Shows
"Moment of Zen"AI and The War for Your Attention | Antonio Garcia Martinez and Chris Hayes from the a16z PodcastToday on Moment of Zen, we're excited to cross post a conversation from the newly revamped a16z podcast featuring Antonio Garcia Martinez and MSNBC's Chris Hayes exploring how AI-generated content is reshaping the attention economy, from algorithmic manipulation to the future of human creativity in digital spaces. Listen to more episodes of The a16z Podcast here: link.chtbl.com/blpusvv-
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2025-08-0250 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE134: Atheism’s Decline, Consciousness, and The New Right w/ Ross DouthatToday on Upstream, Ross Douthat joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his new book 'Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,' exploring the decline of new atheism, the intellectual defense of institutional religion, and the intersection between traditional Christianity, Silicon Valley, and modern materialism.This episode originally aired on Moment of Zen (April 12, 2025).—📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Moment of ZenEvery week, Erik Torenberg, Dan...
2025-04-1357 min"Moment of Zen"Cartels vs. State: The Power Struggle in Mexico w/ Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites. The discussion covers the economic impact of drug trafficking, how legalization affects cartel operations, and comparisons with other countries' experiences, and explore potential solutions for Mexico's development and the geopolitical implications for U.S.-Mexico relations.Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses...
2025-03-2247 min"Moment of Zen"Inflation, Elon's Competence, and Changes Democrats Need to Make w/ Noah SmithErik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith dissect the Democratic Party's path forward. Smith advocates for fiscal responsibility over progressive rhetoric, refocusing democracy concerns away from voter ID laws toward election integrity, and embracing patriotic messaging instead of identity politics. Their exchange ventures into Elon Musk's influence on Republican effectiveness, the merits of Japanese bureaucratic models, and building a more competitive political landscape where both parties can harness entrepreneurial talent to implement practical governance solutions.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpe...
2025-03-151h 02"Moment of Zen"Free Speech in Europe & the Future of Western Civilization | Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine the pervasive fascination with American political dynamics and their far-reaching impact worldwide, especially across Western democracies and European nations. They analyze how digital connectivity has accelerated the harmonization of political discourse and cultural values across borders, while exploring the emerging shifts in European political frameworks that increasingly reflect American ideological patterns and media narratives—📰 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://b...
2025-03-081h 05"Moment of Zen"Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030This week, Erik Torenberg is joined by Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, political commentator, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Together they conduct a thought experiment: it's 2030, how can we expect to understand the legacy of Donald Trump, the shifting political landscape in Germany and the rest of Europe, the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, China's ambitions regarding Taiwan, Israel's strategic challenges, and the future of the Democratic Party?—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show...
2025-02-2837 min"Moment of Zen"Mapping the New Right w/ Jon AskonasErik Torenberg and Jon Askonas talk about the emerging political realignment in tech, specifically how Silicon Valley has shifted away from Democrats. They discuss the "tech right," its relationship with MAGA and "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) movements, potential tensions within this new coalition, and how Democrats might respond to their 2024 electoral defeat.Check out the interviews Erik mentions in this episode:
Ezra Klein on Supply-side Progressivism, Polarization, and What Silicon Valley Misses About Politics: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36vTPPcpisMVXSgq9bnj1w
The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase...
2025-02-2247 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"Moment of Zen"Delian Asparouhov and Nadia Asparouhova on Building a Relationship, Family, and LegacyThis Valentine's Day weekend, we're airing the debut episode of Modern Relationships featuring Varda space founder Delian Asparouhov and repeat M.O.Z. guest Nadia Asparouhova. Delian and Nadia talk about how they make their relationship work, dating in San Francisco, and why overcommunication might do more harm than good.—📰 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 —SPONSOR: NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | IN...
2025-02-151h 05"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja on the Technology That Can Create New SuperpowersErik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine how advancing desalination technology could reshape geopolitics and transform landscapes. They discuss how affordable desalination ($0.3 cents per liter) makes large-scale terraforming feasible, potentially enabling countries like Saudi Arabia or Australia to create vast green spaces and support larger populations. The technology's implications extend beyond water security to national development and climate resilience. The essay on desalination originally appeared in The Bismarck Brief - subscribe here: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 He...
2025-02-081h 06"Moment of Zen"Curtis Yarvin is now in the Overton Window w/ Samo BurjaErik Torenberg and Samo Burja analyze Curtis Yarvin's arguments about government inefficiency, comparing corporate and state governance structures. The conversation covers how bureaucracies decay over time, China's approach to governance, and Yarvin's influence in shifting Silicon Valley libertarians toward more right-wing positions. They also examine his evolution from a cancelled figure to a mainstream intellectual voice.—📰 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 —...
2025-02-0257 min"Moment of Zen"Trump's Inauguration, Tech's Shifting Politics, and US GDP Growth WallToday on Moment of Zen, we're bringing you the third episode of "This Won't Last", the newest show from Turpentine.Keith Rabois, Logan Bartlett, Kevin Ryan, and Zach Weinberg dissect the 2025 political landscape in a spirited discussion of Trump's evolved messaging and surprising tech industry backing. The conversation weaves through immigration policy, corporate political neutrality, and market dynamics - from Silicon Valley's rightward shift to urban crime challenges and insurance markets and explores how America's tech-policy nexus is reshaping in real-time.—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new p...
