"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg Turpentine

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Bryan Caplan to discuss his new book about housing regulation. The conversation touches on political economy, fertility, crime, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614
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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV
Head 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. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:36) Why write "Build, Baby, Build"?
(01:51) The value of graphic novels
(05:00) Potential benefits of housing deregulation
(11:50) Gentrification
(15:20) Sponsor: Beehiiv
(16:25) The best case in favor of housing regulation
(21:40) Fertility rates
(29:00) The political economy of housing regulation
(35:59) The mechanics of housing regulation
(45:51) Challenges of communicating in politics
(51:22) Economic thought over time
(56:13) Differences in beliefs between generations
(58:48) Crime prevention
(1:03:00) Bryan's next book
(1:08:05) Wrap
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LINKS:
Bryan's book: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Baby-Science-Housing-Regulation/dp/1952223415
Bryan's Blog: https://www.betonit.ai/
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X / TWITTER:
https://x.com/bryan_caplan (Bryan)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book The Anxious generation. The conversation covers the effects of social media on teen mental health, culture, politics, education, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614
--
SPONSORS: BEEHIIV
Head 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. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:13) Evolution of Jonathan's Work: From Moral Psychology to 'The Anxious Generation'
(01:14) The Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
(02:50) Exploring the Tragedy of the Modern Childhood
(07:29) Addressing the Criticism and Pushback
(12:08) The Unprecedented Effects of Social Media on Society
(19:37) Adapting to Technological Changes and the Future of Childhood
(20:20) The Dire State of Democracy in the Digital Age
(27:01) How Technology Affects Liberals and Conservatives Differently
(28:20) Unveiling the Research: The Rise of Anxiety and Depression
(28:48) Breaking Down the Data: Gender, Politics, and Mental Health
(30:48) The Protective Power of Religion and Community
(31:32) Parenting Styles and Moral Values
(32:07) Challenges for Progressive Organizations and the Democratic Party
(32:42) Recommendations for a Healthier Childhood in the Digital Age
(33:50) Addressing the Broader Issues Beyond Smartphones
(34:35) The Role of Schools in Children's Mental Health
(36:33) A Call for Intentional Community Building
(37:34) Navigating the Public Health Crisis with Apolitical Solutions
(40:41) Engaging with the Tech Industry: Critiques and Clarifications
(41:01) The Debate on Content Moderation and the Need for Structural Changes
(56:27) Wrap
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X / TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/JonHaidt (Jonathan)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode from Erik's podcast with Noah Smith, Econ 102. Noah breaks down the economies of the USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
For more like this, watch part 2 on Econ 102:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/52nuQvRmuTT7S6ilJoXDYr?si=bf6722824bd64bcf
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyzing-economies-england-france-germany-poland-turkey/id1696419056?i=1000650616668
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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614
--
SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD
Head 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. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns
Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,
Spotify
Apple
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(01:33) U.S. Economy: Trends and Concerns
(08:31) Transition to China Economy: Massive Property Bust
(15:58) Sponsor: beehiiv | Squad
(22:06) Segue to Japan Economy: Key Hub of the Electronics Manufacturing
(30:41) Korea Economic Struggles
(33:35) South Korea's Technological Capabilities and International Relations
(34:44) Exploring Taiwan's Economy and Challenges
(36:52) Indonesia's Manufacturing Shift
(38:25) Vietnam's Economic Strategy and Development Needs
(41:01) India's Poverty Reduction and Infrastructure Investments
(44:56) Pakistan Economic Mismanagement
(49:08) Philippines: Underrated Investment Destination
(50:03) Transition to Australia: The Progressive Utopia
(52:32) Russia Economy at War
(60:29) Wrap
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X / TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/Noahpinion (Noah)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, Nathan Labenz of The Cognitive Revolution podcast and Brian Chau, a machine learning engineer who recently founded the Alliance for the Future, talk about Brian's efforts in Washington, D.C. to influence AI policy based on informed AI optimism. After their conversation, Nathan and Erik chat about the AI landscape. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614

--
SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD
Head 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. 🐝 Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns
Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,
Spotify
Apple
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Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(00:42) Unpacking AI Optimism and Policy Perspectives
(01:22) Exploring the Breadth of AI and Its Economic Implications
(05:23) Debunking AI Doomsday Predictions
(14:56) Sponsors: BeeHiiv | Squad
(25:53) Navigating the Near-Term AI Landscape and Government Modernization
(41:30) Exploring AI Regulation and Executive Orders
(43:55) The Impact of AI on Startups and Economic Viability
(45:36) AI Development and Regulatory Challenges
(48:40) The Debate on AI Accountability and Regulation
(59:02) Open Sourcing AI Models: Risks and Regulations
(1:07:06) The Future of AI: Ethical, Social, and Regulatory Considerations
(1:14:41) Reflections on AI Safety and the Path Forward
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Alliance for the Future: https://www.affuture.org/
Brian's article on research progress in AI: https://www.affuture.org/research/3-diminishing/
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X / TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/psychosort (Brian)
https://twitter.com/labenz (Nathan)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode from Turpentine’s show Live Players with Samo Burja. Erik and Samo discuss China’s universities and the future of China’s elites. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614

