The Knowledge Project

Shane Parrish

Deep conversations with the best founders and business leaders that go beyond the usual advice to uncover the timeless principles that drive success. Master the best of what other people have already figured out. If you enjoy the show, please hit the follow button.

  1. Barry Diller: Building IAC

    1 HR AGO

    Barry Diller: Building IAC

    My guest this week is Barry Diller, one of America's most successful businessmen. At 83, he chose to publish a deeply personal book and open up about his successes and failures. With surprising candor he details the rules he's lived by: trust first, confront directly, and make the call when the clock starts. In our conversation, he shares why success teaches you nothing, why failure is essential, and why instinct still beats algorithms in a data-obsessed world. This episode is filled with Hollywood lore and business acumen. ----- About Barry: He is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC, and is best known for founding the Fox Broadcasting Company with Rupert Murdoch and leading Paramount Pictures. Over his career, he has reshaped television, film, and online media. ----- Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:48) Vulnerability and Writing 'Who Knew' (05:20) Lack Of Confidence & Fake It Until You Make It (17:58) Changes In The Entertainment Industry (22:35) Instinct Vs Data (27:17) AI's Impact on the Entertainment and Travel Industry (42:35) One Dumb Step At A Time (52:39) Accountability During Conflict (55:06) Public Broadcasting Regulation And Fair Reporting (58:04) What Is Success For You ----- Basecamp: Stop struggling, start making progress. Get somewhere with Basecamp. Sign up free at http://basecamp.com/knowledgeproject reMarkable: Get your paper tablet at https://www.reMarkable.com today .tech domains: Nothing says tech like being on .tech https://get.tech/ MINT MOBILE: If you’re still overpaying for wireless, it’s time to say yes to saying no. At Mint Mobile, their favorite word is no: no contracts, no monthly bills, no overages, no hidden fees, no B.S. Go to mintmobile.com/knowledgeproject ----- Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠@farnamstreet⁠ LinkedIn ⁠Shane Parrish ------ This episode is for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr
  2. Ed Stack: Lessons from Dick’s Sporting Goods [Outliers]

    23 SEPT

    Ed Stack: Lessons from Dick’s Sporting Goods [Outliers]

    Ed Stack built Dick’s Sporting Goods from a struggling family store into an empire of more than 800 stores and billions in sales. Along the way he nearly lost everything. Multiple times. This episode is the story of what he did, how he did it, and the lessons you can learn. ----- Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:48) Part 1: A Cookie Jar and a Cage (20:56) Part 2: Battle for Control (37:09) Part 3: The Race to Survive (46:39) Part 4: The Devil's Bargain (1:03:27) Part 5: Epilogue (1:06:10) Reflections + Lessons ----- Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- Follow Shane Parrish X @ShaneAParrish Insta ⁠@farnamstreet⁠ LinkedIn ⁠Shane Parrish ----- This episode is for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 20m
  3. Lulu Cheng Meservey: How To Build A Cult

    16 SEPT

    Lulu Cheng Meservey: How To Build A Cult

    Lulu Cheng Meservey is one of the sharpest minds in communications and strategy. She has helped some of the best leaders through their hardest moments. We talk about why trust and conviction are contagious, how to win attention in a noisy world, and how to handle attacks without losing ground. ----- About Lulu: Having been CCO and EVP of Corporate Affairs at Activision Blizzard and VP of Comms at Substack, she is now the creator of Rostra, the only advisory firm focused on founder-led comms. ----- Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (08:34) The Importance Of The Hook (14:35) Why Do Governments And Large Corporations Communicate So Poorly? (21:50) How To Build A Cult (27:56) How Trust And Likeability Affect Your Messages (39:19) How To Respond To A Public Relations Attack (42:57) One Death Is A Tragedy, A Thousand Are A Statistic (47:34) The Importance Of Being First (55:22) Overcoming Being The Underdog (1:00:03) How To Play Offence In PR (1:05:36) 3 Things To Make A Difference In Your Comms / Storytelling (1:21:07) The Halo Effect (1:25:52) Practical Comms Advice For Everyday Work Interactions (1:46:17) What Is Success For You? ----- Thank you to the sponsors for this episode: Basecamp: Stop struggling, start making progress. Get somewhere with Basecamp. Sign up free at http://basecamp.com/knowledgeproject reMarkable: Get your paper tablet at https://www.reMarkable.com today .tech domains: Nothing says tech like being on .tech https://get.tech/ ----- Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠------Follow Shane ParrishX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠@farnamstreet⁠ LinkedIn ⁠Shane Parrish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 49m
  4. Fred Smith: The Story of FedEx [Outliers]

    9 SEPT

    Fred Smith: The Story of FedEx [Outliers]

    Fred Smith founded FedEx on an idea everyone told him would fail and built it into an $88 billion empire that changed how the world moves. In this episode, we dive into how he built FedEx and the lessons he learned along the way. This story proves that impossible is just another word for opportunity. ----- Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (03:36) Part 1: The Boy Who Wouldn't Stay Down (15:52) Part 2: The Impossible Company (29:36) Part 3: The Empire Builder (38:12) Epilogue: From Crisis to Legacy (1993–2025) (40:55) Important Things That Didn’t Make It Into the Episode (43:55) Lessons from Fred Smith ----- Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta @farnamstreet LinkedIn Shane Parrish ------ This episode is for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  5. Benedict Evans: The Patterns Everyone Else Misses