2025-01-261h 12"Moment of Zen"Scott Sumner and Noah Smith Debate the China QuestionAs China surges past the combined manufacturing might of Western democracies, economists Scott Sumner and Noah Smith square off on America's industrial future. While agreeing on economic fundamentals, they clash over the gravity of China's rise - Sumner advocating measured engagement while Smith warns of an unprecedented shift in global power requiring bold policy action.—📰 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 —SPONSOR: ORACLE | NETSUITE | SHOPIFY | AD...
2025-01-1856 min"Moment of Zen"Understanding Trump: From Immigration to Elon w/ Maxwell Meyer and Indian BronsonEditor of Arena magazine Maxwell Meyer and pseudonymous writer Indian Bronson join Erik Torenberg for part 3 of the immigration series. They discuss the evolving dynamics between Trump's tech and MAGA supporters, cutting through online drama to examine how both sides might find common ground on immigration, talent, and America's future. This is part 3 to Bronson's earlier Moment of Zen episodes, Debating Immigration Policy and Bronson vs Everyone: H-1B Wars, Elon, and Trump—📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess
2025-01-111h 15"Moment of Zen"Bronson vs Everyone: H-1B Wars, Elon, and TrumpFrom Elon's immigration takes to Silicon Valley's clash with MAGA nationalists, this conversation between Erik Torenberg and Indian Bronson, a pseudonymous writer, dives deep into tech's newest culture war. Indian Bronson breaks down why Trumps's coalition has split over this issue and why America's elite and working class can't see eye to eye. This is part 2 to Bronson's earlier Moment of Zen episode, Debating Immigration Policy. —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener...
2025-01-0343 min"Moment of Zen"NEW: Marc Andreessen on Trump, the vibe shift, and what’s after wokenessMarc Andreessen, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) returns to Moment of Zen to discuss Trump's new administration, the political vibe shift for Silicon Valley, why San Francisco may be the cultural center of the universe, and what comes after wokeness.—📰 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 —SPONSORS: VANTA | SQUADVanta automates security compliance and builds trust...
2024-12-271h 43"Moment of Zen"E110: Samo Burja on Elon Musk, X and Political Influence [Crosspost, Live Players]Samo and Erik explore Twitter's evolution, digital politics, and Europe's societal constraints. The conversation weaves through topics of online influence, cultural shifts, and the future of political discourse in the digital age.—📰 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 —SPONSORS:GIVEWELLGiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good fo...
2024-12-2258 min"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja on the Future of the Middle EastSamo Burja and Erik Torenberg dissect the complex web of religion, nationalism, and power that shapes Middle Eastern politics. In this analysis, Samo reveals why traditional solutions have failed and offers a look at how demographic shifts and emerging ideologies will transform the region's future.—📰 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 —SPONSORS:NETSUITEMore th...
2024-12-1459 min"Moment of Zen"Debating Immigration Policy w/ Indian BronsonIn this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg engages Indian Bronson, a pseudonymous writer, for a debate about immigration policy, national identity, and the future of American society. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/a08fc2a5-ff40-4d3b-8f2c-7174fde876cf--🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse.--SPONSORS:NETSUITEMore than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR...
2024-12-081h 00"Moment of Zen"The Future of the Left and Advice for Progressive BillionairesIn this episode, Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith dive tackle pressing questions on government efficiency, libertarianism, immigration, housing, military spending, and the future of American politics. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/150a6b58-03ac-4eb2-b99a-803f577b1815--🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing d...
2024-11-301h 09"Moment of Zen"Can Populism Beat the Administrative State? | Samo BurjaIn this episode of "Moment of Zen," hosts Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja delve into the concept of populism and its impact on modern politics. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/0a17c191-56ca-43f0-b169-614198ecbc29—🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse.—RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies lik...
2024-11-2354 min"Moment of Zen"Will Shadow President Elon Save Us? | Noah SmithNoah Smith joins Erik Torenberg to discus the aftermath of Trump's election and discuss the conditions why Kamala Harris lost. For full shownotes visit https://highlightai.com/share/59de7631-50e2-4e47-b135-317b057b8434--Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ Unpack Pricing - Dive into the dark arts of SaaS pricing with Metronome CEO Scott Woody and tech leaders. Learn how strategic pricing drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbo...
2024-11-0949 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE92: Curtis Yarvin’s Pre-Election Advice to Elon MuskIn this episode, Erik and Yarvin discuss media, power, and what Elon should do with Twitter. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/b9c0012c-979b-441e-9fb3-6394bef6a7ad —📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️Moment of ZenEvery week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.c...
2024-11-071h 37
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE90: Elites, Institutions, and Trump with Richard HananiaRichard Hanania joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his upcoming book on elite human capital, the future of American politics, and his evolving views on culture war issues. For full show notes, visit: https://highlightai.com/share/af273f63-9f1b-49e1-8fed-28296237498b —📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️Moment of ZenEvery week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, polit...
