What if the world’s most connected tech investor handed you his mental playbook? Elad Gil, an investor behind Airbnb, Stripe, Coinbase and Anduril, flips conventional wisdom on its head and prioritizes market opportunities over founders. Elad decodes why innovation has clustered geographically throughout history, from Renaissance Florence to Silicon Valley, where today 25% of global tech wealth is created. We get into why he believes AI is dramatically under-hyped and still under-appreciated, why remote work hampers innovation, and the self-inflicted wounds that he's seen kill most startups.  

This is a masterclass in pattern recognition from one of tech's most consistent and accurate forecasters, revealing the counterintuitive principles behind identifying world-changing ideas. 

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in January. The pace of AI development is staggering, and some of what we discussed has already evolved. But the mental models Elad shares about strategy, judgment, and high-agency thinking are timeless and will remain relevant for years to come.

Approximate timestamps: Subject to variation due to dynamically inserted ads.

(2:13) - Investing in Startups

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Trusted by Fortune 500 CEOs and elite performers, this is where you go to think better, live better, and get ahead. Each week, Shane Parrish goes deep with the world’s sharpest minds—founders, economists, bestselling authors—to uncover the mental models, habits, and strategies behind extraordinary results. The Knowledge Project isn't just a podcast—it’s a masterclass in Clear Thinking.

Speaking of, check out Shane's book, Clear Thinking: fs.blog/clear

Be sure to watch the full episodes of all guests featured in this trailer for phenomenal insights:

John Bragg: Episode #204: The Blueberry Billionaire

Brad Jacobs: Episode #190: How To Build a Billion Dollar Company

Logan Ury: Episode #219: The Dating Myths You Need to Stop Believing

Maya Shankar: Episode #198: The Science of Identity

Andrew Huberman: Episode #133: The Science of Small Changes

David Sinclair: Episode #136: Reversing the Aging Process

Morgan Housel: Episode #195: Get Rich, Stay Rich

April Dunford: Episode #201: The Marketing Expert

Bryan Johnson: Episode #188: Five Habits for Longer Living

Seth Godin: Episode #105: Failing On Our Way To Mastery

Dr. Rhonda Patrick: Episode #191: Diet Essentials For Healthy Living

Bruce Flatt: Episode #221: Value, Discipline, and Durability

Jack Kornfield: Episode #156: Finding Inner Calm

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠

Join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠ to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of episodes and more.

Watch on YouTube: ⁠@tkppodcast

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Rose Blumkin didn’t just build a business. She revolutionized retail. After fleeing Russia with $66 in her purse, she opened a basement furniture store in Omaha at 43 years old—with no English, no education, and no connections. Her formula? Sell cheap, tell the truth, don't cheat the customer. Nebraska Furniture Mart would survive depressions, fires, lawsuits, tornadoes—and eventually become a billion-dollar empire Warren Buffett called “the ideal business.” 

Learn how Mrs. B’s relentless focus, radical simplicity, and unbreakable work ethic built an empire from scratch—and what her story teaches us about business, resilience, and the power of earned trust.

This episode is for informational purposes only and most of the research came from "Women of Berkshire Hathaway" and oral history interviews with Rose Blumkin and her daughter Frances.

Check out highlights from this book in our repository, and find key lessons from Blumkin here — ⁠fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/outliers-rose-blumkin

(03:20) PART 1: Early Childhood

(07:10) A Natural Entrepreneur

(09:37) PART 2: Building an Empire 

(12:53) The Competition 

(15:54) The Passing of Isadore 

(18:32) Expansion through Hardship 

(20:32) Natural Instinct for Character

(25:15) PART 3: The $60m Handshake / The Buffett Connection 

(28:25) A Rebel at 96

(33:47) Reflections, afterthoughts, and lessons

Thanks to our sponsors for supporting this episode:

MOMENTOUS: Head to ⁠livemomentous.com⁠ and use code KNOWLEDGEPROJECT for 35% off your first subscription. 

