Joe Liemandt is a legend in the technology world. Starting in the 1990s, he built a multi-billion dollar software empire, before quietly stepping out of the public spotlight for 20 years. Now, he’s back to reveal his next breakthrough: new schools that can 10X learning in two hours a day with AI and the right incentives. What were the discoveries that led him here? Why is he confident he can save American education? And how is he planning to get this to a billion kids worldwide?

Join us for a special episode with one of the great entrepreneurs of the digital era. In 1989, Joe Liemandt dropped out of Stanford to found Trilogy, which he describes as “the first AI product to sell a billion dollars.” He also pioneered Trilogy University — the grueling boot camp that Google and Facebook later copied — and famously outcompeted Microsoft for talent, drawing thousands of top engineers to Austin. On top of that, he added a software acquisition firm, ESW Capital, and scaled it to massive success. Today, he’s the principal of Alpha School, a revolutionary new education model that already has its students performing in the top one percent nationwide.

We begin with the origins of Trilogy, from building “configurators” and the earliest AI systems to creating its iconic, ultra-competitive culture. Then, we break down the acquisition strategy that turned ESW Capital into a massive success, before turning to Joe’s new mission: saving American education. Before joining Alpha, he went deep into the science of learning, notably backing Harvard economist Roland Fryer’s inner city research. Fryer experimented with paying teachers, parents, and students for good results — the findings shocked the education world and became foundational for much of Joe’s work. Learn how the right incentives combined with the best in AI have Alpha’s third and fourth-graders outperforming the average high-school graduate. Plus, we explore Joe’s ambitious vision for the future and how school choice can help get this model into classrooms nationwide. The U.S. has spent trillions on K-12 with little or nothing to show; meanwhile, China and other advanced economies have raced far ahead in education performance. If Joe succeeds, he will fundamentally transform education, and the future of our republic, and that’s something to get excited about.

00:00 Episode intro

01:53 Stanford dropout/origins of Trilogy

06:05 Trilogy University

09:08 Roland Fryer & paying kids for good grades

12:07 Why Joe is betting $1B on education

16:55 Kids must love school more than vacation

24:45 “The most controversial thing I’ll say today”

31:56 Why Alpha pays kids for top scores

36:52 Will this work for low-income kids?

42:57 Battle over AI & school choice

46:58 How should we teach history?

51:20 Joe’s grand vision for the future

Universities called for “free speech” after Charlie Kirk’s murder — UATX President Carlos Carvalho says they’re missing the point entirely. Is more speech really the answer? Should universities stay neutral and out of politics? Or do they have a higher duty, especially now?We discuss these questions and more with the new President of the University of Austin: Carlos Carvalho. Born and raised in Brazil, he watched his father — a Navy officer — help fight back against a communist takeover attempt in the 1960s. Carlos came to America and earned his Ph.D. in statistics from Duke University. He taught at the University of Chicago before spending 15 years as a professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, where he also founded the Salem Center for Policy to promote open debate and inquiry on campus. Carlos is an academic, a builder, and believes deeply in the promise of America; he’s uniquely talented and suited to lead the most ambitious new university project in more than a century.We begin our conversation with the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder, and the debate over the role of universities. Learn why Carlos believes “free speech is not enough” and why academia has a duty to stand on, and defend, America’s founding principles, while drawing an important distinction between politics and partisanship. Next, we discuss his upbringing and lessons from fighting the communists in Brazil, including his father’s sage advice: “Learn math, learn languages, and always watch out for the communists!” Finally, we hone in on what sets UATX apart and what it looks like to train a new elite equipped with the best of the old world and the new, plus the courage and entrepreneurial energy needed to save our civilization.

00:00 Episode intro

01:50 “Free speech isn’t enough”

06:42 Is “Institutional neutrality” the right approach?

13:50 Fighting the communists in Brazil

21:06 How the far-left captured business schools

26:45 What sets UATX apart?

32:33 Old world meets new; bringing entrepreneurship to higher ed

40:05 Why is UATX tuition free?

44:00 Navy SEAL formula for higher ed

America’s cities are dangerous and broken, and for too long, governors stood by as city officials failed their citizens. But Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has stepped up to prove that we don’t have to tolerate incompetence or lawlessness. What bold actions did he take? Why were the results shocking? And how can his leadership be a model for other governors?

We’re joined this week by businessman-turned-governor Kevin Stitt. In 2000, he launched Gateway Mortgage with just $1,000 and a computer; when he departed, it was one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the country. He ran for governor having never sought public office before, and since taking the helm, he’s run the state like a business: slashing regulations and restoring fiscal responsibility. During his tenure, Oklahoma has become one of the fastest growing states in the country.