2024-10-311h 16"Moment of Zen"Elite Human Capital, Trump vs Kamala, and Richard Hanania's Intellectual EvolutionIn this thought-provoking episode, Richard Hanania joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his upcoming book on elite human capital, the future of American politics, and his evolving views on culture war issues. For full shownotes, visit highlight: https://highlightai.com/share/dcd6fdba-6a0c-4fee-bc87-8f855df56a32--Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess--🎙️ Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new weekly podcast that features interviews with world’s greatest dealmakers and diplomats, including Former Secretary of State He...
2024-10-271h 15"Moment of Zen"Can Classical Liberalism Survive Wokeness? w/ Tim UrbanIn this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik 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.Tim unpacks the clash between freedom and equality in modern society. He explores how social justice movements and political extremes threaten open dialogue. Urban argues for a return to classical liberal values, challenging listeners to consider: Are we fostering true diversity of thought, or silencing dissent in the name of progress?...
2024-10-2055 min"Moment of Zen"The Possibility of Human Extinction w/ Samo BurjaThis episode centers on the alarming issue of declining fertility rates worldwide, examining specific country examples such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, and the societal and technological implications of these demographic changes. Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg explore potential interventions, such as tax breaks for families, and the possibility of extreme measures like state-managed reproduction programs. They also tackle cultural and economic factors influencing fertility and the urgency of addressing this underpopulation crisis to prevent civilizational collapse. --🎙️ Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators is the brand new wee...
2024-10-051h 01"Moment of Zen"Long Ripples in History with Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchToday on Moment of Zen, Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch return for for a mind-bending discussion and deep dive into the concept of "long ripples" — how ideas and events from the distant past continue to shape our present and future in unexpected ways. From Plato's influence on modern political movements to the unforeseen consequences of the Industrial Revolution, this conversation challenges our understanding of historical cause and effect.Are we truly progressing, or are we caught in cycles we fail to recognize? Can we learn from the past, or are we doomed to repeat it...
2024-09-281h 00"Moment of Zen"Cycles of Civilization with Samo Burja and Rudyard LynchToday on Moment of Zen, we're airing a discussion between Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch - two intellectual heavyweights tackling the idea that civilizations may have inherent differences that can alter our understanding of the course of history and politics.Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectively.This is a fascinating discussion on threads that bridge Silicon Valley with ancient civilizations like Babylon, the impact of Abrahamic religions, and the idea that societies go through cycles that may upend our current assumptionsCHECK...
2024-09-1556 min"Moment of Zen"Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Talks AI, National Security, and Radical AbundanceErik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder of Anthropic. Dario talks about the economics of AI development, the comparative advantage of AI companies like Anthropic, AI safety, and his stance on California's SB 1047 bill. They also discuss the impacts of AI on global power dynamics, competition between the US and China, and inequality in an AI-powered world.This episode was recorded this week on Turpentine’s show Econ 102. Check it out for more like this: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs?si=8fab4d65dd...
2024-09-0759 min"Moment of Zen"Is AI our next nuclear threat? With Joshua Steinman and Nathan LabenzJoshua Steinman, former military officer who served as Deputy Assistant to President Trump and Senior Director for Cyber (2017-2021), now co-founder of Galvanick, joins Erik Torenberg and AI scout Nathan Labenz for a discussion on the AI arms race. They focus on US-China relations, the rate of AI development, and the global implications of a technological arms race. Should the US and China work together to prevent a future of AI-powered warfare, or is a conflict inevitable?--🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turp...
2024-08-3158 min"Moment of Zen"Samo Burja's Advice for the next US presidentErik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the top challenges Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will have to face in their presidency. They discuss foreign policy, including managing relations with China, reassessing defense contractors, and fostering economic alliances. They also address the inefficiencies in the non-profit sector, energy policy and nuclear power. Erik and Samo release weekly episodes together on the "Live Players" podcast.--🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--
2024-08-2549 min
"Upstream" with Erik TorenbergE73: Brian Armstrong on Crypto in 2024, Politics, and Economic FreedomBrian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez on Moment of Zen in August 2024 to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., why he listens to Balaji Srinivasan, and strategies for increasing global crypto adoption.Armstrong also touches on his venture into biotech with New Limit, the changing media landscape, and the future of economic freedom through decentralized technologies.--🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and...
2024-08-2356 min"Moment of Zen"The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of CoinbaseBrian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Following Coinbase's public listing and the recent regulatory environment, Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., and strategies for increasing global crypto adoption. Armstrong also touches on his venture into biotech with New Limit, the changing media landscape, and the future of economic freedom through decentralized technologies.--🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.t...
2024-08-1757 min"Moment of Zen"Trump, AI, and US-China Relations with Samuel Hammond and Nathan LabenzIn this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg is joined by Samuel Hammond (@hamandcheese), a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation and AI Scout/ Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz (@labenz). From drug innovation to nuclear risk, they discuss the impact of AI on policy and governance, exploring the challenges and opportunities of a Trump vs. Harris presidency.From drug innovation to nuclear risk, they dissect the impact of AI on policy and governance, exploring the challenges and opportunities of a Trump vs. Harris presidency.--
2024-08-122h 00"Moment of Zen"Wading Into a Moral Case for Trump with Indian Bronson and HannahToday two anonymous friends of the podcast, Indian Bronson and "Hannah" join Erik Torenberg to make their moral case for Donald Trump. They discuss why swapping Kamala Harris for Joe Biden could cause a "reprise of Obama 2012", the immigration restrictionist viewpoint, and the "aesthetic baggage" that often comes along with the radical leaders capable of ushering in change. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth JoiningEvery week we sit do...
