Latest Interviews

Investing in China: Key Themes to Watch

Christina Ma, Liz

Chinese equities have demonstrated strong performance with key firms like Tencent and CATL surging over 50%, driven by themes in domestic consumption and renewable energy. Structural reforms, particularly the launch of the STAR Market, are facilitating major technological IPOs while regulators push to institutionalize a market currently dominated by retail trading. Despite this growth, significant potential remains for institutionalization as household wealth in China remains heavily concentrated in property rather than equities, prompting investors to optimize access through QFII or Stock Connect channels.

World Leading Psychologist: How To Succeed In Life & World: Jamil Qureshi

Jamil Qureshi

A performance psychology expert argues that sustainable success relies on daily mindset shifts and "teachability" rather than fixed goals or raw talent. The presentation details how leaders can foster innovation by reframing change as collaborative experiments and prioritizing strengths over weaknesses to maximize individual accountability. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes that future organizational competitiveness depends on cultivating agile, divergent thinking cultures that embrace failure as essential progress.

Dmitri Dolgov: Waymo and the Future of Self-Driving Cars | Lex Fridman Podcast #147

Dmitri Dolgov, Lex Fridman

Waymo has officially launched the first at-scale, fully autonomous Level 4/5 passenger service in Phoenix, utilizing its proprietary fifth-generation Jaguar I-PACE fleet equipped with a custom sensor suite of 29 cameras, 5 LiDAR units, and 6 radars. This October 8 commercial debut marks a strategic shift from controlled testing to public operation, where high market demand already exceeds current fleet capacity and the system prioritizes smooth, professional driving behavior over traditional human habits. Built on a legacy of extensive multi-city testing and a 2013 pivot to driverless technology, the platform relies on massive-scale data processing and a multi-modal sensing philosophy to ensure safety without remote teleoperation or reliance on future vehicle-to-vehicle infrastructure.

Michael Mina: Rapid Testing, Viruses, and the Engineering Mindset | Lex Fridman Podcast #146

Michael Mina, Lex Fridman

Dr. Michael Mina advocates for scaling rapid antigen testing as a primary solution to halt community transmission, arguing that regulatory classifications currently treat these low-cost public health tools as expensive medical devices. He proposes establishing a "Public Health Engineering" framework to monitor viral spread through anonymous plasma data while warning of severe pandemic risks posed by influenza evolution and engineered pathogens. This approach seeks to replace reactive medical protocols with scalable, individual-driven data collection to mitigate future biological threats.

Richard Rothstein, Author of "The Color of Law"

Richard Rothstein, Margaret Anadu

Historian Richard Rothstein demonstrates that U.S. residential segregation stems from explicit federal policies, such as FHA loan restrictions and exclusionary zoning, which systematically denied Black families the intergenerational wealth built by white homeowners in the mid-20th century. Although the Supreme Court eventually struck down early racial zoning laws, subsequent government actions like Nixon's cancellation of George Romney's "Open Communities" program effectively maintained these divides, leaving deep economic inequalities that persist today. Rothstein argues that while policy solutions have long existed, the primary obstacle remains a lack of political will, though he points to modern civil rights movements as a potential catalyst for the legislative pressure needed to enforce true integration.

What’s Driving the Latest Wave of IPOs?

Jane Dunlevie, Liz

Goldman Sachs describes a structural shift in its IPO business since 2018, transitioning from a slow era to a super cycle where annual billion-dollar listings average nearly $20 billion in valuation. Tech companies have driven this wave by adapting to pandemic-era consumer demands, while non-traditional pathways like direct listings and creative lockup structures now define market innovation alongside a compressed 2023 issuance window. Investors continue to favor firms with durable competitive advantages, and Goldman Sachs forecasts sustained high volumes of public offerings driven by technological growth and favorable interest rate conditions.

Dr. Naureen Starling, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden

Dr. Naureen Starling, Richard

Dr. Noreen Starling leverages her gastroenterology background to lead clinical initiatives at the Royal Marsden Hospital, focusing on high-complexity bowel, pancreatic, esophageal, and gastric cancers while establishing COVID-free treatment hubs. Strategic partnerships with the Crick Institute, Goldman Sachs, and Grail have enabled a pilot of 165,000 patients using liquid biopsy and methylated DNA tests to accelerate early detection and reduce hospital infection risks. Recent regulatory approvals for targeted therapies and ongoing NICE reviews for immunotherapy aim to transform treatment for specific genetic subtypes despite persistent systemic barriers to early diagnosis.

