81 episodes

Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room. 
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world. 
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world. 
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too. 
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com 
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”

Smart Friends Eric Jorgenson

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 10 Ratings

Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room. 
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world. 
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world. 
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too. 
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com 
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”

    The First Artificial Human Arm with Tyler Hayes of Atom Limbs

    The First Artificial Human Arm with Tyler Hayes of Atom Limbs

    Links:
    Atom Limbs
    Waitlist
    Crowdfunding Round - Wefunder
    Tyler on X

    Topics:
    (00:00:00) - Intro
    (00:02:19) - Inside building Atom Limbs  
    (00:18:37) - The process of researching what knowledge was needed to build this company
    (00:27:26) - Feedback loops in prosthetics
    (00:29:23) - Where is Atom Limbs today?
    (00:40:48) - Wild, irresponsible speculation: Where do you hope this company will be in 50 years?
    (00:48:30) - Are there ways for these prosthetics to extend lifespan?
    (00:52:21) - What’s the price point you’re speculating for a prosthetic?
    (00:55:32) - How do you see the next 18 months playing out?
    (01:03:16) - How can people support you?


    To support the costs of producing this podcast: 
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 
    >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners! 

    Important quotes from Naval on building wealth and the difference between wealth and money:
     
    How to get rich without getting lucky. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Making money is not a thing you do—it’s a skill you learn. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Seek wealth, not money or status. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Money is how we transfer time and wealth. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth creation games. 
     
    You’re not going to get rich renting out your time. You must own equity—a piece of a business—to gain your financial freedom. - Naval Ravikant
    Important quotes from the podcast by Naval on Leverage:
     
    “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” 
    —Archimedes 
     
    To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Capital and labor are permissioned leverage. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to give it to you. Everyone is trying to lead, but someone has to follow you. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Code and media are permissionless leverage. They’re the leverage behind the newly rich. You can create software and media that works for you while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    If you can’t code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Leverage is a force multiplier for your judgment. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Apply specific knowledge, with leverage, and eventually you will get what you deserve. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship
     
    There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant
     
    You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  
     
    Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start.

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Robotic Delivery Tunnels with Garrett Scott of Pipedream Labs

    Robotic Delivery Tunnels with Garrett Scott of Pipedream Labs

    Links:
    Garrett Scott on X
    Pipedream Labs

    Topics:
    (00:00:00) - Intro
    (00:03:00) - Pipedream
    (00:08:33) - What’s the existing infrastructure for this product?
    (00:12:55) - Finding geographical partners
    (00:14:52) - Hyperlogistics, regulations, and long-tail e-commerce
    (00:30:35) - What are the toughest technical problems?
    (00:34:32) - The ability to master multiple disciplines
    (00:37:18) - The challenge of implementation
    (00:42:20) - Finding partnerships and building trust
    (00:47:46) - How did you become the person who’s pursuing this?
    (00:52:30) - The first 18 months of ideating Pipedream
    (00:56:47) - What’s the 50-year projection for hyperlogistics?
    (01:01:31) - How can people be helpful to the mission

    To support the costs of producing this podcast: 
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 
    >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners! 

    Important quotes from Naval on building wealth and the difference between wealth and money:
     
    How to get rich without getting lucky. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Making money is not a thing you do—it’s a skill you learn. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Seek wealth, not money or status. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Money is how we transfer time and wealth. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth creation games. 
     
    You’re not going to get rich renting out your time. You must own equity—a piece of a business—to gain your financial freedom. - Naval Ravikant
    Important quotes from the podcast by Naval on Leverage:
     
    “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” 
    —Archimedes 
     
    To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Capital and labor are permissioned leverage. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to give it to you. Everyone is trying to lead, but someone has to follow you. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Code and media are permissionless leverage. They’re the leverage behind the newly rich. You can create software and media that works for you while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    If you can’t code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Leverage is a force multiplier for your judgment. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Apply specific knowledge, with leverage, and eventually you will get what you deserve. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship
     
    There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant
     
    You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  
     
    Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start. 

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Rolling Fun #6: Investing in Robotic Prosthetics, 10x Batteries. Al meets MrBeast.

    Rolling Fun #6: Investing in Robotic Prosthetics, 10x Batteries. Al meets MrBeast.