2024-08-041h 17"Moment of Zen"Biden/Trump's legacy with Noah SmithIn today’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the potential of Kamala Harris as a presidential nominee, President Biden’s legacy, impact of COVID-19 on the economy and inflation, and the recent shifts in U.S. foreign relations and immigration policies.🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj--RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth JoiningEvery week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the...
2024-07-2755 min"Moment of Zen"Brand New Balaji: Trump/Biden, Jan 6In this episode of Moment of Zen, Balaji Srinivasan sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss the massive vibe shift in Silicon Valley a week after Trump's near-assassination, tech's emerging role as a counter-elite force, why Biden is president NPC, January 6, and the role of the media.🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjThis show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry inside...
2024-07-201h 36"Moment of Zen"China's Energy Strategy, Taiwan, and US-China Relations with Samo BurjaIn this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications. Contrary to popular belief, China is not aggressively pursuing energy independence but remains reliant on imports despite significant domestic oil production. The conversation delves into China's geopolitical strategy, its military preparedness, and the potential consequences of a conflict over Taiwan. The episode also explores the broader implications of a potential U.S.-China industrial competition and the risks of a bipolar world.-This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology...
2024-07-1452 min"Moment of Zen"2024 Election Strategy, Education Depolarization, and UBI with Noah SmithThis week, Noah Smith joins Erik Torenberg to 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."🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.ty...
2024-07-0654 min"Moment of Zen"What's Happening in France with Pascal-Emmanuel GobryToday on Moment of Zen, Journalist Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry sits with Erik Torenberg to explain the volatile state of French politics following recent European Parliament elections where Macron’s party performed poorly and the National Rally did very well. The conversation offers insights into the broader implications of these political shifts, touches on the societal divisions fueling these changes, immigration, and the potential economic impact on France.🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqjRECOMMENDED PODCAST:Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to exper...
2024-06-1548 min"Moment of Zen"David Sacks on his Intellectual and Political journeyDavid Sacks is known as a CEO/investor in multiple unicorns, and most recently a media mogul with All-In. In this episode, he sits down with Erik Torenberg to trace his intellectual and political history from his days fighting student activism at Stanford to now. We cover the political and cultural changes in the last 30 years of silicon valley, how the real distinction today is between the college-educated and the not, and how even though 2⁄3 of the country didn’t go to college, their views are not represented in our institutions today. This episode was recorded in December 2022 but is j...
2024-06-011h 16"Moment of Zen"Should We Accelerate or Decelerate Tech Progress?Today’s episode is a debate from Bankless on the opposing viewpoints of Effective Accelerationism (E/ACC) and Effective Altruism (EA). Hosted by Ryan Sean Adams and David Hoffman and featuring Haseeb Qureshi and our own Erik Torenberg, the podcast discusses whether AI progression should be cautiously regulated or aggressively pursued with minimal oversight.–SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUADNETSUITE📈 NetSuite has 25 years of providing financial software for all your business needs. More than 36,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, gaining visibility and control over their financials, invento...
2024-04-271h 39"Moment of Zen"Bryan Johnson on AI, Religion, and GodBryan Johnson joins Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg on Moment of Zen to discuss the deeper spiritual beliefs behind the "Don't Die" movement in the face of AI and the inadequacy of human clock speed. They cover religions as death cults, long-termism vs engineering your own longevity, and Bryan's recent interview on Tucker Carlson.If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - now through April 15th NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | NETSUITE | HARMONIC | SQUAD...
2024-04-131h 02"Moment of Zen"Crypto, Memes, and Politics with Li JinLi Jin joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez. Li is the co-founder of Variant Fund and a prolific writer. This episode dives deep into crypto, web3, memecoins, and the attention economy thesis. They cover the direction of techno-capitalism and its impact on politics, decentralization, and the cultural differences between American and European value systems. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - now through April 15th NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program.–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | NETSUITE | SQUADHead to Be...
2024-04-0757 min"Moment of Zen"Antonio on Social Media, Journalism, and New Religions with Parker ThompsonIn this conversation, Erik Torenberg sits down with Antonio Garcia Martinez, founder of Spindl and author of ‘Chaos Monkeys’, and Parker Thompson, partner at SAX Capital, TNT Ventures, and AngelList, to explore the influence of social media on society. They discuss media literacy and journalism, how politics change people's views of social media, and the rise of unique religious movements in social activism. This episode marks the first time Erik interviewed Antonio Garcia Martinez on Venture Stories back in 2019 and remains relevant today. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen.
2024-03-181h 02"Moment of Zen"Will the US Have a Civil War with @WhatifAltHist's Rudyard LynchIn this conversation, Erik Torenberg and Dan Romero sit with Rudyard Lynch of @WhatifAltHist to discuss his analysis of potential future global events, such as an American civil war and a revolution in China, considering economic conditions, demographics, and societal behaviors. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen.–RELATED CHANNELS:Subscribe to History 102: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5ojSubscribe to WhatifAltHist: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatifAltHist--SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | NETSUITE | SQUADHead to Beeh...
