Alex Danco (https://alexdanco.com/) is a writer and editor-at-large at Andreessen Horowitz whose work centers on gift culture, crowds, and how shared beliefs shape real-world outcomes.

In this episode, we explore the deep mechanics of how people coordinate, why crowds form, how narratives drive behaviour, why perception becomes reality, and how leadership is ultimately the art of getting people to think differently about themselves. We talk about reflexivity, the psychology of scenes, the role of gifts in opening people to new ideas, and how cities and cultures transform when the right stories take root. It’s a conversation about how groups move and how meaning spreads.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

00:00:00 Opening Notes
00:04:18 The Last Decade Before the Internet
00:09:47 Reflexivity: When Perception Creates Reality
00:28:23 Crowds and Power
00:37:06 Human Evolution and Adaptability
00:41:55 Betting on Yourself
00:56:43 Gift Culture and Information Transfer
01:11:44 Legitimacy
01:15:52 The Development of Scenes
01:31:18 A Gift for Alex Danco
01:38:30 The Toronto Big Bang
01:56:50 The Narratives of Toronto
02:08:31 The Power of Gift Giving in Startups
02:14:27 Creating High Signal Environments
02:17:40 The Role of Capital and Mentorship in Toronto’s Startup Ecosystem

—

The Other Stuff Podcast: https://otherstuffpod.com 

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: https://x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• https://x.com/internetvin

New

• https://x.com/newsystems_

• https://instagram.com/newsystems_

Daniel Kuntz (https://x.com/dankuntz) is an artist, designer, and award-winning engineer. He is currently working on a keychain-sized digital companion known as The Little Guy.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:40) The Little Guy and Digital Companions(00:24:55) Design Philosophy and Iteration(00:47:06) McDonald's Fries and Universal Quality(01:03:23) Supply Chain, Semiconductors, and Taiwan(02:00:32) Place, Perspective, and Buckminster Fuller(02:24:55) Ted Nelson's Theory of Virtuality(02:38:50) Apple's Evolution and the iPhone Revolution(03:00:59) AI, Natural Language, and the Future of Interfaces(03:10:14) Escaping the Digital World

—

The Other Stuff Podcast: otherstuffpod.com 

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Greg Isenberg (https://www.gregisenberg.com/) is the CEO of Late Checkout and an advisor for TikTok and Reddit.

He's a serial entrepreneur who came up in Montreal, and a prominent voice on how to build successful businesses in the modern world.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Monologue(00:03:07) Growing up in Montreal(00:13:00) Winter Activities in Montreal(00:22:24) House Hunting in Laval(00:35:19) The Crime Syndicates of Montreal(00:48:57) Restaurant Cabotins: A Quirky Dining Experience(00:59:22) The Tim Horton's Farmer's Wrap Gauntlet(01:08:04) Debating the Sausage and Bacon Farmer's Wrap(01:09:12) The Farmer's Box(01:12:15) Tim Horton's Pepperoni Pizza(01:15:38) The Farmer's Pizza World Premiere(01:18:06) The Farmer's Capp(01:25:16) Discussing Quebec's Unique Identity(01:32:50) The Quiet Revolution and Quebec's Struggle(01:40:46) Quebec Referendums and Political Turmoil(02:00:30) Molson Canadian and the "I am Canadian" Ad(02:31:18) Canada's Identity Crisis and the Need for Inspiration(02:50:40) How to Create a New City

—

The Other Stuff Podcast: otherstuffpod.com 

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Michelle Jia (pronounced GEE-ah) is a Lecturer at the Stanford d .school and has worked with Prof. Michael Barry in ethnographic research and teaching for almost ten years, with a special focus on complex systems problems like Ocean Conservancy and Education Policy.

Today she’s based in Toronto, Canada where she’s helping to co-create a design school focused on systems thinking and design for the whole.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Opening: Twitter, Social Media, and Finding Your People

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Yacine (https://x.com/yacineMTB) is an engineer, artist, creator of dingboard and formerly at X and Stripe.

