Possible with Reid Hoffman

This is a bonus episode from the Conversations of Coleman podcast, featuring Reid Hoffman as the guest. Here are the show notes from that episode:

My guest today is entrepreneur and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. He’s now facing something most tech business people never imagine: being personally targeted by a sitting president’s Department of Justice. Reid and I talk through the rise of politically motivated prosecutions, the erosion of trust in institutions, and how social media and AI have accelerated our collective slide into suspicion. We get into deepfakes, vaccine skepticism, the inequality debate, and whether billionaires should exist at all. Reid also walks me through what it’s like to wait for an indictment he believes is purely retaliatory. This is a conversation about democratic guardrails, not partisan talking points—and about what happens when political power becomes personal.

A big thanks to The Free Press and Conversations with Coleman podcast, available at theFP.com. 

This is a holiday special re-airing of our excellent episode with Stephen Colbert.

What could we gain—and what might we lose—when technology begins to approximate the contours of human connection and presence? In this episode, Reid and Aria chat with comedian, actor, and political commentator Stephen Colbert. Best known for hosting The Colbert Report and The Late Show, Stephen combines a razor sharp satire with a sincere curiosity about the world. Together, Reid, Aria, and Stephen discuss the art of live performance, the many lessons one can learn from J.R.R. Tolkien, and the nature of creativity, humor, and imagination in the age of AI. The result is a meditation on discovery, empathy, and the bonds that make connection more than performance — but a shared act of being human.

In this special episode of Reid Riffs, Reid and Aria are joined by Pulitzer Prize–winning author, oncologist, and Manas AI cofounder Siddhartha Mukherjee for a few questions about cancer, AI, and the second edition of The Emperor of All Maladies. Reflecting back on the 15 years since its initial publication, Reid, Aria and Sid discuss how cancer prevention, early detection, and immunotherapy have fundamentally shifted while the disease continues to be a defining challenge of modern medicine. The conversation charts how AI can become a true engine of drug discovery and how Manas was built to be an AI-native biopharmaceutical company focused on developing entirely new medicines. The episode then broadens out to tackle the current cultural moment in Silicon Valley, questioning whether the Valley is entering a new Renaissance driven by more meaningful work, clearer values, and a renewed theory of human progress. The episode closes by grappling with AI’s growing persuasive power in politics and public discourse, and the responsibility to design systems that elevate truth, agency, and humanity rather than distort them.

In this episode of Reid Riffs, Reid and Aria explain why "compute" is the new oil powering the cognitive industrial revolution. They argue that the United States must urgently expand domestic data centers and energy infrastructure to remain globally competitive. The conversation explores how rapid data center construction is transforming blue-collar labor markets, driving significant wage growth for electricians, HVAC technicians, and skilled trades while dispelling misinformation about data centers' impact on rising electricity costs. Reid warns that China's aggressive energy expansion is also widening the global competitiveness gap, underscoring the need for stable, long-term U.S. energy policy spanning nuclear, natural gas, solar, and wind. Reid and Aria also discuss how America's next era of prosperity hinges on how decisively it builds the physical backbone of AI and why keeping AI infrastructure on U.S. soil is critical for jobs, intellectual property, and national security.

In this special live episode of Possible, Reid and Aria sit down with Wispr Flow founder and CEO Tanay Kothari to explore a post-keyboard future where voice becomes the primary way humans interact with computers. From building one of the world’s first voice assistants as a child to creating a product now used the world over (with, as of publish, 70% user retention after one year and daily users at over half of the Fortune 500), Tanay shares how Wispr Flow removes the cognitive friction of typing and restores natural communication to our digital world. The conversation touches on increasing accessibility to AI, emotional tone in digital communication, and why speaking to computers may ultimately be more human than typing ever was. And shortly into the conversation, Tanay puts his tech to the test in a live demo that pits a 110-words-per-minute typist against Wispr Flow in a dramatic battle of speed and accuracy. This episode showcases what is possible in a future where technology fades into the background and nudges people to become more present in the real world.

A big thanks to Sean Mendy and the Westbound Equity Partners, and David Stiepleman and the Sixth Street Partners for hosting the conversation. And a shout to Isabella Sikaffy and the Florabella Studios team, Marshall Potter and the Push Record team, and Marcus Chua and the Wispr Flow team.

This week, Reid and Aria dive into three central AI stories that have been dominating the headlines: Pope Leo XIV issues a powerful call for moral discernment in an AI-driven world, Anthropic reveals that state-sponsored hackers used agentic AI to automate a sophisticated cyberattack, and Disney considers a radical shift as it weighs opening its IP vault to fan creators. Reid reflects on what it means when spiritual, civic, and technological institutions all step into the AI conversation and how the race between offensive and defensive AI will define the next era of security. Reid and Aria also break down what Disney's creative signals mean for IP ownership, storytelling, and the relationship between mega-studios and their audiences. The overarching question that runs through this episode: how does society stay anchored in human dignity as AI reshapes everything from faith to culture?

