The Hope Axis by Anna Gát

Writer and thinker Cate Hall joins me to talk about the tightrope between radical optimism and deep pessimism — and what it actually takes to stay hopeful in a world that doesn’t always reward it. We dig into her widely loved “50 Secrets” post, the kind of people who end up walking that edge, and how she thinks about preserving agency and perspective when the culture around us feels increasingly discouraged. I also reflect on why I consider Cate one of the most hopeful voices of our time, and why these conversations feel especially urgent in 2025. Hope you enjoy!For the full transcript of our conversation, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16X6L...  Important Links:X (Twitter) – https://x.com/catehall?lang=enAstera – https://astera.org/team/cate-hall/Website – https://www.catehall.com/LinkedIn –   / cate-hall-9a81a35  Substack – https://substack.com/@usefulfictionsShow Notes:(00:00) Guest Introduction (00:24) The Edge Between Rampant Optimism and Crushing Pessimism (03:34) Misguided Compromises & Imaginary Boundries (08:40) The "I Must Win" Mindset Is Short-term Thinking (11:24) Writing a List of Fears (13:40) Belief in God (23:27) Poker & Reading People (29:57) Distracting Ourselves From Uncomfortable Truths (33:54) Introspection Without Self-flagellation (37:05) Confronting Negative Thoughts (42:54) Aella, and Crossing The Boundaries (44:53) Seeking Rejection (49:24) Agency vs Addiction (54:38) Slow Change Instead of Breakthroughs (57:13) Luck

Psychologist and founder coach Dr. Gena Gorlin joins me to discuss The Founder’s Mindset — how to stay hopeful, resilient, and creative while building something from the ground up. We talk about the psychology of entrepreneurship, why losing can be a sign of progress, and how to keep optimism alive amid a culture that often feels discouraged. I also share what inspired me to start The Hope Axis while running Interintellect as a solo founder. Hope you enjoy!For the full transcript of our conversation, click here:https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/fo...Important Links:Substack – https://substack.com/@psychofambitionWebsite – https://genagorlin.comUT Austin Faculty Page – https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/psycho...LinkedIn –   / genagorlin  X (Twitter) – https://x.com/Gena_I_GorlinShow Notes:(00:00) Intro(00:49) Guest Introduction(03:10) Getting Through Childbirth on “Let the River Run”(14:02) Meeting Her Husband at an Ayn Rand Conference(20:19) What People Get Wrong About Ambition(22:37) Fake Arguments for Fun(24:46) Giving Birth to an American Child as an Immigrant(32:37)“Death Is the Default” — Facing Mortality with Clarity(36:38) Accountability in Therapy and Finding Her Niche(48:49) Founders: The Nervous Wrecks Building Amazing Things(53:52) Why Credentials Don’t Matter in Tech(55:47) Psychotherapy for the True Outliers(01:01:32) The Cultural Lag in Mainstream Therapy — European vs. American Spirit(01:10:13) Intellectual Humility as a Cop-Out(01:15:18) Closing Remarks

Danielle Strachman, founder of the 1517 Fund and co-founder of the Thiel Fellowship, dives into the often-taboo subject of hope in modern discourse. She passionately argues that optimism requires defensibility, while pessimism thrives unchecked. Strachman shares insights on the power of positive naiveté among young founders and emphasizes community building as a faith-based effort. With anecdotes, like her memorable $50 bagels story, she illustrates how organic connections and encouraging creativity can accelerate ambition and push boundaries for the next generation.

Roy Bahat, President of Bloomberg Beta, discusses the future of talent with sharp insights. He emphasizes the importance of resilience in builders and the balance between innovation and mindful decision-making. The conversation challenges perceptions of Generation Z, advocating for a nuanced understanding of their potential. Bahat also explores the untapped market for innovations aimed at older generations, while highlighting the importance of storytelling in empowering individuals and navigating power dynamics in the tech industry.

Economist Tyler Cowen, a professor at George Mason University, delves into a vibrant conversation about the essence of hope from both insider and outsider perspectives. He discusses America's unique cultural landscape, the relevance of talent versus luck, and the transformative power of immigrants. Cowen also reflects on Gen Z's rebellion, the allure of Eastern European travel, and the philosophical underpinnings of AI. He emphasizes that courage will guide those who seek a deeper understanding of society's complexities.