This conversation explores several interconnected themes about technology, culture, and human agency. The discussion moves from 4chan's anonymous culture and its formative influence, through the importance of speed and friction reduction in software design, to the democratization of hardware creation through accessible components and 3D printing.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Opening: 4chan, Anonymous Image Boards, and Internet Culture(00:11:09) Early Computing Memories: Compaq, Sonic, and Jazz Jackrabbit(00:14:51) The Golden Age of SNES and Earthworm Jim(00:18:39) RuneScape: The First Social Network(00:22:29) Anime Deep Dive: From Naruto to Space Dandy(00:42:10) Software Philosophy: Unix Principles and Tool Design(00:52:02) AI Training Infrastructure and Data Centers(00:56:40) Japanese Web Design and Cultural UX Differences(01:01:54) Speed, Friction, and Product Engineering(01:07:20) Wok vs Air Fryer: Philosophy of Cooking Tools(01:12:55) The Future of Robotics and Accessible Hardware(01:30:23) Algorithms, Addiction, and Digital Manipulation(01:46:06) Twitter/X as Information Infrastructure(01:59:15) CAD Speed-Running and Competitive Design(02:13:20) Building Robots at Home: The New Homebrew Era(02:29:30) Closing: AI Consciousness, Truth, and Digital Hygiene

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Benjamin Parry (https://x.com/_benjaminparry) is currently building The Toronto Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

A conversation that moves from Mark Carney's small modular reactor announcements to the fragmentary nature of social media discourse, exploring how different mediums shape our capacity for understanding complex realities. The discussion weaves between technical policy details and deeper questions about direct experience versus mediated knowledge, ultimately asking whether we've lost the ability to engage with ideas without being "charged" by them.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Opening: Fall Reflections and GT Snow Racers(00:09:18) Mark Carney's Major Infrastructure Projects(00:19:32) Small Modular Reactors: Canada's Nuclear Future(00:26:03) The Physics and Engineering of Nuclear Power(00:44:28) Manufacturing Challenges and Global SMR Development(01:03:45) The St. Lawrence River and Montreal's Strategic Port(01:18:17) Halifax and Nova Scotia(01:41:58) Social Media, McLuhan, and the "Medium is the Message"(02:04:07) Direct Experience vs. Mediated Reality(02:14:34) Political Violence and the Need for Curiosity

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Tommy Trinh (https://x.com/tommytrxnh) is a co-founder of New.

This episode does a deep dive into gaming progression from Dance Dance Revolution and rhythm games to MMORPGs like RuneScape and MapleStory, exploring virtual economies and online relationships. The conversation moves through the appeal of extreme endurance content creators, the psychology behind stunts from Criss Angel to Philippe Petit's World Trade Center wire walk, and how digital worlds shaped understanding of community, consistency, and pushing human limits.

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Opening Banter(00:04:25) Parking, Driving, and Ontario's Licensing Process(00:09:51) The Freedom of Cars as a Teenager(00:15:25) Car Nostalgia and Tech Evolution(00:24:14) Rhythm Games and Early Computers(00:29:22) RuneScape, MapleStory, and Virtual Economies(00:42:20) Virtual Worlds and Online Community(00:47:50) Competitive Gaming: League, CS, Starcraft, and Valorant(01:08:53) Gaming Content, YouTube, and Influencers(01:16:52) Motivation, Accountability, and Digital Lifestyles(01:34:41) Pop Culture Inspirations: Rocky, 8 Mile, and Motivation(01:58:16) YouTube Eras, Food Challenges, and Stunt Content(02:12:18) Building Worlds and Consistency in Online Content(02:15:04) Stunts, Magic, and the Era of Mindfreak

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Gabriel O'Flaherty-Chan is a game developer, designer, and systems thinker, the creator of several games such as Chaotic Era, and now a co-founder of Falcon (https://falcon.so/).

To research his game about cities and transportation, Gabriel studies ancient Mesopotamia, the irrigation of the Tigris and Euphrates, and Dilmun, an island historians associate with Bahrain. The conversation connects this to the present through Ridgeway Plaza, a large strip mall near Toronto that became a food destination, as an example of how hubs form around geography and trade.

This is a conversation about how cities and gathering places form, how geography shapes them, and what deep research into one subject can reveal about others.