--
SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | SQUAD
Head 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 "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns
Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,
Spotify
Apple

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X / TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/SamoBurja (Samo)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00:00) - Episode Preview
(00:00:57) - Universities as an example of US-China parallel evolution
(00:02:53) - Academia during The Cultural Revolution
(00:04:00) - The elite Chinese universities
(00:06:00) - Signaling theory of education
(00:06:30) - What the increase in educated leaders means for China’s ruling class
(00:07:52) - China as America’s mirror
(00:08:30) - China’s “woke”
(00:11:29) - How Xi wants China to not fail in the same way the Soviets did
(00:12:50) - Crackdown on university students
(00:14:46) - Sponsor: Squad | Turpentine
(00:15:00) - Rise of student activism in the US
(00:19:05) - The translation of regional/ethnic inequalities into ideological ones
(00:22:30) - The political ideological paradox generates an opportunity to organize young people
(00:24:30) - Role of gender in divergent politics and the East Asian “woke”
(00:27:12) - Chinese feminism
(00:34:58) - The formation of elites in US and China
(00:36:40) - Materialist focused education in China vs legal focused education in US
(00:39:47) - Printing university degrees is like printing money by devaluing degrees
(00:40:19) - Fight over Harvard Extension School
(00:42:20) - Will American universities have as much power in the next 10 years as they do now?
(00:46:05) - What positive and negative changes will China see in the near future?
(00:47:00) - Silicon Valley in China
(00:49:09) - The shift in leadership from businessmen to academia in China

For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co

This episode was initially recorded before a live audience in 2018. Erik talks with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan about the history of money and centralization and why crypto has the potential to fulfill the promise of the internet. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
--
RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 
The AI Daily Brief If you’re looking for an edge to stay up to date on everything AI, subscribe to Nathaniel Whittemore's AI Daily Brief which delivers tight episodes covering all things AI from legislation to new technologies to the philosophical debates around generalized intelligence. 

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7gKwwMLFLc6RmjmRpbMtEO
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-daily-brief-formerly-the-ai-breakdown/id1680633614

--
SPONSOR: BEEHIIV | SQUAD
Head 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 "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months.

Squad:💥 Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.
--
Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns
Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and series B-and-beyond companies, interviewing founders and investors to break down the companies. First episode is on Rubrik - which just IPO'd. Coming up this season: Databricks, Reddit + more,
Spotify
Apple
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:30) Decentralization and Blockchain: A Deep Dive with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan
(06:22) Personal Journeys into the World of Cryptocurrency
(08:27) Debating Bitcoin vs. Blockchain: Perspectives and Predictions
(12:22) Sponsors: Squad | Turpentine
(14:33) The Social and Economic Implications of Blockchain Technology
(19:55) Blockchain Beyond Money: Envisioning Future Applications
(22:43) Crypto as a Social Phenomenon: Tribalism and Governance
(28:10) Envisioning a Decentralized Future: Microeconomics and Global Impact
(31:36) The Irony of Missing Out: Venture Capitalists and Karma
(36:02) The Global Impact of Blockchain on Identity and Ownership
(36:54) Navigating Regulations in a Decentralized Economy
(38:29)The Role of Crypto in Redefining Wealth Distribution
(40:05) Balaji and Naval's Vision
(46:48) What Do Failure Models Look Like?
(51:43) How Blockchain Can Provide New Career Opportunities, Not Just In Silicon Valley
(53:33) The Potential and Challenges of Emerging Technologies
(54:55) Identity in a Blockchain World
(58:23) On Blockchain Intersecting With Other Emerging Technologies
(59:57) What Types Of Players Are Going To Be The Big Winners And Losers?
(1:00:56) Empowering the Next Generation of Builders
(1:04:04) Visionary Ideas for Changing the World
(1:05:41) Wrap
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X / TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/naval (Naval)
https://twitter.com/balajis (Balaji)
https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik)
https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream)
https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)
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For guest or sponsorship inquiries please contact Sam@turpentine.co
Music license: OYOCYNQ0XUH22PB8