In the era of “going direct,” do startups still need to care about media coverage? Actually, yes: LLMs are bringing the primacy of press back, but the way companies get covered has fundamentally changed. Also: Figma’s IPO looms, Astronomer claps back with some help from a friend, and we are transported to the days of Hot or Not with the Tea data spill (ugh).

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This week on Great Chat, we are getting personal. We share our stories of how we got into tech in the first place. The detours and the unexpected opportunities that defined our careers from covering IPOs to early days at Facebook and those long hours at Goldman. Also, is Hollywood starting to cosy up to AI? We talk about Netflix's flirtation with Runway. Plus Diamonds on our minds, and no, not all were about Coldplay and "a sky full of stars".

This week on Great Chat, we talk about the 96 hours of Windsurf frenzy that consumed Silicon Valley, and what the implications are for the (broken) social contract that tech startups have with employees. We also share notes from the Backstreet Boys Into the Millennium concert, what Sally is seeing at NBA Demo Day at Summer League, Bill Ackman’s foray into professional sports, the tea (or lack thereof) from Sun Valley, and the unfortunately named TITV.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.

This week on Great Chat, we debate the impact and long-term effects of AI startup performance theatre. Should we be concerned? Plus: Twitter isn't real life, SF vs. NYC for dating, and why Big Tech might be your best bet for finding both a paycheck and a partner.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.

This week on Great Chat, we talk about the race for speed across startups and venture and why execution is everything right now. And yes, we also break down the Bezos wedding (we dared to speculate on the seating chart!) and the Meta vs OpenAI talent scoreboard. Plus, Sally finally learns the meaning of AI slop.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.

The group chat kicks off season two of Great Chat with AI M&A (say that five times fast), leaks, and Labubus.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two, and the rapid fire Q&A is now brought to you by Perplexity. How very apt.

Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.

This week on Great Chat, we’re diving into the question on everyone’s mind: what jobs are actually safe in the age of AI? Are VC roles really untouchable, as Marc Andreessen claims? Which careers are truly defensible? Could traditional media actually play a bigger role in shaping brands in an AI-powered world? Plus, we unpack Fidji Simo’s new role at OpenAI and what it might signal for the company’s future.

This week on Great Chat, the pod talks about their best managers (and what made them great), contemplates Alcatraz Island and the Met Gala, and explains why high-growth startups are the best places to work early in your career. And, congrats to the USC student for winning the sperm race!

The Rippling and Deel saga keeps on giving. Is this tech’s version of the Blake versus Justin publicity battle, or are we talking Kendrick and Drake? We break down the latest, and debate whether the playbook for crisis comms has fundamentally changed. We also weigh in on a Semafor piece about the group chats where powerful figures from tech and politics are shaping our reality (our group chat was not included…rude). 

What are the biggest mistakes people make when starting a company or venture fund? Rachel Proffitt, the CEO of Cooley, joins us this week to share her legal wisdom for future founders and fund managers. Meanwhile: ReelShort picks up where Quibi left off, Henry Blodget is back with a new publication and an AI newsroom, and a16z’s newest GP comes with a podcasting network.