Podcast: All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

Episode: DOGE kills its first bill, Zuck vs OpenAI, Google's AI comeback with bestie Aaron Levie (Published on December 20, 2024)

If you read The Federalist Papers and I went through a couple of these recently and I used ChatGPT to help me kind of, you know, bring out some of I think the key points but in the Federalist Papers 10 and 51 James Madison emphasized that the structure of govern was meant to ensure that both state and federal governments would limit each other’s excesses, including their financial ones.

The podcast host discusses reading The Federalist Papers and utilizing ChatGPT to highlight key points. They specifically reference James Madison's important ideas presented in Federalist Papers 10 and 51 regarding how the structure of government is designed to balance the powers of state and federal authorities.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:24:34

Episode: DOGE kills its first bill, Zuck vs OpenAI, Google's AI comeback with bestie Aaron Levie (Published on December 20, 2024)

And then in the Federalist Paper number 58 he said the House of Representatives has control over the quote power of the purse which gives the people’s representatives authority over taxation and spending but they also warned along with Alexander Hamilton of the dangers of unchecked government power through burdensome taxation and excess spending which would ultimately erode individual freedoms.

In the discussion, the host references Federalist Paper number 58, where Alexander Hamilton analyzes the House of Representatives' control over taxation and spending, while cautioning against the risks of unchecked government power.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:24:56

Episode: Markets turn Trump, Long rates spike, Election home stretch, Influencer mania, Saving Starbucks (Published on October 25, 2024)

If anybody has read 'Pour Your Heart Into It,' Schultz's biography, it's absolutely fantastic. He really had an obsession with user experience, like writing people's names on the cups, that was a Starbucks innovation.

Jason Calacanis refers to Howard Schultz's biography, 'Pour Your Heart Into It,' emphasizing its insights into Schultz's commitment to user experience. This mention fits into a conversation about the recent challenges and strategic missteps faced by Starbucks.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:21:00

Episode: In conversation with Reid Hoffman & Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Published on August 30, 2024)

He also mentioned that he had never read the conservative project, Project 2025, until others accused him of supporting it, claiming it was written by a right-wing group. He started analyzing the project critically, indicating that he is open to changing his approach and is interested in his legacy.

In this segment, a book titled 'Project 2025' is brought up during a discussion about Donald Trump's potential second term. One of the hosts reveals that Trump claimed he had not read the book and only began to analyze its contents critically after facing accusations of endorsing it.

► Watch this excerpt @ 02:03:47

Episode: Massive jobs revision, Kamala wealth tax, polls vs prediction markets, end of race-based admissions (Published on August 23, 2024)

I believe, and so it's even... didn't Malcolm... didn't Malcolm Gladwell write something which was roughly the equivalent of like you're better off getting the top 10 student at a non-Ivy versus like the 50th student at an Ivy or something? I don't know; there was like something like maybe it was like a chapter?

One of the hosts, Jason Calacanis, refers to a concept discussed in Malcolm Gladwell's work, particularly mentioning how a top student from a non-Ivy League school might outperform a mediocre student from an Ivy League institution. This idea suggests that in real-world scenarios, the quality of education and the student's abilities can matter more than the prestige of the institution. The mention is not a direct review but a casual reference in a broader conversation about educational performance.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:32:27

Episode: Trump assassination attempt, Secret Service failure, Inside the RNC, VC liquidity problem (Published on July 19, 2024)

We all read Hillbilly Elegy; I don't know if we talked about it on this pod years ago, but you and I certainly talked about it a bunch.

In this segment, the podcast hosts acknowledge that they have both read the book 'Hillbilly Elegy' and mention that they have previously discussed it, either on this podcast or in their private conversations.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:45:34

Episode: Trump assassination attempt, Secret Service failure, Inside the RNC, VC liquidity problem (Published on July 19, 2024)

What I will blame them for is taking the demonization up to eleven, taking the vitriol all up to eleven because that could poison the mind of someone who's already mentally disturbed and say, 'Okay, well, wait a second, if he is Hitler, why wouldn't I be Colonel van Stenberg for assassinating him?

