The Kevin Rose Show

For a long time, I approached meditation like a workout. Put in the time, keep showing up, and eventually my mind would get quieter.

Henry Shukman offered a different image that has stayed with me.

Imagine a young horse running around a meadow, with its mother quietly watching nearby. The horse has all this energy. The mother lets it run. As your meditation practice deepens, Henry says, the meadow gets bigger.

Your thoughts can keep moving. You have more space around them.

I sat down with Henry, a Zen teacher, author, and poet, in New Mexico just before heading into a weeklong meditation retreat. We started with the busy mind and ended up talking about awakening, grief, love, and what it means to be fully human.

What struck me about the meadow is how much pressure it takes off. So much of self-improvement gives us another thing to fix about ourselves. Henry’s approach invites us to notice how tightly we’re holding everything. Perhaps peace is something we gradually learn to stop interfering with.

That becomes very practical when we talk about reactivity. Someone says something, a small irritation lands, and suddenly it has taken over our afternoon. Henry describes how practice helps us recognize that reaction and give it room to soften. We can still address whatever happened. We just have a little more freedom in how we respond.

A few other moments I loved:

The pressure to “get” meditation.
We explore how chasing a particular experience can become another source of tension, and why ordinary, consistent practice matters.

Awakening and being human.
Henry talks about cherishing his emotions and feelings. As he puts it, he has no interest in becoming a “heartless sort of Zen robot.”

Grief and love.
We get into what it means to stay open to both, including the parts we’d often rather avoid.

Learning to live from the heart.
Henry shares his experience after a bicycle accident and how his years of practice supported him as he dealt with the effects of a concussion.

We also get into The Way, the meditation app Henry co-created. I was curious about its sequential approach: following one path over time, with each session building on the last.

If you’ve ever sat down to meditate and immediately decided you were bad at it, I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

Let me know what stays with you.

Be well,

Kevin

Get your free month of Snipd here.

I sit down with Kevin Ben Smith, founder of Snipd, for a wide-ranging conversation on why every podcast app you’ve ever used is secretly a music player - and what happens when AI finally gets to listen with you.We get into: the bicycle commute in Zurich (and the Sam Altman podcast) that started Snipd, the Amazon-reviews neural net that convinced him to bet on AI five years before ChatGPT, why Snipd has data Apple, Spotify and YouTube don’t have, why his three-person team specifically refuses to build an ad-skipping feature, why today’s podcast advertising is a “huge hack” and the YouTube-style model that should replace it, the Snipd DJ stringing 5-to-10-minute moderated supercuts across every show you’d never get to, why audiobook publishers are too paranoid to license cleanly, Kevin’s blunt verdict on ElevenLabs voices (“5 minutes and you wanna blow your brains out”), and the open API Snipd is opening for Claude, Codex, and OpenClaw - so your AI agent can finally tap into everything you’ve ever listened to.Whether you make podcasts, build with AI, or just want a smarter way to listen, this one’s for you.Chapter Markers0:00 Introduction0:47 The bike commute that became Snipd5:43 The Amazon reviews moment that hinted at ChatGPT11:30 Why every podcast app is secretly a music player12:38 The first version of Snipd (and what they got wrong)15:22 Meet the Snipd DJ20:53 Why audiobooks are stuck on Audible24:09 Why Snipd refuses to build ad-skipping25:22 Podcast ads are a “huge hack.” YouTube is the future.28:03 The data Apple, Spotify and YouTube don’t have31:36 The AI model stack behind Snipd36:55 Why Langchain is too complicated41:43 Can ElevenLabs replace a real podcaster?47:53 “5 minutes and you wanna blow your brains out”53:00 Snipd is opening an API for Claude and Codex56:09 Where to find KevinFollow Kevin Ben Smith: https://x.com/kevinbensmithFollow Kevin Rose: https://x.com/kevinrose

New episode just dropped.

I sat down with Anish Acharya, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) and one of the most plugged-in consumer investors in tech. We worked together at Google years ago, and what I love about Anish is that he’s not just writing checks - he’s a programmer. He’s in the code every day, same as me.

We got into all of it: why I’ll never look at code again, the personal injury lawyer who won the global Claude Code hackathon by building software that rivals a venture-backed startup, why SaaS is getting demolished, and Anish’s wildest prediction - that America will get the 4-day work week the same way it solved obesity. Not through discipline. Through Ozempic. I also made the mistake of pitching my wife on using AI agents to settle our marriage arguments. It did not go well.

Whether you’re deep in the 1% or wondering what the hell we’re all so excited about, this one’s for you.

