83 episodes
"Moment of Zen" Turpentine
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- Technology
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4.2 • 77 Ratings
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Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.
Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co
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Balaji Srinivasan on the Fiat Crisis, China, Russia, and Conspiracy Practices
In this episode that originally aired on Upstream, Erik sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the Fiat Crisis, geopolitics, conspiracies, and the signs of decline for a hyperpower. It was recorded in June of 2023. Balaji is an angel investor, tech founder, philosopher, and author of The Network State. He was formerly the CTO of Coinbase.
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SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
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. Go to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
SQUAD
💥 Head to Squad to 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.
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@balajis (Balaji)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Episode Preview
(00:51) Intro
(01:23) Understanding the flat crisis
(08:34) Balaji’s equivalent premises
(14:54) Sponsor: NetSuite and Beehiiv
(17:55) Aftermath of Iraq and Afghanistan wars
(20:35) Multipolar world
(25:17) Blue America is at war with the world
(28:35) Sponsor: Squad
(30:02) Cancellation is a weak form of warfare
(32:05) Interplay of realism and idealism in the U.S
(35:25) Red vs Blue vs Grey America
(42:11) Concept of American partition
(44:17) Rise of India's national Identity
(45:45) Evolution of China and Russia
(47:57) Role of the USA in China's growth
(51:39) Microsoft, Facebook, and Google
(54:00) Japan-USSR rivalry and its impact
(59:10) Conspiracy theories and historical narratives
(01:07:04) Balaji’s predictions for 2024 & the Fed
(01:14:50) Future of the US dollar and global currencies
(01:18:31) Wrap -
David Sacks on his Intellectual and Political Journey
David 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 just as relevant today.
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SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
BEEHIIV
🐝 Power your newsletter with Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth. 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 "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
SQUAD
💥 Head to Squad to 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.
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FOLLOW ON X:
@davidsacks
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
LINKS:
Craft Ventures: https://craftventures.com/
All-In Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@allin
Glue.ai: https://glue.ai/
SaaS Grid : https://www.saasgrid.com/
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@DavidSacks (David)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(02:11) How did tech become less free speech-oriented?
(03:35) Why is PayPal so woke?
(06:02) Woke Capitalism game
(08:52) Corporations and governments collaborating to censor
(16:22) Tracing political history in Silicon Valley
(20:54) College educated vs. not is the biggest difference in US
Our elite is not democratic
(22:54) Sponsor: NetSuite | Beehiiv
(29:15) Foreign Policy and Realism
(32:28) U.S. Russiaphobia
(36:30) Sponsor: Squad
(38:05) Big Tech Monopolies and Regulation
(41:42) The Future of Silicon Valley and Monopolies
(42:32) Regulating Acquisitions and Startup Ecosystems
(45:39) Censorship and Section 230
(47:17) The Role of Free Speech in Social Progress
(53:52) Institutional Reform and Accountability
(54:56) Elon Musk's Influence on Tech and Media
(1:06:33) The Future of Political and Economic Accountability
(1:19:30) Wrap -
Joe Lonsdale on How to Solve America’s Problems
Today we are airing Erik's interview with Joe Lonsdale, originally published on Upstream in 2023. Joe Lonsdale is the co-founder of Palantir, managing partner at 8VC, and the founder of The Cicero Institute, a nonpartisan policy organization discusses the root causes of educational inequality and homelessness, and argues for competence over culture wars, data-driven solutions, and market incentives to fix some of the US' most plaguing problems. Grow your newsletter with Beehiiv: head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.
–
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
BEEHIIV
🐝 Power your newsletter with Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth. 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 "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
SQUAD
💥 Head to Squad to 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.
–
LINKS:
Cicero Institute: https://ciceroinstitute.org/
8VC: https://www.8vc.com/
Palantir: https://www.palantir.com/
Joe Lonsdale's blog: https://blog.joelonsdale.com
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@JTLonsdale (Joe)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(00:47) Philanthropy and Impact: Joe's Approach to Social Change
(01:18) Nonpartisan Solutions for Broken Systems
(02:55) Cicero Institute's Mission and Impact Across States
(07:42) Addressing Education Inequality and Accountability
(12:32) Reforming Prisons and Probation with Data and Accountability
(16:12) Tackling Homelessness with Common Sense and Accountability
(18:53) Sponsor: Netsuite | Beehiiv
(21:16) Introducing Market Incentives, Market Competition, and Market Accountability
(25:06) Sponsor: Squad
(26:34) Innovative Approaches to Healthcare
(31:12) Rethinking Healthcare and Leadership
(31:32) Innovating Within vs. Outside the System
(32:13) The Challenge of Reforming Institutions
(33:41) Navigating the Complexities of Defense and Innovation
(37:36) The Power of State-Level Impact and Education Reform
(39:29) Silicon Valley's Influence and Responsibility
(40:32) Cultural Shifts and the Role of New Institutions
(55:27) The Future of American Competence and Optimism
(57:42) Wrap -
Crypto and Gaming with Carlos Pereira
In this episode, Carlos Pereira, partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, joins Erik, Antonio and Dan as they delve into the significant transformations within gaming, betting, and combat sports, facilitated by cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, emphasizing the groundbreaking integration of cryptocurrency through Web3 gaming.
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SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
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. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
SQUAD
💥 Head to Squad to 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.
