avalanche...2023-12-0538 min
Obviously The FutureMatching the Right School for You with Chris NeilsonWhy do great schools have empty spots? Why don’t schools compete fiercely for students? How does reducing microfrictions increase economic growth?Professor Chris Neilson is not your typical founder. He was born in the heart of Silicon Valley to undocumented immigrants from Chile. He is a former elite professional rugby player and has advised education policy for governments across the globe, the World Bank, and the IDB. He is a Professor of Economics and Global Affairs at Yale and has devoted his career to helping partners make the best education choices. Chris ha...2023-11-2944 min
Obviously The FutureBoard Walk Empire: The Power of Curiosity and Connection with Elle BeecherHow do you design human connection at scale? Can emotional intelligence be learned? What’s the best way to handle being roasted online?Kind, Curious, and Open-Minded. These are the core values that Elle Beecher is building The Board Walks community around. She aims to unite people for energizing conversations, growing as humans, and connecting with people who share a "learn something, teach something" mindset.Elle calls The Board Walks ‘a quaint idea.’ It sounds simple: weekly five-mile walk on Saturdays kicked off with a highly intentional set of ground rules and ho...2023-11-2158 min
Obviously The FutureFanatical Learning Communities with Warren CarlyleHow do you build fanatical learning communities online? How does one ‘manufacture relevancy’?We dive deep into the world of Warren Carlyle, a professional community-building strategist who works with purpose-driven brands & influencers to build highly engaged online communities and wildly successful social media campaigns. He is also the founder/CEO of OctoNation- The Largest Octopus Fan Club, a nonprofit organization that inspires ocean conservation by teaching the world about octopuses. OctoNation has over 1 million members and educational content that inspires and enthralls millions each week.Warren is a neurodivergent thinker who has studied ‘the games people...2023-11-1043 min
Obviously The FutureFriendship Funnel with Nick GrayWhat are some tips and tricks for making new friends? Why in real life events are critical to community building?At we are big believers in Nick’s 2-hour cocktail methodology and implement his best practices at all our events (name tags, always!), so we are excited to hear all the insight in this tactical conversation. Nick explains why he believes in-person events designed for introverts are obviously the future. Further, we explore how social media can complement in-person interactions to keep in touch and why you shouldn’t call your event a ‘networking event’ even if...2023-10-3136 min
Obviously The FutureWhy Wisdom is in Short Supply with Dalglish ChewWhy is doing ‘the inner work’ important? Can AI replace coaches? Why is wisdom in short supply?In this episode, the entire team is on for a conversation with our coach-in-residence, Dalglish Chew. Dalglish received a Ph.D. in English but left academia and cut his teeth at McKinsey, working with healthcare clients and conducting due diligence for private equity firms. He is now an executive coach and an investor at . He works with startup founders and investors across Silicon Valley to do, in his words, the “inner work that unlocks hyper growth.”Dalglish has no doubt...2023-10-2429 min
Obviously The FutureGovTech: Solving Last Mile DeliveryHow can we instill outcomes and urgency in government? What is the opportunity for startups to deliver public goods?We discuss government, delivery, and technology with our long-time friends and colleagues, Saad Rizvi and Al-Hassan Hleileh. Saad is currently a partner at SuperLayer, a consumer crypto incubator, and previously co-founded Delivery Associates and co-authored An Avalanche Is Coming (along with Katelyn). Al-Hassan was most recently the Head of Digital at Delivery Associates and previously founded and worked at several Silicon Valley startups. U.S. government spending was 37% of GDP in 2022. Public trust in government is...2023-10-1040 min
Obviously The FutureThe New Path to Home Ownership with Catalina KaiyoorawongsDo Millennials want to be homeowners? What is the most significant barrier to homeownership? With rising interest rates and high student loan debt, getting a mortgage and being a homeowner is less accessible than ever. Catalina Kaiyoorawongs is a passionate expert in increasing access to home ownership. Join us to understand the real deal with federal student loan forgiveness, the changes to credit underwriting, and why now might be one of the best times for first-time home buyers. Catalina founded LoanSense, which helps loan officers boost home affordability by reducing student loan payments and lowering...2023-10-0335 min
Obviously The FutureThe Real AI Expert with Deepak SekarWhat does it take to innovate using artificial intelligence? How can generative AI avatars improve learning? We talk with a technologist on the front lines. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the education system, prompting parents to become more involved in their children's learning. Deepak Sekar is one of those parents and an inventor with 214 patents who has successfully merged his passion for AI with his commitment to revolutionizing the education sector. Over the next decade, 50% of all online content will be produced or augmented with Generative AI. This episode discusses...2023-09-2644 min
Obviously The FutureEmpowering Parents: School Choice and TechnologyWhat does it take to empower parents and decentralize schooling? Why is a diversity of school models important to parents? Are we at a tipping point?Education is a fundamental pillar of society, shaping the minds and futures of our children. However, traditional education models have often fallen short in meeting the diverse needs of students. In this episode, we speak with Joe Connor, the founder and CEO of Odyssey. He shares his experiences with two legendary education organizations, KIPP and Rocketship, and how they have shaped his perspective on education. From the importance of...2023-09-2043 min
Obviously The FutureThe Formula For Greatness with Sir Michael BarberHow does one achieve massive results? What does it take to be truly great?We sat with global implementation expert Sir Michael Barber, Chair of Delivery Associates and LP & Advisor to Avalanche VC. Join us for a reflective conversation on our work together in the past and about accomplishing big goals and changing the world. You can expect a wide-ranging conversation with historical and literary anecdotes, actionable advice, and honest takes.In this episode, we cover:* How to chair effective meetings* Reflection on our time at Pearson Ventures. Was i...2023-09-1239 min