We begin our conversation with Operation Safe — the governor’s bold initiative to clean up homeless encampments and criminal activity in Tulsa after city officials let the problems fester for years. Learn about the extensive theft, drugs, and crime they exposed, while cleaning up nearly 2 million pounds of trash! More importantly, the governor restored safety and order for families and businesses, while helping the homeless seek real treatment and get off the streets. Gov. Stitt explains how President Trump’s executive order on crime and disorder paved the way for more state leaders to take action, and now that he’s proven what’s possible, city officials in Tulsa and elsewhere are on notice that their failures will no longer be tolerated.

Next, we discuss innovative solutions that can empower citizens to hold their local officials accountable. Imagine an app that gives individuals or businesses a tax rebate if they report illegal activity and the city fails to address it — that’s what the Cicero Institute is working toward, and Gov. Stitt loves the idea! We also discuss how states can use their power to hold NGOs accountable and ensure taxpayer dollars are solving homelessness, not perpetuating it. Finally, we discuss Iryna Zarutska’s murder and the strong, but necessary, steps we need to take to deal with violent, repeat offenders. Gov. Stitt’s leadership gives us real hope that other state leaders, especially in red states, will step up, enforce the law, and prioritize the safety of the American people.

00:00 Episode intro

01:44 Operation Safe - stepping up to save Tulsa

05:48 Needles, theft & 2 million pounds of trash

10:15 Corrupt NGOs & weak politicians

13:40 Citizen apps to hold govt accountable

17:55 Soros influence in our cities

21:20 Iryna Zarutska & violent repeat offenders

Zachary Levi is best known for starring in the popular TV series Chuck and hit movies like Shazam!, while millions of children, my daughters included, know him as Flynn Rider in Disney’s Tangled. But recently, he did something even more noteworthy in his industry: he endorsed Robert Kennedy Jr. and later President Trump, while openly sharing his Christian faith. Why did he put his career at risk? What’s the story behind his $100 million studio project in Texas? And will AI open new doors for actors and writers, or will it supplant human ingenuity and, ultimately, millions of jobs?

Join us for a fascinating look behind the Hollywood curtain with a counter-cultural leader, and a spirited debate over technology’s impact on the human condition.

We begin the conversation with Zachary’s courage to speak out ahead of the 2024 elections, and the role of leaders to put principles ahead of self-preservation. Next, we reflect on the legacy of Charlie Kirk, and his ability to engage his opponents with both truth and compassion. In contrast, not a single actor had the temerity to invoke Charlie at the recent Emmy Awards, and Zachary takes us behind the curtain to explain how a quintessential American institution like Hollywood capitulated to woke ideologues. And he’s not just speaking out, he’s also building an alternative: learn about Wyldwood — a $100 million studio project outside Austin aimed at reviving great art and providing a new kind of community for artists. Finally, Zachary discusses AI’s impact on Hollywood, and why he worries it will eventually consume the creative arts. He and I see the AI landscape very differently — his take is more pessimistic, mine more optimistic — but we have a fun debate, and ultimately agree that it’s our job as leaders to build toward solutions that lift up humans and preserve the values that make our civilization great.

00:00 Episode intro

01:40 Speaking out in Hollywood

07:10 Debating politics with truth & compassion

15:23 Charlie Kirk & Hollywood’s demise

20:10 Building a new type of Hollywood

25:51 Technology vs humanity - are we better off now than 1950s?

33:25 The merits of capitalism: Jeff Bezos vs Elon Musk

41:41 Debating AI & technological progress

50:05 Will AI create or replace millions of jobs?

56:45 The role of leaders / optimism for the future

Max Meyer is the Editor and Publisher of Arena — an American technology magazine that is pro-America and pro-technology! How did legacy media become cynically motivated and ideologically captured? Will "AI slop" only make things worse? And, most importantly, what is the antidote?

We discuss these issues and more with the entrepreneur and writer behind one of America's most exciting new media outlets. Before launching Arena, Max studied geophysics at Stanford University and served as editor of the Stanford Review, where he drew national attention for his investigative reporting, including exposing former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's ties to Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

We start with the fall of once-great magazines, like Scientific American, and why Max is going all-in on high-quality, shoe-leather journalism that stands the test of time. Next, we discuss the evolution of journalism from a working-class to elite profession, the implications therein, and why the attack pieces and hit jobs are starting to backfire. We dive into some of Arena's recent work, from the first-ever profile of Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf to covering breakout industries and entrepreneurs routinely overlooked by mainstream newsrooms. Then, we talk about Max's time as editor of the Stanford Review, and carrying on the tradition started by Peter Thiel and other editors, myself included, of challenging campus groupthink and defending Western values. Finally, we address the coming avalanche of "AI slop" and why Max is betting that trustworthy, premium-packaged content will stand apart from the noise.

Learn why top builders and leaders are reading Arena -- and subscribe here to get the magazines. You can use code “JOE30” at checkout to get a 30% discount off your first year subscription!

