"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg

Sam Lessin, General Partner at Slow Ventures and former VP of Product at Facebook, discusses the drawbacks of the factory system of venture capital, reflections on past predictions, the changing landscape of venture capital, the growth and consolidation of companies, lower variance careers, the current state of the crypto industry, the role of journalism in the tech industry, and the shift towards niche cultures and unconventional investing.

Erik Torenberg speaks with Aaron Ginn, CEO and co-founder of Hydra Host and co-founder of the Lincoln Network, about tech and politics, US-China relations, the GPU revolution, and foreign policy predictions.

Michael Guimarin, a Silicon Valley operator and educator, discusses improving information diets, the conflict between institutions and networks, challenges of institutional environments, and predicting the effects of the pandemic in an engaging conversation with Erik Torenberg.

Richard Hanania, writer and political scientist, returns to discuss Trump, the sexual revolution, immigration, and his ideological differences with Curtis Yarvin. They also explore the impact of Trump winning in 2024, the debate on the sexual revolution's impact on women, and Curtis Yarvin's ideas on detachment and running a country like a corporation.

Economist Robin Hanson discusses status, truth, and barriers to innovation. They explore neglected ideas, sacredness as a barrier to change, and the distinction between elites and experts. The concept of efficient market hypothesis and its relation to profit opportunities is explored. They propose using betting markets to fix academia and discuss the qualifications for being an elite or expert. The challenge of discussing uncomfortable truths and the concept of 'cringe' is also discussed.

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, discusses building an exceptional venture firm, organizational structure in VC firms, the future of venture capital, the LP product and firm strategy, dangers of hedge funds in VC, creating A16Z, and the impact of decentralization.

Jon Askonas discusses the impact of disruptive technology on media, religion, culture, and politics. They explore the future of consensus reality and the role of military technology. The podcast also delves into the interplay of technology, culture, politics, and AI, the shift to a peer-to-peer media ecosystem, misconceptions of social media, and the impact of technology on conservatism.

Balaji Srinivasan, expert in social tribalism, cloud cartography, and internet values, discusses the power of cognitive territories, why the US is no longer a beacon, the convergence of India and the US, the rise of Asia, and his strategy to fix San Francisco.

Emad Mostaque and Sam Lessin discuss the investment potential of AI, its impact on consumer product experiences, banking, media, and entertainment industry. They also explore the future of inference and market predictions, the effects of AI companions on marriage and birth rates, and the sustainability of AI business models.

Erik Torenberg interviews Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate rapidly rising in the polls. They discuss his ideas about the culture war, affirmative action, and climate science. Vivek shares his journey from Silicon Valley founder to political candidate and explores his radical policy proposals. They also touch on topics like free speech, empathy in Silicon Valley, and the concept of 'woke'.