Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:07) - Cal's military background

(00:13:59) - Transitioning into a family business

(00:19:35) - Implementing EOS

(00:25:08) - The journey to compassionate leadership

(00:36:16) - Prioritizing self-care and meditation

(00:37:19) - Journaling techniques and prompts

(00:39:02) - Mental health stigma and therapy

(00:40:16) - Daily intentions and successes

(00:42:28) - Leadership

(00:47:28) - Coaching and team building

(00:58:45) - Writing a book

(01:03:10) - Resources

Links:

Scribe — https://scribemedia.com

Entrepreneurial Compassion: An Entrepreneur’s Journey Through Combat, Suicide, and the Discovery of Compassionate Leadership - https://amzn.to/4nqH6AK

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

We discuss:

How military battle drills shaped Cal’s approach to business leadership

How EOS changed about his company and personal life

Why compassion is both a moral imperative and a business advantage

Tactical ways Cal builds emotional awareness into his leadership habits

How journaling, meditation, and presence help fuel resilience and clarity

Quotes from Cal:

"The more compassion I showed my team, the more profit we made. It’s not soft—it’s smart."

"They’ll never care how much you know until they know how much you care."

"Every really good unit has this thing called a tactical SOP—just like your business has processes."

"EOS gave me the ability to step back, let the team lead, and focus on building the future."

"I went from working 90 hours a week in the business to now doing one meeting a week."

"The business stops running you, and you start running it."

"When we can be driven and compassionate, the sky’s the limit."

"As entrepreneurs, we’re good at putting out fires—and if there isn’t one, we’ll start one just to feel busy."

"My brother’s death has to mean something—this book is how I make sure something good comes from it."

"I want to create a million compassionate leaders and prevent a hundred thousand suicides."

"This isn't about monetizing trauma—every cent from the book goes to suicide prevention."

Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship

There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant

You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  

Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start. 

It's been five years since the Almanack of Naval Ravikant was published.

I spent the day with Naval expanding on key ideas from the book. We recorded hours of that conversation to share with you.

This episode is a portion of that long conversation that talks about Building Judgement

You can purchase the new expanded edition with nearly 4 hours of new material on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant-Audiobook/B0FBCP1JWJ

Chapters:

00:00 The Search for Something Perfect & Permanent

03:00 Timeless vs. Timely Knowledge

06:00 Truth, Reach & Universal Theories

09:00 From Specifics to General Principles

12:00 Learning by Doing – Experience First

15:00 Judgment, Taste & the Role of Reflection

18:00 Investing, Taste & Post-Wealth Choices

21:00 Hard Work, Focus & Breakthroughs

24:00 From Logic to Intuition to Taste

27:00 AI, Information Retrieval & Human Creativity

30:00 Leverage of Software Engineers with AI

33:00 The iPhone as the Greatest Product of the Age

36:00 Entrepreneurs, Creativity & Using AI as a Tool

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

It's been five years since the Almanack of Naval Ravikant was published.

I spent the day with Naval expanding on key ideas from the book. We recorded hours of that conversation to share with you.

This episode is a portion of that long conversation that talks about Saving Yourself

You can purchase the new expanded edition with nearly 4 hours of new material on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant-Audiobook/B0FBCP1JWJ

Chapters:

00:00 Virtues as Long-Term Selfishness & Cheap Dopamine

03:00 Fixing Local Problems Before Global Activism

06:00 Spreadability vs. Correctness of Ideas

09:00 Truth as Survival in the Multiverse

12:00 Authenticity, Ego & Removing the Mask

15:00 Modern Traps, Hedonism & Religion’s Role

18:00 Finding the People, Work & Place That Need You Most

21:00 Exploration, Investment & Compound Interest

24:00 Learning Through Iterations, Not Hours

27:00 Choosing Your Environment & Adapting It

30:00 Envy vs. Inspiration – Choosing the Better Path

33:00 Heroes, Resonance & The Legacy of Steve Jobs

36:00 Universal Human Potential & Breaking Labels

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

It's been five years since the Almanack of Naval Ravikant was published.

I spent the day with Naval expanding on key ideas from the book. We recorded hours of that conversation to share with you.

