It's Alex Danco's landmark 10th appearance on Infinite Loops!

He joins the show to discuss his move from Shopify to a16z (where he'll be building out their editorial operations), the power dynamics between VCs and founders (the kings and priests of our era), communication theory and the power of speechwriting, Reagan's rhetorical genius, authentic weirdos, America's hypomanic DNA, the unexpected similarities between American and Chinese culture, and why listeners who haven't read any recommended books after 10 episodes are wasting their time.

I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, "Hmm, that's interesting!", check out our Substack.

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Show Notes:

• Alex's New Gig
• A Civil War Between Elites
• The Citizen Kane Test for CEOs
• Communication is the Founder's Job
• VCs as Legitimacy Banks & Magic-Makers
• The Lost Art of Speechwriting
• Reagan's Genius & The American Dream
• The Hypomanic Edge
• Mystery, Respect, and Cultural Power
• Marketing Ideas to the Right Audience
• The New Internet Economy
• Maritime Laws for AI Agents
• The Goth Index and Authenticity
• Substack's Identity Crisis & The Role of Podcasts
• Alex as Emperor of the World (Again)

Books Mentioned:

• What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O'Shaughnessy
• How Music Works; by David Byrne
• Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future; by Dan Wang
• The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (A Little) Craziness and (A Lot of) Success in America; John D. Gartner
• The Language of Magic; by Toby Chapel
• Underwriters of the United States: How Insurance Shaped the American Founding; by Hannah Farber