Episodes

  • #46 - David Spiro : Iran, Petrodollars & the New World Order

    #46 - David Spiro : Iran, Petrodollars & the New World Order
    May 9 2026

    We're joined by David E. Spiro, political scientist and author of The Hidden Hand of American Hegemony: Petrodollar Recycling and International Markets.

    The book, published by Cornell University Press, challenged the standard story that petrodollar recycling in the 1970s was simply a market-driven process and instead showed the deeper political role of American power in shaping where oil surpluses went.

    David’s central argument is that the dollar system has always been about more than economics. It is about trust, coercion, liquidity, state power, and the ability of the United States to shape global outcomes through the plumbing of finance. In the 1970s, oil exporters accumulated massive dollar surpluses after OPEC price shocks. Much of that capital flowed into U.S. government obligations and the Western banking system, helping finance trade deficits and reshape global debt markets. But today, the same system that once amplified American power may be starting to reveal its fragility.

    We dive into:

    • What petrodollar recycling actually means — and why the common story is incomplete

    • How the 1970s oil shocks reshaped global finance

    • Why oil being priced in dollars matters so much for American power

    • Whether dedollarisation is real or exaggerated

    • How SWIFT, sanctions, and dollar clearing became tools of geopolitical pressure

    • Why gold is returning as a reserve asset

    • Why Bitcoin and stablecoins may not challenge the dollar as much as people think

    • How U.S. tariff policy and political instability are weakening trust in the dollar system

    • Whether the American-led rules-based order is now breaking down

    • Why China may be the biggest beneficiary of American self-sabotage

    • The real limits of bringing manufacturing back to America

    • Why rare earths, chips, and supply chains are more complicated than the headlines suggest

    • Why the future may belong to societies that protect education, institutions, trust, and human thinking
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    34 mins
  • #23 - Christian Angermayer - AI, Longevity & How To Re-Design Humanity For The Future?

    #23 - Christian Angermayer - AI, Longevity & How To Re-Design Humanity For The Future?
    May 3 2024
    We're joined by tech billionaire and investor Christian Angermayer to discuss the 'Next Human Agenda,' i.e., the technological bets he's taking and how they will shape the future of humanity (in terms of computing, health, society, and governments). Over the past 20 years, Christian has been involved in directly building a lot of unicorns and decacorns and has been involved in more than 50 IPOs or exits in the public stock market. Christian is an active thought leader himself, and is affiliated with the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. He's a partner of the Munich security conference and advisor to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and also a founding member of President Macron's scale-up Europe initiative. Christian's family office, Apeiron Investment Group, has more than 3 billion US dollars of assets under management and invests across life sciences, fintech, crypto, future tech, experience, hospitality, and happiness. He runs the Angermayer policy initiative and innovation forum, which convenes international heads of State, investors, politicians, and scientists to come together to discuss global priorities. Christian is also passionate about mental health and runs the Aurora Institute, which is the first nonprofit incubator of its kind focused on funding the world's leading individuals and NGOs related to solving the global mental health crisis. We cover a wide array of topics: -The Rise of AI and the Future of Society: What will society look like with full AI/AGI adoption, and how can we prepare for it? -Revolutionizing Biotech and Psychedelics: Gain insights into the ground-breaking developments in biotech and psychedelics, exploring their potential to revolutionize healthcare and mental health treatment. -The Middle Eastern Innovation Landscape: Christian shares insights into the burgeoning tech scene in the Middle East, particularly in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where governments are fostering environments conducive to technological advancement and biotech innovation. -⁠Geopolitical Realities and Multipolarity: Reflecting on the evolving geopolitical landscape, Christian discusses the strategic maneuvers of emerging powers like China and Russia, as well as the savvy diplomacy of smaller nations seeking to navigate the complexities of a multipolar world. -Brexit and the Future of Europe: Offering astute observations on Brexit and its implications for the UK and Europe, Christian explores the missed opportunities and potential pitfalls in Britain's departure from the European Union while also reflecting on the broader trajectory of the European project. -Harnessing Innovation for Global Challenges: Christian emphasizes the transformative potential of technological innovation in addressing pressing global challenges, from climate change to economic development, underscoring the importance of agile governance and strategic investment in fostering sustainable solutions. Join us for an illuminating discussion as we explore the dynamics of technological disruption, geopolitical strategy, and the imperative of innovation in shaping the future of our interconnected world. Follow our host, Waheed Nabeel (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode. (00:00) - Intro (03:20) - What's the vision Christian has of the world 100 years from now? (11:06) - Does the unprecedented speed of technological advancement today, exemplified by OpenAI's rapid user growth, amplify the risk of social dislocation during these transitions, given historical trends of slower adoption? (14:08) - Can AI be perceived as both a catalyst for economic growth and a potential threat to traditional employment, considering its capacity to exponentially increase productivity and revenue, thereby prompting a discussion on the balance between efficiency and human labor? (17:50) - What actionable steps are recommended for individuals who may not be deeply engaged in tech discussions to prepare for the impact of AI and automation on their professions over the next decade, and what role should governments play in facilitating this transition? (22:39) - Use of Psychedelics for mental health problems (39:31) - What is the 'Next Human Agenda'? (47:47) - What breakthroughs can we expect in longevity research funding, and can we foresee substantial increases in human lifespan in the near future? (52:25) - How does the concept of biological age influence Christian's research, especially in relation to the lifestyles of centenarians in blue zones, and what implications does this have for longevity strategies? (56:51) - In the face of rapid technological disruption, what role do governments in the 21st century play? (60:22) - How can we address the short-term focus of politicians, especially in democracies, to ensure effective long-term ...
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • #39 - Tomicah Tillemann : The Internet Is Broken - Here's How To Fix It

