hosted by Austen Allred and Conor White-Sullivan from Zion, Utah
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In this weekly series, fellow startup founders Immad Akhund (Mercury) and Rajat Suri (Presto, Lima, and Lyft) explore current events in the world of tech, startup, and policy, offering insights from their distinguished careers and an array of expert guests. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityPodcast Substack: https://curiositypodcast.substack.com/
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In The Arena is where entrepreneurs and leaders share stories of the biggest crises of their careers and lives – and how they made it through. Host (and founder herself) Jesse Genet goes beyond the headlines to interview leaders about the most challenging moments they've ever faced – from total business collapse, to public scandals, even being sentenced to prison. Along with special guest co-hosts, In The Arena revisits the crucible experiences and reveals what it was actually like in the ro ...
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The Evolution of the Film Industry with Writer and Producer Bill Guttentag
55:46
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In this episode of the Curiosity Podcast, Immad and Raj interview Bill Guttentag for a discussion on the evolution of the film industry. Bill is an award-winning writer and producer, best known for his films You Don’t Have to Die, Nanking, and Crime & Punishment. The conversation explores the creative process, how new technology will impact tomorro…
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Future of Politics and How Leaders are Chosen with Gautam Mukunda, Author of “Picking Presidents”
1:02:12
1:02:12
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Leadership expert and author Gautam Mukunda joins Immad and Raj for an in-depth discussion on the systems that determine leaders in business and politics. Gautam shares what makes a great leader, touching on leadership in both business and politics. They dissect observable patterns on leadership that can give us insight into the upcoming U.S. presi…
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Distinguishing AI Deepfakes From Reality with Ben Colman, Co-Founder and CEO of Reality Defender
49:28
49:28
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In a world where distinguishing between reality and generative AI is becoming increasingly more difficult, how can we protect ourselves from being influenced by hyper-realistic reproductions of an individual’s voice and likeness? Ben Colman, Co-Founder and CEO of Reality Defender, shares how their technology is currently being used to detect genera…
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Future of National Security and American Politics with Miles Taylor
57:20
57:20
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Miles Taylor, former chief of staff of the Department of Homeland Security, joins Immad and Raj for a discussion on emerging technologies and national security. They discuss whether AI will be a useful tool or existential threat to national security and American Democracy, and explore how this new technology is already affecting the 2024 election. …
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How Viral Gene Therapy will Revolutionize Cancer Treatment with Nicole Paulk, Founder, Siren Biotech
57:10
57:10
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Will new advancements in biotech soon help us treat rare diseases? Immad and Raj explore this question with Nicole Paulk, Founder and CEO of Siren Biotechnology, who shares how viral gene therapy has the potential to cure a wide variety of illnesses. The conversation explores the biotech field at large, how viral gene therapy works, and what medica…
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Future of Women’s Healthcare and Biowearables with Loewen Cavill, Co-Founder and CEO of Amira
56:51
56:51
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In this episode, Imamd and Raj interview Loewen Cavill, Cofounder and CEO of Amira. Loewen is an expert in women’s healthcare, particularly as it relates to menopause. This conversation explores how societal taboos around menopause have stymied the creation of health products and treatments, how our hormonal systems impact our health, what role AI …
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Future of In-Home Appliances and Power Offsets with Sam D’Amico, Founder and CEO of Impulse Labs
48:34
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In this episode, Imamd and Raj interview Sam D’Amico, Founder and CEO of Impulse Labs. Sam shares the technology behind Impulse Labs’ innovative, powerful cooktop that touts faster cooking times and energy efficiency. This discussion investigates why traditional appliances have been slow to change over the past 50 years, and how new developments in…
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Revolutionizing Computer Science Education with Austen Allred, Co-Founder and CEO of BloomTech
1:01:04
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In this episode of the Curiosity Podcast, Immad and Raj explore the next evolution of education with Austen Allred, Co-Founder and CEO of BloomTech. Austen shares his unlikely journey to founding an education start-up, and how our current education system is failing students. This conversation explores how to mitigate the risks inherent with pursui…
