\The Best of… Lex Friedman

Tucker Carlson on liberty, risking jail and interviewing Putin

Tucker Carlson, a firebrand American talk show host close to former US president and 2024 candidate Donald Trump, the other week was in Moscow to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin. This week he spoke to Lex Friedman about the interview. Here is what you need to know:

1. Tuck Carlson could have been arrested: Tucker said that he was told by lawyers that he could be arrested for asking Putin the wrong questions. “[The lawyer] said very specifically, depending on the questions you ask Putin, you could be arrested or not. I said, ‘Listen to what you’re saying. You’re saying the US government has control over my questions and they’ll arrest me if I ask the wrong question. How are we better than Putin if that’s true.’”

2. Putin was nervous: Tucker said: “I thought he seemed nervous, and I was very surprised by that. And I thought he seemed like someone who’d overthought it a little bit, who had a plan, and I don’t think that’s the right way to go into any interview. My strong sense, having done a lot of them for a long time, is that it’s better to know what you think, to say as much as you can honestly, so you don’t get confused by your own lies, and just to be yourself. And I thought that he went into it like an over-prepared student, and I kept thinking, “Why is he nervous?””

3. Skepticism Towards US Foreign Policy and Media: Tucker criticized the US's role in international conflicts and the media's portrayal of such events, urging a reevaluation of both. "Yeah, that’s it. I mean, I have really strong feelings about what’s happening not just in Ukraine or Russia, but around the world. I think the world is resetting to the grave disadvantage of the United States. I don’t think most Americans are aware of that at all. And so that’s my view, and I’ve stated it many times because it’s sincere. But my goal was to have more information brought to the West so people could make their own decisions about whether this is a good idea.”

4. Did the Russians really kill Navalny: “Do we know how we died? The short answer? No, we don’t. Now, if I had to guess, I would say killing Navalny during the Munich Security Conference in the middle of a debate over $60 billion in Ukraine funding, maybe the Russians are dumb. I didn’t get that vibe at all. I don’t see it.”

\The Best of… All In Pod

Abolish HR, AI takes over Customer Support, Reddit IPO teardown

Here are the key bits from this week’s All In podcast with Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks & David Friedberg. Here were the main points on the Reddit IPO, abolishing HR and, of course, AI:

Abolishing HR: The besties talked about eliminating traditional HR departments in favor of empowering teams to make decisions. The pitch was to "eliminate HR" and instead have "committees" within companies that decide on benefits packages, reflecting diverse needs. This approach is seen as a way to make organizations more efficient and focused on performance. They said that traditional HR roles often create bureaucracy that hinders company progress: "there is no company where I have majority control where I have an HR department" and "HR doesn't have a role" in the envisioned model.

AI Taking Over Customer Support: The discussion highlights the significant impact of AI in customer support, using Klarna as an example where AI assistants have replaced the work of 700 full-time agents. This shift not only improves efficiency but also demonstrates the potential for AI to handle complex customer service tasks with increased accuracy and reduced costs. Direct benefits mentioned include resolving issues faster and reducing repeat inquiries, with a significant impact on profits: "AI assistants are now doing the work of 700 full-time agents" and "customer satisfaction is on par with human agents."

Reddit IPO: The upcoming Reddit IPO is scrutinized, focusing on its financial health and strategic decisions. Despite growing daily active users and maintaining a high gross margin, Reddit faces challenges with its ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and net losses. The discussion also touches on Reddit's unique move to allocate IPO shares to its moderators, highlighting the platform's community-centric approach. However, skepticism remains about the valuation and the long-term growth prospects of Reddit: "daily active unique 76 million up 27% year-over year" and "average revenue per user is incredibly low three bucks."

The Rise of Clout Kitchens and Influencer-Driven Ventures: The concept of "Clout Kitchens," as predicted by a podcast guest, signifies a new trend where celebrities and influencers leverage their fame to promote virtual restaurants. This innovative business model blends the popularity of cloud kitchens with celebrity branding, as exemplified by the successful launch of MrBeast Burger. The venture not only tapped into a massive subscriber base but also demonstrated the potential for influencer-driven businesses to achieve rapid scale and significant revenue, with over $15M+ in revenue in just 48 hours.

