Smart Friends
Eric Jorgenson
Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room. With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world. When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world. No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too. Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 3, 2026 • 1h 1min
#101 Tesla War Stories, Self-Driving at Waymo, and Building the Salesforce of BOM (Spencer Penn of LightSource)
Spencer Penn, a founder and former engineer at Tesla and Waymo now leading LightSource, shares war stories from rapid Tesla development and contrasts Tesla’s speed culture with Waymo’s methodical autonomy work. He recounts Model 3 production chaos, insights on self-driving subsystems, and why he started an AI-native procurement company to fix long-ignored BOM problems.
61 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 1h 25min
#100 Interviewing Your Parents, Writing Through Fear, and One's First Book (Kyle Thiermann)
Kyle Thiermann, a professional surfer and writer, dives deep into the journey behind his book, 'One Last Question Before You Go.' He reflects on a transformative pandemic moment that sparked interviews with his parents, exploring how these conversations can heal relationships. Balancing humor with emotional depth, Kyle shares his writing process, the challenges of merging memoir with how-to, and the importance of a compelling book title. He emphasizes the significance of unique storytelling and offers insights on long-term marketing strategies for authors.
85 snips
Jan 6, 2026 • 56min
#099 Jonathan Swanson: Scaling Thumbtack, 10x Delegation, and Designing an Ideal Life
Jonathan Swanson, founder and CEO of Athena, shares insights on blending human and AI assistants to revolutionize productivity. He discusses the surprising challenges faced while scaling Thumbtack, revealing how crisis situations can forge team resilience. Jonathan emphasizes the vital skill of effective delegation, citing unconventional tasks he’s assigned to his assistants. He also explores the evolution of Athena, his unique approach to hiring and coaching assistants, and his grand vision for a future where assistants multiply human capabilities.
53 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 1h 13min
#098 Danielle Strachman: What Makes a Thiel Fellow
Danielle Strachman, founder of the Thiel Fellowship and co-founder of 1517, discusses the vision behind the fellowship and its evolution. She shares intriguing success stories of notable fellows like Vitalik and explores the traits that make a Thiel Fellow, including 'dog-on-a-leash' energy and insatiable curiosity. Danielle also addresses the challenges faced in the fellowship's early days, offers insights on guiding young innovators in a screen-centric world, and highlights the importance of nurturing resilience and playfulness in young founders.
25 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 58min
#097 Brad Feld: Founding Techstars, Giving First, and Mentorship
Brad Feld, a renowned venture capitalist and co-founder of Techstars, shares profound insights on mentorship and the startup culture. He discusses how the concept of 'Give First' has reshaped industry dynamics. Listeners learn about key mentors in his life, including Len Fassler, and the pivotal lessons they imparted. Brad also reflects on the importance of letting go while holding on to vital passions and how reading and writing are essential for self-reflection and creativity. His experiences highlight the transformative power of community and authentic connections.
24 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 5min
#096 Cal Riley: Special Ops, Grief, and Why Your Business Needs a Heart
Cal Riley, a former US Army Special Operations officer and CEO, discusses his transition to business leadership and how his military background informs his approach. He reveals the importance of compassionate leadership following personal grief, notably his brother's suicide. Cal shares insights on implementing the EOS framework to enhance business efficiency and personal well-being. He emphasizes self-care practices like journaling and meditation, highlighting the profound impact of compassion on employee morale and company culture.
400 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 35min
My Conversation with Naval on Building Judgement
In this enlightening conversation, Naval Ravikant, a prominent entrepreneur and angel investor, discusses the essence of building judgment through experience and heuristics. He contrasts timeless truths with modern knowledge, emphasizing the evolution of his focus over time. Naval highlights how AI can enhance leverage while lacking the critical human judgment and values. This dialogue is a treasure trove of insights into decision-making and the implications of technology in our lives—perfect for anyone seeking wisdom in today's fast-paced world.
517 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 36min
My Conversation with Naval on Saving Yourself
Naval Ravikant, an entrepreneur and thinker renowned for his insights in 'The Almanack of Naval Ravikant,' dives deep into personal optimization and philosophy. He reframes virtues as self-interest and advocates for solving local problems first. Discussing truth and authenticity, Naval emphasizes the importance of being real and navigating modern dopamine traps. He encourages listeners to curate their environments consciously and focus on meaningful work, aiming for deep connections and inspiration over comparison.
705 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 4min
My Conversation with Naval on Learning Happiness
Naval Ravikant, a prominent entrepreneur and author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, shares deep insights into happiness. He describes happiness as fleeting thoughts and emphasizes the importance of balancing peaceful acceptance with active engagement in life. The conversation also dives into perception agency, exploring how forgiveness and reinterpretation can lead to personal enlightenment. Additionally, Naval advocates for prioritizing individual happiness and fostering genuine relationships over societal obligations, making for a thought-provoking discussion.
435 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 45min
My Conversation with Naval on Philosophy
Naval Ravikant, an entrepreneur and philosopher, shares insights five years after his influential work. He discusses the distinction between public and private thoughts, emphasizing the importance of purpose and truth. Naval situates his viewpoints at the intersection of evolution, Buddhism, and simulation theory, critiquing current perceptions of reality. He also explores living authentically, pursuing goals indirectly, and the significance of adopting daily routines for achieving personal freedom. Prepare for a philosophical dive that challenges conventional thinking!