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Most accelerators fund ideas. Y Combinator funds founders—and transforms them. With a 1% acceptance rate and alumni behind 60% of the past decade’s unicorns, YC knows what separates the founders who break through from those who burn out. It's not the flashiest résumé or the boldest pitch but something President Garry Tan says is far rarer: earnestness. In this conversation, Garry reveals why this is the key to success, and how it can make or break a startup. We also dive into how AI is reshaping the whole landscape of venture capital and what the future might look like when everyone has intelligence on tap. 

If you care about innovation, agency, or the future of work, don’t miss this episode. 

Approximate timestamps: Subject to variation due to dynamically inserted ads.

(00:02:39) The Success of Y Combinator

(00:04:25) The Y Combinator Program

(00:08:25) The Application Process

(00:09:58) The Interview Process

(00:16:16) The Challenge of Early Stage Investment

(00:22:53) The Role of San Francisco in Innovation

(00:28:32) The Ideal Founder

(00:36:27) The Importance of Earnestness

(00:42:17) The Changing Landscape of AI Companies

(00:45:26) The Impact of Cloud Computing

(00:50:11) Dysfunction with Silicon Valley

(00:52:24) Forecast for the Tech Market

(00:54:40) The Regulation of AI

(00:55:56) The Need for Agency in Education

(01:01:40) AI in Biotech and Manufacturing

(01:07:24) The Issue of Data Access and The Legal Aspects of AI Outputs

(01:13:34) The Role of Meta in AI Development

(01:28:07) The Potential of AI in Decision Making

(01:40:33) Defining AGI

(01:42:03) The Use of AI and Prompting

(01:47:09) AI Model Reasoning

(01:49:48) The Competitive Advantage in AI

(01:52:42) Investing in Big Tech Companies

(01:55:47) The Role of Microsoft and Meta in AI

(01:57:00) Learning from MrBeast: YouTube Channel Optimization

(02:05:58) The Perception of Founders

(02:08:23) The Reality of Startup Success Rates

(02:09:34) The Impact of OpenAI

(02:11:46) The Golden Age of Building

MOMENTOUS: Head to livemomentous.com and use code KNOWLEDGEPROJECT for 35% off your first subscription. 

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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If Warren Buffett is the king of capital allocation—Henry Singleton is the ghost. Singleton built one of the most successful conglomerates in American history, transforming business while remaining virtually unknown. While Wall Street chased fads, Singleton, who could play chess blindfolded, quietly turned industrial conglomerate Teledyne into a business juggernaut with 20.4% annual returns over nearly three decades—outperforming Buffett, outmaneuvering rivals, and outlasting the hype. Dive into the mind of a man who Charlie Munger said had "the best operating and capital deployment record in American business—bar none." This is a masterclass in disciplined capital allocation and long-term thinking on the most underrated business genius of the 20th century. 

If you're building a business, allocating capital, or simply trying to think more clearly in a noisy world, you cannot afford to miss this one. 

(03:16) Prologue

(05:59) PART 1: THE MAKING OF A MAVERICK

(07:48) After MIT

(10:24) Founding of Teledyne

(14:04) The Future is Semiconductors

(17:18) What to Acquire?

(19:12) Integrating into the Teledyne System

(21:49) Vasco Metals and George Roberts

(23:40) PART 2: MASTER CAPITAL ALLOCATOR

(28:10) Entering Insurance

(29:44) The Great Buyback Revolution

(32:46) Teledyne Operating Systems

(34:56) Thinking Local

(37:41) Building Knowledge

(39:59) PART 3: PEAK PERFORMANCE

(42:51) Planning for Retirement

(44:09) Passing the Torch

(46:45) End of an Era: Singleton Retires

(47:41) Teledyne After Singleton

(48:46) Singleton’s Legacy

(51:05) SHANE’S REFLECTIONS

This episode is for informational purposes only and most of the research came from reading Distant Force: A Memoir of the Teledyne Corporation and the Man Who Created It, with an Introduction to Teledyne Technologies by Dr. George A. Roberts with Robert J McVicker and The Outsiders by William N. Thorndike, Jr.

