Stranded Technologies Podcast

Ep. 101: Bryan Caplan: Pro Market & Pro Business, the Real Ethics of EntrepreneurshipBryan Caplan is a professor of economics at George Mason University and the author of several books, including Open Borders - The Science and Ethics of Immigration, The Case Against Education and the Myth of the Rational Voter.Niklas sits down with Bryan to talk about his new books and why markets often work better than we give them credit for. They dig into how governments block progress in the name of safety, why antitrust usually backfires, and how “free” public services wipe out space for affordable alternatives. Bryan makes a compelling new case for free markets - even free market advocates have often been overly critical of business, and he comes up with a novel concept: there are things that sound good and bad, and things that are good and bad. Politics is promoting things that sound good but are bad - markets are promoting things that sound bad but are good.They also cover:* the Microsoft antitrust case and its real cost* why poor countries suffer from too little big business* entrepreneurship as real-world experimentationA conversation for anyone building around regulation or trying to understand how progress really happens.More about GUEST’S work:* Bryan’s Wiki* Bryan’s XExplore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Niklas sits down with biomedical researcher and libertarian author Mary Ruwart (Death by Regulation) to dissect how decades of FDA rules derailed innovation, extended timelines from 4 to 14 years, and quietly reshaped the entire pharma industry, from discovery to delivery.Together, they unpack:* The pivotal moments: 1962’s Kefeuver-Harris amendments and 1992’s PDUFA and how they changed the game* Why the system now favors chronic medication over simpler or even one-shot cures* How off-label use and underground networks (like HIV buyers clubs) filled the gaps left by regulation* What the rollback of “Chevron Deference” means and why this may be the biggest opening in decades* How “statistical significance” became a misleading gold standard* Why founders still building in the U.S. need to understand the incentives behind drug lag, suppression of short-term treatments, and the quiet cartelization of Big Pharma* What it means to build around, beyond or outside the FDA: from Montana to PrósperaMore about Mary’s work:* Mary’s X* Wiki* Amazon BooksExplore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Cremieux sheds light on the common pitfalls in scientific research, revealing how published effect sizes often inflate reality. His insights reveal gene therapy's major hurdle: it's all about delivery. A discussion on regulatory challenges shows how policies can stifle innovation, and he argues for necessary reforms in trials. He highlights the surprisingly undervalued potential of siRNA in biotech, while unpacking the implications of staggering vaccine hesitancy. Prepare to rethink what you know about science and biotechnology!

Two years ago, policymakers floated a global AI pause, some even suggested bombing data centers to stop progress. Today, the U.S. is pulling back from the brink.Adam Thierer, author of Permissionless Innovation and Evasive Entrepreneurs, joins Niklas to unpack:* How the “war on computation” began and the moment the tide turned* Why sectors “born free” explode with innovation, while “born in captivity” stay stuck* The explosion of 1,000+ AI-related bills across U.S. states and the risk of a regulatory maze* The strange alliance between the far left and far right to slow progress* Why AI could be the ultimate technology of freedom or a tool for repression* Why compared to 2 years ago there are reasons to be more optimistic now.If you’re building in AI, biotech, or any frontier space, this is your field guide to defending the right to build.More about Adam’s work:* Adam’s X* Medium* Amazon BooksExplore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