2024-03-091h 16"Moment of Zen"Dan's Intellectual JourneyThis discussion is from Erik's first interview with Dan from the Venture Stories podcast. Dan shares his views on scaling Coinbase, the evolution of crypto, as well as the books and influences that shaped his intellectual journey. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen.–SPONSOR:BEEHIIVHead 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. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" f...
2024-03-041h 41
"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"Moment of Zen"A Deep Dive on Farcaster: Past, Present, and FutureErik Torenberg and Dan Romero talk about Dan’s company Farcaster, a decentralized social media protocol. Following the launch of Frames earlier this year, Farcaster experienced significant growth placing the team at a critical junction ripe with lessons for any startup. Dan discusses the challenges of building Farcaster, the promise of decentralization, and the future of social media. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen–SPONSORS:BEEHIIVHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scal...
2024-02-261h 13"Moment of Zen"Chris Dixon on the Future of the Internet, Crypto, and Web3This week Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down with Chris Dixon, a16z General Partner and author of the new book Read Write Own. They discuss the evolution of crypto, the potential impact of blockchain on existing industries, re-centralization, the implications of AI on the internet economy, and media perception of tech. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen-RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic i...
2024-02-171h 20"Moment of Zen"How to Build a Startup Now, Finding PMF, and Navigating the Idea MazeDan Romero and Erik Torenberg chat about building a company in 2024, selecting ideas to work on, and finding product-market fit (Dan quotes Marc Andreessen's definition of the term). They also cover Dan's experience at Coinbase and building Farcaster. They recorded this episode for a new show called Request for Startups where guests discuss the startups they think should exist, and share how they navigated the idea maze in their sector https://requestforstartups.substack.com/Subscribe to Request for Startups for more of these types of episodes:
Video episodes are only available on Substack...
2024-02-101h 17"Moment of Zen"The U.S. vs Europe, Bryan Johnson and Human LongevityThis week Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down to discuss the popular Europe vs United States debate, the concept of human longevity, the current state of democracy in the age of social media, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.--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 their stories of navigating the idea maze...
2024-02-021h 27"Moment of Zen"What does E/acc stand for?This week Erik sits down with Nadia Asparouhova and Bayeslord to discuss the meaning and philosophy of effective accelerationism (e/acc), the polarization and nuance in the tech industry, and much more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.Check out Bayeslord's article in Pirate Wires, ' The Ethos of the Divine Age' https://www.piratewires.com/p/ethos-divine-age-RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover...
2024-01-291h 29"Moment of Zen"2023 Recap, 2024 Predictions, Farcaster/Turpentine updatesDan and Erik discuss the potential impact of a Trump win in 2024, the appeal of populism, the impact of AI on the next generation of startups, and an update from Farcaster and Turpentine. Moment of Zen is sponsored by 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 will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient...
2024-01-221h 34"Moment of Zen"Curtis Yarvin on Rufo, Harvard, FDR, and The CathedralCurtis joins Dan and Erik to discuss his upcoming debate with Richard Hanania, FDR's leadership style, radical changes to institutions like Harvard, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by 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 will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and...
2024-01-141h 49"Moment of Zen"Bill Ackman, Harvard, and What Happens Next?Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg talk about what's happening between Bill Ackman and Harvard: they touch on the 10-7 movement and the focus on DEI in universities, the future of education and the challenges of disrupting elite schools, the value of credentials, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by 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...
2024-01-091h 13"Moment of Zen"Sam Harris on Populism, Inequality, and PolarizationFor the holiday stretch, we're publishing a few of our favorite episodes from this year. Today, we’re airing Erik's solo interview with Sam Harris over on his Upstream podcast. This discussion covers Sam’s concerns about populism, polarization, and inequality. We also discuss why Sam is hated by the left and the right. Moment of Zen will return with a new episode this weekend.This episode originally aired on May 29th, 2023-RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cove...
2024-01-031h 27"Moment of Zen"Revisited: Moment of Zen's Origins with Marc AndreessenFor the holiday stretch, we're publishing a few of our favorite episodes from this year of Moment of Zen. Today, we’re airing our first ever episodes with Marc Andreessen (released exactly one year ago). Marc discussed SBF, Twitter and censorship, and more. In the second half of this extra long episode with Marc, we get into the ideas of Nietzsche, Henrich, Burnham and more of Marc's intellectual influences.This episode originally aired in two parts on December 28 & 30th, 2022.-RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHistEvery week, creator of...
2023-12-301h 53"Moment of Zen"Katherine Boyle and Mike Solana on Liberal Arts Debate and Saving San FranciscoKatherine Boyle, GP at a16z and Mike Solana, Editor in Chief of Pirate Wires joined Erik, Dan, and Antonio to discuss whether a liberal arts degree is worth it and how to save San Francisco. They cover the drawbacks of the current educational system, the opportunity cost of our educated class, and elitism. This episode originally aired June 17th, 2023.-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...
2023-12-281h 22"Moment of Zen"Trump/Biden, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and US/ChinaThis week Noah Smith joins Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg to discuss the overuse of the term “fascism,” what has led to the capabilities of China and the U.S., and much more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.This episode is a collaboration with one of Turpentine's biggest shows, Econ 102. Check out Econ 102: https://www.podpage.com/econ102/_Check out Erik's new show Request for Startups featuring a rotating cast of founders and investors (including Dan) sharing their requests for...