Additional source: 1979 Interview with Forbes

MOMENTOUS: Head to livemomentous.com and use code KNOWLEDGEPROJECT for 35% off your first subscription. 

Check out highlights from these books in our repository, and find key lessons from Singleton here —https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/outliers-henry-singleton/

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of all episodes, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Newsletter — The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

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What happens when one of the most legendary minds in tech delves deep into the real workings of modern AI? A 2-hour long masterclass that you don’t want to miss.

Bret Taylor, current chairman of OpenAI, unpacks why AI is transforming software engineering forever, how founders can survive acquisition (he’s done it twice), and why the true bottlenecks in AI aren’t what most think. Drawing on his extensive experiences at Facebook, Google, Twitter and more, he explains why the next phase of AI won’t just be about building better models—it’s about creating entirely new ways for us to work with them. Bret exposes the reality gap between what AI insiders understand and what everyone else believes.

Listen now to recalibrate your thinking before your competitors do. 

(00:02:46) Aha Moments with AI

(00:04:43) Founders Working for Founders

(00:07:59) Acquisition Process

(00:14:14) The Role of a Board

(00:17:05) Founder Mode

(00:20:29) Engineers as Leaders

(00:24:54) Applying First Principles in Business

(00:28:43) The Future of Software Engineering

(00:35:11) Efficiency and Verification of AI-Generated Code

(00:36:46) The Future of Software Development

(00:37:24) Defining AGI

(00:47:03) AI Self-Improvement?

(00:47:58) Safety Measures and Supervision in AI

(00:49:47) Benefiting Humanity and AI Safety

(00:54:06) Regulation and Geopolitical Landscape in AI

(00:55:58) Foundation Models and Frontier Models

(01:01:06) Economics and Open Source Models

(01:05:18) AI and AGI Accessibility

(01:07:42) Optimizing AI Prompts

(01:11:18) Creating an AI Superpower

(01:14:12) Future of Education and AI

(01:19:34) The Impact of AI on Job Roles

(01:21:58) AI in Problem-Solving and Research

(01:25:24) Importance of AI Context Window

(01:27:37) AI Output and Intellectual Property

(01:30:09) Google Maps Launch and Challenges

(01:37:57) Long-Term Investment in AI

(01:43:02) Balancing Work and Family Life

(01:44:25) Building Sierra as an Enduring Company

(01:45:38) Lessons from Tech Company Lifecycles

(01:48:31) Definition and Applications of AI Agents

(01:53:56) Challenges and Importance of Branded AI Agents

(01:56:28) Fending Off Complacency in Companies

(02:01:21) Customer Obsession and Leadership in Companies

Bret Taylor is currently the Chairman of OpenAI and CEO of Sierra. Previously, he was the CTO of Facebook, Chairman of the board for X, and the Co-CEO of Salesforce. 

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, reveals a roadmap for restoring opportunity and unity across the country. From unleashing innovation by cutting red tape, to reigniting upward mobility and building a powerhouse economy, Poilievre’s message goes beyond borders. If you care about restoring opportunity, strengthening democracy, and securing a brighter future for North America, listen closely—Canada’s solutions might just inspire America’s renewal.

TRANSCRIPT

EN: https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast-transcripts/pierre-poilievre-223/

FR: https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast-transcripts/pierre-poilievre-223-francaise/

(01:41) Headline vs Reality

(03:55) From Opposition Party to Unifier

(07:05) Parenthood Shapes Priorities

(10:05) Differentiating from the Liberals

(15:04) Economic Value Creation in Canada

(18:08) WEF Opposition Stance

(25:27) Balanced Budget Plan

(28:15) Attracting Investments

(35:25) Productivity Gap Explained

(38:50) Tariffs Response Tactics

(41:10) Reducing US Dependency

(44:15) Interprovincial Trade Impacts

(45:40) "China”

(47:42) Media Accountability Challenges

(51:42) Digital Free Speech Protections

(55:10) Crime

(01:02:00) Access to Health Care

(01:06:15) A modern and effective Canadian military

(01:11:10) AI: balance innovation with protection

(01:12:49) How do we ensure that the government can be held accountable in a world where they might control information flow?

