Best Zen Garcia Podcasts (2024)

1
E101: Can Classical Liberalism Survive Wokeness? with Tim Urban 1:00:18

26m ago1:00:18

1:00:18

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg sits down with Tim Urban, writer of the popular blog Wait But Why, and author of the 2023 book What’s Our Problem? where he offers a framework for thinking about our chaotic political landscape. Tim unpacks the clash between freedom and equality in modern society. He explores how social justice movem…

1
E100: AI, Gambling, and Healthcare: A High-Stakes Game of 'Do Your Own Research 1:19:17

2h ago1:19:17

1:19:17

Today on Moment of Zen, we're bringing you the second episode of "This Won't Last", the newest show from Turpentine. Keith Rabois, Logan Bartlett, Kevin Ryan, and Zach Weinberg share a rare anecdote about the first venture investment into OpenAI, lay out the bull and bear case for the leading AI companies and discuss regulatory chess games at play …

1
E99: The Possibility of Human Extinction with Samo Burja 1:05:58

11d ago1:05:58

1:05:58

This episode centers on the alarming issue of declining fertility rates worldwide, examining specific country examples such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, and the societal and technological implications of these demographic changes. Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg explore potential interventions, such as tax breaks for families, and the possibili…

1
E98: Long Ripples in History with Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch 1:05:30

11d ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Today on Moment of Zen, Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch return for for a mind-bending discussion and deep dive into the concept of "long ripples" — how ideas and events from the distant past continue to shape our present and future in unexpected ways. From Plato's influence on modern political movements to the unforeseen consequences of the Industrial…

1
E97: World War 2, Tucker Carlson, and a Right-Wing Critique of Daryl Cooper 1:10:50

17d ago1:10:50

1:10:50

In this thought-provoking episode, repeat guests of MOZ Hannah and Steve (both anonymous) return to debate the controversy surrounding Tucker Carlson's Martyr Made interview with historian Daryl Cooper about World War II. They critically examine Cooper's contentious views on Churchill and Hitler, discussing the dangers of historical revisionism fro…

1
E96: Cycles of Civilization with Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch 1:02:21

1M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Today on Moment of Zen, we're airing a discussion between Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch - two intellectual heavyweights tackling the idea that civilizations may have inherent differences that can alter our understanding of the course of history and politics. Both Samo and Rudyard are hosts of Turpentine shows, Live Players and History 102, respectiv…

1
E95: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Talks AI, National Security, and Radical Abundance 1:04:18

1M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

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
E94: Is AI our next nuclear threat? With Joshua Steinman and Nathan Labenz 1:03:47

2M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Joshua Steinman, former military officer who served as Deputy Assistant to President Trump and Senior Director for Cyber (2017-2021), now co-founder of Galvanick, joins Erik Torenberg and AI scout Nathan Labenz for a discussion on the AI arms race. They focus on US-China relations, the rate of AI development, and the global implications of a techno…

1
E93: Samo Burja's Advice for the next US president 55:41

2M ago55:41

55:41

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the top challenges Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will have to face in their presidency. They discuss foreign policy, including managing relations with China, reassessing defense contractors, and fostering economic alliances. They also address the inefficiencies in the non-profit sector, energy policy and nuclea…

1
E92: The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase 1:02:59

2M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Following Coinbase's public listing and the recent regulatory environment, Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., and strategi…

1
E91: Trump, AI, and US-China Relations with Samuel Hammond and Nathan Labenz 2:05:55

2M ago2:05:55

2:05:55

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg is joined by Samuel Hammond (@hamandcheese), a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation and AI Scout/ Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz (@labenz). From drug innovation to nuclear risk, they discuss the impact of AI on policy and governance, exploring the challenges and…

1
E90: Wading Into a Moral Case for Trump with Indian Bronson and Hannah 1:17:04

2M ago1:17:04

1:17:04

Today two anonymous friends of the podcast, Indian Bronson and "Hannah" join Erik Torenberg to make their moral case for Donald Trump. They discuss why swapping Kamala Harris for Joe Biden could cause a "reprise of Obama 2012", the immigration restrictionist viewpoint, and the "aesthetic baggage" that often comes along with the radical leaders capa…

1
E89: Biden/Trump's legacy with Noah Smith 1:01:15

2M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

In today’s episode, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the potential of Kamala Harris as a presidential nominee, President Biden’s legacy, impact of COVID-19 on the economy and inflation, and the recent shifts in U.S. foreign relations and immigration policies. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplog…