    #39 - Tomicah Tillemann : The Internet Is Broken - Here's How To Fix It
    Aug 22 2025

    We’re joined by Tomicah Tillemann, former U.S. State Department official and President of Project Liberty, for a conversation on the entrenched problems of the Internet and how to rebuild it from the ground up with digital rights, sovereignty, and decentralization at its core.

    Tomicah has spent decades working on governance, blockchain innovation, and digital infrastructure. As a key architect behind the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) and the Frequency blockchain, his mission is to restore agency, trust, and dignity to the digital public square.

    We dive into:

    -Why today's internet operates like a digital feudal system and how to break free

    -The rise of the attention economy vs. the potential of an "intention economy"

    -How Project Liberty's Frequency infrastructure is helping millions regain control of their data

    -The People's Bid to acquire TikTok and what it means for platform ownership

    -Why AI agents must serve individuals not corporations

    -Lessons from blockchain land registries, data scraping lawsuits, and digital identity

    Key Takeaways from the Episode:

    1. The Internet Is Broken by Design: Big platforms dominate because they've captured our data and social graphs. Tomicah argues this has led to a neo-feudal internet where users generate value but own nothing.

    2. The Path to Digital Sovereignty Starts with Shared Infrastructure: Through DSNP and Frequency, Project Liberty is building a protocol layer where users control their identities and data, independent of any platform.

    3. Attention Economy vs. Intention Economy: We’re fed content designed to addict us. What if platforms instead let us define what we want and curate our own algorithms?

    4. Why Project Liberty Could Transform TikTok: If successful in acquiring TikTok, Tomicah’s team would migrate 170M users onto Frequency, allowing data portability, shared economic upside, and participatory governance.

    5. AI Agents Should Work for Us, Not Big Tech: Like Kurt Flood challenging MLB’s reserve clause, Tomicah believes users deserve AI agents that act as fiduciaries, not surveillance tools.

    6. Open Models Must Be Paired with Compensation: Even when AI scrapes public data, individuals should benefit economically. New systems can recognize digital labor and creativity.

    7. Blockchain Still Holds Real-World Potential: From land registries to stablecoins, decentralized tech offers breakthrough solutions, especially in emerging markets where institutions are weak.

    8. Decentralized Identity Is Key to Truth: In an AI-saturated world, verifying authenticity is critical. Frequency lets posts be cryptographically validated without storing full data on-chain.