-
LINKS:
Bitkraft VC:
https://www.bitkraft.vc/
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@cegapereira (Carlos)
@dwr (Dan)
@antoniogm (Antonio)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Opening Banter
(01:28) Diving Into Crypto and Gaming Discussions
(02:11) The Evolution and Challenges of Web3 Gaming
(04:44) Analyzing the Crypto Gaming Landscape
(13:48) The Future of Gaming: Web3 and Beyond
(17:23) Sponsor: Netsuite | Beehiiv
(18:29) Deep Dive into Web3 Gaming and Digital Economies
(32:38) Exploring User-Generated Content and Game Modding
(34:14) Sponsor: Squad
(42:19) Investment Perspectives on Gaming and Infrastructure
(45:47) The Fascinating World of Gaming Business
(49:49) The Evolution of Gaming: From PVE to PVP
(51:40) The Intriguing Dynamics of Safe Zones in Games
(53:29) The Rise of Financialized Gaming Experiences
(1:06:31) Karate Combat: A New Era of Crypto-Infused Sports
(1:17:15) The Future of Media and Crypto's Role
(1:23:13) Wrap -
The Social Media Theory of Everything with Jonathan Haidt
In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik is joined by Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business and author of the newly released book "The Anxious Generation."
They have a comprehensive discussion that touches on the polarization and dysfunction in American politics, the impact of social media on democracy, and the importance of reclaiming a play-based childhood for the current generation
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SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
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. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
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LINKS:
Website: https://jonathanhaidt.com/
Jon's Substack: https://www.afterbabel.com/p/welcome-to-the-after-babel-substack
The Anxious Generation: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/
The Anxious Generation Book: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@JonHaidt (Jon)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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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 -
The Future of Media, Institutions, and Risk
Today we're sharing a recent interview Erik gave to Alex LaBossiere that covers lots of themes we discuss on Moment of Zen - including Erik's views on tech vs. the media, hypocrisy of the elites, risk orientation, and the thesis behind Turpentine. Grow your newsletter with Beehiiv, head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
--
SPONSORS: NETSUITE | BEEHIIV | SQUAD
NETSUITE
📈 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, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen - NetSuite has extended a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program for a few more weeks.
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. 🐝 https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months
SQUAD
💥 Head to Squad to 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.
-
LINKS:
Alex Labossiere podcast:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@labossiere
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lf0G6SBTArFlJYuHlPPoy?si=459fb368b525468d&nd=1&dlsi=eb2b481981f44211
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/labossiere-podcast/id1566013149
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FOLLOW ON X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@adlabossiere (Alex)
@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)
@TurpentineMedia
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Intro
(05:38) On Investing vs Operating
(08:05) Trust and Direct Distribution
(11:55) Legacy Media and the Techlash
(17:54) Sponsor: Netsuite | Beehiiv
(20:32) What is Turpentine
(22:23) Lessons From 1000 Interviews
(23:51) The Printing Press, Barbells, and the Future of Media
(28:13) Pre-Internet Journalism and Survival of the Fittest Ideas
(31:35) Creator Monetization and Price Discrimination
(37:45) Sponsor: Squad
(39:12) Does Media Have a Direction?
(46:02) Tailwinds and Turpentine at Scale
(53:55) Creating More Startups and Understanding Risk
(58:42) Is Entrepreneurship Founder or Market Limited?
(1:03:22) What Do Most People Get Wrong About Community Building?
(1:05:51) Probabilistic vs Deterministic Mindsets
(1:08:48) On Faith over Logic
(1:12:22) Modernity and God Shaped Holes
(1:15:02) The Hypocrisy of Elites
(1:17:47) Asking Erik Questions He Asks People
(1:19:05) What Should More People be Thinking About?
(1:22:37) Wrap
Customer Reviews
Missing points on purpose or just chicken?
Eric and Dan are smart dudes who dive into deep discussions, and I'm almost fan. Sometimes, I stick around for their lively debates, but other times, I'm waiting for the inevitable trainwreck of a take. They make great points peppered w glaring blind spots. They seem to see themselves as thought leaders having robust, debates, but their thoughts aren’t diverse anywhere where it might matter.
They could benefit from more balanced discussions with different voices challenging their ideas. They say they appreciate opposing views, but it often feels like they're just confirming their own beliefs. Their intelligence sometimes comes off as political spin, and they seem hesitant to face tough challenges from outsiders.
Despite all this, I'll keep tuning in because I like them but also enjoy thinking about how freely they say some things they’ll be certain to regret. They are my podcast version of know-it-all little brothers. No need to fight with them when you know their day is coming.
Getting Better!!
First few episodes sounded like a tech bros locker room conversation - was pretty average
Now less bro-y, less swearing, great guests, and highly intellectual. It’s quickly become one of my favorite podcasts
Anthropologically Fascinating
10 years from now this may very well be a key text to understanding how the American tech sector came to embrace some truly heinous reactionary views and became a loyal ally of the authoritarian “new right.” Come for the half-cooked grand unified theories of science, medicine, and political philosophy, stay for casual denigration of minorities and trans people, fawning tributes to authoritarian regimes, and mocking dismissal of any commentary on the turn towards exclusionist white chauvinism in American politics. That’s leaving out other incredible takes like the need for tech to have its own version of Mussolini’s black shirts, to name one example. It would be funny if the hosts and guests were not as powerful and/or wealthy as they are. They’ll mock me for this but all I can say is the audits of their crypto “enterprises” can’t go far enough and someday I really hope they’re subjected to FDR-era marginal tax rates. Bleak!
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