\The Best… Tim Ferris

How to Take Radical Ownership of Your Life and Career

Claire Hughes Johnson was Stripe’s chief operating officer from 2014 to 2021, helping grow the company from fewer than 200 employees to more than 6,000. She talks about her new book Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building. Here were her main points for how to take radical ownership of you life and career:

1. Say the Thing You Think You Cannot Say: Emphasizing the importance of transparency and honesty, Claire discusses the value of voicing concerns or thoughts that may be uncomfortable but necessary for growth and clarity. She mentions, "But the second one is 'Say the thing you think you cannot say'...And it's a lesson that I've learned" and describes it as a critical leadership skill.

2. Victim vs. Player Mindset: Claire shares insights from Fred Kofman about the distinction between adopting a victim mindset versus a player mindset. This concept is pivotal in taking ownership of your actions and their consequences. She quotes, "Here's what the victim says, 'Let me tell you about that report. Lucy owes me her notes and I can't finish it without Lucy.'"

3. Self-awareness and Continuous Learning: Highlighting the importance of self-awareness, Claire talks about her journey and the value of continuous learning and growth, both personally and professionally. "I laid out, and I had to think about this for myself, four operating principles for me as a leader and a person..."

4. Decision Making and Intuition: Claire discusses her decision-making process, emphasizing intuition backed by data. This balance between following one's gut feeling and seeking concrete data is crucial for sound decision-making. She states, "I tend to be intuitive...Don't worry, I won't jump to...but data-driven."

5. Prioritizing Relationships and Communication: The importance of maintaining open lines of communication and prioritizing relationships within the workplace is underscored. Claire speaks about her approach to being informed about significant personal events in her team's lives, demonstrating the value of personal connections in professional settings.

6. Feedback and Constructive Criticism: She talks about the importance of giving and receiving feedback, even when it's challenging, to foster personal and professional development. Through various examples, including her experience with leadership training, Claire illustrates how critical feedback is for growth.

7. The Role of Leadership in Managing Expectations: Claire delves into the nuanced role of leadership, which often involves managing expectations and navigating disappointments. She quotes, "Leadership is disappointing people at a rate that they can absorb," highlighting the delicate balance leaders must maintain.

\The Best of… Huberman Labs

A special AMA with Andrew Huberman

This was a special edition of Huberman Lab recorded in Sydney, Australia. It looked at various topics related to health, wellness, and the science behind them. Here's the key advice on Sleep, Vertigo, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Tips for Travelers, and the Gut-Brain Axis:

Sleep

• Importance of morning sunlight, movement, social engagement, and caffeine to shift circadian rhythm.

• Reducing lights and using red light in the evening can help lower cortisol levels for better sleep.

• Non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) or yoga nidra can replenish mental and physical vigor and aid in stress control.

• "Really the quadfecta of shifting your circadian rhythm...is morning, sunlight movement, social engagement, and in my case, caffeine" and "a daily for me non-sleep deep rest or yoga nidra protocol."

Vertigo

• Differentiating between lightheadedness and vertigo is crucial for understanding the cause.

• Engaging the vestibulo-ocular reflex by fixing gaze on a point or using hand-eye coordination can help recalibrate the system.

• "If you're feeling truly dizzy...chances are you've got some issue in either your visual system or your inner ear."

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Importance of sleep, especially for brain inflammation reduction and glymphatic outflow.

• Exploring options like transcranial magnetic stimulation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

• "Very, very important in the weeks and months after traumatic brain injury to get adequate sleep."

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• OCD involves a miswiring in the brain's basal ganglia and connections to the dopamine reward system.

• Treatment often includes SSRIs and behavioral interventions to promote neuroplasticity.

• "OCD is a situation where the compulsion does not remove the obsession. Rather, it exacerbates it."

Tips for Travelers

• Adjusting sleep schedule before travel and engaging with morning light to reset circadian rhythm.

• Understanding your body's temperature minimum can help adjust sleep schedules for travel.

• "Get some bright light in your eyes, even if you go back to sleep."

Gut-Brain Axis

• Emphasizing the importance of sleep, probiotics, and avoiding excessive antibiotics and antiseptics.

• Ingesting low sugar fermented foods and ensuring enough fiber intake for a healthy microbiome.

• "Avoid excessive intake of antibiotics...I am pro-probiotics."

\The Best of… Joe Rogan

Dan Soder on celebrity weed and “clout kitchens”

Dan Soder is a stand-up comic, actor, on-air personality, and host of the "Soder" podcast comes on the show. With Joe Rogan he talks about:

1. Unexpected Celebrity Weed Connection: The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted revelation about the quality of weed they're enjoying, credited to Cat Williams, setting a relaxed and humorous tone. "This is Cat Williams weed...I'm going to start talking [ __ ] on everyone in the business."

