Gwyneth Paltrow is an Academy Award-winning actress and wellness entrepreneur. Spanning a career over three decades, she is celebrated for her performances in critically acclaimed films such as Shakespeare in Love, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and also in her recurring role as Pepper Potts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Beyond acting, Paltrow is the founder and CEO of lifestyle brand Goop, and she has authored bestselling cookbooks including It’s All Good and It’s All Easy. ------ Thank you to th...
Jack Clark is the co-founder of Anthropic, an AI research company focused on building reliable and interpretable artificial intelligence systems. Before Anthropic, he was a policy director at OpenAI, where he shaped strategy, communications, and policy. With a background that spans journalism at Bloomberg, policy leadership, and deep involvement in AI governance, Clark has built a reputation for his expertise in AI safety, co-authoring influential research papers and launching the widely-read Im...
Benedikt Taschen is a publisher, contemporary art collector, and founder of TASCHEN, one of the world’s most successful international publishing houses. Starting from a comic book store in Cologne, Germany at age 18, he built a global brand by making visually striking, high-quality books accessible to a wider audience. Under Taschen’s leadership, the illustrated publications celebrate a wide range of themes, spanning art, architecture, design, film, photography, pop culture, and lifestyle. Bened...
David “Avocado” Wolfe is a prominent figure in the alternative health and wellness movement, best known for his advocacy of raw food diets, superfoods, and holistic living. He has dedicated over 30 years to exploring the world’s most potent foods and natural health practices. The best-selling author of books such as Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future, The Sunfood Diet Success System, and The Beauty Diet, Wolfe has also appeared in documentaries like Food Matters and Hungry for Chang...
André Benjamin, popularly known as André 3000, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor best known as one half of the Southern hip hop duo Outkast. Described by Rolling Stone as “one of the genre’s most gifted lyricists,” André helped redefine Southern rap with classic albums like ATLiens, Aquemini, Stankonia, and the Grammy-winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, producing hits such as “Ms. Jackson” and “Hey Ya!” Beyond Outkast, he has contributed to music as a producer and collaborato...
David Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He first gained acclaim in the 1970s with plays like Sexual Perversity in Chicago, American Buffalo, and later the landmark Glengarry Glen Ross, which earned him both a Pulitzer and a Tony nomination. A founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company, Mamet’s prolific career spans theater, television, film, and essays. Mamet’s most recent play, Henry Johnson, premiered in 2023 and is currently being adapted ...
Adam D'Angelo discusses his journey from early programming to co-founding Quora, emphasizing personalization, AI integration, and the future of knowledge sharing. He also explores Facebook's early growth, the challenges of building social networks, and AI's potential impact on society. D'Angelo highlights Quora's unique approach to connecting people with relevant information and the importance of human input in the age of AI.
M. Night Shyamalan is a director, screenwriter, and producer. He first gained international acclaim in 1999 for his psychological thriller, The Sixth Sense, which earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. Over the next 24 years, he followed with a series of high-profile films including Unbreakable, The Village, Split, and most recently, Trap. With a distinctive directorial style, Shyamalan is best known for creating suspenseful, contemporary films with super...
Palmer Luckey discusses his journey from modifying retro game consoles to founding Oculus VR and Anduril Industries. He reflects on the evolution of VR, the importance of hardware and software, and the future of computing. He also shares insights into national security, the defense industry, and his techno-optimistic view of the future.
Gene Simmons discusses KISS's formation, influences, and rise to fame, exploring their unique approach to music, marketing, and stage personas. He shares anecdotes about band dynamics, songwriting, and encounters with fellow musicians, providing insights into KISS's lasting impact on rock culture.
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, discusses the evolution and future of AI, emphasizing its potential to enhance curiosity and provide expert-level answers. The conversation covers AI's strengths and weaknesses, ethical considerations, and the importance of open-source models. Srinivas shares insights on building a knowledge-centric company and maintaining a focus on user value and the creative process.
Mel Ziegler is the co-founder of Banana Republic and The Republic of Tea. In 1978, with $1,500 in savings and no prior business experience, he and his wife, Patricia Ziegler, launched Banana Republic, reimagining military surplus as stylish safari and expedition wear. After leaving the company, the duo went on to co-found tea company The Republic of Tea with Bill Rosenzweig. Ziegler is also the co-author of the memoir Wild Company: The Untold Story of Banana Republic, chronicling their unconvent...
Malcolm Gladwell discusses his creative process, revisiting past work, and the themes explored in his new book, including the opioid crisis and the impact of environment on behavior. He also shares insights on storytelling, the importance of conflict in education, and the role of art in shaping cultural understanding.
Dr. Paul Saladino is a double board-certified Physician Nutrition Specialist and a leading authority on the carnivore diet. After studying integrative medicine and nutritional biochemistry at the University of Arizona, he has dedicated his career to challenging conventional beliefs about health and nutrition, with a strong focus on animal-based diets. Driven by a desire to better understand, treat, and prevent the root causes of chronic illness, Dr. Saladino has moved beyond traditional Western ...
In this episode, Rick connects with Marlon Brando, known as one of the greatest actors in history. From Broadway to film, his performances are recognized for their raw intensity and emotional depth.