During a discussion on violent rhetoric and the dangers of demonizing figures like President Trump, one of the podcast's hosts suggests that individuals might rationalize violent actions by identifying with historical characters, such as Colonel van Stenberg from The Guns of August, in the context of assassination.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:19:23

Episode: In conversation with Sheryl Sandberg, plus open-source AI gene editing explained (Published on May 3, 2024)

And you wrote a book, 'Lean In,' and you are an expert on this and having compassion for people who are suffering is absolutely beautiful.

In the podcast, Jason Calacanis mentions Sheryl Sandberg's book 'Lean In,' highlighting her expertise in compassion and empathy for those who are suffering.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:47:34

Episode: Google fires protestors, NPR chaos, Humane's AI Pin, Startup tax crisis, sports betting scandal (Published on April 19, 2024)

Did any of you guys read Jonathan Haidt's book, Anxious Generation?

During the episode, Jason Calacanis asks the other hosts if they have read 'Anxious Generation' by Jonathan Haidt. He emphasizes its significance for parents, suggesting that it addresses important and contemporary challenges.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:55:10

Episode: E174: Inflation stays hot, AI disclosure bill, Drone warfare, defense startups & more (Published on April 12, 2024)

It's like that scene in Dune where he eats his tooth and releases that poison gas. That's right, get better soon, JCal.

In this segment, one of the hosts makes a lighthearted reference to the book Dune by comparing a cracked tooth injury of another host to a memorable scene from the story where a character eats a tooth and releases poisonous gas.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:25:32

Episode: E171: DOJ sues Apple, AI arms race, Reddit IPO, Realtor settlement & more (Published on March 22, 2024)

All I want to say about Dune...

The podcast commences with a conversation about 'Dune', noting that it is a film adaptation of the original book. The hosts engage in a lighthearted debate about the quality of the movie, pondering whether it lives up to the hype or is simply overrated.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:00:05

Episode: E158: Global trade disrupted, Adobe/Figma canceled, realtors sued, Trump blocked (Published on December 23, 2023)

This is what I was thinking, this is what it reminded me of, this is Sax's personal Vietnam, this is oh yeah, it's a great scene, great scene, love that that's a great scene from Fight Club, that's Meatloaf, right?

In the podcast, host Jason Calacanis draws a comparison between a scene from the book 'Fight Club' and a moment from a recent party the hosts attended. He notably references the actor Meatloaf in the scene, indicating a mix-up with another character from the story.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:07:40

Episode: In conversation with Dean Phillips (Published on November 17, 2023)

And by the way, you know, it might be time to read Future Shock again by Alvin Toffler, who predicted so much of this mess in which we find ourselves—the incapacity of human beings to adapt to such rapid technological change.

During the conversation, Dean Phillips highlights the relevance of 'Future Shock' by Alvin Toffler, suggesting that it might be worthwhile to revisit the book. He notes that Toffler's insights predict our current struggles with rapid technological advancements and society's difficulty in adapting to such changes.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:44:45

Episode: E148: McCarthy ousted, border chaos, Cruise's robotaxi "accident" & more (Published on October 7, 2023)

Also, you have to build all the cars; if Elon does get out this Robo-taxi vehicle for $25k, which he seems like is well on the way with the Model 3, to getting to this—this was an early mockup from Walter Isaacson's book, which looks pretty sharp, and it doesn't have—it's like a two-seat car, so these things zigzagging around San Francisco, etcetera, at a reasonable speed—25 to 35 mph—I think he's pretty close to having this.

Jason Calacanis references a mockup of a Tesla Robo-taxi vehicle that was featured in a book by Walter Isaacson, while discussing the progress of self-driving technology.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:03:56

Episode: E142: "Rich Men North of Richmond" hits #1, upward mobility, real estate capital crunch, Trump RICO (Published on August 18, 2023)

And with, you know, you read Thomas Piketty's book 'Capital,' he speaks so much about wealth disparity, um, in an era of globalization, uh, in an era of technification, in an era when the world is seeing some people have extraordinary gains but most people not, on a relative basis.