    Timestamps:

    (01:53) – What’s wrong with the internet? A history of digital feudalism

    (04:11) – Network effects and the value users create but never capture

    (07:03) – Shared social graphs vs. platform monopolies

    (09:00) – Why platforms manipulate us: inside the attention economy

    (10:32) – Designing an intention-based digital experience

    (15:13) – What Frequency is and why millions are using it

    (18:35) – How Frequency enables social graph portability for developers

    (19:20) – Comparing DSNP to other decentralized networks (e.g. BlueSky)

    (22:19) – The good and bad of LLMs—and how to steer them responsibly

    (27:51) – Should OpenAI pay us for using our data? A digital labor argument

    (29:34) – Why we need AI agents that act as fiduciaries (31:43) – What a decentralized TikTok would look like (31:55) – Governance, monetization, and the shift to user ownership (35:19) – Blockchain for land titles: a Global South use case (37:55) – Why stablecoins are money for the internet (39:01) – Identity and authenticity: how Frequency verifies truth online (41:38) – Rating U.S. crypto policy: regulation, innovation, and FTX fallout
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    45 mins
  • Introduction

    Introduction
    Feb 14 2021

    A brief prologue to explain the baseline thesis behind the series of episodes that are to follow.
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    1 min
  • #36 - George Sivulka : Knowledge Work 2.0: The Company Creating The Multi-Agent Future

    #36 - George Sivulka : Knowledge Work 2.0: The Company Creating The Multi-Agent Future
    Apr 26 2025
    We’re joined by George Sivulka, Founder and CEO of Hebbia, for a conversation on how does the future of white collar work look like with multi-agents. Hebbia is backed by some of the most legendary technology investors of our generation including Peter Thiel (early investor: Paypal, Facebook), Marc Andreesen (early investor: Airbnb, Github, Coinbase), Eric Schmidt (ex-CEO Google), Jerry Yang (Co-founder Yahoo). George’s background from Stanford’s PhD program, combined with his work at the cutting edge of AI meta-learning, has led him to a bold mission: to build Hebbia into a generationally important company that captures the full power of the AI revolution, not through chatbots, but through entirely new interfaces for serious, complex work. We dive into: What does the future of white collar/knowledge work look likeWhat the future UX/UI of Agentic AI might be (beyond chatbots).How Hebbia uses multi-agent orchestration to tackle tasks like investment research, drug discovery, and complex analysis.How Hebbia solves hallucination by "citing first, generating second."Why George believes AI won't eliminate jobs, but will transform how we work—and why humans will always find new ways to create value.The lessons George has learned from investors like Peter Thiel and Eric Schmidt about building great companies. We also discuss deeper trends like the geography of AI data centers, the future of inference scaling laws, and why the real competitive advantage won't be technology alone — but taste, orchestration, and human-AI collaboration. Key Takeaways from the Episode: 1.⁠ ⁠Chatbots Are Just the Beginning: George explains why chat is a weak UI for serious work—the future will be spreadsheet-like, matrixed, and human/agent collaborative. 2.⁠ ⁠Multi-Agent Orchestration is Key: Hebbia focuses on orchestrating many AI agents and humans together to handle truly complex, multi-hop tasks across domains. 3.⁠ ⁠Hallucination-Free AI: Hebbia flips the model—retrieving and citing information first, then generating outputs—to ensure accuracy and trust in critical workstreams. 4.⁠ ⁠AI Will Augment, Not Replace Humans: Work will shift from purely human to hybrid models, with humans and AI agents collaborating fluidly rather than one replacing the other. 5.⁠ ⁠Taste and Human Judgment Will Matter More Than Ever: As software creation becomes ubiquitous, taste, creativity, and judgment will be the new moats for great companies. 6.⁠ ⁠The Importance of Geopolitics in AI Infrastructure: George highlights why where data centers are located — and who controls compute — will be a defining factor for global AI leadership. 7.⁠ ⁠Building for the Entire Planet, Not Just One Nation: George’s vision for Hebbia is a global platform for all humanity, regardless of geopolitical shifts. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (01:48) - Why is Hebbia a generationally important company shaping the future of civilization? (04:23) - Is the chatbot interface the wrong path for the future of AI user experiences? (06:45) - What core problem is Hebbia solving that current LLMs and AI tools haven’t addressed yet? (09:34) - How does Hebbia tackle AI hallucinations? (13:10) - What will a multi-agent AI future look like for everyday users in the next decade? (15:00) - Will AI replace white-collar jobs first—and what does the future of knowledge work really look like? (19:20) - Is the AI revolution truly different because it introduces general intelligence beyond past technologies? (23:09) - Is the decentralization of knowledge creating a new wave of better scientists outside traditional institutions? (24:11) - Is the rise of no-code and ubiquitous software creation signaling the end of traditional B2B SaaS? (26:54) - How do legendary investors like Eric Schmidt, Peter Thiel, and Jerry Yang influence Hebbia’s strategy and vision? (28:54) - What makes Hebbia stand out as multi-agent AI technology rapidly advances? (30:32) - What AI trend are people not paying enough attention to? (32:31) - How are global shifts in trade and politics shaping the future of AI and company building? (34:25) - How are customers measuring real ROI from their AI investments amid today’s AI boom? (36:23) - Is the true value of AI hidden in the new possibilities it unlocks, beyond just faster tasks? (37:19) - Outro Join us for this electrifying conversation with George Sivulka, where we explore the frontier of AI-human collaboration, the future of work, and how to build enduring technology companies. Follow our host on Linkedln to know more or subscribe to our emailing list to get new episodes directly into your inbox.
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    38 mins
  • #17 - Bobby Healy - Cities in the Sky 2: How Last Mile Drone Deliveries will Transform Our World

