Latest Interviews
Showing 8311–8325 of 9,951 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist7 min
Can a cure for diabetes be found through surgery?
Peter Hansel, Professor Francesco Rubino
Despite the global surge of Type 2 diabetes affecting one in ten people by 2040, Professor Francesco Rubino's research demonstrates that gastric bypass surgery can induce immediate remission by correcting duodenal hormone signaling rather than relying solely on weight loss. While only 0.1% to 1% of eligible patients currently access this life-saving procedure, Rubino is leading clinical trials on non-invasive alternatives and driving updates to international guidelines that recognize surgery as a primary treatment option. This work provides critical biological evidence that challenges the "lifestyle disease" narrative, offering a pathway for future pharmaceutical cures to address the epidemic without requiring invasive intervention.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Future of Leadership and the Workforce in the Age of Prediction
Caroline Fairchild, Dave McKay, Mike McNamara, Igor Tulchinsky, Jeff Wong, Serena Ross, Nina Reese, Kathleen McCabe, Jeff Madgen
Executives from RBC, Flex, WorldQuant, and EY convened at the Milken Institute Global conference to challenge pessimistic workforce displacement forecasts, arguing that automation primarily drives productivity and creates demand for higher-skilled roles rather than eliminating jobs. These leaders outlined sector-specific adaptations where RBC migrated from physical branches to digital platforms, Flex deployed full-stack automation to manage complex manufacturing, and EY shifted training focus toward adaptability and grit. The panelists concluded that bridging the skills gap requires immediate reform of education systems to prioritize work-integrated learning, alongside organizational shifts toward agile structures to ensure workers can keep pace with rapid technological evolution.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
The Power of Mindfulness
Jay Shetty, Baron Baptiste, Goldie Hawn, Andy Puddicombe, Tim Ryan
Moderated by Jay Shetty, a panel of experts including Goldie Hawn, Andy Puddicombe, Baron Baptiste, and Congressman Tim Ryan demonstrated how mindfulness practices drive emotional regulation in children and enhance high performance in professional sports. Participants detailed evidence-based applications ranging from Goldie Hawn's "Mind Up" curriculum, which reduces classroom conflict by teaching neuroanatomy, to military interventions that significantly decrease medication reliance for veterans through trauma-informed breathwork. The session concluded with a unified call to normalize daily mindfulness training as preventative health maintenance across education, athletics, and government to foster a more resilient and empathetic society.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Educate, Elevate, Empower: Investing in Girls and Women
Katie O'Reilly, Nancy Armstrong, Brian O'Neil, Shiza Shahid, John Wood, Shelley Zalis, David Ettinger, Peter Bryant, Melissa Stiers, Heather
A panel of business leaders and philanthropists analyzed the persistent stagnation of women in Fortune 500 leadership and venture capital despite global educational gains, attributing the divide to entrenched unconscious bias and systemic structural barriers. Speakers highlighted successful interventions from organizations like Room to Read and Salesforce, while advocating for concrete policy shifts such as blind hiring, mandatory parental leave for men, and board quotas to accelerate parity. The discussion concluded with strategic recommendations for investors and mentors to prioritize diverse leadership teams and redefine corporate metrics beyond financial returns to drive sustainable social and economic equality.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Cryptocurrencies: Irrational Exuberance or Brave New World?
Anna Irrera, Bill Barhydt, Alex Mashinsky, Brent McIntosh, Nouriel Roubini
Industry leaders and regulators convened to debate the viability of cryptocurrencies amidst extreme volatility, with Nouriel Roubini condemning the sector as the "mother of all bubbles" while Bill Barheit and Alex Mashinsky championed its potential as programmable money. The discussion highlighted a sharp regulatory divide, as U.S. Treasury official Brent McIntosh outlined strict anti-money laundering goals even as the SEC moves to classify most ICOs as securities. Ultimately, the panel agreed that while early retail investors suffered significant losses, the ecosystem is currently transitioning from a speculative phase toward utility-driven applications like the Lightning Network.
- Goldman Sachs23 min
Jeremy Lin on His Unconventional Brand and Basketball Career
Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin is returning to the NBA after a two-year hiatus, explicitly framing his comeback through the lens of his Asian-American underdog identity and a strategic rejection of polarized media expectations. Drawing on a foundation built by his family's financial sacrifices and his own conversion to authenticity, Lin leverages social media to challenge stereotypes while balancing his athletic career with a commitment to Christian faith and future philanthropy focused on women's empowerment and education. Although he acknowledges ongoing physical uncertainties, the former Harvard graduate aims to sustain a public persona that integrates his diverse interests, including gaming and design, to advocate for global issues beyond his time on the court.