The Other Stuff is hosted by @internetvin, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Barbers, Haircuts, and Personal Style(00:04:58) The Sausage(00:10:00) Greek Islands, Ancient Civilizations, and Mythology(00:18:20) Interpretation of Myths and Storytelling(00:21:40) Film, Pop Culture, and the Lasting Impact of Dune(00:26:40) Frank Herbert, Politics, and the Watergate Scandal(00:31:40) Salaries, Housing, and Societal Challenges(00:41:40) Urban Geography, Ancient Trade, and Bahrain(01:05:00) Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Foundations of Civilization(01:16:40) The Rise and Fall of Empires(01:26:40) Hardcore History, Travel, and Personal Curiosity(01:28:40) The History and Culture of Shawarma(01:33:20) The Ridgeway Plaza Phenomenon(01:50:00) Urban Design, Discovery, and Foodie Culture(02:10:20) Creative Projects and Digital Visualization(02:21:50) The Value of Ancient Texts and Storytelling(02:32:40) Continuous Learning and Staying Curious

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Sid Kamalakara (https://x.com/sid_srk) is a machine learning researcher, and engineer who has worked on foundation models at Cohere and Runway. He is now the founder of Ambition (https://ambition.inc/).

The conversation begins with TunnelBear, a Toronto VPN, as an example of software shaped by the place that made it. They discuss how base models and post-training work, demonstrate a Socratic tutoring mode, and debate the culture around AI, including its focus on AGI. Sid contrasts this with a more grounded, place-based view of technology. The conversation ends on the QWERTY keyboard as an example of a design that persists by habit.

This is a conversation about how place shapes what people build, and building technology without losing sight of the human world.

The Other Stuff is hosted by @internetvin, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

(00:03:12) Toronto School of Foundation Modeling: Origins and Philosophy(00:04:33) The Joy of Software Craftsmanship: TunnelBear and Beyond(00:11:27) Study Mode in ChatGPT and Reflections on AI in Learning(00:21:26) The Value of Struggle and the Process of Learning(00:32:08) Talent, Brain Drain, and Toronto's Tech Culture(00:42:55) Canadian Winters and the Influence of Environment(01:00:22) Exploring 100 Rabbits: Philosophy, Software, and Life at Sea(01:10:48) Culture, Conviction, and Vision in AI(01:19:21) Building the Toronto School of Foundation Modeling(01:22:02) Systems Thinking and the Foundation Model Pipeline(01:27:36) Understanding Foundation Model Architecture(01:47:22) Foundations, Emergence, and the Limits of Understanding(01:56:32) Cultural Shifts, QWERTY, and the Legacy of Technology

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_

Sid Kamalakara is a machine learning engineer and runs The Toronto School Of Foundation Modelling.

x.com/sid_srk
tsfm.ca

The Other Stuff is hosted by internetVin⁠, filmmaker and entrepreneur and possibly the most curious man on Earth. Produced by New.

—

Timestamps

• 00:03:12 Toronto School of Foundation Modeling: Origins and Philosophy
• 00:04:33 The Joy of Software Craftsmanship: TunnelBear and Beyond
• 00:11:27 Study Mode in ChatGPT and Reflections on AI in Learning
• 00:21:26 The Value of Struggle and the Process of Learning
• 00:32:08 Talent, Brain Drain, and Toronto's Tech Culture
• 00:42:55 Canadian Winters and the Influence of Environment
• 01:00:22 Exploring 100 Rabbits: Philosophy, Software, and Life at Sea
• 01:10:48 Culture, Conviction, and Vision in AI
• 01:19:21 Building the Toronto School of Foundation Modeling
• 01:22:02 Systems Thinking and the Foundation Model Pipeline
• 01:27:36 Understanding Foundation Model Architecture
• 01:47:22 Foundations, Emergence, and the Limits of Understanding
• 01:56:32 Cultural Shifts, QWERTY, and the Legacy of Technology

—

The Other Stuff Podcast

• YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK0osV4LBB6zLfDk-KDV9FtDg7y0bJ3AW

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kImmU1R1DYTeM1AKZRWkx?si=2feeadb93ad4419f

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-other-stuff-with-internetvin/id1828762531

• Twitter: x.com/otherstuffpod

• Instagram: instagram.com/otherstuffpod

internetVin ⁠

• x.com/internetvin

New

• x.com/newsystems_

• instagram.com/newsystems_