Friedberg refers to Thomas Piketty's book 'Capital' while discussing the issues of wealth disparity and how globalization has created a situation where a few individuals experience significant gains, leaving most people feeling left behind.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:18:30

Episode: In conversation with Vivek Ramaswamy (Published on July 21, 2023)

Yeah, it turns out I've written three books in the last two years and two of them are about this topic.

Vivek Ramaswamy shares that he has written three books over the past two years, with two of them focusing on the intersection of companies and politics. This comment comes in response to a question from Jason about whether the ideas presented in his earlier book inspired his decision to run for public office.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:09:27

Episode: E125: SpaceX launch, Fox News settlement, "Zombie-corn" exodus to AI, late-stage implosion (Published on April 21, 2023)

They're taking screenplay writing software, Sac, so you’ll appreciate this, having produced two amazing movies, thank you for smoking and the Dolly film, called Dollyland.

Jason Calacanis discusses the movie 'Thank You for Smoking,' which is an adaptation of Christopher Buckley's book of the same name, while he talks about new screenplay software, mentioning that David Sacks produced the film.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:58:24

Episode: E121: Macro update, Fed hike, CRE debt bubble, Balaji's Bitcoin bet, TikTok's endgame & more (Published on March 24, 2023)

You have been in the Ray Dalio camp concerning the end of empires and whether the U.S. might be winding down its supremacy. Dalio pretty much asserts that this is the moment; is there any light between your position and his?

Friedberg is asked about his alignment with Ray Dalio's views on the decline of empires, specifically if he agrees with Dalio's assertion that the U.S. is in such a moment, referencing Dalio's influential work 'Principles'.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:44:07

Episode: E116: Toxic out-of-control trains, regulators, and AI (Published on February 17, 2023)

I think this is right out of Atlas Shrugged, where if you've ever read that book that begins with like a train wreck that, in that case, kills a lot of people.

The hosts are discussing a recent train derailment and its lack of media coverage. One of the hosts suggests it's similar to a scene in 'Atlas Shrugged', a book that famously begins with a deadly train wreck.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:17:32

Episode: E110: 2023 Bestie Predictions! (Published on January 6, 2023)

And then on the book front, man, the Michael Lewis book about SBF is going to be next level; I cannot wait for that. Sacks, you're a media junkie; what do you have on your list of things you're looking forward to, or should I say, what do Tucker's writers have put down for you?

During a discussion about anticipated media for 2023, one of the podcast hosts expresses excitement for the upcoming book by Michael Lewis about Sam Bankman-Fried, referring to it as something that is expected to be extraordinary.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:23:18

Episode: E109: 2022 Bestie Awards Live from Twitter HQ (Published on December 24, 2022)

Yeah, did you guys read the book he wrote, A Ride of a Lifetime? What is it?

In this segment, Jason Calacanis inquires if his co-hosts have read 'A Ride of a Lifetime', the book authored by Robert Iger, while discussing Iger's recent return as CEO of Disney.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:35:09

Episode: E109: 2022 Bestie Awards Live from Twitter HQ (Published on December 24, 2022)

The other one that he wrote, which is called Life Ascending, those two books you must read if you don't want to be a letter, in my opinion.

In the episode, Jason Calacanis recommends the book 'Life Ascending' by Nick Lane, encouraging his fellow hosts to read it alongside another work, 'The Vital Question' by the same author.

► Watch this excerpt @ 02:10:01

Episode: E89: GDP growth negative in Q2, $SHOP layoffs, Alzheimer's fraud, Ginkgo acquires Zymergen & more (Published on July 29, 2022)

Read Pinkner's book or Enlightenment Now and just go through those 200 charts he puts in there; it will blow your mind.

During a conversation on societal progress and productivity, a host recommends 'Enlightenment Now' by Steven Pinker and encourages listeners to examine the book's impressive 200 charts, emphasizing the insightful context it provides for their discussion.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:51:22

Episode: E80: Recession deep dive: VC psychology, macro risks, Tiger Global, predictions and more (Published on May 13, 2022)

One good investment in his 30-year career, but he wrote a book about it and tells all the VCs to kiss his rear.

