Mark Lutter (@MarkLutter) is the founder and Executive Director of the Charter Cities Institute (@CCIdotCity), a nonprofit whose mission is to lift tens of millions of individuals out of poverty by building new cities with new rules.  In this episode, we discussed the CCI’s unique model for city development, why state capacity is in decline, the historical examples of Hong Kong, Dubai & Chicago, how network states differ from charter cities, and the recent Nobel prize awarded for the study of institutions and prosperity.

Kate Van Dam, Head of Global Strategy at SkyFi and former U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot, discusses the importance of geospatial data, challenges in launching marketplace businesses, risks of new technology, and her proudest moments in the military. Topics include Earth observation data, consumer-first strategy, In-Q-Tel venture investors, and Ukraine's use of satellite imagery.

Alex Izydorczyk is the founder & CEO of Cybersyn, a Data as a Service company building a real-time understanding of the world's economy. He is also the author of Magis, a newsletter focused on data, finance, and modern economics.  In this episode, we discussed the “external data hypothesis” behind Cybersyn, the alpha contained in consumer spending data, what hedge fund analysts have in common with CPG brand managers, why “good taste” matters in quant research, whether time series are impervious to machine intelligence, and the need for a Manhattan Project for economic data.

Packy McCormick, Founder of Not Boring, discusses the importance of strategy, economic moats in startups, value of uncertainty, challenges of deep tech investing, and competitive dynamics of the AI landscape. Exploring strategic planning, counter positioning, patents as competitive advantages, and navigating bullish trends in deep tech.

Former CIA analyst Martin Gurri discusses the transformation of authority to the public through digital technology, the power of social media in reshaping media landscapes, challenges of vetting sources in the digital age, erosion of traditional truth mediators, open source intelligence in decision-making processes, forecasting skills over reliance on classified information, challenges and opportunities for journalism in the digital age, emergence of an ideology of control during significant events, and the necessity of a positive ideology of freedom to counteract control.

Gabe Dominocielo (@dominocielo) is co-founder & President of Umbra (@umbraspace), a remote sensing company on a mission to deliver global omniscience with its constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites. In this episode, we discussed the unique advantages of SAR for the mapping & monitoring of our world, the unit economics of earth observation, the ongoing commodification of data, bootstrapping as a competitive edge for startups, and the value of first principles thinking in life & investing.

Economist Eli Dourado discusses total factor productivity as a measure of progress, institutional influence on wealth, and the impact of technological innovations on society. They also explore energy superabundance, state capacity in China and the US, and the importance of elite consensus in politics.

Byrne Hobart (@ByrneHobart) is the author of The Diff, a newsletter studying inflections in finance & technology. He is also the host of a new podcast called The Riff, produced by Turpentine (@TurpentineMedia). In this episode, we discussed the nature of market efficiency & financial bubbles, the importance of risk-taking in society, how best to counter the so-called “degrowth” movement, his forthcoming book with Tobias Huber (@TobiasAHuber) and the promise of Special Economic Zones. 

Ben Reinhardt (@Ben_Reinhardt) is an engineer, researcher & writer. He is the founder & CEO of Speculative Technologies (@Spec_Tech), a non-profit organization that runs coordinated research programs focused on new materials and advanced manufacturing processes. In this episode, we discussed the kinds of institutions best suited for promoting innovation, why DARPA is an organization worthy of emulation, the significance of our cultural attitudes towards energy production & consumption, and what LLMs might contribute to the scientific enterprise.

Michael Gibson (@William_Blake) is co-founder & general partner of the 1517 Fund (@1517fund) and author of The Paper Belt on Fire. In this episode, we discussed his experience launching the Thiel Fellowship, the nature of progress in science & philosophy, our understanding of talent & creativity, the importance of charter cities and how to imagine the future.