The Local Maximum with Max Sklar

Apple announces that they are unbundling iTunes into several apps at WWDC. Some feared this means the end of iTunes, but we discuss how it's actually a design upgrade.

Foursquare and Placed brought together in a big spinoff-merger deal. What does that mean for the future of location, ads, and attribution?

Lots of emphasis on privacy at WWDC. Cubans to get private wifi - are they slowing joining the 21st century?

localmaxradio.com/69

Finally, we look at the history of the content creation and distribution business (music, movies, tv, and podcasts) in the 21st century. P2P file sharing apps, to Apple's iTunes store, and a summary of the business models emerging as standard today.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Aaron and I discuss my list of 6 university courses that in retrospect have influenced me in surprising and unexpected ways, even after many years. The list is:

Yale's Writing Seminar (Yale)
Functional Programming (Yale)
Philosophy and Computer Science (Yale)
Emerging Technology and Business Innovation (NYU Stern)
Machine Learning (NYU Courant)
Electronic Communities (NYU Stern)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

The episode starts with a game of thrones discussion for 2 minutes (how can it not)! And then Max discusses some related news items coming out of China:
The Rise of The Social Credit Score
The Re-Education Camps the Uighers and others in Western China are being forced into
Causality Myths
The Big Debate on Socialism vs Capitalism

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

I visited Foursquare HQ to check in with Executive Chairman Dennis Crowley.
- Personal stories and the Innovative mind
- Industry trends in consumer apps/big data
- Foursquare's latest labs project: hypertrending at SXSW

I also follow up on last weeks episode, with more details on voting affecting the outcome of an election, and the turkey vs email problem.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

How can one estimate the probability of an unprecedented event - something that has never happened before - happening? It seems like a hopeless endeavor, but there actually are valid strategies to tackle this problem.

We also recap the interviews that occurred in the 5 previous episodes, and the continuing closure and censorship of our social networks as they are increasingly becoming associated with violence in the real world - and how we're going to get out of this.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Marc Cenedella is the CEO of Ladders, Inc, and today he talks to Max about the Ladders Job Search service, and the job matching problem in the 21st century. After diving into The Ladders’ specific audience and product approach, the conversation turns to Max’s resume. The advice provided is invaluable to all job seekers - present and future - out there.

localmaxradio.com/64

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today’s interview is with Bethany Crystal at Union Square Ventures. We cover a lot of ground
Building Network Effects as a means to Market Power
Building Careers, avoiding the career cliff
Inspiration from the Idea of Transfer Learning
Diversification in investments and in the self

Check out Bethany’s blog: http://bethanycrystal.com/blog/

I also talk about the launch of the Luminary Podcast Network: luminarypodcasts.com

Also - get my take on Google’s ill-fated AI Ethics panel.

localmaxradio.com/63

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Today's interview was done at a Tech2025 event where participants were asked to think about wealth and the present state of the US and Global economy. I spoke to Denise Hearn, author of "The Myth of Capitalism" about the trend towards Oligopoly and its causes.

Also included are discussions about the definition of capitalism, the definition of wealth, the price of a free good, regulatory capture, and the role of our monetary system in distorting the economy.

localmaxradio.com/62
https://www.mythofcapitalism.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

Michael Bronspigel runs the Facebook capitalism page and tells the story of how Facebook’s algorithm and policies affected his group. We also talk about
- the nature of online properties
- the story of how he started the group and turned it into a business
- retro internet memes
- the push to further crack down on content

The group: fb.com/capitalists, capitalismisfreedom.org
Show notes: localmaxradio.com/61

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com

I caught up with Hilary Mason, GM of Machine Learning at Cloudera and former founder of Fast Forward Labs. We cover how to:
- Generate ideas for Machine Learning Research
- Hold a good brainstorm
- Break into tech as a Data Scientist
- Give an engaging and successful tech talk

I also asked Hilary about the evolving role of Machine Learning and Data Science, and what she wants to build in the future!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localmaximum.substack.com