Brom Rector is the founder of Empath Ventures, a VC fund that in invests in early-stage psychedelics startups. Prior to founding Empath, Brom sent several years as a portfolio manager and quantitative researcher. Brom joins the show to discuss the current state of the psychedelics industry, the lessons learned founding a VC fund, the differences between psychedelics and cannabis, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Empath Ventures Brom’s LinkedIn Brom’s Twitter The Brom Podcast Show Notes: Ho...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Ahead of the release of the next episode of his lecture series on René Girard, Johnathan Bi returns for his second appearance on the show. He and Jim discuss Girard, prestige, innovation, AI, and much more. Enjoy! Important Links: Johnathan’s website Johnathan’s Twitter Johnathan’s lecture series with David Perell Our research note on Johnathan Johnathan’s first appearance on the show Show Notes: The Girardian notion of prestige What proof is there for mimesis? The difference between mimesis and...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Rohit is a VC and essayist who writes fascinating, thought-provoking essays on complexity, progress, innovation and technology over at Strange Loop Canon . He joins the show for a second time to discuss the lessons learned from the FTX meltdown, why there isn’t a philosophy of business, creating an AI picture book, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Rohit’s Twitter Rohit’s Substack Our research note on Rohit Show Notes: What can VCs learn from FTX? FTX, hubris and good manners “Don’t let any...
Dec 08, 2022•2 hr 46 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Julia is the co-founder of Rosetta Analytics Inc, “an alternative asset manager that is pioneering the use of advanced artificial intelligence to build and actively manage liquid investment strategies.” Prior to co-founding Rosetta, Julia served as President of Wilshire Consulting and was a member of Wilshire’s Board of Directors and Consulting Investment Committee. Julia joins the show to take a deep dive into deep reinforcement learning and Rosetta’s pioneering work using AI as the basis of it...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Creator and curator Liberty RPF returns for his second appearance on Infinite Loops. He and Jim discuss the art of curation, the opportunities and risks of AI, the curse of creativity, the future of learning, and MUCH more!
Nov 24, 2022•2 hr 35 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast Title: Description: Lulu Cheng Meservey is the Chief Communications Officer and Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Activision Blizzard. She joins Infinite Loops to provide us with a masterclass in communications for startups. A must-listen for current and aspiring founders. Important Links: • Lulu’s Twitter • Lulu’s Substack Show Notes: • Why people write hit pieces • The insurgency framework • How to access your audience’s neural real estate • How to develop a spontaneous elevator...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 26 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast “With enough curiosity, self-confidence is irrelevant.” Tinkered Thinking is a writer, artist, author and creator. He is also the worthy winner of our ‘ White Mirror ’ competition. His writing includes a series of ‘Lucilius Parables’, short stories dispersed throughout time and space designed to help readers reconceptualise their experience of being alive. He joined the show to discuss writing, technology, curiosity, optimism and MUCH more! Important Links: Website Twitter The Lucilius Parables,...
Nov 10, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast Edward Slingerland is a University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. He has authored a number of books, including ‘Trying Not to Try’ and ‘Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization’. He joins the show to discuss the paradox of effortless action, the history of Chinese philosophy, the benefits of alcohol, and a whole lot more. Important Links: Edward’s Twitter Edward’s Website Drunk Trying Not to Try Show Notes: The paradox of tryi...
Nov 03, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast Jeremiah Lowin is the founder & CEO of Prefect, a dataflow automation company. Jeremiah joins Jim for his second appearance on Infinite Loops to discuss executing, storytelling, artificial intelligence and, of course, puns. Important Links: Prefect.io Disney Research Hub The story of the fake statue of Venus Show Notes: Slack, puns and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Planning, executing and the story of Prefect in 2022 Why naming things is a superpower If you can’t pivot, you’re dead Make o...
Oct 27, 2022•2 hr 31 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast Herbert is a writer and editorial director who has been writing online since he was 15. He is the editor of 'The World According to Kanye' and has written for publications such as Forge, TIME and Quartz. Herbert joins the show to discuss his book 'Creative Doing: 75 Practical Exercises to Unblock Your Creative Potential in Your Work, Hobby, or Next Career', and to share some practical, actionable methods of harnessing the creative impulses that lie inside us all. Important Links: Herbert’s Twitt...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast Emad Mostaque is the founder and CEO of Stability AI, the company behind Stable Diffusion. Emad joins Stability AI’s recently announced Executive Chair of the board of directors Jim O’Shaughnessy to discuss the future of AI, the benefits of open source software, and much more. Important Links: Stability AI Stable Diffusion Launch Announcement Stability AI’s Twitter Emad’s Twitter Jim’s announcement as Executive Chair Show Notes: The open vs closed AI debate How will open AI lead to better outcom...