2. Cat Williams' Unique Drive: An amusing anecdote is shared about Cat Williams' racing simulator skills, drawing a parallel to his real-life driving habits, which paints a picture of his eccentric yet passionate character. "We had Cat Williams ride the racing simulator and I filmed it...he does this in real life."

3. The Concept of Clout Kitchens: A discussion ensues about the innovative business model of clout kitchens, introduced through a prediction by a podcast guest, highlighting the potential for celebrity-branded virtual restaurants. "Clout (with a T) Kitchen = One of those ^ branded with a celebrity."

4. The Impact of Mr. Beast's Burger Venture: The success of Mr. Beast's burger chain is used as a case study to explore how celebrities can leverage their following to disrupt traditional business models, showcasing the significant revenue generated in a short period. "Mr Beast Burger in TWO HUNDRED LOCATIONS overnight...$15M+ in revenue in 48 hours."

5. Insight into Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC): The podcast delves into the operations behind celebrity-endorsed virtual kitchens, mentioning other celebrities involved and the logistical approach of partnering with local restaurants to fulfill orders. "VDC...license the names & faces of influencers, and then handle all the food stuff."

6. The Financial Viability of Clout Kitchens: A detailed discussion on the financial aspects of running a clout kitchen, including revenue, profits, and the scalability of the model, emphasizes the economic potential of this venture. "Per location it's quite modest...but the magic is that he rolled out a 300 restaurant chain overnight!"

7. Risks and Challenges Ahead: Despite the optimism, the conversation does not shy away from acknowledging the potential pitfalls, including quality control issues and the sustainability of customer interest beyond the initial hype. "And since every restaurant is different, every burger is different...quality control is gonna be a bitch here."

\The Best of… My First Million

Decoding The Extreme Personalities of The Top 1%

Here Shaan Puri and Sam Parr guys delve into the characteristics and behaviors of individuals who embody extreme personalities within the top 1%, focusing on their intensity, commitment, and unique approaches to success. Here are the key points:

1. Unwavering Commitment: The individuals discussed are described as "all-in" on their endeavors, showcasing an unwavering commitment to their goals. "They're all insane... they are all the way in on what they're doing" highlights the depth of their dedication and the lengths to which they will go to achieve their ambitions.

2. Aggressive Approach: Egan Durban is highlighted for his aggressive approach, both in his interpersonal interactions and his professional strategies. "Egan is great he has a very aggressive bedside manner" and "this guy will trample you" underline his assertive, and sometimes abrasive, method of pursuing success, indicating that a forceful approach is a common trait among these top performers.

3. Strategic Career Moves: The individuals make calculated career moves that significantly advance their positions. Durban's decision to move to Europe to build out Silver Lake's business there is an example: "he does a very smart career move... he moves to Europe and he builds out the whole European business." This demonstrates strategic planning and the willingness to take risks for greater rewards.

4. Remarkable Achievements Through Focus: Their achievements are often the result of intense focus on a few key opportunities. "My goal is to be the best risk-adjusted investor... looking for Allin bets opportunities that I can't say no to" exemplifies the strategy of concentrating efforts on high-impact investments rather than spreading resources too thin.

5. Adaptability and Bold Moves: These individuals are not afraid to make bold, unconventional moves. Durban's investment in Skype and the dramatic turnaround and profit it led to ("1.9 to 8.5 billion") showcases the ability to see value where others might not and to act decisively on it.

6. Persistence in the Face of Adversity: The podcast discusses how these individuals persist despite challenges. The story of Dana White, Lorenzo, and Frank Fertitta's initial failures and eventual success with UFC illustrates their ability to stick with their vision despite significant obstacles, emphasizing resilience as a key trait.

7. Leveraging Relationships: Their success is partly attributed to the ability to build and leverage important relationships. The interactions between Ari Emanuel, Egan Durban, and Dana White, for example, show how strategic partnerships and alliances can be crucial to achieving big wins.

8. Innovative Thinking and Execution: These top performers are not just thinkers but doers who execute their innovative ideas effectively. The UFC's turnaround under Dana White's leadership, including the creation of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, demonstrates innovative thinking coupled with effective execution.