RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian, shares his inspiring journey of transforming a childhood passion into a revolutionary automotive company focused on decarbonizing transportation. He discusses the delicate balance between extreme optimism and realism in launching a car brand, detailing challenges like near financial collapse. The conversation highlights the importance of long-term thinking, innovative electric vehicle design, and effective leadership in fostering a carbon-neutral future, emphasizing collaboration as a key driver for success.
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Early Obsession
RJ Scaringe's passion for cars began at a young age, deconstructing engines in his bedroom.
This early fascination evolved into a vision of creating a car company by age 13.
insights INSIGHT
Challenges of Starting a Car Company
Starting a car company is uniquely challenging due to its high capital requirements and complex coordination.
RJ Scaringe strategically pursued a PhD to gain credibility and access in the industry despite the perceived impossibility.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Protecting Early Ideas
Protect early-stage ideas by being selective about who you share them with.
Avoid premature criticism that could stifle innovation and maintain your own conviction.
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Voicing Change is a culmination of Rich Roll's eight-year journey of interviewing unique thinkers and visionaries on his acclaimed podcast. The book distills the collective wisdom from these conversations into thoughtful essays and first-person wisdom, focusing on themes of intentional living, life lessons, and enduring inspiration.
Finding Ultra
Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Top Ultrarunners
Rich Roll
Finding Ultra recounts Rich Roll’s remarkable journey from an out-of-shape, mid-life couch potato to one of the world’s top ultrarunners. The book chronicles his battle with alcoholism, his transformation into an elite endurance athlete, and his adoption of a plant-based lifestyle. It includes his experiences in the elite Ultraman competition and the EPIC5, five Ironman-distance triathlons completed in less than a week on different Hawaiian islands. The revised and updated edition provides practical tools, practices, and strategies for optimal performance, longevity, and wellness, making it a guide for anyone seeking to transform their life through self-discovery and a healthier lifestyle.
The Plantpower Way
Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes and Guidance for the Whole Family
Julie Piatt
Rich Roll
Created by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt, this book shares their experiences and the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. It includes a variety of easy-to-prepare whole food recipes, such as hearty breakfasts, lunches, dinners, smoothies, juices, and desserts. The book is not just a recipe collection but a comprehensive guide to long-term wellness, body, mind, and spirit health, and a celebration of a simple and sustainable lifestyle.
RJ Scaringe is the visionary founder of Rivian, who turned his childhood obsession with engines into one of automotive history’s most audacious ventures.
This conversation explores the intractable challenges of starting a car company from scratch, balancing “extreme optimism” with “robust realism,” and why this moment represents a once-in-a-planet opportunity to reinvent transportation.
RJ shares intimate details of Rivian’s journey toward a carbon-neutral future, from nearly running out of payroll to leading a publicly traded company.
This is a masterclass in playing the long game. Enjoy!
The Rich Roll Podcast 