    2 SEPT

    Benedict Evans: The Patterns Everyone Else Misses

    Benedict Evans has been calling tech shifts for decades. Now he says forget the hype: AI isn't the new electricity. It's the biggest change since the iPhone, and that's plenty big enough. We talk about why everyone gets platform shifts wrong, where Google's actually vulnerable, and what real people do with AI when nobody's watching. Evans sees patterns others don't. This conversation will change how you think about what's actually happening versus what everyone says is happening. ----- Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:04) What's your Most Controversial Take On AI? (05:11) Platform Shifts - The Rise Of Automatic Elevators (10:07) Profit Margins In AI (26:37) What Are The Questions We Aren't Asking About AI (39:41) What Benedict Uses AI For (44:21) Thinking By Writing (47:35) Can AI Make Something Original? (52:31) Advice for Students In The Age Of AI? (59:32) Who Will Win The AI Race? (1:11:09) What Is Success For You? ----- Thanks to our sponsors for this episode: SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠www.shopify.com/knowledgeproject ⁠ ReMarkable for sponsoring this episode. Get your paper tablet at ⁠⁠reMarkable.com⁠⁠ today NOTION MAIL: Get Notion Mail for free right now at ⁠⁠notion.com/knowledgeproject ----- Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠@farnamstreet⁠ LinkedIn ⁠Shane Parrish Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m
  6. Small Town Billionaire: How John Bragg Built 3 Empires [Outliers]

    26 AUG

    Small Town Billionaire: How John Bragg Built 3 Empires [Outliers]

    One man controls half the world's wild blueberries, built North America's largest private telecom, and did it all without ever leaving his hometown of 1,100 people. In this episode, we decode the counterintuitive playbook of patient capital, rural advantage, and why Bragg's refusal to sell a single share made him unstoppable. My interview with John (#204) was the class. This is the homework.  ------ Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:09) Part One: The Renegade’s Choice (23:47) Part Two: Eastlink (41:16) Part Three: John Bragg: Serial Entrepreneur (52:15) Epilogue: The View from Oxford (54:34) Reflections / Afterthoughts (58:00) John Bragg’s Lesson Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠⁠@farnamstreet⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠Shane Parrish⁠ ------ This episode is for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m
  7. The Science of Lasting Love with Dr. Sue Johnson

    19 AUG

    The Science of Lasting Love with Dr. Sue Johnson

    This conversation will change how you handle your relationship starting tonight. The late Dr. Sue Johnson basically gave me a cheat code for relationships that not only last but amplify. She breaks down the real signals to look for in a partner.  Why people actually cheat (not what you think) and how to spot it coming a mile away. Plus she offers a simple framework that can turn fights from something that pushes you away to something that brings you closer than ever.  We dig into how to keep the spark alive (even after kids), how to survive the empty-nest phase, and three simple things you can do to strengthen your relationship.  Doesn't matter if you're single, dating, married, or divorced. You need to hear this. ------ Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (07:11) The Life Cycles Of Relationships (08:13) How Do We Choose A Mate? (17:42) Emotional Responsiveness (24:18) Attachment Panic (32:31) How To Deepen Romantic Relationships (43:53) Isolation In Parenthood (59:50) Sexual Problems Unresolved Lead To Poor Intimacy (1:04:07) Ad Break (1:09:10) Affairs and Infidelity (1:36:58) The Stages Of Emotional Connection In A Relationship (1:39:27) Warning Signs Of Relationship Detachment (1:44:48) Predictors Of Success In Couples Therapy (1:51:29) When Relationships Become Transactional (1:55:09) Raising Kids And Creating A Safe Parental Alliance (1:58:51) Retirement Phase ------ Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠⁠@farnamstreet⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠Shane Parrish⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2h 10m
  8. Sol Price: The Retail Legend Who Taught Bezos & Walmart Their Secret Playbook [Outliers]

    12 AUG

    Sol Price: The Retail Legend Who Taught Bezos & Walmart Their Secret Playbook [Outliers]

    The most influential retailer you’ve never heard of. How Sol Price invented the warehouse club and a philosophy that still runs Costco and Amazon. Have you ever wondered why you can still buy a hot dog and soda for $1.50 today at Costco? We can thank Sol Price for that. To him, keeping promises to customers mattered more than profit margins. Sam Walton said he borrowed more ideas from Sol Price than anyone else. Jim Sinegal of Costco said, “I didn’t learn a lot from Sol. I learned everything.” Jeff Bezos studied him. Home Depot echoed him.  He invented the warehouse club, pioneered membership retail and built two multi-billion-dollar companies. The real lessons aren’t about what he built, but how he did it.  This is the story of how a lawyer with no retail experience created an industry, mentored his competition, and proved that nice guys don't always finish last. Sol Price founded FedMart and Price Club, pioneering the membership warehouse model that inspired Costco and Sam’s Club. His principles—limited selection, fair wages, capped markups, no loss leaders—shaped modern retail through disciples like Jim Sinegal (Costco), Sam Walton (Walmart/Sam’s Club), Bernie Marcus (Home Depot), and influenced Jeff Bezos (Prime). ------ Approximate Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:01) Early Years (08:29) Starting FedMart (28:33) Price Club (36:19) When Students Surpass the Teacher (42:09) The Teacher's Last Lesson (43:46) Reflections And Lessons ------ Upgrade: Get a hand edited transcripts and ad free experiences along with my thoughts and reflections at the end of every conversation. Learn more @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Newsletter: The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------ Follow Shane Parrish X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ShaneAParrish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Insta ⁠⁠@farnamstreet⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠Shane Parrish⁠ ------ This episode is for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    58 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Deep conversations with the best founders and business leaders that go beyond the usual advice to uncover the timeless principles that drive success. Master the best of what other people have already figured out. If you enjoy the show, please hit the follow button.

Information

  • Creator
    Shane Parrish
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2025
  • Episodes
    248
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Farnam Street Media Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Knowledge Project
  • Provider

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