Twitter: @MoZ_Podcast | YT: @MomentofZenPodcast

Episodes

March 31, 2024

E72: Curtis Yarvin on How to Build the Next NYT and Advice for Elon

Curtis Yarvin returns to Moment of Zen to talk media, regime change, censorship, and the future role of platforms like X and Reddit in reputation capital structures.

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April 7, 2024

E73: Crypto, Memes, and Politics with Li Jin

Li Jin joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez. Li is the co-founder of Variant Fund and a prolific writer. This episode dives deep into crypto, web3, meme coins the attention economy and spiritual parallels.

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April 13, 2024

E74: Bryan Johnson on AI, (New) Religion, and God

Bryan Johnson joins Antonio Garcia Martinez and Erik Torenberg on Moment of Zen to discuss the deeper spiritual beliefs behind the "Don't Die" movement in the face of AI and the inadequacy of human clock speed.

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April 18, 2024

E75: The Future of Crypto, Social Platforms, and Descending the Tech …

In this episode, Mike Rainbow joins Erik, Dan, and Antonio as they dive into the transformative impact of cryptocurrency on finance and social platforms, emphasizing the removal of middlemen and the creation of a more direct, value-driven marketplace.

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April 27, 2024

E76: Should We Accelerate or Decelerate Tech Progress?

Today’s episode is a debate from Bankless on the opposing viewpoints of Effective Accelerationism (E/ACC) and Effective Altruism (EA). Hosted by Ryan Sean Adams and David Hoffman and featuring Haseeb Qureshi and our own Erik Torenberg, the podcast discusses whether …

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May 5, 2024

E77: The Future of Media, Institutions, and Risk

Today we're sharing a recent interview Erik gave to Alex LaBossiere that covers lots of themes we discuss on Moment of Zen - including Erik's views on tech vs. the media, hypocrisy of the elites, risk orientation, and the thesis …

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May 11, 2024

E78: The Social Media Theory of Everything with Jonathan Haidt

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik is joined by Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business and author of the newly released book "The Anxious Generation."

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May 20, 2024

E79: Crypto and Gaming with Carlos Pereira

In this episode, Carlos Pereira, partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, joins Erik, Antonio and Dan as they delve into the significant transformations within gaming, betting, and combat sports, facilitated by cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, emphasizing the groundbreaking integration of cryptocurrency through …

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May 25, 2024

E80: Joe Lonsdale on How to Solve America’s Problems

Today we are airing Erik's interview with Joe Lonsdale, originally published on Upstream in 2023. Joe Lonsdale is the co-founder of Palantir, managing partner at 8VC, and the founder of The Cicero Institute, a nonpartisan policy organization discusses the root …

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June 1, 2024

E81: David Sacks on his Intellectual and Political journey

David Sacks is known as a CEO/investor in multiple unicorns, and most recently a media mogul with All-In. In this episode, he sits down with Erik Torenberg to trace his intellectual and political history from his days fighting student activism …

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June 8, 2024

E82: Balaji Srinivasan on the Fiat Crisis, China, Russia, and Conspir…

In this episode, Erik sits down with Balaji Srinivasan to discuss the Fiat Crisis, geopolitics, conspiracies, and the signs of decline for a hyperpower.

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June 15, 2024

E83: What's Happening in France with Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry

Today on Moment of Zen, Journalist Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry sits with Erik Torenberg to explain the volatile state of French politics following recent European Parliament elections where Macron’s party performed poorly and the National Rally did very well. The conversation offers …

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June 22, 2024

E84: Trump/Biden Predictions with Richard Hanania

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik interviews Richard Hanania about the evolving political landscape in the U.S., focusing on the changing dynamics within both the Republican and Democratic parties.

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June 30, 2024

E85: After the Debate: Trump/Biden and Media Reaction

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik, Antonio, as well as two friends of the podcast who prefer to stay anonymous, discuss the disastrous Biden/Trump debate and what could happen after, and explore the state of U.S. politic...

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July 6, 2024

E86: 2024 Election Strategy, Education Depolarization, and UBI with N…

This week’s episode of Moment of Zen is a cross-release with Turpentine’s Econ 102 where economist Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss a range of topics spanning American politics and societal issues.

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July 14, 2024

E87: China's Energy Strategy, Taiwan, and US-China Relations with Sam…

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg discuss China's energy strategy and its broader geopolitical implications. Contrary to popular belief, China is not aggressively pursuing energy independence but remains reliant ...

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July 20, 2024

E88: Brand New Balaji: Trump/Biden, Jan 6

Balaji Srinivasan sits down with Erik Torenberg to discuss the massive vibe shift in Silicon Valley a week after Trump's near-assassination, tech's emerging role as a counter-elite force, why Biden is president NPC, January 6, and the role of the …

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July 27, 2024

E89: Biden/Trump's legacy with Noah Smith

Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg discuss the potential of Kamala Harris as a presidential nominee, President Biden’s legacy, impact of COVID-19 on the economy and inflation, and the recent shifts in U.S. foreign relations and immigration policies.

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Aug. 4, 2024

E90: Wading Into a Moral Case for Trump with Indian Bronson and Hannah

Today two anonymous friends of the podcast, Indian Bronson and "Hannah" join Erik Torenberg to make their moral case for Donald Trump.

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Aug. 12, 2024

E91: Trump, AI, and US-China Relations

In this episode of Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg is joined by Samuel Hammond, Director of Poverty and Welfare Policy at the Niskanen Center and The Cognitive Revolution podcast host Nathan Labenz.

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Aug. 17, 2024

E92: The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, joins Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, and Antonio Garcia Martinez to talk about the company's evolution and the broader crypto landscape.

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Aug. 25, 2024

E93: Samo Burja's Advice for the next US president

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the top challenges Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will have to face.

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Aug. 31, 2024

E94: Is AI our next nuclear threat? With Joshua Steinman and Nathan L…

Joshua Steinman, co-founder of Galvanick, joins Erik Torenberg and Nathan Labenz and do an analysis of US-China relations and AI development, examining concerns about an emerging technological arms race and its global implications.

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Sept. 7, 2024

E95: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Talks AI, National Security, and Radi…

Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith are joined by Dario Amodei, CEO and Co-founder of Anthropic.

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