Best Upstream Journal Podcasts (2024)

1
E74: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Talks Scaling Laws, AI Arms Races, and Radical Abundance 1:05:24

20h ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder of Anthropic. Dario talks about the economics of AI development, the comparative advantage of AI companies like Anthropic, AI safety, and his stance on California's SB 1047 bill. They also discuss the impacts of AI on global power dynamics, competition between the US and C…

1
E73: Brian Armstrong on Crypto in 2024, Politics, and Economic Freedom 1:02:33

8d ago1:02:33

1:02:33

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez on Moment of Zen in August 2024 to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., why he listens to Balaji Srinivasan, and strategies for…

1
E72: Eoghan McCabe on San Francisco, Tech Leadership, and Optimistic Media 55:02

15d ago55:02

55:02

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg sits down with Eoghan McCabe who opens up about his journey entering Silicon Valley, leading Intercom, shifting company culture, and becoming politically engaged. This episode offers a frank look at the complexities of building and scaling a tech company, coming back from personal and professional defeat,…

1
E71: Marc Andreessen on Higher Education and Tech Culture 33:39

22d ago33:39

33:39

In this episode of Upstream, we’re releasing an interview from 2021 with Marc Andreessen, Sriram Krishnan, and Aarthi Ramamurthy. They discuss the higher education system's inefficiencies, high costs and lack of competition, and explore innovative education models including cohort-based learning and unbundling education components. Marc shares pers…

1
E70: Katherine Boyle on Religion, Journalism, and Polarization 59:16

30d ago59:16

59:16

In this episode of Upstream, we revisit a 2020 conversation with Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle exploring the intersection of religion and media in this tech-driven world. Katherine discusses her Washington Post article on how San Francisco's tech advancements have largely bypassed religious institutions. They explore the factors behind this ga…

1
E69: Balaji Srinivasan on the Rise of the Tech Counter Elites 1:43:50

1M ago1:43:50

1:43:50

Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "Am…

1
E68: Tyler Cowen on Talent, the Importance of Stamina, and Predicting Success 56:37

2M ago56:37

56:37

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a fascinating discussion with economist, professor, and bestselling author Tyler Cowen about how to find talented people. This was recorded in 2022 around the launch of his book 'Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World' co-authored with Daniel Gross. Tyler and Erik discuss s…

1
E67: A Deep Dive on René Girard with David Gornoski 1:24:57

2M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

This week on Upstream, we're releasing a 2019 interview with David Gornoski and Erik Torenberg on the Village Global podcast, offering a deep dive into René Girard's Mimetic Theory, exploring its far-reaching societal impacts and surprising connections to ancient rituals and myths. They unpack the concept of mimetic desire and the profound influenc…

1
E66: Noah Smith on 2024 Election Strategy, American Civil Service, and Cash Benefits 1:00:49

2M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

In this week’s episode of Upstream, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss America's future. They cover the 2024 presidential race, the Chevron ruling from the Supreme Court, and the polarization of the education system. Noah and Erik also discuss where wokeness goes from here, and the potential outcomes of integrating more conservatives into the ci…

1
E65: Bret Weinstein on Evolutionary Biology, Markets, Moral Progress, and More 1:17:00

2M ago1:17:00

1:17:00

This week on Upstream, we’re airing an interview with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein from 2020, originally from the Village Global podcast. They discuss Weinstein's work on evolutionary trade-offs, the intersection of markets and moral progress, as well as future governance. beehiiv: Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20…

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E64: Richard Hanania on Trump's Genius, Antisemitism, and Election Predictions 1:13:44

2M ago1:13:44

1:13:44

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania discuss the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They also explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance. beehiiv: Head t…

1
E63: Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl on Decentralized Governance, Politics, and History 1:20:29

3M ago1:20:29

1:20:29

In 2019 Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl to talk about the future of a decentralized world. They cover decentralized governance, politics, voting, and more. This conversation was recorded orginally for Village Global's Venture Stories. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogx…