In a humorous introduction, it is mentioned that Jason Calacanis has written a book detailing a successful investment he made during his 30-year career, urging other VCs to take note.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:02:08

Episode: E78: VC fund metrics that matter, private market update, recession, student loans, Bill Hwang arrest (Published on April 30, 2022)

This is a really important point: if you guys read Ray Dalio’s book, which we've talked about many times, he highlights that a growing economy and a successful country improves by improving education and having more people obtain higher education in general.

The hosts reference Ray Dalio’s book, which they've discussed before, to support the argument that education improves the economy. They summarize the book’s contents to emphasize the crucial role that enhancing education plays in a country's economic progress.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:02:20

Episode: E78: VC fund metrics that matter, private market update, recession, student loans, Bill Hwang arrest (Published on April 30, 2022)

There was a great tweet that encapsulated this—it’s like we've merged George Orwell with Iran, where Elon Musk, the heroic entrepreneur, tries to rescue freedom of speech, while simultaneously, an Orwellian ministry of truth is being created by the federal government.

The hosts reference the works of 'George Orwell', particularly highlighting the relevance of his book '1984' in the context of governmental control over information. They discuss how Orwell's themes resonate with current events, notably the establishment of the Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security, positioning Orwell's work as a lens through which to examine issues of free speech and authority.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:21:30

Episode: E76: Elon vs. Twitter (Published on April 16, 2022)

Yeah, it's worth watching. The book is excellent, focused next level.

One of the podcast hosts, Jason Calacanis, refers to a book and mentions it is an excellent source of information. Based on his previous movie recommendation, this is most likely the book version of 'Barbarians at the Gate.'

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:56:59

Episode: E74: Market update, inverted yield curve, immigration, new SPAC rules, $FB smears TikTok and more (Published on April 1, 2022)

But by the way, there's a new video that Dalio just put out, which is like the 45-minute animated documentary version of his book again.

Jason Calacanis talks about a new video released by Ray Dalio, which is a 45-minute animated documentary version of Dalio's book, in relation to an upcoming conference event.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:34:26

Episode: E72: Impact of sanctions, deglobalization, food shortage risks, macroeconomic outlook and more (Published on March 19, 2022)

You've got Francis Fukuyama had a piece this week basically predicting imminent Russian defeat and that there's going to be a new birth of freedom for the West.

David Sacks discusses an article by Francis Fukuyama in the All-In podcast episode 72, where Fukuyama predicts Russia's imminent defeat and the subsequent emergence of a new era of freedom for the West. Sacks references this as an illustration of what he terms 'Western triumphalism' in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:04:52

Episode: E70: EMERGENCY POD! Russia invades Ukraine: Reactions, Putin's ambition, Biden's response and more (Published on February 25, 2022)

There are decades and layers to this story, like 'War and Peace'; if you only read one half of the final chapter, you might think you understand, but in reality, there's a lot to unpack.

The book 'War and Peace' is referenced by a podcast host to illustrate the multi-layered and historical nature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the need for in-depth understanding of the situation. The host draws a parallel to how understanding a complex novel is challenging if one only reads a portion.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:37:26

Episode: E59: Twitter's content warning algo, equity audits, politicians trading stocks, Fed's next move (Published on December 17, 2021)

No, I mean these HR consultants who've written these books, like on the—was it D'Angelo or whatever on white fragility? And you know, how to be an anti-racist?

Jason discusses the book 'White Fragility' by Robin DiAngelo in the context of HR consultants who have written such books and the financial gains they make from corporations. He highlights the ongoing conversations around racial equity audits and criticizes the HR consulting work as potentially exploitative.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:25:26

Episode: E59: Twitter's content warning algo, equity audits, politicians trading stocks, Fed's next move (Published on December 17, 2021)

No, I mean these HR consultants who've written these books, like on the—was it D'Angelo or whatever on white fragility? And you know, how to be an anti-racist?