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Fixing San Francisco’s Broken Local Politics with GrowSF
56:46
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On this episode of the Curiosity Podcast, Immad and Raj explore the challenges facing San Francisco’s local politics with Sachin Agarwal and Steven Buss, co-founders of GrowSF. GrowSF is a nonprofit aiming to influence the local politics of San Francisco by informing and mobilizing voters. The discussion begins with a look back at how San Francisco…
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Future of Sustainable Fuels with Rob McGinnis, Founder and CEO of Prometheus
1:15:30
1:15:30
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In this episode, Immad and Raj discuss the emerging field of zero net carbon fuels with Prometheus Fuels Founder and CEO, Rob McGinnis. Rob shares the process for removing CO2 from the air and converting it into fuels that can power planes, automobiles, and much more. Tune in to learn how this new development may one day change the future of energy…
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mRNA and the Future of Biotechnology with Hannu Rajaniemi, Founder and CEO of Helix Nanotechnologies
1:07:21
1:07:21
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In this episode, Immad and Raj discuss biotechnology with Hannu Rajaniemi, Founder and CEO of Helix Nanotechnologies. Hannu shares the potential of mRNA as a platform for various applications, including lab-grown meat, cancer treatment, and customized vaccines. Hannu’s broad thinking and ability to tie biotech to social impact make for an engaging …
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Manufacturing in Low Earth Orbit with Delian Asparouhov, Co-Founder of Varda Space Industries
1:07:50
1:07:50
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In this episode, Immad and Raj interview Delian Asparouhov, a Partner at Founders Fund and the Co-Founder of the space-manufacturing startup Varda. Delian shares his insights on the potential of space manufacturing and how overcoming the difficult challenge of atmospheric reentry will be the key to opening manufacturing in orbit. Delian's backgroun…
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The Emerging Field of Wildfire Technology with Maxwell Brodie, Co-Founder and CEO of Rain Industries
53:35
53:35
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In this episode, Immad and Raj interview Maxwell Brodie, the Co-Founder and CEO of Rain Industries. Maxwell share how Rain and other tech pioneers are leveraging new technology, such as early detection and autonomous vehicles, to curb the increasing threat of wildfires by rapidly reducing response time. With wildfires becoming more severe and wides…
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The Future of Generative AI Video with Cristóbal Valenzuela, CEO and Co-Founder of Runway
51:24
51:24
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Join Immad and Rajat for an in-depth discussion at the intersection of science and art as they chat Cristóbal Valenzuela, CEO and Co-Founder at Runway. Runway’s technology is revolutionizing creativity by leveraging AI to create photorealistic motion pictures. In this episode, Cristóbal shares how AI will enable more creativity through augmentation…
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Future of Carbon Removal Technology with Peter Reinhardt, CEO and Co-Founder of Charm Industrial
52:23
52:23
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Join Immad and Rajat for a deep dive into the technology being used to combat climate change with Peter Reinhardt, CEO and Co-Founder of Charm Industrial, a company that specializes in carbon removal. In this episode, Peter shares how Charm is leveraging pyrolysis and dry oil wells to remove carbon from the atmosphere, why companies are beginning t…
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E10: Match Group’s Sam Yagan on Unexpectedly Becoming the CEO of the Public Company that Acquired You
1:23:39
1:23:39
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Today we are thrilled to have Sam Yagan, co-founder of OKCupid and ultimately the CEO of Match Group through its rapid growth and IPO. Sam takes us behind the scenes of OKCupid’s gripping acquisition process (including phone calls from the delivery room). He also dives into his unlikely journey of being selected successor to his acquirer -- becomin…
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E9: Ryan Hudson of Honey on Being Targeted by a Tech Giant, Getting Acquired for $4B, and the Great Personal Struggles Founding a Company No One Will Fund
1:18:41
1:18:41
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Ryan Hudson, the co-founder of Honey (which sold to PayPal for $4B in 2019) sits down with Jesse Genet and Ryan Caldbeck for a rare interview about his rollercoaster trajectory, so emblematic of the startup struggle - but with an M&A ending. Ryan dives into what it was like at the startup's early days when Honey was unattractive to investors, the g…
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Psychedelics and therapy with Dr. Jeeshan Chowdhury, Founder / CEO of Journey Colab
51:00
51:00
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Immad and Raj talk to Psychedelics therapy expert Dr. Jeeshan Chowdhury, Founder / CEO of Journey Colab Key topics: The history of psychedelics Role of them in therapeutical settings Why psychedelics have been misunderstood What the future holds for this and other drugs Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiosity…