2023-12-241h 12"Moment of Zen"Balaji Srinivasan and Nathan Labenz on How AI Will Shape the Future & AI GodsBalaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.This episode is a feed drop of one of Turpentine's biggest shows, 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/_We're hiring...
2023-12-202h 08"Moment of Zen"How Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Peter Thiel, and George Soros Reshape SocietySamo Burja and Erik Torenberg dive deep into the concept of a 'live player', and compare and contrast three prominent live players: Peter Thiel, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk—discussing their impacts, motivations, and differing views on societal change.This episode is a feed drop of our newest show at Turpentine, Live Players, where Erik and Samo analyze more of the mindsets of today’s most intriguing business leaders, investors, and innovators through the lens of their bold actions and contrarian worldviews. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the development of technology, business, political power...
2023-12-1154 min
"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"Moment of Zen"Who Is Beff Jezos? Beff on Being Doxxed, the e/acc movement, and Crypto & AI CrossoverBeff Jezos, the anonymous co-founder of the e/acc movement (effective accelerationism) had his identity revealed on Friday night by Forbes reporters. He gives the inside story to Antonio Garcia Martinez, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, his e/acc cofounder bayeslord, and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz. They discuss anonymity, the media, and the role of journalism in our society. Sell and grow with Shopify: Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | VANTABEEHIIVHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to pow...
2023-12-041h 42"Moment of Zen"Dominic Cummings on Elon, Techies in Politics, and New ElitismErik Torenberg and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down with political strategist + former chief adviser to Boris Johnson's right hand Dominic Cummings who is known for architecting Brexit. They discuss whether Brexit actually saved Britain from the far right, the San Francisco homelessness complex, the 2024 election, educational polarization, & more. Sell and grow with Shopify: Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | VANTA | MASTERCLASSBEEHIIVHead to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a...
2023-12-021h 45"Moment of Zen"OpenAI Debrief, Why Liberals Become Conservatives, and Diversity in TechDan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss their takes on why liberals become conservatives, diversity in tech, and debrief the OpenAI debacle that happened this past week.–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MASTERCLASS | NETSUITEHead 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. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.SHOPIFY: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial periodShopif...
2023-11-251h 22"Moment of Zen"The Sam Altman Episode: OpenAI, Sam's LegacyDan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg discuss their takes on Sam Altman's ouster from OpenAI, his legacy, and his comparative significance vis-à-vis figures like Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk.This is a developing story. This podcast was recorded on Sunday Nov 19th at 12pm PST.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.–S...
2023-11-191h 04"Moment of Zen"Balaji’s Gray Tribe, Fixing SF, and whether to start or buy a city?Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss whether San Francisco can be exited or reformed, how to impact local politics, and what it would take to get talented, innovative people to live in the same city. Wherever and whatever you’re selling, get Shopify for $1/month trial period using code https://shopify.com/momentofzen–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | MASTERCLASS | NETSUITEHead 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. 🐝to https...
2023-11-1359 min"Moment of Zen"Biden vs Trump in Israel, Why Younger People Support Palestine, and Why There is No International CommunityDan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg discuss the US reaction to the Israel-Hamas War. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zenWe'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: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | VANTA | MASTERCLASS | NETSUITEHead to Beehiiv, the news...
2023-11-0658 min"Moment of Zen"MoZ gets Nuke Pilled with Packy and JuliaDan Romero and Erik Torenberg are joined by Packy McCormick of Not Boring and Julia DeWahl (founder of Antares, ex-SpaceX) to talk about the past, present, and future of nuclear energy. Packy and Julia co-host a new narrative series called Age of Miracles ( If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zenSUBSCRIBE TO AGE OF MIRACLES: Podcasts: https://link.chtbl.com/ageofmiracles | YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@age-of-miraclesWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and fo...
2023-10-301h 23"Moment of Zen"Antonio's Dispatch From IsraelAntonio Garcia Martinez, reporting live from Israel, joins Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg to share his firsthand perspective on the ground, discussing the unfolding events, and potential outcomes for Israel and Gaza. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zenDiscussion recorded on October 22, 2023. 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...
2023-10-2357 min"Moment of Zen"Why this is BLM for Jews, unpacking the conflict, and predictions for Israel, Gaza, and IranDan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss the history of Israel, Gaza, and Iran and what happens next in this war on the ground. They also discuss the schism in the public discourse and the downstream political implications in the US. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zenWe'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...
2023-10-161h 29"Moment of Zen"The Hoax of the Century, Hybrid Warfare, Iran, and Israel with Jacob SiegelDan Romero, Erik Torenberg and Antonio Garcia Martinez are joined by journalist Jacob Siegel to discuss disinformation, the evolving narrative between tech and political power, and geopolitics. This episode was recorded on October 1st, before Hamas' attack on Israel. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zenWe'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...
2023-10-071h 56"Moment of Zen"Elon and the Border Crisis, the Case for Immigration, and the American DreamDan Romero and Erik Torenberg talk about the ongoing border crisis, the history of immigration to the US, and the case for and against immigration. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zen–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | VANTA | NETSUITEHead 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. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first th...
