USA vs Europe, Zeihan & Fukuyama, Reforming institutions vs starting new ones, and why we started "Moment of Zen"
"Moment of Zen"
Introduction
This week's episode is a solo one. The goal is to make this as entertaining as possible. We'll talk about Moment of Zen and Lex's book list. And also just get into some of the deeper ideas that we constantly mention, whether it's Peter Zihan or Fukuyama.
We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.
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(0:00) intro and sponsor
(1:20) introductions (who the f are we?)
(3:00) Antonio introduction
(5:12) Dan introduction
(6:50) Farcaster
(10:10) Erik introduction
(12:30) the life of the mind vs the life of the founder
(16:00) Being in the arena as a requisite to comment
(18:30) Why is the podcast named “Moment of Zen”?
(20:20) Erik is the Johnny Appleseed of group chats
(23:30) Group chat culture
(26:55) Reforming institutions vs building new ones
(29:30) Antonio’s intellectual evolution
(30:40) Europe is behind, but Antonio prefers it
(31:40) Antonio feels like a teetotaler who runs a bar
(32:50) LARPs
(34:00) Explaining Fukuyama
(37:50) What’s the best functioning institution today?
(39:10) Richard Hanania
(42:30) We don’t have a grand unifying projects anymore
(45:00) Should the China threat be the unifying narrative?
(48:05) Taiwan
(49:56) Explaining Zeihan
(1:00:20) When shit hits the fan, what country do you flee to?
(1:02:40) Why doesn’t Prince Harry get a paternity test?
(1:04:00) Europe vs America
(1:08:20) Dan is bullish on Europeans, bearish on Europe
(1:11:20) “Everything except the startup scene is better in Europe”
(1:15:19) Why is the US public sector so much worse?
(1:21:35) Why are we doing this show?
(1:22:32) “How about we just don’t get canceled?”
(1:23:55) Teasing upcoming guests
(1:24:34) Erik’s favorite ex-convict?
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