"Moment of Zen"

Balaji Srinivasan tells us why he is making a $1M BTC prediction and discusses SVB, the financial crisis, the digital devaluation of the USD, and what comes next. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen

We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

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The HR industry is at a crossroads. What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Hosts Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich have been through it all, the highs and the lows – IPOs, layoffs, executive turnover, board meetings, culture changes, and more. With a lineup of industry vets and experts, Nolan and Kelli break down the nitty-gritty details, trade offs, and dynamics of constructing high performing companies. Through unfiltered conversations that can only happen between seasoned practitioners, Kelli and Nolan dive deep into the kind of leadership-level strategy that often happens behind closed doors. Check out the first episode with the architect of Netflix’s culture deck Patty McCord.

https://link.chtbl.com/hrheretics

TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(08:00) What happened with SVB(15:00) Constructive debate(59:00) Where we agree and where we disagree(1:07:00) If the U.S. implodes, there’s no where else to go(1:18:00) Responding to critics

SPONSORS: Beehiiv | Shopify | Netsuite | Secureframe

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three months

-Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen

-NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.

-Secureframe (www.secureframe.com)

Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention MOMENT OF ZEN during your demo to get 20% off your first year.

Anton Troynikov of Chroma, Flo Crivello of Lindy AI, and Nathan Labenz of Waymark and co-host of The Cognitive Revolution podcast join Erik Torenberg for a timely debate on the issues raised in the AI open letter which advocates for a 6-month pause on AI system trainings. Dan and Antonio will be back next week. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen

Check out the debut of Erik's new longform interview podcast Upstream. This coming season features interviews with Marc Andreessen, Balaji Srinivasan, Ezra Sacks, David Sacks, Katherine Boyle, and more.

We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

LINKS:

Open letter: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/

Scott Aronson blog post: https://scottaaronson.blog/

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:00) Explanation of the AI open letter

(3:50) Anton’s skepticism of the open letter

(7:00) Flo’s skepticism of the open letter

(13:00) Nathan’s support for the open letter

(15:39) Sponsors

(20:00) Differences between Flo and Anton’s positions

(30:00) GPT4 is still dangerous

(38:00) Luddites/“Pausers” are on the wrong side of history

(42:00 )Why not pause 6 months?

(50:00) Anton and Flo debate robotics

(56:00) What we’re all scared of with AI

(1:21:00) Is there asymmetric risk with pausing or not pausing?

TWITTER:

@MOZ_Podcast

@atroyn (Anton)

@labenz (Nathan)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@altimor (Flo)

SPONSORS: Beehiiv | Shopify | Netsuite | Secureframe

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three months

-Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen

-NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.

-SecureFrame: www.secureframe.com

Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention MOMENT OF ZEN during your demo to get 20% off your first year.

Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg discuss what is exciting in Crypto right now, covering friend.tech, Farcaster’s updates, PWAs, superchain 2a, and infrastructure improvements for more use cases. If you’re building a business and need compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA, head to www.vanta.com/zen for $1000 off.

Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: www.turpentine.co

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

(00:01:36) How Dan is building Farcaster

(00:02:39) Using Ethereum is expensive

(00:04:14) Crypto and climate change

(00:07:49) Dan's take on the buzzy new friend.tech

(00:12:27) Friend.tech's smart use of a PWA + impressive growth

(00:17:11) Coinbase has its own blockchain now

(00:21:47) Are SPACs worse than Crypto's scammy retail stuff

(00:24:21) Chamath and accountability

(00:30:24) How will crypto get to a billion users?

(00:39:11) The case for Farcaster and the future of social media

(00:52:25) How much value can be captured by subscaled social networks?

(00:56:51) Why we'll see startups move away from venture-backed business models

(00:59:26) Most successful media company of the past decade

(01:03:59) Crypto's regulations are a gray cloud over financial innovation

(01:08:08) Opportunities to expand upside for people, from businesses to UBI

(01:09:12) Crypto is not politicized

(01:14:40) Genetics and IQ

(01:24:04) The Sam Harris + Ezra Klein Charles Murray debate

(01:32:48) Why this is the next major culture war issue

RELATED EPISODES:

Upstream w/ Erik Torenberg ft/ Sam Harris

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DeR2VZOjpnE9pQ9b3Om9S?si=u662cEDUTt6D27D09Jnk0w

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e10-sam-harris-on-populism-polarization-and-his-beef/id1678893467?i=1000614749192

Upstream with Erik Torenberg ft/ Ezra Klein

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36vTPPcpisMVXSgq9bnj1w?si=WEysQWc4RouTxd1hzNl1iw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e3-ezra-klein-on-supply-side-progressivism-polarization/id1678893467?i=1000607892890

SPONSORS: Beehiiv | Shopify | Vanta | NetSuite

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.

SHOPIFY: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen

Vanta

Are you building a business? If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta. Achieving compliance can actually unlock major growth for your company and build customer loyalty. Vanta automates up to 90% of Compliance work, getting you audit-ready in weeks instead of months and saving 85% of associated costs. Moment of Zen listeners get $1000 off at www.vanta.com/zen

NetSuite

NetSuite has 25 years of provid...