(01:14:10) Trust in government post-COVID

(01:15:56) Climate change

(01:18:50) Biggest misconceptions about Mr. Poilievre

(01:19:50) What Canadian success looks like

Thanks to ShipStation for supporting this episode: Get a 60-day free trial at www.shipstation.com/knowledgeproject.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of our episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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Cornelius Vanderbilt was a force in 19th century America, playing a pivotal role in transitioning the U.S. economy from rural mercantilism to industrial corporate capitalism. Vanderbilt didn't just compete—he dominated; and didn’t just dominate one industry—he conquered three: ferries, steamships, and railroads. He understood that power lay in controlling infrastructure and not just operating within it. His cutthroat tactics were both feared and admired but his vision for what the economy could be was undeniable. 

This is the story of how Vanderbilt turned calculated aggression into an art form, how he endured more pain than his competitors, and how he built systems that outlived him. 

Learn the mindset, strategies, and brutal lessons behind his dominance; the game of business hasn’t changed as much as you think. 

(02:20) Prologue

(05:12) PART 1 - The Dutch Inheritance

(08:21) The Young Boatman

(12:30) Capitalizing on War

(15:27) General Merchant of the Sea

(19:29) PART 2 - The Meeting That Changed Everything

(21:48) The Steamboat Wars

(24:12) The Anti-Monopoly Crusader

(27:06) The Rise of the Commodore

(32:08) The Monopolist's Nemesis

(34:58) PART 3 - Sole Control

(37:28) Prometheus

(40:18) Star of the West

(44:06) Europe and Betrayal

(48:15) The Independent Line

(50:13) PART 4 - The Commodore’s Return

(51:55) Gray Eyed Man of Destiny

(53:36) The Conspiracy

(54:41) Finishing Walker

(55:54) Conquering the Seas

(58:13) America's Wealthiest Citizen

(60:47) PART 5 - Vanderbilt's Railroad Dominance

(01:01:59) The Path to Confrontation

(01:03:37) The Breaking Point

(01:04:43) The Power to Punish

(01:06:32) The Collapse

(01:07:50) The Silent Conquest

(01:08:57) The Consolidation

(01:10:54) The Legacy

(01:12:15) FINAL PART - Vanderbilt: The Architect of Modern American Business

(01:14:19) Reflections

This episode is for informational purposes only and most of the research came from reading The First Tycoon by T.J. Stiles and Tycoon’s War by Stephen Dando-Collins.

Check out highlights from these books in our repository, and find key lessons from Cornelius Vanderbilt here — fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/outliers-cornelius-vanderbilt

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of all episodes, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Newsletter — The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

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Brookfield CEO Bruce Flatt reveals the investment philosophy behind building one of the world's largest alternative asset managers with over a trillion dollars under management. 

At the core of Brookfield's strategy is a disciplined focus on downside protection that has delivered 19% annualized returns over 30 years. Flatt identifies three major trends driving their investments: digitalization (including AI infrastructure), global energy transition, and reindustrialization as supply chains shift. The conversation explores Brookfield's approach to risk management, their expansion into insurance, and their meritocratic culture. When Shane presses for clarity on Brookfield's complex corporate structure, Flatt provides rare insights into how the organization's design creates both operational flexibility and investment opportunities. 

What separates Brookfield from competitors? Patient capital: the discipline to wait for extraordinary opportunities and the financial strength to act when others can't. 

If you want to understand how the smartest capital allocators think and what it takes to build something enduring, this episode is essential listening. 

Thanks to these sponsors for supporting our show: 

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The opinions shared on this podcast belong solely to those expressing them. Hosts and guests may hold positions in the securities discussed. This podcast is intended to provide general information only and should not be considered financial advice. 

