🇺🇸 United States Episodes

Last Acquired left the plucky Rec Room crew in our 2018 "Part I" episode, they were a seed stage startup making a VR game that users loved but grew slowly and barely monetized. Fast forward to today, and they're now a multi-platform social "place" with millions of active users, 500%+ YoY growth and hosting a robust creator economy that's rivaled only by their oft-compared metaverse cousin Roblox in dynamics and efficiency. And oh yeah, they're now a $1B+ company after a new $100m fundraise from existing investors Sequoia and Index, which they're announcing today. We figured it was high time to revisit Nick & crew for a Part II... Sponsors:WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25Sierra: https://bit.ly/acquiredsierraSentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentryAnthropic: https://bit.ly/acquiredclaude25More Acquired!Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodesJoin the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store!© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLCThe Rec Room Playbook is available on our website at https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/rec-room-part-ii-with-ceo-nick-fajtLinks:Our "Part I" episode with Nick on Rec Room's seed round:  https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/season-2-episode-2raising-a-seed-round-with-against-gravity-ceo-nick-fajtRec Room! https://recroom.comCarve Outs:Invent and Wander:  https://www.amazon.com/Invent-Wander-Collected-Writings-Introduction-ebook/dp/B08BCCT6MW/Resonant Arc on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFzWAEPDGiY34bGpwM_DWmAHow The Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHe0bXAIuk0

Actress, writer and humanitarian Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one of the most recognizable faces in the world.  She discusses her journey of self-discovery, her marriage to Nick Jonas and her New York Times bestselling memoir, Unfinished.

Biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza prototypes the future, imagining a world where people and nature can thrive together. In this wildly imaginative talk, she shares the vision behind her innovation lab, which works at the intersection of nature, technology and society to create sustainable materials and models for the future. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for -- and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alison Dachner, management professor at John Carroll University, and Erin Makarius, management professor at the University of Akron, say that an organization can become more competitive by implementing a stronger offboarding process. Their research shows that similar to the way universities maintain alumni networks, an offboarding strategy keeps former employees networked, which leads to more employee referrals, new business, expert consulting, or even re-employment. Dachner and Makarius wrote the HBR article "Turn Departing Employees into Loyal Alumni."

My guest today is Jesse Walden, the founder of Variant, an early-stage venture firm investing in crypto networks and platforms building the ownership economy.   With all the hype surrounding NFTs, I wanted to talk to Jesse about them, given his background in the music industry and his focus on the creator and ownership economy. The conversation did not disappoint. We discuss the basics of what an NFT is, what new creative paradigms they might unlock, and where we are in the NFT hype cycle.   This episode is the first in what will likely become its own show we are calling Primers. Our goal for primers is to bring investors and operators from a zero to a seven understanding of a topic, concept, or industry. The goal here is for the education around these topics to be fast and entertaining. I hope you enjoy this discussion with Jesse Walden and hopefully the first of many Primers to come.   For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ------ Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, Inc. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here.   Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus   Show Notes [00:04:19] - [First question] - Simple definition of an NFT [00:05:22] - What distinguishes NFTs from each other [00:06:24] - The value chain of a song, and who owns it [00:12:07] - Monetization and royalties on traded tokens [00:15:02] - Consumer incentives for purchasing NFTs [00:19:19] - Long-term passive income and media legos [00:22:23] - Technical breakdown of minting, hosting, and storing tokens [00:24:28] - Verification of token ownership on the blockchain [00:25:58] - NFT marketplaces and aggregators [00:27:06] - Opensea.io  [00:27:21] - Foundation.app  [00:29:46] - Innovations inspired by the NFT explosion [00:31:01] - Mirror.xyz  [00:32:26] - NBA Topshot [00:32:57] - Crypto Punks [00:23:24] - Nifty Gateway [00:34:30] - Physical cultural assets in the digital landscape [00:36:02] - Legacy brands exploring digital goods and tokenized ownership [00:38:37] - NFTs becoming the port of entry of all media [00:39:39] - An ownership economy in second generation internet platforms [00:41:02] - Uniswap[00:42:41] - The “hype cycle” of NFTs and incoming market correction[00:44:18] - Lessons for investors in the NFT space [00:45:15] - Lessons for buildings in the NFT space [00:45:54] - Resources to continue learning about NFTs[00:45:54] - NFTs make the internet ownable by Jesse Walden[00:46:20] - NFTs and a thousand true fans by Chris Dixon[00:46:13] - A beginner’s guide to NFTs by Linda Xie