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E8: Oren Aks on Marketing the Fyre Fest, the Infamous Cheese Sandwich, and Why Our Culture Can’t Look Away from Colossal Failure
1:14:46
1:14:46
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Oren Aks was a designer at Fuck Jerry Media, the agency behind the signature marketing of the now-infamous Fyre Festival of 2016. In this episode, Oren recounts his ground-level realization that the festival was a fraud, sharing new details about the debacle chronicled in two documentaries. Oren also tells us about the backlash he experienced after…
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E7: Ryan Caldbeck on “Terrifying Growth”, Managing Mental Heath, and Radical Sharing
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54:39
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Ryan Caldbeck is a tech founder, investor, and former CEO of CircleUp, which raised over $50M in venture capital during his tenure. Ryan is especially well known for his personal writings in the form of thought-provoking twitter threads where he chronicles his struggles with mental health, extreme leadership pressures, and sheds light on conflicts …
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Inflation, China, immigration and rabbits with Macroeconomist Noah Smith
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53:57
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Immad and Raj talk to popular macroeconomics writer Noah Smith, formerly of Bloomberg. Key topics: Inflation and the current state of the economy, plus future risks America's relationship with China and how we should play our cards Immigration and our labor market, and some thoughts for how things will change Rabbits! Follow the Curiosity Podcast o…
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E6: Host Jesse Genet on Selling Her Startup While 8 months Pregnant
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On today’s episode, In The Arena's very own Jesse Genet is in the hotseat. Jesse dives into her biggest crucible moment as the CEO of Lumi: deciding to halt a Series B fundraise and navigating the subsequent conversations with the board, employees affected by layoffs, and acquirers. RECOMMENDED PODCAST: The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will…
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E5: Martin Shkreli on Public Vilification, Leadership Lessons from Prison, and Getting Back in the Arena
1:20:52
1:20:52
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Biotech founder and investor Martin Shkreli joins Jesse Genet and Erik Torenberg on In The Arena to dissect his controversies and crises through the lens of leadership. Martin goes deep into the decisions, mindset, and unforeseen logistics that led to him serving time in prison, the lessons he took away about tech and founding startups, and how he …
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E4: Sophia Amoruso on Nasty Gal and Girlboss: Burnout, Backlash, and Rebounding
48:36
48:36
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Sophia Amoruso reflects on being the poster child of entrepreneurship with Nasty Gal and Girlboss, going from the cover of Forbes to bankruptcy in a matter of months. Jesse Genet and co-host Erik Torenberg talk to Sophia about what it’s actually like at the red-hot center of the zeitgeist, how to assess your own leadership strengths and weaknesses,…
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All things biotech with MIT Professor and Moderna co-founder Bob Langer
55:51
55:51
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Immad and Raj talk with the 'Edison of Medicine' Bob Langer - founder of over 40 biotech companies, including Moderna. Key topics: What does the future of drug delivery and tissue engineering look like? How has Bob managed to make a career in academia so entrepreneurial? What can we do to maximize innovation in biotech? Follow the Curiosity Podcast…
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Space and other tech to improve the human condition with George Whitesides, ex-CEO of Virgin Galactic
1:05:41
1:05:41
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Immad and Raj sit down with former Virgin Galactic CEO, Wildfire VC and current Congressional candidate George Whitesides for a wide-ranging conversation on multiple fascinating topics! Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositypod101/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curiosity_podcast101?is_from_webapp=1&sender_…
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E3: Nathaniel Whittemore on FTX's Downfall: SBF's Lies and Confidantes, Binance, and Culture Chaos
59:24
59:24
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Nathaniel Whittemore is the host of The Breakdown, the world’s biggest daily crypto podcast, and a former Marketing and Strategy Specialist at FTX. Nathaniel took no part in the activities that led to FTX’s downfall, but his insights and observations are equal parts horrifying and enlightening. Host Jesse Genet and Co-host Erik Torenberg talk to Na…
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The Rapidly Changing Landscape in Media and Content with Chris Best, CEO of Substack
53:45
53:45