    #17 - Bobby Healy - Cities in the Sky 2: How Last Mile Drone Deliveries will Transform Our World
    Sep 1 2023

    On this episode, we're joined by serial entrepreneur and CEO of Manna Bobby Healy (@realBobbyHealy) who runs one of the Top 5 drone delivery companies in the world. We also welcomed back a friend of the pod Pamir Sevincel, Partner at Blackbird.

    Join us as we talk about the ins and outs of a fundamental technology that'll terraform the way we live: last-mile drone delivery.

    In this episode, we cover:

    -Bobby's entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way

    -The genesis of Manna and the vision for drone-powered deliveries

    -The environmental impact of replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones

    - Business models and venture funding landscape: current, future and past.

    - Advice to founders building hardware-heavy companies

    -The challenges and opportunities in the emerging drone delivery industry

    -The future of on-demand delivery and its potential to reshape urban living

    Follow our host Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

    Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode.

    (00:00) - Intro

    (02:25) - Bobby's journey to leading several successful startups

    (03:16) - What is Manna Aero?

    (07:50) - Use case of drone delivery for E-commerce businesses

    (15:04) - Replacing traditional delivery vehicles with drones?

    (20:00) - How feasible is drone delivery in rural/suburban areas?

    (22:21) - Economic impact on suburban drone delivery

    (26:01) - Challenges in the delivery drone industry

    (33:12) - What factors make places like Texas particularly appealing for startups and investors in the consumer business sector? What should be the focus of startups in the drone delivery space: profitability or scalability?

    (40:02) - Can AI-generated models help optimize drone delivery services?

    (52:56) - Future of on-demand delivery and the impending challenges

    (65:12) - Competitive Advantage and Unique Value Proposition of Manna

    (67:48) - Quick Fire Round
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • #37 - Ravi Ramamurti : Reverse Innovation Secrets: How Emerging Economies Are Out-Innovating The West