This episode is a portion of that long conversation that talks about Learning Happiness

You can purchase the new expanded edition with nearly 4 hours of new material on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant-Audiobook/B0FBCP1JWJ

Chapters:

00:00 Happiness as a Skill & Thought Construct

03:00 Peace, Desires & Higher Motives

06:00 Mind-Created Problems & Meditation

09:00 Engagement vs. Peace – Balancing Both

12:00 Health, Wealth & the Pursuit of Truth, Love, Beauty

15:00 Meditation, Silence & Resolving Thoughts

18:00 Love, Creation & Human Flourishing

21:00 Acute vs. Chronic Unhappiness, Ego & Identity

24:00 Choice Theory & Depression as Habit

27:00 Seasons of Life – Wealth, Health & Happiness

30:00 Aging, Compounding Actions & Character

33:00 High Agency Living & Designing Life

36:00 Reinterpreting the Past, Forgiveness & Ego

39:00 Enlightened Teachers, Peace & No-Self

42:00 Relationships, Self-Sufficiency & Truth in Bonds

45:00 Consciousness, Self-Examination & No-Self Realization

51:00 Seeking Enlightenment vs. Chasing Shiny Objects

54:00 Happiness, Motivation & Effectiveness

57:00 Relationships, Obligations & Peer Bonds

60:00 Ritual vs. Genuine Happiness

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

It's been five years since the Almanack of Naval Ravikant was published.

I spent the day with Naval expanding on key ideas from the book. We recorded hours of that conversation to share with you.

This episode is a portion of that long conversation that talks about Philosophy

You can purchase the new expanded edition with nearly 4 hours of new material on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant-Audiobook/B0FBCP1JWJ

Chapters:

00:00 Meditations, Authenticity & Schopenhauer

03:00 God, Kids, or Mission – Sources of Meaning

06:00 Truth, Heresies & Group Consensus

09:00 Evolution, Buddhism & Quantum Physics

15:00 Simulation Theory vs. Consciousness

18:00 Religion, Science & Contemporary Lenses

21:00 Live for Something Larger Than Yourself

24:00 Reading, Philosophy & Timeless Books

27:00 Pursuing Happiness, Wealth & Status Indirectly

30:00 Fun Criterion & Learning Through Curiosity

33:00 Risk, Conviction & Building the Impossible

36:00 Retirement, Truth, Love & Beauty

39:00 Endgame Content & Playing Without Fear

42:00 Wealth, Enlightenment & Contradictory Desires

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

Naval Ravikant on Building Wealth

It's been five years since the Almanack of Naval Ravikant was published.

I spent the day with Naval expanding on key ideas from the book. We recorded hours of that conversation to share with you.

This episode is a portion of that long conversation that talks about Building Wealth

You can purchase the new expanded edition with nearly 4 hours of new material on Audible here:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Almanack-of-Naval-Ravikant-Audiobook/B0FBCP1JWJ

00:00 Defining Wealth

03:00 Knowledge as the True Multiplier

09:00 Ethics of Wealth Creation & Capitalism

15:00 Progress, Optimism & Conjecture

21:00 Scale, Governance & Morality

27:00 Products, Knowledge & Hard-to-Vary Designs

36:00 Closing Reflections

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:26) - Marathon misadventures(00:06:15) - The failed acquisition(00:13:47) - Lessons from the deal(00:29:31) - The future of retail(00:33:44) - Empathy for founders(00:35:23) - The grind of capitalism(00:35:37) - Challenges for young founders(00:36:10) - The importance of peer support(00:37:17) - Scaling and growth pains(00:37:42) - Exciting new ventures(00:38:20) - Genetic engineering innovations(00:43:40) - Revolutionizing air freight with airships(00:49:56) - Terraform Industries: Energy independence(01:02:17) - Innovative warehouse automation(01:05:25) - Mining industry disruption(01:09:45) - Conclusion and future outlook

Links:

Join us in Rolling Fun!

Hear our other Rolling Fun eps!

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

We discuss:

Why personal networks matter most when raising money quickly for big deals

New investments in companies building genetically engineered animals, advanced airships, and solar-powered synthetic natural gas

How real operational experience shapes the way we invest and support founders

The balance of optimism and realism required to keep taking shots in business

Quotes from Al:

“Just keep taking the shots. A shooter’s gotta shoot.”

“Sometimes you take the shot, do everything right, and the ball still doesn’t go in.”

“There’s no classy way to advertise, ‘Hey, your favorite store died—but we’re a good rebound.’”

“Capitalism is an unforgiving mistress.”

“Personal relationships were the most valuable asset I had in that deal.”

“Sometimes I think, ‘I should be inventing Facebook 2,’ but here I am—investing in fabric.”