From Pixar to Marvel to Lucasfilm, Disney's Bob Iger defied expectations, acquiring world-renowned brands and meshing them seamlessly with the House of Mouse. In Part 2 of our epic conversation with Iger – Disney's executive chair and former CEO – we delve into the next phase of the process, how he helped build a diverse, sustainable ecosystem for Disney companies in the China market, and how all the lessons learned played out in the massive acquisition of 20th Century Fox.Read a transcript of this episode at https://mastersofscale.comSubscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter at https://mastersofscale.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The single most important thing for avoiding a climate disaster is cutting carbon pollution from the current 51 billion tons per year to zero, says philanthropist and technologist Bill Gates. Introducing the concept of the “green premium” -- the higher price of zero-emission products like electric cars, artificial meat or sustainable aviation fuel -- Gates identifies the breakthroughs and investments we need to reduce the cost of clean tech, decarbonize the economy and create a pathway to a clean and prosperous future for all. (This virtual conversation, hosted by TED global curator Bruno Giussani, was recorded in March 2021.)Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined this week by Mr. W. Kamau Bell, television host and stand-up comic, and wicked smart dude. He tells us about the birds and the bees, when to teach your children new things, and his grand ideas for Ozark's next season.

This episode explains the science of motivation and drive. I describe how dopamine — a chemical we all make in our brain, underlies our desire for and pursuit of our goals, as well as our capacity to move and experience pleasure. I describe how we can leverage specific behaviors, reward schedules and dopamine-prolactin balance to help ensure we can maintain motivation and capacity for pleasure over the long term. I also discuss dopamine in the context of ADHD, craving and addiction, and some absolutely amazing results about specificity of drug effects based purely on belief. Read the full show notes for this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction   00:00:30 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up   00:04:22 Announcement: Spanish Subtitles   00:05:06 Emotions, Addiction & Mindset   00:06:22 Motivation & Movement: The Dopamine Connection   00:07:29 A Double-Edged Dopamine Blade   00:08:56 Dopamine Fundamentals: Precursor to Adrenalin   00:10:15 The Reward Pathway: An Accelerator & A Brake   00:12:10 Motivation = Pleasure Plus Pain   00:14:14 The Dopamine Staircase: Food, Sex, Nicotine, Cocaine, Amphetamine   00:16:15 Subjective Control of Dopamine Release   00:17:40 Social Media and Video Games   00:18:15 Addiction & Dopamine: Progressively Diminishing Returns   00:18:48 Novelty, Sensation-Seeking & Anticipation   00:20:15 Craving: Part Pain, Part Pleasure & Pain Always Prevails   00:23:11 Desire Scales With Pain: The Yearning Function   00:24:43 The Croissant Craving Circuit   00:25:45 “Here and Now” Molecules: Serotonin, Bliss & Raphe Nucleus   00:26:26 In Your Skin Or Out In the World   00:27:25 Cannabinoids Lethargy & Forgetfulness   00:28:15 The Almond Meditation   00:29:30 Drugs That Shift Exteroception Versus Interoception   00:30:36 Emotional Balance, Active & Passive Manipulation   00:32:36 Procrastination: Leveraging Stress, Breathing, Caffeine, L-Tyrosine, Prescription Drugs   00:37:04 When Enough Is Never Enough; How Dopamine Undermines Itself   00:38:58 Dopamine-Prolactin Dynamics: Sex, Reproduction & Refractory Periods   00:40:30 The Coolidge Effect: Novelty-Induced Suppression of Prolactin   00:42:22 Vitamin B6, Zinc As Mild Prolactin Inhibitors   00:43:25 Schizophrenia, Dopamine Hyperactivity and Side Effects of Anti-Dopaminergic Drugs   00:45:08 Prolactin, Post-Satisfaction “Lows” & Extending the Arc of Dopamine   00:48:00 The Chemistry of “I Won, But Now What?”   00:49:00 Healthy Emotional Development: Child and Parent   00:50:03 Never Say “Maybe” (Reward Prediction Error)   00:52:02 Surprise!   