1
E88: Brand New Balaji: Trump/Biden, Jan 6 1:42:41

3M ago1:42:41

1:42:41

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Balaji Srinivasan sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss the massive vibe shift in Silicon Valley a week after Trump's near-assassination, tech's emerging role as a counter-elite force, why Biden is president NPC, January 6, and the role of the media. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine …

1
E87: China's Energy Strategy, Taiwan, and US-China Relations with Samo Burja 58:38

3M ago58:38

58:38

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications. Contrary to popular belief, China is not aggressively pursuing energy independence but remains reliant on imports despite significant domestic oil production. The conversation delves into China's geopolitical strategy, its milit…

1
E86: 2024 Election Strategy, Education Depolarization, and UBI with Noah Smith 59:55

4M ago59:55

59:55

This week, Noah Smith joins Erik Torenberg to 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 civil service through …

1
E85: After the Debate: Trump/Biden and Media Reaction 1:27:54

3M ago1:27:54

1:27:54

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik, Antonio, as well as two friends of the podcast who prefer to stay anonymous, discuss the disastrous Biden/Trump debate and what could happen after. They explore the state of U.S. politics by scrutinizing Joe Biden's controversial debate performance and its implications on his presidency, as well as reactions …

1
E84: Trump/Biden Predictions with Richard Hanania 1:14:08

4M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik interviews Richard Hanania about the evolving political landscape in the U.S., focusing on the changing dynamics within both the Republican and Democratic parties. They discuss the influence of big tech, the rise of Trumpism, political polarization, and the intellectual underpinnings of current political ideol…

1
E83: What's Happening in France with Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry 55:00

4M ago55:00

55:00

Today on Moment of Zen, Journalist Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry sits with Erik Torenberg to explain the volatile state of French politics following recent European Parliament elections where Macron’s party performed poorly and the National Rally did very well. The conversation offers insights into the broader implications of these political shifts, touche…

1
E82: Balaji Srinivasan on the Fiat Crisis, China, Russia, and Conspiracy Practices 1:22:18

4M ago1:22:18

1:22:18

In this episode that originally aired on Upstream, Erik sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the Fiat Crisis, geopolitics, conspiracies, and the signs of decline for a hyperpower. It was recorded in June of 2023. Balaji is an angel investor, tech founder, philosopher, and author of The Network State. He was formerly the CTO of Coinbase. 🔥 Ap…

1
E81: David Sacks on his Intellectual and Political journey 1:19:32

4M ago1:19:32

1:19:32

David Sacks is known as a CEO/investor in multiple unicorns, and most recently a media mogul with All-In. In this episode, he sits down with Erik Torenberg to trace his intellectual and political history from his days fighting student activism at Stanford to now. We cover the political and cultural changes in the last 30 years of silicon valley, ho…

1
E80: Joe Lonsdale on How to Solve America’s Problems 57:38

5M ago57:38

57:38

Today we are airing Erik's interview with Joe Lonsdale, originally published on Upstream in 2023. Joe Lonsdale is the co-founder of Palantir, managing partner at 8VC, and the founder of The Cicero Institute, a nonpartisan policy organization discusses the root causes of educational inequality and homelessness, and argues for competence over culture…

1
E79: Crypto and Gaming with Carlos Pereira 1:23:00

5M ago1:23:00

1:23:00

In this episode, Carlos Pereira, partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, joins Erik, Antonio and Dan as they delve into the significant transformations within gaming, betting, and combat sports, facilitated by cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, emphasizing the groundbreaking integration of cryptocurrency through Web3 gaming. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 f…

1
E78: Jonathan Haidt on The Social Media Theory of Everything 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik is joined by Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business and author of the newly released book "The Anxious Generation." They have a comprehensive discussion that touches on the polarization and dysfunction in American politics, the impact of social media on democracy,…

1
E77: The Future of Media, Institutions, and Risk 1:22:21

5M ago1:22:21

1:22:21

Today we're sharing a recent interview Erik gave to Alex LaBossiere that covers lots of themes we discuss on Moment of Zen - including Erik's views on tech vs. the media, hypocrisy of the elites, risk orientation, and the thesis behind Turpentine. Grow your newsletter with Beehiiv, head to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your fir…

1
E76: Should We Accelerate or Decelerate Tech Progress? 1:42:05

6M ago1:42:05

1:42:05

Today’s episode is a debate from Bankless on the opposing viewpoints of Effective Accelerationism (E/ACC) and Effective Altruism (EA). Hosted by Ryan Sean Adams and David Hoffman and featuring Haseeb Qureshi and our own Erik Torenberg, the podcast discusses whether AI progression should be cautiously regulated or aggressively pursued with minimal o…