The Times columnist James Marriott joins me to discuss the decline of reading comprehension, the risk-averse publishing industry, the addictive nature of digital media, a new Dark Age of literacy, and why ambitious young people should still pursue writing careers. Hope you enjoy!You can find the transcript of our conversation here.Important Links:JM’s SubstackX ProfileJames Marriott at The TimesShow Notes:(00:00) Guest Introduction (01:18) Cultural Pessimism as a Source of Hope (05:53) The Death of Ambient Culture (11:59) The Proliferation of Junk Text (15:10) The Last Great Novelists (23:47) Risk-averse publishers remove allusions from Books(27:39) If Dickens Tried to Publish Today (30:44) Can Anyone Read Dickens Anymore? (39:32) The Attention Economy vs. Human Relationships (42:45) Humanities as the Cultural Capital (48:32) The Kafka/Larkin model: boring day jobs enable artistic risk-taking (51:29) Start now, don’t wait for permission (55:23) Pessimistic Optimism instead of a Relentlessly Upbeat Culture

The lovely Alice Gribbin joins me for a conversation about the mystery of inspiration, why intellectualizing art is a bad idea, the visceral encounter with the artwork, why the only realm where the gods are still active is art, US versus UK artists, our search for transcendence, and - as always - hope. Hope you enjoy!You can read the transcript of our conversation here.Important Links:Notes of an Aesthete; Alice’s SubstackAlice’s X ProfileShow Notes:(0:00:00) Guest Introduction (0:04:06) Hope is Embedded in Every Act of Artistic Creation (0:07:23) The Cold War's Intense Artistic Energy (0:13:12) The Cultural Impact of Mad Men (0:20:36) An Artist's Form-Content Fit (0:24:38) Why We Need Hubris Back in the Humanities (0:29:40) The Gods Are Still Present—But Only in Art (0:40:21) The Decay of Gatekeepers (0:46:03) The Internet as Research Tool (0:51:06) Art is a Visceral Encounter, Not Instagram Content (1:20:23) Notions of Great Art and the CanonBooks, Essays & References Mentioned:Barnett Newman's essays on American paintingAgainst Interpretation; by Susan SontagMad Men (TV series created by Matt Weiner)T.S. Eliot on art and inspirationThe Pound Era; by Hugh KennerWolf Hall; by Hilary MantelAgnes Martin's paintingsAby Warburg and pathos formulaeDelacroix as proto-modernistJohn Singer Sargent exhibition at the MetInternet Archive as research resource"Good Politics Produce Bad Art" (Tablet essay)"We're a Niche. We just didn't know" (Interintellect founding essay)

The brilliant Kat Rosenfield joins me for a conversation about millennial women, victimhood narratives, the enduring appeal of rich husbands, why we're bad at aging gracefully, and much more. Hope you enjoy!You can read the transcript of our conversation here.Important Links:Kat’s X ProfileKat’s SubstackKat’s column for The Free PressKat’s WebsiteShownotes:(0:00:00) Guest Introduction (0:02:16) The seductive appeal of victimhood narratives for Millennial women (0:06:01) Our current choice paralysis (0:09:47) "Survivor" as personal brand: trauma as social media content (0:17:21) The enduring appeal of rich husbands (even if we won't admit it) (0:23:35) What Pushkin's Tatyana knew about practical love choices (0:29:35) The mating crisis: where did all the couples go(0:36:21) A Midway Lifestyle as an antidote to Extremes (0:45:21) The "blow up your life" fantasy plaguing middle-aged women (0:49:04) Marriage, Fantasies, and Companionship (0:58:23) Living in a world without secrets or mystery (1:09:32) A Memoir as a sort of Revenge

The inimitable Sari Azout, founder of the new digital gardening platform Sublime, joins me for a wide-ranging discussion about ideas, digital minimalism, humane tech and building the future with care. Hope you enjoy!You can read the transcript of this conversation here.Important Links:Sublime’s SubstackSari on SublimeSari on XSari on LinkedInShow Notes:(0:01:17) The Philosophy of Ideas(0:04:42) Avoiding Brain Hijacking and Deepening Your Intentions(0:11:58) Making People Care(0:16:45) Observing Digital Shabbat(0:24:22) Succession as the Art of Giving Back(0:29:33) Are we all sentenced to Freedom? (0:37:59) Surprising Ways People Use Sublime (0:47:53) No AI Leader Gets Us Excited (0:55:02) Sari's Psychedelic Experience (1:01:49) Surfacing Ideas and Making StuffBooks / Resources Mentioned:The Disappearance of Rituals; by Byung-Chul HanAntimemetics; by Nadia AsparouhovaThe Essays of Venkatesh Rao

Erik Hoel, a renowned neuroscientist and novelist, dives into intriguing discussions on consciousness and free will. He explores the boundaries of AI, comparing it to an 'annoying toddler' in its development. The conversation tackles the complexities of literary structure and the impact of societal dynamics on creativity. Hoel also examines intrinsic vs. extrinsic perspectives of consciousness and how understanding free will shapes our identity. His insights reflect a hopeful adaptation to the challenges posed by future advancements in technology.