1
E62: Mike Solana on Thinking Freely and What Tech Means for Culture 1:12:00

3M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

In 2020 Erik Torenberg sat down with Mike Solana, then VP at Founders Fund (now the Editor In Chief of Pirate Wires) to go deeper into his commitment to controversial ideas and freedom. He discusses the dynamics of America's culture wars, debating freedom vs. equality, the resurgence of Marxism, and the roots of anti-American sentiment. This conver…

1
E61: Noah Smith on Wokeness, Right Wing Muckrakers, and Class vs Identity 1:03:01

3M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

Todays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who …

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E60: AI in the Techno-Economic War with China with Vinod Khosla, Todd Young, and Jacob Helberg 21:46

3M ago21:46

21:46

In this episode of Upstream, we're publishing a session recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in May 2024 hosted by Jacob Helberg, and featuring Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Senator Todd Young (R-IN). Khosla and Young dive straight into the most pressing national security concerns regarding the threat of AI. In this techno-economic race,…

1
E59: Bryan Caplan on Housing Regulation, Fertility, and Crime 1:08:56

4M ago1:08:56

1:08:56

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Bryan Caplan to discuss his new book about housing regulation. The conversation touches on political economy, fertility, crime, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: …

1
E58: Jonathan Haidt on Finally Fixing Social Media and Picking All the Cherries 56:58

4M ago56:58

56:58

This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book The Anxious generation. The conversation covers the effects of social media on teen mental health, culture, politics, education, and more. beehiiv: Head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. -- This show is produced by Turpent…

1
E57: Noah Smith Analyzes Economies: USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, & More 1:00:58

4M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode from Erik's podcast with Noah Smith, Econ 102. Noah breaks down the economies of the USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. For mor…

1
E56: Brian Chau on Spreading Informed AI Optimism 1:24:16

4M ago1:24:16

1:24:16

This week on Upstream, Nathan Labenz of The Cognitive Revolution podcast and Brian Chau, a machine learning engineer who recently founded the Alliance for the Future, talk about Brian's efforts in Washington, D.C. to influence AI policy based on informed AI optimism. After their conversation, Nathan and Erik chat about the AI landscape. Access glob…

1
E55: Why China's Universities Will Become Harvard 54:14

5M ago54:14

54:14

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode from Turpentine’s show Live Players with Samo Burja. Erik and Samo discuss China’s universities and the future of China’s elites. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- This show …

1
E54: Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan on Why History Points to Crypto 1:05:45

5M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

This episode was initially recorded before a live audience in 2018. Erik talks with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan about the history of money and centralization and why crypto has the potential to fulfill the promise of the internet. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com …

1
E53: Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith on What AI Actually Means for the Economy 1:13:58

5M ago1:13:58

1:13:58

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith for a deep dive on how AI will impact job markets, the social contract, and the role of the government. Access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODC…

1
E52: David Friedman on Anarcho-Capitalism, Utilitarianism, and Inequality 1:53:05

5M ago1:53:05

1:53:05

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by David Friedman for a deep dive on anarcho-capitalism, utilitarianism, and more. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- Recommended Podcast: Company Breakdowns Each episode of Company Breakdowns dives into S-1s and ser…

1
E51: How We Build More Housing with Brad Hargreaves & Noah Smith 1:03:18

5M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

In this special roundtable episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Brad Hargreaves (the founder of Common, co-founder of General Assembly, and writer of Thesis Driven) and Noah Smith (podcast host, economist and writer of Noahpinion). They discuss the future of real estate and housing in America, the impact of regulations, and the potential of new cit…

1
E50: Alex Blania on Worldcoin, AGI, and Future Predictions 42:39

6M ago42:39

42:39

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Alex Blania, who, with Sam Altman, co-founded Tools for Humanity, the organizarion behind Worldcoin. Erik and Alex go deep on Worldcoin, AGI, and other future tech. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. -- RECOMMENDED P…

1
E49: The Legacy of Effective Altruism with Igor Kurganov 51:26

6M ago51:26

51:26

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Igor Kurganov, poker player and founder of Raising for Effective Giving. They discuss similarities between poker and Effective Altruism, the successes and failures of EA, and where EA should go next. To get Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on yo…