Today, we have a special bonus episode: a discussion between Marc Andreessen, the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, and Anton Troynikov, founder of AI database company Chroma. We're proudly sponsored by Vanta. Get $1000 off Vanta with https://www.vanta.com/zen.

This conversation originally took place on Twitter Spaces, where Anton and Marc talked about Marc's recent, provocative essay, Why AI Will Save The World. Marc explains why AI will not destroy the world but instead may save it. Towards the end of the discussion, Marc takes questions from a select audience of entrepreneurs and builders in AI. Given how much we've talked about AI and the various doomer debates on Moment of Zen, we felt that this conversation was too good to be missed. We're so thrilled that Marc, Anton, and a16z allowed us to republish it here. Both Marc and Anton have been on Moment of Zen before (see LINKS)

Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. To learn more: www.turpentine.co

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Episode Preview

(01:39) Anton asks Marc why he wrote this essay now

(02:30) Recap of AI History over last 80 years

(04:05) Hysteria, paranoia, doomerism

(06:00) Intelligence is the fundamental building block

(09:47) Precautionary principle and nuclear technology debate

(13:52) Recommendation: a16z podcast

(14:43) Sponsor: Secureframe

(16:04) The AI Race

(18:00) China’s national strategic priority

(22:53) Cold War dynamics

(23:20) What should the government do?

(24:00) Analogy Period: 2nd Industrial Revolution

(33:51) AI hype cycle, speculation, investment

(38:38) Problems AI can solve

(50:00) Questions from audience members, including Beff Jezos + Amjad Masad

SPONSOR: Beehiiv | Shopify | Vanta | NetSuite | Secureframe

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 to https://Beehiiv.com and use code “MOZ” for 20% off your first three months

Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period

Shopify is the global commerce platform that helps you sell at every stage of your business. Shopify powers 10% of all e-commerce in the US. And Shopify’s the global force behind Allbirds, Rothy’s, and Brooklinen, and 1,000,000s of other entrepreneurs across 175 countries. From their all-in-one e-commerce platform, to their in-person POS system – wherever and whatever you’re selling, Shopify’s got you covered. With free Shopify Magic, sell more with less effort by whipping up captivating content that converts – from blog posts to product descriptions using AI. Sign up for $1/month trial period: https://shopify.com/momentofzen

Vanta

Are you building a business? If you’re looking for SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR or HIPAA compliance, head to Vanta. Achieving compliance can actually unlock major growth for your company and build customer loyalty. Vanta automates up to 90% of Compliance work, getting you audit-ready in weeks instead of months and saving 85% of associated costs. Moment of Zen listeners get $1000 off at https://www.vanta.com/zen

NetSuite ( http://netsuite.com/zen )

NetSuite provides financial software for all your business needs. More than thirty-six thousand companies have already upgraded to NetSuite, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you're looking for an ERP platform ✅ NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and defer payments of a FULL NetSuite implementation for six months.

Secureframe ( www.secureframe.com )

Secureframe is the leading all-in-one platform for security and privacy compliance. Get SOC-2 audit ready in weeks, not months. I believe in Secureframe so much that I invested in it, and I recommend it to all my portfolio companies. Sign up for a free demo and mention MOMENT OF ZEN during your demo to get 20% off your first year.

Dan Romero and Erik Torenberg chat about building a company in 2024, selecting ideas to work on, and finding product-market fit (Dan quotes Marc Andreessen's definition of the term). They also cover Dan's experience at Coinbase and building Farcaster. They recorded this episode for a new show called Request for Startups where guests discuss the startups they think should exist, and share how they navigated the idea maze in their sector https://requestforstartups.substack.com/

Subscribe to Request for Startups for more of these types of episodes:

• Video episodes are only available on Substack: https://requestforstartups.substack.com/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/739L1LR32QI2XyoZlRh5nv
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/request-for-startups-with-erik-torenberg/id1728659822

-

RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist

Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj

_

We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

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SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | NETSUITE

BEEHIIV

Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.

NetSuite has 25 years of providing financial software for all your business needs. More than 36,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, gaining visibility and control over their financials, inventory, HR, eCommerce, and more. If you’re looking for an ERP platform head to NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/zen and download your own customized KPI checklist.

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Sign up for our newsletter to receive the full shownotes: https://momentofzen.substack.com/

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LINKS:

Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/

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X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@dwr (Dan)

@moz_podcast (Moment of Zen)

@TurpentineMedia

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:15) Farcaster's Growth and Frames

(04:06) Social matters

(07:46) Evolution of Farcaster

(11:17) Sponsor: NetSuite

(12:28) How Dan built Farcaster

(28:01) Challenges of Competition

(36:19) Venture involvement

(36:34) How Erik started Turpentine

(38:17) The Concept of Founder Market Fit

(39:32) Unfair Advantages in Startups

(40:06) The Danger of Over-Experience in Startups

(41:24) Market Selection

(42:23) Distribution

(52:22) The Impact of Higher Education on Startups

(55:55) The Potential of Labor Marketplaces

(01:00:48) The Future of Pseudonymous Networks

(01:03:04) The Role of Reputation in Hiring

(01:12:43) The Power of Utilizing Idle Assets

This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at [email protected].