    #37 - Ravi Ramamurti : Reverse Innovation Secrets: How Emerging Economies Are Out-Innovating The West
    May 23 2025
    We’re joined by Professor Ravi Ramamurti, founder and director of the Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern University in Boston, who’s one of the world’s leading experts on innovation in emerging economies. Professor Ramamurti who along with his co-author coined the term ‘reverse innovation’ — the phenomenon where innovation flows not from West to East, but from developing countries upward into wealthier markets. In this wide-ranging conversation, he challenges long-held assumptions about who innovates, how innovation spreads, and what lessons emerging markets are teaching the world. We dive into: How reverse innovation has become a mainstream force, from portable ultrasounds to healthcare delivery models.What made India’s hospitals 90% cheaper than the U.S. while matching quality.The rise of China as a global innovation leader in EVs, solar, AI, and biotech.How internal competition and STEM education give China an edge.What separates emerging market multinationals from their Western counterparts.Why globalization might retreat in the West but accelerate across the Global South.The role of business model innovation, not just technical R&D, in driving growth.What policymakers in emerging economies should focus on to unlock innovation. This episode is part of the Emerging Market Innovation Series, created in collaboration with Strategic Counsel, and also features Hafidzi Razali, founder and CEO of Strategic Counsel. Key Takeaways from the Episode: 1.⁠ ⁠Innovation Is Reversing Direction: Emerging markets are no longer just catching up—they’re now originating impactful innovations that reshape global industries. 2.⁠ ⁠Business Model Innovation Matters: From mobile payments to frugal healthcare, the biggest breakthroughs often come not from new tech, but from rethinking cost and access at scale. 3.⁠ ⁠China Is Now a Global Innovation Engine: Whether it’s batteries, solar, AI, or pharmaceuticals, China is leading with original ideas—not just copycat models. 4.⁠ ⁠Internal Competition Fuels Innovation: China’s provinces, companies, and universities are in constant competition, making it one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in the world. 5.⁠ ⁠Emerging Market MNCs Start Differently: Unlike Western firms built on tech superiority, EMNCs often scale through local problem-solving, cost innovation, and process excellence. 6.⁠ ⁠Don’t Underestimate South-South Trade: As Western markets close, emerging markets may open up to one another, forming a new kind of globalization led from the Global South. 7.⁠ ⁠Innovation Needs State Support — and Deregulation: Countries need smart deregulation, investment in human capital, and openness to global ideas to create fertile ground for local innovation. 8.⁠ ⁠The AI Era Will Shake Up Everything: Professor Ramamurti shares early thoughts on how AI could redefine software economies like India’s and change the geography of work. (00:00) - Intro (01:39) - What is Reverse Innovation? (02:55) - What sparked Europe’s rise in the 19th century—and is the West now in decline? (09:35) - Examples of Reverse Innovation (14:10) - What are some original innovations from emerging economies that led global trends? (17:01) - Why are business model innovations just as critical as technical breakthroughs? (18:15) - Is China still reliant on Western education for innovation, or has it built its own R&D ecosystem? (20:17) - Do emerging economies need to copy before they can truly innovate? (22:49) - Is local competition between Chinese municipalities driving the country’s innovation boom? (25:53) - Is China’s tech dominance threatening local industries in Southeast Asia? (28:01) - What makes emerging market multinationals (EMNCs) different—and potentially better—than Western MNCs? (30:31) - As labor costs rise, how can China and emerging economies stay competitive in manufacturing? (32:26) - Can Latin America rise to global tech prominence like China—and what stands in its way? (34:06) - Are Latin American governments investing in local innovation like East Asian state-owned giants do? (35:41) - What should emerging market policymakers do to spark innovation and global competitiveness? (37:38) - How should emerging markets innovate in a world moving away from globalization and free trade? (40:37) - Is globalization making rich countries lose their edge while manufacturing hubs gain design power? (43:38) - What groundbreaking research is coming out of the Center for Emerging Market Studies at Northeastern University? (45:52) - Outro Join us for a powerful and myth-busting discussion with Professor Ravi Ramamurti as we explore the next chapter of global innovation from the perspective of the rising world. Follow our host on Linkedln to know more or subscribe to our emailing list to get new episodes directly into your inbox.
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    46 mins
  • #27 - Bryan Johnson - Science-backed Ways to Living FOREVER? 'Don’t Die'