00:52:59 Are You Suppressing Your Drive and Motivation By Working Too Late?   00:54:50 Disambiguating Pleasure and Drive: Dopamine Makes Us Anti-Lazy   00:58:00 Beta-Phenylethylamine (PEA), & Acetyl L-Carnitine   01:00:00 Attention Deficit Disorders, Cal Newport Books, Impulsivity & Obesity   01:03:55 Leveraging Dopamine Schedules   01:05:22 Subjective Control of Dopamine and Drug Effects: The “Adderall” Experiment   01:09:03 Caffeine May Protect Dopamine Neurons, Methamphetamine Kills Them   01:10:57 Nicotine: Dopamine, Possible Neuroprotection, Prolactin Increase   01:11:53 Gambling, Intermittent Reinforcement, & Persistent Goal Seeking (Bad and Good)   01:14:14 Intermittent Halting of Celebration; Enjoy Your Wins, But Not All of Them   01:18:38 A Story Example of Intermittent Reward to Maintain Long-Term Drive and Motivation   01:21:25 Corrections & Notes About Spanish Captions & Other Languages Soon   01:24:00 Synthesis & Framework, Zero-Cost Support & A Note About Sponsors Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Polina Pompliano is a writer, author & founder of The Profile. Polina spends her time assessing the world's highest performing & most interesting individuals. Today we break down some of the common traits of her favourite subjects. Expect to learn how David Goggins used post-it notes to change himself, why Elon Musk is able to have truly unique thoughts, what Polina learned from The Rock, how the highest performers on earth spend their time wisely and much more... Sponsors: Get 10% discount on your first month from BetterHelp at https://betterhelp.com/modernwisdom (discount automatically applied) Get 20% discount & free shipping on your Lawnmower 3.0 at https://www.manscaped.com/ (use code MODERNWISDOM) Extra Stuff: Follow Polina on Twitter - https://twitter.com/polina_marinova Check out The Profile - https://theprofile.substack.com  Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronald Sullivan is a law professor at Harvard and previously a lawyer for Harvey Weinstein and Aaron Hernandez. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Brooklinen: https://brooklinen.com and use code LEX to get $25 off + free shipping – Wine Access: https://wineaccess.com/lex to get 20% off first order – Munk Pack: https://munkpack.com and use code LEX to get 20% off – Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium EPISODE LINKS: Ronald’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/profronsullivan Ronald’s Website: https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/10870/Sullivan Ronald’s Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_S._Sullivan_Jr. Ronald’s NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/opinion/harvard-ronald-sullivan.html PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (09:48) – Harvey Weinstein (15:53) – Harvard succumbs to pressure (27:08) – Safe spaces (33:26) – Cancel culture (36:23) – Evil (40:33) – Hitler (45:09) – Criminal justice system (49:10) – Innocence (51:39) – Racism in the judicial system (1:03:41) – George Floyd (1:06:06) – The trial of Derek Chauvin (1:19:55) – O. J. Simpson (1:24:29) – Aaron Hernandez (1:36:10) – Book recommendations (1:43:45) – Advice for young people (1:45:53) – Death (1:47:59) – Meaning of life

Also: is it better to “go with the wind” or to “be the wind”?

Ryan Hall is a martial artist, BJJ black belt, and MMA fighter undefeated in the UFC. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Indeed: https://indeed.com/fridman to get $75 credit – Audible: https://audible.com/lex to get $9.95 a month for 6 months – ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod and use code LexPod to get 3 months free – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack EPISODE LINKS: Ryan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanhall5050​ Ryan’s Website: http://www.ryanhallmma.com/​ Ryan’s School: https://www.5050bjj.com​ Ryan’s Online Courses: https://ryanhallonline.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (08:28) – First principles approach to martial arts (16:09) – Illusion of choice (19:42) – Game theory (28:04) – First fight (32:20) – Defense (41:03) – Waiting for a fight (51:11) – Free will (1:08:59) – Freedom and compassion (1:18:01) – Social media (1:24:21) – Leadership (1:30:09) – How to get good at jiu jitsu (1:50:23) – Learning how to learn (1:58:29) – Questioning the foundations of jiu jitsu (2:17:34) – Humans cannot fully comprehend reality (2:21:45) – Artificial intelligence (2:34:38) – Deadlines (2:41:29) – Tie choke (2:49:58) – Hardship (2:54:20) – Love

