Technology has enabled more people than ever to support their lives via online side projects. Steph is one of the people who understands this world well, having created multiple six-figure projects over the last few years. In this episode, Cal interviews Steph about her perspective on bringing an idea to life, managing your psychology, maintaining a reputation, how to price projects, and doing all of this while working a full-time job. Check out Internet Pipes: https://internetpipes.com/ Discoun...
Dec 29, 2024•1 hr 21 min
You probably spend more time at home than anywhere else. And how you feel about that time is heavily influenced by the design and functionality of your space. But how do you create a space that you truly enjoy? Unless you're an interior designer or have the resources to hire one, you may not know where to start and default to keeping things the way they are. That's okay, but what if you could make a few simple, affordable changes to enhance your experience at home? In this episode, Cal...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 3 min
You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t say their health is paramount, yet you'll be just as hard-pressed to find someone who knows what to do to "get there". While every person’s health journey is going to be unique, in this episode Cal and Steph share their experimentation across many of the major categories – from sleep to supplements and beyond. Of course, this podcast is for information purposes only and is not health or medical advice. Always consult a healthcare ...
Dec 01, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Everybody warns you that your body slows down with age, but that deterioration so sneaky, we continue to convince ourselves that we’re doing just fine. At least, that’s what happened to Steph over the past decade, going from an athlete in her youth to waking up one day without the fitness she once remembered. This episode is a walk through that story, but more importantly, how she got back on track and just ran her first half-marathon. This year, she’ll surpass over 500 miles and next year, the ...
Nov 17, 2024•57 min
In part 2 of our series in Japan, we dive into the how behind planning a trip there, from what is worth seeing, how to navigate the epic train system, their unintuitive review system, and more. After traveling to 40+ countries each, we’ve found Japan to be a unique beast, and hope this helps you navigate one of the best countries in the world. If you missed part 1 , start there! Resources discussed: Full list of Japan recommendations (in different cities) 📌 Pico Iyer’s Beginner’s Guide to Japan...
Nov 03, 2024•1 hr 23 min
We’re back with a whole new season. In our first episode back, we discuss everything from the wonderful to the wacky of Japan. You'll hear about an epic art island, specialty coffee and konbini (AKA convenience store food), 100+ year-old businesses, the philosophical ideas that make Japan such a distinct place, and much more. In our next episode, we get tactical and break down exactly how we would plan a future trip to Japan, in case that's something you've got on the horizon. Res...
Oct 27, 2024•1 hr 17 min
This is the 10th episode back for SYDLIS, so if you want us to continue creating new episodes for the podcast, let us know by leaving a review at ratethispodcast.com/learn . In this episode, Steph and Cal bring a medley of half-baked business ideas to the table. They introduce the origin story of each idea, rate it on a scale of A-F, discuss modifications that would make it better, and most importantly, roast each other when the idea is a little too half-baked. This episode is a part of the broa...
Nov 05, 2023•51 min
There is something out there that can make one person more productive and kind, while another inharmonious -- even resentful. That thing is identity. And while we passively adopt parts of identity, we often forget that much of our identity is left up to us. In this episode, Cal and Steph explore the depths of identity and how being intentional around what parts of your identity you adopt, shed, or embrace can lead to a more fulfilled life.
Oct 15, 2023•38 min
The internet has a treasure trove of information that you can use to generate business ideas, spot trends, and understand what the future will look like before everyone else. But to benefit from the internet's wealth of knowledge, you need to learn how to use it in the right ways. In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss four unconventional ways that you can use the internet to find good ideas for businesses and products that people actually want. You’ll learn how to: Use Twitter searches to ...
Oct 07, 2023•55 min
Writing is one of the most powerful tools on Earth. But few have mastered the craft. Perhaps because success in writing often actually veers you off course, leading you to a life of talking instead of living -- the very thing that drove the quality of your writing in the first place. One man -- (who has written several novels, thousands of poems, and hundreds of short stories) has some merciless takes on the art of writing. And although merciless, many ring true. In this episode, Cal and Steph d...
