Possible with Reid Hoffman

Can AI help us better understand animals and, if it could, what might we discover? This week’s episode was recorded live at the 2025 Masters of Scale Summit where Reid and Aria sat down with Aza Raskin, co-founder and CEO of the Earth Species Project. Aza and his team are using AI to decode the languages and cultures of non-human species. From dolphins that invent new tricks together to crows that raise each other’s young in communal “villages,” Aza reveals the startling complexity of animal communication and what it teaches us about our own. During the course of their conversation, Reid, Aria and Aza explore why recognizing the intelligence of the animal kingdom might spark a new Copernican Revolution, one that changes not just science, but who we believe ourselves as a species to be. It’s a thought provoking journey through language, empathy, and the limits of human perspective that will make you listen to the natural world a little differently.

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

Topics:

00:00 – Live introduction from the Masters of Scale Summit

00:58 – Aza Raskin explains the Earth Species Project and its mission

03:03 – How AI can decode animal language and culture

05:18 – Crows, whales, and dolphins—evidence of communication and community

07:32 – What we’ve missed by only “hearing the shouts” of other species

08:30 – Dolphins learning to innovate together and what it reveals about intelligence

09:57 – Elephants’ overlapping calls and the idea of “communal grammar”

12:33 – From speaking to listening: the ethics of interspecies understanding

14:23 – Names, self-awareness, and identity across dolphins, elephants, and belugas

16:05 – Animal rituals, drum languages, and AI’s early attempts at conversation

18:10 – Animal Language Processing as science’s next frontier

20:38 – The moral shift: what animals teach us about empathy, AI, and responsibility

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.

In this week's episode, Reid and Aria unpack why trust is a practical skill, not just a feeling. Reid riffs on the importance of hands-on investor-founder relationships, boardroom decisions that can make or break a company, and investor behaviors that build durable trust. They also discuss what product teams and policymakers must do to earn user confidence in an age of AI. Along the way, Reid shares personal anecdotes regarding his work with OpenAI, crisis leadership, and bridging Silicon Valley policy with the rest of the globe.

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

How can AI really help advance medicine? Should patients and care teams be seeking second opinions from LLMs? This week, Reid and Aria sit down with physician-scientist Dr. David Fajgenbaum, who repurposes existing drugs to save lives—including his own. David shares his journey from receiving last rites as a young medical student to co-founding Every Cure, a nonprofit using AI to come up with ways existing drugs can be repurposed to treat every disease and every patient possible. On this special episode, filmed live in New York City, David, Reid, and Aria explore the circuit of hope, action, and impact that drives medical discovery; the technical and ethical challenges around accelerating AI in healthcare; “agent optimization” as the new “search engine optimization;” and what a future of faster diagnoses and treatment could look like. The result is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and unlocking cures that are already within our reach.

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

Topics:

3:00 - Hellos and intros

3:29 - A promise to his mother and the origin of AMF

6:23 - From grief support to medical school

9:18 - Near-death experiences and founding a research network

14:38 - What kept David going at death’s door

16:19 - Discovering a potential treatment and testing it on himself

19:42 - Why drug repurposing is a faster, cheaper complement to drug discovery

22:14 - Co-founding Every Cure and scaling discovery with AI

25:20 - Demo: Building MATRIX and how the algorithm makes predictions

28:41 - Breast cancer and Lidocaine as a case study

30:07 - Why human review is essential in AI for medicine

34:08 - Car exhaust fumes example and FDA pathways

37:31 - Reid’s surprise million-dollar donation for Every Cure compute

39:24 - What AI can unlock across healthcare

41:46 - Building an impact team to close the repurposing loop

47:32 - Improving systemic incentives for generics

54:58 - FDA approval pathways and label change challenges

57:21 - Three life-saving repurposing stories

1:02:20 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Chasing My Cure by Dr. David Fajgenbaum

Every Cure 

David’s TED Talk: https://youtu.be/sb34MfJjurc?si=GcVleWHZuJ9MqLgS

Manas AI

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.

This week, Reid and Aria dive into the debate over new $100,000 fees on H-1B visas, and discuss how immigration powers U.S. innovation and how to ensure startups aren’t shut out. They also cover developers’ mixed feelings about using AI in coding, the leap from 60% to 85% accuracy in medical AI predictions, and what it will take to bring regulators and clinicians on board. Plus, Reid shares why he’s skeptical of a three-day work week and reflects on the Trust in American Institutions Challenge, highlighting some inspiring finalists.

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

What’s the role of semiconductors—and the companies that make them—in powering human progress? What does it look like to innovate thoughtfully in a landscape where the demand for power may be higher than the supply? With AI evolving faster and faster, how can we keep up? 

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su joins the show to talk about hardware, global manufacturing, and risk-taking. She shares what she has learned leading AMD from near-bankruptcy a decade ago to its current standing as one of the world’s leading chipmakers. Lisa also weighs in on geopolitics, the AI arms race, startups, what makes her want to hire someone, and AI’s enormous potential to advance healthcare for humankind. 