Francis Ford Coppola is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer, best known for directing The Godfather trilogy. A key figure in the New Hollywood movement of the later 20th century, he redefined American cinema with bold storytelling and technical innovation. The Godfather, Coppola’s breakthrough film, and The Godfather Part II won Best Picture Oscars, with the latter earning him his first Best Director award. His films, including The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, both r...
Rick Beato discusses his musical journey, YouTube channel, and thoughts on music production, streaming, and the impact of AI on music. He shares insights from interviews with legendary musicians and producers, offering a deep dive into music history and the creative process. The episode explores the changing landscape of the music industry and the importance of artistic integrity.
Richard Prince is one of the most influential, important, and controversial fine artists on the planet. Renowned for pioneering appropriation art, his “Untitled (Cowboy)” series of rephotographed Marlboro ads includes a piece that sold for $3.7 million, ranking among the most expensive photographs ever auctioned. In 2021, his “Runaway Nurse” painting sold at auction for an astonishing $12.1 million. In 2007, the Guggenheim Museum hosted “Richard Prince: Spiritual America,” a comprehensive retros...
Adrien Brody is an Academy Award-winning actor. Known for his nuanced performances across a wide range of films, such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Detachment, and multiple collaborations with film director Wes Anderson, he became the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Pianist by age 29. In addition to his 2025 Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as László Tóth in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, he has also earned the Golden Globe and ...
Daron Malakian is a composer, guitarist, vocalist, and record producer, best known as a founding member of System of a Down. Introduced to heavy metal at four years old when he first heard Kiss, Malakian began playing guitar at 11, developed his own style by 15, and is now cited by Loudwire as one of the “Top 50 Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time.” Malakian also founded Scars on Broadway. Over the years, he has collaborated with bands like Metallica and Linkin Park, and he remains recogniz...
Ky Dickens is an award-winning director, filmmaker, and host of the podcast, The Telepathy Tapes. Venturing into audio storytelling, she explores consciousness, human potential, and the profound abilities of telepathy among non-speakers with autism. Alongside neuroscientist Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, Dickens travels the globe to learn more from non-speakers and their families, challenging preconceived notions about communication as we know it. Beyond her chart-topping podcast, her work in film ta...
Al Pacino is a screen and stage actor. Emerging from New York’s underground theater scene in the 1960s, he refined his craft under mentors including Lee Strasberg and Charlie Laughton. Best known for his iconic portrayals in The Godfather trilogy, Scarface, and more recently, House of Gucci, he is cited as one of the most respected actors of his generation. In his career spanning over five decades, Pacino has earned an Academy Award for Scent of a Woman, two Tony Awards for his stage work, and t...
In this episode, Rick connects with writer, director, and actor Orson Welles. His work spanning the worlds of radio, television, film, and theatre, Welles is widely regarded as “the ultimate auteur.”
RZA is a rapper, producer, composer, actor, director, and the creative mastermind behind the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Since the group’s classic 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), he has produced the most albums for the group and its respective members, pioneering a style rooted in stark booming beats, vintage soul samples, and gritty narratives. Beyond Wu-Tang, RZA launched the horrorcore group Gravediggaz and released music as his alter ego, Bobby Digital. His artistic range extend...
David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University and a bestselling author. His neuroscience research spans the areas of brain plasticity, sensory substitution, human perception, synesthesia, and beyond. As the co-director of the Center for Science & Law, he works at the intersection of neuroscience and the legal system, using new discoveries in neuroscience to inform lawmaking. Eagleman also applies his research findings through ventures including Neosensory, a company he co-founded to ...
Bruce Johnston is a musician, singer, and songwriter, widely recognized for his influential role in the Beach Boys. Johnston began his musical career in high school, collaborating early-on with musicians including Eddie Cochran and Phil Spector. Joining the Beach Boys in 1965, Johnston was involved as a vocalist and keyboardist, and he continued to make occasional appearances on the Beach Boys albums from the mid-1970s until re-joining the band in 1978. With the group, Johnston co-produced sever...
Mike Love is a singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the Beach Boys. In 1961, Love, alongside his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, defined the California sound of the 1960s as the Beach Boys, co-writing hits including “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun,” while weaving the themes of youth, surfing, and romance into their songs. He was one of the band’s vocalists and lyricists for the entire career of the Beach Boys; Love played a crucial ...
Víkingur Ólafsson is a world-renowned Icelandic pianist. Celebrated for his profound artistry and visionary programming, he has performed with premier orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, and London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2023, he performed his album of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations on a world tour, showcasing his musicianship across six continents, totaling 88 performances. Ólafsson’s latest release, an EP entitled Continuum, is described as...
Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder and former CEO of PayPal, started in 1998, redefining the world of secure and fast e-commerce. Shortly thereafter, Thiel was the first outside investor in Facebook in 2004. Additionally, he co-founded Founders Fund, which has backed transformative companies like SpaceX and Airbnb, With a background in law and finance, Thiel has consistently championed innovation, whether through his venture capital firm, Thiel Capital, or the Thie...
Ben Greenfield is a leading figure in health and wellness, renowned health consultant, New York Times bestselling author, and host of influential podcast, Boundless Life. Voted “America’s Top Personal Trainer” by the NSCA and named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness” by Greatist, he combines cutting-edge research with practical strategies to connect mind, body, and spirit. Greenfield leverages his background as a collegiate athlete and 13-time Ironman triathlete to...