“I’ve never worked on a deal that hard. It should have gone my way… and didn’t.”

“You wake up the next morning and it didn’t happen, but I still have a great family, and my business is still running.”

“It's hard until it isn’t—and even when it isn’t, it’s still freaking hard.”

Quotes from Bo:

“We’re actual operators—curious about what’s possible with technology—and that makes us better investors.”

“On a Thursday, ‘This deal is happening.’ Then Tuesday? ‘It’s over. We lost.’”

“We have a unique amount of empathy for founders—because we know how hard this shit is.”

“If you can pull it off, it’s transformational. And that’s awesome.” (on Airship)

“A blimp is not a quadcopter to carry Al’s big ass—it’s an elegant, slow-moving blimp.”

“There’s a lot of industries still doing 90/10 in-store sales. That blew my mind.”

“It’s a real ‘software is eating the world’ moment—but finally arriving at the mining industry.”

“When you’re building something that matters, you’re playing the long game—even if the outcome is uncertain.”

“The people who make glow-in-the-dark fish… now they’re building unicorns. And yeah, it’s gonna happen.”

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

 (00:01:46) - Personal updates and new ventures

 (00:04:06) - The youth sports complex project

 (00:05:21) - Challenges and strategies in youth sports business

 (00:09:09) - Community impact and future vision

 (00:19:00) - Reflections on education and parenting

 (00:34:05) - The magic of holding a newborn

 (00:34:32) - The joys and challenges of parenting

 (00:35:07) - Balancing work and family life

 (00:37:36) - Exciting company updates

 (00:38:03) - Success stories in venture capital

 (00:40:55) - Innovations in space and technology

 (00:47:19) - The future of asteroid mining

 (00:54:34) - Revolutionizing construction and robotics

 (00:59:01) - Battery technology breakthroughs

 (01:03:59) - Conclusion and next steps

Links:

Join us in Rolling Fun!

Hear our other Rolling Fun eps!

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

We discuss:

Bo is turning around a Youth Sports Complex that was losing millions/year.

“Never skip a funeral and always hold a baby”

Investment updates across nuclear energy, asteroid mining, robotics, and batteries.

Why enthusiasm, networks, and timing matter so much in early-stage investing.

Quotes from Bo:

"This was like 11 businesses stuffed into one building… and none of them were working yet."

"My job right now is teaching people who love what they do how it fits into a business."

"We get 2 to 3 calls a week from private equity firms, and I tell them all: don’t do it."

"It’s a 600-person organization… a real thing with real complexity."

"Maybe it’s a $30 million business—manageable, understandable, and ridiculously high impact."

"It’s a cartel-organized market. You need to be a trusted actor to even play in it."

"Helping it really succeed is time well spent—for Kansas City, for the kids, and for everyone here."

"The youth sports market is a $40 to $80 billion space, and it’s on fire."

"There’s not a lot of credible business builders in this space—and I haven’t found another one yet."

"In 50 years, this will be even more awesome. I love working on stuff like that."

Quotes from Al:

"You couldn't just copy-paste this business into another city. You need deep trust and local knowledge."

"This is a fun community challenge. If you get it right, you leave a real legacy."

"I texted Bo—‘We did it’—because Eric and Jeannine had a baby. That’s how we all felt."

"The bond between dad and baby isn’t immediate. But it grows—and it’s worth it."

"I fixed the cheeseburger at Home Field before Bo was even involved."

"Once you have a baby, every infant photo becomes magic."

"The best underappreciated part of being an entrepreneur? You can get your kids working early."

Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship

There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant

You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  

Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start.

***This is a Replay Episode***

Links for Matt’s stuff:

⁠Aalo.com⁠

⁠Matt on Twitter⁠

⁠Aalo on Twitter⁠

⁠Aalo Job Board⁠

Link to invest alongside Eric in deals like Aalo: rolling.fun

Links to stuff mentioned:

⁠Decouple Podcast⁠

⁠Titans of Nuclear Podcast⁠

⁠Nuclear Barbarian Substack⁠

⁠Atomic Awakening by James Mahaffey⁠

⁠Why Nuclear Power Has Been a Flop by Jack Devanney⁠

Topics:

(00:03:08) How the popular opinion of nuclear has changed from the 1950’s

(00:15:16) The regulation issues surrounding nuclear

(00:17:20) Water-based nuclear reactors vs. advanced nuclear reactors

(00:19:40) Matt’s journey into nuclear energy

(00:34:42) Aalo’s strategy

(00:41:12) What is the TAM for this nuclear microreactors?