Sep 30, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Few waves have hit the world quite like remote work; a wave impacting billions of people overnight due to a worldwide pandemic. But in reality, this wave was brewing for decades and thousands of nomads had long been proving there was a different and viable way to work. Calvin and Steph were two of those people, starting in 2016. Now that the world has caught up, they decided to reflect back on what was so special about that period and what, in retrospect, they might've seen then that much o...
Sep 24, 2023•57 min
Few people inspire us more than Yayoi Kusama. Cal recently discovered this 94-year old's work while at the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Like many others, he was immediately gripped by her art – enough to be the only artist he looked up after his visit. Little did he know she was one of the world's most successful living artists, had been creating thousands of pieces across nearly a century, and has quite the storied past. In this episode, you'll learn about this incredible artist, from h...
Sep 18, 2023•40 min
Many people waddle through life without asking themselves a simple, but important question: What do I want? In this episode, Steph and Cal discuss how to figure out what you want and avoid some common traps that take you down unhelpful detours. The episode is based on two of Cal's recent articles, which you can read here: What Do You Want? Calvinball: The Only Game Worth Playing This episode is not affiliated with Steph's work at a16z and is for informational purposes only; should NOT ...
Sep 09, 2023•34 min
Some people argue for tipping. Some people argue against. But the one thing that unites most people with an opinion on the topic is a lack of understanding of where the practice came from in the first place. In this episode, Cal and Steph walk through the history of tip culture, how that led to vastly different norms around the world, and the confusing place we're left in today – especially in an era of Square terminals and where tipping seems to be infiltrating the unexpected. Has tip cult...
Sep 02, 2023•1 hr
The Master Somm test is widely recognized as one of, if not the hardest test in the world. Only 273 people have passed it since it was incepted in 1969, also making it one of the rarest distinctions out there (<0.00001% of the world!) In this episode, Steph and Cal discuss some of the hardest human feats, from athletics to intelligence to, and whether a healthy ambition can lie behind them. They also discuss where they've taken things the furthest, and where they're still driven to ...
Aug 26, 2023•59 min
After years of being nomadic, we embarked on an experiment of living in Encinitas. That experiment lasted 3 years, but provided us with a clearer view of what we wanted next. But could we get past the multi-year stand-off around location and find a place that fit both of our needs? Listen in to find out. This episode is not affiliated with Steph's work at a16z and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any...
Aug 19, 2023•59 min
ChatGPT broke records in adoption, hitting 100m monthly active users in a matter of months... faster than any other web platform prior. Even faster than TikTok! But with fast adoption comes equally swift resistance, surfacing questions around how this technology is changing the wider world. Should AI models be allowed in schools? How about the courtroom? Do stock image photographers have a fighting chance? In this episode, Cal and Steph step into the shoes of many people tackling these difficult...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min
One of the most important decisions in life is who you choose to spend your life with, yet it's also one of the hardest things to get right. Inspired by a recent conversation with a friend that may have unrealistic expectations, Cal and Steph discuss the data behind dating, but also their own very different approaches to it... and if they ever ended up back on the market, how they might do things differently in an era dominated by apps....
Feb 10, 2023•45 min
Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "Where did all this stuff come from?!" Cal and Steph are currently going through this exercise, as they go through their first move in years. It turns out they're not alone in this feeling of overwhelm and is shared by many others who used to be nomads. The need for *things* is universal, but so is the slippery slope to acquiring too many. In this episode, Cal and Steph explore why weight of stuff – both physically and mentally – ...
