Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez
Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyo...
E111: NEW: Marc Andreessen on Trump, the vibe shift, and what’s after wokeness
Marc 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 | SQUAD
Vanta automates security compliance and builds trust, helping companies streamline ISO, SOC 2, and AI framework certifications. Learn more at https://vanta.com/nlw
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.
—
RECOMMENDED PODCAST:
Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod
—
X / TWITTER:
@pmarca (Marc)
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@turpentinemedia
@MOZ_Podcast
—
HIGHLIGHTS
The Unraveling of Preference Falsification
Opening discussion about “winning”
Examples of preference falsification unwinding
Commerce Secretary’s comments on innovation
Democrats shifting positions
The Brendan Eich Case Study and Origins of Cancel Culture
Mozilla controversy as inflection point
Historical context of 2008 politics
Impact on tech industry
Personal reflection on not speaking up
The Future of “Soft Authoritarianism”
Discussion of whether wokeness is truly ending
Role of bureaucracies and institutions
Legal embedding of policies
Cultural vanguard vs institutional power
The Corporate Dismount from DEI
Legal challenges to DEI policies
Role of Civil Rights Division
Corporate strategies for policy changes
Supreme Court impact
Culture Wars and Comedy
Evolution of counterculture to culture
Role of humor in cultural power
Late night comedy’s transformation
Discussion of “laughter vs. claptor”
Changes in entertainment industry
The Secret Networks and Information Flow
Role of WhatsApp groups and Signal
Modern samizdat comparison
Evolution of private communication networks
Impact on preference falsification
Elon Musk’s role in cultural shift
Hollywood and Entertainment Transformation
Dad shows phenomenon
Top Gun success as cultural indicator
Bob Iger and Disney’s pivot
Entertainment industry adaptation
San Francisco as cultural bellwether
Technology and Political Engagement
Silicon Valley’s political evolution
Software vs. hardware innovation
Regulatory challenges to tech
Response to criticism of tech involvement
“Politics is interested in you”
The New Administration’s Team
Quality of appointments
Comparison to historical administrations
Getting to Mars
Marc's thoughts on the appointments
BOOKS MENTIONED:
"Private Truth, Public Lies" by Timur Kuran: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674707580
"The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Powerless-Vaclav-Havel/dp/178487504X
"Why are Jews Liberal" by Norman Podhoretz: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Jews-Liberals-Norman-Podhoretz/dp/0307456250
"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451191145
Pew Research Survey: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/03/15/americans-feel-more-positive-than-negative-about-jews-mainline-protestants-catholics/
--------
1:47:46
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:
GIVEWELL
GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)
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.
—
RECOMMENDED PODCAST:
Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. Founders Fund's Delian Asparouhov and researcher Nadia Asparouhova kick off the series with an unfiltered conversation about their relationship evolution.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod
—
X / TWITTER:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@samoburja (Samo)
@turpentinemedia
@MOZ_Podcast
—
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
The future of politics may hinge on personal branding and media personalities.
Corporate culture increasingly intersects with political beliefs.
Social media platforms are arenas for elite discourse.
The First Amendment plays a crucial role in protecting online expression.
Political rebranding is becoming more common in the social media landscape. There's a desire to open the digital frontier.
Europe's aging population affects its political dynamism.
The political economy in Europe is in need of reform.
American innovation is often stifled by older generations' preferences.
The left struggles to find its voice in a right-dominated media landscape.
Emerging left-wing voices may arise from unexpected places.
Generational shifts will influence political and cultural dynamics.
The digital age allows for new forms of activism and expression.
The future of left-wing culture may depend on new, charismatic leaders.
--------
59:57
E109: Samo Burja on the Future of the Middle East
Samo 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:
NETSUITE
More than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning
SHOPIFY
Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive
GIVEWELL
GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)
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.
—
X / TWITTER:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@samoburja (Samo)
@turpentinemedia
@MOZ_Podcast
—
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:
Middle Eastern governments often struggle with instability due to ethnic and religious divisions.
The Syrian civil war exemplifies the challenges of governance in the region.
Assad's fall may not significantly alter the power dynamics in Syria.
Kurdish autonomy is a critical factor in the future of Syria.
Islamist groups pose a significant challenge to stability in the region.
Turkey's ambitions in Syria complicate the geopolitical landscape.
Demographic changes will impact the political future of Syria.
Foreign support has not been effective in sustaining the Assad regime.
The future of Syria is uncertain, with many factions vying for power.
Israel and Turkey's conflicting interests will shape Syria's future. Nationalism is a simple legitimizing political formula.
Arab nationalism struggles due to the lack of unified representation.
Geopolitical challenges hinder the formation of a unified Arab state.
Islamism has emerged as an alternative unifying ideology.
Political projects can lose legitimacy through repeated failures.
The Taliban's legitimacy is rooted in religious authority.
Democracy can be a powerful legitimizing force, even in non-democratic systems.
Supporting stable monarchies may be more effective than backing rebel groups.
Africa's political landscape is influenced by tribal and clan structures.
Demographic changes will significantly impact the future of the Middle East.
--------
1:04:23
E108: Debating Immigration Policy with Indian Bronson
In 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:
NETSUITE
More than 40,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning
SHOPIFY
Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive
GIVEWELL
GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)
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:
IB's writing: https://indianbronson.substack.com/
--
Follow on X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@Indian_Bronson (Bronson)
@turpentinemedia
--------
1:04:45
E107: The Future of the Left and Advice for Progressive Billionaires
In 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 drives explosive revenue growth in today's biggest companies like Snowflake, Cockroach Labs, Dropbox and more.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765716600
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/38DK3W1Fq1xxQalhDSueFg
--
SPONSORS:
INCOGNI
Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MOMENT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/moment
SHOPIFY
Shopify: Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, offering a market-leading checkout system Shoppay and exclusive AI apps. Nobody does selling better than Shopify. Get a $1 per month trial at https://shopify.com/cognitive
GIVEWELL
GiveWell spends 50,000 hours every year doing deep-dives into different charitable programs to try to find the ways to do the most good for your dollar. GiveWell has now spent over 17 years researching charitable organizations and only directs funding to a few of the HIGHEST-IMPACT opportunities they’ve found. Visit https://www.givewell.org to find out more or make a donation. (Select PODCAST and enter Econ 102 at checkout to support our show.)
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.
--
Follow on X:
@eriktorenberg (Erik)
@noahpinion (Noah)
@turpentinemedia
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
Sverige