(00:45:53) The manufacturing process for a nuclear plant

(00:48:51) The nuclear supply chain

(00:50:01) The change in public opinion on nuclear energy

(00:55:56) Support for nuclear energy in the VC world

(01:01:12) Recommendations for learning more about the sustainable energy industry

(01:03:30) What do you look for when hiring?

To support this podcast:

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanak: ⁠www.navalmanack.com/⁠

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage

>> Text the podcast to a friend

>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

Important quotes from Naval on building wealth and the difference between wealth and money:

How to get rich without getting lucky. - Naval Ravikant

Making money is not a thing you do—it’s a skill you learn. - Naval Ravikant

Seek wealth, not money or status. - Naval Ravikant

Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant

Money is how we transfer time and wealth. - Naval Ravikant

Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth creation games. 

You’re not going to get rich renting out your time. You must own equity—a piece of a business—to gain your financial freedom. - Naval Ravikant

Important quotes from the podcast by Naval on Leverage:

“Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” 

—Archimedes 

To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines. - Naval Ravikant

Capital and labor are permissioned leverage. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to give it to you. Everyone is trying to lead, but someone has to follow you. - Naval Ravikant

Code and media are permissionless leverage. They’re the leverage behind the newly rich. You can create software and media that works for you while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant

If you can’t code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant

Leverage is a force multiplier for your judgment. - Naval Ravikant

Apply specific knowledge, with leverage, and eventually you will get what you deserve. - Naval Ravikant

Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship

There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant

You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.  

Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That’s a fine way to start. 

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:37) - The Netflix documentary: Misrepresentation and struggles (00:03:19) - Writing the memoir (00:08:47) - The challenges of independent publishing (00:12:40) - The creative process and future plans (00:35:23) - Impact of the book on readers (00:36:04) - Scripted series and unused content (00:36:36) - New docuseries and correcting the narrative (00:37:04) - Psychological analysis in documentaries (00:40:13) - Challenges and rewards of writing (00:41:36) - Unexpected positive outcomes (00:45:38) - Vulnerability of publishing a memoir (00:49:44) - Future aspirations and business rebuilding (00:53:54) - Experience with Scribe Publishing (01:02:59) - Advice for aspiring authors

Links:

People: Andrew Huberman — https://hubermanlab.com/about David Goggins — https://davidgoggins.com Eric Jorgenson — https://www.ericjorgenson.com Mary Karr — https://english.utexas.edu/people/mary-karr Paul Millerd — https://www.pathlesspath.com Sarma Melngailis — https://thegirlandtheduck.com Tim Ferriss — https://tim.blog

Podcasts: Huberman Lab — https://hubermanlab.com The Tim Ferriss Show — https://tim.blog/podcast

Companies: Scribe — https://scribemedia.com

Websites / Tools / Platforms: Scrivener — https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview The Girl and the Duck (Sarma’s memoir site) — https://thegirlandtheduck.com

To support the costs of producing this podcast: 

>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/ 

>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/

>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage 

>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun

>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter

>> Text the podcast to a friend

>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!

We discuss:

What the Netflix docuseries got wrong—and how she’s correcting it.

The emotional and creative process of writing a 200,000-word memoir over eight years.

How storytelling, honesty, and empathy can help others escape manipulative relationships.

Quotes from Sam:

“I was in a cult of one.”

“People very often don't understand how this happens to someone who’s intelligent, who went to a good school, and started a business. But it does happen.”

“I started writing immediately after I got out of jail.”

“I had no editorial control... They basically changed the reality of what happened.” (on the Bad Vegan docuseries)

“I didn’t want anybody telling me what I can and can’t put in there... I wanted to have control over my story.”

“The book is long because I needed the reader to go through the psychological experience with me.”

“I have all my receipts. I included actual journal entries, G-chats, texts, and emails.”

“The writing was therapeutic, but also grueling. Sometimes I felt like I was crawling up the wall and slithering out of my skin.”

“I want the story to be useful. That’s what I’ve wanted all along.”

“People tell me, ‘I don’t read books anymore, but I read yours.’ That feels amazing.”

“Even if you're never going to publish it, writing about what happened to you can bring real relief.”

“I turned down a deal with a major studio because I didn’t want to give up control of my story again.”

“It wasn’t about power—it was about protecting the integrity of the story.”

“Someone told me they left a toxic relationship because of reading my book. That alone makes it all worth it.”