Finally, the Podcast from Fertik

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Hillel Fuld, a former entrepreneur turned Israel advocate, shares his profound journey following October 7th. He candidly discusses the emotional complexities over hostage negotiations and military actions against Hamas. Fuld reflects on moral dilemmas amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and critiques the misinformation surrounding it. He also honors his brother's legacy, emphasizing themes of heroism and personal loss while connecting biblical lessons to contemporary challenges Israel faces.

Avi Hyman was, for the nine months immediately following the Hamas attack of October 7th, the global English-speaking spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He was personally interviewed over 150 times and prepared the Prime Minister and team for a thousand more. Avi is now free of the strictures of public service. This is his story, as he has never before told it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

Michael Fertik’s lecture, first delivered as a Polaris Lecture for UATX in Austin, Texas, This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

This is the prequel to Moby Dick. First published in Eclectica Magazine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

Mike Maples, Jr., was the first investor in Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft. Twenty years ago, he was one of a tiny handful of entrepreneurial investors who changed the rules of venture investing forever. He is famously kind in person and generous in spirit. He is also a terrific listener and, unlike most venture capitalists, very inventive himself. Recently he published a book called Pattern Breakers, revealing some of his chief learnings over his decades as a co-founder and investor. Here he reveals, for the first time ever, some of his most private insights, including the precise moments and reasons he passed on both AirBnB and Uber, as well as that one guilty pleasure that has carried on from his youth and the days of his very first job. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

John Palfrey is the President of the MacArthur Foundation, a former Harvard Law School Professor and Head of School at the legendary Phillips Academy Andover high school. A celebrated educator, lifelong student of our national civic life, and special expert in digital subjects such as copyright, Palfrey shares his perspective on the crisis in American politics, in higher education, and in secondary education. He also confides in our audience with respect to his (objectively incorrect) first choice in pizza slice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

Larry Tribe is widely regarded as the greatest American constitutionalist not to sit on the United States Supreme Court. In this touchingly personal interview, he tells us of his upbringing, of his parents, of their relationship, of his birth in Shanghai and of his maturation in intellectual curiosity and kindness. He also offers insight on his former students President Barack Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts; on his fateful decision in 1987 to testify against Robert Bork’s SCOTUS nomination; on the nexus of that decision with then-Senator Joe Biden; on his first-ever Supreme Court argument and its moving connection to his own father; on his current feelings about Jewishness and Israel; and on what he perceives are the dangerous storm clouds of fascism now gathering across the Western world. Laurence Tribe is 82 years old. There may never be another such interview in his lifetime. Join me in learning from this gentle legend. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com

Oren Falkowitz is an unusual figure. The founder and longtime CEO of Area 1 Security, which sold to Cloudflare and created wealth for him and his shareholders, moved back to Washington, D.C., from Silicon Valley because he felt something was amiss in the California startup landscape, and it wasn’t just the lackluster restaurant culture. This is not a typical story of a founder who made it and celebrates his experience. Nor is it a typical story of a founder who didn’t make it and gripes. This is the story of a founder who succeeded but is willing to share, on the record, some of his hard-earned ‘lessons learned,’ including the stories of dynamics on the board of directors that did not … quite … operate … the way he would have wanted. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michaelfertik.substack.com