1
E75: The Future of Crypto, Social Platforms, and Descending the Tech Ladder with Mike Rainbow 54:09

6M ago54:09

54:09

In this episode, Mike Rainbow (co-founder of Rainbow wallet) joins Erik, Dan, and Antonio as they dive into crypto's future. The conversation was prompted by the thesis that innovative social protocols like Farcaster are co-evolving with crypto wallets as onramps or a portal to web3. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https:…

1
E74: Bryan Johnson on AI, Religion, and God 1:05:07

6M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Bryan Johnson joins Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg on Moment of Zen to discuss the deeper spiritual beliefs behind the "Don't Die" movement in the face of AI and the inadequacy of human clock speed. They cover religions as death cults, long-termism vs engineering your own longevity, and Bryan's recent interview on Tucker Carlson. If you…

1
E73: Crypto, Memes, and Politics with Li Jin 1:01:06

7M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Li Jin joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez. Li is the co-founder of Variant Fund and a prolific writer. This episode dives deep into crypto, web3, memecoins, and the attention economy thesis. They cover the direction of techno-capitalism and its impact on politics, decentralization, and the cultural differences between Ame…

1
E72: Curtis Yarvin on How to Build the Next NYT and Advice for Elon 1:39:34

7M ago1:39:34

1:39:34

Curtis Yarvin returns to Moment of Zen to talk media, regime change, censorship, and the future role of platforms like X and Reddit in reputation capital structures. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen — now through April 15th NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. – SPONSORS…

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E71: Dune/Napoleon, Apple/Microsoft, TikTok, Polyamory, and Aella’s Legacy 1:15:39

7M ago1:15:39

1:15:39

In this episode, Dan, Erik and Antonio discuss Don Lemon’s interview with Elon Musk, the Dune 2 and Napoleon releases, polyamory, the Apple antitrust case, and fatherly advice. Happy birthday Antonio! If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen -- now through April 15th NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind fl…

1
E70: Antonio on Social Media, Journalism, and New Religions with Parker Thompson 1:05:34

7M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

In this conversation, Erik Torenberg sits down with Antonio Garcia Martinez, founder of Spindl and author of ‘Chaos Monkeys’, and Parker Thompson, partner at SAX Capital, TNT Ventures, and AngelList, to explore the influence of social media on society. They discuss media literacy and journalism, how politics change people's views of social media, a…

1
E69: Will the US Have a Civil War with @WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch 1:19:29

8M ago1:19:29

1:19:29

In this conversation, Erik Torenberg and Dan Romero sit with Rudyard Lynch of @WhatifAltHist to discuss his analysis of potential future global events, such as an American civil war and a revolution in China, considering economic conditions, demographics, and societal behaviors. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://net…

1
E68: Dan's Intellectual Journey 1:42:51

8M ago1:42:51

1:42:51

This discussion is from Erik's first interview with Dan from the Venture Stories podcast. Dan shares his views on scaling Coinbase, the evolution of crypto, as well as the books and influences that shaped his intellectual journey. If you're looking for an ERP platform, check out NetSuite: https://netsuite.com/zen. – SPONSOR: BEEHIIV Head to Beehiiv…

1
E67: A Deep Dive on Farcaster: Past, Present, and Future 1:15:22

8M ago1:15:22

1:15:22

Erik Torenberg and Dan Romero talk about Dan’s company Farcaster, a decentralized social media protocol. Following the launch of Frames earlier this year, Farcaster experienced significant growth placing the team at a critical junction ripe with lessons for any startup. Dan discusses the challenges of building Farcaster, the promise of decentraliza…

1
E66: Chris Dixon on the Future of the Internet, Crypto, and Web3 1:22:09

8M ago1:22:09

1:22:09

This week Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down with Chris Dixon, a16z General Partner and author of the new book Read Write Own. They discuss the evolution of crypto, the potential impact of blockchain on existing industries, re-centralization, the implications of AI on the internet economy, and media perception of tech.…

1
E65: How to Build a Startup Now, Finding PMF, and Navigating the Idea Maze 1:19:12

8M ago1:19:12

1:19:12

Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg chat about building a company in 2024, selecting ideas to work on, and finding product-market fit (Dan quotes Marc Andreessen's definition of the term). They also cover Dan's experience at Coinbase and building Farcaster. They recorded this episode for a new show called Request for Startups where guests discuss the sta…

1
E64: The U.S. vs Europe, Bryan Johnson and Human Longevity 1:29:46

9M ago1:29:46

1:29:46

This week Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down to discuss the popular Europe vs United States debate, the concept of human longevity, the current state of democracy in the age of social media, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. -- Check out Erik's…

