Josh Wolfe, co-founder of Lux Capital, dives into the fascinating intersection of science and storytelling. He explores how narratives shape our understanding of technology and the influence of cultural beliefs on innovation. Josh reflects on America’s competitive edge in science, emphasizing the need for a new generation of thinkers. He shares personal anecdotes illustrating the power of belief in personal growth and the importance of emotional intelligence in relationships. With childlike curiosity, he encourages embracing both ambition and authenticity.
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insights INSIGHT
Stories and Human Nature
Stories shape us, and we shape our stories in an endless cycle.
Technologies, markets, and governments change, but human nature remains constant.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Startup Drama
Josh Wolfe recounts a startup's near-failure and subsequent internal conflict after securing funding.
This illustrates predictable human drama, emphasizing the value of learning from stories.
insights INSIGHT
Progress and Narrative
There's a directional arrow of progress in technology, but cultural narratives influence the timeline.
Nuclear power's decline illustrates how stories and cultural movements can impact technological adoption.
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Cixin Liu's 'The Three-Body Problem' is a critically acclaimed science fiction novel that blends hard science with compelling storytelling. The story follows a group of scientists who make contact with an alien civilization, leading to unforeseen consequences for humanity. Liu's intricate world-building and exploration of complex scientific and philosophical themes have earned him widespread recognition. The novel is known for its ambitious scope and its exploration of the potential challenges and dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. It's a thought-provoking work that has captivated readers worldwide.
Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson
This biography, based on more than 40 interviews with Steve Jobs and over 100 interviews with family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues, provides a riveting story of Jobs' roller-coaster life and intense personality. It highlights his passion for perfection, his ferocious drive, and how he revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. The book explores Jobs' contradictions, his 'reality distortion field,' and the lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values that can be drawn from his life and career.
Quark and the Jaguar D
Murray Gell-Mann
In this book, Murray Gell-Mann explores the connections between the basic laws of physics and the complexity and diversity of the natural world. He discusses topics such as natural selection, archaeology, linguistics, child development, and computers, highlighting the concept of complex adaptive systems. The book reflects Gell-Mann’s broad expertise and passion for interdisciplinary topics.
Josh Wolfe (Website, X) is co-founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital, a venture firm focused on emerging science and technology at the outermost edges of what is possible.
Josh is a masterful storyteller who moves seamlessly between science, culture, and markets. As an investor, he seeks the counter-narrative—what others aren't talking about—and has backed countless breakthrough companies in AI, space, biotech, robotics, defense, and beyond. Beyond investing, Josh founded Coney Island Prep charter school and is a trustee at the Santa Fe Institute.
Our conversation explores the interplay between science and storytelling, the power of belief in both doubters and advocates, patterns in creative rebels, and what makes someone both "arrogant" enough to assert a new reality while remaining grounded enough to see reality clearly. We discuss America's scientific competitiveness, the value of competition in institutions, Josh's voracious appetite for the new, and his personal journey with control, trust, and family.
Josh is one of my favorite examples of someone who is radically unhedged on himself: he leans into his genius—and thus sometimes, disfunction—in ways that make him authentically effective. Throughout the episode, he demonstrates his rare combination of wisdom and childlike curiosity, competitive drive, and deep care for the things that matter to him. His ideas on storytelling, science, and human nature offer a guide for thinking about bringing new things into the world.
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