In this episode, Michael Levin, Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts, breaks down how his lab is rethinking regeneration, cancer, and aging, not through genetics, but through bioelectricity as the software of life.From pioneering living robots made from frog skin cells to repairing birth defects and regenerating limbs, Levin’s work shows how tissues act as intelligent agents and how future medicine will be about communicating goals to cells, not micromanaging their chemistry.We cover:* Why Levin believes the “anatomical compiler” is the endgame: designing an organ or organism on a computer and compiling it into bioelectric instructions for cells.* How cancer emerges as a breakdown of collective memory and why reconnecting cells electrically can normalize tumors without killing them.* Proof-of-concept experiments that restore normal brains in tadpoles with birth defect mutations, regenerate frog legs, and even grow functioning eyes in new locations.* The creation of Anthrobots, synthetic multicellular organisms built from adult human cells that can repair neural damage.* Why development and regeneration show that genomes don’t dictate fixed outcomes bioelectric memories do.* The philosophical implications: recognizing agency and intelligence at every level of biology.If you’re building in biotech, longevity, or frontier medicine, this is a field guide to rewriting the software of life and a preview of the systems that could make aging, cancer, and trauma solvable problems.More about Michael Levin’s work:* Dr. Michael Levin's X* Dr. Michael Levin WebsiteExplore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Sondre Rasch, founder and CEO of SafetyWing and former Norwegian policy advisor, dives into the world of digital nomadism and insurance innovation. He shares how SafetyWing creates global health solutions for travelers while navigating complex regulations. From launching tailored insurance products to enhancing user experiences in cross-border healthcare, Sondre highlights entrepreneurial challenges and the evolving landscape of insurance. He discusses the Nomad Citizen program and the vision of building a social safety net for nomads, turning regulatory complexity into opportunity.

John Martin Fischer is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at UC Riverside and a leading thinker on death, free will, and immortality. He joins Niklas to explore:* Why most philosophers argue against immortality and why he disagrees* The logic behind boredom, meaning, and the “human shape” of life* How AI and free will intersect and what it means for future minds* Ethical blind spots in Silicon Valley’s pursuit of radical life extensionStranded Technologies Podcast is the channel for the Infinita community, dedicated to accelerating longevity biotech and building the future of innovation-friendly cities.More about GUEST'S work:* John Martin Fischer WebsiteExplore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Jose Luis Ricón Fernández de la Puente is widely known for his influential blog “Nintil” and in his current role as Head of Theory at Retro Biosciences, a leading company in the longevity biotech space funded with $180m by Sam Altman. Niklas and Jose Luis dive into:* Why the current scientific institutions often fail to deliver on its promises* The most promising pathways and bottlenecks in longevity biotech* Lessons from libertarianism and economics for building better scientific institutions* The role of network cities, special jurisdictions, and parallel systemsStranded Technologies Podcast is the channel for the Infinita community, dedicated to accelerating longevity biotech and building the future of innovation-friendly cities.More about GUEST'S work:* Retro.bio* Nintil This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Cush is the founder of Odisea Labs, an accelerator for Latin American frontier tech (crypto, AI). Cush is inspired by effective accelerationism (e/acc) and consequently coined the memes “latam/acc” and “Latin American Dynamism” in reference to their US-based counterpart.In this episode, we learn all about why Latam is awesome for tech. Financial innovation and crypto have a fertile ground here and are widely adopted due the lack of banking access for large populations, regulatory capture and government mismanagement.Odisea Labs has been a major partner to the past March Startup Residency Month, and is now announcing another partnership with Infinita City for the following:Crypto Cities Theme MonthThis is a one-month program for builders to deploy crypto-native projects, not just online, but in a functioning city with enabling legislation, crypto taxes, and a supportive community.🗓️ | June 1 - 30, 2025📍 | Próspera Zone, Roatan (Honduras)➡️ | Signup: infinita.city/crypto-cities This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com

Jack Scannell is a consultant, researcher, and entrepreneur. Jack is one of the world’s leading authorities on pharmaceutical R&D productivity. He co-authored the influential 2012 paper in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery that introduced “Eroom’s Law,” a concept highlighting how drug discovery has become slower and more expensive over time—essentially the opposite of Moore’s Law. Scannell has advised major pharmaceutical firms and is a noted commentator on strategies to improve innovation efficiency in the life sciences. He is currently building Ethereos.Explore Infinita City:* Explore the Archive: The Infinita City Times* Visit Infinita City* Join the Builders’ Hub on Telegram* Follow Infinita City on X This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.infinitacitytimes.com