    #27 - Bryan Johnson - Science-backed Ways to Living FOREVER? 'Don’t Die'
    Aug 24 2024
    We welcome Bryan Johnson, multi-millionaire visionary entrepreneur and founder of "Don't Die." Known as the most measured man in human history, Bryan is pushing the boundaries of human longevity by meticulously tracking his body's biomarkers in pursuit of an extended health span, not just lifespan. His 'Blueprint' protocols can be found here. Bryan's journey from revolutionizing digital payments with Braintree Venmo, which he sold to PayPal for $800 million, to dedicating over $100 million of his fortune to extend human life reveals a deep commitment to humanity's future. Through his initiative Blueprint, Bryan is developing an algorithm that takes better care of our bodies than we can do ourselves, aiming for a world where "Don't Die" becomes a societal mantra. In this episode, Bryan discusses his philosophy behind "Don't Die" and how it could reshape politics, economics, ethics, and more. He explores the potential of AI to revolutionize decision-making and extend human capabilities beyond our current limitations. Bryan also put forward the challenges of aligning AI with human longevity and the ethical dilemmas that arise when pursuing extended life spans. The conversation spans topics such as the future of artificial intelligence, the exploration of human consciousness, and the need for societal shifts toward sustainable living. Bryan talks about the potential of technology to transform our understanding of life and offers a visionary perspective on what humanity might look like in the 25th century. We also cover how Bryan’s work could redefine what it means to be human, the importance of mastering the basics of health, and the potential for algorithms to outperform human decision-making in every aspect of life. All the topics that we covered in the episode: -Health and Longevity: Bryan's quest to extend life through science and technology. -AI and Human Potential: Artificial intelligence's role in shaping humanity's future. -Societal Transformation: How "Don't Die" could redefine our approach to politics, ethics, and economics. -Consciousness and Technology: Exploring the next frontier of human experience. -Ethical Challenges: The dilemmas of aligning AI with human longevity. Join us for a forward-thinking discussion as we explore the intersection of technology, longevity, and the future of civilization with one of the leading minds in the field. Follow our host, Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets. Subscribe to our newsletter to get these directly into your inbox. Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players, you should be able to click the timestamp for the episode: (00:00) - Intro (02:56) - Bryan's background and the origins of "Don't Die" (04:56) - Limitations of LLMs and their reliance on historical data for generating responses (07:57) - Living with a future-oriented mindset and connecting the dots retrospectively (09:41) - Trust in science through the use of biomarkers and objective data as a source of truth (11:15) - The philosophical motivations behind pursuing rejuvenation science and the desire to live forever despite not fearing death (14:37) - Why might humanity's progress in decision-making and societal improvements not continue at the same rate despite past achievements? (17:51) - Reflecting on the idea that 'Don't die' is the greatest virtue, contrasting it with the ethical teachings of philosophers like Socrates, Confucius, and Plato (19:47) - How does the paradigm shift of 'don't die' impact all actions and social structures and confront the influence of AI-driven recommendation systems on personal behavior? (21:54) - The contrast between inherent human nature, whether inherently good or bad and the internal conflict between different versions of ourselves, like 'evening Brian' and 'morning Brian? (25:36) - Discussing whether the goal of the Blueprint is to achieve a consistently performing self across different times and situations (27:54) - Reflecting on the overemphasis on material goals like financial success and questioning their true impact on long-term happiness (29:40) - The mental orientation needed to optimize for longevity, balancing material gains with a higher purpose and finding the best mindset to subscribe to (31:14) - How Stoicism and similar philosophies suggest that dissociating from base desires leads to personal freedom and an optimized self, including firing 'Evening Brian.' (34:38) - The possibility of developing technology or algorithms to eliminate the 'lower self,' reducing vulnerability to temporary pleasures and their negative biological consequences (36:38) - The development of protocols focused on the mind and consciousness, beyond biological approaches like diet and nutrition (38:13) - Implementation of the 'Blueprint' (41:54) - Comparing the concept of the Blueprint to religious protocols (43:52) - Explaining Zero-based thinking (45:50) - ...
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    48 mins