In a discussion about HR consultants and their extensive compensation from corporations, Jason refers to the book 'How to be an Anti-Racist.' He contrasts it with works by other authors like D'Angelo, emphasizing the trend of racial equity audits and questioning the legitimacy of these consulting practices.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:25:30

Episode: E49: Coinbase CEO reflects on controversial blog, state of the markets, 1000 unicorns & more (Published on October 2, 2021)

I've talked about Ray Dalio's book, Principles, before and some of the work he's done on this where he is so adamant about getting culture right within the organization, how you operate, that they almost have, I think, a 30% attrition rate after the first year of people that come in.

David Friedberg highlights Ray Dalio's book 'Principles' while discussing the importance of establishing a robust company culture. He points out that Dalio's methods are so focused on cultural alignment that they experience around a 30% attrition rate among new employees within their first year.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:13:37

Episode: E43: Innovative venture strategies, Zymergen's implosion, Square acquires Afterpay & more (Published on August 6, 2021)

This is the cliff notes version of 'Sapiens'.

The host, Chamath, briefly references the book 'Sapiens' to underline a point about human behavior, using it as a quick reference without going into detail.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:51:06

Episode: E43: Innovative venture strategies, Zymergen's implosion, Square acquires Afterpay & more (Published on August 6, 2021)

Yeah, I'm not disagreeing with Chamath, but the point that resonates with me that Friedberg said is actually the book "Sapiens" really did impact my thinking as a VC. Yuval Harari makes this point that it's narratives that kind of define humans and that's what binds us together in societies.

David Sacks references the book 'Sapiens' by Yuval Noah Harari, discussing how it has shaped his perspective as a venture capitalist. He emphasizes the author's insight that narratives are fundamental to human connection and societal cohesion.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:53:21

Episode: E41: Vaccine policy, Big Tech, DeepMind's latest breakthrough, wealth creation, opportunity & more (Published on July 23, 2021)

You know, it's like smoking in a way, where when I made the movie thing for smoking, Christopher Buckley told me, you know, he's the author of the book and he said, 'Look, there's something uniquely American about defending people's right to do something that's manifestly harmful.' The main character in Thank You for Smoking is a spokesman for big tobacco, and he's engaging in political spin, but his argument is, 'Look, people have the right to engage in this behavior, even if it is known to be harmful to them.'

Sacks uses the book 'Thank You for Smoking' as an analogy to illustrate the concept of defending individual choices, even when those choices may be harmful. He talks about how the main character, a spokesman for big tobacco, argues for the right to engage in risky behavior, touching on the broader theme of personal freedom.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:30:38

Episode: E40: A Bestie gets COVID, Delta breakthrough, Billionaire Space Race & more (Published on July 16, 2021)

Has anybody read Andy Weir's Hail Mary yet? The guy who did The Martian?

The podcast host, Chamath, asks if any of the other hosts have read the book 'Hail Mary' by author Andy Weir, who also wrote 'The Martian'.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:59:07

Episode: E39: West coast super drought & climate crisis, Nuclear virtue signaling, chaos in SF & more (Published on July 9, 2021)

But you have this mantra; it is communist-like, where it's like the commandments written on the barn in Animal Farm where it is propaganda that’s so at odds with reality; it’s just absurd.

In this segment, J-Cal criticizes a narrative he views as 'communist-like' and absurd, drawing a parallel to the commandments in 'Animal Farm', emphasizing how deeply it contrasts with reality.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:49:30

Episode: E35: Biogen's controversial Alzheimer's drug approval, the billionaire space race, Bitcoin & more (Published on June 13, 2021)

So that's fine; of course, it's Fight Club. That's a great quote!

Jason references the book 'Fight Club,' highlighting a quote he finds relevant while discussing the frustration and anger prevalent in the Bitcoin community.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:19:26

Episode: E33: Apple’s hypocrisy, America fails math, crypto’s regulatory correction, Clubhouse, UFOs & more (Published on May 22, 2021)

If you read the original treatment written by Arthur Clarke for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was written before the movie and then the book was written after the movie, he makes a really compelling point. He says that when civilizations achieve a sophisticated enough level of technology, there's no longer a need to physically transport yourself from star to star.

