E8: Antitrust, the Future of Competition, and Higher Education

This week, writer Byrne Hobart and investor Erik Torenberg discuss the failed acquisition of Figma by Adobe, a deep dive on antitrust, Byrne's take on higher education and viable alternatives, unions, and more. The Riff is sponsored by Shopify: https://shopify.com/momentofzen for a $1/month trial period.

---

The Riff is a part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: https://turpentine.co

---

Thanks to our sponsor: SHOPIFY

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

---

LINKS:

Byrne's writing: https://thediff.co

---

X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@byrnehobart (Byrne)

@turpentinemedia (Turpentine)

---

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Figma and Adobe

(03:28) Antitrust Perspective on Figma and Adobe

(03:41) Understanding Antitrust in Tech

(07:49) Role of Big Tech Companies in Antitrust

(19:00) Sponsor: Shopify

(20:38) Higher Education: A Cartel?

(24:15) YC and Disruption in Higher Education

(31:07) Funding Higher Education

(32:50) Rethinking the Role of Traditional Institutions in Education

(33:26) The Potential of Separating Vocational Training and Liberal Arts

(33:47) Imagining a Different Approach to Post-High School Education

(34:32) The Unpredictability of Career Paths and Interests

(35:36) The Case for Subsidizing Knowledge Acquisition

(36:35) The Importance of Failing and Learning in Education

(37:51) Personal Experience and Reflections on College Education

(38:43) The Future of Higher Education for the Next Generation

(46:27) The Challenges of Traditional K-12 Education

(53:24) The Ideological Monopoly in Universities

(53:54) The Impact of Political Ideologies on Education