"Upstream" with Erik Torenberg
You’ll hear consequential ideas here first, and in the mainstream months later. Upstream is a curated nexus feed from the Turpentine podcast network, bringing you expert-level conversations hosted by some of the most compelling thinkers in the world including Noah Smith, Samo Burja, Byrne Hobart, Erik Torenberg, and Nathan Labenz. Guests include Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, Dario Amodei, Brian Armstrong, David Sacks, Sam Harris, Katherine Boyle, Curtis Yarvin, and many more unmissable conversations.
Upstream is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: turpentine.co
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E63: Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl on Decentr...
In 2019 Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan and Glen Weyl to talk about the future of a decentralized world. They cover decentralized governance, politics, voting, and more.
75 min
77
E62: Mike Solana on Thinking Freely and What Te...
In 2020 Erik Torenberg sat down with Mike Solana, then VP at Founders Fund (now the Editor In Chief of Pirate Wires) to go deeper into his commitment to controversial ideas and freedom.
67 min
78
E61: Noah Smith on Wokeness, Right Wing Muckrak...
Todays episode features a conversation between Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discussing the recent angry posts on X from David Austin Walsh, a history postdoc at Yale, and what this controversy says about elite overproduction in the US. They also cover the the rise of right-wing muckrakers, discuss what the conservative movement needs now, and who they consider the smartest thinkers today are — on the left and the right.
60 min
79
E60: AI in the Techno-Economic War with China w...
In this episode of Upstream, we're publishing a session recorded live at The Hill & Valley Forum in May 2024 hosted by Jacob Helberg, and featuring Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, and Senator Todd Young (R-IN).
20 min
80
E59: Bryan Caplan on Housing Regulation, Fertil...
67 min
81
E58: Jonathan Haidt on Finally Fixing Social Me...
This week on Upstream, Erik sits down with Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book The Anxious generation. The conversation covers the effects of social media on teen mental health, culture, politics, education, and more.
55 min
82
E57: Noah Smith Analyzes Economies: USA, China,...
This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode from Erik's podcast with Noah Smith, Econ 102. Noah breaks down the economies of the USA, China, Japan, Russia, India, Korea, and more.
59 min
83
E56: Brian Chau on Spreading Informed AI Optimism
This week on Upstream, Nathan Labenz of The Cognitive Revolution podcast and Brian Chau, a machine learning engineer who recently founded the Alliance for the Future, talk about Brian's efforts in Washington, D.C. to influence AI policy based on informed AI optimism. After their conversation, Nathan and Erik chat about the AI landscape.
82 min
84
E55: Why China's Universities Will Become Harvard
This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode from Turpentine’s show Live Players with Samo Burja. Erik and Samo discuss China’s universities and the future of China’s elites.
51 min
85
E54: Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan on Wh...
This episode was initially recorded before a live audience in 2018. Erik talks with Naval Ravikant and Balaji Srinivasan about the history of money and centralization and why crypto has the potential to fulfill the promise of the internet.
64 min
86
E53: Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith on What AI Ac...
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Nathan Labenz and Noah Smith for a deep dive on how AI will impact job markets, the social contract, and the role of the government.
71 min
87
E52: David Friedman on Anarcho-Capitalism, Util...
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by David Friedman for a deep dive on anarcho-capitalism, utilitarianism, and more.
111 min
88
E51: How We Build More Housing with Brad Hargre...
In this special roundtable episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Brad Hargreaves (the founder of Common, co-founder of General Assembly, and writer of Thesis Driven) and Noah Smith (podcast host, economist and writer of Noahpinion).
60 min
89
E50: Alex Blania on Worldcoin, AGI, and Future ...
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Alex Blania, who, with Sam Altman, co-founded Tools for Humanity, the organization behind Worldcoin. Erik and Alex go deep on Worldcoin, AGI, and other future tech.
40 min
90
E49: The Legacy of Effective Altruism with Igor...
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Igor Kurganov, poker player and founder of Raising for Effective Giving.
48 min
91
E48: Liron Shapira on the Case for Pausing AI
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Liron Shapira to discuss the case against further AI development, why Effective Altruism doesn’t deserve its reputation, and what is misunderstood about nuclear weapons.
64 min
92
E47: Rob Henderson on Life in Foster Care, Acad...
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Rob Henderson, psychologist and author of the newly released Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. They discuss dating, cancel culture, luxury beliefs, and more.
81 min
93
E46: Lyn Alden on How Money Works
This week on Upstream, Erik is joined by Lyn Alden, an investment strategist known for her unique blend of engineering, tech, and finance expertise. They discuss her book Broken Money, macro trends, and her best advice in the face of an uncertain economic future.
55 min
94
E45: Bayeslord and Nadia Asparouhova on Effecti...
On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with e/acc founder Bayeslord and writer Nadia Asparouhova to discuss the foundations and future of the e/acc movement.
89 min
95
E44: Tyler Cowen on Harvard, the GOAT Economist...
On this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with Tyler Cowen to discuss Harvard, AI, Javier Milei's legacy, the value of non-legibility in talent spotting, and more.
55 min
96
E43: Richard Hanania on Wokeness, Israel-Palest...
This week on Upstream, political scientist and writer Ricard Hanania returns to the show. Erik and Richard discuss wokeness, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the mythos of the modern right, Richard's upcoming debate with Curtis Yarvin, and more.
57 min
97
E42: Erik Torenberg on the Evolution of Media
This week on Upstream, the tables are turned, and Erik is sitting in the guest seat. We're airing an episode the podcast Where It Happens hosted by Greg Isenberg. Greg and Erik discuss B2B creators, how to find profitable niches, how to monetize media businesses, and more.
59 min
98
E41: Steve Hsu on the Future of Everything
In this episode of Upstream, Erik sits down with theoretical physicist and startup founder Steve Hsu. They discuss political polarization in academia, the fertility crisis, AI, and more.
64 min
99
E40: Develop Your Personal Investing Strategy w...
On today's Upstream, Erik interviews Itay Vinik to get an overview of the markets and current macro environment, learn frameworks for adjusting an investing strategy based on rising or falling interest rates, and debunk common investment myths.
78 min
100
E39: Balaji Srinivasan and Nathan Labenz on AI'...
On today's Upstream, we're sharing a recent episode where Balaji Srinivasan joins Nathan Labenz to discuss the future of AI: polytheistic AI and AI gods, human-AI symbiosis, and how AI will be controlled.
129 min