Listen or watch the full episode here.

Watch the episode on YouTube

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Cera, solo founder and CEO of Polsia.

Polsia is a platform where you type in a business idea and AI agents instantly go to work building it for you. From market research and landing pages to Meta ad campaigns and cold outreach, Polsia spins up autonomous agents that function like a full startup team.

Ben shares how he went from building alone with AI 16 hours a day to hitting product–market fit, scaling to millions in ARR as a one-person company, and why he believes AGI is already here.

Whether you’re a non-technical dreamer with a business idea or a seasoned builder rethinking what’s possible, this conversation offers a front-row seat to the solopreneur revolution.

Topics Covered

* How building alone with AI for a year led Ben to realize agents could replace an entire startup team

* The origin of the name Polsia (”AI Slop” spelled backwards) and why he stopped caring what investors think

* Rick Rubin’s creative philosophy and why building for yourself, not others, is the only way to survive the grind

* Universal Paperclips as design inspiration: choosing weird over polished on purpose

* Why Polsia’s autonomous “night shift” cycle is both a product decision and a cost + feedback loop strategy

* The Meta ads engine: click a button, set a budget, and AI creates Sora-generated UGC video ads deployed on your behalf

* Scaling pain as a solo founder: rate limits, infrastructure meltdowns, and building support agents to fix what broke

* Why Ben refuses to hire, “eating his own dog food” so customers never face a problem he hasn’t solved

* The case that 80% autonomous companies will outcompete everyone else within the next few years

* Travis Kalanick as mentor, the “push through the pain” philosophy, and five years at CloudKitchens

* Polsia’s long-term vision: an AI-native economy with investor agents, micro-acquisitions, and a more democratic American dream

* Opus vs. Codex: Ben’s dual-model workflow for pragmatic shipping and ruthless bug-finding

* Why the solo billion-dollar company isn’t about ego, it’s a wake-up call

Links

* Polsia — https://polsia.ai

* Polsia Live Dashboard — https://polsia.ai/live

* Ben Cera on X (Twitter)

* Universal Paperclips — the clicker game that inspired Polsia’s design

Watch episode on YoutubeIn this episode, Kevin sits down with writer, photographer, and technologist Craig Mod for a wide-ranging conversation on the value of slowness in a fast-moving world. From walking solo across Japan to rethinking the economics of independent publishing, Craig shares his philosophy of presence, deep attention, and building creative ecosystems that last. Whether you're an aspiring creator or simply seeking to live with more intention, this episode is a masterclass in meaningful modern living.Topics covered

* Craig’s early years in the BBS/ANSI art scene and how it shaped his creative drive

* Escaping post-industrial America and finding healing in the structure of Japanese life

* The joy and challenge of learning Japanese, and how language opens cultural doors

* From blog software in the '90s to essays that changed the course of his career

* Silicon Valley vs. Tokyo: ambition, trade-offs, and choosing a slower life

* The transformative power of walking: from ancient pilgrimages to solo introspection

* Building a reader-funded membership model and launching handcrafted books

* How a 200-word essay led to $100M+ in economic impact for a rural Japanese city

* Addiction, self-worth, fatherhood, and the emotional repair of being seen

* The cultural weight of jazz kissa, pizza toast, and public bathhouse rituals

* Anti-influencer media: binaural audio, slow video, and presence in a distracted world

Links

* Craig’s blog

* Things Become Other Things - Craig’s new book

Whether you're curious about future-proofing your career, understanding AI's global impact, or just want to hear from one of tech's most insightful leaders, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Think of AI today like computers in the '90s - those who embrace it early will have an incredible advantage. Join us as we explore what makes this technological revolution uniquely exciting and full of possibility.

In this episode, I sit down with Reid Hoffman - LinkedIn co-founder, Greylock investor, and AI thought leader - to discuss his new book "Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future?" Reid breaks down how AI is already transforming our daily lives and shares the practical tools he uses to stay ahead of the curve.

Episode Highlights:

[00:07] – Reid Hoffman’s personal AI stack: the tools he uses every day for thinking, organizing, and optimizing.

[02:59] – How Reid automates AI-powered role-playing to challenge his ideas with historical and expert perspectives.

[08:03] – Breaking down the AI mindsets: Doomers, Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers.

[12:48] – AI’s impact on jobs: how to adapt and thrive in an AI-driven world.

[23:41] – The future of education: AI as a learning and testing assistant.

[32:55] – AI regulation: finding the balance between innovation and control.

[44:25] – AI inequality: Will premium AI tools create an intelligence gap?