Brian Christian is a programmer, researcher and an author. You have a computer system, you want it to do X, you give it a set of examples and you say "do that" - what could go wrong? Well, lots apparently, and the implications are pretty scary. Expect to learn why it's so hard to code an artificial intelligence to do what we actually want it to, how a robot cheated at the game of football, why human biases can be absorbed by AI systems, the most effective way to teach machines to learn, the danger if we don't get the alignment problem fixed and much more... Sponsors: Get 20% discount on the highest quality CBD Products from Pure Sport at https://puresportcbd.com/modernwisdom (use code: MW20) Get perfect teeth 70% cheaper than other invisible aligners from DW Aligners at http://dwaligners.co.uk/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Buy The Alignment Problem - https://amzn.to/3ty6po7 Follow Brian on Twitter - https://twitter.com/brianchristian  Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast Email: https://www.chriswillx.com/contact Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View the State of VC deck here: https://rb.gy/wfan6j Follow the besties: https://twitter.com/chamath https://linktr.ee/calacanis https://twitter.com/DavidSacks https://twitter.com/friedberg Follow the pod: https://twitter.com/theallinpod https://linktr.ee/allinpodcast Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://twitter.com/yung_spielburg Intro Video Credit: https://twitter.com/MikeSylvan Referenced in the show: Lifespan by David Sinclair: https://rb.gy/etzzmk Prenuvo: https://www.prenuvo.com Gumroad Equity Crowdfunding: https://republic.co/gumroad Backstage Equity Crowdfunding: https://republic.co/backstage Show Notes: 0:00 Bestie intro & poker talk 5:49 Fan question: Longevity & Biohacking, Chamath's health regimen 12:54 Fan question: Decentralization, separation of currency & state, will governments fight back against crypto? 22:48 Fan question: Quantum computing's potential impact, why heavy R&D technologies should are better suited for government funding rather than the private sector 33:33 Chamath's thesis behind deep tech investing 37:25 State of VC & how it's changing in terms of demographics, new access to capital, deal size & more 48:49 Trend of founders caring more about individual investors rather than firms, who is well-positioned & who is left out? 55:00 Why growth-stage firms could become less relevant: undifferentiated capital, routing around dilution, brand matters more in the early-stage; how Pipe & Clearbanc are revolutionizing non-dilutive funding 1:04:00 Summarizing the changing landscape of venture capital, how startups can best position themselves in a full lifecycle, innovations in equity crowdfunding, opportunity for entrepreneurs

Jim Breuer is a standup comedian, actor, and host of the Jim Breuer Podcast. Catch him live on the "Freedom of Laughter" tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do spaces shape the human experience? In what ways do our rooms, homes and buildings give us meaning and purpose? In this segment, architect Michael Murphy joins host Manoush Zomorodi to explore the power of the spaces we make and inhabit.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to be featured in a future episode? Drop your question/comment/criticism/love here: https://www.mfmpod.com/p/hotline/ --------- --------- Sam Parr (@TheSamParr) and Shaan Puri (@ShaanVP) discuss: 0:45 Shaan breaks down why and how Clubhouse will fail (although he wishes it won't) 17:10 How to go viral and also improve your writing 27:07 How to win (and make millions) in the content game 36:22 How 'The Hustle' finds its talent 38:44 A simple startup idea with huge potential 50:38 How Shaan's tweet became a meme --------- --------- Have you joined our private Facebook group yet? Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourfirstmillion and join thousands of other entrepreneurs and founders scheming up ideas. Editing thanks to Jonathan Gallegos (@jjonthan)

Joe is joined by mixed martial artist Leon Edwards, who is currently competing in the UFC's Welterweight division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Higher education remains rooted in rigid, traditional structures and tracks -- and it's at risk of getting left behind in favor of expanded access, greater flexibility and tailored learning. Educator Tyler DeWitt explains how innovations in digital content and virtual reality are ushering in the future of learning, emphasizing why academia must adapt to this new reality and embrace an approach to education that works with students' needs -- not against them.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.