1
E48: Liron Shapira on the Case for Pausing AI 1:09:08

6M ago1:09:08

1:09:08

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Liron Shapira to discuss the case against further AI development, why Effective Altruism doesn’t deserve its reputation, and what is misunderstood about nuclear weapons. Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first cam…

1
E47: Rob Henderson on Life in Foster Care, Academia, and Beyond 1:23:03

6M ago1:23:03

1:23:03

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Rob Henderson, psychologist and author of the newly released Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. They discuss dating, cancel culture, luxury beliefs, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on…

1
E46: Lyn Alden on How Money Works 57:10

7M ago57:10

57:10

This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Lyn Alden, an investment strategist known for her unique blend of engineering, tech, and finance expertise. They discuss her book Broken Money, macro trends, and her best advice in the face of an uncertain economic future. Upstream is sponsored by Brave: Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ”…

1
E45: Bayeslord and Nadia Asparouhova on Effective Accelerationism 1:30:54

7M ago1:30:54

1:30:54

On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with e/acc founder Bayeslord and writer Nadia Asparouhova to discuss the foundations and future of the e/acc movement. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. --- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist R…

1
E44: Tyler Cowen on Harvard, the GOAT Economist, and Ending Stagnation 57:08

7M ago57:08

57:08

On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with Tyler Cowen to discuss Harvard, AI, Javier Milei's legacy, the value of non-legibility in talent spotting, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist…

1
E43: Richard Hanania on Wokeness, Israel-Palestine, and the Mythos of the Modern Right 59:28

7M ago59:28

59:28

This week on Upstream, political scientist and writer Ricard Hanania returns to the show. Erik and Richard discuss wokeness, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the mythos of the modern right, Richard's upcoming debate with Curtis Yarvin, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. -- RECOMMENDE…

1
E42: Erik Torenberg on the Evolution of Media 1:01:44

8M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

This week on Upstream, the tables are turned, and Erik is sitting in the guest seat. We're airing an episode the podcast Where It Happens hosted by Greg Isenberg. Greg and Erik discuss B2B creators, how to find profitable niches, how to monetize media businesses, and more. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/mon…

1
The child soldiers of Myanmar 18:11

8M ago18:11

18:11

The use of children in combat roles is not new in Myanmar. Both the government and some resistance groups have child soldiers, with tragic results. Hundreds of children have been killed and tortured by the Myanmar army in recent years. In this episode of Human Rights Magazine, Yiwen Li speaks with several experts about the issue. Human Rights Magaz…

1
E41: Steve Hsu on the Future of Everything 1:06:03

8M ago1:06:03

1:06:03

In this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with theoretical physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu. They discuss political polarization in academia, the fertility crisis, AI, and more. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in dept…

1
E40: Develop Your Personal Investing Strategy with Itay Vinik 1:20:20

8M ago1:20:20

1:20:20

On today's Upstream, Erik interviews Itay Vinik to get an overview of the markets and current macro environment, learn frameworks for adjusting an investing strategy based on rising or falling interest rates, and debunk common investment myths. They cover the Federal Reserve's role in a globalized economy, discuss the strategies that stabilize mark…

1
E39: Balaji Srinivasan and Nathan Labenz on AI's Future, Human-AI Symbiosis, and AI Control 2:12:08

8M ago2:12:08

2:12:08

On today's Upstream, we're sharing a recent episode where Balaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss the future of AI: polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled. Upstream is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/torenberg for a $1/month trial period. This episode is a feed drop of The Cognitive Revolut…

1
E38: Holiday Special: Request for Startups 49:47

9M ago49:47

49:47

This week, in a departure from Upstream's usual format, Erik sits downs with friends Nick DeWilde, Sean Linehan, and Justin Mares to exchange startup ideas in a new format called "Request for Startups." Please note that this episode contains some vulgar humor and won't be for everyone. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every we…