1
E63: What does E/acc stand for? 1:32:01

9M ago1:32:01

1:32:01

This week Erik sits down with Nadia Asparouhova and Bayeslord to discuss the meaning and philosophy of effective accelerationism (e/acc), the polarization and nuance in the tech industry, and much more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. Check out Bayeslord's article in Pirate Wires, …

1
E62: 2023 Recap, 2024 Predictions, Farcaster/Turpentine updates 1:36:18

9M ago1:36:18

1:36:18

Dan and Erik discuss the potential impact of a Trump win in 2024, the appeal of populism, the impact of AI on the next generation of startups, and an update from Farcaster and Turpentine. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. _ RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every we…

1
E61: Curtis Yarvin on Rufo, Harvard, FDR, and The Cathedral 1:52:39

9M ago1:52:39

1:52:39

Curtis joins Dan and Erik to discuss his upcoming debate with Richard Hanania, FDR's leadership style, radical changes to institutions like Harvard, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. - RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist …

1
E60: Bill Ackman, Harvard, and What Happens Next? 1:16:00

9M ago1:16:00

1:16:00

Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg talk about what's happening between Bill Ackman and Harvard: they touch on the 10-7 movement and the focus on DEI in universities, the future of education and the challenges of disrupting elite schools, the value of credentials, and more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/m…

1
Sam Harris on Populism, Inequality, and Polarization 1:29:12

10M ago1:29:12

1:29:12

For the holiday stretch, we're publishing a few of our favorite episodes from this year. Today, we’re airing Erik's solo interview with Sam Harris over on his Upstream podcast. This discussion covers Sam’s concerns about populism, polarization, and inequality. We also discuss why Sam is hated by the left and the right. Moment of Zen will return wit…

1
Revisited: Moment of Zen's Origins with Marc Andreessen 1:55:46

10M ago1:55:46

1:55:46

For the holiday stretch, we're publishing a few of our favorite episodes from this year of Moment of Zen. Today, we’re airing our first ever episodes with Marc Andreessen (released exactly one year ago). Marc discussed SBF, Twitter and censorship, and more. In the second half of this extra long episode with Marc, we get into the ideas of Nietzsche,…

1
Katherine Boyle and Mike Solana on Liberal Arts Debate and Saving San Francisco 1:25:31

10M ago1:25:31

1:25:31

Katherine Boyle, GP at a16z and Mike Solana, Editor in Chief of Pirate Wires joined Erik, Dan, and Antonio to discuss whether a liberal arts degree is worth it and how to save San Francisco. They cover the drawbacks of the current educational system, the opportunity cost of our educated class, and elitism. This episode originally aired June 17th, 2…

1
E57: Trump/Biden, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and US/China 1:15:04

10M ago1:15:04

1:15:04

This week Noah Smith joins Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg to discuss the overuse of the term “fascism,” what has led to the capabilities of China and the U.S., and much more. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. This episode is a collaboration with one of Turpentine's biggest shows, Econ…

1
E56: Balaji Srinivasan and Nathan Labenz on How AI Will Shape the Future & AI Gods 2:10:56

10M ago2:10:56

2:10:56

Balaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled. Moment of Zen is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period. This episode is a feed drop of one of Turpentine's biggest shows, The Cognitive Revolution, where Nathan Labenz and Erik …

1
E55: How Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Peter Thiel, and George Soros Reshape Society 58:12

10M ago58:12

58:12

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg dive deep into the concept of a 'live player', and compare and contrast three prominent live players: Peter Thiel, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk—discussing their impacts, motivations, and differing views on societal change. This episode is a feed drop of our newest show at Turpentine, Live Players, where Erik and Samo anal…

1
E54: Who Is Beff Jezos? Beff on Being Doxxed, the e/acc movement, and Crypto & AI Crossover 1:44:48

11M ago1:44:48

1:44:48

Beff Jezos, the anonymous co-founder of the e/acc movement (effective accelerationism) had his identity revealed on Friday night by Forbes reporters. He gives the inside story to Antonio Garcia Martinez, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, his e/acc cofounder bayeslord, and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz. They discuss anonymity, the me…

1
E53: Dominic Cummings on Elon, Techies in Politics, and New Elitism 1:49:34

11M ago1:49:34

1:49:34

Erik Torenberg and Antonio Garcia Martinez sit down with political strategist + former chief adviser to Boris Johnson's right hand Dominic Cummings who is known for architecting Brexit. They discuss whether Brexit actually saved Britain from the far right, the San Francisco homelessness complex, the 2024 election, educational polarization, & more. …

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Zen Garcia Podcasts

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