2023-10-021h 37"Moment of Zen"Ideas from Balaji and Curtis That Changed Our MindsDan Romero and Erik Torenberg talk about their intellectual evolution, why San Francisco is back, and the ideas finding new momentum because of the thorny politics in tech the last few years. If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta for $1000 off: https://www.vanta.com/zen–SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SHOPIFY | VANTA | NETSUITEHead 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. 🐝to https...
2023-09-251h 37"Moment of Zen"Wonks vs Proles, Post Liberalism, and Politics as Religious War with Walter Russell MeadDan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez, and Erik Torenberg sit down with Professor Walter Russel Mead, an American academic, author, WSJ- and Tablet-contributor, and podcast host to discuss the shape of the next era after our information age.Moment of Zen is part of Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coWe'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.
2023-09-161h 33"Moment of Zen"Balaji Srinivasan on the Tribal Lens, America’s Blunder, and His Plan to Save San FranciscoBalaji Srinivasan joins Erik Torenberg and Dan Romero on the Moment of Zen podcast 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. Make sure you're subscribed to https://link.chtbl.com/moz to get notified when we release Part 2.Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board...
2023-09-082h 09"Moment of Zen"Bull/Bear Case for Vivek and Erik’s interview with Vivek RamaswamyOn this episode, Erik Torenberg and Dan Romero analyze what Vivek Ramaswamy’s rise in the polls really means, where he goes from here, and we air Erik’s full interview with Vivek from this spring. Vivek discusses his transformation from founder to candidate, his views on Silicon Valley, his concept of meritocracy, depoliticizing corporations, and lays out his policy proposals. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zenMoment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coWe'r...
2023-09-031h 22
"Moment of Zen"Crypto Hour and IQ, the Next Great Culture War IssueDan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss what is exciting in Crypto right now, covering friend.tech, Farcaster’s updates, PWAs, superchain 2a, and infrastructure improvements for more use cases. If you’re building a business and need compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA, head to www.vanta.com/zen for $1000 off.Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.coTOPICS DISCUSSED:(00:01:36) How Dan is building Farcaster(00:02:39) Using Ethereum is expensive(00:04:14) Crypto and climate change(00...
2023-08-261h 34"Moment of Zen"Mike Solana on Peter Thiel, the Ideal Presidential Candidate, and Culture War LosersMike Solana joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to track the rise and ‘vibe shift’ away from the woke industrial complex, from social media algorithms and anon accounts, to media disruptions like Substack and Gawker. They discuss Peter Thiel's economic, political, and religious ideas and discuss his legacy. They also debate if the left really has lost control of culture or whether we’re just more siloed in 2023, and which GOP candidates draw on upstream intellectual ideas. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zenMoment...
2023-08-211h 22"Moment of Zen"Religion, Canceled Thinkers, LARPing Liberalism, and The End of HistoryAntonio Garcia Martinez is back from his travels, and joins Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg to dive into his current theory of ‘The End of History’. They also discuss the cancellation of intellectual figures like Richard Hanania, contrast the political situation in Israel with political polarization in the states, and discuss liberalism vs. religion. Towards the end, they talk about social media, crypto, Elon vs Zuck, and Sam Bankman-Fried. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zenMoment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more...
2023-08-141h 19"Moment of Zen"Alex Kaplan on the LK-99 Superconductor: the Drama, Democratization of Science, and Future ImplicationsAlex Kaplan shot to fame on Twitter last week for his thread on the LK-99 superconductor, and why it has the potential to be the most important physics discovery of our lifetime. Today he joins Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg to dig deeper into the LK-99 saga and its broader implications: why the material is so hard to replicate, the citizen journalist aspect and the democratization of science, condensed matter physics, a call for scientific ambition, and more. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zenTIMESTAMPS:
2023-08-0751 min"Moment of Zen"Noah Smith on YIMBYism, California Land Use, and the Best-Run CityEconomist and writer Noah Smith returns to the podcast to talk to Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg about housing, politics, land use, and policing in California and beyond. Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more at www.turpentine.co or email Erik@turpentine.coTIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Episode Preview(01:07) Antonio is the Dennis Rodman(01:42) Noah’s new podcast with Turpentine: Econ 102(02:05) The left and right version of “it’s time to build” i.e. Ezra Klein vs Marc Andreessen(04:50) California skewed politica...
2023-07-291h 29
"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"Moment of Zen"Twitter, Threads, and Remote Work with Eugene WeiWriter and technologist Eugene Wei joins Dan, Erik and Antonio to talk about Twitter, Threads, and his views on remote work. We reference Eugene's writing a lot on the podcast and mentioned his recent piece, How to Blow Up a Timeline in last week's MoZ episode with Mike Solana (see links below). Listeners, if you're looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: netsuite.com/zenMoment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's p...
2023-07-182h 04"Moment of Zen"Affirmative Action, the Administrative State, and The Right's Victory in the CourtsIn this episode, Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision, legacies and college athletes, the administrative state, and the right's victory in the courts. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen 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.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:...