1
E37: Noor Siddiqui on embryo screening, the fertility crisis, and parenting 1:07:29

9M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

In this episode, Erik sits down with Noor Siddiqui, founder and CEO of Orchid. They discuss Orchid's recent breakthrough in embryo whole genome sequencing, the fertility crisis, parenting, dating, and more. -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topi…

1
E36: Beff Jezos on doxxing, e/acc, and why crypto will save AI 1:29:24

9M ago1:29:24

1:29:24

Beff Jezos, the anonymous co-founder of the effective accelerationism movement (also known as "e/acc") recently had his identity revealed by Forbes reporters. He gives the inside story to Erik Torenberg, Antonio Garcia Martinez, Dan Romero, his e/acc cofounder Bayeslord, and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz. Make informed decisio…

1
The repressed democracy of Uganda 24:07

9M ago24:07

24:07

President Museveni of Uganda has retained power since 1986, using violence, arrests and media suppression to maintain the military dictatorship. In this episode of Human Rights Magazine, Nkwesi Banage talks with experts about the dynamics of politics and elections in Uganda, and how Museveni has successfully kept power for decades. (Photo: A Uganda…

1
E35: Samo Burja on Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George Soros 58:46

9M ago58:46

58:46

In this episode, Erik sits down with Samo Burja, political scientist and founder of Bismarck Analysis. They discuss Samo's term "live player" and today's live players, including Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and George Soros. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hi…

1
The persecution of Fulani people in Ghana 23:15

9M ago23:15

23:15

The Fulani people are part of an ethnic group across the Sahara, Sahel and West Africa, comprising between 25 and 40 million people. About 10 million of them are pastoralists, and so they are part of the largest nomadic pastoral community in the world. Almost all are Muslims. In this episode of Human Rights Magazine, Pauline Goemans explores the di…

1
E34: Byrne Hobart on Sam Altman, Meta vs Google, and Effective Altruism 1:01:03

9M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

In this episode, Erik is joined by Byrne Hobart, author of tech and finance newsletter The Diff, to discuss Sam Altman's ousting from OpenAI, Microsoft's role in the story, and the new competitive landscape for AI companies. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a …

1
E33: The Untold History of Nuclear Energy with Packy McCormick and Julia DeWahl 1:05:10

10M ago1:05:10

1:05:10

Today on Upstream we’re dropping a special episode of Age of Miracles which dives into the rise and fall of nuclear power in the 20th century, and what we can learn about pushing nuclear into the 21st century. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff,…

1
E32: Balaji on SBF and the Israel-Hamas War 1:04:54

10M ago1:04:54

1:04:54

Balaji Srinivasan returns to Upstream for an unfiltered conversation about recent events: SBF's conviction and the conflict in the middle east. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For…

1
E31: Sam Lessin on Why We’re Heading into a New Era of Venture 1:11:04

10M ago1:11:04

1:11:04

Erik is joined by Sam Lessin, General Partner at the early-stage VC firm Slow Ventures, essayist, and former VP of Product at Facebook. -- We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list …

1
E30: Aaron Ginn on the Moral Idea Maze, the GPU Revolution, and US-China Relations 56:09

10M ago56:09

56:09

Erik Torenberg sits down with Aaron Ginn, the CEO and co-founder of Hydra Host and the co-founder of the Lincoln Network (now Foundation for American Innovation). They discuss tech and politics, US-China relations, the GPU revolution, and foreign policy predictions. Upstream is proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.…

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E29: Sense-Making, a Top 1% Information Diet, and Generation Warfare with Michael Guimarin 1:14:35

11M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Erik Torenberg sits down with Michael Guimarin, a Silicon Valley operator and educator who helps people hone their information diets, to discuss the divide between institutions and networks and how to shift from consensus to resonance. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/upstream Upstream is a part of th…

1
La Révolution silencieuse 56:24

11M ago56:24

56:24

Ce podcast cherche à capturer la complexité du combat féministe au Maroc dans une ère de réforme politique et juridique. Human Rights Magazine is produced by The Upstream Journal magazine. The host, Derek MacCuish, is editor of both. If you agree that informed reporting on human rights and social justice issues is important, your support would be w…

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