This week on Upstream, we’re releasing a conversation between Patrick McKenzie and Byrne Hobart where they navigate the compelling terrains of in-app purchases and restaurant economics. They dive into the monetization strategies of video games and the influence of food delivery platforms like DoorDash on pricing and menu designs and explore the bridge between finance, technology, and human behavior through airport currency exchange models and the emerging role of AI in economic data processing. — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ — SPONSORS: 📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod  💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812 🎙️The Riff with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg Investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future.  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt?si=fa34868d46b94584  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486  — LINKS: Bits About Money: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/  The Diff: https://thediff.co/  — X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/byrnehobart  https://twitter.com/patio11  https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod  https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia  — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:05) The economics of in-app purchases (04:45) Understanding consumer behavior in gaming (07:52) The role of high spenders in the gaming industry (20:48) Bespoke software and high-end customization (24:14) Sponsors: Notion | Squad (28:04) The evolution of restaurant websites (35:27) The future of delivery apps and restaurant economics (43:39) The economics of portion sizes (45:24) Restaurant groups and concepts (48:44) The role of certainty in dining (49:09) Business meals and social signals (51:18) The evolution of fast food (55:03) The tech cafeteria phenomenon (01:02:43) The power of written records (01:06:31) Exploring ai and memory (01:13:58) The future of search and ai (01:25:10) Wrap

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg sits in with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt to discuss his book, 'The Anxious Generation.' They dive into the severe impact of social media on youth mental health and explore Jonathan's recommendations for smartphone and social media usage among teens. They discuss the broader implications for democracy and the political divide, focusing on how these issues are intertwined with the tech industry.  — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ — SPONSORS: 📝Notion offers powerful workflow and automation templates, perfect for streamlining processes and laying the groundwork for AI-driven automation. With Notion AI, you can search across thousands of documents from various platforms, generating highly relevant analysis and content tailored just for you - try it for free at notion.com/upstreampod  💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — LINKS: Jonathan's newsletter: https://www.afterbabel.com/ The Anxious Generation website: https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/ (Book) The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036  — X / TWITTER: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt  https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg  https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod  https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:07) Evolution of Jonathan's work: from moral psychology to 'The Anxious Generation' (02:21) The impact of social media on teen mental health (04:15) The tragedy of overprotection and underprotection (07:37) Pushback and debates on social media's impact (12:48) The moral panic argument and its flaws (17:48) Sponsors: Notion | Squad (24:34) The role of algorithms and social media dynamics (27:33) Liberal vs. conservative responses to social media (28:47) Exploring After Babel (29:03) The rise of anxiety and depression: a data-driven analysis (29:19) Gender, politics, and mental health: a closer look (31:20) The role of religion and community in mental health (32:00) Parenting styles and their impact on youth (32:39) The political implications of mental health trends (33:21) Smartphone recommendations for a healthier childhood (34:21) The broader impact of smartphones on society (35:02) Schools and the loneliness epidemic (41:08) The role of tech companies in youth well-being (42:27) Addressing criticisms and misconceptions (46:25) The importance of design over content in social media (56:09) Wrap

This week on Upstream, former Netflix HR executive Patty McCord sits down with Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich to dive deep into the creation and impact of Netflix's renowned culture deck, hailed as a pivotal document in Silicon Valley. Patty shares the evolution of the deck over 10 years with Netflix's management team, the challenges of scaling a rapidly growing company, and the importance of building high-performance teams. They discuss the intricacies of leadership, feedback, and the evolving workplace culture, post-pandemic. Patty also offers a candid look at HR's role in nurturing dynamic work environments. — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ — SPONSORS: Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052  Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream. Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey. Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — RECOMMENDED PODCAST: 🎙️HR Heretics with Nolan Church and Kelli Dragovich What will it take to construct the next generation of incredible businesses – and where can people leaders have the most business impact? Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WML9AfadzaH9WCR4HHqbZ?si=c40b0dd176c64e43  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hr-heretics-how-cpos-chros-founders-and-boards-build/id1712407491  — LINKS: HR Heretics Newsletter: https://hrheretics.substack.com/ Netflix Culture Deck: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/culture-1798664/1798664 Powerful by Patty McCord: https://pattymccord.com/book/ — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:47)The true story behind Netflix’s culture deck (02:36) High Performance cultures actually take 4-5 years to pull off (05:07) Why releasing the culture deck changed Netflix’s hiring immediately (06:56) What to do when employees are averse to change and delivering effective feedback (13:43) Dealcraft & Fundrise Ads (15:47) Why execs need to get used to short tenures (18:18) If you’re successful your company will change (20:40) Retention and the truth we need to tell employees about career pathing (22:15) How Reed Hastings hired Patty McCord (25:54) How HR officers can get a seat at the table (29:32) The P&L is the most important HR metric (31:26) Are HR leaders getting soft? (33:47) Alts & Squad Ads (35:36) What Patty would tell her younger self (37:16) Why an HR officer is a business leader, not a business partner (39:47) Fixing equal pay and compensation strategy (41:43) Why HR keeps doing stupid stuff and needs to abandon best practices (46:25) What HR can learn from product managers (50:59) Compartmentalization and terminations (53:27) If Patty rewrote her book, she would change the chapter about relationships at work (54:37) Why HR people invite inappropriate therapist-style relationships and why having arguments at work should be normalized (01:02:43) Does Patty miss being in the arena? (01:05:11)The portions of the workforce most impacted right now

