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Videos

April 17, 2025

The Problem With Reserve Currencies and Switching to Crypto w/ Lyn Alden

This week on Upstream, we’re sharing Erik Torenberg’s 2024 interview with Lyn Alden. Lyn discusses her book 'Broken Money', the impact of the global reserve currency, inflation, interest rates, and provides advice for navigating an uncertain economic future. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess —…

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April 16, 2025

The barriers to entrepreneurship are FALLING - here's why! 🔨

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April 15, 2025

📉 Less RELIGION didn't equal more REASON.

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April 14, 2025

DEBUNKING the 'China Needs Imports' Myth 💥

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April 13, 2025

🔍 Has secular optimism lost its spark? 😮

Ross Douthat explains how the psychology of secularism has changed from Obama-era hope to today's multipolar uncertainty.

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April 13, 2025

Ross Douthat on Atheism’s Decline, The New Right, and Consciousness

Today on Upstream, Ross Douthat joins Erik Torenberg to discuss his new book 'Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious,' exploring the decline of new atheism, the intellectual defense of institutional religion, and the intersection between traditional Christianity, Silicon Valley, and modern materialism. This episode originally aired on Moment of Zen…

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April 11, 2025

US vs CHINA: The REAL Path to Victory isn't WEAPONS 🔥 It's MANUFACTURING POWER.

The US needs to OUTPRODUCE China 2-3x to win. 🏭

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April 11, 2025

China’s Energy Problem w/ Samo Burja

Today on Upstream, we’re releasing a 2024 conversation between Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja. They discuss China's approach to energy security, exploring why China isn't pursuing energy independence despite significant oil production capability and the potential for further development. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess…

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April 9, 2025

😱 This is SCARIER than Climate Change or AI? 📉

We have NO KNOWN force that stops fertility from reaching ZERO. The end of humanity?

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April 8, 2025

😲 Communist China's SHOCKING embrace of capitalism! 🇨🇳

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April 6, 2025

🔥 'The crazies now rule our civilization' 🔥

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April 5, 2025

AI Managers, US vs China Analysis, and AI Art w/ Byrne Hobart

Today on Upstream, we’re sharing an episode of The Riff (originally aired on April 1, 2025). Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart explore the shifting dynamics of global trade between China and the US, the potential for AI to replace senior rather than junior roles in the workplace, and the economic…

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April 4, 2025

🌏 'Pacific allies are MORE MUSCULAR than European ones' 💪

Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan & Australia are ALL rearming! VDH explains why.

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April 3, 2025

Abundance Agenda, The New Right, and 2008 Retrospective w/ Noah Smith

Today on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith discuss the Abundance Agenda by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, the impact of the 2008 recession, Obama's presidency, and shifts in political ideology, focusing on the 'New Right' and its cultural and economic implications, while also touching upon the economic recovery strategies…

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April 2, 2025

🗺️ WHERE WILL THE DMZ BE? Ukraine-Russia endgame explained 🇺🇦🇷🇺

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March 29, 2025

Elon Musk’s Network Effects and Checking in on Chinese AI w/ Byrne Hobart

This week on Upstream, we're releasing an episode of The Riff (originally aired onMarch 25, 2025) where Erik Torenberg and Byrne Hobart discuss Don Jr.'s leveraging of the Trump brand, Dustin Moskovitz's departure to address AI risks, economic impacts of various policies, and geopolitical considerations with a focus on AI…

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March 27, 2025

Dark Triad, Romantic Partner Selection, and Dating Advice w/ Rob Henderson

Today on Upstream, Erik Torenberg interviews author Rob Henderson about modern romance, discussing evolutionary psychology, the attraction to dark triad men, dating apps, and practical advice for men seeking romantic partners. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our show by taking our…

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March 23, 2025

US-Europe Relations, Japan's Yen Strategy, and AI’s Growth Effects w/ Noah Smith

Today on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Noah Smith analyze America's European withdrawal, China's selective globalization strategy, and tempers expectations about AI's economic impact while considering GDP measurement challenges. — 📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse…

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March 20, 2025

The Tech Right and How The Left Can Fix Itself w/ Jon Askonas

Today on Upstream, we’re airing Erik Torenberg’s conversation with Jon Askonas. They explore the emerging coalition between MAGA supporters and Silicon Valley tech leaders, examines the underlying political realignment, the tensions and fault lines within this coalition, and the potential future conflicts surrounding issues like immigration and transhumanism. This episode…

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March 13, 2025

Palantir’s Politics, Elon’s Approach to DOGE, and AI’s Effects on Writing w/ Byrne Hobart

Today on Upstream, Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg dive into the wide-ranging effects of technological change on media and society. They cover the AI debate, blogging's social impact, AI's influence on search and data, the changing news industry, foreign aid cuts, and the rise of new tech elites. This episode…

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March 9, 2025

How to Have A Philosophical Marriage w/ Agnes Callard and Arnold Brooks

This week we’re releasing an episode from @ModernRelationshipsPod which originally aired on February 28, 2025 where Erik Torenberg interviews philosophy professors Agnes Callard and Arnold Brooks about their unconventional marriage, the role of philosophy in their relationship, the impact of their public profile, and how they balance personal and philosophical…

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March 6, 2025

Trump & The Game of Populism w/ Samo Burja

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the limitations of populist politics, the difficulty populists face in effecting change despite electoral wins, and the influence of digital democracy on modern governance. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener…

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March 1, 2025

Victor Davis Hanson on What Trump Thinks of Zelensky and Predicting Geopolitics

In this Upstream episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with military historian Victor Davis Hanson. They discuss the future of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, the evolution of the American left, and Donald Trump's potential future legacy. — 📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 🙏 Help shape our…

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Feb. 27, 2025

Kevin Kelly on What Makes Us Human in an AI World

In this episode of Upstream, we’re releasing Erik Torenberg’s interview from 2023 with Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired Magazine, discussing Kevin’s new advice book, the impact of gratitude, and how technology, especially AI, interacts with and shapes human existence and culture. — 📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops…

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