NOTE: This episode was recorded before the murder of my friend Charlie Kirk.

00:00 Episode intro

01:38 What is Arena?

06:00 Why is journalism broken?

09:50 How Wired, TechCrunch, etc. went off the rails

15:07 Why Max is betting on premium, high-end media

19:00 Exposing Marxists as Editor of the Stanford Review

21:20 Should we be worried about AI slop?

25:58 What's next for Arena?

Harish Abbott is a serial entrepreneur at the forefront of the logistics revolution. He sold his last company to Shopify in 2022 for over $2 billion, and now he's back in the arena again. What are the new possibilities with AI? How will it impact workers? And what's the business opportunity he sees that no one else does?

Harish is the co-founder and CEO of Augment, a new platform building AI teammates for logistics operations. Its first product, Augie, already boasts $25 billion in freight under management. Previously, Harish co-founded Deliverr, an e-commerce fulfilment platform (acquired by Shopify) that provided one and two-day shipping to smaller merchants. He started his career at Amazon Fulfillment, where he helped build industry-leading technologies and transform online shopping as we know it.

We begin with Harish's background, why he came to America to build, and what makes our innovation economy unique. We discuss his most important lessons learned at Amazon, from Jeff Bezos obsessing over customer satisfaction to the company's unique writing culture. Next, Harish explains the origins of Deliverr, how he built a delivery network for the non-Amazon and Walmart world, and lessons learned from selling to Shopify. Then, we dive into the inflection point that sparked Augment, and how advances in LLMs can now manage vast asynchronous workflows and transform how information is traded. Learn why Harish sees a trillion dollar global opportunity to reduce waste in logistics, how he plans to capitalize on it, and why he believes AI can elevate brokers and shippers to higher-order thinking — a win for humans and the economy.

00:00 Episode intro

01:38 Merit matters & why build in the U.S.

05:00 Lessons from Amazon & Jeff Bezos

10:29 Deliverr & bringing next-day shipping to non-Amazon world

17:15 AI & the next logistics revolution

23:58 Meet Augie - the AI teammate for logistics

28:35 The trillion dollar opportunity

32:05 The AI talent battle

38:56 Reasons for optimism

Sen. Eric Schmitt is a fighter for our country — and knows how to win. In November 2022, as Missouri Attorney General, he sued the Biden administration for colluding with Big Tech to impose mass censorship on the American people. His actions exposed the most chilling government intrusion of our time, and launched a groundswell of opposition, culminating in Elon Musk buying Twitter. What was his strategy? How can it combat further government overreach? And how can we outsmart the far-left when it comes to redistricting, stacking the Supreme Court, and other battlegrounds?

We discuss this and more with Senator Schmitt, author of the new book: "The Last Line of Defense: How to Beat the Left in Court." After serving as Missouri Attorney General, he was elected U.S. Senator, and currently serves on the all-important Judiciary and Armed Services committees.

We begin with Sen. Schmitt's working class upbringing and his inspiration for running for office. Then, he reveals how he architected Missouri v Biden to expose the unholy alliance between the Biden White House and Big Tech to censor contrarian views (myself included, as it was later revealed in the Twitter Files). He also details his lawsuit against communist China for covering up COVID, winning $24 billion in damages for the people of Missouri. Next, we jump to his priorities in the Senate, and why he's pushing Republicans to get more aggressive, whether it's protecting the Supreme Court from court packing, defending redistricting, or securing an increase in FBI agents to crackdown on violent crime in St. Louis. Finally, we get his take on AI, and why he's wary of opportunities for censorship, but also bullish on robotics and automation bringing manufacturing back to the heartland.

00:00 Episode intro

05:00 Exposing Biden's mass censorship

09:30 How the FBI covered for Hunter Biden

15:18 Redistricting, packing SCOTUS, and next battlegrounds

21:40 Suing the CCP -- and winning

24:45 What have you learned in the Senate?

28:30 AI & Manufacturing renaissance

This week, we're honored to be joined by Venezuela's "Iron Lady" — Maria Corina Machado. She's been physically assaulted, forced into hiding, and separated from her children, but that hasn't stopped her from standing up to dictators and fighting for liberty. Right now, she believes the end of Nicolas Maduro's regime is closer than it's ever been, and a bright new future for Venezuela — and the entire region — is in sight.

In the early 2000s, Maria set aside her business and career aspirations to lead a recall against Hugo Chavez, quickly earning a reputation as his "most detested adversary." She went on to serve as an elected member of the National Assembly of Venezuela from 2011 to 2014, becoming a key leader in the widespread 2014 protests against Maduro. Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, she won her party's primary elections, but was disqualified and forced out by Maduro and his cronies. Still, her opposition party went on to win overwhelmingly, and Maduro has since rejected the results and refused to relinquish power.