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Immad and Rajat go deep with Chris Best on how the written media landscape is rapidly evolving and how Substack's business model could transform the way we consume and build relationships with creators Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositypod101/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curiosity_podcast101?is_from_…
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E2: Austen Allred on BloomTech’s Saga and Transformation: Lawsuits, RIFs, and Founder Rabbitholes
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Austen is the CEO and founder of BloomTech, an education platform famous for pioneering income sharing agreements instead of charging tuition. His company has forever altered thousands of students' lives for the better, but having a huge positive impact doesn't make actually running and growing a company easy. Host Jesse Genet and co-host Erik Tore…
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E1: Emil Michael on Uber: #DeleteUber, China, and Apple
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51:44
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Emil Michael was the Chief Business Officer at Uber during their meteoric and incomparable growth from 2013 to 2017, as well as CEO Travis Kalanick’s right hand. Few leaders in tech have accomplished so much in terms of raw users and revenue growth. Few leaders in tech have also personally experienced so much turmoil. Host Jesse Genet and Co-host E…
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In The Arena is where entrepreneurs and leaders share stories of the biggest crises of their careers and lives – and how they made it through. Host (and founder herself) Jesse Genet goes beyond the headlines to interview leaders about the most challenging moments they've ever faced – from total business collapse, to public scandals, even being sent…
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The Future of Nuclear Tech with Yasir Arafat
1:02:42
1:02:42
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Immad and Raj have a wide-ranging conversation on how nuclear tech will revolutionize the future of energy with Yasir Arafat, MARVEL Chief Designer & Project Lead at Idaho National Laboratory. Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositypod101/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curiosity_podcast101?is_from_webapp=1&…
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How AI will change creativity with Dave Rogenmoser, CEO of Jasper.AI
1:01:55
1:01:55
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Immad and Raj have a wide-ranging conversation on how AI will impact creative roles with the CEO of rapidly growing Jasper.AI, Dave Rogenmoser. Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositypod101/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curiosity_podcast101?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com…
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How AI will change programming with Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit
1:03:22
1:03:22
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ollow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositypod101/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@curiosity_podcast101?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityPodcast Substack: https://curiositypodcast.substack.com/ Follow the Curiosity Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiosi…
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In this episode, Austen interviews Conor's dad, J. Michael Sullivan, about the experience of raising Conor - whether that involved Conor getting kicked out of summer camp or dealing yerba mate out of his campus dorm. Mr. Sullivan shares some thoughts on dedication in the face of difficulty, and having faith in your kids. Video version on YouTube!…
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#3 Placebo Exorcism? w/ Conor White-Sullivan and Austen Allred | RADIO FREE ZION
1:47:21
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In the third episode of Radio Free Zion, Conor and Austen discuss Elizabeth Holmes' dog, 'unknown knowns', politics as religion, Carl Jung, Fiddler on the Roof, and maintaining perspective when your means grow faster than anticipated. Now on YouTube!
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#2 The Age of Unlimited Opportunity w/ Jason Crawford, Roots of Progress | RADIO FREE ZION
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Jason Crawford is the founder of The Roots of Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a new philosophy of progress for the 21st century. He writes extensively on the concepts of progress, origins of innovation, the history of the bicycle, and the concept of Minimum Viable Culture. Formerly, Jason was co-founder & CEO of Fieldbook, a hybrid …
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#1 Let's Discuss Something New w/ Conor White-Sullivan
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Introducing Radio Free Zion with Austen Allred and Conor White-Sullivan. Topics discussed: The heresy required to discover new things Newton spent 1/3 of his time studying religion, 1/3 studying alchemy, and 1/3 creating Newtonian physics The new tradeoffs introduced with new technology Thanks to our sponsors: Zencastr.com (which we use to create t…
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