- a16z22 min
In Conversation: Netflix' Ted Sarandos and Marc Andreessen
During an exploration of Netflix's evolution from a domestic DVD service to a global streaming giant, the interviewee details the strategic tension between Silicon Valley data metrics and Hollywood creative instincts. Under Reed Hastings' guidance, the company pioneered a model that treats showrunners like startup founders, granting autonomous control to greenlight approximately 220 original projects annually with a rejection rate of 99%. This approach has enabled the production of authentic local content from 19 countries, successfully countering fears of cultural homogenization while managing the inherent risks of "false negatives" in an industry where successful adaptations often diverge significantly from their original pitches.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Mr. Speaker: A Conversation With Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan, Conrad Kiechel, Brian Sullivan
Concluding the Milken Institute Global Conference, House Speaker Paul Ryan addressed political polarization, the structural hurdles of the Senate filibuster, and the administration's "Better Way" economic agenda centered on tax reform and infrastructure. While declining to run for president again to prioritize his family, Ryan detailed legislative successes in aviation and veterans' affairs while warning that a split government following the 2018 midterms would result in dangerous gridlock. The interview further highlighted his strategies for addressing entitlement costs, labor market mismatches, and trade uncertainties, emphasizing that securing economic security is the most effective remedy for identity-based division.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
The Future of Health 2018
Tanisha Carino, Francis Collins, Diana DeGette, Jim Yong Kim, Michael Milken, Rajiv Shah
At a recent biomedical and economic conference, leaders discussed the transformative $3 billion 21st Century Cures Act and the ambitious "All of Us" program, which aims to recruit one million participants to generate personalized genomic and health data while addressing the opioid crisis through standardized research. Complementing these health initiatives, the World Bank introduced a Human Capital Index to rank nations on health and education outcomes, urging G20 leaders and investors to fund early development and infrastructure to mitigate global risks like automation-driven inequality and obesity-related economic burdens. These strategies collectively emphasize that sustained economic growth and stability depend on treating human capital investment as a critical driver of national sovereignty and future market resilience.
- Milken Institute59 min
Using Music to Make the World a Better Place
Doug Herzog, Hugh Evans, Michael Lang, Harvey Mason, Jr., French Montana, Diane Warren
Moderated by Doug Herzog, a panel of music industry leaders including Global Citizen founder Hugh Evans and Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang examined music's historical and modern capacity to drive political change. The discussion highlighted specific successes where artistic advocacy secured over $35 billion in aid commitments and forced corporate pledges, while also addressing the financial precarity of songwriters in the streaming era. Participants concluded that future social impact requires a strategic synergy between pop culture and public policy, urging artists to leverage their platforms for direct political engagement rather than relying solely on lyrical messaging.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Common Sense From Uncommon Investors
Michael Milken, Mark Attanasio, John Danhakl, Emanuel J. Friedman, George G. Hicks, Mitchell Julis
On May 1, 2018, moderator Michael Milken led a panel of five prominent investors, including Mitch Jewett of Canyon Partners and John Donahue of KKR, to discuss generating alpha through specialized expertise in distressed assets and private equity. The participants detailed their strategies for navigating complex restructurings like Caesars Entertainment and analyzing market inefficiencies caused by regulatory constraints and ETF dominance. This exchange highlighted how these firms leverage global reach and capital flexibility to achieve outsized returns while the panelists debated the timing of a banking sector recovery and the enduring value of alternative lending structures.
- Y Combinator48 min
Advice for Students and Recent Graduates on Finding Jobs – Liz Wessel of WayUp
WayUp co-founders and former Google associate product marketing manager and his partner Joel Flegelman launched their job platform after validating a user base of tens of thousands during their senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. Leveraging insights from mentor Roloff Botha and a strategic stint at Google, the duo differentiated the service from general job boards by utilizing rich, 360-degree candidate profiles to achieve a one-in-three hire rate. Today, the company operates under a distinct management philosophy that prioritizes personality alignment and skill-based hiring to help students navigate the transition into their careers.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
How to Be a Man in 2018
Richard Sandler, Michael Ian Black, Joanne Lipman, Kevin O'Leary, Alex Rodriguez
Moderated by Richard Sandler, a panel of business leaders and activists including Kevin O'Leary, Joanne Lipman, Michael Ian Black, and Alex Rodriguez argued that gender inequality is a detrimental business practice that harms productivity and financial returns. The discussion integrated diverse perspectives on systemic bias, with O'Leary citing performance data showing female-led companies outperform male-led counterparts, while panelists emphasized the need for men to embrace vulnerability and allyship to drive cultural change. Concluding that economic incentives and shared responsibility are the most effective drivers of progress, the group warned that avoiding cross-gender mentorship due to fear undermines organizational success and social equity.
- Lex Fridman58 min
Christof Koch: Consciousness | Lex Fridman Podcast #2
Neuroscientist Christoph Koch argues that while intelligent artificial intelligence may eventually pass the Turing test, true consciousness requires neuromorphic hardware that mimics the brain's causal power rather than mere algorithmic simulation. He supports this distinction by identifying the claustrum as a key binding structure for unified experience and introducing measurement techniques that can accurately distinguish conscious from unconscious states. Koch further contends that future advanced AI systems must be engineered with capacities for empathy and suffering to ensure moral alignment, suggesting that consciousness is essential for ethical behavior even if it is not strictly necessary for functional intelligence.
- Y Combinator1h 19m
Simon Benjamin on Architectures for Quantum Computing
Simon Benjamin, John Preskill, Craig Cannon
Driven by experimental progress surpassing the 99% fault-tolerance threshold, Oxford University's ion trap systems now achieve 99.9% gate fidelity, enabling the first viable implementations of quantum error correction. The research team proposes a modular networking architecture that links high-fidelity units via optical fibers and entanglement purification to scale toward useful applications like molecular simulation while avoiding the engineering bottlenecks of monolithic designs. By addressing hardware limitations through this approach, the project aims to demonstrate a fully linked two-module system within a year, bridging the gap between current quantum supremacy demonstrations and future large-scale computational utility.