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast “To get me stop, they’re going to have to pry the microphone out of my cold dead hand”. Hot on the heels of his hugely popular appearance on ‘Invest Like The Best’, David Senra joins a marathon episode of Infinite Loops to discuss obsession, education, optimism, podcasting, and so much more. Unsurprisingly, this one is not to be missed. Important Links: Founders Podcast Founders on Colossus David’s Twitter David’s Substack Runnin’ Down a Dream - Bill Gurley Show Notes: David’s grandfather, refug...
Oct 13, 2022•2 hr 54 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Dr Michael Donnino is the founder/director of the Psychophysiologic Research Group, and the first person in the country to complete a residency/fellowship program leading to board certification in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and critical care. Liz Wallenstein is a licensed mental health counselor who has trained in, among other areas, the methodology of ‘TMS Mind Body-Connection’. Liz and Dr Michael join the show to discuss the profound influence of Dr John Sarno on their lives, and t...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast The brilliant Kyla Scanlon returns for her second appearance on Infinite Loops. As well as being a prolific creator, curator and writer, Kyla is the founder of the financial education company Bread. Kyla joins the show to discuss the vibecession, her plans for Bread, the creator economy, and much more. Important Links: Kyla’s website Kyla’s Twitter Kyla’s TikTok Kyla’s Instagram Kyla’s Substack Kyla’s Youtube Show Notes: Losing control of the meme Everything is vibes Inflation is a tax Are vibes...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Is this the greatest crossover event in history? Fresh from their individual appearances on Infinite Loops, Trung Phan and Rob Henderson join forces to discuss TV, film, and why Rob still hasn’t seen Apocalypse Now. Important Links: Rob’s Substack Rob’s Twitter Trung’s Substack Trung’s Twitter Show Notes: Hearts of Darkness: one of the craziest stories in Hollywood history The beginning of TV’s golden age Breadth or depth? The two paths to prestige TV What TV can teach you about elite America Th...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast Nick Gillespie is the host of the Reason Interview and an editor at large at Reason. Nick is one of the most interesting libertarian thinkers in America, and has been described by the New York Times as being to libertarianism “what Lou Reed is to rock ‘n’ roll, the quintessence of its outlaw spirit". Important Links: Nick’s Substack Nick’s Twitter Nick’s Podcast Reason Show Notes: Is libertarianism dead? Saying what you think The case for rational optimism Labels and empathy President Nixon, the...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast Will Storr is an award winning journalist and author. His book ‘The Status Game’ transforms our understanding of human nature by demonstrating how our unconscious desire for status ultimately drives our behaviour. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wstorr?s=21&t=ZdtIqP9eE3_a5qZocDjEXQ Website: https://willstorr.com The Science of Storytelling: https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com Show Notes: Will’s origin story The strange case of David Irving The fundamental nature of status game...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast Vitaliy Katsenelson is the CEO of a value investment firm IMA, author of two books on investing, and a recently published non-investing book named “Soul In The Game”. Known for his uncommon common sense, Forbes magazine called him "The New Benjamin Graham." Vitaliy loves to read, listen to classical music, play chess, and write about life, investing, and music. Important Links: Blog: https://contrarianedge.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vitaliyk Twitter: https://twitter.com/vitaliyk IMA: ...
Sep 01, 2022•2 hr 35 min•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast Dennis McKenna is the founder of the McKenna Academy and has conducted research in ethnopharmacology for over 40 years. He is a founding board member of the Heffter Research Institute, and was a key investigator on the Hoasca Project, the first biomedical investigation of ayahuasca. Important Links: McKenna Academy: https://mckenna.academy/ ESPD 55 (Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs): https://espd55.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DennisMcKenna4 ICEERS (International Center for ...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast David Perell is prolific writer and online educator, who runs a writing school called “Write of Passage”. David also hosts the “The North Star Podcast” featuring interviews with writers, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Important Links: Website: https://perell.com/ Writing School: https://writeofpassage.school/ Friday Finds Links: https://perell.com/friday-finds-links/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_perell Show Notes: Origins of “Write of Passage” Writing leads to thinking David’s ever expanding...