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg is joined by economist and futurist Robin Hanson.  They dissect the intricacies of human motives, the psychology of status, and the profound impact of self-deception on behavior. Robin shares his revolutionary ideas for reforming academia and his pioneering work on prediction markets and his thoughts on the future of innovation amidst falling fertility rates. — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ — SPONSORS: 💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream. Elevate your investment game with Altea by Alts.co. Discover vetted deals in unconventional asset classes, network with captivating individuals, and indulge in exclusive travel experiences. Ready to invest in pro sports teams or film financing? Apply now at www.alts.co/upstream and redefine your investment journey. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Dealcraft | Insights from Great Negotiators Explore the art of high-stakes negotiations through fascinating stories and practical insights from world-renowned dealmakers and diplomats in Dealcraft: Insights from Great Negotiators, hosted by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NdYGg0SgCwgBNMk7EHnB6  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dealcraft-insights-from-great-negotiators/id1723095052  🎙️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. 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 — LINKS: The Elephant in the Brain, Robin Hanson and Kevin Simler https://amzn.asia/d/82WLQX6  Robin Hanson and Agnes Callard’s podcast Minds Almost Meeting https://mindsalmostmeeting.com/  Agnes Callard on Upstream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g2F0e-LZjM  — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (04:25) How Robin developed his theory of the Sacred (07:52)The Sacred binds people together (16:05) Why elites drive innovation (17:43) Sponsor: Dealcraft | Fundrise (19:48) Plebeians, wonks, and plutocrats (36:10) Gossip networks (37:00) Sponsors: Ats | Squad (39:08) Proposal to fix academia (45:31) Falsehoods (01:05:05) Double agents in our minds (01:08:31) What is cringe? (01:12:27) Therapy (01:16:55) How falling fertility will affect innovation (01:23:43) Social change strategies for reviving fertility rates (01:25:05) Wrap

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja are joined by Ben Landau-Taylor, a Senior Analyst at Bismarck Analysis. Ben recently published an article in Palladium Magazine about the pervasive problem of fraud in academia. They discussed how fraudulent activities, particularly in medical research, often go undetected due to flawed peer review processes and institutional protectionism. They explore key cases, and possible solutions, including external watchdogs, intellectual authorities and regulatory bodies in maintaining academic integrity. — 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://www.turpentinenetwork.co/ — SPONSORS: 💡 Level up your portfolio with access to pre-IPO companies via the Fundrise Innovation Fund. Access a $125M+ fund of cutting edge tech companies including AI frontrunners, now available to individual investors. Start your journey at Fundrise.com/upstream. Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. — RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️Live Players with Samo Burja. The "Live Players" podcast is where Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg chart the key individuals shaping our future from first principles. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1 🎙️This Won't Last - Eavesdrop on Keith Rabois, Kevin Ryan, Logan Bartlett, and Zach Weinberg's monthly backchannel. They unpack their hottest takes on the future of tech, business, venture, investing, and politics. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1765665937 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2HwSNeVLL1MXy0RjFPyOSz YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWontLastpodcast 🎙️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. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-102-with-whatifalthists-rudyard-lynch-and/id1730633913 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj — LINKS: The Academic Culture of Fraud: https://www.palladiummag.com/2024/08/02/the-academic-culture-of-fraud/  Bismarck Brief: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/  Bismarck Analysis: https://www.bismarckanalysis.com/  — TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Intro (2:22) Ben’s article: "The Academic Culture of Fraud" (4:26) Examples of fraudulent studies and researchers (Sylvain Lesné case) (6:21) Incentives and cultural factors enabling fraud (8:24) Historical context and modern academia (11:36) Scientific fraud and its consequences (13:38) Intellectual authority and legitimacy (19:50) Fundrise & Brave Ads (28:50) External pressure on academia (30:53) Role of journalism and other institutions in exposing academic fraud (33:47) The need for external oversight in academia (34:13) The complex relationship between the government and academia (36:14) Proposals for scientific integrity (39:03) Squad Ad (42:59) Challenges in science and bureaucracy (46:42) Nonprofit solutions for scientific fraud (52:33) Venture capital & scientific integrity (57:12) Bismarck Analysis and its work in strategic research & consulting (1:00:04) Wrap