    Links:
    Join us in Rolling Fun!
    Hear our other Rolling Fun eps!
    Ouros
    AltHQ
    Zencastr
    Atom Limbs
    General Fabrication Company

    Topics:
    (00:00:00) - Intro
    (00:02:57) - Dear Listener
    (00:09:44) - Eric’s life as a CEO & Scribe
    (00:17:14) – Rolling Fun Q2 Investments
    (00:30:21) - Rolling Fun Q3 Investments
    (00:41:26) - Lessons from playing basketball with Mr. Beast for 3 days

    To support the costs of producing this podcast: 
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 
    >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners! 

    • 52 min
    David Senra + Mitchell Baldridge #4: Old Books, New Events, and A Surprise CEO Job

    David Senra + Mitchell Baldridge #4: Old Books, New Events, and A Surprise CEO Job

    Links:
    David Senra on X
    Mitchell on X
    Founders Podcast
    Better Bookkeeping



    Mentioned on the episode:
    Fiftyyears.com
    Foundersonly.com
    Poor Charlie’s Almanac
    Liar’s Poker
    Atomic Habits
    The Pathless Path
    Morgan Housel books
    Tren Griffin Blog - 25iq
    Brent Beshore on meeting Charlie Munger
    Who is Michael Ovitz?
    Powerhouse by James Andrew Miller
    The Eternal Pursuit of Unhappiness 
    Blake Robbins on Twitter

    Topics:
    (00:00:00) - Intro
    (00:03:53) - David - Product launching machine & the power of building relationships
    (00:24:18) - Thoughts on Podcast advertising 
    (00:31:35) - Book Publishing
    (00:38:27) - Eric’s new life as a CEO
    (00:59:23) - The permissionless adding of value
    (01:13:08) - The Power of Podcasting 
    (01:17:04) - Updates on the Baldridge Empire
    (01:34:19) - Reflecting on Main St. Summit
    (01:56:57) - Book recommendations
    (02:08:24) - Hire a paid critic
    (02:22:30) - Wrap up

    To support the costs of producing this podcast: 
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 
    >> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

    • 2 hrs 34 min
    Behind the Scenes of a Nuclear Microreactor Startup with Matt Loszak, Founder CEO of Aalo Atomics

    Behind the Scenes of a Nuclear Microreactor Startup with Matt Loszak, Founder CEO of Aalo Atomics

    Links for Matt’s stuff:
    Aalo.com
    Matt on Twitter
    Aalo on Twitter
    Aalo Job Board

    Link to invest alongside Eric in deals like Aalo: rolling.fun

    Links to stuff mentioned:
    Decouple Podcast
    Titans of Nuclear Podcast
    Nuclear Barbarian Substack
    Atomic Awakening by James Mahaffey
    Why Nuclear Power Has Been a Flop by Jack Devanney


    Topics:
    (00:03:08) How the popular opinion of nuclear has changed from the 1950’s
    (00:15:16) The regulation issues surrounding nuclear
    (00:17:20) Water-based nuclear reactors vs. advanced nuclear reactors
    (00:19:40) Matt’s journey into nuclear energy
    (00:34:42) Aalo’s strategy
    (00:41:12) What is the TAM for this nuclear microreactors?
    (00:45:53) The manufacturing process for a nuclear plant
    (00:48:51) The nuclear supply chain
    (00:50:01) The change in public opinion on nuclear energy
    (00:55:56) Support for nuclear energy in the VC world
    (01:01:12) Recommendations for learning more about the sustainable energy industry
    (01:03:30) What do you look for when hiring?
     
    To support this podcast:
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanak: www.navalmanack.com/
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

    Important quotes from Naval on building wealth and the difference between wealth and money:
     
    How to get rich without getting lucky. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Making money is not a thing you do—it’s a skill you learn. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Seek wealth, not money or status. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Money is how we transfer time and wealth. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth creation games. 
     