2023-07-021h 10"Moment of Zen"Brokenism, The Borg, and Bravery with Alana NewhouseAlana Newhouse, the Editor in Chief of Tablet Magazine, joins Erik and Antonio on this week's episode. Avid listeners will recall that Alana's essays about Brokenism have influenced many heated discussions on Moment of Zen. Here Alana goes deeper into unpacking our present moment, institutionalism vs anti-institutionalism, distrust, Judaism and spirituality, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/UPSTREAMMoment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: Turpentine.coWe're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for...
2023-06-241h 29
"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"Moment of Zen"Liel Leibovitz on Israel and US politics, the Palestinian conflict, and Israel’s futureJournalist and author Liel Leibovitz joins Antonio and Erik for a deep discussion that “solves all outstanding Israel issues once and for all.” They discuss what’s going on with Israeli and US politics, Israel’s foundational choice ahead, and why wokeness is not penetrating Israel. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen 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 l...
2023-05-191h 41"Moment of Zen"Twitter’s new CEO, Elon’s strategy vs Sam Altman’s strategy, Liberal depression, crime and prisonsDan and Erik discuss how Elon got coded right-wing, why liberals are more depressed than conservatives, crime and prisons. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen 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.LINKS:Patrick Collison interviews Sam Altman: https://www.youtube.com/watc...
2023-05-141h 34"Moment of Zen"Ben Smith of Semafor on tech-media hostility, and the past, present, and future of mediaBen Smith is the co-founder of Semafor and author of the forthcoming book Traffic joins Erik Torenberg and Antonio Garcia Martinez for a discussion about the hostility between tech and media, what digital media startups got wrong, analysis of institutions like The New York Times, and what the future of media holds.Also, check out the debut of Erik's long-form interview podcast Upstream. He most recently interviewed Joe Lonsdale and David Sacks. Subscribe here: https://link.chtbl.com/UpstreamREFERENCES:Ben's new book: Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and...
2023-05-061h 23"Moment of Zen"How to pick markets, why NFTs matter, what "disinformation" is actually aboutDan and Erik discuss picking markets, NFT's, disinformation, and Fentanyl.Also, check out the debut of Erik's new long-form interview podcast Upstream. This coming season features interviews with Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, Ezra Sacks, David Sacks, Katherine Boyle, Joe Lonsdale, and more upcoming. Subscribe here:Apple Podcasts: bit.ly/3z8TldLSpotify: bit.ly/40letd0We'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...
2023-04-141h 24"Moment of Zen"AI open letter debate, "pausers", and what we're all scared of with AI with Anton Troynikov, Flo Crivello, and Nathan LabenzAnton Troynikov of Chroma, Flo Crivello of Lindy AI, and Nathan Labenz of Waymark and co-host of The Cognitive Revolution podcast join Erik Torenberg for a timely debate on the issues raised in the AI open letter which advocates for a 6-month pause on AI system trainings. Dan and Antonio will be back next week. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zenCheck out the debut of Erik's new longform interview podcast Upstream. This coming season features interviews with Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, Ezra Sac...
2023-04-011h 27"Moment of Zen"How SVB Unraveled and Whether Crypto Can Fix Finance with Byrne HobartByrne Hobart joins Antonio, Dan, and Erik to discuss SVB, finance, and crypto.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.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Hosts Nolan Ch...
2023-03-181h 28"Moment of Zen"Effective Accelerationism and the AI Safety Debate with Bayeslord, Beff Jezoz, and Nathan LabenzAnonymous founders of the Effective Accelerationist (e/acc) movement @Bayeslord and Beff Jezoz (@BasedBeff) join Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Nathan Labenz to debate views on AI safety.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.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation...
2023-03-112h 09"Moment of Zen"Disenfranchised men, AI Doomerism, and the Problems with Effective Altruism, with Amjad MasadReplit founder Amjad Masad joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to talk about disenfranchised men, intellectual movements, problems with effective altruism and AI doomerism. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen 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.(00:00) Episode preview(02:15) Repl...
2023-02-261h 53
"The Cognitive Revolution" | AI Builders, Researchers, and Live Player AnalysisThe AI Moment with Amjad Masad, Flo Crivello, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia MartinezWe'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.(0:00) Preview of the debate(2:23) Sponsor(3:10) Flo’s take on the AI moment and AGI(5:45) Amjad’s take on the AI moment(8:03) Antonio's skepticism about transhumanism(9:10) Human tendencies color the debate about agency(11:25) The inflection point is a jump in generality(1...
2023-02-2335 min"Moment of Zen"The Realignment on Silicon Valley & DC, Trump vs DeSantis, and the future of media & politicsSaagar Enjeti (@esaagar) and Marshall Kosloff (@makosloff) of The Realignment (@therealignment) join Moment of Zen's Dan Romero (@dwr), Antonio Garcia Martinez (@antoniogm) and Erik Torenberg (@eriktorenberg) for a discussion on tech, politics, and media.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.RECOMMENDED PODCAST:The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it...
2023-01-211h 04
"Moment of Zen"Moment of Zen E1 w/ Marc Andreessen on SBF/FTX, Twitter, and Open AI/Chat GPTMarc Andreessen is our guest on the first Moment of Zen, a weekly podcast where Dan Romero (Farcaster), Antonio Garcia Martinez (Spindl), and Erik Torenberg (Village Global/On Deck) discuss the latest in tech, business, and culture.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.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) All-in Tribute(02:15) What happens to SBF...
2022-12-271h 03