Angel investing sounds glamorous from the outside but behind the headlines, it's about backing people, not just ideas. In this conversation, we get real about what it takes to evaluate founders, why speed beats perfection, and how to build your radar in a space with no rule book. Whether you're an aspiring investor, a founder, or just curious about how the startup world really works, grab a coffee and settle in as Khush and Dylan break down what they got out of the Startmate ‘First believers’ angel investing course.

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Is stability actually destabilising? According to economist Hyman Minsky, the answer is yes. In this deep dive, we apply the "Financial Instability Hypothesis" to four centuries of economic history to prove that the asset changes, but the behavior stays the same.

We analyze the structural mechanics behind the world's biggest manias, comparing the leverage of the 1840s Railway Mania to the algorithmic "wash trading" of the 2021 NFT boom. We also examine "Petri dish" economies like Team Fortress 2 and CS:GO to see what happens when markets operate at hyper-speed without central bank intervention. Plus, we look at the data on why modern bubbles are lasting longer than ever before.

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Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

China processes 90% of the world's rare earth elements and controls 100% of high-temperature magnet production materials essential for fighter jets, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and smartphones. In this episode, we explore how China strategically built this monopoly through state consolidation and technological mastery, why Western nations struggle to compete, and what this means for green technology and national security. Drawing comparisons to historical monopolies like OPEC, we examine the geopolitical implications, emerging alternatives, and whether the West can break free from this dependency. It isn't just about minerals, it's about who controls the supply chains defining the 21st century.

#Business, #Investing, #Technology, #Curiosity, #Entrepreneurship, #STEM, #Science, #Engineering, #Mathematics, #Innovation

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Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

Most of the world runs on systems we never think about—until they break. From Roman aqueducts and the Chinese Grand Canal to modern undersea cables, power grids, GPS satellites, and water systems, hidden infrastructure has always been the backbone of progress. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the invisible networks that keep civilisation running, explore how their failures ripple into chaos, and reveal why the smartest investments are often in the “boring” backbones of tomorrow.

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Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

Venture capital may feel like a Silicon Valley invention, but its roots go back centuries — from explorers pitching monarchs to railroad financiers and tulip traders. In this episode, we explore what history teaches us about backing bold ideas, bubbles, and human nature, and why the timeless lessons of people, storytelling, and curiosity still shape today’s hyper-competitive startup world.

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Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

Our guest today is a true Australian icon and a fascinating mind! From a modest $24 investment in a lawn mowing business while pursuing his PhD in history, he built an empire. Jim Penman is the founder of Jim's Group, the largest franchising chain in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 40 divisions and thousands of franchisees globally. But beyond the business success, he's also an author and a pioneer in the field of Biohistory, funding cutting-edge research into epigenetics and its impact on human behaviour and society.

#Business, #Investing, #Technology, #Curiosity, #Entrepreneurship, #STEM, #Science, #Engineering, #Mathematics, #Innovation, #Epigenetics, #Biohistory

CuriosityCrisis.com

Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

Mitchell Scott is the Principal Data Scientist at Consilio, where he works in the Rapid Prototyping Team developing specialised Large Language Models for legal problem-solving. A unique blend of solicitor and published data scientist, Mitch helps create cutting-edge AI tools. His algorithm for identifying gendered language in legal drafting was shortlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award.

In this episode we discuss the future of AI and real applications for it. We dive into how Chinese open source models have changed the landscape and where the value capture is happening.

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Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn

We were joined by Dennis Barnes, CEO of Snowy Hydro, a leader in Australia’s energy transition. With decades of experience in the sector, he’s steered major companies through transformation, decarbonisation, and infrastructure growth. We talked about his career, how he sees the future of energy, and what’s next for Snowy Hydro.

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Dennis Barnes is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Snowy Hydro Limited

Prior to joining Snowy Hydro, Barnes served as CEO of Contact Energy in New Zealand, where he led an investment program in renewable generation and enterprise-wide systems. He also held senior executive roles at Origin Energy.

His appointment at Snowy Hydro comes at a pivotal time as the company undertakes significant projects like Snowy 2.0, aimed at bolstering Australia's renewable energy infrastructure.

CuriosityCrisis.com

Curiosity Crisis Podcast - Instagram and LinkedIn