    You’re not going to get rich renting out your time. You must own equity—a piece of a business—to gain your financial freedom. - Naval Ravikant

    Important quotes from the podcast by Naval on Leverage:
     
    “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” 
    —Archimedes 
     
    To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Capital and labor are permissioned leverage. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to give it to you. Everyone is trying to lead, but someone has to follow you. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Code and media are permissionless leverage. They’re the leverage behind the newly rich. You can create software and media that works for you while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant
     
    If you can’t code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Leverage is a force multiplier for your judgment. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Apply specific knowledge, with leverage, and eventually you will get what you deserve. - Naval Ravikant
     
    Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship
     
    There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant
     
    You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  
     
    Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start. 

    • 1 hr 8 min
    Room-Temperature Superconductors and Nuclear Fusion with Andrew Cote

    Room-Temperature Superconductors and Nuclear Fusion with Andrew Cote

    Links:
    Andrew on Twitter
    Andrew’s Substack
    The AI Salon
    Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital by Carlota Perez

    Topics:
    (00:00:00) Eric welcomes you to the episode
    (00:03:20) The rocketing popularity of superconductors
    (00:05:28) The LK-99 Superconductor Breakthrough
    (00:19:44) How to commercialize room-temp superconductors
    (00:25:36) The value of superconductors and their impact
    (00:34:16) When will Nuclear Fusion produce energy? 
    (00:52:08) The overlap of engineering and science
    (00:57:48) Understanding the physics behind economics
    (01:03:53) How technology breakthroughs affect civilization 
    (01:13:16) Predicting second-order economic effects from introducing this technology, punctuated equilibrium & 
    (01:18:00) Crazy biotech breakthroughs
    (01:21:47) How much of a breakthrough in the superconductor do we actually have?
    (01:27:15) Where to get more of Andrew Cote


    What’s Happening with Superconductors RIGHT NOW
    Researchers have spent their entire careers researching room-temperature Superconductors. It’s one of the Holy Grails of material science. About a week ago, two papers were published simultaneously claiming a breakthrough – actual Room-Temperature Superconducting Materials, created in a lab in Korea.
    There seems to be big drama between the scientists. A nobel prize may be at stake. Or even scientific immortality. It’s not the main story and there are many unconfirmed details, I won’t go into it here, but @8teAPi is basically live-tweeting an HBO series so follow them for that angle. 
    We might be one week into a MASSIVE change in humanity, seeing the first ripples of a coming tidal wave. 
    Now, RIGHT now, there are thousands of scientists all over the world working frantically to reprocuce these results, confirm theory, run simulations, and improve methodologies. It is INCREDIBLE to see the scientific base of humanity from all over the world rise as one and tackle this opportunity. Feel like a scene from a Michael Bay movie, but nerdier.
    Here is what they’re working on…


    Superconductors put simply
    Superconductors are materials with zero electrical resistance. Normally, when energy moves between sources (an outlet to a phone battery), or over distance (through wires and power lines) there is loss of energy. Some estimates of that loss between generation and end user are 66%!! With zero resistance transmission materials, there could be near-zero loss of energy. Cost of energy could fall by one-third JUST by improving transmission. That would be great – and just the beginning.
    I’m sure this description would make a Physics PhD cringe, but hey it’s my first week.
    The problem is so far all of our superconductors only work at insanely cold temperatures. Those are complex and expensive to maintain, so superconductors have only been used very rarely in special circumstances to date.
    Superconductors that work at room temperature would be an enormous breakthrough, making them less finnicky and cheaper to operate. We could put superconducting materials many more places like power lines, wires, computers, transportation, etc. 
    Why is everyone SO DAMN EXCITED about the impact of room-temperature superconductors? So glad you asked…

    Why It Matters
    “If successful LK-99 would be a watershed moment for humanity easily on-par with invention of the transistor. Overnight, we revolutionize all of electronics and energy.”
    -Andrew Cote

    To support this podcast:
    >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
    >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanak: www.navalmanack.com/
    >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
    >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage
    >> Text the podcast to a friend
    >> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

    • 1 hr 33 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

Top Podcasts In Business

Finshots Daily
Finshots
Figuring Out with Raj Shamani
Raj Shamani
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Stanford GSB
WTF is with Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath
Moneycontrol Podcast
moneycontrol
First Principles
The Ken

You Might Also Like

Naval
Naval
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig
The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish
Farnam Street, Shane Parrish
Founders
David Senra
Noah Kagan Presents
Noah Kagan
My First Million
Hubspot Media