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez on Moment of Zen in August 2024 to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape. Armstrong discusses Coinbase's focus on product development, their efforts in Washington D.C., why he listens to Balaji Srinivasan, and strategies for increasing global crypto adoption. Armstrong also touches on his venture into biotech with New Limit, the changing media landscape, and the future of economic freedom through decentralized technologies. -- 🔥 Apply to join over 400 Founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- SPONSORS: Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 🎙️1 to 100 | Hypergrowth Companies Worth Joining Every week we sit down with the founder of a hyper-growth company you should consider joining. Our goal is to give you the inside story behind breakout, early stage companies potentially worth betting your career on. This season, discover how the founders of Modal Labs, Clay, Mercor, and more built their products, cultures, and companies. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70NOWtWDY995C8qDqojxGw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1762756034 - 📣 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 -- LINKS: Base: https://www.base.org/ Coinbase Developer Platform: https://cdp.coinbase.com/ New Limit: https://www.newlimit.com/ Farcaster: https://www.farcaster.xyz/ Stand With Crypto: https://standwithcrypto.org -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:28) Brian's Current Focus Areas at Coinbase (03:10) Coinbase's Move Towards Decentralization (05:09) Coinbase's Approach to Innovation (10:36) Thoughts on Mass Market Crypto Adoption (15:01) Sponsor: Babbel | Brave (17:44) Crypto's Implications Beyond Payments (23:54) Experiences with Crypto Regulation in DC (29:14) Sponsor: Squad  (30:42) Coinbase's Marketing Strategy (34:09) Measuring Economic Freedom and Crypto Adoption (43:08) Origins of New Limit Biotech Company (50:12) Challenges of Shifting from Crypto to Biotech (52:58) Reflections on Dan Romero's Contributions to Coinbase (55:18) Thoughts on Balaji Srinivasan (56:34) Balaji's Insights on Media Landscape (59:24) Wrap

