Latest Interviews
Showing 4756–4770 of 9,673 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Goldman Sachs24 min
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon on the economy, markets and the firm's performance
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and economists reassess the 2023 macroeconomic outlook as a soft landing becomes more probable, citing stickier inflation and cautious CEO sentiment amid geopolitical and cyber risks. The firm reported a 10.2% return on equity for 2022, driven by strategic reorganizations that merged banking and asset management divisions to enhance market share and target $10 billion in fees by 2024. Looking ahead, leadership emphasizes a shift toward multi-year resilience and long-term growth in artificial intelligence and clean energy, with key financial details slated for an investor day on February 28, 2023.
- Y Combinator21 min
The Hard Conversations Founders Don't Want to Have
Michael Seibel, Dalton Caldwell
This session outlines the critical shift from superficial validation to high-stakes, uncomfortable dialogue between YC partners and founders, emphasizing that true advisory value lies in delivering honest feedback that prevents catastrophic errors. The discussion details how to navigate common "questions behind the questions" in founder interactions, manage co-founder conflicts through adapted communication styles, and maintain transparency with employees to prevent relationship fractures. Ultimately, the event establishes that effective leadership requires partners to leverage their own past mistakes to guide startups through difficult decisions without relying on infallible authority.
- The Economist26 min
Putin's hidden war: the Russians fighting back
Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin intensified its transition to complete tyranny by systematically purging dissent, blocking 250 media channels, and neutralizing opposition figures like Alexei Navalny. In response to this repression and a subsequent partial military mobilization that prompted 750,000 citizens to flee, activists shifted from mass protests to individual acts of defiance and digital resistance while abroad. As the regime maintains internal control despite conflicting casualty estimates, analysts and activists such as Marina Litvinovich argue that political change will likely depend on a future shift in public perception driven by battlefield losses rather than domestic unrest.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 31m
Lucy Hale Opens Up For The First Time About Eating Disorders, Relationships & Addiction | E224
Actress Lucy Hale publicly disclosed her sobriety since January 2022, detailing a two-decade battle with alcoholism, anorexia, and severe body dysmorphia driven by childhood trauma and the intense pressures of starring in *Pretty Little Liars*. After recognizing that career success and external validation failed to address her deep-seated feelings of unworthiness and self-sabotage, she credits the loss of a mentor and the guidance of her grandmother as catalysts for her decision to prioritize healing over fame. Currently single and focused on self-compassion, Hale aims to build a grounded life centered on sustainability and authenticity while using her past struggles to foster empathy and connect with others.
Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger: The Founders of Instagram Reveal their New Project "Artifact" | E981
Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, Josh Kushner, Harry Stebbings
Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom have launched Artifact, a machine-learning-driven news platform designed to prioritize personalized content discovery over traditional social graph mechanics. After delaying their release for eighteen months to perfect the product, the duo assembled a lean team of seven focused on raw talent and rapid execution to navigate the complexities of algorithmic recommendation. Their strategy targets long-term user retention by framing AI as a tool to serve individual needs rather than maximize corporate engagement, aiming to reshape how society consumes information.
- a16z1h 3m
The Challenge of Replicating Reality with Steve Zhao from SandboxVR
Founded by Steve Zhao in 2016, Sandbox VR transformed from a mobile gaming venture into a leading location-based entertainment provider by pivoting to high-fidelity social experiences and securing rapid profitability through viral highlight videos. Despite facing a severe revenue collapse during the pandemic that forced a Chapter 11 filing and an 80% workforce reduction, the company survived by hibernating operations and renegotiating leases with landlords who funded new expansions. Now positioning itself as a premium "out-of-home" alternative to movie theaters, Sandbox leverages wireless streaming technology and major intellectual property partnerships like *Star Trek* and *Squid Game* to scale its physical footprint and deliver content that generates ten times the value of standard mobile or console gaming.
- Goldman Sachs31 min
Are we on the cusp of a generative AI revolution?
Eric Sheridan, Kash Rangan, Allison Nathan
Goldman Sachs experts predict a rapid 12 to 18-month acceleration in consumer-facing generative AI, shifting technology from predictive forecasting to autonomous content creation that drives enterprise productivity and labor market transformation. This evolution will consolidate market power among established cloud infrastructure giants while redefining search and software interfaces through conversational models and automated workflows across supply chain management and creative sectors. Although high development barriers and ethical safeguards will shape the landscape, the sector is projected to expand its global economic share by replacing traditional information retrieval with actionable, natural-language solutions that augment rather than solely replace human labor.
Zach Lawryk: The Ultimate Guide to Sales Engineering | E980
The evolving sales landscape necessitates a strategic pivot from controlling the process to buyer enablement, requiring Sales Engineers to act as technical experts who tie solutions to business value while Account Executives manage the final close. Organizations typically hire their first Sales Engineer when sales teams reach five to seven representatives or when deal complexity exceeds the sales rep's technical capacity, establishing a 5:1 ratio with a 70/30 compensation split to align incentives. Success in this model depends on hiring candidates who blend technical depth with sales empathy and adopting short-form, multi-channel content strategies to capture attention in a saturated digital environment.
