Shows
Great ChatThe tech origin story: No straight linesThis week on Great Chat, we are getting personal. We share our stories of how we got into tech in the first place. The detours and the unexpected opportunities that defined our careers from covering IPOs to early days at Facebook and those long hours at Goldman. Also, is Hollywood starting to cosy up to AI? We talk about Netflix's flirtation with Runway. Plus Diamonds on our minds, and no, not all were about Coldplay and "a sky full of stars".
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a ban...2025-07-2438 minGreat ChatWindsurf: The straw that broke the camel’s backThis week on Great Chat, we talk about the 96 hours of Windsurf frenzy that consumed Silicon Valley, and what the implications are for the (broken) social contract that tech startups have with employees. We also share notes from the Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium concert, what Sally is seeing at NBA Demo Day at Summer League, Bill Ackman’s foray into professional sports, the tea (or lack thereof) from Sun Valley, and the unfortunately named TITV.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking ser...2025-07-1737 minGreat ChatWhen startups become theatreThis week on Great Chat, we debate the impact and long-term effects of AI startup performance theatre. Should we be concerned? Plus: Twitter isn't real life, SF vs. NYC for dating, and why Big Tech might be your best bet for finding both a paycheck and a partner.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.2025-07-1039 minGreat ChatAI is killing the summer slowdownThis week on Great Chat, we talk about the race for speed across startups and venture and why execution is everything right now. And yes, we also break down the Bezos wedding (we dared to speculate on the seating chart!) and the Meta vs OpenAI talent scoreboard. Plus, Sally finally learns the meaning of AI slop.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast i...2025-07-0336 min
Great ChatMuch ado about acquihiresThe group chat kicks off season two of Great Chat with AI M&A (say that five times fast), leaks, and Labubus.Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two, and the rapid fire Q&A is now brought to you by Perplexity. How very apt.Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
2025-06-2638 min
Great ChatAre VC jobs truly AI Proof? (Marc thinks so)This week on Great Chat, we’re diving into the question on everyone’s mind: what jobs are actually safe in the age of AI? Are VC roles really untouchable, as Marc Andreessen claims? Which careers are truly defensible? Could traditional media actually play a bigger role in shaping brands in an AI-powered world? Plus, we unpack Fidji Simo’s new role at OpenAI and what it might signal for the company’s future.
2025-05-1534 min
Great ChatGreat managers, and what makes them greatThis week on Great Chat, the pod talks about their best managers (and what made them great), contemplates Alcatraz Island and the Met Gala, and explains why high-growth startups are the best places to work early in your career. And, congrats to the USC student for winning the sperm race!
2025-05-0833 min
Great ChatWhat’s the deal with Deel?The Rippling and Deel saga keeps on giving. Is this tech’s version of the Blake versus Justin publicity battle, or are we talking Kendrick and Drake? We break down the latest, and debate whether the playbook for crisis comms has fundamentally changed. We also weigh in on a Semafor piece about the group chats where powerful figures from tech and politics are shaping our reality (our group chat was not included…rude).
2025-05-0130 min
Great ChatFounders need prenups, tooWhat are the biggest mistakes people make when starting a company or venture fund? Rachel Proffitt, the CEO of Cooley, joins us this week to share her legal wisdom for future founders and fund managers. Meanwhile: ReelShort picks up where Quibi left off, Henry Blodget is back with a new publication and an AI newsroom, and a16z’s newest GP comes with a podcasting network.
2025-04-2439 min
Great ChatImposter syndrome is due for a rebrandHas the label “imposter syndrome” hurt more than it’s helped? We get real about our own experiences, and offer some tips and tricks. But first: we dissect the narrative around Blue Origin’s all-female mission. Was it a botched attempt at a feminist moment, or the perfect addition to 2025’s meme-worthy chaos? Just remember: if you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship…
2025-04-1739 min
Great ChatThe bull case for domestic manufacturingGirl the tariffs, what’s the deal with Deel, Rippling effects, and other mom jokes. Plus, Mac shares a positive vision for bringing manufacturing back home. All this and more on this week’s Great Chat.
2025-04-1027 min
Great ChatBattle of the startup citiesOn this week’s great chat, we revisit a favorite twitter debate: where’s the best place to build a startup (and why is it still SF)? But first, we hit the headlines: the AI wave has minted 29 new billionaires, and Elon has so many companies they’re buying each other.
2025-04-0334 min
Great ChatDoes anyone care about bad behavior anymore?From Bryan Johnson’s bizarre antics to the NDAs that keep scandals under wraps, Silicon Valley has a long history of looking the other way. In this episode, we dig into the latest controversies, revisit Uber’s reckoning, and discuss Careless People, the new book exposing Facebook’s inner chaos. Is tech failing to police itself? Or do we just love the drama until the next headline drops? Tune in as we break down why bad behavior in tech keeps making a comeback—and whether anyone actually cares. From your hosts this week: Ashley Mayer, Sally Shin, Helen Min and Ange...2025-03-2736 min
Great ChatTo early exercise or not to early exerciseThis week on Great Chat, we discuss honeypots, pour one out for Forever 21, and share our perspectives and experiences with the equity portion of startup compensation.
2025-03-1921 min
Great ChatThe case for a product review renaissanceThis week, Sally's at HumanX, we're reminded of market events 25 and 5 years ago, make a case to bring back product review sites, and share our favorite (embarrassing) AI productivity hacks.
2025-03-1330 min
Great ChatAre SPVs for chumps?This week, Angela and Sally wonder if Amazon will ruin the Bond franchise, Helen confesses she could fall in love with Claude, and we all weigh in on Roelof Botha’s provocative SPV take. Our big topic: How to get started investing in startups alongside an operating career.
2025-03-0632 min
Great ChatWhy are all the VCs building personal brands?The very first episode of Great Chat: A podcast mostly about tech. Ashley's live from Upfront Summit, Angela's back in San Francisco with all of the eggs, and thoughts on latest news from LLM companies. Group discussion: Is building a personal brand required to be a great VC? And Mac takes us through this week's questions.
2025-02-2734 min
Sic'Em 365 Sports Presents: The College Chaos PodcastPAC 12 Media Deal & Conference Realignment Update, Betting & College Sports, Big 12 Over/Under Bets for 2023Today on the College Chaos Podcast, Garrett and Jack dive into the latest headlines, notes and rumors from PAC 12 media deal negotiations and conference realignment. Then they guys tackle the latest on former Alabama baseball Brad Bohannon, 40-some Iowa and Iowa State Athletes, and how they have all been involved in the next great issue for college athletics: the rise of sports betting. Finally, a 180 to look draft the best Big 12 Win Total over/under bets for the 2023 CFB season with #OUDNA, #gopokes, #HailWV, #bearcats, #rockchalk, & #wreckem#CFB #sportsbetting #bestbets #collegefootball #big12 Learn...2023-05-101h 01