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

Topics:

2:46 - Hellos and intros

2:54 - The origins of Lisa's interest in hardware

4:19 - Deciding to bet on chips

6:06 - MIT and early engineering days

6:28 - Google Gemini defines "bunny suits"

8:25 - Differences between AMD and NVIDIA

10:25 - AI’s potential to improve healthcare

16:27 - Driving AMDs comeback

19:40 - Making patience and long-term vision a company-wide virtue

22:06 - Vision for the next 10 years

24:59 - Midroll

25:16 - The impact of geopolitics on AMD

28:38 - Environmental implications of chip production  

30:41 - Major hardware innovations in the start-up space

32:14 - AI driving coding acceleration

33:47 - How AMD encourages employees to leverage AI

35:22 - Identifying and empowering talent  

39:08 - Rapid-fire questions

Select mentions: 

Liquid.ai

The Worlds I See by Dr. Fei-Fei Li 

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.

This week, Reid and Aria discuss Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 and live translation capabilities, AI-generated movies (specifically Critterz from OpenAI), and what really could be lost — or gained — as AI technology becomes more widespread. Plus, Reid reflects on his speech at the Bologna Business School two years ago, and how far AI has come since then in amplifying creativity and humanity. 

Select mentions: 

Superagency

Bro-Botz (https://www.youtube.com/@Bro-BotzDTI) 

Reid’s Bologna Business School commencement speech 

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

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.

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

Topics:

2:35 – Hellos and intros

2:53 – Stephen Riffs on humanity and Dungeons & Dragons 

6:08 – Tolkien characters and desert island companions

7:02 – Creativity, empathy, and imagination in comedy

11:37 – Performing for a live audience

13:02 – Comedy as a third space

16:22 – Early ideas about interactive technology and improvisation

19:14 – Can AI art escape the uncanny valley

22:27 – The human “micronutrients” that AI cannot replace

24:05 – Parasocial relationships and the future of entertainment

26:50:– Midroll

26:58 – Responsibility and fact-checking

29:56 – Personalization versus discovery in AI storytelling

33:47 – Lessons from Tolkien

41:22 – AI as part of human evolution

44:51 – How AI can already be employed in health fields

48:46 – AI in video games and creative amplification

49:58 – Balancing skepticism and excitement about AI

50:06 – Rapid-fire Questions

Select mentions: 

A Man Jumps Out of an Airplane by Barry Yourgrau

Exploring The Lord of the Rings with Dr. Corey Olsen

Letter 144 by J.R.R. Tolkien 

Robert Heinlein

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.

This week, Reid and Aria discuss the challenges around integrating AI into organizations and workspaces, China’s recent pivot away from NVIDIA, and OpenAI’s new $50 million NGO-focused fund. Reid also offers his take on a recent Stanford study that looks at entry-level jobs at risk of AI replacement. 

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

Gains in the quality of America’s K-12 education in the late 20th and early 21st century have largely plateaued—and , in several instances, reversed—in the last few decades. This week, Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price joins the show to discuss her fast-expanding network of AI-powered private schools, which she says represent the reform the system so badly needs. She explains why Alpha students learn core academics in two hours a day via a personalized learning platform—not human teachers—and then devote the rest of the school day to passion projects, life skills, and real-world learning. Plus, we hear from Alex, a high school senior at Alpha’s Austin, TX location, about his experience. 

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

Topics:

3:45 - Hellos and intros

4:12 – MacKenzie’s path from Stanford psychology to Alpha Schools

6:11 – Updating traditional school systems with AI

7:46 – What makes Alpha Schools different

12:01 – The 2-Hour Learning model 

15:40 – Key lessons from AI in classrooms 

18:11 – AI supercharges students with the “four C’s”: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity

20:47 – Teacher-student connection and mentorship 

21:54 – Scaling Alpha Schools & lowering costs

25:47 – AI-driven assessment & personalized learning plans

29:38 – Midroll

29:47 – Alex shares his experience as an Alpha School student and entrepreneur 

34:19 – Challenges of scaling  

36:09 – Student incentives & using Alpha currency to teach kids financial literacy

38:55 – Alpha students learn life skills & develop entrepreneurial projects 

41:44 – GT School for highly accelerated learners

44:55 – “Future of Education” podcast highlights

47:16 – Teachers vs. guides & redefining expertise in education

49:21 – Using AI for public speaking & coaching

51:02 – Rapid fire questions

Select mentions: 

Alpha School, AI-Driven Education Founded in Austin, Is Coming to More Cities — New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/ai-alpha-school-austin-texas.html 

Future of Education Podcast: https://futureofeducationpod.com/ 

Berry: https://berryplush.com/ 

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.

This week, Reid and Aria discuss the much-anticipated launch of GPT-5, Figma's blockbuster IPO, Perplexity’s bid to acquire Google Chrome, and the end of AOL’s dial-up internet service. Plus, Reid offers his take on why some companies find explosive growth and others fade just as fast. 

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

Select mentions: 

For the Hamilton v.s. Satoshi Bitcoin Rap Battle: https://reid.medium.com/bitcoin-rap-battle-hamilton-vs-satoshi-de3058b3dff0  

The innovator’s dilemma by Clayton Christensen