- Lex Fridman3h 7m
Tim Urban: Tribalism, Marxism, Liberalism, Social Justice, and Politics | Lex Fridman Podcast #360
Tim Urban, Lex Fridman, Liv Boeree
Tim Urban argues that human progress is critically endangered by a shift from evidence-based "high-rung" thinking to emotion-driven tribalism, a dynamic that has hijacked institutions through cancel culture and social justice fundamentalism. He warns that while technological advancements like AI present both existential risks and utopian potential, their safe navigation depends on restoring liberal democratic norms that value dissent over enforced orthodoxy. The path forward requires courageous leadership to resist mob mentality and foster an intellectual environment where disagreement is treated as a collaborative tool rather than a personal attack.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 50m
The Health Expert: The One Food (WE ALL EAT) That's Killing Us Slowly: Max Lugavere | E223
Health and science journalist Max Lugavere leverages a decade of medical research and personal tragedy to argue that ultra-processed foods and ideological dietary dogmas are primary drivers of the modern obesity and cognitive decline epidemics. By synthesizing data on metabolic health, he advocates for whole-food, meat-inclusive diets and novel lifestyle habits like sauna use to improve health span rather than merely extend lifespan. Lugavere further emphasizes that balancing beneficial stress with psychological healing is essential for reversing neurodegenerative trends and fostering resilience against the "comfort crisis."
Aloe Blacc: The Secret to Songwriting & Storytelling; Working w/ Avicii on “Wake Me Up” | 20VC #979
Aloe Blacc, Avicii, Harry Stebbings
Aloe Black transitioned from a health sector consulting layoff to a full-time music career that prioritizes parental presence and creative autonomy through rapid songwriting sessions and a refusal of traditional industry infrastructure. Beyond his musical achievements, including the hit "Wake Me Up" with Avicii, Black founded a biotech firm to develop SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics by framing philanthropy as enterprise to secure venture capital. Looking ahead to 2028, he plans to advance his biotech venture into Phase 3 trials while launching a television series to demystify his creative process, all while maintaining a strict travel limit to preserve his marriage and family life.
- The Economist14 min
Why Nigeria is crucial to democracy in Africa
Peter Obi, Buhari, Mustafa, Jonathan Rosenthal, Temadayo Onushun, Aisha Nyako
Nigeria, Africa's most populous democracy, faces a severe democratic deterioration driven by a multifaceted security crisis and systemic vote-selling that erodes public trust in state institutions. A stark generational divide between an aging political elite and a youthful majority, characterized by median age of 18 and rampant unemployment, has catalyzed a shift from street protests to active electoral engagement as seen in the 2023 general election. While youth-led movements like the Young Progressives and the 2023 Peter Obi campaign signal a potential political awakening, the long-term sustainability of this momentum hinges on the state's ability to resolve entrenched economic hardship and insecurity before disillusionment sets in.
- 80,000 Hours2h 36m
Kelsey Piper on the room for important advocacy within journalism
Kelsey Piper, Rob Wiblin, Kieran Harris, Michelle Hutchinson
Journalist Kelsey Piper discusses Future Perfect, a Rockefeller Foundation-funded vertical at Vox that produces deep, non-polarizing reporting on effective altruism and existential risks while operating independently of traditional page-view incentives. The team employs a high-volume editorial strategy featuring daily story pitches and fact-checking to cover complex topics like AI safety and factory farming, aiming to reach broad audiences without relying on clickbait. Piper further outlines the structural challenges of modern journalism, the necessity of grant-funded models for public-interest work, and the specific skills required for writers to navigate a shrinking, highly competitive media landscape.
- All-In Podcast1h 31m
E116: Toxic out-of-control trains, regulators, and AI
Lina Khan, Chamath, Calacanis, Friedberg, Jason
David Sacks and MrBeast raised $450,000 through live poker streams for charitable causes, sparking debate over media narratives regarding MrBeast's cataract surgery. The panelists also dissected the East Palestine train derailment, critiqued FTC Chair Lina Khan's regulatory approach, and analyzed the potential impact of the *Gonzalez v. Google* ruling on Section 230 and platform censorship. Finally, the discussion highlighted perceived political bias within OpenAI's safety filters, arguing that market competition and user-selected algorithms offer better solutions than government regulation for managing AI ethics.
- Goldman Sachs16 min
Astro Teller, Captain of X, The Moonshot Factory with George Lee
Established over a decade ago as Google's moonshot laboratory, X incubates high-risk global solutions by prioritizing intellectual honesty and rapid experimentation over immediate commercial success. The organization distinguishes itself through a unique incentive structure that rewards employees for the quality of their data and the validity of their pivots, even when projects fail to meet operational targets. By fostering a cultural infrastructure where teams can safely explore radical ideas, X enables the creation of independent ventures and drives scalable innovation across sectors ranging from autonomous logistics to computational agriculture.