[47:13] – AI hallucinations vs. imagination: Why we want models to generate novel ideas.

[56:07] – The rise of AI relationships: Will AI companions replace human connection?

[59:39] – Reid’s predictions: What AI will look like in 1, 5, and 10 years.

Prefer YouTube? — watch the episode here

Exploring the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern life, Kevin Rose sits down with celebrated Zen teacher Henry Shukman to explore the depths of meditation practice, the nature of awakening, and the universal human capacity for transformation. From practical meditation advice to fascinating Zen stories and the relationship between different spiritual traditions, this wide-ranging discussion offers both practical guidance for beginners and deep insights for experienced practitioners.

Show Notes

Notable Quotes

* "Between stimulus and response, there is a gap. Everything is in that gap." - Viktor Frankl (referenced)

* "The way that can be spoken of is not the true way" - Tao Te Ching

* "No coffee, no Pat" - Pat Hawk Roshi

* "We're all made of the universe" - Henry Shukman

The Way App and Meditation Practice

* Discussion of The Way meditation app's approach

* The challenge of user retention in meditation apps

* Focus on building durable meditation habits

* A different approach from other meditation apps - emphasis on long-term practice

Building a Meditation Practice

* Optimal meditation duration?

* What is the best time to meditate?

* Importance of daily consistency over longer sporadic sessions

* Discussion of gradual progression from shorter to longer sits

Understanding Different Types of Meditation Benefits

* Mindfulness and basic awareness

* Recognition of thoughts and feelings

* Development of self-compassion

* The space between stimulus and response

Awakening Experiences

* Nature of awakening experiences

* Discussion of "person of no rank" concept

* Relationship between time, space, and consciousness

* Different cultural interpretations of similar experiences

Religious Traditions and Meditation

* Comparison of different meditation traditions

* Discussion of reincarnation beliefs

* The Cloud of Unknowing and Christian Mysticism

* Universal aspects of spiritual experiences across traditions

Practical Guidance

* Role of caffeine in meditation practice

* Building a sustainable practice

* Integration with daily life

* Balancing spiritual pursuit with everyday responsibilities

Key Stories and Examples

* Bodhidharma and the origin of tea

* Story of the plum blossom awakening

* Mount Athos experiences

* Various Zen teaching stories

Resources Mentioned

* The Way App - Henry’s meditation app (iOS/Android)

* "Original Love" - Henry’s new book

* "The Cloud of Unknowing" - Anonymous

* "Buddhism Without Beliefs" by Stephen Batchelor

* Mountain Cloud Zendo

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Be well,

Friends,

I recently sat down with Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe, CEO of Pendulum Therapeutics, for a discussion about probiotics, metabolism, and a potential natural alternative to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Here's why I'm excited to share this with you...

The Backstory

A month ago, I ran into a friend who had slimmed down and was looking fit. These days, I’ve had a good dozen or so friends lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, so I was surprised when she told me it wasn’t Ozempic but Pendulum's new GLP-1 probiotic. Her chocolate cravings (her usual downfall) had changed entirely. Instead of demolishing a whole bar, she could have one bite and walk away satisfied.

I've known Pendulum for years (we invested at True), and I've personally used their glucose control product with great success. However, I had lost touch with Colleen and didn’t realize they had a new GLP-1 product — so I asked her to come on the podcast and discuss it.

Note: Peter Attia did a much longer and more thorough deep-dive with Colleen, found here

What Makes This Different?

In my interview with Colleen, she explained how their probiotic actually helps your body produce its own GLP-1 hormone naturally. The science is fascinating – they've identified specific strains of bacteria that, when delivered to your gut's distal colon, help stimulate natural GLP-1 production. No shots, no prescription.

The results are pretty impressive; 91% of users reported reduced food cravings after six weeks*, and the higher the initial cravings, the more significant the improvement.

Why This Matters

Over the last year+, I've watched friends scramble to find GLP-1 prescriptions, hitting up sketchy compounding pharmacies, or paying astronomical prices when their insurance won't cover them. It's wild out there.But obesity isn't just about weight – it's tied to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and even cognitive decline (some scientists are calling Alzheimer's "Type 3 diabetes"). We need better solutions that are both accessible and backed by science.

Join Our Mini-Trial

Sadly, the trial is now closed — thanks to all who participated!

What's Next?

We'll be collecting data throughout the trial and sharing the results with participants. Stay tuned for updates on how the community is progressing.

Exciting stuff ahead! As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you decide to participate.

Until next time, be well,

*based on a consumer survey of 274 people

This is the podcast of the full article found here.

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