We begin with the tragic downfall of Venezuela, from the wealthiest country in South America to poorer than Haiti. Learn how socialism brought one of the world's most energy rich countries to its knees, and instead became the criminal hub of Latin America, flooding the U.S. with drugs and narco terrorism while providing safe harbor to Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and other enemies. President Trump has taken strong actions in recent months, from placing a $50 million bounty on Maduro to designating cartels as terrorist organizations and directing the U.S. military to go after them — we get Maria's take on the President's policies and what else she hopes to see from our leaders in Washington. Many Americans are rightfully wary of foreign interventions; Maria explains why she doesn't see it as regime change but rather dismantling an international criminal enterprise. Finally, we cover Maria's personal journey and sacrifice, why she continues to fight even with threats against her life, and her ultimate vision for a free and prosperous Venezuela that becomes an energy powerhouse for the Americas.

00:00 Episode intro

02:30 How Venezuela became a criminal hub

09:45 What's the right US policy? Regime change?

16:24 Parallels between Chavez & the far-left in the U.S.

22:17 Maria's personal story & sacrifice

26:36 Maria’s vision for a free Venezuela

Reusable rockets, new economics, and surging investment are quickly making space one of the most promising areas for growth and innovation. Like other areas of defense, we're in a transition from billion-dollar, exquisite satellites to the proliferation of attritable platforms. What are the new markets and opportunities this creates? How will the Golden Dome impact the space race and competition with China? And what exciting possibilities, like asteroid mining, are in our future?

This week we talk all things space with Ian Cinnamon, co-founder and CEO of Apex Space, a satellite platform company. A graduate of MIT and Stanford Business School, Ian first launched a startup incubator, Superlabs, with Mark Pincus before founding Synapse, a computer vision company later acquired by Palantir. There, Ian worked on key initiatives like Project Maven before leaving to build Apex, and bring speed and efficiency to satellite platform manufacturing.

We begin with Ian's entrepreneurial journey and how his research at MIT informed the creation of Synapse. A top talent at Palantir, he reveals what it was like working on Project Maven — and the protesters that inspired him — plus the "light bulb moment" that led him to launch Apex. Next, we dive into the space boom and how SpaceX upended the entire way we think about, and build, for space. Learn about the unique challenges of engineering for space, why Apex is moving toward full vertical integration, and how it plans to meet skyrocketing demand for more launches. We also discuss President Trump's ambitious Golden Dome project, new possibilities for space-based interceptors, and China's plans to overtake U.S. supremacy in space. Finally, we conclude with Ian's most exciting innovations beyond Earth, and why asteroid mining isn't as far-fetched as you might think.

00:00 Episode intro

02:09 MIT, cognitive science & building Synapse

06:17 Palantir, Project Maven, and protestors

8:53 Ian's "light bulb moment" for building Apex

15:23 The space boom & new possibilities

21:30 Engineering for space and lessons from SpaceX

27:50 China's ambitious space plans

30:19 Golden Dome & space-based interceptors

36:00 Understanding orbit altitudes for satellites

40:00 Is China trying to steal your IP?

44:13 Asteroid mining and new possibilities beyond Earth

This week we're talking dental billing! Why? Because large parts of the $5 trillion US services economy, like medical billing, are inefficient and dysfunctional, which holds back growth and increases costs for Americans. How is AI transforming these broken sectors? What's possible now that wasn't just a few years ago? And if AI can revolutionize dental billing, what does that mean for productivity at large?We dive into the AI services wave with DayDream's Shreyas Parab, co-founder & CEO, and Anton Lin, co-founder & CTO. DayDream is applying AI to transform revenue cycle management (RCM) for dentists, and helping them recover the money they are owed faster and more effectively. Chasing down errant claims can take humans years; DayDream is doing it in weeks with AI agents!We begin with the broken state of medical billing -- thousands of rules per company, little written down, and knowledge passed down person-to-person like an ancient religion. Shreyas and Anton explain how LLMs can reason through unstructured processes in ways that previous business logic couldn't. Next, we discuss the lost revenue from missing claims (nearly 20% of all claims!), and how AI agents are becoming so effective that humans can't tell the difference. This raises the obvious question: will agentic solutions result in mass layoffs? Shreyas and Anton say the opposite is true -- AI is enabling billers to operate at higher levels and focus on expanding the business instead of waiting on hold with insurance companies. If top talent plus AI can revamp Byzantine systems like dental billing, there's a tremendous opportunity to reform the entire services economy. This means economic growth, and disinflation that benefits everyone.

00:00 Episode intro

01:35 What’s so important about dental billing?

07:50 Will AI destroy dental billing jobs?

9:50 AI agents are becoming indistinguishable from humans

17:45 Private equity rolling up dental

24:56 Understanding the AI services model