During a conversation about UFOs, the hosts reference the book '2001: A Space Odyssey' by Arthur Clarke, noting that the insights within address the possibilities of advanced technology that could make interstellar travel unnecessary.

► Watch this excerpt @ 01:14:35

Episode: E26: State of Venture Capital, plus fan questions on longevity, decentralization & quantum computing (Published on March 20, 2021)

I would point folks to read the book 'Lifespan' by David Sinclair, who's a researcher at Harvard. And he's done a lot of leading work on basically calling aging a disease and life extension.

During the podcast, David Friedberg recommends the book 'Lifespan' by Harvard researcher David Sinclair. He discusses how the book explores the concept of aging as a disease and presents ideas for life extension.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:06:05

Episode: E26: State of Venture Capital, plus fan questions on longevity, decentralization & quantum computing (Published on March 20, 2021)

And anyway, all of this stuff's laid out in his books, and it supports a lot of the research that's being done. Obviously, fasting and exercise also trigger this gene expression and enable measures of longevity to kind of be showing up biologically.

David Friedberg mentions that the research and topics he is discussing are covered in his books, specifically referring to 'Lifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To' by David A. Sinclair and Matthew D. LaPlante.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:07:43

Episode: E21: Media misalignment, subjects controlling narratives & more with bestie guestie Draymond Green (Published on February 6, 2021)

And now we have to just I think face the reality that we are in competition And I think that's what is making the press even more complicated I'm not saying the press is targeting people they consider competitive But the press is not getting Vlad Elon Or Zuck for interviews But because Mark Andreessen has you know Clubhouse now they put themselves on the suggested follower list Just like Twitter puts Ohm Kara Swisher And some other journalists on the suggested follow-up list for Twitter What that was Was payment basically like a million followers Now when Andreessen has a million followers Bellagi All these folks from Andreessen I believe have like a million followers So the press is complaining about that as well Because they can then dominate them in terms of getting subjects So they've lost the subjects None of us get on the phone with the press With very few exceptions And where is Sway or Vox or Ezra Klein when compared to our podcast Right like we're right up there with them If not ahead of them I mean we're the number one tech podcast So it's pretty crazy when you think about how much their world has changed And now they're directly in competition with Andreessen Horowitz or the All-In podcast You know pick the firm doing a venture thing And that's going to make this even more contentious I appreciate Yes I totally agree with that But I also I do think fundamentally that all of us wouldn't have felt the same need to go around them If we didn't feel that there was such a strong agenda Just to bring what have you guys heard of Gelman amnesia effect Michael Okay So Michael Crichton you know who wrote Jurassic Park and like a true polymath and genius Right Yeah airframe Very good

Friedberg references Michael Crichton as the author of 'Jurassic Park', introducing the concept of the Gelman Amnesia effect, which Crichton notably described.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:31:54

Episode: E19: Robinhood's GameStop decision: Why did it happen and how can it be prevented in the future? (Published on January 30, 2021)

On August 22nd of 2019, Michael Burry, who is famous from The Big Short, discloses a three percent position in the company and highlights that ninety percent of GameStop's 5,700 stores are free cash flow positive.

In August 2019, Michael Burry, an investor renowned for his association with 'The Big Short', was discussed regarding his investment in GameStop. This mention elaborates on his position and provides context within the timeline of events that led to the surge in GameStop's stock.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:05:23

Episode: E17: Big Tech bans Trump, ramifications for the First Amendment & the open Internet (Published on January 11, 2021)

You know, I read, you know, the Hillbilly Elegy author, um, you know, I was, you know, my surprise at that happening caused me to ask questions.

David Sacks discusses reading 'Hillbilly Elegy' by J.D. Vance to gain insight into the factors that contributed to Trump's victory in the 2016 election.

► Watch this excerpt @ 00:15:12