(00:02:56) Changes in Investing Over the Past 25 Years

(00:04:51) How Private Enterprise Has Built Our Tech Infrastructure

(00:07:08) Implications and Opportunities of Passive Investing

(00:09:08) Advantages of Private Companies

(00:12:36) Three Investment Themes

(00:15:11) Winners in Digitalization

(00:16:45) Application of Artificial Intelligence in Businesses

(00:21:44) Transition to Low-Carbon Energy

(00:25:24) Future of Data Centers

(00:27:32) De-globalization of Industry

(00:29:59) Implications of Manufacturing Repatriation

(00:31:11) Long-term Prospects for America

(00:36:20) Approach to Risk and Debt

(00:37:48) Impact of Interest Rates

(00:40:47) Managing Market Dislocations

(00:42:30) Long-term Investing Strategy

(00:45:06) History and Future of Brookfield

(00:47:55) Exploration of Private Markets and Insurance

(00:48:48) Investment Decision Process

(00:55:18) Understanding Brookfield's Structure

(00:59:40) Positioning of Brookfield's Businesses

(01:00:21) Talent and People Management at Brookfield

(01:02:58) Focus on Downside Protection

(01:05:03) Accountability in Investment Decisions

(01:06:32) Understanding Investment Cycles

(01:08:14) Learning and Training in the Organization

(01:09:06) Postmortem Analysis of Investments

(01:11:14) Consideration of Geopolitical Risks

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

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How do you turn 5,127 failures into a multi-billion-dollar empire? James Dyson turned dust into possibility, failure into discovery, and frustration into revolution.  

Dyson didn’t just build a better vacuum; he redefined a whole industry. Facing thousands of failed prototypes, crushing financial setbacks, and a dismissive industry that insisted a superior vacuum was impossible, Dyson transformed doubt into fuel that created an empire he still owns and operates today.

Dyson’s genius stretched far beyond engineering. He was a contrarian thinker whose natural state was to defy the experts. From reinventing hand dryers to fans and hairdryers, Dyson repeatedly turned mundane frustrations into game-changing products. His relentless curiosity and willingness to fail publicly set new standards for innovation. When competitors mocked him, he stayed focused. When patents were threatened, he defended fiercely. Dyson's story is one of unwavering persistence, unorthodox creativity, and the courage to trust his own instincts—even when everyone else doubted.   

This is the story of James Dyson. Learn how one decision can change everything for a whole family. 

This episode is for informational purposes only and is based on Against the Odds: An Autobiography by James Dyson. Quotes from Against the Odds and James Dyson’s Invention: A Life 

(02:35) Prologue: The Kitchen Floor Experiment

PART 1 - EARLY SPARKS OF TENACITY

(05:05) A Childhood of Resilience and Determination

(08:19) Gresham’s School

(11:25) From Art to Engineering: A Defiance of Convention

(14:58) A Mentor: Jeremy Fry

(17:37) Just Build It

(19:23) The Sea Truck

(22:16) Lessons From The Egyptians

(24:16) Misfit Mentality

PART 2: FIRST INVENTIONS AND HARD LESSONS

(26:48) Reinventing The Wheel(barrow)

(28:54) Popular Not Profitable

(30:56) Leaving Ballbarrow with Nothing

(34:09) History of the Vaccuum

(36:23) Cyclone in a Sawmill

(39:17) 5,127 Prototypes

(41:57) Industry Rejection

(44:14) Building the Business

PART 3: BUILDING AN EMPIRE

(48:15) Passion Over Profit

(50:04) Beyond Vacuums

(53:08) R&D Culture & Iterative Design

(55:44) Patent Wars & Legal Battles

(57:49) Value of Keeping Ownership

(59:59) Recap of Dyson’s Journey

(01:02:55) SHANE’S REFLECTIONS

Key lessons from James Dyson: fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/outliers-james-dyson

Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of all episodes, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠ and get your own private feed.

Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it’s completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter

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