E15: “The Besties” All-In’s inaugural award show covering the best, worst & most memorable of 2020

Chamath, David Sacks

This comprehensive analysis evaluates 2020's financial and political landscape by highlighting massive investment returns for entities like Airbnb, Tesla, and Moderna alongside stark losses for small businesses and traditional media. Political outcomes are attributed to Joe Biden's centrist victory and strategic moves by figures like Jim Clyburn, while the year's most significant business pivot remains Airbnb's turnaround from workforce reductions to an $88 billion IPO. The discussion further examines how the pandemic accelerated scientific breakthroughs in mRNA and protein prediction, fundamentally shifting cultural dynamics regarding trust in institutions and the rise of digital entertainment.

What is history's deadliest pandemic?

A comprehensive analysis reveals malaria's profound historical role in shaping human migration, the transatlantic slave trade, and the geopolitical outcomes of World War II through its influence on genetics, economies, and military campaigns. While global infection rates have declined due to advanced treatments and targeted strategies like Senegal's genomic surveillance, the legacy of DDT usage remains linked to the origins of the modern environmental movement. Current eradication efforts face significant hurdles as researchers repurpose genomic tools for new pathogens while struggling to secure the estimated $2.7 billion in annual funding required to eliminate the disease by mid-century.

David Mussafer, Managing Partner of Advent International

David Mussafer, Alison

Advent Global partner Mussifer distinguishes the current economic crisis from historical downturns, projecting a nine-to-twelve-month recovery that accelerates the divergence between weak and resilient enterprises. Drawing on the strategic missteps of the O-Cedar acquisition, he emphasizes that elite investors must prioritize robust management teams and sound deal structuring over mere company quality. Ultimately, Mussifer argues that high-performing professionals succeed by separating great businesses from great investments, a skill he believes will drive an optimistic outlook for the S&P 500 within the coming year.

Kara Medoff Barnett, Executive Director of American Ballet Theatre

Kara Medoff Barnett, Ian Drayton

American Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Cara Madoff-Barnett is steering the company toward an 80-year future by prioritizing "diversity and dynamism" alongside a rigorous leadership philosophy rooted in resilience. Following the pandemic, ABT successfully pivoted to digital engagement through initiatives like "ABT Together Tonight" and outdoor performances in non-traditional venues, reaching over 75,000 viewers and redefining audience accessibility. This strategic fusion of physical and digital formats aims to sustain the organization's growth by breaking down traditional barriers and celebrating individual artistic narratives.

Evan Osnos, Author of "Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now"

Evan Osnos, Joe Biden, Jake Seward

Interviewer Jake Seward and author Evan Osnos analyze President Biden's political psychology, linking his resilience against childhood tragedy and his early 1972 Senate bid to a governing philosophy that balances personal agency with the acceptance of uncontrollable fate. The discussion outlines Biden's distinct negotiation style, his strategic redefinition of the vice presidency as a substantive partnership with Kamala Harris, and the incoming administration's intent to bypass legislative gridlock through immediate executive action on climate and bureaucratic repair. Furthermore, the narrative details Biden's commitment to rebuilding diplomatic alliances amidst global uncertainty while adopting a conventional media relationship that contrasts sharply with his predecessor's approach.

Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Dr. Seth Berkley

Since its launch at the World Economic Forum, Gavi has immunized 820 million children by deploying 496 new vaccines through an income-based funding model. At the event, Gavi and COVAX outlined a strategy to deliver 2 billion doses by 2021, prioritizing single-dose regimens and logistics to address production scaling and regulatory hurdles. Dr. Berkley emphasized that equitable, phased global vaccination is mathematically superior to national hoarding, potentially preventing 63% of deaths even with limited supply.

A Record Year In Corporate Financing

Yasmine Coupal, Yasmeen, Liz

Goldman Sachs co-head Yasmeen reports that 2020 investment grade issuance surged to $1.9 trillion, driven by corporate liquidity accumulation, refinancing risk management, and favorable market conditions. The bank forecasts a normalization to $1.3 to $1.4 trillion in 2021 as M&A financing returns, though sector-specific regulatory hurdles and deleveraging priorities will constrain large-cap deals. While widespread downgrades are deemed unlikely due to forward-looking rating methodologies and vaccine-driven recovery, the event highlights lasting structural shifts toward higher cash buffers and extended maturities.

Essential Startup Advice During a Pandemic

Geoff Ralston, Alex Wilhelm, Jeff

Following a brief market slowdown, Y Combinator has observed a return to risk-on sentiment with application rates matching pre-pandemic levels while maintaining seamless remote operations. The accelerator now prioritizes a "default alive" strategy that urges founders to conserve cash, hire with discipline, and focus on revenue generation rather than aggressive growth. Despite vaccine optimism, YC advises startups to ignore long-term pandemic timelines in favor of immediate execution, positioning them to capitalize on the permanent digital shift and emerging opportunities in fintech and global market expansion.