

Bold Names
The Wall Street Journal
WSJ’s Bold Names brings you conversations with the leaders of the bold-named companies featured in the pages of The Wall Street Journal. Hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims speak to CEOs and business leaders in interviews that challenge conventional wisdom and take you inside the decisions being made in the C-suite and beyond.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2025 • 28min
Inside Visa’s Tech-Charged Future: From Crypto to AI
Join Rajat Taneja, President of Technology at Visa, as he dives into the company's ambitious future with digital currencies and AI. Taneja explains how VisaNet manages massive transactions and transitions into stablecoins while maintaining security and compliance. He reveals insights on how AI will personalize commerce, making shopping seamless with agentic agents. The conversation explores Visa's potential evolution into a trusted platform at the intersection of financial technology and consumer experience.

29 snips
Oct 24, 2025 • 30min
This Tech Founder's $1.3 Billion Company Is Taking On Apple and Samsung
Carl Pei, the founder and CEO of Nothing, shares his journey from a tech-obsessed kid in Sweden to leading a $1.3 billion startup aiming to disrupt giants like Apple and Samsung. He discusses his mission to redefine consumer tech with a focus on design and transparency. Pei also reveals how AI will shape their products, emphasizing the creation of Essential Apps and a personalized operating system. He highlights the importance of targeting niche markets and how Nothing's agility allows it to carve out a unique space in the competitive landscape.

18 snips
Oct 17, 2025 • 31min
Why This Investor Says the AI Boom Isn’t the Next Dot-Com Crash
Martin Casado, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and an expert in AI infrastructure, discusses the burgeoning AI investment landscape. He believes this boom is fundamentally different from the dot-com crash due to stronger balance sheets and varied business models. Casado highlights the massive investments in data centers and the unique opportunities emerging from AI startups. He also notes how current economic pressures may temper public CEO expectations while still fostering innovations that could transform the industry.

47 snips
Oct 10, 2025 • 34min
The Google Exec Reinventing Search in the AI Era
In this engaging discussion, Liz Reid, a seasoned Google executive overseeing Search, shares her insights on the transformative impact of AI on information retrieval. She explores how AI alters search capabilities and how Google plans to blend conversational AI with human content. Reid addresses user trust issues and the company's strategies to maintain ad revenue amid evolving technology. She also emphasizes the importance of high-quality content in combating the 'dead internet' theory and highlights the potential for niche creators to thrive in this new landscape.

25 snips
Oct 3, 2025 • 35min
Condoleezza Rice on Beating China in the Tech Race: 'Run Hard and Run Fast'
Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and director of the Hoover Institution, shares insights on geopolitical tensions and the tech race with China. She emphasizes the urgent need for the U.S. to lead in AI and warns about the risks posed by AGI. Rice argues that businesses must integrate foreign policy with corporate strategy and adapt to ongoing uncertainties. She calls for innovation across sectors, the importance of democratic oversight, and strengthening global alliances to stay competitive.

16 snips
Sep 26, 2025 • 32min
The Google-Backed Startup Taking on Elon Musk in Humanoid Robotics
Jeff Cardenas, Co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, shares his vision of humanoid robots as our future caregivers, inspired by his aging grandfathers. He outlines a three-stage roadmap for robot deployment, from industries to homes by 2035. Cardenas emphasizes the importance of owning actuators for enhanced robot dexterity and discusses Apptronik's collaborations with Google and DeepMind AI. He also explains how robots can become affordable, costing under $50,000, and argues that robotics will revolutionize productivity and national security in the U.S.

70 snips
Sep 19, 2025 • 38min
How the U.S. Stacks Up to China’s ‘Engineering State’
Dan Wang, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and author of Breakneck, delves into the contrasting dynamics between the U.S. and China. He introduces the idea of China as an 'engineering state' that rapidly builds infrastructure, while the U.S. is depicted as a 'lawyerly society' bogged down by regulations. The discussion highlights China's manufacturing strengths, including the successes of Shenzhen and high-speed rail, alongside America's declining manufacturing capabilities. Wang also explores the implications of these frameworks for future technological and geopolitical positioning.

22 snips
Sep 12, 2025 • 35min
Why IBM's CEO Thinks His Company Can Crack Quantum Computing
Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, has been at the forefront of the company's resurgence, focusing on hybrid cloud and AI. In this discussion, he shares IBM's bold ambitions in quantum computing and the competitive race against giants like Microsoft and Google. Krishna reflects on past lessons from Watson AI, emphasizing the cautious optimism needed in quantum technology. He dives into IBM's innovative strategies to overcome challenges in building reliable quantum systems and how these advancements could transform various industries.

Sep 5, 2025 • 3min
Bold Names Is Back
Join engaging discussions with influential voices as they tackle the evolving challenges in tech and business. Discover how humor plays a role in embracing change during a quirky office step challenge. There’s also talk about exciting plans for a vibrant return to YouTube. Insightful, entertaining, and packed with real-world relevance, this is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology and innovation.

19 snips
Aug 29, 2025 • 48min
From AI and Defense Tech, to Tariffs and the New Streaming Wars: The Best of Bold Names
Dive into the intriguing world of AI and humanoid robots as experts share insights on emerging technologies. Discover how tariffs are reshaping global supply chains and the economic landscape amid geopolitical shifts. Explore the booming online sports betting market and its transformative effects. Plus, get a glimpse into the digital age's impact on entertainment and the need for regulation. Reflect on the evolving entrepreneurial spirit in tech, with tales from venture capitalists and industry leaders.