Aug 18, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast Shreyas Doshi is a startup advisor who has formerly worked in the product teams of tech firms like Stripe, Twitter, Google, Yahoo. He regularly writes about product, strategy, org psychology, leadership, and life! Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/shreyas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreyasdoshi Show Notes: Shreyas’s childhood Operating with the owner mindset The LNO framework Getting good at leveraging time The antithesis principle Having a great manager Individual vs. gro...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast Our recurring guest (who rarely recurs these days), Alex Danco, comes back for his sixth appearance on Infinite Loops! Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alex_Danco Website: https://alexdanco.com/ Newsletter: https://danco.substack.com/ Show Notes: Our planned, but unplanned conversations Pink Floyd were philosophers From Heraclitus, to Lao Tzu, to Gita, to Deutsch Where does decision making come from? Projection 101 Can you versus can’t you read people’s mind Jim throwing big fancy w...
Aug 04, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep 117•Transcript available on Metacast Johnathan Bi started out getting trained in Mathematics, and then eventually went on to study Philosophy and Computer Science at Columbia. He hosts a lecture series on René Girard’s Mimetic Theory and is also a founding member of Lonsdale Investment Technology. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnathanBi Lecture series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qu6vBebwwg Website: https://johnathanbi.com/ Lonsdale Investment Technology: https://www.longterm.com/ Show Notes: Becoming pessimi...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep 116•Transcript available on Metacast Dan McMurtrie is the Portfolio Manager at Tyro Partners, an asset management firm for institutions and HNWIs; and the General Partner at Anchorless Bangladesh, an early stage venture fund focused on Bangladeshi startups. Links: Dan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperMugatu Tyro Partners: https://www.tyropartners.com/ Anchorless Bangladesh: https://www.anchorless.vc/ Coolworks: Jobs in Great Places: https://www.coolworks.com/ Show Notes: Are we in the schadenfreude part of the market cycle? Goin...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep 115•Transcript available on Metacast Description: George Mack is a creator who writes about the intersection of mental models, marketing, and technological tools and tactics. His marketing agency “Multiply” has helped grow some of the fasted growing businesses in the world backed by VCs like Stripe, YC, Sequoia, and LVMH. George’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/george__mack George’s newsletter: https://emailoctopus.com/lists/6d23df04-dff2-11ea-a3d0-06b4694bee2a/forms/subscribe Multiply Marketing: https://www.multiply.marketing/ Show ...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep 114•Transcript available on Metacast Ian Cassel is the founder of MicroCapClub, a community where hundreds of investors have discussions on US and Canadian microcap companies. They also help you become better investors with educational content covering investing strategies, intelligent fanatic CEOs, great investors, and more. Ian is also Founder and CIO at Intelligent Fanatics Capital Management, whose goal is to own the smallest, most illiquid, least institutionally owned, misunderstood businesses that are run by intelligent fanat...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep 113•Transcript available on Metacast After working at McKinsey and getting an MBA from MIT, Paul Millerd was succeeding well on a path that “made sense”. However, things started changing when he had a health crisis, which ended up with him embarking on a pathless path. Since 2017, he’s been tinkering with multiple side-hustles, writing newsletters, creating podcasts, traveling, and helping others join the pathless path. Paul’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd Paul’s newsletter: https://boundless.substack.com/ ‘The Pathless Pa...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep 112•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Chilton is a Canadian author, investor, and a venture capitalist who has appeared on television in the Canadian version of Dragons’ Den. In 1989, he released his book ”The Wealthy Barber” which went on to sell an astonishing two million copies in Canada. You can follow Dave on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wealthy_barber and buy his book at https://www.amazon.com/THE-WEALTHY-BARBER/dp/B000SAI072 Show Notes: How Dave met Jim Signs of curiosity “The Wealthy Barber” TV show Twitter as a globa...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep 111•Transcript available on Metacast Meb Faber is co-founder and the Chief Investment Officer of Cambria Investment Management, author of multiple books , and host of “The Meb Faber Show” podcast. You can follow Meb on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MebFaber and know more about him and his work at https://mebfaber.com/ Show Notes: Replicating the Yale endowment Why investors won’t follow advice Importance of writing down your investment plan The challenges of buy and hold Learning from your losses Out of favor strategies A dividend...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep 110•Transcript available on Metacast Trung T. Phan is a creator in the tech, business, and media space. His Twitter threads are full of knowledge and humor, and he also co-hosts the “Not Investment Advice” podcast. Follow Trung on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TrungTPhan and subscribe to his newsletter at https://trungtphan.com/subscribe/ Show Notes: Trung’s Vietnamese origins Humor in your talent stack Asymmetric returns of creating content online The power of memes Getting a CFA Going back to writing movie scripts Succeeding in ...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep 109•Transcript available on Metacast 