Last week, Erik Torenberg sat down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the vibe shift to the right in Silicon Valley, particularly after the attempted assassination of President Trump. This episode originally aired in Moment of Zen. They discuss the rising tensions between tech counter-elites and political incumbents, and why tech is at odds with "America First". They explore tech's influence on politics, ideological shifts, and international dynamics affecting global economics and policies. Balaji also provides a critical analysis of movements like the January 6th riots and contemplates the future of democracy. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj — SPONSORS: 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. 🐝 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. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg Get first-party targeting with Brave's private ad platform: cookieless and future proof ad formats for all your business needs. Performance meets privacy. Head to https://brave.com/brave-ads/ and mention “MoZ” when signing up for a 25% discount on your first campaign. — TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:29) The Rise of the Tech Counter Elite (01:32) Libertarianism and Statism in Tech (02:35) Tech's Political Alignment and Demographic Shifts (03:58) Global Ideologies and Tech (06:15) Global Influence and the Tech Center (08:03) Challenges of Domestic Manufacturing (12:49) The Tech Counter Elite vs. Traditional Elites (15:03) The Internet Frontier and Elite Defection (18:05) The Role of Tech in Modern Politics (19:10) Democratic Party's Internal Struggles (27:13) SPONSORS: Squad | beehiiv (37:31) Conspiracy Theories and Political Divides (38:02) Counter Elite vs. Elite: Who Should Lead? (38:53) The Race Between Incumbents and Disruptors (39:19) SPONSORS: Babbel | Brave (41:51) Meta Organisms and Human Coordination (42:33) Swarm Intelligence and Ideological Competition (44:44) FBI and Informants: Unveiling the Truth (51:26) Media Manipulation and Political Narratives (56:32) The Role of Atrocity Stories in War (01:05:25) The Power of Collective Ideologies (01:08:40) Leadership and Decentralization (01:08:56) Critique of Bureaucracy and Stability (01:09:59) Global Shifts and Historical Context (01:10:22) The Rise of India and China (01:10:56) Economic and Political Shifts (01:13:29) The Internet's Impact on Society (01:15:13) January 6th and Political Double Standards (01:17:42) One-Party States and Democracy (01:24:16) Control Outside the State (01:29:24) Wokeness and Political Conflicts (01:37:04) Economic Collapse and Future Predictions (01:40:05) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this week’s episode of Upstream, Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss America's future. They cover the 2024 presidential race, the Chevron ruling from the Supreme Court, and the polarization of the education system. Noah and Erik also discuss where wokeness goes from here, and the potential outcomes of integrating more conservatives into the civil service through initiatives like Project 2025. Noah also debunks the deep state myth and discusses the real issues surrounding Biden's age, questioning the influence of "political handlers" and the reality of a "deep state." 🐝 Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Econ 102 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ECON102Podcast -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD 🐝 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. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Preview (01:09) 4th of July Celebrations and Mailbag Questions (01:51) Debate Reflections: Trump vs. Biden (02:35) Biden's Age and Democratic Dilemma (03:09) Kamala Harris: The Successor Debate (04:12) Michelle Obama: A Potential Candidate? (07:06) The Deep State: Myth or Reality? (11:30) Bernie Sanders and the DNC (13:58) Chevron Ruling and Its Implications (19:10) Sponsor: beehiiv | Babbel (22:44) Project 2025 and Civil Service Polarization (30:34) Reflecting on the Floyd Protests (31:57) The Impact of Trump's Presidency (35:05) Sponsors: Squad  (36:29) Debating the Administrative State (38:31) Challenges in the Education System (46:56) Redistribution and Class in America (53:37) The Future of UBI and Cash Benefits (57:51) Wrap -- FOLLOW ON X: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg (Erik) https://twitter.com/Noahpinion (Noah) https://twitter.com/Upstream__Pod (Upstream) https://twitter.com/TurpentineMedia (Turpentine)

In this episode of Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Richard Hanania delve into the surprising support for Donald Trump within Silicon Valley, contrasting it with earlier elections. They explore reasons behind this shift, such as anti-wokeness sentiments, dissatisfaction with left economic policies, and the Democrats' anti-tech stance. The conversation also covers broader societal issues like the impact of religion, American Jews' political tendencies, and the strengths and weaknesses of America's socio-economic systems, and reflects on Elon Musk's political involvement and the rise of conspiratorial thinking in modern politics. We’re publishing this conversation across Moment of Zen and Upstream since the themes are highly relevant to both shows. 🔥 Apply to join over 400 founders and Execs in the Turpentine Network: https://hmplogxqz0y.typeform.com/to/JCkphVqj -- RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Moment of Zen Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond. Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738 -- SPONSORS: BEEHIIV | BABBEL | SQUAD 🐝 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. A special offer is at https://beehiiv.com: use code "UPSTREAM" for 20% off your first three months 🌐 Ready to achieve your 2024 goals? Start learning a new language with Babbel in just three weeks. Enjoy app lessons, live classes, and podcasts designed for real-world conversations. Get up to 60% off at https://babbel.com/torenberg 💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/ and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist. -- FOLLOW ON X: @eriktorenberg (Erik) @RichardHanania (Richard) @Upstream__Pod (Upstream) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (00:19) Silicon Valley's Surprising Support for Trump (01:20) Silicon Valley's Shift in Political Climate (03:32) Richard's Political Evolution and Disillusionment (04:27) Conservative and Liberal Ideologies (09:03) Human Capital and Political Dynamics (14:08) Sponsor: Squad | beehiiv | Babbel (14:16) Religion's Role in Society (35:25) Historical Context of Anti-Semitism (36:12) Comparing Prejudices: Gypsies, Asians, and Religious Differences (36:58) Rationalism vs. Conflict Theory (38:00) The Role of Villainy in Political Narratives (39:16) Conspiracies and Enlightenment Values (41:30) The Impact of Conspiratorial Thinking (49:43) Jewish Intellectual Influence (52:09) DEI and Meritocracy in Silicon Valley (53:56) America's Resilience and Future Challenges (56:07) Immigration Policies: US vs. Europe (1:01:44) Future of Political Parties Post-Biden and Trump (1:07:27) Wrap