Software is eating the world, but will it start eating us? On this episode of Possible, Aria Finger and Reid Hoffman sit down for an encore conversation with Aza Raskin that dives deep into how AI and engagement-driven tech are reshaping our lives, our democracies, and our sense of truth. From unpacking the present challenge around social media feeds to AI systems competing for our time, intimacy, and attention, no technology topic is out of bounds. Along the way, they also debate AI pause letters, why incentives always eat intentions, and how to design new institutional frameworks for a future where AI truly elevates human agency, compassion, and wisdom. If everything breaks humanity’s way, what becomes possible? Tune in to find out.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

In this episode of Possible, Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore how AI is colliding with real-world regulation, responsibility, and even civility. As states like Utah, California, and Illinois roll out new AI laws governing everything from chatbot disclosure to bans on AI-driven therapy, Reid breaks down the logic that’s driving these policies. The conversation dives into OpenAI’s self-imposed limits on medical, legal, and financial advice, the challenge of providing access while managing liability, and why safe harbor laws could unlock life-saving potential for AI. From there, the discussion zooms out to the global stage, where China is pushing for an international AI governance body and the U.S. risks losing moral and technical leadership. Finally, Aria and Reid end on a human behavior note: a study showing AI performs better when users are rude. What does that say about how we train these models? But mostly, what does it reveal about us? From transparency to civility, what kind of intelligence do we really want to build?

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

This week Reid and Aria break down the global AI race from Nvidia’s $5 trillion valuation and the U.S.–China chip rivalry to what happens when AI starts reshaping industries like medicine. Reid explains why the future of innovation depends on how we deploy AI, not just how we build it, and why doctors, scientists, and creators will need to redefine their expertise in a world of intelligent tools. Later in the episode, Reid responds to new calls to “pause” AI development and shares why he believes safety and progress must advance together. The conversation ends with a look at the future of healthcare and why, in Reid’s view, AI won’t replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace those who don’t.

What does it take to turn tragedy into advocacy, and advocacy into lasting change? This week, Reid and Aria are talking to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Kris Brown, president of Brady, the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization. Together, they explore how sports, storytelling, and civic engagement can move the needle on one of America’s most polarizing issues: guns.

In the first part of this episode, Steve and Kris share the personal and political roots of their partnership. They also dive into the movement for safer gun storage, smart firearm technology, and the bipartisan momentum that’s possible when we lead with empathy over fear.

In the second part, the conversation turns to the future of basketball and leadership. Steve reflects on lessons from Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, the power of authenticity and collaboration, and how AI, analytics, and even robotics are reshaping the NBA. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

01:14 - Hellos and intros

03:28 - Collaboration is the cornerstone of Steve’s leadership philosophy 

04:22 - Imposter syndrome, playing under Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich, and coaching Draymond Green 

06:02 - Steve’s personal experience with gun violence and using his platform to drive change

07:17 - Lessons Kris learned from working on the Brady Bill 

10:43 - Gemini explains the landmark Brady Bill and how it passed

11:48 - Origins of Steve and Brady’s partnership 

16:55 - Building bipartisan support for gun violence prevention, like the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

21:21 - Smart gun technology, gun safes, and other technological solutions

25:27 - “Shut up and dribble” comment and the pushback athletes receive when they speak up

27:29 - Social media as a tool to create cultural change 

29:39 - Kris answers the last rapid-fire question and says her goodbyes

32:33 - Midroll

32:38 - Steve digs deeper into Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich’s coaching styles

34:40 - Inspiration v. comparison

35:22 - Hiring staff who bring specific strengths helps form a stronger team

36:21 - Endgame instincts as a coach

39:37 - Helping players navigate modern-age attention and public opinions on social media

42:01 - Internal leadership from players is crucial and Steph Curry as an example

44:33 - How NBA analytics have evolved

46:52 - The Warriors are planning to implement AI-powered robots into their training

47:56 - Players wear monitors that analyze their performance data

49:17 - Discoveries from players’ performance data 

50:46 - Analyzing game footage with AI, facial recognition technology, and learning that Steph Curry logs the most miles ran per game in the league

52:56 - Using game footage data to learn opponents’ patterns and build game plans

54:05 - Correlating physical condition and shot success percentage for each player

56:19 - Rapid-fire questions 

Select mentions: 

Phil Jackson

Greg Popovich

Brady Bill

Uvalde school shooting

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

End Family Fire Campaign

Maxwell Frost

Matthew McConaughey

Dan Grunfeld

Lopez Twins

Maverick: More than a Game by Phil Jackson and Charley Rosen

Daryl Morey

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

March for Our Lives

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.