Jan 19, 2023•36 min
Each January, Steph and Cal sit down to reflect on the prior year and this one is no different. You'll find out their... Best New Idea Best New Life Hack Best New Experience Best/Worst Purchase Best/Worst Trend Best Personal Win/Accomplishment #1 Goal for Next Year Prediction for the New Year Jumpstart 2023 by doubling down on the best activities and avoiding the worst. It's going to be an awesome year. PS: If you liked the sound effects in this episode, we found them here . PPS: Since...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 1 min
A few weeks ago, Steph and Cal had a locksmith come in. It cost $185 and was shockingly quick... just 10 minutes! Little did they know it would also be the fodder for one of Steph's most popular tweets of all time. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising – people love learning about new opportunities. That's why they decided to record this (hopefully) recurring segment where they share various opportunities they've found in everyday things and how they're crafted a curious le...
Nov 30, 2022•42 min
There has been a wave of recent cheating scandals, from chess to poker to fishing. But cheating is not new, nor is it a rare occurrence. In fact, some articles sport stats like "75 to 98% of college students have cheated" or "over 46% of respondents in a monogamous relationship said they had affairs." In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss when – if ever – cheating is okay. They even share their own experiences of being caught in the act and how it's shaped their perspec...
Nov 25, 2022•44 min
For years, people thought that artificial intelligence would wipe out repetitive tasks, but leave the creatives untouched. But recent developments have left many people surprised and taken the creative world by storm. Tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion gave anyone with a keyboard and a wifi connection the ability to spin up images from text prompts, far earlier and higher quality than many imagined. So what comes next for the artists... the writers... the musicians...? No one kn...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 6 min
It's human nature to worry about the things that can go wrong. But often overlooked is the mentality of attraction instead of detraction, or in other words focusing on what you can bring to the table instead of what you can prevent from happening. While so many companies signal they want entrepreneurial candidates yet don't allow side projects, want out of the box thinkers yet expect them to work in a box (office), and vow they only hire top talent yet pay below market rate... there&ap...
Nov 02, 2022•43 min
Money is a leading cause of problems in relationships. It’s not just not having money, it’s conflict around money, lack of alignment, and the downstream effects of that. Money is complicated because it’s influenced by your direct circumstances, but also by your childhood, psychology, and trajectory. It's also complicated because so few people talk openly and honestly about money. In this episode, Steph and Cal open up the kimono and explore how they deal with and think about money in their ...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 3 min
In part 3 of our 3-part series, Steph and Cal discuss how they planned a wedding in 10 days, what they did (including traditions kept and scrapped), and the pros and cons of taking a less conventional approach to marriage.
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 3 min
In part 2 of this 3-part series, we decided to re-air part of our most popular episode, #35: Does Marriage, Retirement, or the 40-Hour Work Week Still Make Sense? In this segment, we share: How humans are actually not wired for monogamy What animals within the animal kingdom are monogamous The history of marriage and when marriage started to be associated with love Explore the concept of love and whether the 37% rule could be applied to it Understand the key difference between animals and humans...
Oct 13, 2022•36 min
In part 1 of our 3-part series, we're joined be Amanda Natividad and Marissa Goldberg – two friends of the podcast – to discuss the traditions that surround love. After getting engaged last year, Steph found herself in a place she didn't expect and with emotions that she didn't feel entitled to have. That led her down a deep rabbit hole of questions, ultimately ending up in a bunch of societal narratives. She discusses them here with Amanda and Marissa, as they share how they navi...
Oct 08, 2022•58 min
In this special episode, Cal and Steph answer audience questions across a wide range of topics including writing, relationships, finances, and even death. Listen in to find out. Next Steps Essay about the nuance of privilege If you liked this episode, make sure to subscribe and leave a review . To receive the latest updates, follow The Sh*t You Don't Learn in School on Twitter ....
May 15, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Steph has some exciting news to share in today's episode! Listen in to find out. In this episode, Cal and Steph also cover the rise of the creator economy -- both its promise and pitfalls. They breakdown why the heightened attention toward creators, whether we can expect a creator "middle class" anytime soon, the importance of IP, and even explore what it truly means to be a "creator"... Is it the things they build? Is it the audience they have? Is it the money the make?...
May 05, 2022•57 min
